A/N: Posting this today to make up for the time gap between Chapter 1 and 2. Hope you guys accept this as an apology? If you can guess why this chapter is named so, you get…a one-shot, pairing and themes your choice.
This chapter contains subject matter which may not be suitable for some readers. Reader's discretion is advised. Think I should change the rating to M…yes/no?

Chapter 3:Hell.

"When a man is penalized for honesty he learns to lie."
― Criss Jami

Mike opened the door and shut it silently behind him. He turned around to see Paul standing behind him. He jumped and Paul chuckled.
"Relax, you're two minutes late." Paul put a hand on the small of Mike's back, "Do you think I enjoy hurting you? All you have to do is listen." Mike wasn't convinced, considering Paul actually sat and counted how long he took, but he wasn't surprised. Paul smiled, "You wanna do something? Movie?" Mike was speechless. Paul was not being this nice. Mike must have zoned out or something, because the next thing he felt was a whack to head. It caught him off-guard, and he staggered a bit, before regaining his balance. "What are you, stupid?! You come home late after being with Spencer, not apologizing, but getting in my way. Why are you so useless?!"
"I'm not useless." Mike mumbled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that." Paul said, tilting his head toward Mike.
"I said: I'm not useless." Mike repeated. As soon as the last word came out, a punch knocked him to the ground. Another well-placed blow to the head dazed him.
"What'd you say?" Paul asked, but it wasn't a question. "Go upstairs and wait for me. Go." Paul whispered. Spencer was right: Paul always had an excuse to get mad. Not wanting to anger him further, Mike marched up the stairs, praying that Paul's twisted mind wouldn't think of a torture too excruciating.

Paul came up a few minutes later, stripped the bed of sheets, and ordered Mike to lie down. Mike shook his head, and bluntly refused. He was scared, terrified even, but he wouldn't let Paul take his dignity without a fight. Paul just laughed and said he'd have his way, whether Mike liked it or not, before putting Mike in a chokehold.

It is not the punishment, but the cause that makes the martyr.
-Saint Augustine

"Hey there, Mikey. You're awake." Paul said: a huge grin plastered on his face. He loved control, it was probably the reason he tied Mike up. Mike's wrists had been tightly bound to the shafts of the headboard. Paul left Mike's feet free, just so he could see them kick when the torture started. "How are you?"
"Awesome. I feel fucking awesome." Mike said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Ignoring his tone, Paul laughed.
"I'm glad; cause you're about to feel even better." Picking up a thin silver pole, Paul showed it to Mike, "Do you know what this is?"
"No…" Mike shook his head and Paul fired up the blowtorch. Paul stuffed a pair of socks in Mike's mouth to keep him quiet, then placed the curtain rod in front of the flame. When it glowed, red hot, Paul pressed the rod firmly against Mike's neck. The sound of Mike's flesh being seared off rang in his ears. He screamed loudly, the socks failing to muffle the sound. Paul dropped the rod, which fell to the ground with a clang.
"You're going to answer my questions honestly, okay, Mikey?" Paul half-asked, half-ordered. Mike nodded, speaking muffled sounds. Paul removed the socks and straddled Mike, unbuttoning his shirt. "Do you know why I'm doing this?"
'Because you're a sadistic prick?' Mike thought. He shook his head. Paul hit him square in the face, allowing his head to snap to the side, stretching the fresh burn.
"You agreed to answer honestly, Mikey…" Mike was a little out of it, the pain making it increasingly harder to concentrate on what Paul was saying, "Are. You. Sleeping. With. Spencer?"
"N… Aghh... " Paul pressed the rod to Mike's exposed stomach, causing him to holler, the sound bouncing off the walls.
"Honesty's the best policy." Paul's voice was sickly-sweet. He punctuated the sentence with a violent kiss that assaulted Mike's senses. Paul unbuttoned Mike's pants as he kicked and screamed. "Do you need me to relieve you of your tongue?" Paul whispered, retrieving a long blade from a chest of drawers.
"N-no. I'll be quiet."
"Goooood." Paul trilled, slicing into Mike's chest. He trailed his tongue over the scarlet drops that welled to the surface, smirking. Mike gritted his teeth and locked his jaw, focusing on not passing out. "Open." Paul ordered. Mike couldn't think right now, couldn't resist, couldn't refuse. He complied, though he wasn't sure why, with Paul's request. Paul stuffed the socks back into Mike's mouth and climbed off him.

Paul wasn't doing this because he wanted to – he needed to. Mike was disobedient and defiant. He was sleeping with Spencer and lying about it. Pictures don't lie. Getting James to tail Mike was a stroke of genius, if he said so himself.
On the other side of the door, left alone, Mike allowed himself to pass out and slip into a restless, dreamless, empty sleep.

A/N: So…Poor little Mikey seems to be in a spot of trouble…Whoops. (Don't worry, there's worse to come.)
Anyway, leave a review…if you want, though it's greatly appreciated. (Feeds my ego, haha.) Just kidding, feedback's lovely though, gives me a chance to see what you guys don't like. PM me if you're uncomfortable or something. It's not like I'll change the entire plotline: it's already written, but I might tweak it a bit.