Chapter 3 - Next Man's Turn
In the evening, the steel door once again opened. If the man in the trenchcoat had not been carrying Brian’s unconscious body in his arms, the other four BSB would have jumped him.
“You murderer,” Nick spat out.
“I assure you he’s alive and will survive quite nicely,” the man responded smoothly, laying Brian down. “We even treated his wounds. Have a good evening.” He managed to get out of the room before anyone could try to strangle him.
Howie and AJ knelt beside their friend.
“B-Rok, can you hear me?” Howie called gently.
AJ just shook his head. “C’mon, let’s move him away from the door.”
Howie nodded and helped AJ carry Brian to another side of the room. Everyone looked up as the steel door opened a crack. Two coils of rope were thrown in, then the door slammed and locked again.
“Whenever they do that, it’s a sign of things to come,” Howie said.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Kevin questioned.
Nick slowly approached them.
“You all right?” AJ asked, looking up at him.
“Is he?” Nick replied.
“We don’t know, Nick,” Howie replied patiently. “We’ll have to wait until he wakes up.”
AJ looked at the bandages running the length of Brian’s forearms. “I don’t think they beat him up.”
“Maybe they’re creative,” Kevin said dryly. “Maybe they’ll do something different to each of us.”
Brian groaned and opened his eyes.
“Brian, are you all right?” Howie asked as the three of them leaned over him.
“I . . . I think so . . .” His eyes closed again. “Then again, maybe not.” He shivered.
AJ put a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, take it easy, B-Rok. It’s over, all right?”
Brian took a deep breath and pulled himself together. He knew he couldn’t freak out in front of Nick.
“We heard you earlier,” Nick whispered, not sure if he should bring it up. “What were they doing to you?”
Brian opened his eyes again, keeping his gaze on the ceiling. He held up one arm painfully. “They burned me. One extra crispy Littrell.”
Nick choked.
“What?!” AJ shouted.
Kevin closed his eyes.
“Why?!” Howie cried.
“Don’t you get it, Howie?!” AJ yelled, standing up. “There is no point! It’s all senseless violence! There’s no reason behind it! They just want to torture us!” There was silence as his tirade echoed a little against the walls.
“Are you all right?” Howie asked sensibly.
Brian winced. “Not really. The pain’s pretty bad, but . . . they’re starting to itch. I . . . I don’t know if I’m . . . gonna be able to help it.”
Howie’s jaw dropped slightly as his eyes fell on the rope. They knew, he realized. They planned this from the start. “Uh, try, B-Rok. Try not to scratch. It won’t heal otherwise.”
Brian nodded. His hands curled into fists. Nick took off his sweater and made a pillow for Brian’s head.
Brian smiled weakly. “Thanks, Frack.” He bit his lip, then asked, “What time is it?”
AJ looked at his watch. “It’s about five-thirty.”
“Did they give you any food?” Howie asked.
“A little,” Brian answered. “But I think I threw most of it back up.”
“Dinner should be here soon,” Kevin pointed out.
Brian winced again. “At least they gave me some painkillers, but . . .” He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the fiery itch traveling up and down his burnt skin.
“Did they just do your arms?” Howie asked.
Brian shook his head. “My legs, too. You just can’t see it under my jeans.” He looked up at Howie, then at Nick. He shut his eyes, trying to think of anything besides the urge to scratch.
He lost control after a few seconds and reached out for the bandages.
Howie and AJ each pinned down one of his wrists before he could start to scratch.
“Brian, don’t!” Nick shouted. “You’ll hurt yourself!”
“I can’t help it!” the Southerner finally replied. “I’ve got to! Let go of me!”
“B-Rok, you can’t,” Howie said, trying to keep him calm. “You’ve just got to fight it.”
“I can’t, okay?!” Brian shouted back, still trying to get loose.
Nick backed away from the scene. I want them to let him go, but . . . he’ll never heal if he scratches at the wounds . . .
Kevin closed his eyes, trying to ignore the noise.
Brian momentarily calmed, taking deep breaths. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You’ll just have to . . . force me not to. But whatever happens, whatever I say . . . I don’t mean it. Promise you won’t hold it against me.”
“We won’t,” Howie assured him, close to tears. He locked eyes with AJ.
“Hold him,” AJ told him.
