Hello everyone! Finally updating after a nice vaction. I hope everyone is well. Before I let you read the story (though you could just skip this) I want to thank SnoopyGirl213 for her support. She absolutly loves 'Allenri' (Allen and Henri) and has been annoying me for updates. Just kidding. It wasn't annoying, it was actully supportive. I have a blog going for anyone dying of what SnoopyGirl213 calls 'Updat-itis.' I will be using the blog to post somethings soon to be released along with the orignal version of things. Go to my profile and click homepage or click here if it will let you. .com/ Also please vote on my poll on my blog. I want to write some more things and so far I have only one vote! So Vote! And please enjoy the fallowing chapter. :)

"SHUT UP YOU STUPID LITTLE BRAT!" The voice screamed at me again while coming for the next blow of the whip. Tears flowed down my face as the snake-like thing hit my back with a hiss.

I was top-less who knows where. It was cold and I was shivering from exhaustion and pain. They had already hit me numerous times, laughing drunkenly.

"Stop," Commanded a voice of reason. "That's enough for now. We need her somewhat presentable for her father."

'Dad,' I thought. More tears streamed down my face. Two men suddenly grabbed me and hauled me down a corridor. I was aching in pain but I had no more energy left within me to scream. They tossed me onto the ground and slammed a heavy door shut, leaving me to my suffering.

I opened my eyes, suddenly aware of my pain as I tried sitting up. I moaned and fell back onto the pillow. Tears welled once again while sobs waited in my throat.

"Shhhh…its okay now," a comforting voice came about.

"Dad?" I asked suddenly remembering what had happened last night.

"Yeah, it's me Henri. I'm here now." He tightly held one of my hands in both of his. I moaned again when another wave a pain hit me. "What hurts?" He seemed so caring, so loving.

I turned my head to the side and opened my eyes a bit so that I could see him. "Who are you and what have you done to my father?" I jested.

A smiled played on his lips. "I've been here all along just waiting for the right moment."

"And me bleeding a lot kicked it into action?" I pushed him forward a little more.

But of course as I finally have the father/daughter moment I dreamed about, it was interrupted by the door opening. A heavily built man stood in the door frame. A man I had seen before stood in the doorway with two more men behind him. My father stood up looking like he was ready to face him.

"Calm down," said a creepy voice. It was vaguely familiar from my beating taking place only a few hours ago. "We ain't goin to hurt ya…yet."

My father still stood protectively in front of me while I silently prayed to a God I could only dream of being real.

"Why do you want us here?" My father demanded to know.

"Well if ya fallow me, I'll show you." The 'Voice-of-reason' or I guess his real name was Victor but whatever. I tried to push myself off the bed again and this time it actually worked but of course some pain was involved. I winced only a little bit with my father still in his protective mood. He offered me his hand but I refused.

I walk down the hallway trying to hide all of the pain I was currently feeling. Every step that I took brought more pain to my body. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself further.

Soon we came upon a door not as heavily bolted as the one we had been locked behind. The two bozos led us (or rather pushed us) through the door. More pain erupted but I tried standing strong.

The room was bright compared to the hallway with windows carved out of the rock. I had to squint for a while until my eyes adjusted.

"Welcome, welcome," Victor greeted us. "I'm hoping that y'all are enjoying your stay here at my beautiful palace."

"I wouldn't say beautiful," I muttered underneath my breath which earned me a glare from my father.

"Just tell us what you want already," My father spat.

"Why can't you live in the moment Muttly?" Victor came closer to him. "But I guess I've been lettin' ya hang on the edge too long." He pulled out a book and flipped through a few pages before stopping. "Do ya know what this is here?" He inquired, holding the book with a picture on the page up to my dad's face.

"The Box of the Gods," It was almost too faint to hear.

I peered over at the page and could make out an image of what looked to be an ugly wooden square. "Why in the world would you want that?" I asked harshly.

"Cause this picture is old an' don't have what professors have recently found out 'bout it." He spat right back at me. "It's posed to be jeweled incrusted which will bring me a lot of money. And your daddy here is goin' find it for me."

"What makes you think I am going to do that?" My dad made a move towards Victor like he was going to punch him.

"This should answer that." Victor nodded his head and suddenly arms came around me. I heard a click with the feeling of a cold, metal rod at my head. I instantly knew what would happen if I struggled. I looked over at Dad to see his face fall.

"No, I won't let you." He turned back to Victor. "Leave her out of this."

"Your choice Muttly, your daughter or the box, sounds pretty simple if ya ask me. Better hurry Rolfe over there doesn't have my patience." The arms holding me still became tighter, cutting off some oxygen. My father turned back to me and it suddenly became clear what I should do.

"Don't," I managed to strangle out. His eyes became sad and looked down at the ground.

"I'll find the box for you."

"No!" I screamed. "You can't!"

"Well isn't that dandy?" I really wanted to slap Victor right now even if he did save me from more pain. The arms let go of me and I fell to the floor. My father was there in a flash, helping m stand then holding me to his chest.

"And to thank ya for helpin' us out, heres a little something for ya." More of his stupid guards pushed a body to us.

"Allen!" I yelled breaking my dad's grip. I ran to him, imminently checking for a pulse. I thank God that there was one. His eyes fluttered a little to my touch.

"Henri?" his voice was hoarse.

"I've got you Allen. I'm right here." I tried to comfort him.

"We found him outside this morning spying on us. Thought he might be one of yours. Take 'em back to their cell." Victor commanded. My father appeared on the other side and picked Allen up. We walked back to the dark cell in silence. As soon as the door slammed shut, I raced to take care of Allen as my father had done to me only hours before. I had forgotten about my own, I just wanted to help him.

"Hen," he protested as I tried to lay a wet cloth on his forehead. "I am fine. We had a little fight when they found me and one of the guys knocked me out. I'll be better after a little rest." He smiled at me and I smiled back. "Hop up here."

"You mean lay next to you?" I was appalled at the thought of doing that with my father's watchful eye just over my shoulder. I turn around to receive a nod of approval from him. With that, I hopped onto the bed and snuggled next to Allen. He put his arms around me, encasing me in his warmth. We laid there for a few quiet moments.

"Why did you do it?" I had to know.

"What did I do?" He wondered.

"Why did you fallow my father here?"

"I needed to know that you were okay. I would have stayed outside behind that blasted rock for days until your dad brought you out. I was afraid for you."

"Thanks."

"For you, anything."

And that's how we fell asleep, in each other's arms.

I hate math but I figurred out this equation. More Reviews=More Support+More Suggestions From You Guys=The Faster I Update