Doubt

Part 6

The sound of the door opening woke me from my state of dozing. I hadn’t even realized that I’d started to fall asleep until I jerked up with a gasp. I squinted in the darkness, my heart already beating faster. My body ached from the rough treatment from Vinnie, but my bigger concern was directed towards who was coming into the room.

“Just sit tight, Littrell. You’ve seen the damage we can do, don’t fuck with us.”

“Oh no...” I whispered, praying I hadn’t heard Brady right. Praying it wasn’t Brian that was in Brady’s grip. But when a sliver of light fell on Brian’s face, my heart sank. Brady took notice of my dismay, smirked and gave Brian a hard shove. With his hands bound behind his back, Brian was unable to keep himself from tumbling roughly to the floor. Brady nodded in satisfaction and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Brian!” I cried, doing my best to crawl over to him.

“Lizz?” Brian panted, trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of him. He’d managed to pull himself up so he was sitting on his knees. “Are you okay?” His voice rose in alarm when he got a look at my battered condition.

“Fine.” I said hastily, unconcerned with myself at the moment. “Wh- Where’s AJ? Is he-”

“He’s alive, Lizz. He was beaten pretty badly.” Brian said softly, shaking his head.

I tried to swallow around the lump that had formed in my throat. “God Brian, I tried to stop him. AJ and I were trying to find away out of here and we got caught. Brady attacked AJ and Vinnie dragged me into this room. I saw the phone in here,” I stopped to show Brian, but it was nowhere to be seen. “Well, it was in here. Anyway, I called Nick, but almost immediately Vinnie came back in here. He ripped the phone from my hand and started knocking me around. Then he called Nick back and told him to come get me and AJ. He said AJ needed medical attention.” I stopped again when I saw the expression on Brian’s face.

“He called him back. Dammit.” Brian looked pained. I raised an eyebrow.

“Vinnie called Nick before that?”

“No, well yes. He called Nick, but I was in sitting with him. Since Nick was finally asleep, I answered his phone and Vinnie thought I was Nick and directed me to come to this address.” He explained, shifting uncomfortably against the handcuffs.

I shook my head slowly. “’Sitting with him?’”

“Nick’s in the hospital, Lizz. Or, well, he was before he disappeared.” Brian said softly.

I put my hand to my mouth. “Oh god.”

“No no! He’s okay, he was just banged up from the accident and I think waking up to find you and AJ gone didn’t help.” Brian said quickly.

“But you said he was gone. Shit Brian! He’s going to come here! They’ll kill him!” I cried.

“Kevin’s here too, hopefully he’ll find Nick before anyone else does and get him out of here.” Brian assured me. I might have actually felt better if he’d sounded convinced himself. Instead I just wrapped my arms around Brian, trying to fight the tears that were behind my eyes.

~*~*~*~*~

AJ couldn’t hold back the small whimper that escaped his throat when he was thrown into someone’s arms. He was completely and totally disoriented. Nick was supposed to be the one that was there, but instead he had heard Brian’s voice. Brian was telling someone not to worry, that he would take care of Nick and himself! He almost didn’t care who had him since he didn’t think it was possible to be in much more pain than he was already in.

“Beat it, before I decide I’m not done with that little freak.” Brady sneered.

Kevin sucked in a breath and instinctively drew AJ closer to him, determined to keep his younger brother from any more harm. The mere idea of leaving Brian and Lizz at this foul place made him sick to his stomach. But he had to get AJ out of there and find Nick. “I’m going.” Kevin ground out, teeth clenched.

At the sound of Kevin’s voice, AJ let himself relax somewhat. Kevin would figure something out and get everyone safe. AJ refused to let himself believe otherwise. Since he couldn’t see anything, he focused instead on the sounds in the room. Kevin’s rapidly beating heart was pounding so loud in his ear that it was impossible to miss that. The door squeaked open and Kevin carried AJ through. AJ jumped when the door was slammed behind them.

“You with me bud?” Kevin asked softly.

“L--” AJ paused and cleared his throat weakly. “Lizz’s next door, Brian now too...”

Kevin’s gaze immediately fell on the closed door that they were behind. Again, Kevin had to fight back tears. They were so close, yet there was nothing he could do. He was so damned helpless. “AJ, I’m getting you out of here, finding Nick and we are gonna be back for them.” He swore, his voice low.

“Brady told me-” AJ was forced to stop when his beaten body was wracked with coughs.

“Shh-hh AJ, take it easy.” Kevin coaxed.

“No, Kev! They’re going to torture Lizz, then Nick. Then kill him.”

Kevin stared down at AJ. “Sonofabitch! That big guy told you this?”

