A/N: Please note that other triggering content (self-harm and suicide will be discussed) throughout the story. Please be forewarned and take precautions if these are troubling for you.
I just wanted to thank everyone for the reviews. My muse and I both appreciate it. This is still, as of now, planned to be a fairly long, multi-part story, but if you all aren't into it…I'll wrap it up before too long.
And remember…reviews and feedback keep me and my muse motivated…especially if they're positive!
***This chapter starts the second "part" of the story***More drama and more secrets revealed***
I hope you enjoy this latest chapter…Now on with the show!
"We define family in many different ways: not just by blood but by people with whom we find a common ground and a common bond." ~ Adrienne C. Moore
"Horror is like a serpent; always shedding its skin, always changing. And it will always come back. It can't be hidden away like the guilty secrets we try to keep in our subconscious." ~ Dario Argento `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Chapter 25
Shocked at what she said, I look back at her and whisper "You know who I am?"
She simply nods and whispers back to me "I can't leave her. He's gonna kill her."
She didn't tell me how she knows me. But I know Emily risked her life to save her…so I need to make sure she's safe. I whisper back to her "let me worry about her…you need to go. I can't protect you and save her too" I try to explain as quickly as possible.
She nods in understanding…and reluctantly backs out of the room through the door I just came in.
I quickly reach for my phone and send a quick text to Hotch to let him know that I found Emily and Summer. That Summer is heading back down the trail from the building Garcia mentioned. That Emily is still being held at gunpoint by Lucas…and that I'm going to try to find a way inside if I can.
I watch as Summer slowly makes her way back down the path I walked up moments ago, and briefly send up a quick thank you to whoever was watching out for her…and ask they continue to protect Emily. I lean in close to the opening of the door and listen for any sound…any indication…that I have a chance to go in and help without making the situation worse for Emily.
I'd just as soon shoot the bastard but I can't risk her getting shot in the crossfire. I need to make sure he's away from her or has is gun lowered before I take that kind of risk.
"Damnit" Hotch mutters. "I just got a text from JJ…somehow Emily managed to switch places with the hostage…she managed to get Summer free…but now she's the one being held at gunpoint by Lucas. JJ said she's going to try to find a way inside and that Summer is on her way here." Hotch relays the message to the team, who at this point, have all met up near the entrance to the trail.
"Hotch, Morgan and I will head down the trail to where JJ said Emily is being held. If we see Summer, we'll send her down to the two of you. Reid, make sure that none of the local PD move until we give the okay. Also, have EMS on standby. Garcia, keep track of our exact location so if we need backup, you can tell them exactly where to go. Everyone's on Comms so we can stay in touch." Rossi firmly states.
"Except JJ. She won't respond…I think she took her earpiece out Sir." Garcia replies.
"She's not responding to my text either…Damnit! She must have her phone off or it's on silent! We need to move! We can't risk her going in there alone. Lucas is dangerous…and now that he has Emily…God only knows what he'll do." Hotch quickly replies as he, Rossi, and Morgan rush off down the trail towards JJ and Emily.
I stare up into the eyes of the devil, waiting for him to make his first move, but as I do, I can't help but remember the first time I met him. I admittedly, fell for his charade…like so many before me…and probably others after me have as well.
He seemed to be a sweet, caring, intelligent, and humorous gentleman…not to mention incredibly handsome. I found myself immediately drawn in by his humor and intelligence…but inexplicably captivated by his eyes. They say that eyes are the windows to your soul…and I used to stare into his for hours. I wonder how I could have been so blind…as to have missed what was so obviously missing from within him…any kind of soul whatsoever.
You can put on a mask for others, but to truly mask your deepest thoughts and feelings from those closest to you…that requires real talent…and in his case…probably some deep level of psychopathy. I just simply missed all of the signs…at least at first.
That's a large part of why I'm in the field I'm in now. I needed to understand human behavior better…to prevent myself from missing those kinds of signs again; if not for myself…for others like me. I wanted to be able to prevent other people from becoming victims…though I would never admit to anyone else…or even myself…of being one…regardless of the circumstances.
