Sunrise

Chapter 13: Given Up

Given Up—Linkin Park

Guys, quick note: The ending paragraph was Cara's view of a car crash. She is not going to die. I told you there was more to come, and she can't die even if she was human, which will be explained later.

PSSST: One seriously mother of all bad words in the chappie. Sry.

OOO

My head felt as if someone was shrinking my skull. Either that, or it was too small to hold my pulsing brain. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts, because I also had the sensation of swinging side to side, like when you're dizzy. God… what the hell had happened to me?

Although I experienced the feel of glass piercing my eyes, I forced them open… slightly. The room was swaying, or… my feet were. My brain was sluggish, as if I'd been drugged, and I couldn't manage to lift my head. Which told me I was looking down and swaying above the ground. I was stuck staring at the moving floor, and my back screamed in agony. I tried desperately to shake off the cloud above my head, behind my eyes.

It seemed like hours later when I could finally lift my head, and the feeling was back in my arms. I strained my neck back, glancing up. My wrists were tied above me, the raw ropes chaffing against my human skin. This tidbit of information confused me. Where the hell was I? I couldn't remember anything, and my mind struggled to recall what had happened—but it only made my headache worse. I dug back into my memories, which were blurry and undecipherable, and I could hardly remember who I was.

But then, like a dam exploding, the memories crashed over me, and tore me to pieces. I saw everything from an out-of-body point of view. Lucas, above me, holding me down with his foot. Me, crying my heart out. Robbie tossing me the iPod. The force of heat washing over me as I turned to face the scene of Robbie's demise, so slowly, so scared. Smoke filling my lungs as I raced through the burnt halls of Robbie's house, searching for any sign he might be alive. Robbie's delirious gaze, then those very eyes fading, his body limp in my arms. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes as I vowed my promise. Me, cursing as I flew down the road, dust billowing behind me. Then, my eyes going wide, my mind blank. The very pain of my car being crushed, the metal forming around me. My scream echoed through the empty woods. Birds flew in all directions. Then, blackness.

I wrenched my eyes opened frantically, desperate to escape the memories. But as soon as my eyes landed on the person standing in the room, I wished I was back in the past. I grinded my teeth together, trying to evade my desire to spit in his face.

Lucas was lounging in the door way, a brutal smirk on his face. I scowled at him, no longer afraid. I was freakin' pissed off. If the rope hadn't been restraining me, and I had been able to change, I would've gone Karate-Cara on his vampire ass. "What the hell am I doing here, you—"

"Language, Cara," he chided mockingly, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to cuss him out right there. But I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't really in any position to start throwing around threats. I had twisted until the rope dug into my skin, and I was biting the inside of my cheek to keep from wincing. He strode over to me until his head was level with my breasts, and if I could have felt my legs, I would've kicked him in the groin. Who gave a friggen damn if he was rock-solid? "You see," he said as he began to circle me, "I told you, warned you, that I always got what I wanted. What my brother—" the word was spoken with venom "—got. I know he had you in bed, so I have a proposition for you."

I struggled to keep my composure as my chest filled with dread. I had a terrible idea of where this was going.

"Either turn back into you're little vampire self and let me have my way with you, or—"

He stopped at the expression on my face. I couldn't see it, but I felt it. Angry heat was burning in my cheeks; my scowl almost hurt my eyes. My eyes must've been shooting fire, because he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Excuse me?" I hissed, my voice coming out livid and filled with loathing. "Please tell me you're proposing this as a joke."

"No—"

"In your dreams, Shitface!" I growled, hiding a smile of satisfaction of the look on his face. Emmett would have enjoyed that. My anger poured adrenaline into my veins, and I aimed a kick at him. He sidestepped, closer to me, looking at me with fury in his eyes. I didn't care if he killed me now, but I yelled, "Fuck off!" I hadn't used that word in ten years—and back then, I didn't know what the heck it had meant. I was beyond livid by now.

"That's the idea," he snarled, crossing his arms.

To refrain from screaming every cuss word I knew at him, I bit my cheek until I could taste blood. His eyes went down a color level, and I pulled my voice together. "I'd rather rot," I told him menacingly, collecting the small amount of saliva I had—due to my dehydration—and spitting in his general direction. He dodged again, but that only multiplied my anger. I glared at him until he smiled his bitter smile.

"If I can't have you," he sighed, "there's no use in me waiting to kill you. But…" His smile grew strangely sadistic, and I tried not to squirm. "Your aunt—Alice, isn't it?—can see the future. So, I'm very nearly positive she's seen this little scene already. I'm also very nearly positive she'll also see what I intend to do to you."

