Why do I feel this way?

Chapter 77: Fading

Chris expected Siobhan to be scared and begging for him to stop— but she wasn't playing into his fantasy— it infuriated him. He wanted Vivian to hear Siobhan's screams as she made her way to the cabin, so he pulled out his old torture kit he would use on Vivian when he brought her to the cabin. He wanted her to break before she even saw the damage he had done to her fiancé.

Vivian sat in the car park of the hotel near the cabin waiting on Beckett. She pulled her phone out realizing she forgot to arrange for Jamie to be collected. While the ringing sounded in her ear, she bit her nails until her sweet friend answered. Sara's sweet voice pierced painfully through her before she cut her off, "Sara, could you collect Jamie for me tonight?" Sara could hear the distress in Vivian's voice and worry immediately settled in her chest. "Of course! Are you okay? What's going on, Viv?!" Without any explanation Vivian ended the call.

Sara immediately called Mia. Vivian's demeanor over the phone was disturbing and it frightened her. "Hi, Sara. What do I owe the pleasure of speaking to the flirty waitress?" Sara completely ignores the redheads' usual teasing, getting straight to the point. "Mia, I'm really worried about Viv. She called me to collect Jamie— no explanation just hung up. Her tone was different— she didn't sound like herself. What's going on?!" Mia felt like her heart jumped into her throat hearing the anxiety in Sara's voice. "I—I don't know Sara... let me make some calls..."

As Vivian waited in the car park, her mind flashed with images of what Chris did to her in that place. Beckett pulled in seeing that all too familiar detached, distant look on his daughter's face. He knew she was having flashbacks and it shattered him. Memories of finding her in the cabin, seeing all the damage Chris inflicted, holding her close as he watched her crumble in his arms hit him like a sledgehammer.

He exited his car calmly and walked over to the driver's side of Vivian's car. Gently opening the door he spoke softly, "Sweet pea... It's daddy..." He placed his hand on her shoulder softly before rubbing her back, "Come back sweetie..." His eyes flooded with tears knowing there was nothing he could do to take away her pain. Vivian turned her head slowly looking at her dad as she whispered in a broken tone, "Daddy... Siobhan... he's..." Beckett wrapped his arms around her, "Shhh... I know... we are going to make it to her. She is strong— so are you!" They pulled away from each other as Beckett looked into his daughter's eyes cupping her cheek, "Sweet pea... you are so strong—"

She shook her head as she swiped the tears from her face. She straightened her posture while taking a deep breath in and exhaled. Her expression shifted back to determination as she shut the car door. "Does momma know?" Beckett dropped his head slightly kissing the top of Vivian's head. "I don't want her to worry. We can call her after..." The two look towards the forest as they start their trek to the cabin.

Meanwhile across town, Mia calls Autumn to get some intel. Autumn rolls her eyes as she accepts the call, "What?" Mia scoffs, "Seriously, Aut? That's rude... Look, I'm calling about Vivian. Sara called me completely freaked out about how Viv was acting over the phone." Mia was met with silence which sent a rush of anxiety through her. "Aut..." A heavy sigh could be heard before Autumn told Mia everything that happened. Mia was stunned, but she knew her brunette friend very well, "She's going after him isn't she? Aut... we need to let the police know. Chris is psycho!"

Chris held the tip of his knife in the fire as he taunted Siobhan. "I have done a lot of research about the human body." He held the blade in front of his face twisting slowly admiring the hot, glowing point. "I know exactly where and how deep I can stab you without killing you. This hot blade will either stop the bleeding or will adhere to your skin causing even more damage." He walks towards her, "Let's see which one happens this time..."

A disturbing smile curls his lips as he inserts the knife into Siobhan's torso. The blonde squeezes her eyes shut, slowing her breathing escaping into her mind. The sound of Vivian's laugh echoes through Siobhan's body. The brunette is her safe place, her anchor. Her imagination makes it feel as if Vivian's soft hands are holding her close. The feeling of Vivian's lips pressed to hers bringing warmth to every broken piece of her. Siobhan was adamant that she would not give Chris what he wanted.

With every penetration of Chris' knife, Siobhan retreated deeper into her safe place with her memories of Vivian. On the tenth stab, Siobhan couldn't help but be jolted from her trance as he twisted the knife inside of her body. Her resolve quickened to remain calm even as Chris tortured her body. The frustrated man threw his knife down, switching it out for jumper cables and battery.

He grabbed the wet washcloths with the clasps of the jumper cables and pressed them firmly to Siobhan's skin. She inhaled deeply before holding her breath as she watched the man flick the power switch with his feet. The electric current surged through her body causing her body to convulse. Chris' laughter sent shivers down her spine as he pulled the cables away. She exhaled silently before quickly inhaling, preparing herself for the next shock. He places the cables further up her torso over her ribs. As he flips the power switch, he pressed in more, delivering a more intense and longer shock. The crack of her ribs breaking from the muscles contracting permeates the space in the room. Exhaustion begins to settle into Siobhan as her pain threshold crumbles. Tears burned her eyes as her trembling body hung from the ceiling. She took a slow, deep breath pulling her head up glaring at Chris as defiance once again filled her.

Viv, please hurry! I'm not sure I can take much more...

As Siobhan pleads inside her mind, she can hear Vivian's voice, "I'm almost there, Bon. Hold on for me baby... I need you to stay strong for me— don't give up!"

Beckett and Vivian are now only 15 minutes away from the cabin— they sprinted nearly the entire way. Even though they were moving as fast as they could, Vivian still felt like it wasn't fast enough. Her body, although in shape, seemed to want to give out. Vivian paused, dropping her hands to rest on her bent knees. As she gasped for air, tears fell to the ground below her. "Sweet pea... we are almost there. Breathe—" Vivian's phone rings and she hands it to Beckett not willing to even deal with it. "It's Mia..." Vivian shakes her head as she stands up stretching her back a moment. "I can't, daddy... just tell her everything is fine— we have to move."

After Autumn filled Mia in on everything, she drove to the police station to try and get them to trace Vivian's location. Once Beckett answered the phone, the trace began. As soon as the police obtained the location, Mia's voice turned soft, "Mr. Clark, please make sure you all come back to us..."

Just 15 minutes away from Vivian and Beckett, Siobhan's vision begins to blur. She feels the soaked cloths against her skin again before the burning sensation floods her body. As she endures yet another shock, her physical strength falters, unlike her inner strength, as her sight fades into darkness.