Chapter 3
Decisions
Caleb stood outside Chase's house, contemplating whether he should knock on the door, or just barged right in. He finally decided against it and flung the door open, yelling Chase's name. No answer.
"Chase!" He repeated, louder this time. Still no answer. "Pogue!" He tried calling his friend's name. Nothing. Caleb frowned. It didn't fell right. Where were they? He was growing more and more nervous by the second. He started walking around the house, searching for any sign of life at all.
Suddenly, there was a cry of pain from upstairs and Caleb spun around to see Chase standing at the top of the stairs, Pogue in his arms. Pogue's hands were tied in front of him and he was completely naked except for some pants. He was obviously in pain, but Caleb didn't see any blood or anything that made it seem like Chase had hurt him. Not physically at least.
"Let him go, Chase." Caleb ordered, glaring at Chase. "I agreed to come fight you, now let him go." Chase only laughed.
"I don't think so." He said, thoughtfully, looking Pogue over, at his beautiful bare chest and back, at his muscular arms and legs, at the soft smooth skin of his handsome face, and at his long, messy brown hair. "I kinda like him. A lot. He entertains me. It's fun messing around with him." He lifted his hand and stroked Pogue's soft cheek with his finger, making Pogue flinch and try to pull away but with no luck. And it only made Chase angry. With no warning, Chase back-handed Pogue hard across the face, cutting Pogue's lip open with his ring in the process. And Pogue just took the blow without a fight. It made Caleb sat to see his friend like this. Pogue was usually the strongest man he knew and to see him like this, so broken and defeated, made Caleb want to cry.
"Chase, leave him alone. I'll fight you. Just leave him alone." He commanded, but Chase didn't seem to be listening. He was gazing into Pogue's deep brown eyes adoringly, almost getting lost inside them, not listening to a word Caleb was saying. Pogue held his stare for awhile, glaring back angrily then suddenly spat blood into Chase's face. Chase looked away and wiped the blood off calmly, then punched Pogue hard in the jaw, knocking him over, sending him crashing down the stairs. Caleb didn't have any time to react to this, so he could only watch helplessly as his best friend rolled down the stairs, increasing speed as he fell. His fall seemed to last forever and neither Caleb nor Chase could do anything about it. After what seemed like ages, Pogue finally landed in a heap at Caleb's feet, not moving. Caleb bent down next to Pogue, rolling him onto his back. His eyes were closed.
"Pogue?" Caleb whispered, pulling his friend into his arms so that he was sitting up. Pogue moaned and opened his eyes, looking up at Caleb, his face drawn with pain. Caleb let out a breath of relief and looked Pogue over quickly. There was a deep gash on his forehead, close to where his hair began and he had a few cuts and bruises, but other than that he seemed fine.
"Is he ok?" Chase asked, coming down the stairs slowly. He looked worried.
"Why would you care?" Caleb snarled, glancing up at Chase for a second before turning his attention back to Pogue.
"I do care about him. I really do." Chase insisted. "A lot."
"You stay away from him." Caleb ordered as Chase continued coming down the stairs. Wrapping Pogue's arm over his shoulders, Caleb pulled Pogue up, making Pogue suddenly cry out in pain, his hand flying to his ribs on his right side. "Pogue, what's wrong?" Caleb gasped nervously. Pogue shrugged his shoulders, wincing, his face drawn with pain.
"I dunno." He hissed through gritted teeth. "My ribs…"
"Don't worry. We'll get you to a hospital." Caleb assured him and started leading him away. But Chase stopped them.
"No one's going anywhere." He ordered, looking at Caleb warningly, as if telling him not to mess with him. "I have a fight to win first."
"Chase, don't you have a heart?" Caleb demanded, staring at Chase in disbelief. "He's badly hurt…because of you. He needs help. We need to get him to a hospital quickly." But Chase shook his head.
"We fight first. Then we can take him to a hospital. It's either that or I kill him now. It's up to you, Caleb." He threatened. Caleb hesitated then nodded, sighing, and lay Pogue down on a couch.
"I'll fight him and then we'll get you to a hospital as soon as possible. Is that ok? He asked Pogue, who shook his head weakly.
"Don't fight him, Caleb. Please." He begged, softly. "He's more powerful than you can imagine." Caleb sighed, bowing his head.
"Don't worry about that. Just rest for now. I can beat him. Don't worry." He assured Pogue quietly, squeezing his hand gently. But Pogue didn't look convinced. Caleb then turned to Chase, hate in his eyes. Chase smiled slightly.
"This is how it's going to be." He announced. "If you win, I let Pogue go and leave you and your friends alone for the rest of your lives. You won't have to deal with me again. But if you lose…I keep Pogue, and you will me your power. And there will be nothing stopping me from going after your friends, Reid and Tyler."
"No way man!" Caleb replied immediately, shaking his head.
"It's either that or there's no deal and I kill you both now." Caleb hesitated, knowing Chase was perfectly capable and willing to kill them both without a second thought. He thought about if he accepted and he won, he and Pogue and his friends would be free from Chase forever, which was what they wanted most of all at the moment. But if he lost…he would have to give up his powers to Chase, and Pogue would forever be Chase's "entertainment", and Reid and Tyler would be in danger. Caleb didn't know what to do. Should he refuse and sacrifice his and Pogue's lives for Reid and Tyler to be free? Or should he accept and risk everything for all of them to be free? Caleb was quiet for a long time, thinking about the choice he had to make.
"Well, Caleb, what do you say?" Chase pressed, getting impatient. Caleb looked up at Chase, still thinking and stayed quiet. He turned to Pogue, who was watching him intently from his spot on the couch. He sighed and nodded, turning back to Chase, making up his mind.
"I accept. I'll fight you."
