Affliction

Chapter 14.

Sara looked at her watch. They’d been driving for just over an hour. The pick up turned down a long dirt road, tree’s all around, finally stopping at a large gate. A high brick wall an either side, hiding what was inside from anyone who would try to see. Josh pulled a key fob from his pocket and opened the gate. The car pulled up the steep driveway and the gate closed behind him. Sara looked back and knew she wasn’t getting out of that easily.
The car came to a halt outside a large semi run down house. Sara eyed it closely; it looked like an old farm house.

“Out you get Sara.”

Sara looked at Josh and complied quickly.

Josh nodded towards the front door, grinning. “In you go.”

Sara slowly walked up the steps to the door and pushed it open. Butterflies grew in her stomach as to what hell probably awaited her. The instant she stepped inside she came face to face with her worst nightmare.

Sara just couldn’t help herself. “You bitch!” She screamed swinging her arm back, intent on hitting Kate as hard as she possibly could, but Josh quickly grabbed her causing Sara to yelp in pain as he roughly twisted her arm behind her back. Damn he was strong. He cupped Sara’s chin harshly in one hand, tilting her head back against him.

Kate grinned broadly.

“Now now Sara…” Josh began as Sara squirmed in his grip. “That’s not very nice now is it?” He gave her arm a sharp twist.

“Aghhhh!” Sara cried, tears of pain welling in her eyes.

“Nice to see you too Sara.” Kate chuckled. “I see being pregnant doesn’t make you any less feisty.”

Sara stilled, looking her assailant deep in the eyes. The same horror she saw two years ago swirled within them.

“So, how’s the husband? Still a stud in the sack?”

Sara cringed but held her tongue. “Where is Michael?”

Kate smiled. “Such a lovely boy you have there Sara. You are bringing him up well. He has such a pleasant temperament.”

“Where…is…he?” Sara spat through gritted teeth.

“Let her go Josh. I’m sure she’s going to behave herself, unless she wants to meet an early bullet. Right Sara?”

Sara pulled her arm free from Josh’s grip, rubbing it hard in a futile attempt to regain some feeling.

“Sara…….” Kate was still waiting for an answer.

“Yes.”

Kate stepped aside and gestured an arm to the stairs. “Up the stairs, after you.”

Sara slowly walked forward and climbed the stairs. Kate and Josh right behind her. She reached the top and stopped. A long corridor to the left and right. Several rooms encased within.

“To your right.” Kate instructed and Sara did as asked.
Walking past numerous rooms Sara listened for any signs of Michael.

“Stop.”

Sara halted immediately looking back at her tormentors.

Kate walked towards her and took a key out of her pocket, unlocking a door to Sara’s left.

“All yours.” Kate pushed the door open.

Sara swallowed hard and her heart raced not knowing what she was going to find.

“We’ll have a good talk later Sara, make the most of your time…while you can.”

Kate’s evil grin sent a shiver down Sara’s spine. She took a deep breath and entered the room. The door closed behind her and the sound of the door being locked echoed around the room. It was dark, the curtains drawn, silent.
Her eyes scanned the room frantically and came across the bed and a small fragile figure lying on top of it.

She felt glued to the spot as she reached to flick on the light. The room illuminated with a click of the switch and Sara slowly approached the bed. The figure began to stir and lazily sat up.
Sara gasped on a sob holding her hand over her mouth as her son’s delicate blue eyes met hers.

“Mommy?” Came the sleepy voice.

“Yes baby.” Sara approached him as his bearings returned. A smile vanquished his face as his mother reached for him.

“Mommy!” His elated cry came as he leapt into Sara’s arms.

She pulled him from the bed, holding on as tightly as she could. She never wanted to let go.
She pulled back, looking at his face, softly stroking his cheek while checking him over.

“Baby are you okay?” She chocked.

“K.”

Sara patted his messy hair back into place.

“Miss you mommy.”

“I know baby, I missed you too, I’m here now.”

“Daddy?”

Sara tried a fake smile. “No sweetie, but soon. I promise you’ll see Daddy real soon alright?”

Michael nodded. “Home?”

“I hope so baby.” Sara sighed. “I hope so.”

She gently sat Michael back on the bed. “Stay there baby okay?”

Michael nodded as Sara walked to the window, pulling back the curtains. The moonlight beamed into the room.

“No…” Sara whispered, seeing the window laced with metal bars. She frantically pulled on them but they wouldn’t budge.
There was no way they were getting out this way. Frustrated she walked over to the door and listened. It was silent. She looked at the lock. With all her scientific skills she knew it wouldn’t be hard to pick. She just needed something to pick it with. She walked over to the closet, opening it she looked inside. It was empty apart from a few metal hangers. Perfect. A glint of hope sparkled through Sara’s eyes as she grabbed one from the rail. She headed back to the door.

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Grissom held his face in his hands as Brass drove them back to the lab. Sara’s car was being towed behind them heading for processing, just in case there was anything that could help them. Grissom doubted it.

“Are you okay?” Brass asked knowing Grissom was struggling.

Grissom tilted his head back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was getting a migraine and a bad one.

“Can you stop by my place; I need to get some pills.”

Brass sighed a sympathetic breath. “Sure.”

“What the hell am I going to do Jim? Why did I let this happen?”

