Jaeh- I don't know how we come up with this stuff, Lori. I mean, seriously, some of these are kinda messed up
Lori- Oh, I agree. But it's fun to write O_o;;;
Riley sighed. He tried to shuffle around in his seat, but it was useless. He had been sitting there for what felt like hours, and on top of being so uncomfortable, he was really, really bored. Oh, what I would give for some scissors right now. Or my iPod. He tried raising himself a bit from the chair, and attempted to stretch his sore back out a bit.
Congratulations, Riley Poole. You've managed to get yourself in trouble again. Even if this time, it isn't your fault. He sighed again. Here he was, tied to a chair, wishing for his iPod – wishing for your iPod? Seriously? Riley, you're tied to a chair! He scolded himself. Riley glanced at the door, hoping that someone… anyone –except for Devin – would arrive and keep him company.
Riley sighed for the third time, and decided to just distract himself for a little while. He glanced around, looking for some sharp object to cut the tape with… or maybe anything that could entertain himself for a moment in this miserable, dark, and gloomy place. The fluorescent light fixture hanging on top of him was flickering madly, and aside from it hurting his eyes, it added to the creepy ambiance the place already had.
What did I do wrong, that I got myself into a horrible horror movie? Riley frowned. He tapped his foot – or at least, tried to tap his foot, and failing miserably, he ended up trying to loosen the tight duct tape wrapped around his wrists. He wrinkled his nose, and groaned. Oh great, now my nose itches. Really? Does this have to happen every time anyone gets tied up or something?
"Can somebody please scratch my nose? Please?"
Of course there was no answer, and Riley groaned again. "Ben?" He shouted to the empty room, which echoed Riley's voice back. "You could come and save me again, now. I'm your friend-who-happens-to-be-in-distress just itching to get out of here. Now. Please? Beeeeeeennn."
His back strained, his wrists hurt, his legs cramped, and his nose itched. "Somebody get me out of this awkward position, please!" Now this… this is real torture. He frowned, and closed his eyes, trying to think of something else.
His mind flashed on a childhood memory involving the dark and a few sharp shards of something scattered on the floor, and tripping over them. Riley opened his eyes and shuddered. Now, that was unpleasant. He mentally kicked a wall in his head. He hated being in the dark, not knowing what would happen, what could come…What he could encounter. He didn't like the feeling of fear creeping up his spine.
I have a very, very bad feeling about this.
Riley's thoughts flashed back to Devin, that sadistic psycho that just couldn't stop hurting him. Riley shuddered, and looked towards the direction Devin went off to, earlier. He frowned.
He really, really hated being in the dark, not knowing what was to come. And with Devin, all rules seemed to fly out of the window, and nothing was predictable. It was like going through the dark without knowing if he was going to step and trip on the broken glass again. Or worse.
Ben… I need you here. Now. Please.
Ian ran fingers through his hair. He kicked at the gravel, and shook the fence. Don't let him get to you. He told himself. He's just hired help.
He knew Devin was the best to hire when it came to in-the-dead-of-night-kidnapping. Ian wasn't exactly expecting the degree of sadism the man exercised over Riley.
He glanced at his watch. Another three hours and this would all be over with. He could take the money, give the little twerp back to his friends, and disappear forever. He could make a new life for himself.
But before he could do any of that, he had to go check on Riley. The twerp was the key, as much as Ian didn't like him. If he escaped, or any harm befell him, Ian wouldn't get any money. He straightened up and headed back across the abandoned carnival.
Devin cracked his knuckles and grinned to himself. Everything was in place. The pieces were set. He entered the abandoned funhouse again, trailing a hand along the mirrors. His hand stopped where Riley's head had cracked the glass. Riley Poole, he thought. You've become my new toy, whether you know it or not. The question is, will you live up to my expectations?
Riley was still sitting, slumped slightly in the chair. Ah, here is my little mouse. We'll see if he can get out of my maze.
Riley's head snapped up when he heard the footsteps drawing nearer. When he saw it was Devin, he went pale and rigid in the seat. I already have power over him, Devin cackled to himself.
"Hello, Mr. Poole. Enjoying ourselves?"
