Joe's kidnapped by a cult called the Blood Atonement who're out to kill his family for a past argument. He fights to keep his families whereabouts hidden--though the leader of the cult is willing to spill blood for his information. DISTURBING WARNING!

rated R

 

Death, Graphic Violence, Abuse, Gore, Language, and Suggestive Rape

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OK--so I feel horrible about not updating on this site. So I'm just gonna make things easier and post the whole *CENSORED* thing on here. I've been busy on Jonasbrothersfanfictionarchive.com and most of my fans are on there so I've kinda forgotten about this site. 

I'm almost finished with this. YES. I know. It's taken me nearly a year. But a sequel is now in the making! Cheers yes! It'll be titled "The (X) - Minus Factor".

Please tell me your thoughts! I lot of time and effort goes into writing these for you guys and it means so much to me when you leave kick ass reviews!

Enjoy!

NOTE: Also keep in mind all these chapters--up to chapter 11 are old. And by "old" I mean very old! I just recently started writing this again. I started on chapter 11. Hopefully, because I haven't read over most of the chapters before that there aren't any spelling errors. Just thought I'd let ya all know!

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chapter 1

~Henseforth Sacrificed~

~Prologue~


A dim light just shone through the iron bars that caged him. But even the fading light wouldn't dare to stop him. The man was at a task… a task that was of the utmost importance—or at least to himself. Whether the members would follow—he might never know. But doom to them who chose not to heed his message… for hell awaited them if they did otherwise.

He was a “messenger from God” as he liked to call himself—a leader in the Amityville Church on East Promise Street. It was a modest church, but that only hid it’s secrets. This man, Brego LeBaren, was the founder of a cult; one he believed would rid the world of its evil endeavors. They called themselves the 'Blood Atonement', or the 'BA'. They invited people inside their small church, as any group would do. But they never let them out…

There was a rule, written by LeBaren himself, the followers of this sect had failed to practice. He had been away too long. After killing his brother for leaving the BA, followers began wondering if LeBaren was really sane. Yet there were still a few who believed their masters laws… and they would bow to whatever order he gave…

“No one must abandon this sacred body,” were the words he so furiously wrote down in that dank cell. “You know the words of God—he has spoken! No one must leave this most holy place, our church… otherwise He will beg for their soul by sacrifice and then send their souls to the very pits of hell—where they will writhe forevermore in fire and flame. We must swear to heed his words and kill all those who have escaped from this most holy place. Then will our God be appeased…”

Then he began writing the names of the families who left.
“Of those who have disobeyed God’s laws—they must be henceforth sacrificed…

The Jacques
The Lewis family
Conner Fanning
Maria Valdez

And…"

He grinned at the last one.

The Jonas Family…”

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chapter 2

~Blood and Guppies~

Diana LeBaren inspected the car. It appeared to run well. It was usable--that's all that mattered. The Mexican's needed a car that could run, not something impressive. She put a hand on it’s gray body and tapped her long black nails on it’s tattered, sun scorched frame. Her piercing silver eyes looked up at her brother Isaac and she gave a small grin. A look of relief shone across his face.

She turned from him and stood back, inspecting the car once more.

“It’s good… very good,” she finally commented in her deep, authoritive voice. She looked up at Isaac with a pleased eye. “You’re getting better at this. The Mexican’s will definitely buy it…” She paused a moment, and shifted nervously. There was always one particular point that worried her--the question she always had to ask. “When you got it...they never suspected you stealing anything right?”

“Nope. Never saw a thing…” Isaac said confidently, sighing with relief. It was always good to hear his sister’s approval. If she wasn’t happy, she could sometimes get a bit...violent. Even then that word might've been an understatement.

Ever since they had started stealing cars and selling them to the Mexican's to finance the BA, Diana began to get a bit edgy. She knew the risks of it, and she was becoming nervous. Something could go wrong. Isaac was young and sometimes careless, and could easily blow his cover. But they needed the money, more than anything. They were on a mission...one that would change and one day shape the world.

Their father Brego LeBaren, had sent them a letter, written in their own sect language. It contained all the rules of the BA, and a deathlist. The tainted pages were soaked with the names of all the proclaimed "sinners" to be passed judgement on. As the children of the man who clamed to ‘hear’ God--the LeBaren's knew it was the Almighty’s will that the blood of the deserters be spilled. For too long had they ignored this rule. Now it was time for them to finally rise up against the sinners. The Son of God had so willingly shed his blood at the cross, and many had ignored his great sacrifice for them. So now they must repay Him with their blood. The deserters must be sacrificed at the alter…

Isaac opened the trunk of the car, the hinges squeeling with protest. A sudden spark of color, and Isaac's eyes ran across a gruesome object. He stepped back a second, his figure burning with sudden passion as a cruel smile edged across his face. Diana walked over to see what he had reacted over--and her brows shot up in surprise. She picked up the object and smiled.

“I think we’ve finally been given our sign from God. He has truly spoken…” she said.

The object was an innately carved Mexican cross with the pale and bloody form of Jesus nailed hand and foot. It conveyed the ultimate image of sacrefice.

She placed the crucifix in her pocket and shot her brother a smile, her eyes flashing dangeriously.

"Time to get busy," she said, slamming down the trunk.

She scanned over the deathlist, checking off the people and families they’d already dealt with. There were only a few left to exterminate. One in particular made her smile. Mr. Jonas

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Joe Jonas jogged up the front steps of his families Bungalow townhouse as he heard their phone’s piercing ring. Brushing aside his unruly brown locks from his eyes, he raced through the house, searching frantically for the phone, slipping and sliding on the slick floor.

“Dammit!” he growled, as he nearly stepped on his mother’s beautifully crafted bowl. He nearly demolished a potted Clematis, sending a few pieces of soil flying across the floor. He jumped around, trying to shake off the annoying brown clumps that so refused to rid themselves off his socks. The phones ring seemed to get louder and more desperate, as it waited to be answered.

Finally--after slamming into the sofa, flipping over it and crashing into his mom’s ceramic elephant--which sent it flying like a missile into the guppy tank, which caused the glass to burst and water to spray everywhere, which flooded the living room with slimy green algae and guppies… he reached the phone.

“Hey mom!” he gasped, noticing the caller ID.

“Hey son. Everything alright?” his mom’s smooth voice rang over the receiver.

“Yeah… yeah. I’m doing just…” his eyes grew wide as he took a moment to look at all the mess he’d caused. Slimy water slithered all over their hardwood floors. The Germany Elephant scattered like the remains of a bomb all over the room. Not to mention the Guppies flopping everywhere, eyes bulging and gills flaming. “…grand.”

“So you’ve been alright by yourself?” his mother asked worried.

“I’m fine,” he insisted. Actually in reality he wasn’t. His whole family had gone to Myrtle Beach…without him. Joe? He had to stay behind because he couldn’t get time off work. Stupid Dairy Queen… “No need to worry. The Patterson’s have a good eye on me.” He again winced at the water and mess all over the floor. “Oh! And good news! I mopped your living room and finally gave away the guppies!”

“Good for you son. Well I’m glad everything’s going okay. And Joe you make sure to call if anything goes wrong, alright?”

“Yeah mommy.”

“… and stay safe.”

“Love ya too…”

And he slowly put down the phone. What a fun weekend he was in for…

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chapter 3

~The Wanted~

He didn’t have a car. Yes, eighteen-year-old Joe Jonas had to walk to and from work every single *CENSORED*ing day. His home was only a few blocks away from Dairy Queen, and his parents insisted that he would save a lot more of his paycheck if he walked. Course they didn't realize just how long of a walk it was when you're towing your lunch box and homework with you. Their town was small, mostly inhabited by elderly folk who’d lived there since the 50’s, and had only traveled as far out as the next county. There normally wasn’t much to worry about walking down the street at nearly midnight. Gas prices were simply too high to drive around for fun. So his parents told him to save up for a car. And he did. He was determined to get that black '67 Chevy Impala in Uncle Randy’s Used Car Lot. Every day he passed it on the way to work, it was like torture. Such a gas guzzler, but totally kick ass!

Another place he always passed was the little old Amityville Church on East Promise Street. It was fine walking past it in the day… but at night it was like walking past a haunted house. And he did have his suspicions about it being ‘haunted’ too. Every night at nearly midnight when he’d be walking home--he’d notice the lights always dimly lit inside. Sometimes he thought he heard screaming--but he quickly brushed it aside and told himself it was just his mind playing tricks on him. But he still had an uneasy feeling about it. His father had made sure to tell everyone in the family to never go inside that church. He’d never stated the reason why, but the horror in his father’s voice when he spoke about it was enough to keep even Joe Jonas away. Still… the adventurous side of him sometimes wanted to know just what happened inside that church at midnight.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“No one’s at the Jonas home,” Isaac cried as he stormed through the church doors at nearly midnight.

Diana LeBaren didn’t stir from her moment of prayer at the alter. Her jet-black hair hid her face, so Isaac had a hard time assessing if she’s heard him clearly.

“Did you hear what I said?” he repeated a little louder, irritated at her silence.

“You are interrupting a moment of prayer, Isaac!” Diana hissed suddenly, but still holding her position on the floor. “I suggest you shut up 'til I’m through… You've already broken my moment of meditation…”

“But didn’t you hear what I said? They’re--”

“Enough!” her commanding voice rang through the vaulted ceilings. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she sighed. “We don’t have to deal with them tonight, Isaac. There’s always tomorrow…”

“No, but you don’t understand!” Isaac insisted, slamming a pew with his large fist. “They’re gone!” That got her attention. Her face suddenly twisted around to him and she eyed him hard with those piercing silver eyes. “The place is empty of human life. Their vehicles aren’t there--their grass is overgrown… they’ve got at least three days worth of mail still sitting in their mailbox… they’re gone. All of them.”

Diana was instantly on her feet. She grabbed her keys and he followed her as she stormed down the isle and to the grand doors.

“Take me to the house,” she ordered pulling open a door and walking outside.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Joe Jonas was making his way home from work as usual, when he came upon the church. As usual he picked up his pace, but then he slowed all the sudden as he saw the church. Something was happening. There were people outside it, and all the lights were lit inside. His heart leapt in his throat and he tore his gaze away from it and on the sidewalk ahead. Just a few more blocks, he told himself. Just a few more blocks…

“Hey, boy!” a voice suddenly cried from across the road… from the church entrance.

He didn’t stop to answer, but walked faster. Unconsciously he clenched his fists.

“You’re a son of Kevin Sr. … Mr. Jonas’s family, right?” the voice cried.

Joe stopped and stiffened. How did they know his father’s name? He contemplated the words to say.

“No,” he lied. He finally dared to look up at them, and saw a man and woman standing there watching him. The man didn’t scare him. But one look at the woman and instantly cold shivers ran down his spin. He could see her silver eyes all the way across the street. They seemed to glow with some unnatural force… something evil haunted her. “I don’t talk to strangers…” he said smartly. “Especially at night when there’s no one else around…”

The woman smiled and began walking towards him. His breath caught in his throat. He needed to get away.

“You need not fear us,” she said in a sweet, sugary tone… one Joe knew she wouldn’t use normally. “We just need to know where your parents are. We’re having a gathering this Sunday and need to know if they’re coming.”

“They won’t be coming to any of your gatherings,” Joe spat out before he could catch himself. Instantly he turned from her. “I’m sorry but I have to go…” and immediately he began walking at a brisk pace.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Diana stood there watching him walk away. He was smart, she had to give him that. She couldn’t help remember his father when she saw him… and also his mother. Once, a long time ago, she had loved Kevin. But he’d abandoned her for a pretty curly haired, stary-eyed girl named Denise. That boy, Joe--if she remembered correct, looked like her: those big hazel eyes, that curly black hair, those lips… and as good looking as he was--it made her mad. He looked too much like Denise. Kevin should’ve been hers--their children should’ve been her own. She clenched her fists. She would enjoy seeing Denise die. But they had to find the family first…

A car drove up behind her. It was Isaac. Diana opened the passenger door and jumped in. For a moment they waited there in silence.

“He knows where they are,” Diana said, watching Joe fade away into the darkness of the night. “And we need the information.”

