AN: By overwhelming demand, here it part two. Hope this meets all of your expectations!
Dollhouse Part 2
XXX
Luke
I grabbed one bag full of goodies from the counter. As Nathan grabbed the other, we shared a brief look of amusement at the obnoxious attitude of the clerk in front of us. My amusement evaporated rapidly as I stiffened in response to the hard vibration originating from my pocket. No! Not right now, I silently begged. We had been having such a nice day. Hell, it had been the first day off in forever, it seemed.
"No, no, no, no!" I couldn't help groaning out loud as I swiped at my phone checking the message. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Nathan shaking his head as he checked his own message.
Blackbourne: Family meeting at Victor's in an hour. Drop Sang off at Nathan's for the night. New Information.
"Crap, I'm sorry Peanut, but we're going to have to call it a day. Mr. Blackbourne is asking for us. Academy business."
I watched him lift his phone in apology and I felt the frown expand on my face. I was almost afraid to look at Sang , but forced myself to do so anyways. The anger or frustration I expected to see on her lovely face was not present. All I could see was compassion and understanding in her sparkling green eyes. A gentle smile graced her face and I was struck again by how absolutely beautiful she was, inside and out, for the umpteenth time today. How she was able to put up with our crazy shit and not run screaming was a constant source of amazement to me.
"It's ok Honey, Luke. I had the perfect day today, don't worry about it. I always love hanging out with you when I can."
The simple sincerity and guileless manner in which she stated this made me melt more than a little and I shot her that smile that only she seemed capable of pulling out of me. I could see Nathan relax in a similar manner out of the corner of my eye. He shot me a questioning look that I immediately picked up, interpreted and answered. It was basic instinct to read the question and command in his steady gaze. I'm getting the car, stay with Sang. At my nod, I knew he got my own meaning. Of course, stupid. We'll be here.
"Peanut, I'm going to go get the car from the playground, ok? You stay right here with Luke. I'll be back in ten minutes, tops."
I saw the grin that popped up on her face as she rolled her eyes. "Alright, Honey, I'll be right here, I promise." Her eyes lit up in a teasing manner as she lightly chided Nathan for his overprotective tone. I grinned to myself as Nathan chopped her on the head, shot me one last quick glance, than took off down the street. I opened my mouth to tell her to park her pretty little butt right next to me when I felt another firm vibration in my pocket. It was just not my day! I glanced down only to see North's name on the screen. Irritation made my tone curt as I answered.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Don't take that tone with me, Luke. Is Sang with you or Nathan right now?" The growl in North's tone let me know that he was in a deadly serious mood, which sobered me up further.
"No, she's right here next to me. Nathan's getting the car."
"Good. As soon as you get the car, you're to take your ass and all come straight to Victor's. No detours, nothing. This is not a fucking game, you got it Luke? If you are even a second late, I will kick all of your sorry asses and make Sang watch!"
Something in the urgency of his tone and the level of anger sent a thrill of concern down my spine. A scared North was an angry North, and he sounded pissed. I made sure to smooth my face into a bland mask as I listened to North's demands. I wanted to ask questions but Sang was staring expectantly at me. I didn't want to panic her so I sent her a brief apologetic smile before I step far enough away that I could let my guard down.
After one last glance to ensure that Sang was staying near the convenience store entrance, I whipped back around and barked into the phone.
"What is it, North? What's got you so freaked?"
"I don't want you freaking the fuck out, ok? I don't want you panicking Sang, you hear me?" The fact that he didn't even attempt to deny that there was something wrong sent ice through my veins and I stated pacing in agitation. Raising my voice a little, I found myself going from concerned to pissed in .3 seconds flat.
"What the hell is going on, North?"
North hesitated on him end, which stretched my already taut nerves tighter. I heard a sigh on North's end before he dropped a bomb I was not expecting and had hoped to never here again.
"Fuck face has made a move Luke, and it's not pretty. Luke, do you hear me? Volto's back."
My ears started ringing as I slowly began to comprehend what I just heard. Volto. Volto, faceless bastard who hated the Academy. Volto, who kidnapped Sang. Volto, who almost got her killed twice. I heard North talking in the background, but I was processing. Suddenly needing to see Sang and assure myself that she was safe and with me I whirled around.