AJ nodded. Kevin looked hurriedly up and down the hall, trying to figure out what to do. Thankfully the hallway was vacant, but that luck was about to run out. Vinnie’s two way crackled from the other side of the door. Her words were too muffled to understand, but Vinnie’s were clear as a bell. “You heard the woman, Brady. Go get Richardson and your little punching bag.” Vinnie laughed at his cleverness in AJ’s nickname.

Kevin’s eyes widened. “Oh shit.”

~*~*~*~*~

“Shit.” Nick muttered. He looked to his right, figuring there was a side door he could slip out of, unnoticed. Lizz and AJ depended on him getting to them and he couldn’t let them down.

“Nick! Oh my god!”

“Hey look! It’s Nick!”

“Nick Carter?”

“Oh shit. Shit!“

The next thing he knew, people were all around him and he felt his chest tighten. They were all trying to get his attention and they all wanted something from him. He needed to get to this address and get to Lizz and AJ before it was too late.

“I need to get through! It’s an emergency.” He said urgently.

“Mr. Carter, could you answer a few questions for us? There are a lot of questions regarding your bus accident...”

“Please, I don’t have time...” Nick shook his head, pushing through everyone.

“Nick? There are rumors that AJ is missing. It’s also being said that Lizz was on that bus with you and that is missing as well! Can you-”

“No!” Nick cried, desperately. If that information got out, there was no telling what could happen if Agnes and Vinnie found out. He was beginning to feel panicked and was about to totally break down until a cab pulled up in front of him. The passenger window rolled down and the cabbie leaned over.

“Get in!” He yelled.

Without thinking twice, Nick jerked the door open and threw himself into the backseat. The cabbie slammed his foot down on the gas and the car peeled away from the curb before Nick even had the door shut.

“I can’t thank you enough.” Nick leaned against the back seat, trying to catch his breath and settle his pounding heart.

“You’re in some trouble, aren’t ya son?” The cabbie peered at his young passenger through his rearview mirror.

“My friends are. I need you to take me to...” Nick paused as he shoved his hand into his pockets. “Oh shit! The address is on my menu. I ran out of there so quick, I didn’t even think to grab it! I don’t know how to get there!” Nick moaned in despair, convinced he’d just sentenced his friends to death.

“I know where it is, son. You just sit tight and ol’ Carl will get you there.” The cabbie smiled thinly.

“Bu- H-how do you know...?” Nick stammered.

“I picked up your two friends, your other bandmates. Already took them there.” Carl replied.

“What?! Oh shit, Brian and Kevin?? Mister, please hurry! They’re gonna get killed!” Nick exclaimed, panic setting back in.

Carl didn’t say anything, but only pushed down harder on the accelerator.

~*~*~*~*~

“This is it, Lizz. Say your good-byes!”

I stared at Vinnie, unable to move. It felt as if every muscle in my body was frozen. He was standing in the doorway, grinning like it was his birthday. Nick was in front of him, on his knees, gun to his head. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out. So I stood there, like a deer in front of headlights, my eyes locked onto Nick’s.

“We don’t have all daa-ayyy, Lizz.” Terri sung out, a sick smile twisting her face.

I broke my gaze from Nick, trying to figure out what was going on. What had happened? Where was Brian? Almost as if reading my mind, Brady stepped forward, rubbing his hands together. I squinted, my mind not comprehending why there was red stuff on his hands. Surely it wasn’t blood.

“Lizz?” Nick’s voice shook me out of my stupor.

I wanted to go to him. Everything was in slow motion and I could tell something was going to happen. Something bad and there was nothing I could do to stop it. But my feet were still rooted to the floor. Almost like someone had glued them down.

Agnes stepped around the other side of Vinnie, gun in her hand. She pointed it at Nick. Yet, I still stood there, unable to move. I couldn’t stop this, there wasn’t a damn thing I could do. But if anything, if all of this was for nothing else, I had to tell Nick how I felt about him. I had to tell Nick that I loved him. At least he would know. I had to tell him before it was too late.

Agnes cocked the trigger. I opened my mouth. The words were on my lips and my heart was breaking. But before I could utter a single sound, the fatal shot rang out.

*~*~*~*~*

“AJ, we’ve got to move quick, before they find us!” Kevin whispered, a tone of urgency in his voice.

All AJ could do was give a slight nod, not knowing if Kevin was looking at him or not. He felt his hand slip around his arm, and then Kevin’s arm grabbing his waist to steady him as he guided him to a sturdier standing position.

Rushing AJ as fast as he dared, Kevin tried door after door only to discover that it was locked. As he was just about to give up and resign them both to certain doom, the last door he tried miraculously opened.

“This looks like an old office space, we’ll be safe in here for the time being,” Kevin stated as he looked around the dimly lighted room.

AJ’s only response was several dry coughs followed by a soft, quiet moan.

“Are you okay?”

AJ sighed quietly. “Yeah, ready to party.”

