Note: If it wasn't clear last chapter happened two weeks prior to chapter one. Past tense means it's in the past, present is in the present and yeah. There needed to be backstory behind Cartman's motives I think and it comes into play in this chapter. I know he was really out of character so I apologize.
"I don't know if we can wait until tomorrow," Kyle says as he hears Craig's quiet voice on the program. Cartman groans and buries his face in his hands as he ponders his choices. Whatever move he makes could ultimately jeopardize the entire operation.
Butters sits in the chair across from him and watches the wrinkle in his brow deepen with every passing second.
Right now he could only think of two options. One, wait until tomorrow and let whatever could possibly happen happen. This would put both Craig and Kenny at risk, especially since Kenny was apparently taken up to his master for something. For his screaming, most likely. And Craig could be compromised as well and that was the last thing they needed. If they found the bug then that would be it.
The other option is to go in tonight. That was difficult. After all Cartman had just been there to propose a possible agreement. That's why Craig is there now; he's collateral for the final decision. If he went in tonight then he would have alert the agency, but leave him enough time to get Kenny and Craig out of there. Neither of them could be in the middle of that fray, or at least Kenny couldn't.
"Why not?" Butters asks when Cartman voices the options. If Kenny is there when the forces come to shut down the entire ring he could get proper help. There is no need for Cartman to buy him out. If he is there when they arrive then he'll be safe. They'll take care of him.
"Because," Cartman replies, "he won't trust us. He'll think he's in trouble... that fucker will convince him that he's the one who's at fault. If we buy him and then tell him he's free and take him to the hospital then he'll trust us."
"W-but that doesn't make sense!" Butters snaps, his eyes are ablaze. "We're buying him, how the hell can he trust another person who bought him?!"
Cartman sighs heavily and rakes a hand through his hair. He mumbles something and Kyle's head snaps up from the papers. His eyes narrow on the brunette, and he sets down the file.
"What did you just say?" He growls. The look on his face is deadly. Cartman looks at all of them and sighs once more.
"I bought him once before... well... Clyde did."
"Clyde?!" Stan exclaims. "Clyde's in on this too?"
"Clyde's my boss... a couple weeks back I called him up and told him what I knew. He's like part Russian and he can do a decent accent so he pretended to be my boss, bought Kenny, then checked him out. He told me we had a month at the most to get him out of there. He's not doing good and-"
"Well no shit!" Kyle barks, then shakes his head. "I can't fucking believe..." he trails off and his eyes widen, "you didn't actually have sex with him did you?" Cartman shook his head.
"Fuck that, I told him I wanted whatever he wanted so I... hugged him."
Butters bites his lip and feels his eyes burn. All Kenny wants is comfort. He wants to feel safe; he's desperate for it. Butters can't help but feel at least a sliver of happiness that Cartman did that; he gave him a new chance. And it makes sense. Cartman had to make a move somehow and gain his trust if he's going to take him out from there.
"What are you thinking?" Stan asks Cartman with all seriousness in his voice. "I can call Wendy whenever you want."
The heavyset man groans in frustration and slams his hand on the table. Butters jumps and Kyle smiles a little at him.
"Can you believe it?" Butters asks, staring at his hands, "after all these years... here we are."
The other three are silent as the words sink in. Here they are.
After all this time they finally had the truth, the actual truth about Kenny. Every choice they made in their lives had been because of his disappearance. If he had been there they wouldn't have even taken a second to focus on the fact on the corruption that lay underground the world that was built on lies and stolen labor. Now everything is different.
Now they can right one of the biggest wrong in the world today.
It isn't for the fame they searched for as kids. It isn't for being social justice warriors. No, it's bringing their best friend back into their lives. Bringing their best friend out of a hell he didn't deserve. They couldn't bring back the seven years all of them had lost, but they could make up for that lost time.
"Guys?" Cartman says more than asks, "I think it's time to bring Kenny home."
Kyle smiles sadly and Stan nods before typing in his phone.
"I think you're right," the redhead replies, then shakes his head, "I can't... I don't know what..." he trails off, unable to finish his sentence. Cartman straightens in his seat, and looks at him.
"You and Stan are going to stay here. You're going to call Wendy at 1:30 and tell her the location is at Klinka. You know, 15th and Reddick? Tell her the fuckers are going to be upstairs but to have people outside waiting just in case. We'll get there at 1:00, get Kenny and go to the hospital, then the police station. Stan, at 2:00 you're sending that article and all of the documents to every major news agency. This is going global guys."
"Wait, wait, wait..." Butters begins, his eyes wide on Cartman, "what do you mean we?"
Kyle and Stan look between Butters and Cartman.
"You're coming with me," this is not a suggestion but a demand. Butters clenches his jaw and lets out a heavy sigh.
"B-but no, I can't..."
"You heard him," Kyle interrupts, "he knows you. He knows you and Craig and if he sees you he'll know he can trust Cartman. With you three? It'll probably be enough to convince him." Cartman nods. Butters remains silent as he stews this over in his mind.
