Unaware

G O N E

"No absolutely not." Lumen said calmly, wishing his son would calm his own nerves and think rationally about his decisions.

"What the hell do you mean no?!" Larry argued.

"Larry that's too dangerous, you're giving him what he wants."  Laurent interjected, quietly attempting not to wake the two small children from their naps.

"Well what is there left to do?! If I don't go she stays in his hands  I won't let that happen!" Larry protested.

"Larry..."

"No! I don't wanna here it!! I'm helping her, I have to, she doesn't deserve what he does to her. She deserves to be here with here, with her daughter, with us, with me...." Larry felt the weight of slight defeat as he sighed running his fingers through his twists.

"I understand how much you care for Claire, Larry but when you're dealing with Locale, he'll end up killing you both just because. Locale doesn't just let people go. I want you to be safe Larry, so if you want to help Claire the right way, we have to plan this, we have to be smart..." Lumen said kneeling down to meet his sons eyes. He could tell Larry was hurting he wanted her safe, as they all did but Larry needed to understand his way was indeed not the best way.

"I just want her home....." Larry's voice caught in his throat as he glanced at Lumen. He grabbed Larry softly by the back of his neck to bring him into a warm and comforting hug which Laurent joined in on.

"We'll get her home son, we'll bring her home...."

***

Pacing through the dark tunnels of Locale's lair, Claire could sense something frightening following her but before she could turn to see if something was behind her, she was lifted by the back of her shirt and tossed backwards. Claire's scream was cut short when landed in the concrete ground. The pain from the blow distracted her long enough that she wasn't prepared for the kick to her ribs and stomach that came next. She tried to curl up into a ball, but that only seemed to anger her unknown assailant.

"Wha..." Claire was trying to speak through the pain, but the kicks were coming too fast and she was having a hard time breathing.

"You think you're so fucking perfect don't you?" The large man kicked toward her stomach again, but she got her arms there just in time. She heard a crack and pain shot up her arm, but she held tight to protect herself the best she could. Claire coughed twice and nearly passed out as the hurt took over from that small action.

"Running around catchin' every man's attention."

"Who are you?" She sobbed. Talking made everything worse, but she had no idea who he was. The kicks stopped and Claire thought he was finally done, but he had other ideas. The man grabbed her by the hair and started dragging her through the long hallway, and around the corner to pure darkness.

"Leon, a good friend of Locale's and my, my what a pretty tiny girl you are?" He threw her into the brick wall, causing her head to slam into the damp brick. He pressed his heavy chest against hers and started tearing at her dress, ripping it partially off her shoulder.

"Stop, let me go, please STOP!" Claire was desperately trying to shove him off, but her fractured arm, her shaky, panicked hands, and his much larger frame made it difficult. The back of his hand hit the right side of her face, and she could taste the blood coming from her now split open lip. She fought to get free, but he grabbed both of her hands and pinned them to the wall with one of his.

"I'm sure you like it rough, you like to be slapped around tortured, punished." The man snatched Claire off of the wall and pushed down the hallway. She walked as slow as possible down the hall, trying to come up with a plan to get out of there. Claire stopped at the door, but didn't go inside.