Chapter 4
JC was dragged away from Stark's prison/work-cell and quickly thrown into another smaller room. In the few moments it took for her to get back on her feet the door was shut and locked. A quick glance around confirmed her initial observation and made JC momentarily glad she wasn't claustrophobic. The room was barely big enough for her to stand near the only piece of furniture it held, a small cot.
This wasn't part of her original plan. She had only wanted to spare Yinsen. Getting separated was not the expected outcome. Taken and tortured, maybe, but simply separated, no. Now came the problem of escaping her new prison and reuniting with the others when they made their move. She just had to figure out how.
For the mean time she sat on her cot and began to think, tried to remember anything useful that could aid her in making a plan. The halls were long and dark, lit only by several lights strung out every few feet, each one leading to another storage area for weapons and other necessary supplies. She remembered passing by a room with several monitors and a man sitting idly watching. That had to be security.
Thinking of this, she noticed there were no cameras in this room. It had obviously been set up as another prison, but why were there no cameras? Surely they would want to keep tabs on anyone in the room, even if the purpose was isolation.
Pushing this thought to the back of her mind she went back to her prior task. More long hallway followed the security room, then a bright area that seemed to lead outside with several vehicles. That had to be an emergency exit. Tony and Yinsen had been outside once and they never said anything about vehicles. It made sense, though. A smart architect would have more than one exit in case of cave-ins. For terrorists, it would also be useful in situations of compromised position.
If she could get away, that would give her and Yinsen a way out, and Tony could stay to destroy the weapons as originally planned. The only question was how.
This brought her back to the question of no cameras. There wasn't much to use for escape from the cell, and more than likely there were guards on the other side of the door. Why not go the extra measure and install at least one camera? Several thoughts ran through her mind, all of which made her uneasy.
Putting these thoughts behind her, she tried to formulate a plan based off the information she knew. It was obvious that when Tony began his plan the first place they would go was to either kill her or bring her out and use her as bait.
Should she wait until then to try her own escape? Did she have much of a choice? Not really. So she had to wait. Not knowing how long it would be, JC lay down on her cot trying to get some rest. She knew it would be almost useless.
She hadn't slept much over the past three months with the exception of her first week when she was unconscious from her injuries. Trying to get to sleep terrified her. The first few nights hadn't been so bad, but after that it was nearly impossible. It wasn't until she was practically tripping over herself in exhaustion, which would take nearly four days sometimes, before she would allow herself to try drifting to sleep. She had been very good at keeping it a secret from Yinsen, but she had an inkling that Stark had been catching on to her habit. It made her regret telling him about her problem, but at the same time it had felt oddly refreshing to finally tell someone about it. Tony Stark wouldn't have been her first choice, but there had been something about the way he'd asked, something different about him. She didn't know what it was, but it was definitely different from the man she had known a year ago.
She quickly pushed that thought aside. She couldn't think about him being a different person, because that just brought back memories of what he had been, and that would do nothing to help her keep thoughts of wanting to strangle him in check. It was crucial, now more than ever, that they trust each other to do what was needed to get free.
Keeping that thought in the forefront of her mind, she let herself drift into a semi restful state. She would need to be at her best when Tony finally made his move; and she would make sure she was.
Explosions rattled the ground as bullets pierced the air. People ran screaming into their homes trying to find any form of protection from the fire fight. It would do them little good, in the end. It never did.
"Contact right! Contact right!" she yelled as more ammunition flew by.
"We're cornered! We need to move back, find better cover!" the second in command shouted.
"You all heard him! Fall back!" she ordered.
All but one, the one that mattered most to her, obeyed.
"Sergeant, where are you going? I gave you an order," she called.
"We can make it!"
"You're crazy! It's a minefield out there, and there's not enough cover to make it through! We have to move back and wait for reinforcements! Now, move back!" she ordered again.
"We'll be dead by the time they arrive! I refuse to die here!"
"If you go out there, you're as good as dead! Now, move back! I will not tell you again!"
"I'm going home! You can stay here, but I'm getting back to my family!" he yelled and ran out.
"Sergeant!" she cried and tried to stop him, but a hand clamped down on her shoulder restraining her. She tried to pull away; she had to save him. But the person holding her back had an ironclad grip. Helplessly, she watched as seconds later more gun fire erupted and another explosion filled the air. Smoke surrounded the soldier, and he was lost.
"Brenan!"
"Brenan!" JC gasped coming back from her dream. She was breathing heavily and was covered in cold sweat. She stared around the room and her memory returned. There were no explosions, no bullets flying. There was only her and her cold, rock walled prison.
"You dream quite loudly," a familiar voice said from the door.
She bolted up to stare at the leader from before. It took most of her willpower to force herself to stay calm. She was still shaken from her dream, but she would not have it mistaken as fear of him. "If you're here to torture me, you won't learn anything different from what Yinsen already told you. They're building the Jericho missile. It's as simple as that," she said, immediately on the offensive.
"And here I thought we might remain civil," he replied calmly.