Riley shifted in his seat, managing to glare at his aggressor. "I was until you walked into the room."
Devin simply smiled and crouched in front of Riley. He took out the pocket knife again and was pleased to see Riley's frightened expression.
"You know, Mr. Poole, I've been in prison for a long time. It was beyond boring in there. You're my first project since I was hired by Ian." He spoke conversationally, carelessly twirling the knife in his hands, which Riley watched in apprehension. Devin leaned in closer and Riley tried turn away. "I've a whole special surprise waiting for you, and I'm sure you love surprises."
"Actually, I don't," Riley spat. "And actually, you're not, because Ben and Abigail are coming to get me soon."
"Aw, isn't that touching?" Devin sneered. Riley didn't look at him, he kept his eyes fixated on something on the wall. Devin thought it was time for some more scare tactics. He brought the knife close to his victim's face again. Riley trembled, but remained silent.
"Don't be scared Mr. Poole, I'm not gonna carve up that pretty face of yours. You want to know why?"
"Not particularly," Riley said hoarsely. A smile curled on Devin's lips. Riley was doing a good job at keeping his composure.
"It's entertaining to see all the emotions that go over someone's face. I've found if their face is disfigured, it doesn't have the same effect."
Riley flinched as the knife pressed into his cheek.
"But that doesn't mean, I can't cut you somewhere else."
Riley's eyes went wide, and it looked like he was about to shout. Devin clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Shh. Mr. Poole, we don't want to alert anyone in the vicinity, hmm?"
The knife wandered down to Riley's forearm. Riley's eyes were wide and terrified, but there was nothing he could do. Devin grinned, about to make the first incision.
"Devin!"
Devin growled, furious he was being interrupted.
Ian advanced toward him. "What are you playing at!? I told you, don't harm him! He's too valuable!"
"I haven't harmed him, isn't that right Mr. Poole?" Devin removed his hand from Riley's mouth. His blue eyes found Ian's but he was too scared to make a sound.
Ian looked back into Riley's pale face and then to the knife, still positioned over his exposed arm.
"Put that away," Ian growled. "Now."
Fury flashed across Devin's face but then it was replaced by a sly smile. "Whatever you say…"
Ian glared at Devin. "I told you not to touch him."
"I didn't."
"Then what's the business with the knife?"
Devin just smirked, and waved Ian aside. Ian ran fingers through his hair again and huffed. "I've had enough of your games. We need him unharmed – unless you don't want your share of the deal…"
Devin didn't answer and started to leave the room. He shouldered hard past Ian with an unnerving smile on his lips did not go away. Ian just sighed, and said nothing in front of Riley.
When Devin left, Riley finally had the chance to breathe, and the first thing he spat out was: "How could you possibly work with that guy?" Ian raised an eyebrow. Riley was still white as a sheet. The kid's seriously afraid of Devin. Although I can't really blame him after he almost had his arm sliced open.
"None of your business." Ian snapped at him, and looked away. He grabbed the old fashioned phone sitting on the floor, and pretended to busy himself with it.
"You don't need him on this little excursion, Ian. You don't need anyone. Can't you just fire him and do this alone?" Riley half-pleaded, glancing repeatedly in the direction in which Devin had disappeared. "Ian, that guy is not right in the head."
Ian laughed at Riley, and sat down on a chair a few feet from him, shaking his head. "The worst thing he could do is kill you. And I would not let him kill my hostage. You, unfortunately, are much too important to get the money I want."
Riley looked at him square in the eye, and without a beat, replied, "There are worst things than dying, and I think you know that, Ian."
Ian looked away. He shuddered, knowing what Riley meant by that, and somehow, he knew Devin was capable of such inane amounts of torture; things that would make you want to die. Ian shook his head, and stood up. "I can handle him."
Riley frowned, and sighed. His gaze went back to the door where Devin had left. "I hope you can."
Ben grabbed the duffle bag, and tossed as much money as he could in. He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "This is going to take a while."
"Ben, we need to get to Riley. I don't trust Ian," Abigail said and frowned anxiously.
Ben nodded. "Who does?" He shook his head, and gestured at Abigail to grab the suitcases filled with money and started tossing more in the bag. "I want to get to Riley too, Abigail. But this process is going to take a while."
