| Chapter 33 Jered and Ephah drug Nick through the house and into the great room. Nick desperately tried to pull free of them, not wanting to be put in the rack again. Jered yanked Nick up and clasped his wrist into the cuff on the rack. "No, not this again, please," Nick begged. Jered laughed at him, "Then do what she tells you." Nick shook his head, "No, I can't." Jered shrugged his shoulders and helped Ephah get Nick's other wrist cuffed. Then the guys and Evi walked over to a sitting area and sat down. Nick watched as Serenity walked over to a table and took her time looking through the various items on it. Every once in a while she would hold one up to the guys asking if they wanted that one. Nick couldn't see everything on the table, but what he could sent chills down his spine. Serenity finally turned around, holding some sort of metal rod in her hand, "This will due for starters." "What is that?" Nick asked, watching as she came closer to him. She laughed, "Oh this is something I picked up a little while ago. They use it on cattle to make them move." "Oh hell," Nick said, knowing what he was in for. The others in the room laughed at his reaction. Serenity walked up to Nick, taking his face in her hand, "One last time. Will you kiss Evi?" Nick took a deep breath, "No." Serenity shook her head, "OK then." Nick watched as she took a step back, turning on the device. Then she looked at him, excitement and malice in her eyes. She then placed the end of the rod just underneath his rib cage and pressed the button. Nick's body jerked with the shock, and he let out a scream. She pulled the rod away and looked at him, "Change your mind yet?" Nick was shaking and breathing heavily, "No." "Alright then, lets up this a level and see what you say," she said, turning a knob on the device. Nick stared at her. "Oh, we started out on the lowest setting," she said, smiling. Nick closed his eyes as she came at him again, God, where are you? Please help me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian woke up and looked over, seeing Angel laying next to him. He ran his hand through her fur and got up, walking into the living area. He looked around the room. Kevin and A.J. were asleep on the couches, Howie was curled up in one of the chairs. He spotted Tara standing in front of the windows, lost in her own thoughts. He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her and gently kissing the back of her neck, through her hair. "You should get some sleep," he told her. Tara shook her head, "I can't." Brian turned her around to face him, "Baby, the others are looking for him, there's nothing we can do right now. You need to rest so that when we can do something you'll be ready." Tara smiled at him, "I know, but I just can't get what he said out of my head. He's expecting me to help him, and I can't figure it out." Brian cupped her cheek with his hand, "He said he was in his dream right?" She nodded. "So where was he in his dreams?" he asked. "They were always in the desert. He always ended up at some kind of oasis in the desert," she answered. Brian sighed, "Well that doesn't tell us much, this whole place is surrounded by desert." "I know, I just can't figure it out," she said, frustrated. "What about the others? Did they have any ideas?" he asked. She shook her head, "Not really. They are looking now, but it's gonna take a while to cover everything." Brian ran his thumb across her cheek, seeing the worry in her eyes, "We'll get him back." "Yeah, but will he still be Nick when we do?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes. "We have to believe in him," Brian said. "Bri, you know what happened the last time. They're gonna do it again. They're gonna drain him until he can't fight anymore...." Tara started. Brian put his finger on her lips, quieting her. "Don't do this to yourself," he said. "I can't help it. I'm responsible for him, and I've failed him miserably. I promised him and myself that this wouldn't happen, and here it is happening. And I can't do a damn thing to stop it," she said, the tears finally falling down her face. Brian pulled her close and held her as she cried. He ran his hand through her hair, whispering to her. She finally pulled away, the exhaustion evident on her face. "Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her into the bedroom. He pulled her onto the bed with him, and held her as she slowly drifted to sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "God stop, please!" Nick screamed. Serenity pulled the rod away from him, staring at him. Nick had endured the highest level on the device for more than half an hour now. She was amazed that he'd lasted that long without begging for her to stop. Nick slumped as soon as she lifted the device from him. He hung there by his wrists, shaking, nauseous with pain, and wanting desperately to pass out. "I'm getting bored with this one," Serenity said, turning to pick out a new form of torture for him. Jered walked over and grabbed Nick's hair, lifting his head up, "Where's your God now?" Nick glared at him, but didn't say anything. "What kind of God would let you go through this and not help you?" Jered asked. "Stop it," Nick said, his voice weak. Jered laughed at him, "Doubting aren't you? I can see it in your eyes, you're beginning to wonder just where He is too." "Shut up," Nick said, a little more loudly. "Aw, here we go," Serenity said, lifting up the cat of nine tails she used the day before. Nick's eyes widened, "No, please." She