Chapter 6 Away from the crowd stood two women, their faces carefully blank. The older woman had dark hair and a pretty face, her normally kind expression well hidden. Her daughter was beautiful with shoulder length light blond hair. She was chewing her lip as they watched Justin's beating. Britney swallowed hard to keep from vomiting at the spectacle in front of her. Once Fist had picked Justin up, she had asked desperately, "Can we leave, Mother?" Her mother turned, realizing how distressing the scene was to her daughter who was about the same age as the two young men. "Of course," she said. As they stepped out into the cool night air, they took deep breaths as if to cleanse the evil from their souls. "Mother, why...." Britney started but her mother laid a finger to her lips and the young woman lapsed into silence. They drove home not speaking, both lost in their own thoughts. The older woman replayed the evening in her head and her heart broke thinking of the pain the two had suffered and why. She knew that was Britney's question. She had no answer. Actually she had an answer but none that was acceptable. Lou, the leader in the town, had an almost fanatical hatred of gays and whenever the local motel netted two they were beaten within an inch of their lives and sent on their way. It was obvious to Lynn Pearson that he got some perverse pleasure out of the torture under the guise of *punishing* the men. She sighed. Britney was lost in her own thoughts. When Justin had begged for *one*  person to help them, she wanted to be that person. But she didn't stand up.  Her mother had held her arm, warning in a whisper, "This horrible small town is difficult enough to survive in without making us pariahs like those boys." Lance and Justin. She thought she had heard someone call them by those names. Justin must have been so pretty before they had gotten to him. Now he was one big bruise or bite mark. Lance didn't look like they had done much to him but his suffering over Justin's plight was almost as hard to see. She chewed her lip, guilt that they just stood there gnawing at her. Finally, they were safe behind their own door and could speak freely. "Come, Brit, let's have a cup of tea. We need to talk." Britney nodded and busied herself with preparing the tea. When they faced one another over their cups, Britney blurted out, "Why did we go tonight? That was horrible!" "This town is so small. People would have noticed if we weren't there. Then they would have asked why. Then they would wonder and finally we would be outcasts. Honey, this job isn't much but I need to keep it. Most of the time Pleasant Valley can be pleasant. This doesn't happen that often." Britney felt her anger rise, "That often?  It should never happen, but it happened tonight. It happened to two guys who love each other and had the misfortune to spend the night in this godforsaken place." Lynn sighed, "You're right. What can I say?  I feel terrible, just sitting there, seeing Lou hurt that pretty one so badly." Britney sighed. She felt so helpless. There was nothing either of them could do and the thought of facing that nightmare at dawn made her sick. "Do we have to go tomorrow?" "We'll stay as far back as we can, sweetheart, but we can't not go. Then they'll be gone." "I don't understand why Lou and his friends do this. Why do they seem so angry? Why does it matter to them?" Britney questioned. Lou and company had done this several times over the three years since they had moved here. Each time there was blood and beatings and pain and most of the townspeople seemed to relish it. When she had seen Billy go after that boy Justin when he was on the floor, she didn't recognize him. The sweet, polite boy who took her to the movies and out for pizza had transformed into a hate-filled Mr. Hyde. If Lou hadn't stopped them she thought they might actually have *killed* Justin. She shuddered as the scene replayed in memory. Her mother couldn't explain Lou's behavior. She had her ideas but she couldn't talk about things like that with her daughter. Instead she simply answered, "I don't know, honey, I just don't know." Britney got up and cleared the table. "I gotta get to bed, Mom, if we have to be up and out before dawn." They said their goodnights but when Britney got between the sheets, sleep eluded her and all she could think of was what was happening to those two boys right now. Once inside the room, Lance had been shoved from behind and Justin unloaded roughly, his head hitting the concrete floor with a loud thud. Then the door slammed leaving them alone again. Lance knelt down and lifted Justin's head into his lap, fearing the worst. Stroking Justin's cheek, he surveyed the new bruises on his face, ribs and arms. Dear God, what was wrong with these people?  How could anyone hurt this boy? Lance sat, tears running down his face as Justin moved restlessly, slowly regaining consciousness. Justin moaned softly, "Lance?" "I'm here, baby," he sighed as he felt Justin's body shake and the hitched sobs begin. He wanted to rock the younger man but there were no places that wouldn't hurt so he simply touched him as gently as possible. Even that evoked a groan from Justin but when he tried to pull away, Justin brought his bound hands up and held Lance tight. "Untie it, Lance." Lance picked at the knots, hesitating when he saw Justin wince as the ropes dug further into his skin. Finally, they came loose and  Lance took his wrists, kissing the marks with sweet butterfly kisses until Justin sighed and pulled himself loose. "Can we lie down? I'm scared about tomorrow morning." Lance glanced at his watch. It was already 3:30AM and the leader had said dawn so it wouldn't be long now. "I know. I'm scared too," he said, chewing on his lip thoughtfully, "Maybe we should talk, try to keep our minds off it." "What should we talk about?" Justin asked with a frown.  