As he leaned against the wall, Kevin looked around the room, surveying the situation he and AJ were in. He narrowed his eyes as he looked across the room. “Hey, I see some doors over there,” he announced as he straightened himself up. “Stay right here, I’m gonna go see where they lead to.”

“Yeah, like I have a choice,” AJ sputtered.

AJ discovered that since his eyesight was gone, his hearing seemed to have become more sharper and he trained his concentration on listening to Kevin’s hard, even footsteps across the wooden floor. Kevin grunted as he pulled on a door. AJ could tell that he moved further away as he tried another door.

“Hey this one looks like it might lead us out of this building, it’s got stairs,” Kevin stated excitedly. “I’ll go and check it before I lead you down here. God, there’s dust and cobwebs everywhere!”

AJ shook his head hearing Kevin’s disgust about the dirty stairwell. He was such a neatnik, always cleaning up after the rest of the guys when they were on tour. “I’m sure it won’t kill you, just watch out for rats.”

“Ha, ha, very funny AJ,” Kevin mocked. “Hey, I see a passage over there----”

A floorboard groaned followed by the sound of wood breaking and Kevin crying out.

Then silence.

Using the wall as a leverage to get his bearings, AJ slowly felt his way along the wall, getting back up again to a standing position. “Kevin? Are you okay? Kev? Shit.”

~*~*~*~*~

“Where are they!” Agnes squawked at Vinnie when he appeared in the room, alone.

“I couldn’t find their asses, they’re probably long gone by now,” Vinnie panted, winded from running up and down the hall in search of Kevin and AJ.

“Dammit Vincent, I left you in charge of something so simple and you messed that up too! This is no good, I can’t tolerate this!” Agnes bellowed as she paced the trash strewn wooden floor.

“Hey don’t be yelling at me about this! You told me to keep Littrell with that girl----”

“YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER?!”

“YOU TOLD ME TO YOU OLD BITCH!”

“Good god, gimme the gun, I’ll have to take care of things by my...where’s Brady at?” Agnes sneered as she grabbed the gun from Vincent’s hand.

“Use your freakin two way, dumb bitch,” Vinnie cackeled as he slumped onto the overstuffed, dusty brown couch in the corner.

Agnes glared as she picked up her radio off the table next to the couch. “Brady?”

Silence was soon replaced with static and then Brady’s voice.

“Yes ma’am?”

A broad smile played upon Agnes lips. “See that boy knows how to respect me.” Vinnie flipped the old woman off when she turned her back. Terri unsuccessfully chocked back a giggle. Agnes whirled around to see what Terri was snickering about but her attention was suddenly drawn back to Brady on the two-way.

“Ma’am? You needed me?”

“Yes Brady, I do,” Agnes replied sweetly. “I want you to go and get either the boy or that girl from out of that room and bring one of them to me, they can’t be kept together, they’ll try to escape.”

“Which one do you want?”

Agnes waived her hand in the air as she replied, “It doesn’t matter, which ever one y’all feel you can handle.”

“Be down in a few minutes ma’am,” Brady answered.

“See, that’s all it took, some real man to handle the situation correctly,” Agnes stated as she placed the two-way back onto the table.

“What you gonna do, Momma?”

“Not sure yet, it will depend on who he brings to me,” Agnes smiled.

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Here you go,” Carl said as he stopped the cab.

I peered out the window and swallowed nervously. “T-this is where you left them at?”

“Creepy looking place isn’t it?”

Leaning back on the seat, I pulled my billfold out of my back pocket and pulled out the last of my money - a wad of ones and a twenty dollar bill. “Will this be enough?”

Carl accepted the money from me and fingered the bills. “Yeah, plenty. You need me to stick around?”

The thought sounded inviting to me since this place looked spooky and I was beginning to wonder what I would find when I got in there but I shook my head and declined the offer. “I got my cell, I can call for a cab when I need a ride out of here.”

“Suit yourself then kid, good luck to you and your friends, hope you find them, that building is pretty big.”

“I will, thanks.”

Hesitating only for a moment, I finally pulled myself from the cab and watched as the driver sped off. Adding a dramatic effect to the whole situation, the wind picked up and stirred the sand in the road, blowing it in my face. “Just peachy,” I mumbled as I looked at the hotel.

I approched the obvious - the front door and gingerly pulled on the handle. The steel door groaned in a loud protest as it opened and slammed shut behind me when the wind pushed against it. I jumped and my heart started racing. When the door shut I was cast into total darkness for a moment until my eyes adjusted to the lack of sunlight.

The lobby of the building was strewn with litter, beer and soda cans. I felt a chill go up my back as I looked around. Five freakin stories and they could be anywhere. A rat screeched as it scrambled across the floor twenty feet from where I stood.