Nothing.
I couldn't comprehend what was going on. Where was Sang? She wasn't by the door. Why wasn't she by the door? I could see the two plastic bags sitting on the curb right where they had been before, but Sang was nowhere to be seen. I hung up blindly on a yelling North and darted to the convenience store entrance, icy chills of panic sweeping through my veins. Bursting through the door, I frantically glanced all throughout the interior. No Sang. Without breaking stride, I darted to the restrooms in the back. Of course, Sang just had to go the bathroom. I pounded on the women's bathroom door, but it merely swung forward at the force of my fists. Empty. Desperation swung me around as I all but busted the men's bathroom door in.
Nothing.
My mind went blank for a moment. I couldn't comprehend what was happening. Sang had to be here. She had to. A manic energy had me rushing up to the front counter where the bored clerk maintained her stance over the magazine.
"Hey, you know the girl that was here with me and my friend? The little, cute one with the big green eyes and the blond hair? Yay high? Did she come in here?"
At this point, my heart was pounding and I was going from scared to full-blown panic. Sang was just here, she can't have just vanished. Something in my voice must have tipped the girl off because she gave me an odd look.
"I haven't seen her."
After saying so, she returned to her magazine. No, that was not what I wanted to hear and this was unacceptable. I slammed both of my hands down on the counter and yelled at her. "Where is she!? Where did she go!? She was just outside not even five fucking minutes ago. Did you see anything? Do you see anything past your fucking waste of space life?"
I was practically screaming at the poor girl in that the moment and I had the insane urge to reach across the counter and shake her violently.
"Dude! Luke, calm the hell down. What the fuck is wrong with you!? Why aren't you answering your phone? Where the hell is Sang?"
I felt Nathan's restraining grip on my arm and he swung me around. There was a look of intense concern on his face and a question in his eyes. But I couldn't calm down. He didn't understand. Sang was not here and Volto was back. I shoved past him and darted to the exit. Nathan shouted after me but I couldn't slow down. She had to be here somewhere; I just missed her is all. My gaze darted from side to side quickly, trying to calculate where she would have gone. Making a decision, I darted off to the side street. I heard the door slam open behind me as Nathan charged after me. I couldn't stop though, I had to find her.
My mad dashed ended abruptly when I saw her phone lying on the curb. Her pretty pink phone, crushed into the pavement. My mind froze, refusing to comprehend what this meant. Sang's phone was on the ground. Smashed. Sang's phone was on the ground and it was not with her. It was not with her which meant Sang was not here, because the phone was right in front of me.
"What the fu-"
Nathan's voice sounded as disbelieving as I felt. I heard an inhuman keen of great pain sound off suddenly. It took me a long moment to realize that I was the one making the sound. Nathan was frantically shaking his head back and forth in denial.
"No, no, no, no, no. No, No, NO!"
The string of denials spat out of his mouth before he whirled on me suddenly, grabbing my arms.
"Luke, where is Sang? Where the fuck is Sang? You were supposed to be watching her. I left her with you!"
He was shaking me so hard at this point that I felt my teeth rattling within my skull. I couldn't answer him. How could I tell him that I took my eyes off her for a minute, maybe two, and she just vanished. Like a fucking ghost. Like she had never been there at all. The manic fear in Nathan's eyes was a perfect mirror to my own and I didn't fight him as he shook me harder and screamed at me. Where is Sang? Where is she? I felt his spittle across my face and I didn't care. I had lost Sang, I had fucking lost her.
"Oy! What the fuck are you doing Nathan!?"
"Nathan, stop it! Get the fuck off of him!"
"Mr. Griffin! Mr. Taylor! What is the meaning of this!?"
The authoritative tone of Mr. Blackbourne broke through the numbed shock that had settled over my mind. I felt myself being yanked back as North shoved his way between Nathan and myself. I followed the arms yanking me back without any resistance. I found green eyes in front of me suddenly and I realized that Dr. Green was looking at me in concern.
"Luke, are you ok? Luke? Look at me."
I could hear North's angry voice yelling somewhere in front of me and I found myself oddly disinterested in what he was saying. I heard Gabriel cut in, followed by Kota and Blackbourne's authoritative voices. The words were lost on me and my head started throbbing. I found myself begin shaking, starting small but growing rapidly to violent trembles.