Oh, crap. I tried to keep the shock and guilt off my face. I'd missed my chance to ask him where I was being held, and now Alice would witness my demise? And what happened to lead to it? That also meant Edward—my overprotective father—would see it, too. Oh, crap, crap, crap.

"You should note that since I want this to leave my brother as crippled as possible—"

"Which reminds me," I blurted out before I could control my voice. Lucas raised both eyebrows, and I composed myself. "What freaking quarrel do you have with my family? Why is this affecting them, too?"

He shook his head, a ghostly smile on his face. "You don't know. You haven't realized?" He laughed a short, frustrated laugh. "Hell, Cara! You just drained half the fun out of this. Allow me to restore it. He's with them, Darling. Where else would he look for you?"

I didn't say anything, because the truth was, I hadn't left any lead—I hadn't thought he'd go looking for me. I'd practically took every precaution to avoid my family, and now I was paying the price. I'd gone to sunny Alabama, practically shunned being a vampire like the plague. I'd—

"So everyone in your family will know, including him. The perfect revenge. But… there is, indeed, something missing." He shook his head in mock deliberation. "I must make it sweeter," he decided, and evil glint in his eyes. "You death, it will take longer. Each cut of pain will be your worst nightmare. By the time I'm a quarter of the way through with you, you'll be begging for death. That is, if you don't die from loss of blood first." He shrugged as if this was no big deal. A scowl etched itself onto my face again.

Don't get all shaken up, I ordered myself. He's exaggerating. This is what he wants—your terror. Don't give him the satisfaction.

"Go screw yourself," I snarled dismissively. "Cross me off your little pleasure list. You can't touch me."

"Oh, is that so?" he asked, and so fast I wasn't even sure what had happened, my wrist stung and a small stream of blood trickled down my arm. I looked to Lucas, whose eyes were black. My gaze flitted to his hand, which held a switchblade—Really, I couldn't help thinking. Is this what they teach the famous Volturi guards these days? "Oh, this will be difficult," he mussed, mostly to himself. "But it's worth it. Yes, every cut is worth it. You can't kill her yet. Enjoy her pain. Relish in it." He left then, dropping the switchblade on the floor, just out of my reach.

He was insane. Completely and utterly insane.

OOO

The days progressed slowly, and soon, I couldn't feel much. I guessed Lucas was cutting my nerves—either that, or hanging from the ceiling was getting to my body. I soon lost track of time, and didn't even flinch when Lucas entered the colonial cell and picked up the knife. I could tell this was getting to him. He wasn't really able to relish in my pain when I wasn't reacting at all.

At first I had been. I'd cussed and thrashed and kicked and bit, but then, I sort of got the idea that there was no way I was possibly being rescued. I had no clue where I was, so Alice wouldn't either. Even if my family searched every colonial prison—which I'd decided this was—they wouldn't find me. Call me emo, but after what I guessed was a month (with thirty or so scratches on my arms), and no one came, I figured the only way I was getting out of this was to have him get bored with me, make him think I had given up, and then when he least expected it, get out of there.

But that was before I learned the next big part of revenge.

He came in, just as every other day, but today there was a new essence of satisfaction on his face. I looked back at him, swallowing my fear, a bored expression on my face. He smiled rudely, and I sighed. What now?

"You're… brother is here." That was all he said, and I felt my limbs grow cold.

Jaime? No. Please, no. How could he have found him? How could he have known? Just when I thought I was liable to escape, he dropped the bomb on me.

Fear? I pretended not to know it. "Brother?" I asked, my voice ridden with confusion. "You didn't do your research. I don't have a brother."

"Really, now?" Lucas smiled again. "Bring him in, Kayla."

The name, my mind chided me. You know the name.

I knew the face, too. Kayla—Robbie's Kayla—came waltzing in, her face stark white, her eyes a ruby red. She wore an Italian gown, and her hair was done up in Italian fashion. I couldn't believe my eyes. "Kayla?" I choked out. She glanced at me, her eyes dismissing me almost immediately. She didn't recognize me. I remembered what my dad had said about memory and vampires. Something about the venom killing the memory tissue—or most of it.

As I watched Kayla tug on the rope in her hands, my heart sunk. She—a vampire who didn't remember me at all—could have helped me if she wanted to. But it seemed that Lucas had her spelled. She obeyed his every command. My one would-be ally was my enemy.

