Always.

Eighteen.

And, with that, he pulled me into another room, locking the door behind us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He didn't drag me away without a fight. I was screaming, and kicking at him, while Castle held on to me as tight and as long as he could. He even tried to get a few swings in at him. But it wasn't enough. As soon as I heard that door lock, I knew it was no use. The tears were stinging my eyes again. This time, I was scared.

I kept my eyes closed for a long time. I didn't want to see where I was. Even though I couldn't see anything, I could feel Josh's presence looming over me. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw him staring over me with that sick, twisted smile spread across his face. I was beginning to wonder if that was his signature look.

"Ah, you're awake."

"What do you want?"

"For you to keep quiet." He said as he duck-taped my lips shut. "But not too quiet. We want writer-boy in there to hear your screams. Maybe he will write about it in one of his books."

I lunged at him, but it was no use due to my restraints.

"Oh, wait. He won't be able to. He won't have any hands. Probably not even a living body for that matter."

I was sobbing. I was desperately trying to keep it on the quiet side, though. I didn't want Castle to worry, even though that was inevitable. Even I was now fearing for my life. His too, but mine was the one currently in danger.

"Awe, look. She's sad." He chuckled quietly to himself. I was trying to figure out what happened to him. He wasn't psycho when I... left him. I cringed at that thought. Even though I didn't really love him, I still cared for him. Not anymore, though.

"Let's see, what do we have here?" He pulled over a little rolling doctor's table, complete with surgical utensils. As well as a few other tools.

"Hmm, I think that this cute little scalpel is a good place to start out, don't you think?" He looked at me, as if he expected me to answer him. He picked up the scalpel and came more towards me.

I couldn't help but allow the small scream for help escape from my throat. I could hear Castle in the other room.

"Kate? Kate! Are you okay? Kate, I promise you, you will get help!" I wanted to answer him so bad, but all I could do was scream more, which I didn't want to do, so I didn't worry him.

"Haha, silly writer. No help is coming." Now he was sitting in front of me, carefully twirling the scalpel around in his fingers. "Now, where should we start? Maybe..." He started eyeballing my arms. He switched the scalpel to the other hand, and started inching his fingers up my right arm. When he got up to the collar of my shirt, he started sending his fingers down the front of my shirt, teasing each of the buttons as he went. When he reached the bottom, there was nothing more than my underwear, since when he had taken me I had been wearing nothing other than Castle's shirt that I had thrown on.

"Well, what now?" He was scooting forward, and lifting the shirt over my head, as there was a bang at the door. And, of course I was shaking and violently crying at this point.

"What the hell?" He said as he paused. Then there was another bang, and another. At each bang, we felt the room start to rattle more. Eventually, the door came down. And the culprits were none other than Ryan and Esposito.

"Freeze right there, you son of a bitch!" Espo yelled, his gun pointed at him with his finger on the trigger, and Ryan in the same position. Castle came running in behind them, bearing his own tear-streaked face. I started sobbing and shaking more at the thought of him crying.

Suddenly, Josh raised his scalpel, over my leg. To be more specific, my main artery.

"If you come any closer, or even try to shoot, I will sever her main artery and you can watch her die a slow, painful death."