Eyeing the stairs, I determined that they had to be safe, there wasn't any other way for anyone to get up to each level of the building. I decided to start from the top and work my way door, floor by floor until I found them. I took a deep breath and slowly and cautiously started my climb.

~*~*~*~*~

"Lizz? Wake up honey," Brian soothed as he gently nudged her with his shoulder.

"Ohmygod!" she gasped as she woke, her breathing was labored and her hair was soaked in sweat.

"You had a bad dream, it's okay now."

Lizz shook her head. "Oh god it was awful."

"It was just a dream," Brian assured as he shifted his body trying to find a more comfortable position against the wall.

"But it seemed so real. Agnes said she was going to kill him...."

"Kill him? Nick? Was that what the dream was about?"

Lizz nodded, unable to go into the details of the nightmare that she was afraid that would come true.

"Well, it's just a dream, it's going to be okay," Brian tried to convince Lizz as much as he was trying to convince himself at the moment.

Lizz hoped it was true but the dream still hung in her thoughts, not going away. She decided she had to talk about it, it was breaking her heart keeping the thoughts inside. "They had him on his knees and a gun pointed to his head...and I never got to tell him goodbye, I never got to tell him that I love him," Lizz whispered.

Brian turned his head slowly to look at Lizz. He thought he heard the last phrase, but she whispered it so quietly, he wasn't certain. "You'll see him again soon. It's going to be okay. You can tell him then."

"I hope so," Lizz squeaked before the tears started to flow again.

"Awe sweetheart--"

Brian's words were cut short when the door to the room was flung open and Brady appeared.

"I'm supposed to take one of you to Agnes. Which one should I take?" Brady snickered.

The handcuffs clanked as Brian inched his way up the wall to a standing postion. "Take me, leave her alone!"

Brady laughed at Brian's determination. "A Backstreet Boy with some guts. I like this, you would have never suspected that from you!"

"No, don't take him, take me, it's my fault, don't hurt him!" Lizz protested.

"I'll be back to get you soon doll, just one at a time, that's all Brady wants to take right now, come on boy," Brady urged as he approached Brian and took his arm.

The look on Brian's face scared Lizz. She could see the fear and the apprehension of the unknown in his eyes.

"It'll be okay Lizz, just sit tight," Brian called out as he was led out of the room.

Brady laughed at the statement and then kicked the door shut and the next thing Lizz heard was the sound of a key being placed into a lock.

*~*~*~*~*

The search on the top floor was a waste of time, I decided as it turned up nothing but empty hotel rooms. One floor down four more to go. There was something about the fourth floor that was different though. It 'felt' as if it were being used. Hearing a door closing, my heart skipped a beat.

I ducked into a room, leaving the door cracked open as I waited to see what would be walking down the hall. I listened and tried to breathe quietly so I could catch any sounds or voices that would hopefully lead me to my friends.

There were distinctive sounds of chains from handcuffs and heavy footsteps and the sounds of some lighter footsteps of someone that was being taken someplace against their will. Funny how when you can't see something your hearing seems to become more sensitive to sound.

My breath caught when the owners of the footsteps came into view. A huge black man was pushing Brian down the hall, his hands were handcuffed in front, his face looked weary. I decided I would slip out of the room behind them when they past my door. Just a few more feet and I would take my position....

The plans were abruptly ended when the ringer on my cellphone loudly announced I had an incoming phone call.

Shit.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I made a desperate lunge at the door just as Brady locked it behind him. How in the hell could he lock it from the outside of the room? Someone at some point had to have specifically changed the lock so it locked on the outside instead of the inside. Did that mean that other people had been held captive in here? The thought made me shudder.

“Brian!” I cried, beating my fist against the door, tears of frustration and despair slipping down my cheeks. “Dammit Lizz, hold it together.” I swore to myself. I took a deep breath and made myself take a step back and think rationally. I had to find out where Brady was taking Brian. I pressed my ear up against the door and listened. The footsteps sounded off to the right. Okay, at least I know what direction I am going. I looked around the room, but there was nothing in here that was going to help me break the door down. As if I had the strength to do that anyway. How else was I going to get out of here? I had a sickening feeling that if I didn’t get to Brian soon, he would end up in AJ’s condition, or worse.

Frantically I scanned the room again, my eyes falling on the window. I rushed over to it as and looked outside. The sun was rising so I could see pretty well. There was a ledge that ran several feet below the window. It was about as wide as a curb, but it ran around the whole side of the building. When I realized what I was going to have to do, my heart started pounding. I wasn’t afraid of heights, but I did have terrible balance. Nick and I had had many arguments on who was more of a klutz. Just the thought of him heightened my desperation to get moving. Time was running out for Brian and Nick was on his way here.

