I'll Follow You Home

The Darkness Between Us

"We plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart."

-J. R. R. Tolkien

Emily's vision blurred in and out as she tried to take in her surroundings. The room was dark with only one measly lightbulb to give any source of light. Her hands were tied to the posts of the creaky wooden chair she was sitting in. Her suit jacket had been taken and her shoes were gone too. She was left in a thin tank top and pants.

The door to her right opened and more light poured in. A man stepped through. He couldn't have been any older than thirty.

Emily laughs, and says, "Oh there you are. I've been waiting for you. Why don't you untie me and we can talk this out like adults, huh?"

"Nice try Agent Prentiss," the man replied. He circled her chair, pulling her hair as he went. Emily winced, and he laughed.

"Listen, my team will notice I'm gone, and start looking for me," Emily began. "If you let me go, I'll let you run. You can make it out of the country."

"I know you'll never let that happen, you'll grab me before I even make it on the plane." He raised his fist and aimed it for Emily's face. "I know how your team works." His fist made contact with Emily's nose, and she whimpered. "I know you're just trying to fool me," he screamed. He hit her again. And again. And again.

"Please," she gasped. "Stop." Stars began to take shape in her vision and darkness began to take over.

"You're here for a reason, Emily. You want to make it out of here alive? Don't lie to me again."

*

Aaron Hotchner had just dropped Jack off at school when he got a call from Morgan. "Hotchner," he answered.

"Have you heard from Emily?" Derek asked.

"No, what's wrong?"

"She called me last night, but I didn't pick up. The voicemail was odd. Get over here and I'll show you."

Aaron opened the door to his car and got inside. "I'm on my way," he replied. The thought of there being something wrong with Emily sent shivers up his spine. He glanced at the time and saw it was 9 AM. Emily always arrives to work at 8:45 sharp. She's never late. "Are you sure she's not in the BAU building somewhere? Nobody has seen her at all?" he asked.

"I asked around and checked the system. Nobody has seen her and she hasn't checked in." Morgan replied.

Aaron backed out of the parking spot and started down the road. "I'll be there in five minutes. Gather the team, but you meet me in my office. I want to hear the voicemail first."

"Yes sir. I'll do that." Morgan sighed and hung up the phone. This wasn't like Emily. And the voicemail... that scared him more. Nobody leaves a voicemail begging for help while screaming. Not as a prank, and especially not with the job they all do.

*

When Emily came too, the room was flushed with light. The door to her right was open and the man was sitting on the floor beside of it, head in his hands. She didn't dare make a sound.

He was humming an old Russian lullaby, one she had heard as a child during her family's short time in Moscow.

"You heard it before?" The man asked. He glanced at her before looking back down at the floor.

"Y- yeah," she replied. A moment of silence passed before Emily asked the question that had been bothering her since she was taken from her apartment the last night. "Why am I here? What do you want with me? You said I was here for a reason. What is it?"