After another grueling show, the five friends were still filled with energy. They had come back to the hotel and hung out for an hour or so, but now everyone was ready to separate for bed, they each went to their separate rooms. AJ was busy changing into comfortable clothes when someone knocked on the door, so Brian yelled “I got it!”
A room service cart was there, with no attendant in sight. Brian looked down curiously and saw there was a bottle and a tray with a note on it that read “You two relax, have a good evening. You’ve earned it – Kev”. Looking closer he saw that the bottle was cider, and under the tray was a cheese and fruit sampler platter. Brian wheeled them in with a big grin, kicking the door shut behind him. “Kev sent us over a treat, baby!”
“Did he?” AJ asked in surprise. He strolled out to the living area, a wide grin on his face. “Isn’t that just nice.”
“You sound so surprised.”
“Meh. What’d he give us?” Walking over, AJ snagged one of the strawberries and popped it into his mouth. “Oh, now that’s good.”
They both were smiling now, the mood in the room very easy going. It made them both smile when they saw that Kevin had sent sparkling cider instead of alcohol obviously out of respect for AJ. There was nothing to pop the bottle open with on the cart, so AJ took hold of it and grinned at Brian. “Let me show ya something, gorgeous one.” He teased.
Reaching over, he took hold of Brian’s belt buckle and hooked it under the edge of the bottle top. With an expert flick the cap went flying, and AJ managed to get the bottle over the glasses before it made a mess on the floor.
Unable to help himself, Brian laughed out loud. “Now that’s bad, Age.”
“Don’t be jealous, babe. I’ll teach it to ya.” AJ chuckled as he handed a glass to Brian. They clinked their glasses together and took the first drink. Settling down on the couch, they munched on the cheese and fruit, content with one another’s company.
“So you’ll teach me to pop bottle tops, eh? Fancy needing that much in life?” Brian asked him as he took a piece of cheese. AJ just grinned. “Came in handy here, didn’t it?”
“Well, I can’t deny that one.”
“That’s right.”
Something about the evening had them both in a silly mood. Brian speared grapes on the end of his fingernails, short as they were, and wiggled them at AJ, making him laugh. In retaliation, AJ watched Brian eat the grapes and took the time to hook two grapes on his front teeth. He grinned at Brian, who immediately started laughing, then coughing as he choked on his cheese.
He grabbed his glass of cider and drank it down in one gulp, managing to wash the cheese down. Amused with himself, AJ sat back and sipped off his own cider. The room took a little spin, making him blink his eyes in confusion. What? He shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs, but they were still there. He heard a thump and looked over to where Brian had been. His lover was now on the floor. AJ tried to focus, to go to him, but his vision doubled, then tripled. “Brian?”
God, what was going on? He looked around as the room spun. The last thought he had before he hit the ground was the cider; someone had drugged the cider.
~~~~~~~~
A sharp jolt ran through AJ’s body, making his muscles jump. Instantly he was awake, the last dregs of the drugs effect leaving his system. His body convulsed and he screamed against a gag as jolts of electricity burned into him. Then the pain was gone and his body sagged down, supported by the chain that held his hands above his head. Gasping for air, AJ opened his eyes, but he was still met with darkness. There was blindfold over his eyes to match the gag stuffed and tied over his mouth. He didn’t have to wonder where he was, or what had happened. He knew. Dave had them.
As if to attest to that, the blindfold was yanked off of his face, and the first thing that AJ saw when his eyes adjusted were Dave’s grinning face. In that expression AJ could see the insanity there. “Hello, AJ.”
If his mouth had been free he would have spit at him. But as it was, the only thing he could do was glare at him and try to jerk towards him. His hands rattled in their cuffs, and the cuffs around his ankles rattled at well. With the way he was hoisted, hands suspended over his head, his feet barely touched the floor. The only way he could support his weight on his feet was to stand practically on tiptoe.
Dave laughed at AJ’s attempt to get him. “Temper, temper.” He ticked, shaking his head. Idly he ran something through the air in front of AJ’s chest. With a smile, he let it connect with AJ’s skin. Pain exploded where the two prongs touched him. He jerked against his restraints and screamed into the gag again until the pain stopped. When Dave pulled it away, AJ sagged against his bounds, panting.
“Did you like that, AJ?” Dave asked politely. He had a huge smile on his face. “Too bad your lover isn’t awake yet to watch this.”