The rope grew shorter, and I recognized the ragged breaths of her prisoner. They were too shallow to be Jaime's or any one of his friends. That meant—

Alex's dirty face appeared and he was hauled into the cell. His hair was long—reaching below his ears. I could tell his face was pale, even though he kept his eyes on the floor, and his wrists were bleeding. I saw Kayla gulp down her venom, and turn her pleading eyes to Lucas.

"Please, Master," she begged, whispered. He shook his head. "Please," she tried again.

"No," he said firmly, looking at Alex with disgust. At her "master's" rejection, her eyes flashed hungrily to me. "He's not to be touched, and neither is the girl. They're both pawns in my plan. Kill them and you're destruction will follow soon after."

"I don't know him, though," I attempted to lie. "Why bring him to me?"

Alex dared look up as I said this—I could tell he recognized my voice. His eyes lit up in relief and concern as he saw me, clear signs that he did know me, despite my lies. Lucas didn't miss this exchange, and I swallowed hard. What was he planning to do to my little brother?

"The boy begs to differ," he replied snidely, his sadistic grin growing. "This plan is, indeed, turning out to be better than I planed. Dear Matthew will see you in emotional pain too. I dare say that this will hurt him more, don't you think?"

Matthew? Was Matt's real name Matthew?

Alex glanced at me in confusion. "Cara—?"

"Shush, boy," growled Lucas, his voice commanding. Alex shut up at once, but his eyes gleamed in anger and defiance. Lucas gave me a once-over. "Here's the deal," he said, spreading his arms wide. "I'll give you a gift for being such a good girl. You get one hour to talk to this… piece of rubbish. One. Then he gets taken away. You'll learn of what happens to him after. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," I growled. He just shook his head and left, Kayla scurrying after him and locking the gate.

"Cara!" Alex exclaimed, trying his best to hug me even though my feet were a two feet from the ground and his arms were bound. "God, I thought I'd never see another friendly face."

I realized his eyes were strangely haunted, his face dirty with muck and crusted with a few bits of blood. "How long have you been here?" I asked quietly, searching his face for answers.

"A few weeks. Cara, I'm so sorry—I let it slip that I knew you. He was talking about this girl who was the frikken description of you! And so… I kind of got angry." He looked away, embarrassed.

"What did you do?" I asked, looking down at him.

"I cussed him out and asked if he'd done anything to my sister… sorry." He winced, and I realized how much older he'd gotten. Cussing people out? A ten year old? "Should've thought before I said anything. My bad. Jaime keeps telling me to work on that."

My eyes went wide. "Jaime," I told him. "What about Jaime?"

"He's fine. But he's probably going ballistic, knowing I'm gone." Alex's expression grew bitter. "Then again, it's not like I'm actually related to him."

I took that in. "What?"

"I'm not Jaime's real brother." Tears filled Alex's eyes and he tried to blink them away. "I'm just Mom's kid."

"What do you mean?" I coaxed. I would've stroked his hair or something, but I couldn't feel my arms, and they were tied up.

"I mean that Maria isn't Jaime's mom. He calls her that, because she adopted him. But Jaime let it slip that I'm just his stepbrother. That Jacob remarried after Caroline died. The only reason I thought I knew Caroline was because Jaime told me stories about her." Alex looked down at his bindings.

"You didn't," I cried, understanding everything at once. "You did not runaway." I knew what that feeling was like.

He looked up at me, anger in his eyes. "I did what I had to do, okay? I wasn't just going to sit there and act like everything was peachy."

"Do you even see where it got you?" I asked. "And why would Jaime tell you that, anyway?"

Alex looked away. "He didn't." Sighing, he continued: "See, I wasn't tired, so I went downstairs for a drink of water, and he was talking to Freesia."

"You eavesdropped," I clarified, sighing. "You know, there's a reason it's called that."

"It's just… I couldn't help it." He looked up at me. "It was too tempting. And then, then he let it slip, and I threw down my glass and ran upstairs before he could tell me to come back. I stayed another night and then I left. I thought maybe I could go to my aunt's house."

I shook my head, ignoring the pain that shot down my spine. "So, you're not a… werewolf?" I hissed the last part. I knew he knew.

"No." He rolled his eyes. "My… dad sent me away because he thought I didn't know, and Jaime doesn't feel the need to change that often in his college. Dad thought it would be better if I wasn't as… exposed."

"That worked out real well," I muttered under my breath. Alex gave me a smile.

"You're going to get us out of here, aren't you?" he asked me, and I knew I had to lie.