Justin was scared and in pain and full of shame.  He wasn't sure he could talk, but as always, he would do whatever Lance asked. "OK, let's make it happy talk, some good memories. I'll tell you when I was first attracted to you,"  Lance said softly. Then he took a deep breath and began in his soft, deep voice, " I fell for you the day I came to audition. I was so scared coming in for it . I vaguely remembered you from meeting you when we were younger so I had asked my agent all about you guys and you were described as the heartthrob. I knew I was gay already so I *was* curious about you. So I walked into the room and you didn't turn right away and already I was like `Jesus, this guy is the sexiest person I've ever seen.' Then you faced me and I felt my knees go weak. Those curls and those eyes–  that incredible blue—  and then you smiled and that was it.  As young as you were, I knew.  I've adored you ever since but you were so young and I didn't know how you felt about me so I let you take the lead.  It was a long time coming." "Wasted time, " Justin said wistfully.  There were tears in his eyes as he remembered that day, so different from this one. Justin started slowly, his voice barely a whisper, " It was the day of your audition for me, too." He saw Lance's shocked look and smiled a small version of his usually sunny grin, " I remember talking to JC and I heard the door open. I didn't look right away but when I did I nearly fell off my chair. You were gorgeous–that blond hair and those amazing green eyes. I remember thinking `I don't give a shit if he can't carry a tune. I want him in this group. Please, oh please, let him be able to sing.' And then you spoke and that deep sexy voice did the same thing then that it does now." Lance was staring at him openmouthed, "That was five *years* ago, Jus." He almost seemed relaxed as he started to speak, lost in the memories of a happier time. "Tell me about it. I spent the whole first two years telling myself that I couldn't possibly be attracted to a guy. I must have flirted with every girl in every country we went through,  trying to prove I was not jonesing for a boy. Nothing worked so I started to wonder if I could *do* anything about it and for the next year the answer was no. That's my *distant*  period. I tried to avoid you to see if the feelings would go away. *That* didn't happen. OK, so now we're up to year four and I gave up fighting the feelings and concentrated on dropping hints to you. It took you a whole six months to notice them. That night in the dance studio was one of the happiest in my life," he said, his eyes shining. The love in them was so strong it was scary and Lance just sat there unable to speak. He had no idea it had been that long and if Justin wasn't so battered, he would have hugged his lover until neither of them could breathe. As it was, he finally leaned over and kissed Justin as gently as he could and whispered, "Thank you. We have each other now and that's what's important." Lance said and folded Justin into him as gently as possible. "Does that hurt too much?" "No, it's OK," he said with just a slight whimper. " I love you, Lance. I don't know what I would do without you.  I just...." "Even though you see how much they hate us?" Lance asked seriously. He needed to be able to give Justin an out though he wasn't sure how he would survive if Justin took it. "Lance?" Justin asked in a small voice, " Tell me you don't hate me." "How could I hate you?  Why would I hate you?" "I let...," Justin began. Lance cut him off, the words coming out in a sharper tone than he intended, "You didn't *let* that shit do anything.  He forced you, Justin.  Jesus, he's bigger, stronger, you're tied up, and he's threatening me. *Anyone* in your situation would have done exactly what you did.  Please, Justin, don't do this." Justin didn't answer, but Lance was relieved when the younger man crawled closer and snuggled into the curve of Lance's body, searching for the comfort he had been denying himself. In one another's embrace, they dozed as the minutes ticked by. Suddenly, Lance heard a key in the lock and his brain made a frantic shuffle through his few very limited options of how to protect Justin. Lance sat up and Justin came awake, up on his elbow. "I'm so sorry, Justin," Lance said and before a frown could crease Justin's face, Lance had landed a powerful punch on his chin, his head hit the floor again, and he was out. Fist's dark bulk filled the doorway blocking most of the light. "OK boys, my last chance!" he cackled and Lance's heart rose into his throat. He wanted to get between Justin and this devil, but before he could get to his feet, Fist had crossed the room and twisted the leash until Lance couldn't breathe. Lance tore at the chain biting into his throat as he gasped for air. The excitement on Fist's face was clear as he watched the young man's struggle for breath. Suddenly, he released the chain and Lance bent over sucking in huge gulps of air. When he was finally able to stand, he saw Fist standing over Justin, unzipping his pants. "Oh God, no," he begged, "please leave him alone." Coming around the larger man, he threw himself down on his knees, "Please, take me instead. Leave him alone." The older man looked down at him with disgust. Then he turned back to Justin, studying the unconscious boy. His thoughts were obvious. He wanted badly to fuck this beautiful thing but since the boy was unresponsive, it just wouldn't do the job. His eyes returned to Lance and he licked his