A/N: Hey guys! I'm back again with a new chapter :D It's not quite as long as some of the others, but still over 4,000+ words ;) Anyways... I don't have much to say, except that there are a few little twists in this chapter for you guys :) Enjoy & reivew? :D

Disclaimer: Don't own Camp Rock or JONAS... duuuh.

Everyone seemed to freeze as I uttered that single statement. There was complete, utter silence, as the Lucas' brothers eyes widened, all staring at me with horrified expressions. I held back a sob as I, once again, turned and buried my head into Joe's chest, my body involuntarily trembling. Joe barely moved - if he even noticed - still staring blindly into space, his face like stone. I could tell he was angry from the way that he drew in a sharp breath, his body feeling stiff, his heart beating quickly, loud enough that I could hear it. I bit my lip, tears leaking out of the corners of my eyes.

Joe's arm tightened around my waist protectively, as if he didn't want to let me go. I didn't resist- I didn't want him to let go, I needed someone to hold onto.

Landon. I sobbed, unable to stop myself, and Joe immediately snapped into action, leaning down and whispering into my ear, his hand rubbing my back comfortingly.

"What happened?" Joe asked quietly, and although he didn't finish his question, it was clear what he was asking. I couldn't put off telling them, either, even though I wondered if I was even able to force the words out of my mouth. Every breath pained me, my thoughts focused solely on Landon, and explaining what had happened that fateful night would not be an easy task.

"Ok." I whispered, taking a deep breath. "I'll start from the beginning." Releasing that breath with a shudder, I closed my eyes, and allowed my mind to take me back to the memories of a day I'd been trying to block out for so long.

It was four years ago, on a dark and stormy day - the ones you usually see on TV in horror movies and such. I'd always laughed at that - how Mary Sue of them to act as if every time something bad happened, there was conveniently dark skies and lightening streaking overhead. However, that had described the day exactly, and I never laughed about how corny the plot line was now. No, I'd never laugh at that again, seeing as how it now seemed realistic, and horrible.

Mom had come into the room, where Landon and I were sitting quietly, watching some TV show that I now couldn't remember the name of, despite the storm overhead. She'd snapped at us to turn off the TV, explaining quickly that we weren't to watch anymore TV until the storm had passed. With much sighing and groaning, we'd shut off the TV at her request.

Dad was right behind her, yelling to be heard over the noise of the thunder and lightening. He'd told us briefly that he and Mom had to run out and help one of the neighbors down the street, who's roof had begun to spring a leak and it needed immediate attention. Mom directed us to stay in the house, under all circumstances, and that Landon was in charge. I'd nodded, along with Landon, and without waiting any further, Mom and Dad rushed out of the door.

I wished I could have stopped them - maybe then, things would have been different. However, I knew that it was better for their own sake that they hadn't been in the house, because I couldn't even begin to imagine what would've happened if they had. It could have been disastrous- even more so that it already was.

Landon pointed out that we could play a card game to pass the time, and seeing as he was just as worried about Mom and Dad going out in the storm as I was, I agreed, for his sake. Before I could take a step towards the closet, though, the sound of breaking glass could be heard.

I gasped, pulling away from the memory for a second, my hands gripping Joe's shirt as tears poured down my cheeks and I gasped for breath. Joe held me tightly, although now I pulled away, pushing him away from me as I moved myself closer to the wall, wanting to be alone. I needed to be alone - to remember what it was like to have Landon by my side, and remember when he'd been ripped away from me. When I had lost him. I choked on a sob and, unwillingly, realized I had cut off mid-story. I glanced up, seeing Nick, Joe, and Kevin all staring back at me with deep concern, and drew in a shaky breath. I had to keep going - to remember all the pain and horror of that day.

Landon and I had both frozen, both in fear and shock, although Landon was the first to recover. His eyes wide, he turned and pushed me towards the stairs, motioning frantically to get up to my room. I shook my head quickly, attempting to grab Landon's arm - he had to come with me - but he quickly dodged me. With a shake of his head, he waved his hands towards the stairs.

"Go up to your room and hide under your bed, or somewhere, please." His low tone was practically begging me to obey, and on sudden impulse, I nodded, my feet flying up the stairs as I quietly yet quickly ran for the safety of my room, leaving Landon downstairs. That, I now deemed, was mistake number two.

Scrambling into my room, I dove for the bed, making a quick pathway as I slid under the bed, glad that I was still small enough to fit under. Closing my eyes, I tried to calm my breathing, and focus instead on what was going on downstairs. At the moment, I could hear nothing.