I took in a breath. "Of course, kiddo. I—"

The cell door banged open, and the ropes dug further into my wrists. I winced against the pain. I was sure my wrists were practically deteriorating. "You said an hour," I hissed at Lucas as he strode over and grabbed Alex by the arm. He cried out in pain, and tears sprung to my eyes. "It's only been fifteen minutes!"

"I found out what I wanted to. I thought he smelled nothing like a dog," Lucas sneered, clamping down harder on Alex's arm. I heard something snap.

"Stop it!" I yelled, desperate. Alex had his teeth gritted together now, and I glanced from his oddly shaped arm to Lucas's face. "I said, stop it!"

He did, but he thrust Alex to the floor, and the poor kid tried to pick himself up. "What did you say?" he asked me, eyes livid.

"I told you to frikken stop it! What's with you? What went wrong with you're dang mind?" I yelled angrily. "No wonder Matt was always better than you—"

A loud clap rang through the air as my head flew sideways. My cheek stung as the cut—placed there a few days ago—fell open, and liquid poured down my cheek. "I'll stop when I want to," he hissed. "But if you're so concerned for the brat, I'll let him go… On one condition."

"Which would be?" I asked, not daring to look at Alex. I kept my head to the side, letting the sting subside.

"Just give me what I want. What you gave my brother," he whispered. "All you have to do is sleep with me, and I'll let him go."

I raised my head, indecision running through me. I knew he would kill me when he was done. When he'd gotten what he "wanted", and most likely, he wouldn't let Alex be. He'd feed him to his servants like steak to the dogs. My gaze went to Alex, who was shaking his head violently. "I know what they're going to do, Cara," he mouthed silently. "It's not bad. I promise."

He could just be saying that, I told myself, forcing myself to meet Lucas's gaze again. He was watching me, a playful, sadistic light in his eyes. He's bluffing, my mind told me. Use your power.

I looked ahead, and saw what they would do. Maddie, Rob's sister, was chained to a bed, deprived of blood, bites along her arms and legs. Bites like Jaspers. She was weak, I could tell. And then Alex was thrust into the equation, locked into the cell with Maddie. I trusted Maddie. She wouldn't kill him.

"I thought I told you earlier," I replied evenly, giving Alex a wink. "Go screw yourself. Have fun now. You may leave."

"Just one last thing," he added, fury behind his controlled voice.

Almost instantly, memories exploded behind my eyes. Matt, kissing me for the first time. Us together in his bedroom, him looking up from his Latin book with a sexy smirk on his face. Him caring for me after my encounter with Lucas, bringing me soup and water.

Us together in the woods, in the water. Him stopping my hand from hitting the wall, holding me until I feel asleep.

"Stop!" I shouted, and a tear betrayed me, running down my cheek. "Just… stop," I choked out. He smiled his triumph.

"Figure it out yet?" he asked, and I understood.

He could make people relive their memories. He could insert his own. He could torture me with mine.

"I'll take that as a yes," he concluded as another tear slid down my cheek. "And… Kayla, take the boy to the weak one's quarters. Now."

"Bye Cara," Alex called back as he was dragged off. I lifted my gaze and met Lucas's. He was smiling bitterly, meanly, and his voice was rough and crude.

"Really," he sighed sarcastically. "I believe there's something behind this decision of yours. If you'd thought I would kill him, you would've said yes. So, what's bothering me is how you knew I wouldn't."

"You're a sucky liar," I growled, my voice breaking twice. Damn.

"I'll figure it out, you know." He turned to walk away, but stopped and turned slightly. "Oh yes," he said, as if remembering something. "I forgot to tell you. You know your dear lover? Well, I had the most charming chat with Caius a while back. It seems you're tied to Matt in more ways than you think. What makes my revenge even sweeter, here, is the fact that you can feel what he feels—physically and emotionally—and vise versa. Wonderful, isn't it? Odd, but wonderful."

"Wait," I called out. No wonder I'd been feeling those not-me emotions. "I need to know how long I've been here."

"You do? Well, I guess it can't hurt you. You see, I can realize why you wouldn't be able to tell time here. You're underground. No wonder—you can't see the sun, the stars." He laughed shortly, and I looked down. "But, if you must know, you've been under capture for six and a half months."

With that he left, but not before flicking a picture of Matt, his arms around me, smiling and laughing, at my feet. I let the tears fall.

OOO

You guys better love me. I spent all of today writing this. Phew. Sorry, but I'm not proof reading it. I'm sick and I want to go to bed. –saultes-

PS: sry for the darkness. It should only last about another chapter, 2 tops. I swear there's a reason for it.

Jamie