AN/ Hi I'm back with a new chapter for you guys... Hope you're not too mad that it took so long, but I had to rewrite some of the parts to make it as good as possible. I've gotta warn you though, this chapter has a little darker theme and I actually felt a little bad for Jack as I wrote it... but this was the way the story was planned to be so... I hope you like it.

Thank you for your reviews Dreamin2BAWriter, QueenCupcake101, RazMaster, DanceStar93, Maddy, 10pandarule10, hgirl, FallingSkiesxxxHalMason, IHopeYouDance101 and SenciblyEccentricity.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own kickin it.

Chapter 14

Misery

Jack's Pov.
I fluttered my eyes opened, a horrible ache pounding through my head. I recognized the feeling of the drug lingering in my body all too well, instantly regretting eating the buns last night. I couldn't believe I fell for it again. I should've listened to my intuition and not eaten them. I took a glance out the small window to get a hang of what time of day it was. The sun was up which meant that I had been asleep through the whole night. Groaning slightly I pulled my left arm out from under the blanket and brought it to in front of me to take a look at my watch. It said 10.35.

With a sigh I let my hand fall down next to me again. The drug had made the sourness in my body temporarily go away, but in returned it had left me with this massive headache, making me feel as if my head was ready to explode any second.

I didn't bother to try to move. What was the point, really? At least the bed was more comfortable than the floor…

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor came from the other side of the door. I tensed up, almost forgetting to breathe as I listen carefully. Someone or should I say Mark who it most likely was, was definitely fiddling around with something outside this room. I shot a nervous glance at the door praying it wouldn't open. Several minutes past without anything happening, the sounds continued though. Maybe he wouldn't bother to come in after all. I let myself relax a little, still listening.

Suddenly I heard the door being unbolted. I closed my eyes and pulled the blanket up to cover most of my face, knowing that my fears would be realized. Why did he have to come now when I was in this vulnerable state?

The door swung opened and heavy footsteps approached me.

"Enjoyed your night?" Mark voice said right next to me. I didn't reply still keeping my eyes closed.

"You know, Tess has been nagging me all morning about seeing those beautiful brown eyes of yours." He said the last words in a high voice, imitating Tess. "So you might as well open them."

I did so as I was curios to see if Tess was really there. So far I hadn't seen a glimpse of her. But the only thing I saw was Mark's satisfying face smiling down at me.

"There we go." He said. "I take it that you're listening… You probably wonder why I drugged you again." He started to casually walk back and forth next to me. "…but you gave me no choice. This is the only way I'll be able to talk to you without you attacking me."

I frowned. I'd never attacked him. The way I remembered it he attacked me… Of course I didn't trust him enough to stay and have a chat with him after that, but if he had acted differently from the beginning I would have listen…

Mark had stopped pacing and his back was now facing me as he looked at the sky through the small window. I took a longing glance at the door. It was closed but not locked as that only could be done from the outside and Mark was in here. Debating with myself whether I should make a run for it or not I adjusted to a more comfortable position. The bed creaked beneath me and Mark must have heard it.

"Don't even think about it." He said calmly still not looking at me.

He was probably right. I would never make it, since even the slightest movement sent new painful chocks trough my head and my body felt weaker than ever. I sighed in frustration.

Mark chuckled to himself. I'd never seen him in such a bright mood before and it made me feel a little safer and I brought up the courage to ask him something that's been on my mind for days.

"What do you want from me?" I asked. He immediately focused his green eyes on me, watching me in silence for a moment. I tensed, afraid that I might had provoked him by speaking. To my surprise though, he burst out laughing.

"I knew you weren't too bright, but that's just priceless…" His whole body shook with laughter. Holding back a comment about the insult knowing that it would probably cause me more trouble than it would do any good, I watched him carefully. The sudden and seemingly uncontrolled laughter scared me. Frankly I didn't know which Mark frightened me the most, the angry one or the insanely laughing one…

"You hear that Tess?" He said in between chuckles. His talking over my head with Tess was really starting to annoy me and I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore.

"Tess is not here." I pointed out. Mark immediately stopped laughing as a light flickered in his eyes. I regretted that I ever opened my mouth as he leaned in closer to me until his face was only inches away from mine, resting his hands on his knees.

