Okay, Now we find out where Mark is and a little history about him and his father . . . Again, Sorry for doing this to you guys . . . . I couldn't resist :P

Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT. Except my characters and my storyline . . . those are mine.

Torture and Beatings

Mark was not in a good situation. He was strapped to a chair in the middle of a dimly lit room in the middle of who knows where. He knew he was in a bad situation. He had been knocked out by his kidnappers and had been taken to this place. The only things he knew were that he was tired, hungry and his kidnapper was the one who almost murdered Jo 10 years ago. This was not good.

Suddenly, the metal door in front of him slammed open to reveal Mark's kidnappers, arguing.

"I'm tired of this Tino! Either you bring them to me or sweet little Josie will be killed earlier than planned." One said, unpleasantness dripping in his voice.

"I told you," The one called Tino said, "I need more time! Ray, I've got hundreds of desperate customers to distribute to. Richard's MIA right now so you'll just have to be patient!"

"Patient?" Ray mocked, "Patient?! All I've done for the past 10 years is be patient! I need the heroin now Tino!"

Tino sighed and fingered something in his pocket. "Look," he said, taking a quick glance at Mark who had been silent this whole time and was avoiding eye contact. "Just tell me something: why heroin? Why not something else?"

"Because," Ray smirked, "Mark's friend used to be a customer of yours. He needs to know what it's like to get high on smack" He walked over to Mark and put an arm around Mark's shoulders, "Marky-boy is gonna have a bit of fun while he's here. Right Marky?" Ray pulled Mark's chin so the two men were facing each other. "Right?"

"You keep that shit away from me!" Mark spat out, venom lacing his baritone chords.

"Why?" Ray mocked Mark, "Don't you want to feel better?" His voice turned menacing, "Oh . . . that's right . . . you're the one who can't feel because he detaches . . . Well, we can fix that."

"I don't detach," Mark pointed out, "I observe."

"Behind your beloved camera so you can avoid human contact and feeling." He laughed, "You're pathetic. I don't know what Josie sees in you."

"Leave her alone . . ."

"No," Ray snapped, "I'm going to finish the job I started." He turned away from Mark and glared at Tino. "I need those drugs, Tino." He said, "Either you give them to me or I'll get them myself. But I will have them. It's your choice Tino: easy or hard?"

Tino watched Ray for a moment before sighing and pulling the package out of his pocket. It contained a baggie of heroin, a spoon, matches, a candle, a strip of rubber, tinfoil and a needle. "That's all you need to get started." Tino said almost sadly, "Don't use the needle the first few times; he's got to develop tolerance."

Ray smirked, "Of course; we want to make sure we do this right." And with that, Ray took the package and set everything up on the table. He lit the candle and poured the heroin in the tinfoil that was being held over the candle. He brought it over to Mark and held it to Mark's face. "Breathe in Marky," Mark desperately tried to hold in his breath. He remembered that this was how Roger started heroin. Finally, Mark gasped for air, taking in the drug and letting it infiltrate his body. Ray covered Mark's nose and mouth to keep the drugs in Mark's system for a bit before letting go. Mark exhaled slowly. The drug was taking effect.

Ray smirked and left the room with Tino to let Mark experience the full effects of heroin.

RENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

Flashback

Mark sat on the couch in his living room, waiting for Josie to come over so they could go to the park. He wished Josie didn't have chores to do. His father had already started drinking and Mark wanted to get out of there before Mr. Cohen realized that his favorite punching bag was in the living room.

Just as Mark was thinking about it, Mr. Cohen stumbled into the living room, bumping into various large objects. Mark's eyes got wide as Jacob started to walk towards him with a fierce look in his eyes. Mark got up off the couch and slowly backed away from his father. Here they come . . . Mark thought as he carefully made his way to the door. Here come the beatings . . .

Mr. Cohen started with insulting Mark. "You are a poor example of a son you worthless queer!" Jacob slurred loudly. He threw a poorly aimed punch at Mark and missed. Mark knew that running would be pointless since Jacob Cohen was taller and stronger than him.

Jacob stumbled forward and caught Mark's shirt. "Why don't you hang out with your dyke, fag?" He spat out, lifting Mark up off the floor by his stretching shirt. Mark struggled to get out of his father's grasp. He didn't want to sustain bruises and cuts again; the last ones only recently went away. Jacob proceeded to pull his fist back in preparation to hit Mark. This time, his fist collided with Mark's jaw. Mark fell to the floor. When he tried to get up, he was forced down by another blow to the head. He tried to cover his face with his hands. His attempt proved futile when Jacob held Mark's wrists in one hand and proceeded to pound him with the other.

There was no one there. No one to help him get away; he was alone.

Jacob continued to hit Mark even after he drew blood from Mark's mouth and head. Mark started to feel dizzy. Black spots danced before his eyes until he finally started falling in and out of consciousness . . . "Mark!" Josie came rushing into the room full speed at Mr. Cohen and knocked him on his back. She then kicked him in that place to keep him occupied. Satisfied with Jacob's scream, she went over to Mark and placed a gentle hand on his bruised face. "Mark?" she asked, scared. Mark cracked his eyes open. Josie sighed in relief, "Oh, Mark," she carefully sat Mark up ad placed his arm around her shoulders. She stood up with him, barely supporting his weight with her small frame.

As they made their way out of the house, Jacob grabbed Josie's ankle, determined. In retaliation, she kicked him in the face and hurried Mark out the door and across the street to her house.

"Mom!" Josie called out. Margaret May hurried from the kitchen to the doorway where she was greeted with a frightening sight.

"Oh my god!" Margaret rushed over to Josie and Mark and both helped the weak boy to the couch where he promptly passed out. "What happened to him, Josie?"

"His father . . ." was all Josie choked out before breaking down into sobs.

Jacob Cohen spent two years in prison for what he did to Mark. And it was a year after he got out that Josie disappeared.

Again, Sorry for making you (and Mark) suffer . . . but I'm just that evil! MUAHAHA!! Just kidding . . . Please REVIEW!!!