And then it all happened at once. There was the sound of a struggle, and furniture being knocked over, and things crashing against the wall, and I couldn't help shaking as I fought the urge to cry out for help. I probably should have, although I had only been thirteen at the time and still too scared to truly think. Another mistake on my part.

And then it was quiet. For a second, I wondered if maybe I'd scared myself unconcious, or maybe this was simply a dream - or, should I rephrase, a nightmare. Chiding myself for thinking so foolishly, I wondered if it was safe to move. When I heard footsteps, however, I changed my mind. Loud and heavy, I could hear someone coming up the stairs, and I pushed myself farther under the bed, my heart racing as I tried to think quickly.

"Leave her alone!" Landon's desperate voice rang out from the hallway, angry and hurt and begging, and I struggled not to cry out to him.

"Then you will do it?" A deep voice, one that sounded hauntingly familiar, spoke next, slowly and deliberately. I knew that voice, I recalled briefly, but perhaps the sheer fear I was feeling refused to let me focus. There was a moment's silence, and then Landon's weak, yet firm, voice.

"Yes. Please." He whispered, and something in his tone made me freeze. Those were the last words I'd ever heard Landon speak, from that point on. The footsteps had retreated, along with my brother.

I closed my eyes, sucking in a breath. Somehow, during the process of telling my story, I'd stopped crying. Maybe I'd run out of tears - I wasn't sure. All I knew was that my cheeks were no longer wet, and I was no longer choking.

"Mitchie, I'm so sorry. That's horrible. We had no idea... We didn't know..." Kevin broke off, meeting my eyes with a gaze that said they were sorry. What for, I still wasn't sure, since there was an unreadable expression in all three boys eyes. I nodded quietly, noting that although the tears had stopped, my trembling had not. With a pained sigh, I leaned my head against the wall and went to pull my knees up so I could wrap my arms around them. Wrong move.

Attempting to ignore the pain shooting from my back, I bit my lip, struggling to keep from crying out, and my arms gradually forced my legs into the desired position. I could see Joe watching me - actually, all three of the Lucas Brothers were watching me - although he didn't say a word, and I could see he wanted to help. If only he knew how I needed to be alone - how much I wanted to be alone right now.

I lowered my head until I was resting on my knees, still pushing aside the pain the motion caused me, and focused on Landon. On that fateful day, I'd realized just how much loosing Landon would permanently scar me, forever. It had wounded me - handicapped me, in a mental way - deeper than any blow, something that would never, ever be able to heal, even if by some imaginary impossible deed, we were able to get ourselves out of his grasp.

It was hard to imagine - thinking back to everything he'd been deprived of, everything he'd put up with, everything that he'd allowed to be done to him, all to try to keep me safe. Of course, I wasn't sure that was the reason, but every aspect of the situation pointed out that it was the best possibility. Oh, how I wished I had never met Dain. My life would be so simple then.

Every time I turned around, my world was in chaos, and more complicated in ways I couldn't even explain. I wondered, not for the first time, why me? I know it seems selfish to wish this terrible fate onto anyone else, but I didn't mean it that way. No, I wanted more than anything to know why I had been chosen for this role - and hence, why me?

Had I received the short end of the straw? Most likely - that, or Dain's management just saw our friendship and jumped at the change to test him. Oh, no, Mitchie, don't even think of going there today.

At that thought, I drew in a sharp breath, wishing I could disappear. Wishing I could rewind and erase my past, and start fresh. Unfortunately, it was all too late for such wishful thinking, since I didn't seem to have a rewind button for my life that I could conveniently press when I'd first messed up. That first mistake... I closed my eyes. Oh, in the beginning, it had all seemed so simple - so innocent - and just slightly too late, I'd been able to see how truly terribly I had underestimated Dain.

And even then, I'd kept pressing forwards, in too deep a hole to find the strength to climb out, and instead digging myself deeper and deeper. And it was then that Dain had sprung his trap.

I forced myself to break out of my thoughts - to quit thinking about how it had begun, and instead focus on how I could possibly fix this mess. If there was any attainable way at this point, I wasn't quite sure.

The sound of a bolt being drawn back snapped me to my senses, and I froze as the door was pulled open. Already, again? My brain screamed, my heart rate bouncing back up.

As he stepped through the doorway, I could see he had managed to compose himself, and he glanced coolly at me, ignoring the others, his eyebrows raised.

"Mitchie, I need your answer." He stated simply, and a moment's of confusion passed through my mind - although I managed to hide it rather well - before I stood up, a sudden rush of confusion and anger and hurt pulsing through my body. I stepped towards him, until I stood face to face with him, so close I could feel his breath on my neck.

