BRIAN

I sat on the couch, the rustic surroundings engulfing me in the sweet memories of the last time I was here with Zacky, painting Reggie's beautiful, porcelain skin with bruises, blood, and other bodily fluids. The memory itself was enough to bring a smile to my lips, and I let out a contented sigh, sucking in air sharply when I felt a shudder next to me. I opened my eyes, but only just so, and rolled them towards the small, auburn-haired girl that hunched in on herself, her sobbing no longer audible behind her folded arms.

I could barely see the darkening bruise that graced the side of her face, trailing from her hairline down around her left eye and just to the top of her cheekbone, and it took all that I had not to lift a hand and run my fingers over it, longing to feel the warmth of the blemish and relive the memory.

I stood there, hidden by the shadows of the trees, the window fluttering my hair gently as I watched her through the gap in the privacy fence planks. She looked so smug, so...untouched. I longed to get my hands around her pretty throat and squeeze until her face shifted through the various pigments of strangulation, to see her eyes water in fear and from the pressure of asphyxiation. I longed to run my fingers through her bobbing blonde curls as I rammed my dick so far down her throat that she'd feel the pain for days. I longed to chain her to that bed, much like I had done to her beautiful best friend, and toy with her until she begged me for death.

I took a long drag off of my Marlboro and watched her scan the yard, the look of uneasiness evident on her pretty face. She knew someone was watching her, that clever girl. I wondered if she realized that everything would come to this. That she would become her own brilliant creation. That she would become the heroine of her fiction, the martyr for her creativity, the victim of her passion.

I smirked to myself as I watched her walk inside, and I stamped out the cigarette butt that I tossed on the ground, pulling my phone out of my pocket and making my way back to my car. Zacky had told me to meet him outside of the mall as soon as I could get there, and to make sure I parked near AJ's parking spot. He knew she had been lying about her knowledge of Lily Ann's whereabouts, and I just confirmed his suspicions. I glanced at myself in my rear view mirror, adjusting it so that I could look into my own eyes.

Ever since that fateful night, feeling Reggie's lithe form struggle beneath me, I had begun to feel a certain sense of peace whenever I thought about it. Unfortunately, much like an addictive drug, I felt the frequent pang to do it again, regardless of the victim, regardless of the nature. I just needed to put my hands on someone, and while I desired Lily Ann because of a streak of vengeance, I realized in that instant that AJ's auburn tresses would most likely allow me to relive that night with Reggie. I sighed contentedly, feeling my erection pushing painfully against my jeans, begging to be freed.

Glancing around, I unzipped my jeans and pushed them down a little, pulling my throbbing member through the hole in the front of my boxers and staring hungrily down at it, imagining forcing Lily Ann to take the length down her slender throat, her tears spilling onto my thighs and her choking and gagging filling the car. I moaned to myself as I pumped myself furiously, my thoughts switching to Reggie and her plump, perfect ass as I slapped it until the porcelain skin was pink, forcing myself into her dripping snatch mercilessly while I drank in her screams.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the leather head rest, my lips parted and my breath quickening as I increased my pace, stroking myself as fast as I could. My mind flashed to a scene of Zacky holding Lily Ann by the hair, her neck bent at a painful angle, and whispering into her ear as he forced her to watch me violate every possible opening on Reggie's broken, battered body. I felt myself spill into my hand and heard the audible grunt that escaped my lips from picturing the terror and hopelessness in her beautiful blue eyes as I ran my hands suggestively over Reggie's bloody breasts.

My eyes fluttered open and I took a moment to allow my ragged breathing to return to normal before cleaning myself off and tying up the tissues in a spare plastic convenience store bag, tossing it into the back floorboard to be disposed of later. I heard my phone ringing and glanced down, seeing that Larry was trying to call again. I rolled my eyes and threw my car into drive, silencing the ringer and blaring Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" through my sound system.

It didn't take long to get to the mall, and as I pulled into one of the back employee parking spots, I noticed Zacky standing to the side of his BMW, his attention on his phone. I strolled up to him, adjusting my aviators and pulling my beanie down so that I would attract too much attention. "Hey man, what's up?" I asked, lighting up a cigarette and leaning against the barrier post near his back door.

He looked up, his eyes weary and distracted, and gestured to his phone. "Larry. He's been trying to call you all day. He's bringing in a PR agent to try and fix things in the eyes of the public and the courts so that we can try and go on tour soon before your trial." His tone was agitated, and I could tell that Larry was not only becoming an inconvenience today, but he was throwing a wrench in whatever brilliant plan Zacky had come up with for the Aussie.

