(****Violence warning****)

Chapter 9

''Where do we go from here, Michael?'' Jaime asked softly. ''We can't stay in this cabin forever...''

(Cabin, Steve noted. They're in a cabin...where?)

Michael laughed...chillingly. ''You're right; we can't. Close your eyes, Darling, because I have a surprise for you.''

''Ooh...I love surprises...''

Michael rolled over and Jaime felt the mattress shift as he retrieved something from his side of the bed. His breath was hot on her neck as he leaned in as close as he could get to her right ear. ''I'm not an idiot, Jaime,'' he whispered very, very softly. ''I know what you were doing. And Austin, I know you heard every word. Well, here's one more sound that I know you'll recognize.''

To Steve's ultimate horror, over the speaker came the distinctive sound of the cocking of a gun!

Jaime's eyes flew open wide in alarm. She looked up into eyes that only seconds before had glittered with an evil sort of 'love' - but had suddenly grown dark, cold and menacing. ''You did an excellent job, Jaime,'' Michael snarled. ''But only because I let you. I wanted them to know exactly what I did - and exactly what I'm about to do! Are you ready to die, Jaime? And Austin, are you ready to hear every glorious second? It's inescapable, you know. This can't end any other way.'' Michael lowered the gun from Jaime's ear, tracing the barrel across her cheekbone until it was directly between her eyes. He let her stare at its threatening promise in a silence he knew would be driving her husband out of his mind for several excruciatingly long moments, then began slowly moving it down her body...stopping at the hollow of her throat, the center of her chest...and then abruptly swinging it back between her eyes.

''Michael...you don't have to do this...'' Jaime pleaded in a tremulous voice. ''I'll go with you...wherever you want and...and they'll never find us! I can help...make sure of that!''

''Are you listening, Austin?'' Michael taunted coldly. ''Your wife is begging for her life. She's staring directly down the barrel of my gun - and her life is mine to take away! To take her away from YOU! She'll obviously never love anyone but you...and you don't deserve her!''

In the control room, Mark took Steve gently by the shoulders, intending to lead him from the room. If these truly were Jaime's last moments, Steve didn't need to carry them with him forever. But Steve shook him off. ''I'm not leaving,'' he insisted. ''I can't...''

Unable to think while looking at Michael (not to mention the gun), Jaime closed her eyes. Michael pressed the barrel hard into her forehead, hurting her. ''Open your eyes, Darling,'' he growled. ''Do precisely what I tell you - no more and no less - and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you live.''

Jaime opened her eyes slowly. Michael's entire body was directly over her and, still holding the gun between her eyes, he momentarily let his full weight down to rest on her, pinning her to the bed, while his other hand reached into his pocket...and then brandished another needle.

''I've spent many years studying the brain, the nervous system and the human body,'' he menaced. ''I could paralyze you, permanently or temporarily - my choice - or I could scramble your brain to mush and reprogram it any way I want to. Wouldn't that be fun? OR...I could just let your husband listen to you die!''

''Michael...'' Jaime tried again to reach him, but he was on his own private tangent now and showed no sign he'd even heard her. Her legs had been severely weakened by whatever he'd done to her while she'd been blacked out, but she began to struggle anyway, kicking up at him desperately but too feebly to make any difference. Michael only laughed at her.

''Do you see the gun, Jaime? Of course you do! It means that I'm in charge here. I'm calling the shots.'' He laughed uproariously. ''And I'm firing the shots...if you don't behave. Maybe before I kill you, we should have a little fun first. Would you like that? Oh, I know you would! Doctors know all the right places...and I'm sure your loving husband would enjoy the show!'' He was still pinning her down with his body - and he gave the bed springs a good, solid (threatening) bounce, loud enough for Steve to hear. ''Or I could use this needle to turn your brain into a mushy mess of scrambled eggs; then I could do anything I want to you - anything! And you'd still be aware, feeling every minute of it but not able to do or say anything. Wouldn't that be delicious?'' He felt Jaime trembling beneath him and it made him giddy. ''Do you have anything you'd like to say to your husband before I decide what to do with you?''

Jaime was unable to hold back the tears as she said what she fully believed might be her very last words. ''I love you, Steve...''

''Wrong answer!'' Michael bellowed.