Following Dave’s gaze, AJ saw Brian lying hogtied on the ground. He jerked against his bonds again, looking back to Dave, cursing as loudly as he could. The only sounds that came out were grunts, but the smile on Dave’s face said that he knew or at least guessed what AJ was saying. The thing in his hand pressed against AJ’s skin again, staying there as he spoke. “Now, that’s not very nice, Alexander James. I don’t think I want you talking to me like that.” He pulled the instrument back again.
Sweat ran down AJ’s face, but he hadn’t screamed this time. Dave stepped up to him so that they were almost nose to nose. “Try to keep a civil tongue in your mouth.” He warned as he reached his hands up and moved the cloth gag out of AJ’s mouth.
AJ had realized what Dave was doing, so he was prepared when the gag came down. The instant it was out of his mouth, he spit in Dave’s face. “Fuck you.” He growled.
One of Dave’s hands came up, wiping the blob of spit off his face. He held that hand in front of him, staring at it for a minute before casually backhanding AJ across the face. The force of his blow sent AJ swinging. Dave grabbed hold of AJ’s chin, forcing him to look at him. “It’s going to be a pleasure, this time I have with you. I’d planned on waiting for Brian to wake up, so that he could get the full importance of my message, but now I think I’ll start a little early.” He shoved AJ’s face away from him, then punched him in the stomach.
It took everything AJ had to hold his screams inside his throat. Fist after fist hit him, until he was having a hard time keeping his breath. Whatever tool it was that Dave had, he held up in front of AJ’s face. “Do you know what this is?”
“Go to hell.” AJ swore through a swollen mouth.
Dave continued on as if he hadn’t spoken. “It’s a cattle prod. Now, I’ve modified it a little. But all a cattle prod does is induce small amounts of pain. It won’t kill you. But, put it in the right area.” He pressed it against AJ’s armpit, enjoying as AJ’s arms convulsed and he had to grit his teeth to keep the scream from breaking free. “See. Just the right spot, and it can make you wish it would kill you.”
“Whatever you want, you won’t get it.” AJ swore.
“Oh, AJ. I already have what I want. I have you two here with me. But, I think I’ll save the rest of this program for when lover boy there wakes up.” Dave moved away, laying the tool on a nearby table. For the first time AJ saw the table, and the other things that were sitting on it. His eyes grew wide in his face. Noticing that, Dave grinned. “You like my collection, AJ? Trust me, you’ll learn what they’re for soon enough.”
Strolling away, Dave blew a kiss at them. He headed up a set of stairs, shutting the light off before he left the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Bri, baby, come on. Wake up. Bri, you gotta wake up baby.” AJ’s voice came through the darkness, pulling Brian back in to himself. He groaned lightly, shifting his body to try and ease the aches. Then he froze. He remembered how, on the bus crash, everything had been so slow to come back to him. It wasn’t that way this time. The instant his eyes were open, everything was right there. He remembered it all. Everything up until he drank that cider. Then, his body had gone woozy, and he must have passed out. It didn’t take much for him to figure out that Dave had drugged the cider. Very gently he tested his body. Nothing was broken, but his hand and feet were tied together behind him.
“Alex?” he whispered, looking around the room. It was so dark he couldn’t see. Faint light was across the room, just a single strip of it. Most likely the bottom of a door. He turned his head toward AJ’s voice when he heard “Over here. Oh thank God, you’re awake.”
“Where are we?” Brian tried to shift on the floor, but he was trussed too tight to be able to move. The ground he was lying on was hard and cold, like cement.
“A basement somewhere. Look, baby, I need you to listen to me.” AJ’s voice grew firm. Whatever he wanted to say, it was serious. Brian just wished he could see him, or touch him. “I’m listening.”
“No matter what he does, don’t you dare give him what he wants, do you hear me? No matter what!”
“What’re you talking about, Alex?”
Something cracked in AJ’s voice. “Don’t you give in to him.” He coughed, and something in that sound had Brian wondering what had happened already. His blood chilled when he heard a metallic rattle that went along with AJ’s cough.
“Please, Brian. I need to know you can do it. I need to know that you won’t give in to him. Promise me you won’t let him win.”
Fear tickled down Brian’s spine. “What did he do to you?”
A sound upstairs caught their attention. Brian’s eyes drew up toward the ceiling. Neither of them breathed as they listened. Footsteps echoed over their heads. Someone was coming. AJ’s voice grew quieter, but more urgent. “Promise me, Bri! Please!”
“Alex…”
“Promise me! Don’t you give him what he wants, you hear me? No matter what!”
The door rattled, and the sound of the locks being unlocked echoed through the room. Brian closed his eyes. “I promise.” He whispered, just as the door started to open. He heard AJ sigh in the darkness. Then, light filled the room, illuminating Brian’s worst nightmare.