I grabbed the thin sheet that had been laying in a crumpled heap on the floor and balled as much of it as I could around my hand. Then I balled up my fist, reached back and shot it through the window. It shattered and I felt the sting of glass shards go into my knuckles. The worry that someone could have heard me was more prevalent on my mind so I focused my attention on climbing out of the window. The ledge felt a lot skinnier with me standing on it than when I had looked at it. I shut my eyes, panic welling up in my chest. Think of Nick. Think of Brian. Take it slow. Inch by inch I eased my body along the ledge. The first window was only a few feet away. When I got to in and looked inside, it was empty. I was almost relieved because I wasn’t sure what I was going to find, but then again, I wasn’t going to last much longer on this ledge.

~*~*~*~*~

“What the hell?” Brady’s attention was directed towards the ringing of a cell phone. It was coming from a room that had been unoccupied for the last few days. Brady knew this because the guy that had been staying there had been killed in a street fight. He shot a warning look to Brian before walking over to the door. It was cracked open so he pushed it the rest of the way. Brady took a step into the room and didn’t see the fist in time. It connected with the side of his face with a crunch. Brady reeled back, stunned by the blow.

Brian stared in shock as Brady nearly plowed into him. Nick suddenly came into view. “Brian, run!” He yelled, ready to lunge at Brady again. He was ready to do whatever it took to keep Brady away from Brian. Unfortunately, Brady had the same idea and got to Brian first.

“Don’t move. I’ll snap his fuckin neck.” Brady snarled, angered that that little punk had managed to knock one of his teeth out. He had one massive arm wrapped around Brian’s neck, tight enough to make Brian gag for air. His other hand had a firm grip on Brian’s hair, showing Nick what little effort it would take to make good on his threat.

“Don’t!” Nick begged. “Let him go! I’ll surrender myself, whatever you want. Let him go, please!”

Brady turned his head to the side and spit out the bloody tooth. “You are going to pay for that, boy. Start walking.” He gestured down the hall with his chin.

Not wanting to provoke Brady into causing anymore harm to Brian, Nick obeyed. Brady followed behind, dragging Brian with him. “Third door on the right. Open it.”

“No! Nick don’t! They’re going to kill you!” Brian cried.

“I’m going to kill you if you don’t shut up.” Brady hissed, his patience growing thin.

Nick swallowed hard. He knew that what was on the other side of that door could very likely mean his death. On the other hand, what was to guarantee that they weren’t going to kill Brian as well. And where was Lizz? Where was AJ? He turned around slowly.

“You have me.” He said softly. “Please let Brian go. I’ll do whatever you say, just please let my friends go.”

Brady stared at Nick thoughtfully. “You’d do anything to save your friends wouldn’t you?”

Nick was filled with a glimmer of hope. “Yes, I would. D-does this mean you’ll let them go?”

Brady continued to stare at Nick a moment longer before busting out in cruel laughter. “No, it just means that this will be so much more entertaining!”

“You bastard!” Nick yelled, starting to move towards Brady.

“Ah ah, I wouldn’t.” Brady warned, clamping a fierce hand around the back of Brian’s neck. “Now go in the fucking room.”

~*~*~*~*~

After the fifth window I was feeling beyond desperate and I felt like every part of my body was shaking with exertion and nerves. Then I heard the faint sound of a door being slammed. A lot of loud voices followed and I knew my the next window belonged to the room Brian was in. As quickly as I dared, I inched over to the window and peered in. The horror of the scene in front of me almost caused me to lose my balance. It wasn’t just Brian in there with our kidnappers, but Nick too! He was here?! The window was filthy so it was hard to tell what was going on. They were all in there, I could tell that much. Terri sat stiffly in her wheelchair, pointing an accusatory finger at Nick. Vinnie was standing a little too close for comfort to the window I was hanging outside of. Agnes was standing in front of Nick, hands on hips, yelling at him. Brady had a firm grip on Brian and appeared to be enjoying every minute of it. I could see Nick’s face and he looked absolutely horrified. I couldn’t see Brian’s face, but it looked like Nick’s horror was directed at him. I squinted harder, trying to figure out what was going on. That’s when I saw it.

Brady was holding a gun to Brian. He was going to use it.

With an animalistic cry, I threw my fist into the window. Six shocked heads jerked in my direction. I didn’t even have time to notice as the ledge beneath me crumbled under my feet and I started to fall.

Anything that could go wrong had and was at this very moment I decided as I glanced around the room. Here was my best friend standing in front of me, fear etched on his face. The huge black man named Brady, stood next to Brian - a little too close for my satisfaction - grinning from ear to ear despite the missing tooth, compliments of me actually making contact with the man's face. And then there was the collection of family freaks, Agnes and Terri.

Terri.

I narrowed my eyes as I stared at her face. This woman brought more pain and suffering than what anyone could ever imagine. Granted she was in a wheel chair and the events that put her there would have humbled the meanest soul, but there she was, still yelling and blaming me for everything that had happened to her and her family.