"Oh, so you've noticed that, smartass." He said seriously. "One piece of advice… never tell Mark that. He can't handle it." I looked at him confused. Why was he talking about himself in a third person?

He got even closer, so close that I could feel his breath on my face. The crazy look in his eyes petrified me and I didn't dare to breathe.

"I have figured out your weak point long ago…" He whispered as he took hold of the blanket pulling it away from my face and upper torso, which made me feel uncomfortably exposed. "Mark just doesn't listen to me." What the heck was he talking about? He must have noticed my puzzled expression. "Mark doesn't have too high thoughts about me but he needs me none the less". He explained.

"What are you talking about?" I asked feeling really intimidated by his unstable behaviour and the fact that he was so close to me.

"I'm talking about Mark always ignoring my ideas even though he knows I'm the smart one…" His voice got louder. I looked at him sceptically. "...but he's gonna be happy when he finds out what I've done for him." The more Mark (or whoever he was) talked the more it became clear to me that he must have some kind of mental illness. He most likely suffered from a split personality… but he could also just be messing with me…

"Who are you?" I asked quietly afraid to speak any louder.

"I'm Alan." By the sincere way he'd answered my question I was now positive that he seriously thought he was another person, or another person talked through him, I don't know exactly how it works... I didn't feel any better or safer after figuring that out though, on the contrary I didn't now how far he was capable of going. He's already proven more than once that he can't be trusted.

"As to your weakness…" He began. I wasn't sure I had a weakness but I still dreaded that he would do something horrible to me. I swallowed.

"What do you mean?" I did my best to keep my voice from trembling too much.

"I was at the mall yesterday and met a girl your age. I don't know if you know her…kind of pretty, blond. I believe her name was Kim..." My eyes went wide and my heart almost stopped. He smiled at my reaction. "See I told you I had you figured out... who knows, maybe I'll invite her for a little fun." Fear and anger boiled up inside of me.

"You stay away from her!" I practically yelled at him, making him flinch slightly. "It's me you want, not her!" I was on the verge of hysteria. "Why can't you just tell me what I've done and maybe I can make it up to you. I'll do anything just leave Kim alone!" It was true, I was desperate enough to do just about anything, he would only have to name it. If he'll do something to Kim I honestly don't know what I'll do. Mark (or Alan) shook his head and in his eyes there were traces of pain.

"You can never make it right." He said bitterly. "No one can… But justice will and must prevail. An eye for an eye…" My heart skipped a beat. "…a heart for a heart." He continued. It took me a moment to realize where this was going. "You broke his heart…" I searched my memory for the moment that I apparently hurt Mark, but to no avail. I'd never even seen him before the tournament. "…and the best way to break your heart…" he continued. "…is to break Kim's hea…" He never got the chance to finish before I snapped. I launched myself at him with all the force that I could possible throw. Mark didn't see it coming and was knocked over. He kicked at me furiously as I lay on top of him trying to hold him down. I did my best, but my body was so weak that I didn't recognize it. Mark was stronger and he managed to get one of his hands to the back of my head. Taking hold of my hair he pulled my head back. I flinched in pain making the mistake to reach for his hand that was intertwined with my hair, leaving Mark enough space and time to punch me in the stomach with his free hand. The blow knocked the breath out of me and made me fall off of him. Mark was up and over me in no time, pinning me to the ground. He raised his right fist and I closed my eyes just before it came crashing down my face, forcing my head to turn to the side. The whole left side of my face including my nose turned numb before the pain started to grow into almost unbearable proportions. The headache had increased again and my eyes began to water from fear, pain and anger.

"Look at me, kid." Mark snarled as he grabbed my shoulders and shook me sending new waves of pain through my head. I turned my head and looked at him through the tears that now flooded my eyes. His face was a blur to me, but I could tell that his eyes were full of madness.

"Please…" I pleaded. I was neither physical nor emotional fit to go through this right now.

"Why should I show you any mercy?" He hissed as he stood up. "You only get what you deserve." He brushed his clothes of. I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but I knew better than to ask.

Warm liquid traced down from my nose to my upper lip, leaving a metallic taste on it. I dried my nose with the back of my hand very carefully, not sure if it had started to bleed or was just runny from the crying. The pain that the touch caused and the bright red colour that stained the back of my hand gave me the answer though.