Isaac nodded his agreement.

“So? What’s the plan then?” he asked.

There was a moment’s pause. Isaac stared at her, waiting for an answer. She smiled and nodded her head towards the boy.

“I want him…”

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chapter 4

~Elephant~

When Joe realized they weren’t following him, he slowed. By the time he finally reached home it was almost midnight. He opened the front door and threw his backpack down in the hall, not really noticing or caring where he put it. All he wanted was to hide. He raced up to his room and quickly slammed the door shut behind him. Then he slumped against the wall and sighed heavily, his chest heaving huge gasps of air, his body shaking uncontrollably. He wiped the sweat from his face, and slowly slid down the wall to the ground, trying to calm his nerves. Those glowing silver eyes were everywhere. They seemed to watch him from every corner, every black hole. Joe quickly shut his eyes. But the woman was still etched in his thoughts. A cool breeze flowing in from his open window hit him suddenly. It refreshed him.

He didn’t know what to do. Was he just overreacting? Had the darkness made the situation more serious then it really was? He wanted his parents… or at least Kevin and Nick. He needed someone to confide to.

Joe had to have been sitting there for at least an hour before something finally got him to his feet. That something being something normally people don’t want to hear at 1:00 in the morning. It was a sound; a small crash, like porcelain meeting hard wood. And it came from downstairs…

Quietly opening his door Joe stepped out into the hall and made his way downstairs. Naturally everything was dark, but he could still make out the outlines of objects, such as the couch. Every step his heart beat faster and harder as the darkness seemed to get thicker and more sinister. Suddenly his bare foot stepped on something sharp. He gave a yelp and then bent over to see what it was. It was the ceramic elephant he’d managed to glue back together that morning. He crouched down and picked up one of the splinters left of it. He winced. The thing had to be in a bazillion pieces! He could just hear his mother’s screams… “Joseph Adam!” She’d cry. “Do you know how old this is? It was my great grandmother’s and it was made in Germany! It managed to survive World War II, and now you break it! You are grounded… ‘till you die.”

‘Till I die… the thought suddenly stuck. Joe slowly got to his feet, staring at that piece of elephant. ‘Till I die…

Click… A lamp suddenly turned on. Joe groaned as the light stung his eyes, and turned for a moment, shielding his face. He stood there for a moment, and then a voice suddenly made him look up.

“Thought we might just stop in and have a little ‘chat’…” came a very familiar voice. There by the lamp… stood the woman.

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Chapter 5

~Regret~

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“No…” Kevin refused with a solemn shake of his head, his body trembling now from the thought. “No! I won’t do it!”

A spark of something laced with pure vehemence lighted Diana’s eyes as she fought to keep her actions in check. She wasn’t one to take refusals lightly. She took a bold step forward, pursing her lips in protest.

“Oh, come now Kevin,” she cooed, smacking the devise against her palm. “Let’s not be like that. Remember I’m in charge now.” She shook her head at him, displeased. “Boy’s can be so careless…”

Kevin leaned forward a bit, just enough to add more emphasis to his words without being pulled back.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t give you hell,” he hissed, stressing it with an incensed quality. Kevin was beyond playing games, knowing Nick had called the cops by now. It was only a matter of waiting, hoping they would get there in time before this *CENSORED* tried anything too rash. Kevin watched her lips crease into a smile, those same lips that had just mutilated his brother moments ago. The image was so twisted and wrong. Who knows how much more she’d forced on Joe before. She’d proved herself an impulsive witch, which led Kevin to believe that any wrong move on his part, and Diana would gladly use it as an excuse to make their life hell. God, why did all this have to happen? It was just a trip to the beach. Now it was a test of pure wit and survival.

“Interesting how your definition of hell is simply a turbulent of mere words or actions.” She leaned forward to level with his challenge. “Yet if you knew what the ultimate of hell really was…you would think twice. You think this is hell right now? You should be enjoying it. It is nothing, dear boy, compared to an eternity of torture, of fire lapping at your bones and skin---and never being able to die. The only thing you can do is feel it, scream the pain, yet that won’t do you any good. You can’t escape it now Kevin. It’s mouth is wide open, waiting for you.”

Kevin felt the enmity inside him fester as he stared at her. The witch was condemning him. Who did she think she was?

“Oh I think there’s a very special *CENSORED* seat waiting downstairs just for you honey,” Kevin retorted back, a biting sharpness coursing through his muscles as the thug behind him wrenched his arms up his back in response. “If you think any of this you’re doing is right…” he said squarely, “than you are one sick puppy. Because no god would desire his own creation to be torn apart and *CENSORED*ed up like you just did my brother!”

“Oh…yes,” Diana said in that sugary tone Kevin hated so much, as her head swiveled around to the younger Jonas. “Joseph,” the name rolled of her tongue like a piece of candy. “But you see…unlike the rest of your possessed family, Joe is a rare breed. I like to take advantage of that when I get the chance…”

“I don’t know the whole gist of what’s happened between you two,” Kevin hissed. “I don’t know how much more my brother’s been through. But I know sure as hell God’s not gonna let you waltz through the Pearly Gates after what you did to Joe, and every other kid you’ve mutilated.”

“Really?” Diana laughed. “Only God can decide that. And I already know his plans. He wants the blood of the sinners, to bring judgment on an evil, wicked race who so carelessly refuses to acknowledge his sacrifice for us. Now He wants you to feel that pain Kevin. He’s tired of trying, of waiting for His own people to see everything he sacrificed for them. So he has given me the honor of condemning this race. Like you Kevin.”

"God gave us the sense of right and wrong. And though we are faulty, we still mentally and physically have the ability to change our actions and mindset. An evil person isn’t doomed forever. He has the choice---to stay immoral or to show kindness to his fellow men. That’s why God died on the cross, so we could have that freedom to choose to better ourselves. HE gave us that choice, He didn't have to. He could've condemned us all and sent us to hell--like you say. You are just one small being in this world lady, your words have no meaning to a race who knows better.”

“You make me sound so terrible Kevin,” she chuckled, scrolling through Joe’s contacts in his phone. “But when you feel that power coursing through your veins like I have, everything suddenly feels so right and raw and beautiful.”

“Oh I see,” Kevin laughed with heated antipathy. “So blood is beautiful, watching someone scream in pain is beautiful, kissing a boy in a way that might almost be classified as rape is beautiful…your definitions confuse me.”

“I might say the same about yours…” Diana shrugged as she finally found the number she was looking for and pressed it, pure glee illuminating her finely chiseled face. “Now talk,” she ordered, placing the phone to Kevin’s ear.

“No.”

“Do you really want to make this harder than it is?” Diana piped, her crazed silver eyes narrowing to slits. “I said talk you *CENSORED*.”

“I said you sonofa*CENSORED*, NO!” Kevin cried, only to be given a fist in the jaw for payment.

Diana suddenly snapped her fingers in the direction of the door, and instantly it flew open with a loud scream. Out of it came a very tousled, sweat lathered, and very angry Nick Jonas. Kevin’s breath caught in his throat as he watched two men bring the youngest Jonas roughly into the room.

“No! L-lemme go!” Nick’s voice croaked out, Kevin horrified at it’s anemic texture. The men easily wrestled the limp body of his brother to his knees.

All Kevin could do was stare. They had everything he’d relied on for rescue. Nick had been the only reason he’d been so confidant and bold. Now there was no reason to hope. Only that maybe their parents would bring the PD. Even then…this woman didn’t seem the type to overlook that kind of precaution.

Nick sat there before him, his whole body trembling, his face drained of all color and vigor. His clothes hung at his sides, limp and sticky from laborious sweating. His face was a mask of terror, his flighty eyes darting about the room as if something would suddenly jump from the shadows and strangle him. Kevin noticed how Nick’s eyes would occasionally role up into his head, fighting to stay conscious. He looked just about out of it.

Diana moved forward toward the pale boy, power in each stride. Kevin lunged forward as the woman ran a hand through Nick’s mop of curls.

“Aren’t you just adorable?” she squealed mockingly.

“W-What is going…on?” Nick stumbled over his words, flinching away from her touch, his chest heaving dangerously.

Suddenly Nick doubled over and cried out in a fit of pain, Diana having done nothing to inflict it. Nick sat there staring off into empty space, his heavy eyelids hardly having any strength to keep themselves open. Kevin realized…Nick hadn’t had his insulin. His kidneys were probably screaming hell, his stomach protesting with every breath. Nick needed his insulin. He needed it bad.

“My God! Let him go!” Kevin cried, choking on the thought of possibly loosing another brother. Diana shot him a look acrimoniously and Kevin quickly added, “He’s diabetic.”

“More of a reason why you should call your parents right now,” Diana retorted, raising the phone to his face. “Oh, and be sure to tell your parents not to bring the police. They’ll meet my boys on 12th Street, near the back door of the Spennelly’s Bar. Oh…and tell them to hurry their ass. Nick is gonna need that insulin…”

 

 

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chapter 15

~Each Turn, His Aching Heart Assails~

 

Here shame dissuades him, there his fear prevails,And each by turns his aching heart assails.~Publius Ovidius Naso~

Kevin felt skin cut away from his bones as they threw him into the cage, his whole body connecting with the roughly sewn metal strips lining every corner. The rusty texture of his prison ate easily at his flesh, leaving a gaping wound. Kevin composed himself, hoping to not worry his other brothers by biting back the pain. He grasped his bleeding arm and blinked away the sheets of black forcing itself on his mind.

“So…” he heard the witches deranged voice above him. “Guess it’s all over now that your parents are in this.” She pursed out her bottom lip, mocking him with a sad countenance. “Pity poor Kevin couldn’t save his family.”

Kevin just glared back up at her, every string of hope in his body pulled, every shaft of light covered. But remembering the countenance placed on him to keep the fire lit, and how his brothers had looked to him for guidance and hope, Kevin swallowed, squared his shouldered and gave the woman what piece of light he still had in him.

‘“Some men are, in regard to ridicule, like tin-roofed buildings in regard to hail: all that hits them bounds rattling off; not a stone goes through.”’ Kevin quoted earnestly. “You think you’ve won something by killing us. But at least we die knowing we fought for what was right. Maybe we’ll encourage others to fight too. You stand here in your own pride---drenched in what you think is victory. But really the only one your shaming is yourself. Just know that.”

For once he’d left her speechless. Diana stood there. Her image haloed by a mocking shadow. She hid her sudden infamy by evoking another contemptuous chuckle, shaking her head at him. Then she eyed the thug holding Nick and nodded her head toward the cage. The man carelessly dragged the ill Jonas to the mouth of the metal prison. Then before throwing him in he gave Nick a harsh kick in the gut for amusement. The boy gave a muffled cry, and before Kevin could react they had thrown him in the barred enclosure. Kevin grabbed his brother just before he collided with the wall, hugging Nick’s cold body protectively to his. The boy moaned; his eyes now clamped shut, his face tight with apparent pain. Kevin ran a steady hand through his brother’s ebony curls.

“It’ll all be over soon, Nicky,” Kevin whispered soothingly in his ear, his voice stammering, his heart heavy with desolation. “All over soon. Hang in there for me buddy…”

Suddenly a sharp hiss cracked the silence and Kevin’s head whipped up. Joe was finally out of his unconsciousness. Then Kevin noticed the gleaming object in Diana’s hand as she drew toward his brother. Kevin instinctively flinched up and grabbed his cage door.

“What’re you doing…” Kevin gasped, gripping the bars tighter, feeling the sharp edges slice into his hands.

Kevin felt numb as he saw it. The object hit the light: a long needle. Diana had the man unchain Joe’s arms. Joe slumped to the ground; his body limp of all bone and sinew. The man grabbed him by the hair and forced him to stand. Joe screamed as his spine tugged at the rest of his body. But he forced his legs under him, though it felt like a thousand pounds of condensed pressure was grinding him to the floor. Then Diana grasped his arm, Joe at least having enough strength to flinch away from her. She placed the sharp object near the appropriate place on Joe’s arm.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Kevin screamed.