“Don’t blame yourself Gil; it’s not your fault.”

“Yeah sure, not my fault….” Grissom mumbled.

Brass pulled up outside the Grissom household and Grissom rushed inside, heading straight for his medication in the bathroom cabinet. He took two pills and swallowed quickly, washing them down with a glass of water. He caught his reflection in the mirror. He was just a shadow of the man he was four days ago. Fours days ago he was the happiest man alive. Now, he was in hell. He had to find them. He walked into the bedroom to leave and the picture on the dresser caught his eye. He picked it up. Sara, him and Michael on Michael’s first birthday. He fought back the tears. He would find them…

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Sara quickly worked on the lock. After several minutes of precise hooking there was a click and the lock released. Smiling she looked at Michael.

“Stay there for a second okay?”

“K.”

Slowly and carefully Sara opened the door. Poking her head out she scanned the corridor. It was dark with no signs of life, perfect chance to get the hell out of there.

She quickly walked to Michael and held out her arms.
“Come on sweetheart, time to go.”

Michael smiled as Sara pulled him into her arms and carried him to the door.

“Hold on tight baby, don’t let go.”

Michael snuggled into her chest and held with all he could.

Sara creped down the corridor and reached the stairs. She peered over the balcony. Downstairs was in darkness too. She slowly walked down the stairs, constantly looking around. Sara saw a small light coming under a door in the far corner of a sparsely fitted living room, probably the kitchen. She lightly stepped towards the front door and turned the handle.
It was locked. A frantic struggle ensued as Sara tried desperately to pull open the door.

“Come on….”

Kate and Josh were chatting in the kitchen when an alarm on the wall went off. Unknown to Sara the front door was alarmed and she had set off the sensor.

Josh sprang to his feet and burst through the kitchen door as Kate flicked on the lights.
Sara spun around to see Josh charging towards them. The colour drained from her face, fast.

“Oh god…” She gasped holding Michael as tightly as she could, starting back towards the stairs.

Josh caught up to Sara by the third step and grabbed her ankle as she climbed. She tripped releasing Michael but he landed quite comfortably a few steps above where Sara had fallen. Sara frantically tried to kick Josh off but his grip held firm. She looked up at Michael, confusion in his eyes.

“Michael run!”

Michael just looked at his mother, even more confused now.

“Please baby run! Run and hide, for Mommy, please!” Sara battled valiantly, kicking Josh with all she had to keep him away from Michael.

Michael got to his feet and trotted up the stairs.

“That’s it baby…hide and seek. Don’t come out until Mommy calls you baby…agh…get the hell…off me…”

Michael was afraid, he knew his mother was in distress, but he always did as he was told.

“Go baby! Hide.” Sara repeated again still struggling, watching as Michael disappeared along the corridor.

Josh overpowered Sara and grabbed her by the hair. He slammed her head forward and it hit a wooden step with a loud crack. Her struggling ceased and her head spun. An instant bump appeared, slightly above her right eye. Josh grabbed her by the shoulders; pulling her roughly down the stairs he pinned her hard to the floor. His knee strong and firm in her back. As Sara squirmed Josh pulled her arms tightly behind her back, immobilizing her. She stilled dizzily.

“Well, well. It appears I underestimated you lock picking skills Sara.” Kate appeared behind Josh. Kate looked around to see no signs of Michael.
“And I see we have a runaway.”

Sara tried to struggle again but quickly stopped as Josh pushed his knee further into her back. She was now finding it hard to breath.

Up the stairs Michael hid in a small cabinet in the corridor.

“Call you son Sara, get him back here.” Kate demanded.

Sara stayed silent.

“Now Sara!”

“No!” Sara managed to gasp.

Kate smirked. “Call him or you will be punished. Then I’ll go find him myself and I won’t be as nice as I have been. Call him!”

“Noooo! I will not let you hurt my son…”

Kate sighed and nodded to Josh. He roughly grabbed one of Sara’s hands.

“Call him…”

Sara didn’t respond.

“Do it.”

With that, there was a loud snap as Josh harshly broke Sara’s index finger.

Sara screamed in pain as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Michael heard her cries and opened the cupboard.

“Call him.” Kate requested again.

“Oh god…stop…pleeeease…stop this.”

“Then call him Sara.”

“Nnnnooooo….”

Kate nodded at Josh again, another snap and another finger broken.

Sara’s screams echoed throughout the house.

“Eight more chances Sara, then I go find him myself.”

“Mommy?”

Kate grinned as Sara looked up to see Michael shakily coming down the stairs. Sara began struggling again.

“Let her up Josh.”

Josh released his grip from Sara and stood back. Sara quickly got to her feet and scrambled up the stairs, holding her injured hand to her chest. She met Michael half way and pulled him close with her good hand.

“Mommy k?”

Sara sniffed hard, wiping away her tears.

“Cwying Mommy?”

“It’s okay baby, Mommy’s okay.” She winced, lying as the pain in her hand intensified.

Michael looked down the stairs to see Kate and Josh approaching. He knew these people had hurt his mom and he felt afraid. “Mommy…..” He shakily pointed towards them.

“Oh god…” Sara mumbled quickly picking Michael up with her good arm, holding him tightly too her. His arms clung tightly around her neck as she attempted to back up the stairs.