Howie nodded and pinned down both of Brian’s wrists. AJ slowly got up and grabbed the rope, cursing his captors the whole way. He looked around the room and saw a couple metal rings attached to the wall. He hesitated.
“We have to, Bone,” Howie said softly. “We can’t just hold him down. He might hurt us or himself.”
AJ nodded, brushing away a few tears. He bent down and lifted Brian’s head up to remove Nick’s sweater. Howie helped Brian to sit up and AJ helped him into the shirt.
Brian bit his lip, trying to control himself. He could taste blood in his mouth almost immediately. His hand flashed out of its own volition, reaching for his leg. AJ grabbed both his wrists and held them firmly together in front of his chest. Howie took the rope and tied his hands together. AJ took the remaining tail of the rope and pulled Brian’s arms over his head and attached the rope to the metal ring in the wall. Howie took the second rope and tied his friend’s ankles together.
Brian -- unable to hold out any longer -- started screaming.
Kevin and Nick both broke down crying at the sound.
He’s right there, Kevin thought. And I can’t help him. THOSE BASTARDS!
Howie and AJ each backed away. Each Boy tried to deal with the stress in their own way. None of them were succeeding admirably.
Brian tried to rub his forearms against the concrete wall, but the sweater prevented any substantial relief. He felt like he was going out of his mind. He couldn’t think of anything but the pain and the itch.
“Howie,” Nick called across the room.
Howie looked up and went over to his friend, thankful for the distraction. “What’s up?”
“Stop me,” Nick said in a low voice.
“What?” Howie asked, confused.
“Stop me,” Nick repeated, looking at Brian. “I want to help him.”
Howie sat beside his friend and put a restraining arm around his shoulders. “The best way to help him is to let him be. I know it’s not easy.”
Nick pulled against him a little, but then stopped again.
AJ went over to Kevin and hugged him fiercely, trying to calm him down.
As Brian began to cry, Nick tried to break away from Howie again.
“Easy, Nicky, easy,” Howie soothed, holding onto him.
Brian looked up and met Nick’s eyes. “Frack, help me, please,” he gasped.
Nick nearly succeeded in getting up. Howie held onto his waist, using his weight to pull his bandmate to the floor.
“LET GO!” Nick shouted. “We’re torturing him! You just tied up your friend!”
“Nick, stop it!” AJ shouted from across the room. “You’re only making things worse! Just shut up!”
“Leave him be, Nick,” Howie said into his ear. “We’ve got to! It’s the only way to help him!”
Nick took a deep breath, trying to hold himself down. I’ve got to think straight, he thought. I’ve got to. I can’t let my feelings . . . get out of control.
Howie relaxed his grip a bit as the blond calmed down a little.
If Kevin had had much strength, he would have been in the same state as Nick. AJ held onto him, trying to mentally block out everything his senses were perceiving.
Brian literally screamed himself hoarse. He still continued to struggle against his bonds until exhaustion finally overcame him. He fell asleep just as the dumbwaiter lowered dinner.
None of the Boys were hungry.
~~~
Aside from Brian, none of the Boys slept through the night. As soon as they were sure Brian wouldn’t wake, AJ and Howie untied him. The four of them dreaded what the morning would bring.
They all stirred groggily as the door opened.
Suddenly, AJ got up. “I’ll go next,” he volunteered, staring down the man in black. “I can take whatever you dish out.”
The man smiled. “I think not.” His fist landed solidly in AJ’s stomach.
“AJ!” Howie cried. He knelt beside him as AJ collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.
The man grabbed Howie’s collar and hauled him to his feet, shoving him out the door. As usual, the steel door slammed and locked.
Nick knelt beside AJ. “You okay?”
“Why . . . why didn’t they . . . take me?” AJ managed.
“I don’t know, Bone,” he answered, helping AJ to his feet. He helped him over to the wall and then let him sit against it.
“Is there any ice left?” AJ asked, even though he knew there wasn’t.
Nick looked over at the medical supplies and shook his head.
“They pack a helluva punch, don’t they?” Kevin remarked dryly.
“Yeah,” AJ groaned.
Nick timidly approached Brian, who was awake and staring at the ceiling.
“Hey, Frick,” Nick began softly.
“Is there anything to eat?” Brian asked.
“Yeah, we saved you some food from last night,” Nick answered, going to get the food. I can handle this, he told himself. AJ’s out, Howie’s gone, and Kevin’s hurt. I have to take care of him. He gulped. And the rest of them.