Joe caught his gaze. Kevin suddenly felt the lump in his throat rise as he saw those big brown eyes glisten with what was left of that fire inside him. His stare was soft, almost serene, yet adamant. He was used to pain, he wasn’t scared of it now. And he wanted Kevin to know that. He didn’t want Kevin to worry about him.

Then with a thrust the needle punctured his skin. Diana squeezed the liquid inside him with a crazed smile on her face. Joe didn’t seem to react at all, almost as if she’d done it before.

“Hope that makes you feel better, baby,” she hummed in his ear after pulling the needle from his arm. Joe just looked away, trying not to give her the satisfaction she was itching for. He wasn’t surprised when she ran a hand through his hair, than whispered in his ear very softly, “Do you love me, Joey?”

Joe just turned his head away from hers, wanting to end what he knew was coming. Then suddenly it all hit him. That rush of wind, the sudden pull on his body, as if claws were tearing his soul from him. His lungs filling with air, his muscles tensing, every scar burning. Black, black, red, red, white, light. Sunlight warming his body. His body now burning. His body now screaming. His body now ripping itself apart. But it didn’t feel like pain. It was pure, raw anger. Every nerve inside him clashed together, claws outstretched like a yellow-eyed demon. But it was a demon, he could see it crawling up him now, hissing his name. But when he looked at it, it was him.

Then he suddenly snapped out of it. He realized he was now standing on his own, free of restraint, the bodyguard now sulking in the opposite corner. Yet his weakness had gone away. Just like that. The pain was still there but he could feel warm vigor heat his body again. Joe looked at Diana.

She was still waiting for that answer. Joe would’ve said no to the *CENSORED*. But nothing happened. He tried again, but couldn’t. What the hell? He couldn’t move his mouth. Joe tried again. Still nothing. Something was holding him back. Was that fear? No…no it was something else. Something sour to his lips. Joe began to panic. Why couldn’t he say no? It seemed so easy, yet something inside him so refused to let it go. Joe just stared at her dumbly. Then without his countenance his head nodded “yes” to her reply. What the hell? Joe would never say yes to that *CENSORED*, what was he doing? What the hell was he doing?!

She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck again. Joe flinched away. She couldn’t do this to him again. Not again. No stop! Stop! Get off of me you *CENSORED*!

“Yes, that’s right, Joe,” she smiled. “Now why not prove it to me?”

I already have! Joe’s mind screamed. You *CENSORED*ing made me!

He kissed her. Yes, Joe Jonas kissed the *CENSORED*ing *CENSORED*. What drove him to that moment Joe had no recollection. Just that he was there, her lips stinging his like a wasps bite. He hated it, he hated every *CENSORED* bit of it. But he did it. What the hell had got into his mind? He tried to pull away, but couldn’t. Part of him liked it, part of him wanted it. But what part of him that was, Joe didn’t know. It was like this demonic force suddenly clinging to him, manipulating his thoughts and actions, overpowering what he knew was wrong and forcing him to do it.

“Joe…what the hell are you doing?”

What the hell was he doing? That was his brother. My God, what’s happening to me? Something suddenly ripped Joe’s insides. How could he do this in front of his brother? He knew Kevin was there watching, what was wrong with him? Something began to boil inside Joe. Something fierce, something sorely demonic, something sadistically wrong.

“No…” Joe moaned through gasps of air as she pressed into him. Then it happened. The pain, the agonizing pain he knew all too well as she hit his broken ribs. Suddenly the sting triggered memories of her beating him, her manipulating him. Then it all made sense. This liquid she’d been injecting in him was all a part of her little scheme. She was forcing the demon inside him to unleash…she was making him a monster.

That triggered something inside Joe, and he wrenched the witch from him, throwing her across the room. Joe stood there horrified, trying to regain his composure. He saw the gleam of light stream down Kevin’s face as he shook his head at him and turned away. Joe’s shallow heart was the only thing that was beating. Part of him was dying. Joe had failed his family.

“What have you done?” Joe stammered, standing in his own pool of shame. He looked helplessly at Diana’s satisfied eye, trembling all over. He grasped the wall as his knees gave way under sudden pressure, and fought to keep himself stable. “What the hell have you done to me?!”

Suddenly Isaac was there, dragging him to the cage where his brother waited. Joe didn’t want to go in there. He didn’t want to face him. As he got closer he suddenly noticed another figure. There were two in the cage…and the shadowed one looked familiar…

“My God, Nick!” Joe cried, seeing the boy slumped crudely against the bars. He looked so frail and sick. He was dying. “What have you done to him?!” Joe hissed.

They paid Joe no heed and threw him in like the rest, slamming the door in his face.

“Don’t miss me too much Joe…” Diana cooed as she walked away, smiling.

Joe just sat there, the cuts on his back speaking harshly against the rusted metal of the prison. He knew Kevin was looking at him, watching him for an explanation. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell him. Joe didn’t even know what had led him to do those thoughts and actions in the first place. So he just curled his body as far into the corner as he could, drawing his knees to his chest for warmth. He began shivering. God it was cold!

“Joe…”

Joe couldn’t help but look at Kevin when he spoke. He looked so torn and confused. Joe wanted to tell him. He wanted to tell him how he was just as confused about the situation himself. But nothing could escape his lips. Joe felt so ashamed. Everything was his fault. All this. And he would always remember that.

Kevin suddenly crawled toward him. Joe watched him, waiting for the lecture. He knew it was coming. But all his older brother did was take off his button-down shirt and handed it to Joe.

“Hopefully this’ll keep you warmer…” he said solemnly, concern written all over his face.

Joe stared at him for a moment, a tear finally escaping his eyes, before taking it and putting it on. Kevin grasped him by the shoulder.

“I just want you to know bro, that whatever is going through your head right now…know that I’m always here for you. You haven’t given up this far. Don’t you give up on me now…”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chapter End Notes:

AHH!! Yeah hope you guys dont like totally murder me for turning the tables a bit there:) It was coming all along--I'm just glad none of you saw it coming! I was kinda hoping for that BAM! effect. Maybe? Maybe not? Maybe that's just plain cruel?? I dunno.

So tell me your thoughts...and how evil I am. I know! I know! Things are starting to get crazy so hopefully you guys don't expload on me! Hang in there! I'll be sure to post the next chapter if I remember:) Please tell me your thoughts!

 

Loves

 

~MEGS~

True courage is cool and calm. The bravest of men have the least of a brutal bullying insolence, and in the very time of danger are found the most serene and free. Rage, we know, can make a coward forget himself and fight. But what is done in fury or anger can never be placed to the account of courage.~Lord Shaftesbury~

 

Those silver eyes froze him in his place. Joe couldn’t move. He couldn’t run. He just stood there like a complete idiot, staring back.

“So…” the woman said, tapping the glass lamp with her black nails. “You can make this easy for us all and cooperate…” She stopped tapping. “Or I may have to use force. Either way I’m gonna get what I want.”

She nodded her head towards the couch.

“Sit down,” she ordered.

Joe couldn’t do this. He had to get away. He stood there for a moment, staring back at her. Then in an instant he twisted around and made a desperate run for it… but right into the arms of another figure: the man. Large burly arms suddenly encircled him. Joe fought and kicked and struggled desperately, but the man had him locked securely in his firm grasp. Normally Joe wouldn’t give up without a fight, but the man’s grip only got tighter and stronger, until it was nearly impossible for him to breathe. Finally Joe stopped. But he hated it. He knew that’s exactly what the woman wanted.

The man forced Joe to the couch, and sat him down, releasing his hold on him—but still warning him with a firm hand on his shoulder. Joe looked up at the woman and fixed her with a livid glare.

“I see that fury in your eyes,” she said, smiling. “That determination to escape. But that will only be punished… and I don’t mean lightly. We mean business and I will get what I want. So I suggest you get it in your head that all stubbornness will get you nothing but a good beating.” She bent down to his eye level. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Depends…” Joe hissed.

A little spark of anger lit in her eyes and she stood up and turned away.

“You’re just like your father…” she mumbled.

She walked over to the window and gazed out of it, obviously in thought.

“So… I suppose now that I’m your…hostage…” Joe spat, as if the word were bitter to the taste, “Will you tell me what the hell’s going on?!” She didn’t respond. “Who are you, and how come you seem to know so much about my family?”

“If you must know…my name is Diana LeBaren,” she said, brushing the curtains closed. She twisted around to him and looked him over. “And you are… Joseph I presume?”

He fidgeted uneasily, not feeling comfortable revealing who he was.

“Maybe,” he said stubbornly.

She gave a short laugh and eyed him harder.

“Oh come now… let’s be fair. I told you my name, now you tell me yours.”

Joe opened his mouth to answer, but he couldn’t.

“How did you know the name Joseph in the first place?” Joe decided to question, getting around the subject. “You seem to know a lot about my family… and yet I never recall seeing your face before…”

She grinned and walked toward him slowly, the moon casting eerie glows on her face.

“The reason I know who you are, Joseph Adam,” she said. “Is because you were the one I remember looking most like Denise. The two others looked like your father.” She came even closer, and it was beginning to make Joe feel uncomfortable. “You know…” she said thinking, “I remember the time when you were about five, you’d been sliding on the stair railing outside our church, and had fallen. Your back hit a sharp rock and it left a nasty scar there. I bet you still have it…”

She was right, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

“Why was I on your church stairs?” he asked quickly, trying to brush her comment aside.

Diana was so close now he could feel her warm breath on his neck.

“Because,” she said, “Your family was once members of our church.” Joe went to protest, but she stopped him with a finger. “I know it must beshocking to you, they obviously told you nothing of what happened. There had been a quarrel between our families about God, and they decided to leave… and pulled out a few other members with them. It is because of your family our church is now half the size it was.” Joe began getting nervous as a sudden light came in her eyes, and he gripped the arm of the couch. “And you know the main reason they left is because they fell into sin… and now because of it all of you… are going to hell.” Joe nearly jumped at the word. Her voice got very low and she grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear. “You’re all going to… die. God’s orders.”

Joe flinched and forced her hand off of his. He stared at her in horror; his breath shallow as he suddenly saw the reason she was there. She was going to kill them…

“But…” Diana said suddenly. “If you tell me where your family is now… God will spare you.”

Joe’s breath suddenly caught in his throat, and he stared at her in disbelief.

“Excuse me?” he cried. “But as I recall… assassins are considered ‘sinners’.”

She laughed. Joe wanted so badly to slap it off her face.

“You poor, poor boy,” she smiled. “You’ve been taught to believe that all your life. But did it ever occur to you it might not be true?”

Joe glared at her and gripped the couch harder.

“Who do you think you are?” he hissed.

“I am one of the Blood Atonement,” she said in a deep voice, as if she were something important. “The church of the last days.” She began walking away. “For too long have you sorry souls ignored the sacrifice God made for you; the blood He shed on the cross. And now He’s declared the time has come for the judgment of the human race. Sinners from Believers. He wants the blood of the deserters…”

“And you expect me to believe that?!” Joe snapped jumping from his place, only to be sharply forced back down in his seat by the man. “If that’s true, then why hasn’t He spoken the same word in our church?”

She spun around and fixed him with a cold glare.

“Because they want you to believe that God is loving and gracious,” she spat. “But you are serving the wrong god. If God were merciful, then everyone would be able to get away with anything and still go to heaven. There is no such thing.”

“Yes there is!" Joe cried. "And God doesn’t command us to just go out and kill people. You’re taking away the life of a person you know nothing about! They could've been something great... yet you didn't give them a chance. It may seem great now, but soon nobodies gonna be on your side. You'll have no one to go to, and you'll be alone in this world. Yes you will be very alone--becuase when the time comes and you need someone... there will be no one there to help you.” Joe paused a moment to catch his breath. "If God is who you claim He is... then we have no hope in this world."

She eyed him coldly. Joe could see the fury slowly well up in her eyes.

“And where’d you get that from?” she spat. “The Bible?”

Suddenly a loud ring pierced the silence. Joe’s heart nearly stopped. The phone…his parents… Joe looked up at the time. It was 1:30 in the morning. Why would they be calling this early?

“Go answer it,” Diana suddenly ordered him.

Joe looked at her.

“What?” he choked… realizing her plan.