Agnes was just a bitter old woman and looked for blame to place for the way her family had turned out. I was her perfect scapegoat and she kept insisting that I was to suffer for all the wrongdoings I had made happened to her Terri and her Marcus.

"You'll get what you deserve, Nick Carter, I will make you regret the day you were born. You will watch your friends slowly suffer. I had to watch my Terri being punished and suffer because of you!"

"Please, let them go," my voice croaked. "I-I do anything you ask me to, just let my friends go."

"We'll let them go Carter, after we're done with them, we'll let them go," Vinnie sneered and then laughed.

"Brady, take Brian and work him over like you did with that skinny tatooed runt!" Agnes commanded as she waved her boney finger towards Brian.

"This will be fun," Brady smirked.

"No! Please!" I begged. I knew I had to think of something fast, some type of diversion or something to stall for time. "Just keep on doing what you want to him but only do it to me, it's me you're angry at, not Brian!"

"No my dear friend, the whole point of this is to put you through hell and there's not a damn thing you can do about it!" Vinnie cackled.

"Nick, no! Just let them get this overwith," Brian pleaded.

All eyes were focused on Brian as he bravely was waiting for the punishment to begin. Suddenly, before I could argue, the sounds of breaking glass penetraited the air. Everyone jerked their heads towards the direction of the dirty window.

"LIZZ!" Brian and I yelled at the same time.

Vinnie jumped and quickly reached out through the broken window and grabbed Lizz's arm preventing her from falling off the crumbling ledge. She was screaming from fear and from the pain of Vincent's firm grip.

I didn't hesitate and ignored Agnes and Brady's commands that I didn't move from my spot as I rushed towards the window to help Vinnie pull Lizz into the room.

"Back off Carter," Vinnie grunted through clenched teeth.

I pushed him off to one side as I grabbed onto the arm that he was hanging onto. "You'll drop her!"

Vinnie started to push me with his body. "NO I WON'T! BACK OFF FREAK!"

My eyes locked onto Lizz's. She knew how to read my mind and through tear streamed eyes, she managed to read what I was thinking and slightly nodded her acknowledgement.

Tightening my grip on her arm, I threw all my weight against Vinnie, pressing him against the wall, causing him to release his hand on her arm. I quickly reached out with my other hand. "Grab it!"

"I... I can't," Lizz cried pitifully.

"Yes you can," I encouraged. I gasped when I saw the amount of blood that was pouring out of the gash on her forearm. I pushed the thought of passing out away. "Come on, take my hand!"

"Let her go so she can just die!" Terri wailed.

"Lizz! Don't let them win, come on, take my hand dammit!"

After a few feeble attempts, Lizz connected and my hand met hers. Putting a foot against the wall under the window for leverage, I pulled Lizz up and through the window, both of us falling onto the floor in a heap.

"Isn't that just fucking sweet," Terri mocked. "You should have let her fall because what we have planned for her now would make falling to her death more pleasant than being slowly tortured until she begs to die!"

"Don't you touch her, just take me, let them go!" I begged as I looked at Agnes and Vinnie.

Vinnie was slowly pulling himself up from the corner, anger was evident in his face. "I'm gonna have so much fun doing her."

I narrowed my eyes at Vinnie.

"There's nothing you can do Carter, so don't you even think about it, we have this all planned out."

I noticed out the corner of my eye how the blood from Lizz's gash was pooling onto the wood floor. I tore off my shirt and quickly fashioned it into a tourniquet to slow the bleeding down. As I helped Lizz up to her feet, I could feel her shaking, her legs wobbly.

"Just let my friends go and you can do anything you want with me, just let them go," I begged.

Agnes clicked the trigger on her gun and gestured for Lizz and me to move towards her. I kept trying to think of some quick move to save us from this mess, but my mind was a jumbled mess of worry and I couldn't think clearly.

"Hands behind your backs," Agnes commanded in a stern voice.

"Lizz is hurt she can't---"

"Put your hands behind your back, Carter," Brady snarled.

Vinnie grabbed his gun and held it against Brian's head. "Do like we say and I won't have to blow his head open!"

I quickly followed the orders and winced when I heard Lizz quietly yelp when her arms were drawn back.

"Couldn't you at least put the cuffs in front of her since she's cut and bleeding?" My eyes met with Vinnie's and I glanced at Brian's ashen face. Vinnie didn't look like he was going to budge, almost as if he was getting off on the hurt he was causing us. "Please for god sakes, show a little compassion, you are human aren't you?"

Vinnie roughly grabbed Brian's hair and jerked his head backwards. "Yeah, I guess or you'll just keep on whining, won't you asshole?" After he let Brian's head go, he nodded towards Brady to undo Lizz and put her hands in front. The blood was already seeping through the tourniquet, not much but enough to let me know that the bleeding hadn't stopped.