She narrowed her gaze at him. "You've shot at us, nearly killed us, imprisoned, and threatened us. Remind me where the civility is in any of that."
"If I wanted any of you dead, you would already be so. You would have been the easiest to dispose of. I could have easily let you succumb to your wounds, but I've let you live thus far. I would think you'd be more gracious," he said with a smirk.
"Why did you let me live?" She needed to know. It was a question that had always been gnawing at her. If they just wanted a life to threaten, they had Yinsen. They didn't need her, especially in the condition she had been in. "I was just his bodyguard, no one of any real value. Why did you let Yinsen save me?"
"The way you guarded over him in the desert, such persistence and loyalty, it was hard to believe anyone could have such dedication to a man they had supposedly known for mere hours. My best paid man would not so willingly lay down his life, not if there was a chance he might escape."
"That's the difference between me and your men; I actually like my job," she threw back.
"Perhaps," he admitted, "but we both know that isn't the truth."
She tried to keep her cool, but the man was beginning to piss her off. After God-only-knew how many months of being held in this hellhole, she was ready for some answers; playing nice wasn't going to get them. "Spit it out already. What do you want with me?"
"Perhaps we, as you Americans put it, got off on the wrong foot. Introductions are in order. I am Raza, leader of the Ten Rings."
"You already know who I am, so cut the crap already and give me a straight answer. Why did you save me?" she demanded.
"Even with your life hanging on by a thread, you are still a useful…incentive for Mr. Stark."
She scoffed. "I think you have a serious overestimation of what my life means to Tony Stark."
"Based on what I have seen, he cares a great deal about what happens to you."
"At best, I'm just a pretty face that he thinks he can bed. You're wasting your time if you think threatening me will get you your missile faster."
He took several steps closer to her. Her body wanted to flinch, but she held back. If this was the part where the pain would start, she'd gladly take it. As long as he was focused on her, he wasn't focused on the two men planning their escape.
"Why then would you offer yourself? Since your life means so little, why not leave Yinsen to his fate?"
"He saved both of us. I know torture, real torture. He wouldn't survive. I'm repaying a debt, nothing more."
He took another step closer, the distance between them lessened to only a yard. "I'd like to believe you, but I know you better than that."
She stared at him impassively. "Is that so? Please, enlighten me," she challenged.
"Tell me about last year, your time in Japan."
Her blood ran cold. No one knew about Japan. She had been kept out of the media. The most anyone knew was that an attack had happened and someone had intervened to save Stark. Publicly, no one else knew the truth.
"It was big mess is what it was. Not much to tell." She saw no point in denying her involvement. He must have done his research, maybe dug a bit deeper and found out she was his bodyguard then too. It was nothing that could disturb her.
"The way your employer tells it, there was much more." He closed the space between them by another two feet and spoke just above a whisper. "Apparently, you were quite the little whore."
She lunged at him, nails threatening to tear through his flesh. The monster had no right, and he would pay for what he'd done, but not before she did. He anticipated her reaction and grabbed her by the wrists. She struggled against him for a moment before he backhanded her, sending her to the ground. She groaned and winced at the pain, the coppery taste of blood in her mouth. She tried to push herself to her feet, but she felt too weak, malnourishment and dehydration reminding her that she was in no shape for a real fight. Based on the maniacal laugh the man gave, he knew it, too.
She cursed herself for falling for his trick so easily. She had to give him credit for that. He took the time to learn about his opponents. Intelligence made for a more dangerous terrorist, but even Raza had to have a weakness. If she could find it, she could exploit it. First, she'd have to survive whatever little game he was trying to play.
"You have spirit. I see now why Stark wanted you, and why you offered your life." He knelt down to her level and forced her to look at him. "With Yinsen dead, you would be left alone with him. That thought scares you, doesn't it?"
She glared defiantly at him. "He fears me, not the other way around. You're wasting your breath."
His gaze turned cold as his hand wrapped around her neck. She fought to maintain control though his grip was crushing. She had to remain calm. She needed to stay in control. That was the only way she had any hope of getting out of this. But that sinking feeling in her gut was telling her the very thing she didn't want to hear. This man wasn't here for an interrogation.
"You're brave to test my temper but foolish. You will regret it."
She saw the carnal look in his eyes and knew her suspicion was correct. There was reason there were no cameras in the room. Now she knew why.
Her heart began to pound. She could feel the adrenaline rush through her body. The little voice in the back of her head told her to do something, anything to stop him, but something stronger kept her frozen: irrational fear that kept her mind in a dark place, a place where she didn't know how to defend herself, couldn't defend herself.
She pushed him away and scrambled to her feet, ignoring the way her muscles ached and seemed to scream at her. He wasn't perturbed in the slightest. He came at her again, grabbed her wrists, and pinned her to the wall. Her mind went deeper into that dark place, memories of that horrible night flashing back as fresh as the moment they happened. She had to shut her eyes against it, because it wasn't Raza's face she saw; it was Tony. She couldn't think about this, not now. Tony wasn't the bad guy, not here. Tony had helped to save her life. Tony was the good guy. But it didn't matter. The dark place in her mind told her different, kept her trapped in that horrid place.