“I said answer it!” she cried, hearing it ring for the fourth time.

Joe didn’t move. She bent down and eyed him furiously.

“If you don’t answer that *CENSORED* thing now… I swear I’ll do it myself,” she threatened.

“Fine!” Joe cried. “Go answer it! Let them call the police on you! But I am not moving from my place.”

Joe knew that if he didn’t answer the phone, his parents would call the neighbors to come check on him. At least that might help.

“You’ll regret this boy…” Diana hissed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chapter 6

~Knife~

Joe suddenly gasped a sharp intake of breath as a bolt of pain shot down his spine. Diana wrenched him by his hair to his knees from the couch. She held him there for a minute, smiling as she listened to him gasp in pain. Joe winced as she suddenly jerked her hand down, forcing his head up—and his gaze on her.

“I told you we meant business,” she said eyeing him hard. “You don’t know what it’s like to truly fear, so I will show you…” she wrenched Joe’s head down farther, triggering a sudden cry of pain. “You are up against the strongest force known, boy.” She shook him. “You are nothing against the power of God. He will imprison you in his claws till you bleed. That’s what he craves…”

Joe grit his teeth together to lessen the pain.

“I thought Demons were the ones with claws?” he managed to hiss behind burning gasps of air, glaring up at her.

He was released from her grasp—but only to be swiftly rewarded with a rough backhand across the face. Joe groaned, clenching his teeth together to keep from crying out. He placed a hand on his burning face, and winced as his fingers ran across the stinging cuts on his cheek from Diana’s freakishly long nails.

But before he could do anything she grabbed his face rather cruelly with her long cold fingers, and prized him in her grasp. There she stared at him for a long moment of silence. Her piercing gaze bore into him as she studied his features closely… too closely. Joe didn’t like the way she looked at him. He tried pulling away—but Diana only gripped him harder with her nails.

“You have a nice face…” she finally commented. Joe wrenched himself away, and she released her grip. Diana stood and smiled down at him. Joe just glared, feeling fury burning his face, anger apparent in his eyes. He flinched as she suddenly bent down and brushed an icy finger across his cheek. “…I’d hate to scar it up,” she whispered sweetly. “And I promise I won’t… if you tell me where your family is…”

“So you can kill them?” Joe snapped. “I’m not a stupid Diana. I know what you’re getting at here, and I’m not gonna do it.”

She laughed maliciously, and placed a hand on his face. “You’re giving me what I want, when I want. Now it’s just your choice whether you want to take the easy road, or the hard one. And if I were you I’d take the easy…”

Joe slapped her hand away.

“But see that’s where you’re mistaken,” he hissed, his eyes blazing with rage. “You’re not me. You don’t know what it’s like to sit here and defend your families life!”

“And why would you go through all the trouble, when you could save your own?”

“Because I love them,” Joe said, blinking away the tears that were forming in his eyes. “You obviously don’t know what that means…” he saw the word trigger a sudden reaction in her eyes, “…do you?”

“But see,” she said, still grinning, “If you’d been through what I’ve had to go through, you’d come to the same conclusion—that love is just another fairytale. There’s no glory in it, only failure.”

“Maybe that’s because no one ever showed you what it means to truly love,” Joe said boldly. “And that’s why you’re like you are today. A murderer. You’re taking away others happiness and joy because you never had it—so why should they? You want them to feel your pain. Everyone must suffer because of you—because you’re too self-centered to admit that the reason you’re unhappy is all because of you. It’s all your own fault.”

Diana stared at him a long while, as if trying to decide whether to lash out a good beating, or act civil. It seemed she was leaning more towards the latter.

“Isaac!” she called to the man in the room. He looked up. She nodded towards Joe. “Tie is hands,” she ordered. “We’re taking him to the church…”

Joe looked in horror at the man approaching him. Isaac grabbed at his collar, but this time Joe wasn’t going down without a fight. He felt a sudden surge of adrenaline and shoved Isaac off, instantly bounding to his feet.

“You’re not taking me anywhere!” Joe cried tensely, backing away.

Diana and Isaac didn’t waste any time and rushed after him. Joe twisted around and ran, his mind working quickly, searching for something… anything to escape them. He could hear his heart drumming in his ears as he rushed towards the phone. He had to get the police…

He reached for it—but Isaac unexpectedly blocked his path. Joe was forced towards the kitchen counter by Diana. He didn’t waste a second and jumped it, instantly racing toward the utensil drawer. The drawer made a loud clanging noise as he swiftly threw it open. But his body was trembling so badly he had a hard time grabbing what he was looking for. They were getting closer and closer… Joe’s sweaty fingers slipped and slid across the forks and spoons. Closer and closer… Joe felt a hand brush his shoulder, and instantly his fingers gripped around the object he sought.

Joe spun around, and Diana and Isaac suddenly jumped back from him. Joe held out before him a large filleting knife, desperately trying to keep it in his sweaty grasp.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 7

~Tied~

“Put the knife down Joe,” Diana ordered, unfazed by his threat. She watched the fearful light in his eyes as he fought his conscious. Moonlight shimmered off Joe’s trembling knife, the sweat glinting off his skin. Diana could feel his fear, and she was waiting for the moment to use it. She knew he couldn’t kill anyone. The only reason he took a chance with it was to see if she would cower.

She waited. Both stood braced for attack—watching for the first move, the first mistake. Both had their eyes intent on each other; neither wavering nor focused on anything else around them. Joe’s chest began to heave faster as the air seemed to get heavier with growing uncertainty.

“Joseph…” Diana finally said in a warning tone.

But he didn’t react. All she heard was his nervous breath echoing through the room. She made the first move and gradually began advancing toward him, proving she wasn’t afraid. Joe’s breath caught in his throat and he instantly stumbled away from her.

“Stay away!” he threatened, desperately clenching the counter to stabilize his trembling body.

Diana saw her window of opportunity and bound forward. Before Joe had time to react she seized his arm grasping the weapon. She forced his hand so the blade was pressed firmly against her neck. Joe was too shaken by her sudden act to fight.

“Go ahead Joe,” she said with confidence. “Kill me. Murder me. Spill my blood on your hands. I dare you.”

Joe’s blood ran cold. Murder? The word made him stagger. His mind reeled round uncontrollably. He was petrified, paralyzed. It all seemed a dream now. No one in real life would be telling him to do this. He couldn’t kill her… only problem was she knew that. Joe suddenly realized he was beat. Diana was using his weakness against him so she could cage him in her grasp.

Joe stared at the knife. The more he stared, the heavier it got. The knife’s hilt began burning in his hands. Finally he couldn’t stand the torture any longer. He let it fall from his grasp and watched it as it clanged to the ground at his feet.

Instantly a pair of burly arms encircled around his chest from behind. Joe fought desperately; kicking, biting, struggling with such ferocity, even Isaac couldn’t pin him down. But just as Joe thought he might have a chance, Diana came to her brother's aid. Both somehow managed to force Joe to the floor, his back facing them. Diana buried a painful heal in Joe’s neck as Isaac grabbed his arms and forced them behind his back.

Joe was powerless and could do nothing. He felt completely and painfully humiliated. They had bent him to their will, and he knew they were taking great pleasure in it.

“You’re tough…” Diana commented to him as Isaac tied his hands. Joe grit his teeth, wondering why he didn’t just punch her in the face when he had the chance. “…I’ll commend you for that.” Then she bent down, putting more weight on her heel. Joe gave a small yelp of pain, trying hard to hold back the screams. “But not tough enough,” she whispered.

He was suddenly wrenched to his feet, his arms tied securely behind him. Isaac held Joe by the back of his shirt and forced him to face Diana. She was smiling that wicked smile Joe wished he could slap off.

“I’m going to have so much fun with you,” she grinned, looking him over. Joe’s eyes flashed and he shot her an icy glare, fighting his growing passion to smack some sense into her.

She stood there for a moment, as if admiring her prize. Then finally after what seemed like hours she gave a signal to Isaac.

Diana nodded her head toward the door.

“Put him in the car.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 8

~Pain~

“Kevin!” Little Frankie Jonas called for the second time. He watched for some response from his oldest brother. Kevin was talking to someone on his cell up on the beach, under the shade of a large umbrella. Nick was next to him sipping on some iced tea. Both had been instructed by their parents to watch him—but both were doing the exact opposite. “Ke—vin!” Frankie screamed. His brother still didn’t seem to hear. Frankie began jumping up and down, splashing water everywhere. “Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin!”

He laughed as he saw Kevin jump from his seat and glare daggers at him.

“Frankie! Will you just hold a sec? God!” He shook the cell. “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?!”

“But I want you to…” Frankie began… but Kevin had already tuned him out.

Frankie kicked the water angrily and stomped up to his older brothers, picking up his Frisbee on the way.

Meanwhile Kevin was trying desperately to listen to what his mother was saying over the phone. Their parents had decided to stay up at the hotel.

“Yeah so the neighbors said they didn’t see Joe leave for work this morning…” his mom explained worriedly. “They keep trying to call but get no response. They said they didn’t even see any lights on in the house last night…”

“Don’t worry about it mom,” Kevin said, not noticing Frankie standing next to him. “He probably went to stay at Justin’s house for some company.”

“Yeah… I just wish he would’ve called—or left a message… something. I’m worried about him being there by himself. It’s not like him to leave somewhere without informing us first. He’s at least careful in that regard…”

“Kevin,” Nick said suddenly beside him, “get off the phone and play with Frankie.”

Kevin looked over at him in frustration.

“He’s your responsibility as much as mine,” he snapped. “Why don’t you?”

Nick smiled and picked up his drink.

“Because he asked you,” he said, looking up at his older brother while he sipped his tea.

Kevin growled, irritated, and rolled his eyes.

“Well I guess just have the neighbors keep an eye out for him then,” Kevin suggested over the cell again—not seeing the Frisbee flying for his head. “And have them call…” WHAM! Kevin was hurled from his chair into the sand.

Kevin heard Frankie laughing hysterically and looked up to see him rolling around in the sand, clenching his side. The Frisbee rested by his head. Kevin jumped to his feet and seized it. Then he swiveled around to Nick who was trying to contain his laughter.

“Don’t say I didn’t tell you so,” Nick snorted.

Kevin clenched his fists and glared at him.

“Well if you’d just…” he stopped himself, knowing it’d only cause a fight and stumbled through the sand back to his overturned chair.

He retrieved the buried cell and righted his seat.

“Hey mom?” he asked. “I’ve got to go now. Frankie’s being a pain in the… ass,” he grimaced at the pain in his head. "Call me when you have more info..."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Diana walked in the room and shut the door behind her. The air instantly filled with a heavy thickness as her gaze fell on Joe. She noticed the blood dripping down his arms from the thorns that bound him to the stone wall. Every move he made the thorns tore at his flesh. It was the sect custom with every victim, and it always brought to mind the crucifix—that indeed was what it signified.

Her leather boots clicked on the hard floor as she slowly advanced to the room’s center. Joe’s head hung at his chest, his pride gone. He didn’t have to look up to know it was Diana. There was something about her Joe couldn’t describe – except it sent horrible chills down his spin. Maybe it was her eyes, the way she looked at him. He could feel them. They were cold, penetrating his soul. He felt all exposed, belittled under her strong gaze. Her presence made him want to cower, to surrender to her every wish, to abandon resistance. She was forcing it from him. And the more he gave—the less he became to her.

“Hello, Joseph,” she said smoothly, her voice deeper and more powerful than before.

He didn’t answer, but stared helplessly down at the floor, not wanting to look her in the eyes.

“How is my favorite prisoner?” Diana began, clasping her hands in front of her. She walked towards him. “Comfortable I hope?”

Joe swayed a bit, the pain nauseating, but refused to answer.

Then Diana said in a more serious tone, “I hope the silence of the room has helped you ponder your actions—and whether you should submit? Because you know I always get what I want, even if I have to use force.” She wrenched off her leather gloves and eyed him for an answer. But he didn’t move, he didn’t even react.

Diana threw her gloves to the floor and marched up to him, her growing fury beginning to heat the room. She instantly seized his face and forced it up.