We were led towards a windowless wall, far away from where Lizz was dragged in. Brady pushed down on both of our shoulders until we sat down on the floor. Vinnie took his place alongside us. Brian stood in the center of the room and Brady started walking around him, like a lion ready to pounce on it's prey.

"Do Littrell like you did that skinny runt," Vinnie snickered.

Brady grinned and rubbed his hands together. Brian stood still, staring at his agressor, waiting for the punishment that they deemed was necessary.

Before I could beg for more mercy again, Brady delivered the first punch, his fist flying directly into Brian's stomach, emptying all the air from his lungs, causing him to crumble to ground in a coughing fit. I leaned forward to get up but was quickly put back into place by a swift kick from Vinnie into my shoulder.

Brady reached down and pulled Brian back up to his feet by his shirt and punched him in the stomach in four rapid blows.

"STOP!"

Brady let go of him when I yelled and Brian fell down to his knees again. Instead of quitting, the huge black man started kicking Brian any place his feet would land - stomach, legs, chest, back. Brian only cried out once or twice but it was an eerie cry, like he was trying to keep his suffering to himself, almost as if to protect us from worry.

Brady picked Brian up by the shirt again and grinned when he could see that his victim was barely conscious on his feet. He curled his fist up again, ready to deliver more blows when Agnes stopped him.

"That's enough, you can't kill him just yet!"

The smile faded from Brady's face and he let go of Brian's shirt and watched as he fell down to his hands and knees. Brian started coughing so hard that he got sick. I wanted to go to him so badly, but Vinnie pointed his gun towards Lizz so I knew it was better that I stayed in my place. My heart was aching for Brian, I prayed he wasn't hurt as badly as he looked.

"Now the fun begins with pretty girly here," Vinnie mocked as he rubbed the gun across Lizz's cheek.

"God, please just let them go, please!" I begged as the fear of what was about to happen screamed out in my mind.

"Nah, I'm gonna do this for Marcus, he wanted her and he was denied her pleasure, so me and Brady are gonna do this for Marcus," Vinnie grinned. "The best part is y'all get to watch."

"Count me out you sick perv," Terri huffed as she wheeled her chair around and directed it towards the door. "I'll be in the kitchen, let me know when you're done. Momma are you going to watch?"

Agnes sighed in disgust. "Good lord no, I'm going with you. Remember what we discussed boys, and if you're really smart, you should rough Carter up a little bit before you start so his reflexes won't be quick in case he decides to help his little girl out."

~*~*~*~

updated: 4/19/02

“Fine idea you got there, ma’am.” Brady grinned as Agnes pushed Terri’s wheelchair out the door.

Vinnie rolled his eyes. “You are such a fuckin suck-up, ya know that?”

Brady turned around slowly and glared at Vinnie. “Listen, you-”

“Now boys, let’s not forget the task at hand here.” Agnes reminded them, her voice stern.

Vinnie rubbed his hands together. “Don’t worry Ag, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Terri made a face and turned her head away, growing more and more angrier by the second. How could her brother have wanted anything to do with that little bitch? It was like a slap in the face, a betrayal. And now Vinnie was using vengeance as an excuse to have her. She had half a mind to grab her mother’s gun and shoot the bitch.

“Just let us know when you are done, huh Vincent?” Agnes pointed her bony finger at him. “And don’t forget what I said about Carter.”

Brady shut the door behind the two women and turned around to smile maliciously at us. Vinnie was still standing in front of me, gun pointed to my face. All through their little exchange, my attention shifted from them, to Nick and finally to Brian. Watching Brady beat him was one of the most horrific things I had ever witnessed. I was overwhelmed by that same helpless feeling I had when I had to watch Kurt and Marcus whip Nick.

Brian didn’t even have the strength to keep himself on his hands and knees and had sort of slumped down so he was curled up, as if that would ease the pain he must be going through. He still wasn’t completely recovered from the last abuse afflicted on him those months ago. How much could his body take?

“Alright Carter, you heard the boss. We can’t have you trying to pull any heroisms here.” Brady’s threat broke me out of my thoughts.

“Just make sure you don’t make his dumb ass go unconscious or anything. I want him to be able to watch everything I am going to do to his little bitch.” Vinnie reminded, taking a step closer to me.

I recoiled away. This wasn’t happening, it had to be another nightmare.

“Please don’t touch her! You’ve already hurt Brian and AJ. You have me. Please don’t do this to her!” Nick begged.

Vinnie tilted his head back and laughed uproariously. “Keep talking Carter, that is exactly the kind of shit I want to hear. Makes this even better!”

I was still sitting by Nick and I had a death grip on his arm. Brady walked over and stood directly in front of Nick. With perfect control and ease, he leveled his gun at Nick’s forehead. Nick stiffened and I gasped in horror.