"Luke!"
A sharp smack across my cheek snapped me back to reality with cruel precision. I was surprised to find North's concerned face right in front of mine. Where'd Dr. Green go? Did he disappear too?
"Luke, what the fuck is going on? Hey, look at me! Yeah, come back. What the hell, man? I was talking to you one second and then you just cut the call. You scared the shit out of me. Where the hell is Sang?"
North's dark and intense gaze locked on my own and I could see the questions and the demand within it was hard to ignore. I couldn't answer, though. She was gone, Sang was gone. And it was entirely my fault.
"Mr. Taylor?"
At the authoritative demand in that familiar voice, North stepped back and I was suddenly very aware of the weight of eight pairs of eyes drilling into my own.
"I…..I don't know. I lost her. I lost Sang."
The world exploded into sound around me and I just hung my head and cried.
/
Sang
As the door pushed open and a silent scream filled my head, I felt a single tear track down my cheek.
For outlined in the doorway was the eager and adorable face of Jaimie. His pretty golden gaze swept through the room before they landed on me in the chair. At catching site of me, the largest and most beautiful smile I have ever seen lit up his delicate features. He raced across the room to me and launched himself at my immobile form and wrapped his little arms around my waist. I felt him snuggle his face into my chest and a waft of soap and warm little child tickled my nose. After a long moment he pulled back and beamed up at me.
"Mommy! You're awake! I was really, really, really worried! You slept for a long time."
His earnest gaze, childish pout and the soft fluffy black down on his head were as perfect as I had remembered and tugged at my heart. It took a moment for what he had said to catch up into my mind. When it processed, I felt my heart skip a beat. Mommy? What the hell was going on?
"Jaimie, don't be so rough with your mother. You know how easy they tend to break."
At the unexpected voice, I frantically darted my gaze upwards. Leaning against the doorway stood a man I had never seen before in my life. The initial impression I got from him was average. He was a decent height, maybe standing about 5"10 to 6 foot. He was of an average build, with nondescript brown eyes and dull brown hair that curled around his ears. He was on the cusp of being handsome, but I couldn't necessarily say he was ugly either. He was dressed in semi-casual clothing. He wore dark slacks and a white button up shirt, sleeves rolled up the sides. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, showing a glimpse of a thin metal chain hanging around his neck. He appeared to be about mid-20s to early 30s. It was hard to pin down an exact age. His expression was a bland mask of apparent indifference. However, I felt a chill run through me at the appraising look in his eyes. His dark stare bored into my own and the intensity was unnerving.
"Sorry, daddy. I was just really happy to see mommy awake. She's been sleeping forever."
The little whine in Jaimie's voice resulted in a small softening in the man's eyes. He strode forward and squatted down before the little boy and ruffled his raven locks gently.
"It's fine, sport. Just be more careful next time. Since your mother is awake, how about we play together?"
Jaimie perked up in excitement at this proposal and danced in place for a moment. He looked at me and rushed to my left side. I tried tracking his movements but he disappeared out of the range of my vision. I felt a shift in the air to my right and found the stranger standing over me untying the cloth ties that held me in place. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears and I renewed my internal struggles to move. What did they mean by play? The more I heard and the more I saw, the less I wanted to be here. My stomach flipped and my skin crawled as he fastidiously removed the last two ties around my neck and chest. As I had suspected, the moment the last tie around my sternum was removed, I began to fall forward.
Strong hands stopped my fall, but I would have rather fallen to the ground. I found myself suddenly swung up into his arms, my limbs flopping limp and boneless. My head ended up cradled against his chest and I was horrified to smell soap. Spring soap. He walked across the room and out the door. I heard a slight squeaking echo behind us and I desperately wish I could turn my head to locate the sound. He walked down the long hallway before stopping in front of a closed door. I felt him shift me so that I was cradled into one arm as he used the other to open the door.
With a light push, he walked into another pink room. This one was set in shades of dark fuchsia and midnight blue. A small table sat smack dead center of the odd room, set for three. The room was oddly bare aside from a large vanity hat lay snug against the far wall. I got a brief glimpse of myself before the strange man turned to face the door as I heard the squeak get louder. Jaimie stood to our left holding the metal pole I had noticed next to my chair when I woke up. He beamed up at me as he maneuvered the IV bag closer to me.
