Hi all! This came quick, I know, but my dear friend Aph put me into a great mood by updating "A Tale of Two Boybands", so I'm sending this out early! As always, big thanks to the two kewlest archivers in the world, David and Dennis, and to my wonderful readers including Aph, Casey, Sophie, Aimee, Angel, Wen and Red.
DISCLAIMER: Ya know the drill - own nothing, imply nothing. Don't be here if you shouldn't or something.
WARNING: Contains dark content essential to the storyline. Don't like it, don't read it. 'Nuff said.
Ready? Okay...One last note - Stacia, if you're out there please email me, I'm getting very worried.
~NO PAINLESS WAY~ by DaraLynn Chapter 14
"So break me shake me hate me take me over When the madness stops then you will be alone..."
- "Break Me Shake Me", Savage Garden
(3:30 p.m.)
"Okay, so we know where Justin is. Why can't we go get him right now?"
Det. Larsen spoke calmly. "I understand your urgency, Mr. Timberlake. The warrant is being obtained now, and officers are being dispatched to watch the house. We don't know what kind of security this Elwood guy has, so we're going to go in tonight to be safe."
"Something wood," Joey murmured.
"What's that, Mr. Fatone?"
Joey looked at Lance. "'Something wood.' Elwood."
Det. Larsen nodded, staring at Lance with amazement.
"Yes. According to Korman, Elwood's house number is two twenty-nine. Also, there is a large topiary on the grounds as well - hedges clipped like animals. Animals that don't move."
He shook his head. "I don't understand it, kid, but you were right."
Lance didn't seem particularly thrilled. "What about Nick's drawing?" the deep voice inquired.
"You wouldn't think this could get any stranger, but...it was Elwood all right. Korman said the likeness is incredible."
J.C.'s face was a mask of restrained fury. "What else did he say? Why was he trying to take Lance too?"
It was the question on everyone's lips. Det. Murray glanced quickly at Lance, and pitched his voice low.
"I don't think we should get into that with the boy present, Mr. Chasez."
Diane clutched Lance protectively. "I'm his mother, Detective. I have a right to know."
She looked at her son with reluctant understanding. "And so does he."
Murray pushed his hair back frustratedly. //God, aren't these poor kids ever safe?// he wondered.
"Lance was intended as a..." Murray nealry choked on the words. "...as a reward for one of Elwood's security for the man's loyalty."
A collective shudder jolted every occupant of the room. Chris, in a rare display of anger, yanked off his hat and tore it in half. J.C.'s first instinct was to run to Lance, but the blond was being held tightly in his mother's trembling arms. Both were softly crying.
Chris glanced quickly at Randy, and the bodyguard nodded. "Jared Hawke."
Murray nodded.
J.C. was confused. "Our old security guard? Why..."
Randy and Det. Murray filled everyone in, telling the truth about why Jared had been fired and what Korman had said.
J.C. glared at Chris. "You knew. You knew about this and you didn't tell me or Diane!"
The oldest 'Nsyncer was tearful. "Josh, man, I wanted it taken care of without upsetting you two, and Lance. I'm so sorry, I should have said something."
The anger in Diane's face began to soften, and she smiled forgivingly at Chris. J.C. nodded with hesitant acceptance.
Det. Larsen broke in. "Korman says that most of the security and staff leave by eleven. We'll go in sometime around then."
Randall Timberlake nodded. "I'm going with you."
Larsen's voice was gentle. "I'm sorry, sir, but no."
Randall glared furiously. "Justin is my son, Detective! I can't sit here and do nothing-"
"You won't be doing nothing, any of you. You'll all be crying, screaming if you have to, getting all the anger and fear of this out of your systems. That way when we bring Justin back you'll be calmer and able to help him get over this. It's best, believe me, and it's very important."
Everyone seemed to accept this. Almost everyone.
J.C. stood up. "I'm coming with you."
Larsen sighed. "Look, Mr. Chasez, I understand, but-"
"Detective, you are not going in there without me. If Korman's right about why Justin was kidnapped, he's not going to let just anyone help him. I know Justin. He's not gonna let a stranger touch him. Please, he's most comfortable with me."
It was not a boast, simply the truth.
Larsen and Murray exchanged looks. "It will be very dangerous."
J.C. didn't care. "I'd risk anything for Justin."
Murray sighed. "Very well. Just you."
"No." Lance's voice rose up. "Me too."
Det. Larsen looked kindly at the young man. "Lance, you've done enough, believe me. Stay here."
The blond gently pulled away from his shocked mother, sitting up straight.
"No. You need me. If I try I'll be able to sense exactly where Justin is, and possibly where there's danger. You can't afford to not take that advantage."
Larsen looked expectantly at Diane. She in turn locked eyes with J.C. An unspoken promise passed between them, and she slowly, sadly nodded.
"Okay. Lance, J.C., we have to leave very soon. I'd also like to take along two of the bodyguards-"
The choices were obvious. Randy and Lonnie stood up, neither willing to take no for an answer.