looked at him, "You don't like this one? Well, you know what can stop it." Nick closed his eyes and bit his lower lip. He didn't want to do this, but he knew he couldn't take being whipped again either. "Nick, what's it gonna be?" she asked. He opened his eyes and looked at her, "Evi." Slowly a grin widened across Serenity's face, "Well, there's hope for you after all." Jered and Ephah watched as Evi got up and walked up to Nick. She smiled at him, reaching up and taking his face in her hands. She stared at him for a moment, then pulled him into a searing kiss. Nick closed his eyes as the emotions soared through him. He pulled against the chains, wanting to touch her, and hating himself for it. Evi broke the kiss and turned, heading back to her seat. "So, how did that feel?" Serenity asked, teasing. Nick glared at her, "Shut the fuck up!" She laughed, "Well, that little comment is gonna cost you." Nick was caught off guard when the nine strands of the whip raked across his chest. He screamed at the top of his lungs when she pulled back, and he felt his flesh tarring. He looked down as the blood ran down his torso, dripping on the floor. Serenity walked over, raising his head with her hand. Nick stared at her through his tears. "Heal it," she said. "I can't," he whispered. She looked over at Ephah, "I think he needs some convincing. Go find his girlfriend and bring her back here." "NO!" Nick screamed, as Ephah stood up. "Then do it," Serenity said, looking back at him. Nick stared at her for a moment, then closed his eyes, focusing with everything he had. Finally he looked at her, "There, you happy?" She smiled at him, "More than you know," then walked over to the couches and sat down. "I'm tired, someone else can play now," she said. Jered got up and walked over, looking at Nick. Nick watched him through tired eyes. "So Nicky, I bet you wish you had some control about now huh?" he asked. "Yeah, you know if you did, you wouldn't be hurting right now like you are," Ephah joined in. "You remember what it felt like," Jered teased, "I know you liked that feeling." Nick hung his head, not wanting to listen to their onslaught. Ephah pulled his head up, "You can feel like that again, all you have to do is give in." Nick shook his head, "No." Jered leaned against the rack and looked at him, "God doesn't care what you're going through. If He did, don't you think one of your �friends' would've found you by now? He knows where you are, all He has to do is tell them. Why don't you think He's done that if He cares so much about you?" Nick looked over at him, anger in his eyes. "Oh look out, Nicky's getting angry," Ephah teased. That was all Nick could take. With every last ounce of energy he had, Nick slammed both men into the nearest wall, knocking the breath out of them, and holding them there. He then pulled on the chains, breaking them, and fell to the floor. He quickly got up and turned toward the girls, grabbing Serenity by the throat, "Unlock me now!" Serenity pulled the keys from her pocket and handed them to Evi, who unlocked the shackles from his ankles. Nick could feel the energy draining out of him, and knew he needed to get out of there quick. "Give me the car keys," he said. Both girls looked at him. "What car keys?" Evi asked. "Don't lie to me, I know there's a car here," Nick spat. Evi walked over to a small table and grabbed the keys, walking back over and handing them to Nick. When he reached for them, she grabbed his hand, not letting go. Nick was overcome with the feelings she was sending into him. He lost his concentration, and let go of Serenity. Jered and Ephah both dropped to the floor, and were on Nick in an instant. Nick didn't fight them, he didn't have the strength to. They pushed him to the floor. Jered stared at him, "Your anger made you strong. Do it again, I like the challenge," he teased. Nick closed his eyes, he didn't care what they did to him now. All he wanted was to sleep. Evi looked at the rest, "Take him back to his room. It's my turn now." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin, Lyn, A.J. and Howie sat around a room service cart, picking at their food. None of them were hungry, but they all knew they needed to eat something. Brian was still in with Tara. He was awake, but didn't want to leave her, afraid that he would wake her if he moved. Angel came out and was begging food from everyone. Lyn sat her plate in the floor for the wolf. Angel trotted over and quickly ate everything on the plate. "Lyn you need to eat something," Kevin said. "I can't Kev. I just keep thinking about what horror he's going through right now," she said, wiping at a stray tear. "Baby, he's strong. He'll make it through," A.J. consoled. "Yeah, Nick knows what he has to come back to. He'll make it," Howie said. Lyn looked at them all, "I'm scared guys." Kevin put his hand on her shoulder, "I know, we are too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick jerked awake, feeling someone watching him. He looked around. He was back in his bed, his legs chained to the bed frame, and his hands cuffed to the headboard. He was dressed only in his boxers. He looked up, Jered and Ephah were both seated on either side of him at the head of the bed. Jered smiled at him, and Nick turned his head, closing his eyes again. Ephah grabbed his hand, "Oh no you don't. We want you awake for this." Nick could feel the energy course through him, and looked over at the man. "What are you doing?" he asked. "We want you alert for