“Look at me,” she ordered.

Joe finally lifted his eyes and fixed her with an icy glare. His sudden obedience made her smile.

“Seems my motives have finally worked on you…”

Joe shifted uncomfortably as the thorns began festering in his skin. He couldn’t loosen them—he couldn’t even move, the pain was always there. Diana brushed his face with a finger. Joe automatically went to swat her off, but then instantly cried out as the thorns shot through his arm. He fidgeted and squirmed, so frustrated at his total helplessness he could scream.

“See Joe?” Diana smiled. “You can do nothing. When you once had the strength to fight, now that power is gone. You are a captive now. You will bend to our rules and submit everything you are.” She looked him over. “You should see yourself now Joe. You’re tied to a wall—completely powerless.” She raised her hands. “I’m free of restraint. Now who’s in the better? Who has the power?” She came closer. “I do,” she hissed.

Joe felt his jaw clench tighter and tighter, and he looked away.

“So you see…” Joe flinched as she placed a hand on his chest, “…I can do whatever…” her fingers snapped together as she unbuttoned his collar, “…I…” her finger ran down his shirt, “…want…” She unfastened another, “And still get away with it.” Then she whispered in his ear, “You’re mine now Joe.”

Joe’s heart stopped, and color quickly drained from his face. He stared at her in disbelief, struggling to find his voice, which had suddenly gone hoarse. His heart was pounding so hard it might as well break his chest. A horrible chill ran down his body. That was it. Bound or not he wasn’t going to let her take advantage of him like this.

“Stop,” he said suddenly.

“Or what?” she laughed, snapping another button.

He ignored her.

“I said,” Joe hissed, putting much emphasis in his words, “Stop.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t like this?” she cooed tugging on his shirt.

Joe replied instantly with a knee into her stomach and he shoved her off.

“Get your blood infected hands off me, witch!” Joe cried.

Diana stumbled across the room, clenching her side and gasping desperately for air. Then she looked up, her eyes white with murderous rage.

“Boy, don’t you ever call me that!” she cried.

Joe couldn’t hold his anger any longer. It was tearing at him inside; he had to get it out.

“Well I will if I like you sonofa*CENSORED* ‘cause that’s exactly what you are!” He roared, ignoring the pain coursing through his body as he pulled at his restraints. “You’re a liar, cheater, sorceress, demon, witch—whatever’s cruel and worse than fire in hell—that’s you!”

There was a long pause as Diana seemed to sit in her anger, letting it fester and boil. She stared at him for a moment. Then suddenly her face twisted into a snarl. Joe suddenly gasped with pain as Diana grabbed him cruelly by his hair and bashed his head against the wall. She held him there with an iron arm. Then, with her face just inches from his she hissed, “I always get what I want boy… and you know what I want now?” She eyed him harder and spat, “The skin off your back.” She shoved him against the wall and released him. Then she stomped out of the room.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 9

~To Die For~

It had been three days… three long, torturous days. Joe was long past the point of exhaustion, continuously plagued by the by a never ending parade of agony.

Unconsciousness was a luxury he was never granted. He never slept. Every time he tried nodding off the torture of the thorns that bound him, he was brought crashing back to the present. Fever set in, and Joe began to hear voices echo in the never ending blackness of the room--voices that brought to life his nightmares. They stood there with him in the room, always haunting his vision. The only weapon he had against the constant anguish was the knowledge that his family was safe… and they would stay safe because of him. Nothing, short of Satan himself could grasp that information.

Time was running short, and Joe knew Diana was getting desperate. But Joe allowed himself that single hope… the hope that if he just held on a bit longer, someone might rescue him. He knew his disappearance would not go unnoticed for long. The authorities would be on it once someone noticed he was missing. He’d experienced so many horrors in this small room over past few days, he doubted very much that the LeBaren’s could come up with anything that he couldn’t handle.

A loud bang reverberated through the room and moments later a light overhead turned on, bathing Joe in an unfriendly and harsh light. Even if Joe had the energy to lift his head he wouldn’t, he knew exactly who it was that entered the room. A chill shook Joe to the very center of his being as he felt a cold finger prod up his face.

“Good evening Joseph,” came that satanic voice he knew all too well. “How are we feeling?”

The sound of her teasing voice was worse than any slap or punch she’d given. Joe kept his gaze down.

“The floor must be very interesting…” she noted, “more beautiful then me I suppose?” Joe still didn’t look up. Diana placed a hand on his chest, her long nails biting into his skin. “Why so nervous Joe?” she asked, feeling his body tremble at her touch, his heart pounding hard against his chest. She chuckled and brought her face close to his. “And see…that’s how I know beyond your hard outer shell… you’re tender inside. I still have a chance of breaking you...” She stood back a bit, studying him for some reaction.

Joe felt his blood boil, but he’d seen what happened when his temper go the better of him, so he reluctantly kept it in check. She shook her head at him.

“You are pitiful Joe. I feel for you. You’ve tried so hard to stay strong, and now you’re going to experience what it’s like to fail…”

She snapped her fingers suddenly and two men appeared from the shadows of the room. They unbound Joe from the wall and then instantly twisted him round and slammed him up against the wall, forcing his hands behind him. Joe winced and clenched his jaw against the pain that shot up his back. They held him there while Diana walked up behind him. She tore away the last strand of fabric that held the back of his shirt together. Joe flinched and tensed as she traced a finger on his back.

“It’s a pity isn’t it?” she said with mocked concern. “Seeing a boy of such youth scraped away to nothing…”

“As if you care, Witch…” Joe spat, his body pressed firmly against the wall. “Oh excuse me, replace that “w” with a “b”…”

Her nail suddenly dug into his flesh, and Joe couldn’t help but cry out in agony. He panted desperately against the wave of nausea that began to cloud his thoughts.

“Bring him…”

Wrenched from his place, Joe was then forced from the room and into the dimly lit basement hall.

Joe began to hear chanting resonate from some distant room. The sound was eerie and his blood ran cold. Then in an instant he was twisted to the side where a pair of stone doors were suddenly pulled open. He hardly had time to evaluate the room in which he was entering, when he was shoved brutally in. When Joe was able to right himself he saw he stood in a huge, underground sanctuary--obviously the BA’s secret gathering place.

People stood in the pews, singing the Song of Death--chanting like some soul brought from the dead. Joe gasped a sharp intake of breath and stumbled back towards the door as suddenly fifty pairs of eyes swiveled around to him. They were glowing. Joe unconsciously fought the arms that forced him toward the alter ahead, his fearful gaze caught under the spell of their eyes.

They all began advancing toward him, clenching their fists in burning fury. Joe struggled frantically, trying to evade his coming doom. The people stared at him, as if crazed by some demon. They formed a circle around him and his captors. Then suddenly Joe was shoved forward, free from restraint, but now facing uncanny foes.

“Kill him…” they hissed in chant, “spill the sinners blood… he must be sacrificed…”

They all flooded around him. Joe didn’t know how many hands suddenly grabbed him by the hair and held him in place. Then the rest of the congregation lashed out their fury, screaming and clawing him with their sharply clipped nails. Joe managed to fight his way out of the hands of his captors, but he was only shoved and pulled ruthlessly about the rest of the crowd.

Joe became nauseated by the swarm of powerful fists and claws, and he sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. The crowd tore what was left of his shirt from his back and then clawed at his exposed flesh. The pain was so excruciating Joe couldn’t scream. He could only feel the darkness slowly bring him to the floor.

But before he allowed himself to black out entirely, one pair of burly arms shoved him forward through the crowd and up on the stage. He felt himself being forced down to sitting position and his arms tied around a post. All was suddenly silent, except for his painful gasps of breath.
Someone backhanded him roughly and he was brought back to his present reality.

“So Joe… are you prepared for what’s next?” came the foul voice of Diana, standing above him, smiling.

Joe slowly brought his head up, and he looked at her, his agony apparent in his tear-filled eyes. Then he looked over at the crowd, who were watching this whole ‘event’ with a lustful gaze.

“I brought you some company,” Diana went on, not wasting a moment. A small, muffled whimper caught Joe’s attention and he looked across the stage.

Joe saw a small boy Isaac was holding by the hair like a prized animal. His hands were bound behind his back and a gag muffled his terrified whimpers. Bright blue eyes peeked out from sandy brown locks, and dried tear tracks lined his face. He couldn’t have been more than eight years old.

“This is Riley Lewis,” Diana informed smoothly, seizing Riley by his upper arm and bringing him closer for Joe to see, “He and his family lived in the trailer park off of Gardner Street.”

“They lived...?” Joe choked out, his throat cracked and dry from lack of water.

Diana shrugged, “They’re dead. Naturally.”

Joe stared up at her in complete shock. He looked down at the boy and something grabbed at his heart as he noticed fresh tears begin to spring from Riley’s eyes. He couldn’t help but think of his little brother Frankie... and it made him mad. Joe’s eyes grew dark with vehemence, knowing what terrors the boy must’ve gone through. He glared Diana with all hate. Nothing could pay for the crime they were committing.

“You’re sick,” Joe growled, barely beyond a whisper. “You might as well own a human slaughterhouse. How could you be so heartless?”

Suddenly a hand lashed out and caught Joe squarely in the left temple. He clenched his flaming jaw against the cry of pain that threaten to escape his lips.

“Mind your mouth boy,” Isaac said gruffly.

Joe took a moment to gather his breath before returning his gaze back to Diana and Riley. Diana crouched down so that she was eye level with the eight year old, bringing one gnarled finger up to stroke his cheek.

“Riley?” she cooed, “Would you like to go home?” The boy nodded his head furiously, flinching away as best he could from Diana’s seemingly tender touch. “Well you’re in luck. Joseph here...” she indicated Joe with a nod of her head, “...is going to help you leave this place forever.”

Joe’s eyes flashed and he eyed her with contempt. “He’s going to tell me where his family is… aren’t you Joe?” she asked eyeing him. She turned back to Riley. “...And when he’s done, you can go home.”

Joe felt a sting of rage rush through his aching veins, “Shove it you witch!” he somehow managed to cry. “I’m not giving you anything!” He pulled against his restraints, ignoring the pain coursing through his body.

Diana threw her head back and let out an unearthly cackle, “Oh… Joseph, Joseph, Joseph…” She stood, shoving Riley into Isaac’s waiting arms, “You think you can stand against anything... but lets see what happens when your stubbornness is punished--not only on yourself... but on someone else...”

With that she pulled out a small dagger from her belt. Joe’s heart stopped. He suddenly realized her plan. Diana began twirling the knife between her fingers, as if it were a toy. She slowly approached the struggling Riley. Then with a snap of her fingers Isaac thrust the boy up on the stone alter and forced his back flat against it. Diana then bent down and used the dagger to cut away the boy’s torn shirt, and then brought it up to rest threateningly on the eight year olds neck. She looked back at Joe, smiling.

“Tell me where your family is, Joe… or I’ll spill this boy’s blood at your feet.”

Joe gawked at her, unable to fully comprehend the ultimatum Diana had set before him, “W-what?” Joe’s couldn’t contain the tremor in his voice.

At Joe’s word, Diana moved the knife and made a long gash along the boy’s torso, and Riley let out a muffled scream through his gag. Joe instantly pulled at his restraints, no longer feeling the pain.

“Get your hands off him!” Joe cried hoarsely.

“Don’t play dumb with me Joseph…” Her eyes narrowed to slits as she fixed him with a steady gaze. “Where is your family?”

Joe felt a dampness on his cheeks and realized for the first time he was crying, knowing he could do nothing to save the boy… except give the information he’d sworn not to admit.

“Will you be able to live with yourself, Joseph?” Diana taunted, knowing she was getting to him. “Can you live knowing that this boy died because of you?”

To his horror, Diana placed the dagger on Riley’s right breast bone, dragging it across his chest, crimson blood following in its wake. Riley let out a continuous, agonizing scream and Joe had to look away.

“STOP!” Joe screamed with as much authority as he could muster. “Just let him go!”

