Justice

Disclaimer: I don't own High Mountain Rangers or Jesse Hawkes, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst, Violence, GRAPHIC TORTURE SCENES

Rating: FRT

Justice
Chapter 2


It had been three hours since he had watched the older two Hawkes walk away. Certain that it was safe now, Larry crept towards the warehouse. Having learned many useful things in prison, he made short work of picking the lock. Hefting the bag he carried, Larry quietly entered the building, closing and locking the door behind him. A smile grew on his face as he took in the open interior of the warehouse, he could imagine how the boy's screams would echo in the cavernous room.

Slipping off his shoes, he crept through the building, silently cataloging the location of those things which might be of use to him. Satisfied that he had made a thorough investigation of the main floor, he quietly made his way up to the loft. He stared with hatred at the boy sleeping in the bed across the room. He had no right to be here, happy and with his family when Larry had been left alone. If the brat had just kept his nose out of their business, none of this would have happened, Larry thought. He ignored the tiny voice whispering that it was his brother who was to blame for everything.

Drawing a revolver from his waistband, he moved to the bed. Kneeling beside it, he brought the gun up, pressing it against the boy's temple and pulling back the hammer.

Cody wasn't sure what had woke him as he opened his eyes. The moment he did, he became aware of the other person in the room and the feel of cold metal against his skin. "Who are you? What do you want?" he nervously asked.

"I'm hurt," Larry sighed. "I would think you would remember a man whose life you destroyed," he snarled. Pulling the gun away, though he kept it aimed at the boy, he glared at the young man who now turned his head to face him.

Cody's eyes widened in shock, though he was able to keep the shock from his voice, "I didn't destroy your life. You and your brother did that all by yourselves." Cody didn't have time to regret the words as a large fist slammed into his cheek.

"Don't you talk about my brother," Larry snapped. Reaching into the bag he carried, he drew out a pair of handcuffs, "Turn over and put your hands behind you."

Cody considered refusing, but only for a second, one look into the barrel of the gun convinced him it would be a bad idea. Without a word he rolled onto his stomach and put his hands behind him. It was no surprise to feel the metal cuffs biting into his wrists a few seconds later.

Larry grabbed the boy's arm, flipping him roughly onto his back. The yelp from the brat when he landed on his cuffed wrists brought a smile of satisfaction to his face. Quickly, before the boy had the chance to move, he climbed onto the bed, straddling the boy and pinning him in place. Tucking the revolver into the waistband of his jeans, he reached down for his bag. "Ever seen one of these boy?"

Cody shook his head. He couldn't imagine what the contraption was for, but he had a feeling he wouldn't like it.

Larry held it up, stretching it out for the boy to get a better look at it. "It's called a ball gag, you're going to be wearing it for the next few hours at least. Now open wide," he smiled; it wasn't a smile that would make a person feel comfortable. The smile grew more malicious as Cody shook his head, refusing to open his mouth. "I was hoping you'd say that," he gleefully informed his prisoner. One punch to the side was all it took; Cody opened his mouth in a cry of pain and Larry shoved the ball home. Working quickly he secured the straps behind the boy's head, insuring the gag would remain in place until he removed it.

"It's a shame I have to gag you," there was real regret in his voice. "I'd much rather listen to you screaming, but what would the neighbors say?" Climbing off the bed, he jerked the boy to his feet. "Downstairs kid and don't try anything stupid," he ordered. Picking up his bag, he followed his prisoner down the stairs to the main floor.

Cody let out a grunt as he's suddenly shoved onto the couch. Shooting a glare at Larry, he watches with trepidation while the older man pulls out a long length of rope, tossing it over one of the beams high overhead.

"Bet you're wondering what I'm doing," Larry grinned. "Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."

If he could have talked, Cody might have told him that was what worried him. Then again, maybe he wouldn't, he quickly reconsidered.

Finished with his task, Larry placed a footstool under the rope and stepped over to the couch. Jerking the boy to his feet, he dragged him to the footstool. He wasn't surprised when the boy's struggles became more intense the closer they moved to their destination. He also wasn't in the mood to put up with it, one swift blow to the abdomen, just below the diaphragm was enough to slow his struggles, allowing Larry to hoist him onto the footstool. Pulling the rope lower, he quickly slipped the noose over the boy's head.

