Brandon is sitting in the room, unable to move. This was a lot worse than the others; maybe it was because he knew him.
"Shit, what the fuck did he do to you?" Kyle asks.
"He isn't bleeding too horribly down there," Aleister says.
"Was he…" Brandon asks, breathing deeply.
"Toys," Trent says.
"He's got electrical burns all over," Aleister says. "We should try and find out if he has any loss of feeling anywhere."
"We don't know him like that though," Kyle says. "From…from what I've heard he has been assaulted in the past. I don't want to make him uncomfortable or send him into a flashback."
"I'll see if they can spare Cassidy," Brandon says.
"N…no," Trent stutters out.
"Greg, come on," Brandon says. Trent shakes his head.
"Don't want him to see me like this," Trent says. "Please, Brandon."
"Alright," Brandon says, coming over to him. "What kind of toys did he use?"
"So many," Trent says. "A few I recognized, but…electro play isn't my thing. He did it one at a time at first, but he wasn't getting any reaction."
"Were you dissociating a lot?" Brandon asks.
"Yeah," Trent says. "He dumped an entire bucket of ice on my head. When he did it all at the same time, it was like…my whole body was on fire. Like I felt like I could feel it in my bones and everything." Brandon nods gently touching Trent's chest. Trent winces when Brandon touches his nipple.
"He didn't do anything sexual with the others, why do it to Greg?" Brandon asks.
"Who the fuck knows anymore," Aleister says. "I just want this to be over."
"Greg, are you sure you want me to do this and not Cassidy?" Brandon asks.
"It's fine, Brandon," Trent says. "I trust you. I don't think I…JC would do something and get hurt in the process. He already lost it with Hayes."
"How did you know that?" Kyle asks.
"Gage told me," Trent says. "He said something about the numbness going away. He didn't have it high enough to cause permanent damage?"
"That's reassuring," Kyle says. "Can you sit up? We got to see your back." Trent's eyes go wide and he shakes his head violently.
"Whoa, whoa, hey," Aleister says. "Okay, Trent? Whatever is back there, we will understand, but you got to let us help you." Trent whimpers but slowly sits up. Kyle gasps covering his mouth. "Motherfucker."
"What? What is it?" Brandon asks.
"He branded me," Trent says. "Only me…"
"I'm so sorry, Greg," Brandon says. Kyle grabs a gauze pad putting it over the burn on Trent's right shoulder. "Do you know if it was recorded?"
"I think so," Trent says. "I saw a camera in the corner."
"Why are they documenting their crimes?" Brandon asks.
"I don't know," Aleister says. Trent sits up even more hearing Cassidy shouting out in the hall.
"Let go of me!" Cassidy shouts. He tries to fight but he is no match against Nash. He is roughly pushed into a room. "What is this?" Cassidy asks looking around to see Spears, Heath, and Wheeler sitting on their knees. Donovan is standing in between Hayes and Cornette. Donovan is pushed forward.
"How about we phone your Dad?" Cornette asks.
"Oh, this'll be fun," Hayes says.
"Why can't you just leave him out of this?" Cassidy asks. "You already manipulated him into helping you kidnap someone and then are now holding him against his will. He's your son. Do you want him to suffer?"
"That's rich, coming from you," Nash says. Cassidy turns to look at him.
"I might not have had the best dad in the world, but I do know that Marty wouldn't ever do what Cornette is doing," Cassidy says.
"Didn't he kick you out at 12?" Nash asks.
"11," Cassidy answers.
"Shut up," Cornette says. He puts the phone on speaker. "Hello, Shane."
"Jim? Why are you calling me?" Shane asks. "Where's Donovan?"
"Not even gonna ask what's gotten into me?" Cornette asks.
"I don't give a fuck about you, Jim," Shane says. "All I care about is my son."
"He's not really your son, though, is he?" Cornette asks.
"Fuck you!" Donovan shouts. Cornette shakes his head, gripping onto Donovan's hair pulling his head back.
"Did I say you could talk?" Cornette asks.
"Donovan, bud, don't push him," Shane says. "Are you okay?" Donovan has to stop himself from speaking.
"Go ahead," Cornette says.
"I'm doing okay, Dad," Donovan says. "I had to…he was going to get Alan and Bryce and Dalton involved. I couldn't let that happen."
"Don't worry, bud. I know," Shane says. "You didn't answer my question Jim. Why did you call?"
"Well, I thought it might be fun for you to hear just how obedient Donovan is," Cornette says.
"What does that even mean?" Shane asks.
"You'll see," Cornette says, putting the phone down on the floor. "You get to choose who stays safe and who doesn't, Donovan."
"What?" Donovan asks.
"Choose one, the rest will be spared," Cornette says.
"Just these four?" Donovan asks.
"The others are taken," Hayes says. "Silver, he's Nash's. Janela and Brandon belong to Martini and Montel, Strong belongs to Silas, Cole is with Russo and well Max and Sammy would be fun to play with together. They do have chemistry. I think rooming together has really brought them closer together."
"I…I'll take their place," Donovan says.
"You weren't part of the plan, Donovan, we don't want you," Hayes says.
"Does that really matter?" Donovan asks. "I'm here now, aren't I?"
"You are, but you are so boring looking," Hayes says. "Besides, this is way more fun."
"No," Donovan says.
"What did you just say?" Cornette asks. Donovan flinches.
"I said no," Donovan says. "I'm not choosing."
"You will choose, Donovan," Hayes says.
"You can't make me!" Donovan shouts.
"Make him kneel," Hayes says. Donovan grunts being forced onto his knees by Nash. Hayes pulls out a pistol, taking out all of the bullets, putting one back into a chamber before spinning it. Hayes leans over whispering into Cornette's ear. "I won't hurt him. This will just scare him." Donovan looks at the four men in front of him. He knew absolutely nothing about them. All he knew is that he felt a connection with Cassidy after he allowed him to sit with him and his friends. Wheeler still had a swollen eye. The only ones that were untouched were Heath and Spears. But Spears looks undeniably terrified. Donovan couldn't tell what Heath was feeling, his face was just neutral.
Donovan holds his breath when Hayes cocks the pistol pointing it straight at Donovan's head. "Choose."
"No," Donovan says harshly. The gun clicks, Hayes cocking the pistol again. Donovan looks at each of the men. This decision is too much for him. He feels as if he'd be throwing them into a lion's den. His eyes meet Heath's and Heath nods to him.
"I'm not going to ask you again, Donovan," Hayes says.
"Okay!" Donovan shouts. Cornette hangs up the phone. "Heath, I choose Heath."
"I think you may have a crush on these AEW wrestlers there, son," Cornette says.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the men in the room, Silas and Roderick were outside of the door whispering to each other. Silas knew that the police were going to be able to hear them.
"You have to create a diversion, start a fight, anything," Silas says.
"Two nights from now?" Roderick asks.
"Yes, with Phillips is in the boathouse," Silas says. "It's the perfect time."
"Thank you," Roderick says.
"Go downstairs, I'm going to wait for Donovan," Silas says.