I shrugged, taking a long drag and exhaling the smoke almost as quickly. "So? We'll play nice with whatever they throw our way and shake 'em off once they figure out that it was just some big misunderstanding. No big deal. Now, what's going on here?" I gestured to the mall and he smiled, his eyes instantly brightening and his phone disappearing into his pocket.

"So glad you asked, my good man," he winked and I chuckled, shaking my head. "We're snatching AJ and taking her out to Big Bear." He said, matter-of-factly. I arched a brow. "You're not worried about what Matt's going to do when he realizes we kidnapped his girlfriend?" I watched him expectantly, begging for his answer.

He looked at me, and the smug set of his jaw said everything I needed to know. He didn't give a shit about Matt finding out, but he was certain he'd pull off this heist without Matt ever finding out. None of the guys ever went up to Big Bear unless it was cold or a seasonal event, and at the moment, it was neither. The cabin was laying dormant, just waiting to be used, as were the rest of the cabins in the vicinity. Just like with Reggie, we would get in and out unnoticed, for as long as we would need.

We waited in his car, smoking cigarettes and going over the plan every so often to make sure we were both on board with the job. At 8:45, long after the sun had set and the sky had been painted in prophetic shades of blood red and darkening into the very same purplish shade of a deep bruise. Zacky tapped me on the arm and pointed through the windshield at the petite figure that carried a few garbage bags out of the employee entrance. I smirked and waiting until she had gained some distance between herself and the building before slipped out of the car and sneaking up behind her.

Just as she turned on her heel to walk away from the dumpsters, I socked her in the face, that familiar, pleasurable tingle spreading through my body as I watched her face go slack and her eyes roll back into her head as she collapsed into me, the entire sequence of actions happening so fast that she didn't even manage to utter a sound.

"Hey baby, did you miss me?" I looked up to see Zacky walking into the room, AJ's phone pressed to his ear and a triumphant smile plastered on his face. I knew Lily Ann was on the other line, because Matt had been blowing up the phone since 9:30 and Zacky had refused to answer the phone. I watched as he settled himself onto the ottoman in front of AJ, his hand stretching out to caress the black leggings that covered her legs.

She shrieked, attempting to recoil, but I reached out and secured her upper body at the same time as Zacky's hand wrapped around her ankle and yanked, forcing her body to splay out on the couch between both of our grasps. I bit my lip, forcing myself to remain calm as I imagined everything I could do to her, and locked eyes with Zacky.

"Come on, Lily, don't be like that! I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk to AJ. I mean, you did call her phone, after all." He paused, then grinned maniacally and pulled the phone away from his ear. "AJ, sweetheart, Lily Ann is on the phone for you," he cooed, holding the phone out to her.

Her eyes widened in fear and she looked at the phone uncertainly, like she was afraid it would strike her if she touched it. He motioned to the phone and raised his eyebrows, and just as she reached out to take it, his face twisted and he stood up, backhanding her hard enough that blood splattered onto the front of my white v-neck and dribbled down her chin. She wailed, her hands flying up to cover her mouth, but I clutched her wrists in my hand, my eyes locked on her plump, bloody lips.

Suddenly, I couldn't hear Zacky's smooth voice anymore as he mocked and taunted Lily Ann's screeching voice on the other end of the line. I didn't feel the cool leather fabric of the couch beneath us, or even the quivering fear rolling off of AJ's body in visible waves. I lowered my head, my hands tightening as I felt her attempt to pull away or push me back, and I pressed my lips to her, running my tongue gently over hers to taste the sweet, coppery blood.

I forcefully entered her mouth as she whimpered and pushed at me, and I shifted my body so that I could hover over her and pin her down more securely on the couch. Suddenly, a sharp pain filled my mouth and I snatched back from her, my fingers gently pressing against my throbbing tongue. "You fucking bit me!" I shouted, my eyes wide and crazed. Her expression was a mixture of defiance and terror as she attempted to roll off of the couch, successfully hitting the floor but only managing to scramble a couple of feet. "COME BACK HERE, YOU FUCKING BITCH!" I roared, before my boot made contact with the back of her head, instantly causing her body to crumple against the floor.

Zacky slid into the room and looked between AJ's unconscious body on the floor and myself as I stood looming over her and breathing hard, a small trickle of blood dripping out of the corner of my mouth from my damaged tongue. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before pulling out his pack of cigarettes. "Damn it, man."

LILY ANN

"If you fucking touch her, I'll gut you, you fucking sack of shit," I growled into the phone, excusing myself from the alarmed gazes of Matt, Jimmy, and Cole. Matt made a valiant effort to follow me into the kitchen, but I help my hand up at him and gave him a pleading look, which apparently gained the desired effect because he forfeited pursuit and dropped himself down onto his chaise lounge.