"No," she whimpered. She could hardly believe that had been her voice: the voice of a child. It was getting worse. It wasn't Tony any more. It was him. It was the one person she didn't want to think about, couldn't, for the sake of her own sanity.
"Yes," the man before her growled. She couldn't think, couldn't breath as his body pinned hers to the wall. She could feel his hot breath on her neck as he moved in closer.
She was in that moment again, the moment of now or never. The last time she was in this position she had let the man live. Not this time. There was no incentive for her to stay her hand this time. If she had the opportunity, she would kill him.
With every ounce of her resolve she brought her knee up hard on his groin. His grip loosened enough for her to pull free and deliver a solid blow to his abdomen. With him doubled over she wrapped her arms around his neck before kicking the back of one knee to force him to the ground.
"I have no reason to spare your miserable life. I suggest you give me one before I snap you in two," she hissed in his ear.
"Kill me…and you will never…escape alive."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that. Your men aren't very bright. If they were, they'd already be in here. I've taken on worse than this. Last chance."
"Try to escape…your friends will die…before you could ever…hope to reach them."
"Good to know your life means nothing to you. Makes this easier," she said tightening her grip.
As she was about to end his life he finally reacted. Thrusting his elbow into her hip, she lost her footing, giving him the opportunity he needed to grab her by the hair. She clawed at his hand trying to force him to release her, but he grabbed one arm and after twisting it behind her, shoved her into the nearest wall.
"You viper!" he hissed. "You will regret that." She whimpered from the blow to her face, the jagged rock wall biting into her flesh causing blood to run down her cheek.
"I highly doubt it. I never regret trying to kill assholes like you," she taunted. She was done with submission. If he wanted to take her, she wouldn't let him without a fight.
"We will soon see."
Before he could carry out his threat, screaming could be heard from outside the door along with someone banging on the door. "Raza! Raza!" someone cried.
"What?" he barked.
A very frightened man entered the room spouting off in some language that JC could not understand. From the sound of what she heard from outside, Tony and Yinsen were making their move. Raza gave the man a line of instructions before handing JC over to him and exiting the room. He took her, and after securing her hands behind her, forced her in the same direction.
When they finally came to a stop at the main entrance of the cave a line of men was waiting, each one carrying a weapon. In the distance, screaming men could be heard along with the sound of rapid gunfire and someone yelling like a madman.
In the next instant several men ran out in front of the line with none other than Yinsen chasing after them. When he saw the men, all with their guns pointed at him, he froze. From the fearful look in his eyes, one could tell he knew he was heading for his death.
JC looked from the men to Yinsen and back and knew full well what was about to happen. "Run, Yinsen! Dammit, run!" she yelled. She knew it was useless, but there had to be something he could do to get away.
They opened fire on the man without hesitation, and he fell without a word.
"No!" she cried. In a frenzy of rage she rammed into the nearest man. Another came forward to restrain her, but he was met with a foot to the face. With every man alerted now, they all turned to subdue her. Why none had shot her yet was still a mystery. Surely they had no qualms over shooting a woman. They had done so nearly three months ago in the middle of the desert. Why would that change now? Maybe they still thought they could use her as a hostage. She didn't know. She didn't care. Hatred was all she felt at the moment. Vengeance was all she wanted.
They would try to team up on her, one behind holding her in place while another would try to hit a blow that would immobilize her. Each one ended with a foot hitting some part of their body as her head would make contact with another's face from behind. At least one person's nose had been broken leaving blood on her neck and hair.
After finding a long enough pause, she jumped up and swung her arms beneath her feet bringing her hands to her front. Now she was a force to be reckoned with. Not one man could touch her, though, that didn't stop them from trying. Her body ached and cried, but she ignored it. She knew this might mean the end, but she didn't care anymore.
She could hear and feel several times when a rib would crack or a neck snap from the force of one of her blows. For the briefest moment in time she was filled with joy that they were in pain, overjoyed that they were suffering for what they had done. They deserved to die for what they had done. Yinsen was kind, gentle, innocent. He had a family. He deserved to see them again. But he never would. He'd never get to hug his children or hold his wife again. She understood that kind of pain too well. She was sure, now more than ever, she might not see her son again. Even if by some miracle she got out of the cave, there were still miles of desert she'd have to cross. She knew she wouldn't survive. If this was going to be the end, she was going to take as many of Raza's men with her as she could. It was the least she could do for Yinsen.
When it seemed the fight was over and every man in the room was on the ground she was ready to run and find Tony, but a blow to the back of her head halted her progress. She had missed one. The one she despised the most, the one who had given the order to kill Yinsen had survived her wrath.
Darkness began to cloud her vision despite her efforts to keep it at bay. She couldn't go down, not now. She had to stop him, had to finish the job. She could hear the sound of a gun being loaded and cocked back. Her only thought was that death was finally coming to her. Her eyes closed as she waited for its sting.
AN: So here's the revised chapter 4. Hoped you enjoyed it. If you did, leave me a review and let me know what you think.
