Error 42

Chapter 16:

"Ya know, most friendly chats don't involve tying someone to a chair". Cedar sassed as Mel deposited him onto a cold metal chair and Manny set about tying his hands behind his back.

Mel narrowed her eyes but kept her cool as she sat in the chair that was on the other side of the table that was in the empty hotel room Cedar had been taken to.

She stared at Cedar for a few moments before speaking up. "Where are you from?".

"What?". Cedar asked, the question making him stop his attempts in getting out of the ropes keeping his wrists tied behind the chair.

"I said we were going to have a casual talk weren't we? So, where are you from?". Mel asked again.

"New York". Cedar replied after a minute, keeping his guard up just in case Mel was trying to trick him.

"That's cool, I'm from Utah". Mel replied.

Cedar nodded as his eyes drifted to Mel's swollen stomach. "What is it?".

"It's a baby". Mel replied somewhat dryly.

"I meant, what's their gender?". Cedar elaborated, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

"I don't know, my bet's on another boy though". Mel replied, reaching down to stroke her stomach with her left hand.

"How old is your other son?". Cedar questioned carefully, hoping he wouldn't piss Mel off by being too invasive.

"He's four, he's living with my cousin at a Firefly base in New Mexico". Mel explained.

"What's his name?". Cedar decided to ask, trying to keep Mel distracted for as long as possible.

"His name is Owen. Jr". Mel replied. "I'm assuming you didn't know that Owen was his father?".

"Why did he break things off with Abby?". Cedar asked as he shook his head in response to Mel's question, trying to wrap his head around everything that Mel just revealed.

"I guess she was a bit too dominant for his liking, If you know what I mean ". Mel shrugged. "Don't worry, this baby isn't his. Which means you might have a chance of being with him after all, If you ever get out of here that is".

Cedar just numbly shook his head as his mind spun at a million miles per hour, If the baby inside Mel's belly wasn't Owen's then could that possibly mean that it was -.

Cedar's thought was interrupted by Mel banging her fist against the table to get his attention, he blinked to clear his thoughts before looking up at Mel, who was once again smirking at him.

"Let's get back to our questions, yes?". She asked lightly, Ignoring the fact that Cedar was glaring at her. "Now, where is Joel Miller? I know he's not in Mercer Island".

Cedar mimed mulling over an answer before sitting up as straight as he could, locking eyes with Mel before spitting directly in her face.

The blonde woman wiped away the offending glob before gesturing towards Manny, who retrieved a hammer from the bag he'd been holding and passed it to her.

Mel inspected the weapon for a moment before looking over at Owen, who had been standing in the corner of the room with a sickened look on his face. "Untie his right arm and hold him down".

Owen nodded and untied Cedar's right arm, which was quickly restrained on the cold surface of the table by Mel before putting his hands on the young man's shoulders, keeping him pinned down as Mel raised the hammer. "Feel free to tell me the truth before this begins".

Cedar let out a strangled cry as Mel brought the hammer down onto the exact area that had been targeted by the two Seraphites last year, the familiar burning sensation crawling up his arm as he moaned in pain.

"Please, I don't know where Joel is!". Cedar whimpered as Owen discreetly rubbed his thumbs across his shoulders in an effort to comfort him.

"I don't believe you". Mel replied, grabbing Cedar's broken arm and holding his index finger in a tight grip as Manny passed her a pair of bolt cutters.

"Wait!". Cedar cried out, the wheels once again turning in his mind despite the pain that radiated from his broken arm.

"Yes?". Mel said as she placed the bolt cutters on the table.

"You know your girl Abby? I shot her in the fuckin' knee before I killed her, just like she did to Joel". Cedar taunted in a breathy voice as he glared at Mel.

Mel narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything as she picked up the bolt cutters again and adjusted her grip on Cedar's finger.

This time Cedar was prepared for the pain, only letting a pained grunt escape his lips as his index finger was chopped clean off.

Mel tossed the bolt cutters to the side and looked up at Owen as she got up from her seat. "Lay him over there and don't bother with healing his injuries". She commanded, pointing at a dirty mattress shoved into the right corner before taking her leave with Manny.

Once the duo were gone Owen gently undid Cedar's restraints and carried him over to the mattress, taking his sweater off and pulling it over the younger man's shaking body.

"Please...". Cedar whimpered as Owen leaned him against the wall and gently took hold of his hand to inspect his missing digit.

"It's alright, I'm gonna clean it and wrap it up". Owen replied in a hushed voice, taking out a water bottle and cleaning the heavily bleeding stump before wrapping it up with gauze and tipping the rest of the water into Cedar's dry mouth.

"Y - You have to get them out of here". Cedar stuttered weakly, referring to Ellie and Lev as Owen took off his belt and elevated his broken arm.

Owen nodded, looking back up to meet Cedar's eyes and cupping his cheek again before pulling him in for a gentle kiss. "I will". He said before getting up and walking out of the room.

"This is it". Rocky announced as he and the other's finally arrived in front of the hotel.

"How are we doing this?". Luca asked, holding his pistol at the ready.

"Tommy and Rocky, you're with me". Joel rattled off as he eyed the fancy complex.

"I'll go with Benji". Luca volunteered. "I'm pretty good with medical assistance now too".

Joel nodded his approval and addressed the group again. "Once we come across Mel, Manny and Owen, kill Mel and Manny but keep Owen alive".

"Are you serious?!". Luca exclaimed.

"Yes I am". Joel stated firmly. "Now let's go and get our kids...".