So, I suppose if it were not for Lucas…I would have never ended up on the path my life took after I left him. I would have never pursued a career in law enforcement at all. Who knows what my life would look like today.
I suppose trying to reassess my life's journey at a time like this may seem odd…but given the fact that I'm staring down the devil…knowing full well that he has no intention of letting me leave here alive…I guess now is as good a time as any for self-reflection…at least on some small scale.
My self-reflection is interrupted by Lucas…"Trying to figure out what my plan is Mia? What I have in store for you next?"
I continue to stare back at him and calmly reply "No. I knew before I walked through that door that you were setting me up. The only question I have…is why drag Summer into it? What did you hope to gain?"
"I needed to see her. You've kept me away from her for years, Mia. I needed to know how much influence you've had on her…if I had any chance at all of having a relationship with my own daughter. But I see now that what little time you've had with her…you've managed to poison her against me. You and your family have turned her against me completely…just like you turned everyone else against me before. Some things never change." Lucas finishes speaking…barely contained rage just bubbling below the surface.
I can tell I'm starting to get to him…his mask has fallen and the real Lucas is showing through; this is the Lucas that I remember.
"I was wondering how long it would take before I'd see the real you…not the one fake version you were pretending to be in front of Summer." I reply…maintaining my calm demeanor.
"You're accusing me of being fake? What about you, Mia? I'll admit that some of what I said wasn't entirely accurate…but you weren't exactly honest either. You always did play the victim so well...pretending that I was abusive…that I was some drugged up, alcoholic monster that beat you constantly. We both know that wasn't the case. We both did drugs and drank all the time. You were hurting yourself all the time…even before we met…and I enjoyed inflicting pain. I had to suppress that side of myself because I knew it was wrong. But…when we met…you encouraged me to let that side of myself free…you told me it was okay to be myself around you. It seemed like a match made in Heaven…or maybe Hell. You didn't have to hurt yourself because I was able to do that for you…it kept you from feeling guilty about that dirty little secret of yours…and I no longer had to suppress my urge to hurt anyone else." Lucas half-smiled as he continued.
"The problem for me…was that it gave you someone else to blame when things went bad between us. You blamed me instead of admitting that you asked me to hurt you. That you really wanted me to hurt you and…that you actually enjoyed it. Because if I wasn't the one hurting you like that…you would've been doing it to yourself anyway. You weren't going to tell anyone about that. So instead…you let me take the blame for all of your injuries and scars. In the process…you made me look like a monster…and made yourself into some poor, helpless victim. You so easily turned everyone against me…even my own parents. They couldn't imagine someone like you…someone so smart…so privileged…so put-together…hurting themselves. They didn't have any idea how fucked up you really were…still are I'm sure…and with all of your scars…they believed your story. Perfect little Emily…my Mia…and the monster you let out of its cage by encouraging me to embrace my dark side. Well…you got your wish…didn't you?" He finishes with a sneer.
"I never asked you to beat me…to become violent…to throw me down the stairs…to try and kill me or Summer…or to rape me here in this park…I never asked for any of that!" I start to argue.
I know he's pushing some of my buttons…but I can't help it. He's starting to get to me. My anger is starting to get the better of me and I know I won't be able to think rationally if he keeps this up. I have to figure out a way to turn this around…before it's too late.
I also know that JJ has probably heard every word of what Lucas has said and part of me wonders what she's think right now. Especially given what happened last night and this morning. Will she believe him? Will she think I'm some freak that wanted him to hurt me…or will she realize he's lying?
He sounds so convincing…enough that I almost believe him and I was there. I had to live through all of it. I'd glance over to see JJ's reaction…but I can't risk Lucas realizing she's here. I just have to hope she either didn't hear him or that she won't believe him.