Stepping away, he tugged on the other end of the rope, pulling the noose tight. He grinned as the boy's struggles instantly ceased. Tying the other end of the rope off, he moved closer, and checked the noose, making sure it was positioned correctly as well as tied correctly. He had, over the last few days of his imprisonment spoken to an inmate who had killed several people through the use of a noose. He had been surprised to learn that there were different types of hangman's knots. The only one that interested him though, was the one which would guarantee the victim a slow death by strangulation rather than a quick one with the snap of his neck. Satisfied that the knot was tied right, he reached for the key to the cuffs. "I'm going to release your hands now boy," he told him. "I know what you're thinking. You think you'll just slip that noose free and get away; I'm not that stupid boy. I've made sure you'll be too busy to slip the noose off," he grinned. As he released the cuffs, he used his foot to kick the stool away, leaving the boy hanging from the noose and struggling for breath. "Better grab that rope boy and haul yourself up, it's your only chance."

Cody's eyes bulged and his heart hammered with terror as the rope quickly cut off his air supply. He didn't need Larry's instruction, even if he could have heard it past the roaring in his ears. Instinct drove him now and it was instinct that had his hands scrabbling for purchase on the rope. Grabbing hold, he hoisted himself upward, relieving the pressure on his throat. Hanging there, he was reminded of the adage hanging on for dear life, it didn't seem so trite now as it had when he'd first heard it.

"You get to decide when and if you die boy," Larry whispered from behind him. He laughed, the shudders from the boy in front of him bringing him pleasure the like of which he hadn't felt for some time. Picking up a knife, he slipped it under the edge of Cody's shirt, slicing it open. Grabbing both sides, he ripped the fabric apart, exposing the boy's naked back. "Here's how it works boy," he began, reaching once more into the bag. "I will be giving you thirty lashes with a whip, if you can maintain your hold on the rope until I'm done you live; let go and you die. Simple isn't it? Of course you may yet live even if you let go, depending on how near the end I am when you lose your grip."

Cody tightened his grip on the rope just as the first strike landed across his back, bringing with it a fiery sting of pain. By the time the sixth strike landed he was screaming with pain, but thanks to the gag he wore all that was heard was a muffled groan. Please God help me! Send my dad home, please...I don't want to die, he silently prayed. His only answer was the feel of the whip landing on his pain filled back.

"Praying about now, aren't you?"

Cody nodded before he had time to think or wonder how Larry knew he was praying.

"He won't be sending you any help. God knows you're guilty of judging others and deserve to be punished. Judge not the Bible says, but you judged didn't you? You and your father, you decided that my brother was wrong to kill his wife's lover and because of that decision my whole family is gone. Now you're here in San Francisco chasing people down and forcing them back to jail, once more sitting in judgement. It isn't your place and because you cost me so much, God has given me the pleasure of carrying out your punishment."

Cody shook his head. The man was crazy, even if God thought he'd done something wrong he wouldn't punish him like this.

Larry didn't really believe what he was saying, it was just part of the game he was playing with the boy. "Shake your head all you want, it won't change the facts." Without another word, he continued the whipping. "Getting tired yet boy? All you have to do is let go and all of your pain stops," he taunted.

Cody shifted his grip, doing his best to keep holding the rope in spite of his sweat slickened hands and trembling arms. He wasn't sure how many more strikes he had to endure, he thought the count was up to around twenty-five. He couldn't tell anymore, the pain and the terror had driven him to the end of his rope. He choked back a laugh at the unintentional pun; it wasn't really funny anyway. Suddenly he felt his hands slipping. No! Please God no! Help me! Somebody, anybody, please. His silent pleas went unheard as the rope stung his hands as it slipped between them. Desperately he scrabbled for the rope. He had to get a better grip on it, he didn't want to die like this. Panic and terror increased the sweat, making it harder to keep a hold of the rope and creating a vicious circle. He heard Rassy's laughter as his hands finally slipped from the rope, leaving him dangling and gasping for air. The sting of the whip as it continued to lash his back stole what little air he managed to take in. His last thoughts were of the love he held for his family. As he slipped into the welcoming darkness the last thing he heard was the sound of a madman's laugh.

Larry pulled on the other end of the rope, releasing the tension and dropping the boy to the floor. Stepping over to him, he dropped to his knees beside him, checking anxiously for a pulse. The heavy sigh echoed in the large room. For a minute there, he'd thought his calculations had been off. Slipping the noose from the boy's neck, he cuffed the boy's wrists in front of him this time and quickly undid the hangman's knot. Pulling the end of the rope under the chain which connected the handcuffs he brought it up to meet the rope a few feet above the boy's head and tied a new knot. Stepping away from his victim, he moved back to the other end of the rope and pulled. Soon he had drawn the boy up until his arms were suspended above him and his toes just barely touched the floor. Securing the rope, he next grabbed some of the climbing rope that Hawkes left behind. Using two pieces of this rope, he tied one to each ankle and secured the boy's ankles to hooks on opposite sides of the room, leaving him spread eagled and helpless.