“Come on, bitch. I know you want this as bad as I do. Hell, as bad as Marcus did. You know, he wanted your ass bad.” Vinnie grabbed me by the shoulder of my shirt and started to pull me away from Nick. “I don’t know though, I’ve seen you look better. I may be a kinky bastard, but I don’t go for all this blood. I guess it’s my own damn fault for knockin the shit out of ya earlier huh? Alright, let‘s go, sweetness.”

The harder he tugged at me, the harder I gripped Nick. The pulling was making my forearm throb, but the only thought going through my mind was to stay with Nick. They couldn’t separate us.

“Let go of her.” Brady snarled, cocking the trigger of the gun against Nick’s forehead.

My eyes locked with Nick’s as his grip tightened. Part of me wanted to scream to let me go, but the other part of me was too scared. Our joined hands were my lifeline and I was afraid I was going to lose all my strength if they broke us apart.

“Okay, we’ll do this the hard way!” Brady shouted, lifted Nick to his feet by his shirt. He pulled his fist back and drove into Nick’s mid-section with all his might.

I screamed and fought against Vinnie’s grip, but in my weakened state, his strength was no match for me. Brady kept hitting Nick, much like he had done Brian.

“You bastards! Stop!” I screamed, awkwardly thrashing and swinging my fists at Vinnie. The handcuffs were cutting into my skin and I knew I was bleeding, but I didn’t care. He refused to let go, but one of my swings connected to the side of his neck. He gasped and released his grip on me for a split second. I used the opportunity to get to Nick, but Vinnie recovered before I had a chance to get too far. He grabbed me fiercely and shoved me up against the wall, knocking the wind out of my lungs. Then he swung his hand back and slapped me hard across the cheek. My head cracked into the wall behind me and darkness edged around my vision.

“Enough!” He barked at Brady. Brady let one more punch fall before releasing his grip on Nick. Nick, slumped down to the floor, gasping and bleeding. Brian had somewhat come to his senses, but was too injured to pick himself up. “Time for the show to begin.”

My eyes met with Nick’s, only this time, one was nearly swollen shut. His lip was bleeding and bruises were already starting to form. Brady hadn’t worked him over as bad as he had Brian, but it was bad enough.

“Don’t look at him, bitch!” Vinnie snarled, shaking me like a rag doll. “Right now, I am all that there is. Not that I need to tell you that, you’ll know in a few minutes.” He grinned, pushing me harder into the wall. With one fluid motion, he grabbed the shoulder of my shirt and tore it off.

“Stop! Please, god. Don’t do this!” Nick cried.

Vinnie grinned, pressing himself up against me. “I’m really going to enjoy this, baby.”

I shut my eyes, trying to block everything out. Pretend I wasn’t here and this wasn’t happening to me. But when I closed my eyes, it was worse. I felt every inch of his body up against mine. I felt his hot breath against my neck. The lack of blood was making me lightheaded and I didn’t even have the strength to fight him.

I felt his hand work its way around the back of my bra and I struggled against him. His hands were all over me, doing things they shouldn’t, hurting me.

“Please, please...” I was crying uncontrollably. I barely heard Nick and Brian begging for them to stop. “Please, just kill me.” I sobbed, overcome by the humiliation, the pain, the hopelessness. I was filled with disgust and hate towards myself. Disgust that I couldn’t be brave like Brian. They beat him within an inch of his life and the whole time, he barely made a sound.

Vinnie moaned in pleasure. “Ready for more, sweet thing?” I felt one of his hands start messing with the zipper of my jeans.

“No...” I whimpered. “Nick!” I cried, hating myself even more. It was getting harder and harder to even keep my eyes open. The room was starting to move around me. Suddenly, the pressure of his body lifted from mine and my eyes snapped open. Without the support of his grip, my knees buckled and I fell.

A loud bang filled my ears and I jerked my head up. My vision blurred as I watched Vinnie crumple to the ground right in front of me. Kevin stood in the doorway, gun pointed. Brady lunged at Kevin they both fell to the ground, fighting for possession of the glock. More people rushed into the room, but I was completely disoriented and my eyes started to fall shut again. I knew I was losing my grip. When I opened my eyes again, Nick was making his way over to me. He pulled me carefully into his arms, a shattered expression on his face. If I had been more with it, I probably would have fought him. But I could tell I was running out of time and I had to make sure he knew something.

“Nick,” I gasped, surprised at how hard it was to even talk.

“No, Lizz, don’t do this.” Nick pleaded, his voice breaking.

“I...need you...to know...” I broke off, my body suddenly wracked with a coughing fit.

“Lizz...” He whispered, his eyes welling with tears.

I reached a hand up and wiped one of them away.

“I love you.”

The End

***

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