Summer is their daughter? Why would Emily not tell me about her? Was she afraid that I wouldn't want to be with her because of that? I guess up until last night…or rather this morning when she realized I wasn't going to run away again…she really had no real reason to trust me…but still. Where has she been this whole time? How could she hide something that big from all of us? I know she said she had secrets…but I never imagined one of them would be a secret kid…who is nearly an adult now.
And they both mentioned this park…that must be how Garcia, Hotch, and Rossi all knew about Lucas. That conversation I overheard a few years back…after Emily was attacked and ended up in the hospital. It was Lucas that attacked her. God…I had no idea what really happened. I don't think they did either. I doubt Garcia knew about it back then…or she would've told me. Something must've changed recently…but what?
Maybe it has something to do with that meeting I saw where Garcia gave Emily that hug…I thought it was weird at the time. Now all of the pieces are starting to fit together. I just wish it didn't fit together and mean all of this. Why couldn't it be something simple and easy…something that didn't mean that Emily was hurt or suffered through more trauma.
And now it looks like he's trying to twist some horrible past they shared together to try and get inside her head. God…she doesn't need this right now. She was already struggling with all of this crap…now to have him just reinforcing all of these negative thoughts she was already feeling.
What kind of game is he playing? I get the feeling he's done this to her before. How else would someone as strong and brave as Emily stay with someone like him? Someone that was so obviously abusive for such a long time? He's obviously manipulated her before…he knows what buttons to push. I just hope she isn't falling for it this time.
Please babe…just hang in there. I'm trying. If he drops that gun…even for a second…I'll rush in and stop him. I hate that he's torturing you with all of this crap he's saying…trying to break you down. It breaks my heart to see that look in your eyes…like he's starting to get to you. Please don't let him. I'll find a way to save you…I promise.
"Reid…Garcia…Summer should be reaching you in a minute. We passed her a little while ago. She told us where to find JJ and Emily. She doesn't appear to have any outward signs of injuries, but you may want to have EMS check her out just in case." Morgan quietly states over the Comms system.
"There's no movement outside, so we're getting ready to head inside now." Morgan continues.
"Please be careful…all of you…and do whatever you have to do to bring back my girls…safely." Garcia responds…holding back tears.
"Anything for you, Baby Girl." Morgan quietly replies.
Garcia starts to reply but spots a younger, dark haired young woman walk out of the trail and directly up to her. As she starts to ask if she's okay, she's startled to hear her ask "Garcia…any update from JJ about Emily?"
"You...you know who I...I am?" Garcia stutters.
"Yeah. I know who all of you are…I'll explain later. But for now…could you please just answer me? Have you heard anything from JJ about Emily?" Summer asks again.
"No sweetie…the team is heading inside now." Garcia looks over the young woman and sees she's shaking. "Reid, could you have one of the paramedics come over here and make sure she's okay…bring a bottle of water with you too, please."
Reid just nods his head as he makes his way towards one of the paramedics. They have a brief conversation before making their way towards Summer and Garcia.
"Ma'am, would you come back over with me to the ambulance so that we can take a look at you and make sure that you're okay?" the young paramedic asks.
"No…I'm not going anywhere…not until I know that JJ and Emily are okay." Summer quickly replies.
"Can you just take a quick look at her here…make sure she's okay." Garcia interjects, realizing Summer isn't going anywhere right now. "Would that be okay, Summer?" Garcia continues as she hands Summer the bottle of water.
Summer reluctantly nods and the paramedic finally concedes "Okay…but only if you agree that if anything is wrong, you'll allow me to help you…once you have an update…back at the ambulance."
"Sure…whatever…but really…I'm fine" Summer states…continuing to watch the entrance to the trail.
Garcia makes her way over to Reid and quietly whispers to him…"She knows who we all are…I asked her how she knew us and all she would say was that she'd explain it all later. Has Em ever mentioned anything to you about her?"
"No…" Reid sadly replies. "I thought we found out everything about Emily after what happened with Ian…I guess she's still keeping secrets from us. We're her family…why doesn't she understand that we'll love her no matter what…that she doesn't have to keep hiding things from of us."