"I'll give it to you just once you answer one of my questions," I snapped, being sure to keep my cool as I stared back at him - not angrily, but curiously - and keep myself under control as I paused, collecting myself, and then began speaking again. Throughout the whole time, Dain barely moved, his eyes never leaving mine as he waited for me to finish. "Was I always just an assignment to you?" I didn't bother to hide the sorrow from my voice, seeing as we'd been over this before. He already knew how badly he'd hurt me - it was no secret. "Was I ever more than an assignment?"

Dain stared back at me, unblinking, as if he couldn't comprehend my question. Or maybe he simply chose not to - whatever the reason, his expression gave away nothing. He paused, his eyes still focused on me as he shifted his weight, uncomfortably, and for an instant, I could see the Dain I used to know - the one Dain had chosen to lock somewhere deep inside, opposed to his monster standing in front of me now.

It was there for one moment, and the next, it was gone. Dain shook himself slightly and straightened, shattering the image of the otherDain, replaced once again. His gaze hardened as he responded.

"You were just another job, Michelle." The hardness of his tone shocked me, even though I hadn't really expected a soft answer, and I took a step back, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. He only used my full name when he was angry, and that fact in itself made me wish I could crawl back into the corner and cower below him. Although, I never would do that, simply because it would be too satisfying for him.

"Well, Michelle, I've answered your question, now it's your turn to answer mine." I frowned at him, ignoring the latter part of his sentence. When he saw my confused expression, he discreetly waved his hand in the direction of the Lucas Brothers, and instantly I stiffened, my head shaking in a firm 'no' immediately. No, I wouldn't even dare think of laying a finger on any of the Lucas boys, no matter what Dain 'ordered' me to do. I wasn't like him - I would never allow myself to be like him - a simple machine for killing, controlled by the higher authority, simply following orders unmercifully. Never would I - I wouldn't let myself become the monster he was now.

"No." I spat, watching as Dain stiffened, looking angrier, before he once again checked himself, nodding calmly.

"Very well, Michelle." He responded, as if he'd simply asked me to do some simple thing and I had refused and it was of no importance to him, either way. However, I knew his persona was false - it was very important to him that I did as he'd commanded, but unfortunately, I was no easy prisoner. I simply stared, meeting his gaze evenly, and I saw the corner of his lips lift up into a devious smile.

Any possible ounce of courage I'd been feeling vanished, because I understood his silent words. Landon. Seeing my expression, he nodded, now grinning, and I felt sick. He was going to make me choose - Landon or the Lucas Brothers.

Silently, he spun on his heel, not once glancing at me, although I could still see his wicked, taunting smirk as he pretended to ignore me. Somehow, he could already predict how I was going to act, and this time, he was right. Before he could leave, I threw myself at him, my hands grabbing his arm and pulling him back.

Immediately, his bodyguards jumped forwards to pull me off, but he held up his hands at them to stop, staring down at me, looking amused. He already knew I was going to beg on my hands and knees and, possibly (in his mind) change my own mind about doing what he'd requested.

"Please Mitchie, I've done so much for you already - I've housed you, I've fed you, I've treated you rather well - can't you do me one small favor in return?" I stared back at him in shock - he could not be serious, could he? I couldn't think of a single person who had treated me worse than Dain, and yet he stood here, unashamed before me, claiming I owed him favors, since he had been so unconditionally kind. It was sickening.

I moved to step back, and it was then I realized that Dain's hand was on my wrist, keeping me firmly in place. With a disgusted look thrown in his direction, I pulled back, my free hand reaching out and shoving him away as I shook my head. Never would I even consider the possibilities of obeying him, ever. I wouldn't.

"I owe you nothing." I hissed angrily, stepping away from him. "And I will never do what you're asking." I clarified, glaring at him. "Never." He only smiled back at me, keeping his emotions firmly hidden behind his own personal unreachable wall of China.

"Sweetheart," His tone was sugarly sweet, dripping with a warmth that didn't fit him at all, "Hasn't anyone ever told you never to say never?"

The four of us sat in silence - the Lucas Brothers huddled together, and myself opposite them, staring blankly at the wall. You were just another job. Somehow, this hurt most of all, although I'd been foolish to ever think that I was anything butanother assignment. Somehow though, when he'd solidified this fact, a tiny part of me had died - the part that kept believing that maybe, just maybe, he would change.

Now, as I stared dully at the stone, I could see clearly that my false scenario would never happen. It was too late for him to turn himself around, and if he ever did manage that, by that time I wouldn't be around.