"Okay. I have to call the station and then we'll get going." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (early evening)
//Soon, Josh. We'll be together again soon...I hope.//
Justin smiled at the large poster before him, kissed his fingers and touched the smooth paper.
//I hope Rick's okay. It's true what I told him - he's not a bad person.//
Justin didn't understand people's willingness to take such risks for him, he never had, but at the moment he was grateful for it. Hopeful too - he had no way of knowing that his red-haired savior was already a bullet-riddled body waiting to be disposed of.
//If only that sick fuck will stay away from me until the cops get here...//
No such luck. Elwood chose that very moment to make his entrance, Jared close behind him. Hope quickly replaced by panic, Justin began to back away. But quick as lightning, almost, Jared grabbed him from behind and held him still.
Elwood sauntered up to the struggling boy, smiling down at him. A white cloth closed tightly over Justin's mouth and nose, and he knew no more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian stared down at the paper before him. The words were his, in his own handwriting, but in the midst of his distraction they made no sense.
//Why should they? Nothing else does,// he thought glumly.
Nick sat down next to Brian as he pushed the page away.
"Hey Frick. That the song you've been working on?"
"Yeah. It's not really coming at the moment though."
Nick nodded. "You're too freaked out right now to think creatively. Just put it aside for a while."
"I will. I wanna have it ready for the next album."
Nick smiled. "It's really important to you, huh?"
Brian smiled thoughtfully. "Uh-huh. Mom has been so understanding and supportive since I came out...I really want to do this song for her. Guess I'm just worried about J.C."
Confusion filled Nick's mischievous blue eyes. "J.C.? Not Justin?"
"Oh, God yes, of course I'm worried about Justin! It's just, J.C. is on my mind right now."
Brian sat back against the soft couch cushions.
"I mean, just when he and Justin realized what they had, they get torn apart. That's worse than never having it at all. At least that way Josh wouldn't have known what he was missing. It hurts both ways, but..."
Nick looked down. "I'm sorry, Frick."
Brian sighed. "Nicky, I didn't mean anything by that. You can't help how you feel."
"I don't know how I feel. I've been in the spotlight and onstage since I was twelve. I've spent my most hormonally-charged years in a fishbowl. I don't even know for sure if I'm straight."
Brian had just taken a swallow of Coke. At Nick's last statement, he spit it out all over the rug in surprise.
Nick looked at him with amusement.
"How did you end up my best friend?" he teased. "You have a psychotic dog and a tendency to spit things out and despite all my suggestions, you get a white carpet. Take your jaw off the floor, Bri. I didn't say I'm gay; I said I'm not sure."
Brian finally started breathing again. "Um...it...er...it can be confusing."
Nick looked depressed. "Yeah."
Suddenly his face brightened. "I got an idea! That is...if it's okay with you."
"Whatever I can do to help." Brian smiled openly, and began to sip his Coke again.
"Kiss me."
Splat!
"Frick, for future reference, don't drink anything when I'm talking to you."
"Nicky, did you just ask me to kiss you?"
"Yeah. If I feel something, I'll know that I could be gay or bi. If not, I'll assume I'm straight, 'cause if I would ever attracted to a guy it'd be you."
Brian's thoughts raced. "Frack, are you sure?"
Nick smiled trustingly and closed his eyes.
Even Brian's inner voices were too shocked to speak as he carefully took Nick's fair face into his hands, gently lifting it. Brian leaned in slowly, and pressed his lips to the younger man's.
A sudden fire blazed inside Brian, a furnace he'd wanted to be lit for five years. He forced himself to go slow and stay calm, but felt a thousand choirs singing with praise in his heart as Nick began to respond to the kiss. They were choirs of angels, each with sea-blue eyes and a mischievous smile.
Brian gently slid his tongue into his best friend's awaiting mouth, exploring this always-forbidden place. Nick's tongue hesitantly met with the intruding organ and played against it. After a few moments the blond pulled back and stared at Brian, wide-eyed.
"Nicky? You okay?"
Nick nodded dazedly. "You're grinning like an idiot, Frick."
Brian blushed at the stated truth. "Yeah."
"So you still feel something for little ol' me?"
Brian put his hands over Nick's, and smiled lovingly.
"Nicky, I always will. Whatever happens."
Nick's heart lifted at this, but the teenager turned away.
"Frack?" Brian asked reluctantly. "Did you feel anything?"
"Um...er...not really."
"It's okay, Blondie. I didn't expect-"
"Bri!" Kevin's voice came from the kitchen. "Your mom's on the phone!"
Brian went quickly, trying to hide his disappointment.
Nick buried his face in his hands, his breathing heavy. One word rang guiltily in his troubled mind.
//Liar.// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justin came to slowly, almost reluctantly, as though he were somehow aware of what was to come. The first thought that blared in his groggy mind was that he was comletely naked, shivering even in the warmth of the candle-lit bedroom. Yes, candles, perhaps a hundred of them, throwing strange shadows on the walls, creating a spooky, rather than romantic, atmosphere.
