Chapter 8

"What do you mean!? What happened to Lucy!?" Natsu shouted while grabbing Zander's collar. Zander was barely lifted above the ground.

"Natsu, stop it! Zander's obviously hurt." said Lisanna as she made Natsu let go. Lisanna had to help Zander sit down.

"True. Wendy, heal him. We'll need him at full strength." said Erza.

"Right." Wendy said as she got to work.

"So, Zander, what happened here? And where's Lucy?" asked Erza.

Zander looked down at the ground and tightly gripped his fists. He soon explained everything that happened, only excluding his real identity. Everyone was shocked about who they were up against and about what happened. But, mainly Natsu, Gray, and Erza, were angry at him. By this time, Wendy had finished. Natsu grabbed Zander's collar again and pulled his face close.

"You just left Lucy behind with people like that!? What the hell is wrong with you!?" Natsu shouted.

"Believe me. I wanted to stay with her, but she made me go." said Zander sadly.

"Why should we believe you!? You're the reason Lucy is even in this whole mess!" said Gray.

"It's not all his fault!" Lisanna shouted. Everyone looked confused about what she meant. Natsu then let go of Zander, who ended up sitting on the ground.

"What do you mean?" asked Erza.

"The whole reason Lucy wanted to go on this stupid job with Zander was because everyone in the guild was ignoring her. And that was my fault because everyone paid so much attention to me." Lisanna began to cry. They all looked at Lisanna with sadness and guilt in their eyes.

"Then it's the whole guilds fault." Gajeel mumbled.

"We were just to blind to see." said Wendy, looking at the ground.

"...None of that matters now. Right now, we have to save Lucy!" Zander exclaimed, keeping his head down. They all looked at him and then each other. They all nodded.

"Alright, since we all share the blame, we all must work together to save Lucy. Zander, lead the way." said Erza. Zander got to his feet and began running back the way he came. They all went running after him.

"Lucy, please be ok." most of them thought.

*At the hideout*

The captured blonde mage, at the moment, was in a smaller cell with a metal locked door and one tiny barred window. Her ankles were wrapped with chains that were chained to the ground and her hands were in handcuffs that were chained to the ceiling, making her have to keep her arms up and stand up. The cell door slowly began to open, revealing Jakkuna and Brass coming into her cell. Lucy looked up with her lifeless eyes.

"Well, that was certainly a surprise. I never thought you would attempt to escape, especially the part where you made Asuma leave instead." Jakkuna said.

"His name is Zander." Lucy hissed.

"Still defending that boy? Even though he's the reason you're here?" Jakkuna said.

"You're the only one to blame, you bastard." Lucy said lowly.

"Heh. You truly are a stubborn girl. But you must know, your action can go unpunished." said Jakkuna.

"Yeah, Zander mentioned that." mumbled Lucy. Jakkuna merely smirked and, with a snap of his fingers, two grunts came in holding whips. When the grunts snapped the whips, they suddenly became flame whips. Lucy's eyes widen after seeing that.

"Brass will stay here to keep watch while they deliver your punishment." Jakkuna said as he left the room.

"You bastard!" Lucy shouted.

When the door closed, the grunts began lashing out at Lucy with their fire whips. All Lucy could do was scream in agony as she felt the heated whips lash out against her skin. Burn marks were made all over her body and her clothes were being torn all over. Brass merely stood in corner as it happened.

*With Fairy Tail's group*

"We're here." Zander said as they reached the base of the hill where the castle like building was located.

"I can smell Lucy in there!" Natsu exclaimed.

"We can't just charge in there like always. We have to be careful this time." said Erza.

"That's right. I think we should probably-" Zander began, but before he could finish, Natsu went running up the hill and barged into the castle screaming and yelling.

"God! That flame brain never listens!" Gray shouted while running after them.

"Those idiots." Zander grunted running after them as well. The rest of the group followed as well.

*Hideout again*

Lucy was still in her small cell alone after being whipped. Her clothes were all torn up after wards, so some female grunts had put her in tattered and torn dress outfit that was mainly a cloth that was wrapped around her body, only revealing her stomach and lower legs. The cloth was already stained by all her blood and most of her skin was cover in burn marks. She was hanging her head low while still being chained up. Suddenly, the door began to open slowly. Lucy looked up with her lifeless eyes to see Brass again.

"Here to beat me again?" Lucy quietly said.

Brass didn't say a word. He took out his sword and in on swift action, he cut the chains around her legs and arms. Lucy's body was limp, so she fell to her knees once freed. She shakily looked at her hands and then up at him. He then threw down her belts that held her daggers, keys, and whip.

"Quickly, leave this place. Jakkuna will notice shortly." said Brass as he left the cell. Lucy hesitantly picked them up. She soon heard loud explosions and rumbling. Lucy could easily tell who the only people who could make such a ruckus was. She slowly pulled herself together and wobbled to the door.

"Zander...Lisanna.." Lucy mumbled as she stumbled and limp out of the cell.