“Only you can do that…” Diana hissed, getting impatient with him. “Tell me what I want to know. Don’t make me take out one of his beautiful blue eyes.” Diana slowly began to raise the dagger so it was level with Riley’s right eye. The boy turned his face away, trying to avoid what was to come, but Isaac quickly grabbed the boy’s hair. All Riley could do was watch as the dagger as it began to descend towards his tear filled eye.

Joe couldn’t take this any longer, “ALRIGHT!”

Diana’s head shot up, and a smile began to creep again in her face.

“Alright?” Diana pressed, the dagger inches away from Riley’s face.

Joe hung his head in defeat, his salty tears falling on his exposed chest. “I’ll tell you, just please… please stop.”

Diana smiled a toothy grin of delight as she saw Joe break before her. “I knew it would only take a little persuasion to make you see the light.” She gave the knife to Isaac and moved toward Joe, eyeing him for an answer. “Where are they?”

Joe held back a sob, not daring to meet Diana’s wicked eyes. “Myrtle Beach,” he choked out, “They’re… at a condo in… Myrtle Beach.” Whatever fight he still had burning inside him left as the words passed through his lips.

“Do you know which condo?” pressed Diana, still eyeing him hard.

Joe shook his head, “No.” But gave her his parents phone, wincing, knowing that was all she needed to find them.
“Thank you Joseph… you’ve been most helpful.”

A swift slashing sound followed by incoherent gargling caused Joe to snap his head up. His heart stopped as he saw Riley’s head nodded to the side, blood pouring out of a slash that lined his small throat.

“NOOO!” Joe cried out in utter agony, pulling violently against his restraints in his attempts to reach the dying boy a few feet away from him. Riley convulsed slightly on the table, his eyes wide in disbelief. All that was left of Joe evaporated as he watched the light fade from Riley’s blue eyes. Joe looked at Diana with such hate, he could imagine himself encircling his fists around her throat and strangling her till there was no breath left.

“Why the hell are you doing this?!” he screamed, tears flooding his face, “WHY?”

Joe saw with disgust that Diana was getting amusement from Joe’s tears and screams of sorrow.

“Because,” She turned and walked down the stage, “He was tainted. As are you and your wretched family.” She left the room, Isaac dragging the body of Riley carelessly behind him down the isle.

Diana stopped at the doorway, “His blood, your family’s blood--is all on your hands boy.” She stood there for a moment. Then she looked at the rest of the congregation. “Do with him as you please. But leave him alive till I get back…” Joe could hear her laughter resonant through the room as she faded away.

Joe leaned heavily against the post for support, unable to contain the pain inside. He sobbed uncontrollably, knowing the crowd was coming. Someone untied him and then hundreds of hands suddenly grabbed him and threw him to the center of the stage. All he felt after that were sharp stones pounding him into the floor. The only thing he could do was curl himself up into as tight a ball as he could, and hope he’d wake again. His last thought were those horrible words that echoed loudly in his mind
It’s all on your hands boy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 10

~Echos~

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 11 (here's the new stuff)

~Seen~

 

“This is so retarded.” Nick grumbled from the passenger’s seat of Kevin’s car, “I’m going to kill Frankie.”

Kevin chuckled, “Dude, you’re the one who left your insulin on top of the toilet in the first place. Anyone could have knocked it in there.”

“Yeah well… he should have been more careful and been more aware of his surroundings.”

Kevin rolled his eyes, “Dude, he’s like seven.”

“Not an excuse,” growled Nick.

“Man, eat a cupcake or something. You’re low blood sugar in making you sound all PMS-y.”

Nick sighed and sank lower in his seat, “Sorry. Let’s just stop at the ice cream shop after I get my shot. We should say hi to Joe and show off our awesome tans.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Kevin chucked and Nick joined in. A few minutes later, the boys were parking their car in the street by the house. “Hmmm, that’s weird. Joe’s car is still here.” The pair unbuckled their seat belts and stepped out of the car.

“What’s with the junky looking SUV? You don’t think Joe had a party?” questioned Nick as they walked up the driveway.

Kevin shook his head, “Not likely, Joe’s too lazy to plan something like that.”

Kevin entered the house first and froze at the doorway, causing Nick to run into him, “Kevin! What the��”” Nick stopped when he got a glance at the living room. It was in shambles, tables broken in half and chairs were over turned. “Holy…shhhi…what happened?”

Kevin opened his mouth to respond but instantly fell silent when he heard someone coming down the stairs. He quickly grabbed a hold of Nick’s hand and pulled him into the closet by the kitchen. He brought a finger to lips in the semi darkness signaling for Nick to be quiet. He leaned his head so that he could see out through a small crack in the door.

“*CENSORED* that took forever!” Came a loud voice, and the boys saw as two shadows pass by the doorway and into the kitchen.

“Yeah, but we got it you dumb-ass! When this is over I’m gonna swap me a girl and head down to the beach.
“Yeah ‘dat kid we’s holding’s annoying as hell. His mouth is giving me headache. Plus Diana won’t stop talking about killing this family…Jonas or whatever. Its borderline obsessive.” Kevin couldn’t help but gasp. Someone wanted to kill them?

“Yeah I know.” The man opened the fridge and took out a gallon of milk and began to drink straight from the carton. He smacked his lips loudly before continuing, “She has a grudge on the family. The father screwed her over or something. I think that’s why she kept his kid alive for this long… think she has some sort of crush on him or something.” The pair laughed.

“You think she’ll keep him around when this is all over?”

“Naw, the kid’s fading fast…he won’t last much longer,” the man said without any remorse. It made Kevin’s blood run cold.

“Joe…” breathed Nick suddenly and Kevin instantly brought his hand up to silence him. They waited with baited breath, silently praying that they had not alerted the sadistic men to their whereabouts.

The shadows left the kitchen and Nick and Kevin pressed themselves back against the closet. “Let’s get out of here, the sooner this is over the better…” And without another word, the pair left, a loud crashing sound was heard in their wake.

The boys stayed where they were for a few minutes, taking in that they had just witnessed. Kevin was the first to move, opening the door and walking down the hall towards the door. He paused when he saw the remains of a family photo lying on the floor. The men must have knocked it over on their way out. He stared down at his family and his eyes found Joe in the center, his goofy grin making him stand out the more than the rest. The thought of what might be happening to him made Kevin feel nauseous.

“Kevin?” came Nick’s broken voice, but Kevin couldn’t bring himself to look up at his brother. He heard the sound of a car starting outside and realized immediately what he had to do.

“Come on.” He said quickly as he tore out the door towards his car. He saw the black SUV make a right at the end of the street. “Nick! Hurry the hell up!” he found his keys and jumped into his car, Nick closely behind him.

“Kevin… where are we going?”

“To go get Joe.” Kevin started the car and took off, not bothering to buckle his seatbelt.

“But… shouldn’t we call the police or something?” asked Nick hesitantly, trying not to push his brother over the edge. He was already looking slightly mental.

“There’s no time! You heard what they said! Joe’s not going to last much longer! We have to go get him…NOW!” Kevin rounded the corner sharply, and slowed when he saw the SUV up ahead.

“But the Police--”

“NICK! Those people are trying to kill us. Kill us! If they see a cop they may kill Joe! We have to get him back before it’s too late…” Kevin looked over at his little brother for the first time. Nick had a few tears running down his cheeks and he looked scared as hell. Kevin let out a sigh. “Listen I’m sorry. Maybe I should let you out at the next stop light.”

Nick sniffed, “No. If it’s my brother they’re messing with, I sure as hell am not sitting back and watching…”

“Listen, Nick…this situation isn’t going to be all peachy. There’s no telling what those sadistic bastards have done to Joe…and what they’re planning for us.”

Nick swallowed hard before reaching over and buckling his seatbelt. “That’s why I need to go. I need to be there for him.”

“Nick--” started uncertainly.

“Kevin I’m going. Now hurry up you’re losing them…” Nick ordered evenly, not looking at Kevin. He knew that if he did he may start crying again and he had to prove to Kevin that he was strong enough. He had to help Joe.
Kevin nodded and sped up, trying to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to find.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 12

~Comatose~

The only thing he could feel now was his breathing. Jagged, shallow breaths as his chest heaved in and out, in and out. He could feel the muscles pull and relax as he focused solely on keeping his heart from stopping, gasping and blinking away the tears every few breaths as his lungs pressed against his broken ribs. The stone beneath his scared back was so harsh. Everything hurt. He could hardly keep his eyes open now. His road was ending, and when it did, he for once would be thankful for it.

He felt a hand run through his tangled mess of curls. Joe wished more than anything it were his mother’s. He wished more than anything he’d wake from this dream and find her smiling above him, fussing at him for sleeping in late. But he knew it wasn’t. Those fingers, with tastes of blood on their tips, were so cold. Every time that witch touched him, something inside Joe burned with a fervent passion to curl his hands around Diana’s neck and furiously squeeze till he could hear bones snap. He knew he must be going mental, but he wanted to hear her scream. So helplessly. He wanted her to know the pain she’d put his family through.

“Look at you,” he heard her slimy voice above him. “So weak you can’t even fight. Where is that Jonas spirit I know?” she cooed. “Or have you lost it already?” She walked around that stone altar for a few moments, tracing her fingers along his outstretched, bound arms, breathing in her power. Then she stopped and bent toward him--resting her elbows on his chest, itching for a chance to hear him scream. “You know this is my favorite part.” She smiled, eagerly watching him endure pain once more. “The part where I can take advantage of you in such ways you’ll wish I’d killed you from the beginning. But killing isn’t how I like to work, is it Joey? You’ve first got to feel the torture, wish you could take back all those bad things you did. But at this point, you’re too late. See that pain you feel Joe?” she said, digging into his broken ribs, sending a cry reverberating through the hollow room. “That’s only a small taste of hell. You should thank me. I’m just getting you ready for it.”

Joe inhaled a very charred breath, feeling his cracked ribs shift from the presser and bite every nerve in his body. But he had to say something. He couldn’t let her get wind of him like she was. Joe refused to die watching her smile away her pride. At least if he die, he died in the most honorable way he could see fit.

“Maybe,” Joe’s shallow, yet still very obstinate voice rasped, “I don’t give a *CENSORED* *CENSORED*.”

She gave a small laugh and crawled her fingers up to his shoulders.

“You don’t?” she cooed suddenly. Joe cringed as she grabbed his face. “Then maybe you won’t give a *CENSORED* about this--” Diana suddenly, like a cat, grabbed his hair and forced his lips to hers.

To say the moment was horrifying was an understatement. It was the worst, most sickening, revolting feeling he'd ever experienced. He shut his tear filled eyes, in hopes that maybe he could erase the vulgar reality before him. She pressed into him, engrossed in the moment, becoming more and more passionate; her lustful nature begging for more and more to the point Joe couldn't breathe.

Then suddenly it was all over. She broke away from him, her lips still just faintly brushing his, savoring that moment, but her eyes now dark. Every muscle in Joe’s body tensed with nausea. That morbid flavor of her lips against his was like ice shoved down his back. The feeling of it was so cold it became painful. A flash of anxiety rushed down his body as he instinctively pulled at his bonds, not even feeling the wire cut his skin.

She eyed him darkly, a sudden spell of hate drawn in the lines of her face.

“That was for your father,” she spat. “And to think he made your sorry ass. At least I get a piece of him…” she said looking over Joe with those hungry eyes.

Joe’s eyes flashed and he looked up at her, the broken fibers of his body now burning with revulsion.

“At least he knows slut crap when he sees it,” Joe spat, disgusted by the way she was caressing him.

She bent forward, her warm breath now on his shoulders.
“Your father will pay for that Joe,” she whispered in his ear with a small chuckle. “One by one he’ll watch his whole life torn away from him. It’ll start with Nicky, than Kevin, than if your father begs hard enough I’ll let him choose between his sweetheart Denise, or you. Only he’ll have to live with the fact that--if you live you’ll be slave to my will forever.” She suddenly pulled out a knife. Joe’s pulse began to rise. “Only…you already are Joe.” She brushed her lips against his again. Joe twisted his head to the side and squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to blink out her malicious features.

“Go to hell…” Joe hissed through painful gasps.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," she cooed at him, suddenly grabbing his face and forcing it back to hers. "We can't have that attitude now can we?" Joe refused to open his eyes and view her demonic features.