this one," Ephah answered. Nick was trying to figure out what he meant by that, when he heard the door open, and looked over. Evi walked into the room, dressed in a tiny silk gown that came just over her thighs. Nick's mouth dropped open at the sight of her. Jered laughed at him, "Like what you see?" Nick glared at him, "Shut up." Evi walked up to the bed and climbed over the end. Nick looked at her, "What are you doing?" She smiled at him, "This is my fun." Nick swallowed hard as she slowly crawled up his body, settling herself over his hips. "Evi, don't do this," Nick begged. "Aw come now, Serenity got her fun, now this is mine," Evi said, smiling down at him. "I don't want this," Nick told her. "Yes you do. I can feel the desire in you already," she said as she ran her hands over his chest. Nick closed his eyes against the emotions running through him. The pleasure of her touch, mixed with the pain as she ran her hands over the fresh whelps on his chest. She leaned down, letting her hair brush his face, "Let go Nicky, and enjoy it." He opened his eyes, "No, don't do this please. I don't feel this way about you." "You will," she said, and leaned closer, her lips meeting his. Nick pulled against the restraints, to no avail. He was still weak, and his mind and body were in a duel of their own. His body reacted to every touch, and craved more. But his mind kept telling him that what she was doing was wrong. She was making him feel that way towards her, and he knew it. The problem was he couldn't stop it. Evi broke the kiss and looked at him, "Stop fighting." Nick shook his head, "No, this is rape and you know it." She laughed, "It's only rape if you make it that way." "Come on Nick, we know you want to feel what its like for yourself," Jered taunted. "Yeah, dreams can only take you so far," Ephah said, grinning at him. Nick looked from one to the other, "You can't do this!" "Oh yes we can, we can do anything we want," Jered replied. "You can stop it Nick. All you have to do is let us help you," Ephah said. "No," Nick cried, letting the tears fall down his face. Evi leaned down and licked a tear as it fell. Nick looked up at her, "Evi, please don't." She sighed and got up, walking over to the dresser in the room and looking through the drawers. All the guys watched her, curious as to what she was looking for. She finally came back to the bed, a couple scarfs in her hand. She climbed back up, straddling Nick and smiled at him. "Open your mouth," she instructed. Nick shook his head. Evi stared at him, frustration in her face. She then pinched his nose until he opened his mouth to breathe, shoving one of the scarfs into his mouth, and tying the other around his face so he couldn't spit it out. "There, no more talking," she said, satisfied. Jered and Ephah laughed at her. Nick looked up at them in horror. "Enjoy this Nick, I know I did," Jered mused. Evi looked up at Jered, "Be quiet or I'll make you leave." Jered stared at her, but said nothing. He wanted to stay and see this. Evi turned her attention back to Nick. He was looking up at her, fear and anger in his eyes. She smiled at him, and leaned in, kissing his neck. She could feel him tense underneath her, and she increased her efforts. She kissed a trail up his neck to his ear lobe. Stopping there, she took it in her mouth and gently sucked on it. Nick tried to turn his head, anything to get her to stop. Evi laughed at him, "That's the spot isn't it? That's the spot that drives you nuts, I can see it in your eyes." Nick pulled hard against the cuffs holding his hands, and mumbled something to her. She laughed and continued her attack on his ear lobe, not letting up until he was squirming underneath her, his eyes filled with desire. She then kissed down his chest, taking his nipple in her mouth. Swirling her tongue around it, sucking on it. Nick moaned, and closed his eyes. Evi stopped for a second, "That's it Nicky, just feel." Nick lifted his head and looked at her, begging her with his eyes. She was so close to where his body wanted her to be, but his mind was screaming at him to stop her. He blinked a few times, trying to push the emotions from him. Desperately not wanting to feel them. Evi reached up and took the gag from his mouth, quickly leaning in and kissing him fiercely. She could feel him fighting her, and wanted to get the upper hand. She forced her tongue into his mouth, dueling with his. Nick was pulling so hard on the cuffs that his wrists had started bleeding, but he didn't feel it. He was consumed with the feelings of want and desire that Evi was sending through him. He tried to push them away, knowing he should be angry with her. He focused on his anger, fueling it with each touch. Jered and Ephah could both feel what he was trying to do. Jered reached over and grabbed his arm, Ephah doing the same thing. Instantly Nick was overwhelmed, crying out as the emotions took him. Jered and Ephah smiled at each other, knowing that as long as they shared their own desire with Nick, that he couldn't fight what Evi was doing to him. Evi looked up at the two, feeling the increased emotions. She smiled, "Just can't stay of this can you?" "What's wrong with sharing," Ephah teased. Evi laughed and moved down to run her hand over Nick's groin. He moaned as a tear left his eyes. He was still trying to fight, but with the three of them flooding him with emotions, he was losing the battle. Evi pulled his boxers down and positioned herself over him. "No, don't," Nick begged. She