Stepping back, he took a moment to admire his handiwork. At least two days, that was how long he had in which to punish the boy before him. The ultimate punishment would have to wait until his family returned. It couldn't happen without them. Walking away from Cody, he picked up a bucket and poured an entire box of salt into the container before filling it with enough water to result in a strong mixture. He grinned maliciously as he picked up the bucket of salt water and threw it over the boy's back.

Cody came to consciousness with a scream as fire raced over his back. Glancing wildly around the room, he searched for the man who had been tormenting him.

“Looking for me?” Larry grinned, moving into Cody's line of sight. He enjoyed seeing the look of confusion on the boy's face. “What's the matter boy? Did you think you were dead? Bet you were hoping you were dead, that this was all over. No?”

Cody shook his head, he could never hope for that. As he became more alert, he noticed the change in his position. Looking up and then to the sides, he quickly took in the way he'd been tied this time. Taking as deep a breath as the ball gag would allow, he did his best to stop the fear induced shaking of his body. It was no use, each time he thought he had it under control, Rassy would step closer, renewing, with only his proximity, the terror that Cody couldn't rid himself of.

“Time for a new game,” Larry smiled. “I wonder if you'll survive this one,” he idly wondered. “This time I'll use a knife,” he informed his prisoner as he let his eyes roam over the boy's body. “I think I'll need more skin for this game,” he mumbled. The fear he could feel coming in waves from the boy was so thick he could almost taste it and he wanted more! He could have simply used his hands, the sweat pants the boy wore would have been easy enough to pull off. That, however, wouldn't have caused the level of fear the knife could induce. Pleasure surged through him like a living thing as he cut the pants from the boy's body, each whimper of fear from his victim increasing the pleasure he was feeling. Not wasting a moment, he quickly cut away the remains of the boy's shirt next.

“Let me explain the rules of this game boy. It's really very simple, I will make a small cut somewhere on your body, if you make any noise the next one will be a little deeper or a little longer. The only way to stop the cutting is to pass out, that will end the game. The question is, will you survive long enough for the next game?”

Cody braced himself as the knife moved closer, just barely managing to stifle any sound as the blade made a tiny cut on his chest.

“Very good, that means the next cut will be no deeper or longer,” Larry praised him. After ten cuts and no sound, he was beginning to grow bored. “This is too easy,” he complained. “I know what we need to make it challenging, a blindfold.”

No! Not a blindfold, I'll never manage to keep quiet if I can't see the knife coming. As Larry came towards him with the black cloth he'd taken from his bag, Cody shook his head violently. He had to keep that blindfold off, if he didn't he was sure the cuts would soon grow deeper. It did no good, with his hands and feet secured as they were it was impossible to avoid the blindfold for long.

“Much better, now lets try this again.” Retrieving his knife, he stepped forward. His eyes lit up with malicious pleasure as the boy's shaking increased. Laying the flat of the blade against Cody's chest, he laughed loudly as the boy jumped away, as far as his ropes would allow, from the contact. Before Cody could recover, he made another small cut. This time the silence was broken by a small cry of pain. “Aw and you were doing so well,” he softly mocked. “You know what this means of course.”

Cody sobbed from pain and terror. He wasn't sure how long he had been hanging here, it seemed like hours. Since the blindfold had been wrapped around his head, covering his eyes, the cuts had grown worse. He had tried to keep count, but after only a few more cuts on top of the initial ten he realized it was a hopeless task. The pain and the fear conspired to rob him of the ability to think, to reason. The last cut had felt like it went clear to the bone, though he had no way of knowing if this were true. The blindfold did more than take away his ability to brace himself for the cuts. It was as if without his sight he had lost all of his defenses, leaving him with nothing but pain, fear and hopelessness as his constant companions.

“It's dark now boy, all of the other warehouses around here are empty of workers. There will be nobody to hear your screams,” Larry said as he reached for the straps on the ball gag.

Cody cried out as his jaws closed bringing about an instant cramping of the muscles in his face. He couldn't believe how much it hurt, the pain sharper than any cramp he'd ever felt, almost like a knife stabbing into his cheeks. The thought had barely entered his mind when the knife Rassy held plunged into his side. He screamed at the unexpected pain.

Larry grinned, enjoying the sound of the boy's screams. He'd been right, they echoed off the walls of the warehouse in a very satisfying way. It wasn't enough. He wanted more, he would have more. Twisting the knife, he laughed with joy as his victim screamed even louder than before. With each scream he twisted the knife again, stopping only when the boy finally passed out.


“What's on your mind Dad?” Matt asked as they set up camp on their first night in the mountains.