Diana chuckled and eased up to him again, but this time with a dagger brandished in her hand. Joe’s heart jumped wildly and he instinctively flinched away from her, but only to be wrenched back in place by his restraints. His nerves overcame him and he couldn’t hide the intense fear screaming inside him any longer. The dagger hissed as she held it up to the light. Joe could feel his hair dampen from sweat and his breath come in short gasps as he watched her eye it wickedly. Then she eyed him.

“Smile Joe,” she chuckled. “A hard face makes you look so bad-ass. I’m offended. Don’t you like me Joey?”

Joe choked back the nausea to give her a mock grin back.

“I don’t really think I’m your type. I mean, you’re after all a fallen angel from heaven…or shall I just say demon?”

Her eyes for a moment sparked a flame, but then she composed herself. She placed the tip of the dagger against his torso, letting it sit there and fester a bit. Joe instinctively braced himself and closed his eyes. A lonely tear escaped as he tried not to think of the pain.

“This way, Joe…” she said, placing her other hand on his face and gingerly wiping a curl from his eyes, “You’ll always be tainted…”

Suddenly she wrenched the jagged dagger across his stomach, blood flowing instantly, sending a piercing scream rumbling through the four walls of the church.


OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Kevin watched with curious eyes as the car he’d been following for the past few minutes came to a final stop a few blocks up the road. Their manner wasn’t typical he noted. They seemed very confident, only parking alongside the church instead of a secret hideout like Kevin was expecting. But perhaps that was the genius behind it, to hide something behind the hollowed walls of an old stone church.

“Wait…isn’t that the old Amityville Church?” Nick piped up, suddenly sitting straight in his seat, his eyes matching the curious expression of his older brother.

“Yeah we use to go there around the time you were born. But we stopped for some reason…dad never really explained why,” Kevin said as he turned off the ignition. The silence that now filled the car seemed to intensify with the absence of the quite hum of the engine.

“Well…maybe that reason has something to do with Joe’s disappearance?” Nick considered, clenching the seatrest unconsciously.

Kevin was too deep considering his options to answer. He was suddenly shaken from his momentary lapse of reasoning when rain began to pelt down on the roof of the car--evidently making the situation seem even more gloom and eerie.

“Do you think Joe’s in there?” Nick asked in a soft whisper, eyes never leaving the ominous structure in front of them.

Unbuckling his seat belt, Kevin responded, “Dunno,” then that spark of determination lit in his eyes and he squared his shoulders confidently “…but I’m going to find out.” Nick intuitively began to unbuckle his own belt with him, but was stopped by his brother’s sudden hand. “No, you stay here.”

Nick eyes flashed and he shot his brother a glance.

“What? No, not a chance! I’m going with you!”

“No Nick,” Kevin firmed his grip on his little brother. “Listen, if those guys are who I think they are--then we gotta be smart. I’ve thought this over. You’ve got to trust me, okay? You need to stay here. I’m not sure what I’m gonna find in there. I’m not sure I’m gonna find anything at all. But if there is something bad in that church, I don’t want you in the middle of it. I’d rather face it on my own without trying to think of your safety.”

“That’s bull*CENSORED* and you know it!” Nick seethed angrily, furious that his brother insisted on treating him like a child, “He’s my brother too! I can’t just sit here,
twiddling my thumbs when Joe’s in trouble!”

“That’s why you need to stay here, Nick!” Kevin pressed, still holding Nicks hand to prevent him from undoing his seat belt, “I don’t know what I’m walking into here. It could be the freakin mafia! If something happens then I need you to call the police.”

“Mafia my ass Kevin!” Nick screamed over the torrent of rain.

“My god, Nick! C’mon!” Kevin cried, shoving his brother in the car. “Just do this for me. Dad would do the same if he was here!”

Nick was quiet for a moment, knowing that his brother was right, “I still don’t like this. You shouldn't be going in there with no one to watch your back…. I can’t lose both of you…”

The last part was said just above a whisper, but Kevin heard it all the same. It nearly broke his heart.

“It’ll be fine bro,” Kevin sighed, patting his brother on the shoulder for assurance. “I’m going to go get Joey back okay?”

Nick shook his head, still skeptical. He bit his lip and eyed his phone, his finger now placed over the 9. If the time came then he would be ready.

“You promise?” he asked, finally looking up at his brother with those large brown eyes.

“I promise,” Kevin swallowed, trying not to sound hesitant.

Nick let out a trembling breath before nodding and quickly placing his gaze elsewhere.

“If I’m not back in twenty minutes, or if I don’t text you, you call the police okay?” Nick sniffled and nodded, fiddling with his phone between his sweetly palms, not looking at his brother. “Hey, look at me…” Kevin said, worried. Nick hesitated for a moment before bringing his gaze up to meet his older brother’s, a single tear rolling down his pale face. Kevin reached over and gently brushed the gleam of water from his face. “It’s going to be fine.” He flashed him a reassuring smile.

Nick swallowed his tears thickly, determined to be strong for his brother, “Yeah. Sure.”

Kevin gave Nick another reassuring pat on the shoulder before exiting the car and making his way towards the church.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


He stuck to the forest along the road so that no one would see him coming through one of the massive windows that lined the old building. Every minute ticked by, almost too quickly for Kevin’s liking as he approached the church, knowing every moment wasted could be a moment too long for Joe.

Finally he reached the back corner of the building, his breathing heavy as he looked for a way in. Creeping along the outer wall, rainwater pouring down on his face, the boy realized the only way into the building was through the front. He knew he’d have to find a window or something for when they made their escape. If they escaped. Dear God he hoped so. He prayed more than ever now for his brother…if he was still alive. Kevin mentally cursed himself for allowing that thought to enter his mind. Of course Joe would be alive when he found him--he was Joe after all.

Checking to make sure the coast was clear, Kevin slowly made his way up the aged steps, each protesting creek of the old wood sending shivers down his spine. He was thankful to see a canopy above him to shelter his now soaking body from the storm. Kevin wrapped a wet palm around the rusting brass handle of the enormous door and turned it, wincing at thunderous echo made from its corroded hinges. He paused for a moment before going over to the hinges and spitting on the bolts, effectively lubricating and silencing their aged protests. He pushed the door open just far enough to allow his body to slip inside before closing it softly behind him.

Turning around Kevin was faced with a dark, haunting hallway, which he vaguely recalled from memory. It seemed less… chilling when he was younger. He noted that the windows, which had offered a kind of light and comfort in his childhood were now covered in a thick coat of grim, giving the halls an almost blood red tint. The walls themselves smelled like their color… the sick sent of death and blood.

Swallowing back the sense of bereavement, Kevin quickly began to walk down the hallway, his eyes fixed on any path that might lead him to a basement of some sort. It seemed the most logical place for him to start. Almost instantly his eyes spotted a luminous hallway off to his left with a set of stone stairs leading downward. Breathing out a reluctant sigh he ventured forward. When he’d finally reached it beyond the long isles of pews, he cautiously made his way down the stairs. Kevin noticed the maze of stone halls he was entering as the light got more intense. But his foot had hardly touched the last step when he heard voices: someone was coming.

In a panic he scrambled back looking for somewhere, anywhere to hide. The voices were becoming clearer by the second and Kevin’s heart began to race. Blindly, he pushed a random door, praying to God that it was unlocked. He nearly cried out with joy when it gave way. In a flash he was inside, shutting the door as quietly as possible. Kevin waited with baited breath, his front pressed firmly against the door and waited. Not until the last of the echoing sounds of footsteps passed did he dare breathe.

Once he’d regained control of his rapid beating heart, Kevin turned around to get a look at the room he entered. It was some sort of large chamber filled with old oak pews, with a raised wooden stage at its front. A large wooden post stood off to the right and even from the back Kevin could see bloody ropes dangling from its sides. Blood. The word made him freeze suddenly. He shuttered to think where the oily substance had come from. Suddenly his eyes fell upon a large stone alter located directly in the center of the stage, but the structure didn’t interest him as much as what was on top of it. What is that?

Cautiously, Kevin approached the alter. His steps quickening when he realized it was a person--tied cruelly, hand and foot, to the massive stone table. “Oh God…” He ran at a full sprint, jumping up on to the stage in one fluid motion. He stopped just a few feet short of what he now recognized as his younger brother, Joe…what was left of him anyway.

Kevin sank numbly to his knees before his brother’s body. Everything seemed to suddenly run at a standstill, Kevin hardly able to keep himself from choking on his own bile. The boy was so frail. Joe’s hands tied gruesomely with wire. Blood everywhere. Blood…blood…blood…blood…

Kevin began shaking his head unconsciously, tears now streaming down his face at the sight of his younger brother’s mangled and bloodied figure. Joe had always been a very happy kid. He always seemed to make the best of a bad situation with one of his lousy smiles. Now he just laid there, all the laughter and smiles gone. Everything gone. If it weren’t for the unsteady rise and fall of his brother’s chest, Kevin would have thought he was dead. This couldn’t be real…

Joe’s shirt had long since been torn away, revealing a mass of festering wounds; a sign that his torture had started several days before. Not an inch of his exposed body was without a dark bruise or dried blood, but that’s not what horrified Kevin the most. A large, crimson “X” had been carved into the flesh of Joe’s abdomen, a mark he would have for the rest of his life.

Anguish soon turned to rage as Kevin thought of the cruel bastard who had done this. Joe had never in his life harmed something enough for this length of punishment. And yet someone thought it necessary to inflict so much suffering. Kevin’s hands balled into fists. He didn’t deserve this, not Joe, not his Joe.

Pushing back the deadly thoughts that overwhelmed his mind, Kevin focused on what he needed to do most: rescue his brother. He leaned over his brother’s still figure. Joe's eyes were closed as if asleep. Every now and then Joe would let out a whimper and it was obvious that his dreams were plagued by nightmares. A few salty tears of pain were leaking out of the corners of his brother's eyes and Kevin felt his own hot tears fall and mingle with his brothers.

“Joe?” his voice cracked, looking for any spot on his brother’s body that he could touch without causing him pain. He could find none.

Joe whimpered but made no reaction to respond.

Kevin brought a hand up to run though Joe’s dirty and matted hair, “Joe please wake up. It’s Kevin.”

Joe’s eyes suddenly flashed open and Kevin couldn’t help but jump back.

“Don’t touch me!” Joe gasped, his breathing intense and irregular, his eyes darting around the room.

Kevin quickly placed a soft hand on his brother’s brow.

“No, Joe,” he tried to assure without stammering. “I’m here. It’s your brother.”

Joe eyes finally rested on the figure above him.

“K-Kevin?” Joe whispered, his eyes shining with tears.

“Yeah it’s me, Joey. I’m here.” Joe’s face suddenly became distorted with emotion as sobs began to wrack his beaten body. Kevin immediately brought his head down so their forehead was touching, a few tears rolling down his own cheeks as he soothed, “Shhhh, it’s alright bro your safe now. I’m going to get you out.” He immediately began to work on the bloody wires binding Joe to the table.

Joe suddenly began to squirm.

“Kevin, you have to l-leave! You have to get out! Get your ass out now!” he begged as Kevin struggled with the bonds.

Tears muffled Kevin’s vision as his desperately tried to undo the wire embedded deep in his brother’s arms. Kevin choked back a sob as he refused to listen to his brother. The wire was so tight.

“I will, just as soon as I get these off you. You’re coming with me.” he grunted with the effort.

“N-no you don’t understand! She’ll kill you! They’re going to kill mom, and dad and Nick! Y-you have to warn them! You have to get out before they find you!” Joe pulled at his restraints, desperate to get his brother’s attention, but only causing the wire to bite deeper. “Just leave me here, please!” Joe begged thickly through his sobs, his body withering with despair on the stone table, the movement causing the scar on his stomach to begin to bleed again profusely. “Get your friggin ass out of here! They’ll kill you!”