“Sorry we can’t heat it up,” Nick joked, helping his friend sit up.
Brian smiled weakly. “I’ll survive.”
“Y-You need some help?” Nick asked as casually as he could.
“I think so,” Brian replied quietly. “I feel pretty dizzy.”
Nick helped him to scoot back and lean against the wall to steady himself. Then he took the plate. His hands shook badly as he helped his best friend to eat.
Kevin looked up at them and silently hid his tears. AJ held his back, praying for Howie’s safety. What if one of us doesn’t come back?
“Thanks,” Brian whispered once he’d finished eating.
“How do you feel?” Nick asked, trying not to cry himself.
“It just hurts,” Brian answered. “No itch, thank God.” His cheeks colored slightly. “I’m sorry about --”
“Don’t,” Nick told him sternly. “You couldn’t help it last night.”
Brian closed his eyes, spilling the tears he’d tried to contain. “I wish I hadn’t put you through that.”
“I lived,” Nick told him, pulling him into a careful hug. He started to cry himself. “We’ll get through this.”
The two held one another for a while, trying to offer each other comfort.
~~~
The day was fairly uneventful. Nick -- and AJ, once he recovered -- saw to the other two. Luckily, Brian’s itching did not return.
In the evening, Howie returned. He managed to walk in by himself. Once the door closed, he collapsed and vomited all over the floor. Despite the mess, AJ was immediately beside him, soothing him.
“Just calm down, Dee, just take it easy. You’ll be all right.”
Nick looked away, breathing fast. I’m not gonna be sick, I’m not gonna be sick . . .
“What did those bastards do to you?” AJ asked when Howie had calmed.
“I’m not sure,” Howie managed, his face slick with sweat. “Kept . . . injectin’ me with . . . drugs or something . . .”
“Fuck,” AJ muttered. He helped Howie to his feet and let him lie down near Brian and Kevin. “Does it hurt?”
“My head’s killing me,” Howie answered.
“Are you gonna be sick again?” AJ asked.
“I don’t . . . think so,” Howie managed to reply.
AJ glanced up at Nick, who was looking very green. “Nick, you look after him. I’ll take care of . . . that.”
Nick nodded, his eyes expressing his gratitude.
~~~
“Why are they doing this?” Howie asked for the hundredth time. “They’ve got nothing to gain from this. If they wanted ransom, they have to keep us one piece. If they wanted to kill us, they would’ve done it by now . . .”
“Shh,” AJ told him, holding his friend’s head in his lap and pressing a cold towel to his forehead. “We’re not gonna figure it out tonight. Get some sleep, man.”
“His fever’s still up?” Kevin asked, sitting in the corner.
AJ nodded. “Whatever they gave him hasn’t worn off yet.”
Nick and Brian were already asleep next to each other.
Nick began to toss and turn in his sleep. Brian stirred beside him.
“Bri . . .” Nick whispered. “D-don’t . . . leave him alone . . .”
Brian sat up. “Nicky?”
“Don’t leave me . . .” The blonde’s cries grew louder. “Stop it! Don’t . . . Brian!”
Brian leaned over and shook Nick’s shoulder. “Nick. Nicky, wake up. It’s just a dream. Wake up!”
Nick’s eyes shot open as he sat up.
“Shh, Nick, it’s all right,” Brian said, rubbing his back soothingly. “It was a dream.”
Nick looked at his friend beside him, checking to see that he was still one piece.
“I’m all right,” Brian murmured.
“For now,” Nick gasped out just as tears tracked down his face. “But how long are we gonna stay that way?”
Brian hugged him, having no real words of comfort to give. Nick was right. Any of them could be injured fatally or killed. He didn’t want to lie to his friend. “God’s gonna take care of us. Try to believe that, Nicky.”
“Bri, I don’t think even you believe that right now,” Nick sobbed against his friend’s shoulder.
“I do,” Brian replied. “Believing it when things are good is easy. Believing it when things are bad is hard.”
“I think you need to do the believing for both of us,” Nick said.
Brian smiled. “All right.” He closed his eyes and murmured a soft prayer that only he and Nick could hear.
Kevin bowed his head and said his own silent prayer.
AJ watched Howie carefully as he slowly drifted into sleep. He looked over at Nick and Brian and made up his mind that he would make his captors take him tomorrow -- not Nick.
~~~