Please Note I do not own Criminal Minds, any of the characters, or any other copyrighted content that appears in this story. This is just based off my own personal musings after a vivid dream after watching the show. Rated T for Language and Intense Content.
This is the final chapter. Enjoy!
All I could hear was buzzing as a numbing heat washed over my body. It took every ounce of will power I had not to pass out – most of it was driven by a need to keep Aaron Hotchner alive. I didn't know how I was keeping either of us alive, but I was determined to be useful somehow.
Quickly, I lunged for Agent Hotchner's discarded weapon, but was cut off by a dissuading 'tut-tut-tut' from him. From Kevin. "Not a good idea, dear. Besides, you and I both know you have no idea how to use that thing." His words and the confidence he spoke them with sent a chill down my spine. How could he know me so intimately to know that I didn't know how to fire the only weapon that could possibly save me?
Then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering the fact that he had found me inside the fucking safe house. Still, I couldn't just resign myself to accepting I was screwed. "What do you want from me?" My voice was desperate, pleading with him to just tell me why, but all he did was grin and keep his gun pointed at Hotch. "Just let him go. I'll go with you willingly if you don't kill him."
There was an annoyed grunt from Hotch as he stirred, which was washed out by Kevin's sick laughter. "You're going with me either way, so try again." There was that confident smirk stretched across his face, making me feel sick. All I had to do was make it another fifty five minutes before back up arrived.
Fifty five minutes until we could have a chance to be safe.
"Just put the gun down, Wyles. You're not getting out of here." Hotch's gravelly voice drifted up to us as he pushed himself up to his knees. The steady stream of blood leaking from just above his ear made me sick, but at least he was conscious.
Kevin moved confidently towards the FBI agent before placing the gun held firmly in his hand under Hotch's chin. "Is that so? Who's going to stop me? You?" I could see the desire to knock out Kevin's teeth flash across Hotch's face as the bastard smiled at him, but he didn't move other than to get to his feet as Kevin motioned for him to move.
We shuffled into the basement – why this house had a basement I couldn't tell you – before Kevin locked the three of us down there.
"Sit."
Shakily I obeyed him and watched as Hotch did the same reluctantly. "Please… don't do this… just let us go." It took everything I had not to break down into pathetic sobs and whimpers for mercy.
Anger flashed across his face and I realized I had forgotten his rules, but the realization was too late. That was the first time he hit me, this time across my face, drawing blood from the corner of my mouth. Hotch moved, but only got so far before the gun moved to aim at him again. "She knew the rules, Agent Hotchner. She pays the price."
There was some kind of heated exchange between them –Aaron was using his profiling tricks to try to calm Kevin but the psycho wasn't having it. I could see it in his eyes that he was ready to break, to kill my rescuer.
And this is where I am right now. Sitting here, watching as my last hope is about to be snuffed out.
I won't tell you I'm not scared; I'm scared as hell. But I can't let one more person die for me. "S… sir." My voice is shaking so bad, but I can't concern myself with that. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll… I'll behave." The words are like poison – like bile – in my mouth, but I say them to capture his attention. "I'm ready to go, sir." The tears threaten to fall, but I blink them back quickly and force the brave front to stay undamaged.
"And I wonder what could possibly be motivating you to make this willing decision." His voice slices through me, telling me to curl up and pray, but I keep pushing. "Because you won. You've got me and I'm tired of running. Just take me and leave him so we can go, please." I keep my voice soft as to not anger him.
We have twenty minutes until someone comes for us and I have to keep him occupied, because him being occupied with Hotchner means him killing him. Slowly. "Why don't we just stay here? It's nice to have company." Kevin hits Hotch again, stunning him long enough to handcuff the slightly bloodied FBI agent to the piping running through the basement. I couldn't keep myself from reacting to Kevin hitting Aaron, which only put a smile on the bastard's face.
My heart starts racing as he moves towards me and my breathing has stopped all together before he even reaches me. I can hear Hotch yelling at him but my brain refuses to process what he's saying. I close my eyes tightly as he brushes the pad of his thumb across my cheek. As he inhales the scent of my hair, I can't keep from shuddering and a singly tear escapes from my lashes. I have to try to brace myself for the punishment, but… augh… he hit me so hard in me sternum I can't pull enough air into my lungs.
I'm so dizzy… he has to let me off with just – … I wasn't expecting him to backhand me across my jaw hard enough to make it pop. More tears are stinging my eyes but I don't even whimper and I certainly don't look over at Hotch who is struggling in the cuffs, mouthing the words 'ten minutes' to me. He may have been trying to help, but ten minutes is a lifetime when you're being beaten.
Still, I'm doing my best to be silent. It doesn't seem to be good enough because he has his hands… round… my throat… and my… vi… sion… is… BLACK!
He was kind enough to let go just in time to put his fist in my gut, which actually made me blackout for a bit. My chest is on fire and my brain is trying to explode through my skull, pulsing in rhythm with the beating of my heart, but at least I'm alive, right? I opened my eyes just in time to see him pull away from me and now I've somehow made it to my feet. "Sss… orry sirrr…" He turns back towards me, indifference in his eyes.
Five minutes… keep him for five minutes…
Kevin just stares at me, angry that I'm still not broken. "Just… tell me… why…"
"Because you're the one who got away… the only one. You're special."
His smile… that fucking smile pushes me to the point where I can't take it. The taunting and demeaning look in his eyes… I am moving towards him before I even realize it. The gun moves from Hotch and towards me, but not quick enough as I tackle him to the ground. He's much stronger than me and I'm light headed, but I keep fighting.
Out of desperation I bite the hand holding the gun, causing him to let go. However, this frees up his free hand to repeatedly punch me in the face. I can just barely hear the sound of Hotch trying to get out of the cuffs more violently over the cracking of my nose as it breaks.
The room is spinning and my attempts at defending myself become more and more pathetic. I'm not sure if it's because I'm just running out of energy or if I'm running out of life. Most of my energy is spent trying not to choke on the blood pouring from my nose.
Again his hands find my throat, but instead of squeezing he pulls me forward before slamming my head against the cement floor – I'm… I can't see… please God let it be temporary… I've got thirty seconds.
The tears are finally falling as he grips me by the back of my aching head and uses his other hand to squeeze my jaw before pulling my face towards him.
"Say hello to the other girls for me."
I can feel his muscles tightening and he's forcing me to move and my head is turning sharply and I can hear the heavy door being splintered by the heavy kick of an agent and a smile appears on my face. It doesn't last long because I can feel his hands pulling and my neck turns violently and I—