SECOND CHAPTER

When Stefan regained his consciousness he found himself still in the same awkward, painful situation. He was in a dark basement; he was hanging with his hands tied with chains. His feet were floating few inches above the floor. The entire night for Stefan was nothing less than a living nightmare. Entire night the guy who had held him captive had beaten him, whipped his back, cut him, punched and kicked him. The brutal torture had continued the whole night. Stefan kept coming in and out of consciousness. Thinking about last night gave him goose bumps. All Stefan could think off right now was nothing but agonizing pain. His entire body was hurting badly. He had several whip marks on his bare back which made him felt as if his back was on fire such was the excruciating pain. He was sure he had at least 2-3 broken ribs. He had a deep cut on his forehead and several cuts on his chest, arms and writs. He had a bleeding nose as well as several bruises on his face; moreover blood was dripping from his temple.

He had never felt so much pain in over centuries. When he was a vampire the pain used to subside and then vanish once the wound was healed. But now since he was a human none of his injuries were healing which he was not used to and thus it was difficult for him to bear this pain.

He had tried to put up a brave face when his captor was inflicting these injuries on him. But after a point when the pain became unbearable he had no choice but to give up and scream in agony. He had screamed so much last night that his throat had become completely dry. He just wished his big brother would come soon to rescue him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. The door opened with a creaking sound. His captor approached him and gripped Stefan's hair from behind to lift his head up and looked him straight in the eyes, 'How is the boy doing?' he said with a menacing smile on his face. You know you will no longer have to suffer. I will free you from all your sufferings. You should know your brother is soon going to come to rescue you. I wish I could have seen his face when he saw the video. Oh ya! I forgot to tell you I have sent a small gift to your big brother. I hope he likes it; he had a menacing smile on his face when he spoke those words. He punched Stefan on the jaw and pulled Stefan towards him by the neck and whispered in his ear, 'You can't even imagine what plans I have in mind for you and especially him.'

Don't to dare do anything to my brother. Stefan said with all the energy that was left in him.

Oh no! Don't you worry; I will not even touch him. You will know soon what exactly I have planned for you two.

After all revenge is the dish best served cold...

And then he inserted a needle in Stefan's left shoulder. WHERE ARE YOU BIG BROTHER, I NEED YOU these were Stefan's last thoughts before the darkness engulfed him.

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Damon was pacing up and down the Salvatore living area. When suddenly the bell rang, he went to open the door but there was no one outside. There was a gift wrapped box lying on the floor right in front of the door. He picked it up and shut the door.

He impatiently opened the box and what he saw not only broke his heart but also filled him with rage and anger. It was Stefan's shirt torn and bloody. All he could notice was blood and nothing else. How dare he even touch my brother? I will give him such a painful death, he muttered with gritted teeth and smashed the bottle of bourbon which was lying near him on the table into the fireplace. Next Damon picked up the box in anger and was about to throw it well, when he noticed something else along with the shirt. There was a tape.

Damon picked up the tape and played it. After watching it, a tear rolled down his cheek. His baby brother was tortured so brutally. This was his fault. All this torture that Stefan had to go through, all these painful injuries that his little brother had to bear was his fault. His baby brother was paying the price of his sins. Stefan was paying the price for being HIS little brother. Damon was filled with so much rage that he could have killed anyone who would have come in front of him at this moment. He just wanted to rip that bastard out who touched his brother. He wanted his baby brother back at any cost. He knew that Stefan's condition was critical after all he was no longer a powerful vampire. He was a human now; his injuries will not heal on its own.

Before he could walk out of the door, voice of a man came from the tape. IF YOU WANT YOUR BROTHER BACK, COME AND TAKE HIM and this was followed by the address of the place.

Damon without even giving it a second thought began walking towards the door.

What if it's a trap Damon? Damon turned and saw Bonnie standing near the steps. I heard everything, she said. You can't go alone Damon, you have to think this through. Why will he give you the address? Out of the goodness of his heart, I don't think so. You and I both know Damon that it's a trap.

I know Bonnie and I don't care. I will get my brother back at any cost. I don't care if it's a trap or not. I only know one thing, I CAN'T LOSE MY BABY BROTHER, HE'S MY FAMILY. HE'S ALL I GOT'.

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The address was of a deserted old mill which was few miles away from Mystic Falls. Damon reached the place and starting walking towards the front door. To his surprise the door was not locked. He could easily enter inside as the mill was a govt. Property. He didn't need to be invited in. Once inside the building he started walking down a long corridor. The lights of the corridor were flickering. At the end of the corridor there was a revolving staircase. He started walking down the steps. He can't shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen. He can't figure out why the main door was not locked, why there was no one to stop him. He thought probably this was all part of Patrick's plan to trap him. Whatever his plan was he was ready for it. He had already called Alaric, Tyler, Matt and Bonnie on the way. They will reach here in a while and will be ready for backup if something does go wrong.

He finally reached the last step. The basement corridor was also dimly lit with few flickering lights which gave a spooky feel to the place. There were doors on either side of the basement. He carefully started checking all the rooms. He had checked all the rooms and couldn't find Stefan in any of them. Now only the last room at the end of the basement corridor was left. He felt more and more anxious as he approached the room. He finally turned the door knob and the door opened with a squeak.

His heart broke into a million pieces at the sight of his brother. His baby bro was there in front of his eyes. He had never seen him so pale, so broken. He couldn't see a single place on his body where he had not suffered an injury. His whole body was covered with blood. He could see his baby brother was unconscious. He rushed towards his brother and starting untying him. He removed the chains with which Stefan's hands were tied and held him as soon as Stefan started falling as his hands were freed. Hold on brother I got you, Damon said. Worry for his baby brother's life was evident on Damon's face.

He held Stefan and gently made Stefan sit on the floor against the support of the wall. He took a good look at Stefan's face. He quickly took out his jacket and wrapped around Stefan. He tried controlling his tears and gently brushed off the hair from Stefan's forehead and caressed Stefan's cheek. Cone on baby bro please wake up! Stefan please look at me brother. I am here. Everything is going to be okay. Damon's veins pooped out as he bit his wrist and then he tried to feed his blood to Stefan. Come On! Baby bro! Just drink. You will heal in no time. All this pain will be gone I promise. Before he could say anything further Stefan started coughing up the blood which Damon had tried to feed him in order to cure him.

Easy, easy brother! What the hell is happening why vampire blood is not curing you! Damn it! Damon shouted in frustration. Okay, okay Stefan please brother I am taking you to the hospital, you will be just fine. Please hold on; okay just hold on baby bro!

Just then he heard a faint sound 'Damon!' Stefan was awake but barely. Hey there little brother! Easy! Hey, you will be just fine brother. You will be fine. Before Damon could say something more Stefan again slipped into unconsciousness. Damon with a sad smile touched Stefan's cheek and then finally carried his baby bro in his arms and walked out the door. They finally reached the car and Damon gently laid Stefan on the car seat. By the time Alaric and co had also reached. What happened? Is Stefan Ok? Alaric enquired. He will be, I am taking him to the hospital Ric, my blood is not healing him. Okay, you go, we will follow you and don't worry he will be okay, Alaric said.

Thanks buddy, Damon said, he started the engine and drove straight to the hospital.

To be continued...