"You brought this upon yourself, you know." He said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to the bed, placing me parallel with it. I moaned in pain as my body was dragged across the floor.

Mark placed himself above me, standing with one leg on either side of my trembling form. He let go of my arm and I instantly curled up hugging myself. I felt so vulnerable and helpless. I closed my eyes letting another tear slip through my eyelids, wishing that this was all just a nightmare and I would wake up in my own bed soon. Of course the pain was too deep to not be real though. I glanced up at Mark who just had brought out a few pieces of plastic straps. He leaned down and took hold of my right wrist. On a closer look I saw that the things that were in his hand were zip ties. The ones that you can't open once they've been closed, unless they're cut. Realizing what he was trying to do I pulled back but his grip only became tighter.

"Please don't…" I tried to get him to release his grip with my free hand, pulling on his fingers to pry them open. I panicked when he wouldn't let go and started to twist and turn furiously to get away from him. Mark sat down on me preventing me from escaping. The more I struggled the more he pushed down and pretty soon we were in a fight, wrestling one another. He was strong and I panicked when I realized that he was going to win. My heart raced and the lump in my throat was so big now that I almost choked on it. He managed to get a zip tie around my right wrist and tightened it, which made me struggle even harder. Eventually he lost his patience and backhanded me across the face leaving a burning mark on it. The hit had surprised me and something happened there. My body went limp and I did something I've never done before – I gave up, knowing that this was a fight I couldn't win. I breathed heavily as fresh tears fell from my eyes. Every muscle in my body shook from exhaustion. Mark brought my hand to the bed and fastened it with another zip tie that went through the one I had on my wrist already, to one of the vertical bars that made the headboard. There were beads of sweat showing on his forehead and his hands trembled as he fumbled around with the ties. "You stupid, stupid boy…" He mumbled before standing up. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was stupid to aggravate him and all the pain I was in was all my fault. I curled up into a fetal position facing the bed, wiping away the tears carefully with my free hand as the other hung a couple of feet above the floor. Mark made it over to the door.

"Please don't hurt Kim." I sniffled my voice barely louder than a whisper.

Mark froze for a moment but didn't give me any answer; instead he walked out and slammed the door shut making me jump. His footsteps disappeared in the distance and I was left completely alone once again. Realizing that all hope was gone my silent tears grew into laud, deep sobs, resting my swollen cheek against the cool floor. I regretted ever talking to Mark let alone jump him. I had tried to defend Kim and prevent him from doing anything to her, but by doing so I had probably put her in even more danger. I would never be able to forgive myself for that. Twisting my hand, I tugged against the ties trying to free myself. The fact that it didn't work made me let out yet another sob. I hated this…

I lay on the floor for hours. The tears eventually stopped and my body wasn't shaking anymore. The plastic band had started to dig into my skin and I couldn't feel my arm anymore as it hung in the air. Deciding that I probably do better by changing position I sat up very slowly, flinching now and then as my movements caused my bruised body to ache. Once I was sitting up I rested my chest against the bed as I took a closer look at the thing restraining me. I tried to open the zip tie even though I knew that it wouldn't work. It kept me occupied for a while though since I didn't really have anything else to do.

The dark had started to fall, which meant that I had been here for yet another day. I wondered how many more I could take, before I went mad or died...

Suddenly I heard faint voices talking in the distance. At first I thought that I imagined them but as they grew a little stronger I realized they were real.

"HELP ME!" I yelled without a second thought, knowing this might be my only chance. "PLEASE! ANYBODY HELP!" I went quiet for a moment listening. The voices had stopped talking and I sighed disappointed, believing they left. But soon I heard someone moving in the room next to mine. "I'm in here! Please hel…" my voice died out as I hesitated. What if it was Mark on the other side? The noise of the door being unbolted filled the room and soon after it opened slowly. I didn't dare to look up at first, but when I did I think my heart skipped a beat at what I saw…

There you have it.

I don't know when I'm going to be able to put the next chapter up but I'm going to do it ASAP. Of course your reviews will speed up my writing;)

All who reviews also gets a sneak peak of the next chapter:)

/MJ