The second was that he was tied to the bed, each limb stretched outward and secured to the frame with silken cords. In the dazed reality of waking, Justin struggled to no avail - the drug had weakened him, and even so at full strength he would not have escaped.
The third realization was the most horrifying, and it was enough to stop every thought in Justin's mind and cause them to shriek with terror. Colin Elwood stodd before him, also nude, wearing only a cold, hungry smile.
The man sat down next to his restrained captive, and ran a cool hand up and down the shaking body. His calm face looked grotesque in the shadows thrown across it.
"Justin, my little one, you're awake."
The hand continued. "Good."
The teenager tried to jerk away, impossible in this situation.
"Don't-"
"Don't what? Touch you?"
Both hands caressed Justin's face, his chest, his stomach, his sides.
"I'll touch you whenever, and however, I choose. Relax, baby. Relax and enjoy it."
"NOOOO!" Justin wailed, thrashing as much as he could.
"But I want you to enjoy this, baby. Can't you try? Hmm...what if I told you I'd hurt your friend Rick if you don't?"
Elwood grinned mockingly. "Oh, wait...I already killed him."
Justin froze, staring up with horror. "No. No no no no..."
Elwood's fingers brushed through the boy's gleaming curls.
"I had to, my angel. He wanted to take you away from me. Many tried to take the Grail. But only the Fisher King was worthy of it. You belong with me, Justin, I need you more than anyone does. Rick was simply a casualty of war. But the war can be over, I'm content while I have you. You heal me. Let yourself go, baby, yield to me..."
"NOOOO!"
Justin sobbed as the hands grew bolder, moving lower. He shed tears he didn't think he still had for the friend murdered for trying to follow his heart, and for the face of love on the left-hand wall, invisible in the room's darkness.
The warmth of Elwood's mouth enveloped Justin's penis, massaging it with hot wetness. Justin screamed with violation as the terrible, tingling sensations began to shoot through his limbs.
//HIDE!// his mind yelled. //Go where this won't hurt you!//
//I can't! The door is locked, I can't find the key! I can't go that deep!//
Justin gasped in short breaths as he shot fluid into his captor's mouth. Elwood eagerly drank the milky liquid, and moved to Justin's feet. Before the boy knew what was happening, his ankles were refastened to a higher place on each bedpost, and his lower body was lifted slightly off the mattress.
As the breeze touched Justin's most secret area, he realized what was coming, and shook his dizzy head furiously.
"No, please," he pleaded, "not that, don't, please..."
Elwood stroked the boy's petal-soft cheek before taking a small bottle off the nightstand, putting it back down a moment later.
"Don't worry, little one. I'm clean, guaranteed. I've never used second-hand goods. You think I'd risk getting you sick? You, my savior? Never."
A slick finger tentatively slid into the shaking young body. Justin screamed, more in fear than pain, though it did hurt.
"JOOOOOOSH!"
The finger suddenly pushed in harder. Tears burned Justin's flushed face as Elwood leaned over him, frowning angrily.
"Forget J.C.! You are mine! MINE!!"
Another finger joined the one already inside Justin, and the two wriggled around, loosening up the virgin opening. As Justin protested, he was silenced by Elwood's tongue forced into his mouth, hungrily kissing the teenager.
As the tanned assailant pulled back, he smiled gently, fingers still moving busily.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, my angel. But J.C. is not here. I am."
The fingers withdrew, and Justin sighed shakily with relief. Panic arose again, however, when he felt Elwood's lubricated manhood poised against him.
//HIDE!! Don't let yourself feel this!//
Justin sobbed pleas and protests, but all were met with a reassuring, paternal smile.
"Sssh, it's okay to be nervous, baby. I know it's your first time, so I'll try to be gentle."
Excruciating pressure began to fill the quivering young body, and pain began to stab through Justin like rushing needles. His thoughts frantic, the boy's mind began to sink lower, searching madly for the locked door, beating against it with all the power his consciousness could summon.
The intruding organ began to slowly move in and out, invading and withdrawing in a controlled rhythm.
"I love you," Elwood groaned, but Justin barely heard it as the portal to painlessness moved lower, taunting him to come down to it.
The pressure forcing into the teenager became stronger. In Justin's mind, he ran for the hiding place, chasing it desperately as it moved further out of his reach. Inside, Justin moved deeper, as Elwood plunged further into the shaking body.
Deeper.
//Run from this! Go deeper!//
The sweat-sleeked body bucked against Justin, still driving in and out as its climax approached.
Deeper.
//DEEPER!!//
Justin's conscious mind raced through the glowing door. Cushioned in a blanket of blissful numbness, the boy saw and felt all that happened as though it were miles away. Inside, Justin curled into a ball, whimpering for the loss of his innocence. Outside, Elwood shot liquid fire into the body which lay below him, no longer struggling.
Overcome with fatigue and passion, Elwood moved upward to look at the boy's face.
Dull blue orbs stared dumbly up at the shocked man, as if nothing at all were behind them.
~to be continued~ Dark, I know, but essential to the plot. Feedback (no flames) welcome to me at DaraLynn_writings@hotmail.com