"I didn't realize we had so much money."
"We invested a lot of it in the house and sent most to the charities and museums you chose, actually." Ben had finally given up on using his hands to grab piles and just dumped the money directly from the cases into the duffel bags. "I wish Ian left Riley out of this. He could take all my money for all I care." He sighed. He closed the duffel bags, and grabbed them both. "All done. Now let's get Riley back."
They pulled up in front of the abandoned carnival, and surveyed the place for a moment. "This place is unnerving." Abigail commented, staring at the clown's face that appeared to jeer at them.
"I know." Ben said, frowning. "I don't think Ian chose this place on purpose, though. He's always been more… subtle."
"Didn't you hear someone else's voice in the background when you were talking with Ian? Was it Phil?"
"I didn't recognize the voice. I think he's new." Ben said, frowning. The menace in that voice directed at his friend still made him shiver. "Abigail, I have a bad feeling about this. Something's telling me this is not going to end well. I want to get to Riley fast…" He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
Abigail nodded and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I know, Ben. I'm worried about him, too. We'll get him back." Ben glanced at her and smiled. She knew just what to say to comfort him. Then Abigail nodded to something outside the car. "Look," she whispered.
Ben glanced at the entrance, and saw Ian standing in front, smirking. He waved at Ben, gesturing at him to kill the engines and to roll down the window. Ian walked towards them, gun in hand. "Ben, how good it is to see you again."
"I can't say the feeling reciprocated." Ben replied, his hands still on the wheel.
"Tsk tsk, is that how you greet an old friend?" Ian tapped a finger on the car door, and leaned over, cocking the gun. "The money, Ben. Where is it?"
"With me." Ben's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "I'm not giving it to you until Riley's with me. We need to see Riley first."
Ian smirked. "I could just kill you right now, and grab the money for myself. No one knows you're here Ben. I like doing business with you – third parties really aren't included, as was in my instructions."
"You can't kill me. I know you wouldn't." Ben looked defiantly at him and Ian glared back. Ben almost growled, and grabbed two duffel bags from the back seat. "I need to see Riley. You're not getting a single penny until I see him."
"Show me, first."
Ben slid a zipper open, and raised the bag's flap. The money came in hundred dollar bills, and Ian nodded with satisfaction. "Did you have any trouble explaining this to the bank authorities, Ben?" He said with a laugh.
Ben didn't answer. His fist tightened around the duffel bags' handles. "Abigail, I need you to stay in the car."
Abigail stared at him incredulously. "No, Ben. I'm coming with you."
"Abigail, we have no time to argue about this."
"I agree, and that's why I'm coming with you." She crossed her arms stubbornly. "You need me there, Ben. What if…" Abigail's voice dropped. "…what if Riley's hurt? You're going to need my help."
Ben sighed, and flipped the locks open. "Just stay close."
Abigail nodded, and both stepped out of the car.
Ian watched in amusement. "Still stubborn, I see, Abigail."
Abigail glared at him. "Just take us to Riley, Ian."
Ian shrugged, and waved mockingly at the entrance. "Ladies first."
"How gallant of you," Abigail scoffed. "But unfortunately, we don't exactly know where you're keeping our friend."
Ian's lip curled into a half-sneer but he gestured with his gun for them to follow. Ben took Abigail's hand and all three of them made their way into the dark carnival.
Ian led them into an abandoned funhouse. The walls were decorated with old chipped paintings of clowns. Ben shivered. He didn't like clowns, but he was pretty sure nobody liked clowns. Riley didn't like clowns. He bit his lip, hoping that his friend wasn't hurt. Riley's fine, he told the anxiousness building in his stomach. He's fine. We're going to take him home.
"He's in this room," Ian told them.
They walked into an old dilapidated room, with only a single source of light illuminating it. Abigail gasped and Ben felt his blood run cold. The chair in the center of the room was empty, the duct tape having been cut.
"Oh, Blazes," Ian cursed, running a hand through his hair.
Both Devin and Riley were gone.
Jaeh- ARGH CLIFFIE! Authors and their cliffies! making the readers miserable!
Lori- D-: Oh noes! Riles! Please review!!