"Come on, Lily, don't be like that! I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk to AJ. I mean, you did call her phone, after all." I sneered to no one in particular as I let myself through the French doors out onto Matt's patio. "Put her on the god damn phone," I muttered, lighting up a cigarette. There was no use in talking more shit until I at least made sure that AJ was still alive.

I nearly choked on my cigarette smoke as I heard a loud smacking sound and a strangled sob from the other end of the line, and I unconsciously crushed my burning cigarette in my hand, snapping it in half and dropping it. "No, Lily Ann, I don't fucking think so. Now, baby, why haven't you been answering my calls?" I felt the wave of revulsion as I heard the pout in his voice, taunting me with his sick fucking games.

"I know what the fuck you've been doing to me, you bastard, and I know what you both did to Reggie. Don't you fucking dare touch her again, or so help me-" "So help you what, Lily? What can you possibly say to finish that sentence in an effective manner?" He cooed, cutting me off and causing my blood to boil furiously. I paced back and forth, trading curse words for his taunts. "If you want her, fine. I'll give her to you. But you have to come alone. If I know that you've told Matt or any of the others who took her, I'll kill her before you can get here. And trust me baby," he dropped his voice to a barely audible whisper, his seductive tone crawling up my spine and clenching deep parts of me against my will, "I'll have plenty of time to get creative."

I heard screaming in the background, following by a very clear roar. "COME BACK HERE, YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Suddenly, the line clicked and heard the droning buzz of the dial tone. I dropped my hand, staring at the screen for a fraction of a second before a text message blinked, relaying an address from AJ's phone. I frowned at it, but quickly shoved my phone in my pocket before I heard the small creak from the French doors behind me.

"Lily Ann, what the fuck is going on?" Matt asked, his strained voice and blotched face showing his inner struggle as he tried not to yell at me. He knew this wasn't my fault, but I could understand his concern and wouldn't take it personally. "I have to go get her," I whispered, staring at him. He arched a brow, and I watched the large artery jump in his neck. "Who was that on the phone?" He folded his arms over his large chest and stared me down.

"I don't know, Matt, they didn't tell me a name. All I know is that it was a man and he told me to come alone." He shook his head, gesturing wildly with his hands. "ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?! You can't go alone!" He shouted, drawing the attention of Cole and Jimmy. I begged Matt with my eyes, stepping up to him and taking his large hands in mine and trying to calm him down. "They threatened to kill her, Matt. They know you and about your relationship with her. They said if I came with anyone, they'd kill her." I felt the tears threatening to fall, the sudden moisture stinging my dry eyes.

He stared at me defeated, and flinched when Jimmy laid a hand on his shoulder. "Matt, Zacky's on the phone for you. He sounds worried. I told him about AJ, and he said he had seen her earlier today at the mall and she seemed a little frantic then, too." My eyes shot to Jimmy's concerned expression, my blood running cold. Oh, that mother fucker was good, I'd have to give him that. Playing both sides like he was. But didn't he realized that this double edged sword was bound to eventually cut his fucking heart out?

I watched Matt slink back into the house, cradling the phone to his ear and trying to hide his tears as he begged his best friend to help him find the woman he loved. It almost made me sick, actually, knowing that Zacky and Brian were behind this and I had to play by their rules or risk getting one of my best friends killed. I glanced down at my phone and accepted an incoming call from the hospital, exchanging a few words with the nurse on the other line and hanging up. I glanced at the address on my phone one more time, reckoning that the trip itself would take a few hours at least, and who knows how long I would be there.

I looked up at Cole and Jimmy and smiled softly, but I knew it didn't reach my eyes. It couldn't. "Reggie's getting released from the hospital tomorrow. Do you think you guys can pick her up? Jimmy, you can sign the release forms since you're listed as her brother." They nodded and I excused myself, slipping through Matt's house and out the front door without being noticed or stopped. I was in my car and driving down the road, the address plugged into my GPS before I had reached the end of the street, before I noticed Matt calling my phone.

I pressed ignore and continued driving, my mind set on one thing. I was going to kill those fuckers if I could.

Notes

So, my ideas are bringing me to a huge, dramatic, violent scene that's going to get bloody and ugly fast. Zacky and Brian kind of stole the show from me without me even realizing it until it was too late! :)

My time frame since the beginning might get altered, from the original six months, to a shorter time since I have a lot of ideas. Plus, we'll have a new addition to the cast soon, considering Larry needs the guys to follow a PR agent's advice to straighten their shit up.

I hope you're all ready for a wild ride! As always, comment, rate, subscribe, and share my loves!

<3