He is going to be there tonight. Tonight he'll be able to see Kenny, not on a leash, not as someone's property; but free. After seven years... this is it. And going in the center of this ring is worth it.
Because Kyle's right. Even though Kenny doesn't know who they are, he trusts them and it's bothering him. And he knows now that he and Craig are from his past; he will want the answers. Hopefully their presence will help him step out of the fog he's been stuck in for so long.
And even if he doesn't. Even if he runs away and he never sees them again he wants to still be there to save him. He wants to do whatever he can to help Kenny get out of there. As Butters thinks about this it terrifies him. But so is Kenny, despite the fact he isn't allowed to be.
Butters just doesn't want him to be afraid anymore.
"So... are you in?" Eric finally asks. The blonde takes a deep breath before giving a nod. The brunette grins and pulls out his phone; he isn't enjoying this, but knowing their operation will be a success is satisfying, to say the least. "Clyde? I need you to stop whatever you're doing and come over to Stan's- yeah, Stan Marsh. No, I don't give a shit if you're at work, I'm going in." A moment's pause, "Craig is in already. They raped Kenny with some metal pipe. Yeah, yeah, we're gonna need medical. Yeah, we're calling the police and-"
"Your turn, princess."
Cartman stops talking as he hears the faint voice on the recording. Stan stops typing mid-sentence and Butters bites his lip. The air is full of tension and they heard Craig gasp in pain over the speakers of the laptop.
"Over my dead body," Craig says. Eric hisses in a breath and shakes his head.
"Hold..." he whispers, "shit, shit, fucking shit..."
"Call!" Kyle barks, "call the... whatever his name is. Call him. Now!"
"You think you have a choice?"
"You don't own me, and you don't own him, so get your fucking hands off me if you know what's good for you."
"Ha, this one's sure got a mouth. Ya hear that?!"
"Craig, don't you fucking dare..." Cartman trails off, pulling out a separate phone. He turns the volume on the recording down and puts the phone to his ear. They're silent, watching, waiting, and trying to listen to Craig.
The scream from the computer didn't go unheard by anyone. Butters covers his mouth as Craig's shriek echoes until he's silent. He's gone.
Kyle appears shaken and has his arms folded to his chest. Stan has his hands in his hair and stares with an open mouth at Cartman's laptop.
They have Craig. And that's not part of the plan. Butters turns to Cartman, who is pacing and trying to contain his frustration and the urgency in his voice.
"Get your boss on the phone, you fucking twat," he spits, "or I'll change my God damn mind."
They're hanging on to his every word. Never before has time felt so delicate, every move has a ripple effect, like dominoes. One false move and they would topple over.
"I have the twenty," Cartman finally says. "My boss has already found a buyer who is impatient at best. Both whores come with me unharmed. If you lay a hand on mine my boss will not be pleased." The silence is deafening. "1:00, I'll be there. Have them ready, you're not wasting our time again."
Cartman hangs up the phone and takes a deep breath. His mismatched eyes lift after a brief moment to attempt to calm himself, and set on Butters.
"We're in."
Those words have never sounded more terrifying.
And suddenly everything falls into place. Stan is on the phone with Wendy, telling her every last detail and reading the names off of the list. Kyle is scanning the documents onto his laptop in case damage comes to the originals and the backup files. And Cartman is pacing and smoking a cigarette despite Stan's claims to go outside. This time it's different.
"You should get changed," Kyle says, breaking the tension-filled silence. Butters' hands are shaking, "that way in case anyone who saw you won't be able to recognize you. But Kenny will."
"Am I... am I supposed to be the buyer?" Butters asks, Cartman's eyes flicker up and Butters feels sick as the brunette nods. Butters shakes his head and fights off the nausea crawling in his stomach.
He doesn't know how he can play this off. But he'll try his best. As long as he doesn't have to say anything, then he'll be fine.
By the time Butters changes into borrowed clothes from Stan, Clyde is waiting in the living room where everyone is gathered. As Butters enters the living room, he jumps in fear. He's menacing, the look in his eye cold and calculating. It nearly makes his blood freeze.
He's good; almost too good.
"If his injuries are as bad as you say we don't have a lot of time. We need to go now," his voice is kind though, urgent. Cartman nods and all eyes are now on Butters, who nods as well.
Kyle grips his shoulder, his eyes are searching and scared, and his smile seems too difficult to muster. Butters feels his own lips twitch but they can't lift.
"You ready, malysh?" Butters is more than a little surprised at the accent Clyde has. But even more impressed.
The blonde plasters on a smile and gives a timid nod. Clyde's hand feels heavy on his shoulder.
"Don't worry," he assures him, "everything will be okay."
It's difficult to agree with that, but he appreciates Clyde's optimism. They need it.
"I-I hope..." Butters trails off. Clyde chuckles and sits in the passenger seat. He pats the steering wheel and flashes a grin at Cartman, who scowls at him.
"Hope is all he needs."
They're silent as those words buzz in their minds and in the car. As long as Kenny has hope they can make it. That's all that matters. Yet Butters is afraid he has the wrong kind of hope... that he hopes to die.