"So Jaimie, it's your choice. Do you want to play tea time or do you want to play dress up with mommy?"
I felt a cold stone of terror sink into my stomach at the casual way the man asked the young child this question. What was wrong with him? And how is it possible that Jaimie was not disturbed about what was going on? Jaimie's button nose scrunched up in concentration as he glanced between the tiny table and the vanity. After a moment, he appeared the come to a decision and grinned up at us.
"Dress up, daddy! Mommy is so pretty, we should make her prettier!"
I felt the man give a brief nod as he strode across the room. I could hear the squeak, squeak of the pole behind us, so I knew that Jaime followed. At about a foot from the vanity, I saw Jaimie dart forward and pulled back a tiny wooden chair, much like the one in the first room. I felt myself being deposited in the chair gently before I was pulled upright. The disturbing man quickly tied my chest and my neck upright and stepped to the side.
It was the first full view I had of my reflection since I had woken up in this horror show. My hair was gathered to the two sides of my head and secured by two large bows. The ends fell into the large ringlet that cascaded perfectly and stiffly to either side of my neck. My eyes were framed in long, fake lashes that tickled my cheeks every time I blinked. My face was pale and smooth, covered in a light foundation with two bright pink spots of rouge high on the apples of my cheeks. My lips were painted a dainty pink to match my nails and the dress. As I had suspected, the dress was of an antique style that fell to about mid shin. I had not had any shoes on when the strange man had lifted me up.
A light stroke to my hair on the right jolted me out of my horrified observations. I darted my eyes over and found Jaimie lightly running an old horsehair brush through my curls. He wasn't looking at me and his face was screwed up in intense concentration. His little tongue poked out on one side of his mouth and if I wasn't so sickened by my growing feeling of fright, I would have found the look endearing. I felt a mirroring tickle through my hair on my left and darted a glance in that direction.
As I feared, the strange man was running a brush gently through my curls as well. Neither spoke for a long time, both moving in a silent tandem that gave of the impression that they had done this many times before. I was so incredibly disturbed by the whole situation, but no matter how many times I tried, my body refused to obey my wishes. When the man began pulling out make-up containers, I felt a weary resignation settle over me. I looked up and locked eyes with my reflection. My eyes screamed the inner horror that my mouth could not.
Hours later found me returned to the pink bedroom, dozing in my chair. During the hours that I had been forced to finish "dress-up" and "tea-time" with the creepy man and his young son, I had begged and attempted to barter with any powers that be to get me out of this and to my boys. Sadly, I never received an answer and I was re positioned in the chair that I was quickly coming to despise. After changing the IV bag and line, the man had ushered Jaimie out of the room for bed. Before he left, Jaimie got up on his tippy toes and gave me a warm peck on the cheek.
"Good night, mommy. I love you. Sweet dreams."
After they had left I had raged in my head, swinging from anger, cursing my captor, to despair, afraid that I was going to die at the hands of a psychopath. The man may not have hurt me per se, but his actions were a far cry from a sane person. After a while, I fell into a light doze. A sudden shift in the air had me snapping my eyes open again.
For a moment, I almost thought I was dreaming. I was startled to find a young boy of about 10 or 11 years old in front of me, staring right back at me. His eyes were a vibrant green, much like my own, and appeared to be scrutinizing my face. As he tilted his head slightly to the side, his shaggy raven locks flopped over his forehead. I could see the resemblance to Jaimie in his lovely, delicate features. He stepped up closer to me and lightly cupped my cheek.
We stayed like that for what seemed like a small eternity before a creak from upstairs broke us out of our trance. The boy glanced up quickly, and large dose of fear darkened his gemlike eyes. His features pinched in concern as he froze, cocking his ears to the ceiling. After a few tense moments, he appeared to relax incrementally. He glanced back down at me and I was surprised at the depth of longing in his gaze. I could see intense indecision war within his eyes, before he shook his head slowly. He began to quickly retreat away from me and with one last glance over his shoulder, he silently shut the door.
For all that he was silent, I felt as if he had slammed the door for all that the resounding silence deafened me.
I was alone once again in the hollow room of a house of horrors