lips. Lance involuntarily flinched and drew back. Fist's hand shot out and grabbed the leash again pulling Lance close, "Don't pull away, you fucking fag. Too good for me?" Lance was silent. He didn't really think it was a question. All he knew is that he had to keep Fist's attention on him and pray that Justin wouldn't regain consciousness before he was gone. Lance forced the words out, "What do you want me to do?" "Do?" he laughed, "Do what you do with him!", jerking his thumb at Justin. Anger flared inside Lance. How dare this monster compare this with what he and Justin did? Their lovemaking was a miracle of connection, whether it was sweet and gentle or wild and rough. It had nothing of the hate that was in these acts, only love. Lance clenched his fists at his side and made no response. Fist moved closer and grabbed Lance's hair and forced himself into Lance's mouth. This violation felt familiar, like the night long ago that he thought he had buried under the sweet memories he and Justin had made. He closed his eyes and became the receptacle this man wanted. When Fist withdrew before orgasm, he knew what was coming. "Strip and assume the position, bitch," the words hurting almost as much as the act. Lance's cheeks burned with the humiliation of what he was being forced to do, but he kept in mind that he was protecting Justin. At least he hoped it served some purpose, this otherwise senseless act of violence. The pain drove every thought out of his mind and a red haze of agony took over. He bit his lip hard trying to make no sound, nothing to give this animal the satisfaction he sought. Time stretched and he felt as if he were falling into a black hole, nothing but him and this man pumping over and over until orgasm wracked Fist and he withdrew, still straddling Lance triumphantly. Lance closed his eyes praying that the torture would be done. He felt Fist get to his feet but he kept his eyes closed tightly hoping that he would leave, disappear for good. When Lance didn't hear the sound of a door, he cautiously turned his head and sucked in his breath. This creature was leaning over Justin, doing more of his sick shit, Lance thought angrily. Leave him alone, he screamed in his head. Justin still hadn't come to and Lance was getting worried that the fall to the floor this time had caused serious problems. Now this filth's breath was in Justin's face as he sought his lips. Justin lay unresponsive, giving Fist easy access. Lance couldn't watch another second.  Despite his own pain, he scrambled to his feet and fueled by rage,  threw himself on the bigger man. "Fuck you, leave him alone!" he shouted surprising Fist. When did the worm turn, Fist thought briefly as Lance pommeled him, desperately trying to land a punch that would have some effect. Lance wasn't much of a fighter and was in no condition to fight anyhow, so Fist was rapidly regaining the advantage. Once again he grabbed the leash and twisted. Lance immediately started to gasp for air and as he struggled his foot hooked under Fist's and the man went down, striking his head on the concrete floor so hard that Lance was sure he could hear bone shatter. Panting, Lance stood over the unconscious figure, afraid to feel whether there was a pulse or not. When he noticed the rise and fall of his chest, he breathed a sigh of relief. He grabbed the rope that lay discarded and tied the man's hands as tightly as he could. He looked around for a gag. Seeing none, he took his own shirt,  ripped part of it and stuffed it in his mouth. He dressed slowly, wiping the blood with the rest of his shirt. Now what? Justin was still out. Shit! They had to get out of here. But where? Part of Lance just wanted to sit down and wait for someone to come looking for Fist. The other, the braver part said try anything. Maybe a miracle would happen and they would get away. There was an extra key hidden in the truck if he could find where they had put it. Not too likely, Lance, he said to himself, especially with Justin as bad off as he was and you ain't walking too well either, boy.. Lance leaned over Justin, shaking him, hoping that the pain of movement would bring him back. Justin whimpered but his eyes remained closed. "Justin, wake up please! We have a chance to get away." He rocked back on his heels watching Justin's face for any minute change. Finally, Justin's eyes fluttered open. He stared at Lance, "Why did you hit me?" "Long story. Can you get up?" Lance asked, putting his hand under his arm to help him, ignoring his own pain that flared with the effort. Justin groaned but struggled to his feet. He was already breathing hard and Lance shook his head, wondering if getting away was a stupid idea. Justin was gawking at Fist. "How...?" he started. Lance was no fighter and this guy outweighed him by a lot. Lance held up his hand, motioning later for the explanations. Justin nodded and waited for Lance to tell him what to do next. He felt sick and standing up was increasing the nausea but he was willing to try to do anything for Lance. "Let's go," Lance said, crossing the room to the door. Opening it gingerly, he glanced into the hall which seemed empty. Left was to the gym where they were last night, so he decided to try right. He just hoped they wouldn't just go in circles until someone found them. God knows what the punishment for that would be. A lucky choice.  At the end of the hall was a door marked exit. Lance opened it carefully hoping that Fist had been the only guard they thought that they needed. No one was there and he let out the breath he had been holding, pulling Justin behind him, hoping that as weak as they were, they could finally get away from theses monsters. continue menu