I dropped my head into my hands, groaning at the intense pressure building up in my head. Why would my life never be satisfied with being simple? Why did everything had to be complicated, difficult, or anywhere in between the two? I couldn't understand it, not one bit. If I could, I would happily agree to be just another silly, stupid teenager, and I wouldn't regret that choice, despite how much I wasn't a fan of teenagers (although I myself was one).

Yes, I would, without a doubt, trade this insane horrifying life for that of a normal teenager. In simply two seconds, I wouldn't hesitate. Unfortunately, there was no choice in the matter now, and I was stuck in the mess I'd created for myself. I'd dug my own grave, those long, fateful five years ago, when I first met Shannon, and when she's dragged me to meet Dain. And from the moment he'd set eyes on me, it was already too late.

I didn't realize I was crying until a lone tear dropped onto my leg, and I lifted my head, wiping at my wet cheeks. Oh, how I wished I could simply make this all go away. I didn't want to be stuck in this mess - I just wanted everything to disappear. I wished it would simply vanish away, and leave behind little or, better yet, no hint of the past few years.

I yawned, suddenly realizing how worn out I was from the day's events, and leaned my head against the wall, forcing my stops to stop swirling around in my mind. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to worry about everything, and worrying wasn't going to change anything. Another yawn tore through me, and I closed my eyes, falling asleep in moments.

[Joe's P.O.V]

Guilt. The was probably the only one thing that I was feeling that I could understand. Guilt was raining down on me, drowning me in it's heavy downpour. This was wrong. What he'd done, her creating her own self destruction, and what we were doing. It was wrong, dead wrong, and suddenly I wanted no part in it.

I turned to quietly glance at my brothers, who both held the same, haunted look in their eyes. Obviously, they were rethinking this, too, and I hoped fervently that they would agree with me, because if they didn't... I wasn't sure what to do. Already, I was wondering if I should push away the shame burning inside of me and just carry on as I was before.

My eyes subconsciously ran to Mitchie's shaking form, her body hugging the wall as she quietly rocked herself back and forth, and as the dim sunlight shown through, I could see her face shining with tears, and I knew we were wrong. It's wrong, wrong, wrong.

"Nick. Kevin." I whispered, quietly so as not to disturb her, and they both turned towards me, their expressions holding the same emotions I was feeling. I opened my mouth to speak, casting a quick glance at Mitchie to make sure that she wouldn't overhear us, but Nick beat me to it.

"This is wrong, Joe." He spoke quietly enough that Mitchie was unable to hear him, but firm enough that both Kevin and I could hear the thick emotion in his voice. I drew in a breath, nodding subconsciously.

"I agree. We can't do this anymore." I replied, leaning my head back against the cold wall as I shuddered. "I can't do it anymore." Nick glanced at me sympathetically, knowing exactly what I meant, but didn't say a word out loud, and for that, I was grateful.

"Especially not after we know some of her story, too. We can't deny we're making a huge mistake, and I myself want no part in this. We should have just said no in the beginning." Kevin pointed out, and I sighed, knowing he had a good point. How had we managed to end up here, in the first place? I couldn't remember now - it all seemed so long ago, passing through my mind briefly, but leaving before I could get a firm grasp on it. For some reason, it kept escaping me.

"But we can't just walk away from this," Nick reminded us both, and with a pang of regret, I noted that what he said was true. Although, I glanced at Mitchie once again and knew I couldn't walk away (even if he would allow us) from this and leave her to fend for herself. The only way I would be leaving was if we escape from here with her, and since that was an unlikely possibility, I refused to leave. And, of course, as I already knew, he wouldn't have allowed us to leave, anyways.

"We have to think of something." Both Nick and Kevin heard the desperate note in my voice, and they narrowed their eyes at me, Nick's head jerking towards Mitchie. I glanced at her again, worried she might have overheard me, but she was already asleep. I smiled quietly at her peaceful expression, noting that I'd never seen her calm before. She was beautiful...

With a shake of my head, I pushed away the unwanted thought, telling myself I couldn't think in such a manner. I wasn't allowed to.

"Get some sleep, Joe." Nick's quiet voice broke through my thoughts, his stern gaze telling me that he could already guess what I had been thinking, and he knew that any such thoughts would put us in a dangerous opinion. "We'll think about this in the morning, when we can think more clearly." He drew out the last part, and I nodded, knowing better than to argue with him.

I leaned against the wall, trying to ignore my troubling thoughts that continued to pester me, haunting me, and closed my eyes until I fell asleep.