“JOE!” Kevin said loudly, gripping the sides of Joe’s battered face and causing him to still finally. “None of that is going to happen alright?” He wiped the curls from Joe’s clouded eyes. “You’ve been so brave bro. Whoever has done this is one nasty *CENSORED*---and because of that I’m sure as hell not leaving without you. I’m going to get you out.” Unable to speak, Joe let out a loud sniffle and nodded, causing Kevin to give a lopsided smile of reassurance. “Alright, now hold still, I almost got this one.”

He turned back to work on the restraints with renewed vigor but was hardly able to stop and react at the sound of Joe’s warning cry, “KEVIN BEHIND YOU!”

Kevin didn’t even have time to turn around before a large object collided with the side of his head. He crumpled to the ground instantly, the edges of his vision already beginning to blur. A dark figure hovered over him, but Kevin could not make out his face. All he heard were Joe’s cries of anguish as his world faded to black.



0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000



Nick sat in the front seat of the car, unable to sit still as he watched the minutes pass on the screen of his phone.

Sixteen minutes.

The boy sighed nervously and looked back up the church in front of him. It seemed like hours ago when he watched his older brother disappear into the dark confines of the structure, and silently cursed himself for letting Kevin leave him behind. There was no telling what sort of evils lurked in that building.


Seventeen minutes.


“Screw it.” He said out loud, his fingers moving over the buttons 9-1-1. He was just about to hit send when suddenly his door was ripped open and a man with piercing silver eyes stuck his head in, causing Nick to drop his phone. He was frozen, literally frozen with fright under the intensity of the man’s gaze. The older man’s lips parted with a sinister grin, an his voice shook Nick to his very soul

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

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chapter 13

~Sometimes the Only Way to Win, Is to Die~

Kevin remembered he couldn't breathe. His body was stuck in some inky blackness. He shifted about, trying to measure the space before him, stretching his arm out to determine his situation. But his body collided with an object that instantly rang deafeningly throughout the room. He had hit some kind of metal. His fingers, trembling from exhaustion, slowly crawled up this wall before him. After a moment, they detected strips of metal woven together. He was in some kind of cage.

The dank, musty smell of the room instantly filled his senses, and slowly his eyes began to open. When his mind finally registered, he cringed at the scene before him. He indeed was in a cage, or more like a kennel, used to keep large animals in. It reminded him of those crude cat cages at the zoo. The old, unfinished room surrounding him hinted he might be in the basement. The room was humid, perspiration dripping down Kevin's body like running water. He shifted about, restless and irritated by the heat.

Red, hot pain. His hands instantly grasped his head, feeling the sticky liquid dribbling down his body. Blood. He winced, the thought more nauseating than the pain. Instantly his memories were triggered back to the broken body of his younger brother.

“Joe…”

Kevin instantly grabbed the bars of his prison furiously, sending another loud crack bouncing off the nearby walls, and stressed his sight in an attempt to find his brother. The room was dark, except for a tiny shaft of light coming from a weak electrical source in the ceiling. Even then, the light flickered and died, then flickered again, buzzing loudly before dying out completely. The sudden stillness brought to light gradually the sound of very stressed and labored breathing. The dead bulb came to light again and Kevin saw just beyond the illumination the faint lines of a figure tied against the wall, arms outstretched, head resting oddly against his chest.

“Joe!” he cried, grabbing at the barred door of his cage and testing it.

The figure suddenly jumped, his head now angled toward Kevin.

“Kevin…” he heard Joe choke, chains suddenly clanking together as the boy tried in vain at his bonds. Joe was thrown back suddenly as he was hit with a fit of marring coughs, each one getting worse and worse. Kevin heard his brother choke, gurgling out something as Joe finally coughed up the offending spell. Kevin hoped to God it wasn’t blood. He could hear his brother wince and give a small cry before becoming silent again.

“Joe…” Kevin’s voice rang throughout the room. “Joe, you’ve got to hold on there buddy, alright?” Kevin heard no response. The light above suddenly got more intense and he could see his brother’s charred form faintly now. Kevin cringed as he noticed the only thing holding Joe on his feet were chains. “Where does it hurt?”

“I’m fine, Kevin…” Joe mumbled in his I can take on the world voice.

“Who did this to you?” Kevin inquired, knowing Joe would be the last to admit his pain.

Kevin noticed the way Joe clenched his fists together at the evident image of his tormentors. There was still fire in him, that resting anger Kevin knew was festering inside his torn body like hell. But the boy didn’t respond.

“Joe…please,” Kevin pleaded, knowing it was hard, but he needed answers. “Why are they doing this?”

He heard his brother inhale a very stressed, painful breath, muffling out a cry of sudden pain through clenched teeth.

“A cult,” Joe mumbled behind another offending sting. “Blood Atonement.” He paused a moment to collect his breath. “They’re out to kill whoever disagrees with their doctrine. Dad knew what they were---and split the cult in two, only leaving the most faithful followers…” Joe suddenly let out another agonizing fit of coughs, his breath now so raspy each gasp echoed through the room.

“Joe…I’m sorry…” Kevin choked out, becoming clouded with nausea at the image of his brother in such overwhelming pain.

“Don’t be,” Joe mumbled out. “I was glad to keep you safe…while it lasted.”

A tear began to crawl itself down Kevin’s face as he realized---all this, everything those bastards had done to his brother, every sting of pain Joe had to endure, was because of them. He would’ve willingly taken his life for his families sake.

“Why’re they still keeping you alive then?” Kevin finally asked, realizing they could’ve just killed him easily by now.

He saw Joe faintly shake his head, swaying a bit.

“Don’t worry about it Kev,” he said quietly, the tone in his voice silencing Kevin’s protest.

There was a blast and horrible screech from an old door being opened. Light suddenly filled the decrepit room. Kevin sat up straight and pressed his body as far away from the approaching figures as his cage would permit him. The small light flashing from a lantern drew nearer, and the footsteps became louder as their echo bounced off nearby walls. Then they stopped at the door of his cage. His breath was the only thing he could hear for a long moment, as the silence began to make him think he was dreaming. The orb of light suddenly moved. It hit a face and instantly Kevin jumped. It was a woman.

A shadowy character loomed up behind her, proving itself to be a guard of some sort. Kevin felt as if he couldn’t breathe. That *CENSORED* was the bastard who had inflicted so much hell on his brother? His little brother? Kevin’s heart pounded so furiously in his chest with burning rage, it hurt to take in air. The horrid screech of his cage door made him gasp as the man opened it and reached in. Kevin pressed his body against the bars of his prison, helplessly trying to evade these crazed psychopaths.

“Get away from me you bastard!” Kevin cried.

But the man simply grabbed him by the legs and wrenched him from his place. He was pulled to his feet by a fistful of his hair, sending a cry of pain vibrating through the room. Then he was made to stand there before that witch, with his chin up and chest heaving from revulsion. His labored breath couldn’t help admit his fear as the woman came closer, a nasty smile plastered on her face. She brought up a wicked hand, and Kevin instantly tensed as she grabbed his chin and prized his face in her hands.

“Kevin Jonas…” she said eyeing him squarely. “The unlikely hero, the bold attempt, and the failed escape. The futile endeavors of another Jonas. Come to rescue his brother--but in vain. The pain you must feel--standing here knowing you’ve failed, knowing you can’t save him.” She nodded her head toward Joe. Kevin bit his lip from lashing out a sting of curses. She saw his nerves begin to boil and laughed. Then she spread her arms and looked around the room. “Be sure to make yourself at home here…” She suddenly leaned forward and grabbed his face again. “Because this’ll probably be the last home you’ll ever have…”

“Take your hands off him, *CENSORED*!”

Kevin’s head swiveled around to Joe, astonished to hear the sudden power in his brother’s voice. Joe wasn’t one to break easily.

“Well…well…” Diana exclaimed, Kevin feeling as sudden rush of anxiety to kill the *CENSORED* as she turned menacingly toward the bound Jonas. “Look who’s trying to act all gallant now? What’re you gonna do, Joseph? Oh wait, I forgot…” she yanked on the chain binding him, smiling when she saw Joe wince. “…you can’t,” she laughed. Joe just glared. “Word of advice, darling…” she said in a lower, more heated tone. “I’d shut that mouth of yours. You know I don’t like that attitude.”

“Well suck it than!” Joe retorted back.

She simply smiled at him. Joe’s breath hitched in his throat suddenly as she moved closer, that seductive look in her eyes again. Even though his bonds tore at his muscles, his body screamed in pain, he moved back as far as the wall would permit him. He swore if this lady ever touched him again Joe would kill himself. She had already gone too far. She was a woman of double personalities. One minute she wanted his guts, the next she had this mad sexual attraction to him. What the hell? Her demented mind was a twisted circus.

"So is this the Jonas legacy?" she said smoothly. Joe became chilled, swallowing down the bitterness as she brushed a curl of his unruly hair from his eyes. "A breed of hard-headed masterminds?"

Joe smirked slyly. The act surprised Kevin.

"I'd rather think of myself as selectively obstinate," he answered, his famous smart-ass tongue breaking loose. But a sudden fit of coughs left him again in a crumpled heap at her mercy.

She smiled, instantly making Joe wish he’d not said anything.

“How cute,” she cooed. She turned her head slightly, eyeing Kevin’s reaction in her peripheral. Then when she knew he was watching intently Diana wrapped her arms around Joe’s shoulders, pressing up against him. Joe just stood there, his pain suddenly numbed as he realized what she was doing. She wanted Kevin to watch…everything. Joe looked up at her. The air between them became heavy as both their warm breaths mingled together in that small expanse.

“Don’t do this…” Joe whispered to her, seeing Kevin’s eyes widen suddenly.

“What’d you say we give Kevin a little show?” she smiled, her hands caressing his shoulders and chest. Joe winced as her palms pressed into his broken ribs and bruised body, passion in each touch. So many mixed emotions were flowing between them at that moment it felt as if the energy would clash together and burst. “Just you and me.”

“Have you gone out of your *CENSORED*ing mind?” Joe cried just above a whisper, his eyes never leaving hers, his body trembling uncontrollably.

She leaned forward and placed her head in the crook of his neck.

“Maybe,” she admitted. Then she smiled and brought her lips to his neck, letting them linger. Joe’s pulse rose as he felt her breath tickle his skin. “But at least if feels good.”

Joe’s eyes momentarily locked with Kevin’s, the older Jonas suddenly seeing the alarm. Just as Kevin lunged against the arms that bound him, Diana saw her moment and crashed herself against Joe, aggressively forcing on him another kiss.

Joe could just barely hear Kevin screaming his name. His mind reeling round like a compass, his body level with the wall. Her hands swam around him. Joe tried to ignore the way her body felt sticky and fervent against his. But no matter how hard he tried, she was always there. Tormenting him. She had wrongfully taken everything he’d saved, every part of him that was for that one person he would someday spend the rest of his life with. He felt his once clean heart was now plagued with dirt. And it was at that moment Joe vowed he’d never love again. How could he?

A sudden crash and Joe woke from his momentary lapse of reality. He felt Diana break from him suddenly and swivel around to the commotion. Then Joe saw it. Kevin fought like a madman, obviously lacking better judgment. He had Isaac on the floor, crashing him blow after agonizing blow. Each fist swung with more passion, Kevin’s antagonism instantly heating the room.

Joe’s vision blurred, his body screaming to just be done with everything and die.

“You are so *CENSORED*ed up!” he heard Kevin screaming. “How could you do this? How could you *CENSORED* with my little brother like that?!”

Joe steadied himself again, his vision finally clearing, and saw to his horror Kevin now on the floor, Diana’s heel in his neck as Isaac tied him, landing him a few punches as payback.


Then once they’d gotten the older Jonas under control, Diana backed away till her hands rested on her pocket. Kevin watched her, heaving and gasping for air. Then Diana smiled and admitted in her hands Joe’s alleged phone, raising it high so everyone could see.

Kevin became anxious as he felt the thug’s fingers increase their pressure on his shoulders. Something important was going to take place, and they didn’t want him escaping. He managed to swallow and steady his voice.

“What exactly is it you want from us?” Kevin growled, squirming under the man’s harsh grip.

Diana chuckled.

“Well for the moment, I want you to call your parents...and tell them to come here...now.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

chapter 14

~Fury Can Never Be Placed to the Account of Courage~

 

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