Jesse sighed, “I don't think we should have left your brother alone.”

It was Matt's turn to sigh, “We've been over this Dad. Cody is perfectly capable of looking after himself, isn't that what you used to tell me when you lived up on the mountain?”

“Yeah it is, but things are different now.”

“Just where we live, Cody is still a smart, capable young man. But if you tell him I said that, I'll deny it.”

Jesse chuckled, “You're right. I guess I'm just worrying for nothing.”

“Of course you are,” Matt smiled.

Far away, a madman leaned in closer. Inhaling deeply, he reveled in the smell of his victim's blood. He knew he should close the wounds before the boy bled to death. The only stove in the place was a portable device that looked a lot like a microwave. It wasn't though, it was actually an oven with two burners on top, it was also electric and therefore was useless to him. He would just have to build a fire, that was all there was to it. Gathering a few things, he built a small fire in the center of the room. Looking over his shoulder at his victim, he smiled in anticipation as he shoved the knife blade into the flames. Heating it until the steel began to change color, he was already hearing the screams to come. Pulling the knife from the flames, he walked over to where his victim hung, bleeding from several cuts and pulled the blindfold down as he pressed the knife against the cut on the boy's side.

A scream tore from his throat as pain, even more intense than the cuts, dragged him from the safety of unconsciousness. He twisted and turned in his bonds, struggling to escape the pain and the smell of burning flesh.

“Have to stop the bleeding boy, don't want you dying on me...yet.” Smiling, Larry again brought the hot metal down over one of the deeper cuts. The sound of Cody's screams brought a larger smile. “Well boy, looks like that's all of the deep cuts. Now these real little cuts, they've already stopped bleeding so I guess we can leave them alone. I'm gonna have to think about these in between cuts though. They're still bleeding, not much though. So should I stop the bleeding by cauterizing or should I use another, non painful method?”

“Please don't burn me, please I can't stand any more,” Cody begged.

“You can't?” Larry asked, sounding surprised. “I thought you were a brave boy, aren't you? Sure ya are, you can stand a little more pain can't you boy?”

“No, please don't,” he sobbed.

“You telling me you're not brave?”

“Yes,” Cody replied, his face coloring with shame.

“Yes what?” Larry snarled, bringing the still hot knife closer.

“Yes I'm telling you I'm not brave, please don't do it.”

“You're pathetic boy,” Larry sneered. “Bet your daddy would be ashamed of ya, sobbing like a little girl. You think he'd be ashamed of you little girl?” Larry taunted.

Cody opened his mouth to deny it, to protest the degrading knickname, only to be confronted with the sight of the hot knife moving towards his skin. “Yes, he'd be ashamed of me,” he softly agreed.

“You want me to stop the bleeding without pain? Is that what my little girl wants?”

Cody nodded.

“Say it, tell me what my little girl wants,” Larry coldly ordered.

“I want you to stop the bleeding without pain, please.”

“Who wants me to stop the bleeding?”

Cody looked away, he couldn't say it. His gasp of pain was followed quickly by a scream as the knife again burned one of the cuts. “Your little girl wants you to stop the bleeding without pain, please don't burn me again,” he shamefully begged.

“There now, that wasn't so hard was it?”

“No,” Cody agreed, sure that was what the man wanted.

Larry tossed the knife to the floor. This was going to be fun, the boy might very well be more traumatized by this than anything else he'd yet done. “Did you know I can smell your fear little girl? It's in your sweat and in your blood. The smell of your fear is intoxicating, did you know that little girl? No? Well it is, I can almost taste it. I wonder what it tastes like?” Leaning closer, he began to lick at the small cuts that still bled. Drawing back, he grinned through blood-stained lips at his victim. “Your fear is delicious little girl, would you like to taste it?”

“No, no, don't,” Cody quickly replied, shaking his head violently.

“Shall I continue tasting your fear little girl, or should I go back to burning? You must decide.”

Cody shuddered, how could he make the choice. Pain or perversion, both were horrifying in their own way. Though he hated the thought, he knew that the pain would only weaken him more. “Don't burn me, please.”

“So you would like me to continue tasting your fear, licking your body?”

He could only nod, dropping his eyes to the floor.

“Ask me, nicely little girl and I want to know who wants it, do you understand?”

“Yes,” Cody whispered. Swallowing audibly, he licked suddenly dry lips. Taking a deep breath, he forced the words from his throat. “Please, your little girl wants you to keep tasting her fear and licking her body.” With a sob, Cody closed his eyes, unable to watch as his tormentor bent forward, running his tongue over the still bleeding cuts. With each stroke of the man's tongue, his sobs grew as he silently prayed for help that wasn't coming.


TBC

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