didn't listen to him, easing herself down over him and slowly moving back and forth. Nick turned his head and let the tears fall as she continued. The most incredible emotions were flowing through him with each movement, but all he could do was silently cry. His mind taking hold of him, telling him this wasn't right no matter how good it felt. He let his mind drift as Evi continued her assault. He found himself thinking about Lyn, about how much he loved her, and how much this would hurt her if she ever found out. Even though he didn't want it, fought against it with everything he had, his body still reacted to every touch, and that flooded him with guilt and sadness. Evi could feel his emotions start to overtake her. She leaned down, pulling his head up and kissing him. Nick didn't return her kiss as he had earlier, he just lay there, enduring what she was doing to him. She looked up at Jered and Ephah, "He's shutting himself off." Jered came around and looked in Nick's eyes, seeing nothing there. He raised his eyebrow at him, perplexed at his reaction. "You want me to finish?" Evi asked, "His body is still responding, he's just shut his mind off." "Yeah, go ahead. He still knows what's going on, and this will kill him," Ephah said. Evi continued, until Nick's breathing became haggard and she could feel him pulse inside her. She quickened her movements until she felt him reach his release. Jered and Ephah watched as Evi got up and went into the bathroom. "How does it feel Nick?" Jered asked, "Knowing you could have stopped it if you only had enough control." Nick said nothing, continuing to stare past him, out the window. Every few minutes a fresh tear would surface and make its way down his face. "What would your girlfriend think of this? That you couldn't help yourself from it, that you couldn't control your emotions well enough to stop it?" Ephah taunted. Evi came out of the bathroom and walked over to the bed. "Still nothing huh?" she asked. Both men shook their heads. Evi pulled Nick's boxers back up and leaned over, kissing his cheek, "Maybe we can do this again. Sometime when you're more into it." Nick looked at her, coming back to reality. "How could you?! How could you do this to me?!" he screamed. "Aw, there's our Nicky," Ephah laughed. "You did this to yourself Nick," Evi said, "You could have stopped it at any time." Nick stared at her, the coldness in her voice sending chills down his spine. Evi walked over to the dresser and grabbed the keys, walking back over and unlocking his hands. Nick rolled over on his side, curling into a tight ball. He sobbed into the pillow he'd grabbed onto. How could God let him go through this? Why wasn't He helping him? Nick's sobs grew louder, as the fear and doubt took over. Jered leaned in, "Nick, we can help you." "Take away all the pain, all the frustration," Ephah said. "You would have instant control," Jered said, "No more feeling like this. No more having to endure the anguish of not being able to control what's happening to you." "All you have to do is ask," Ephah said. Nick continued to cry as the two bombarded him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take it. He was tired, emotionally and physically drained. In so much pain he wanted to pass out, and so ashamed of what had just happened, he prayed for death. "Nick, you don't have to feel this way," Jered said, "Let us give you what you want." Nick looked up at him, "Kill me, that's what I want." "Nicky, you don't want to die," Evi said. "Kill me," Nick said again, still looking at Jered. He smiled at him, "I'm not going to kill you. You're worth to much to us for me to do that." "Nick, let us help you. Let us give you the control that you want," Ephah said. Nick sunk back down, hugging the pillow. He closed his eyes, letting the tears come. He was so confused, he didn't know what to do anymore. He finally looked back up, as a tear rolled down his cheek......... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was late afternoon. Brian was still holding Tara. Somehow she had managed to sleep all day, and he had drifted in and out, not wanting to leave her. Kevin had come in periodically to check on them. He and Brian had talked a little. Kevin letting him know that the money had arrived safely. Now all they had to do was wait for the call tomorrow. Tara stirred in her sleep, moaning. Brian looked over, feeling her emotions run through him. He held on as long as he could, but finally had to pull his arms away from her. He sat up, watching as she squirmed in her sleep, obviously having a nightmare. "No," she cried, as a tear ran down her face. Brian couldn't take the pain he was seeing in her face any longer, and leaned close, "Tara, honey wake up." "No, please," she said, rolling over, her back to him. Brian took a deep breath, and reached over, shaking her, "Tara, wake up!" He could feel the fear and sadness overwhelm him as he touched her. Shaking her more violently, before he let her go. Tara opened her eyes and looked up at him. Brian was wiping the tears from his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. She sat up, not able to shake the sense of dread in her gut. "Honey, what were you dreaming?" Brian finally asked. She shook her head, "It was awful. I could see them torturing Nick. He was screaming for someone to help him," she said, shuddering. Brian pulled her to him, seeing how upset she was. Tara held onto Brian for dear life, praying that what she felt was only in her dreams. Chapter 34 |