Somewhere I Belong

Pete led his master to the kitchen, then over to the laundry room door. He opened it slowly so he didn't frighten the already terrified boy.

"Ryan, it's just me and my...oh no!..."

He rushed to the boy's side where he lay in a heap on the floor, still dressed in his wet clothes.

"Ryan, can you hear me?"

Grant looked at the boy. He remembered when Gabe got him. He was still as small as he was back then. Pete pushed Ryan's hair from his face, relieved to feel the boy's breath graze across his hand.

"Come on Ryan, you need to wake up."

"Huh, sorry Master, I didn't mean to, I'll clean up the blood and..."

Ryan looked around and didn't see his Master, but Pete and...

"Grant...I mean Sir...I mean..."

"Easy now, don't worry."

Grant took in the boy's appearance.

"You did not arrive with your Master did you?"

"No. No I came to warn you, am I too late, I must be cause he is here."

Pete took the boy's hand in his, trying to calm him.

"Ryan, warn us about what?"

"Master has come to collect Gerard and Frankie."

Grant's eyes widened and then his brow furrowed listening to what happened to Gerard at Gabe's. His torture methods and brain washing. How Gerard was instructed to save Frank's virginity for Gabe. Gabe even gave Gerard instructions to get in trouble and then call him. Grant was livid.

"I don’t know how long it took me to get here, but I left on the day Gerard was returned to you."

Pete's eyes widened.

"But, but that was two weeks ago. Where did you sleep?"

"Two weeks?! Oh no! They must all be dead now!"

Grant knew what Ryan meant. If he escaped the others would be punished for it.

Pete looked up at Grant.

"Master, should we send Dr. Ray?"

"That is an excellent idea Peter. I shall call him, meanwhile take Ryan upstairs and bathe him and give him a proper set of clothing."

"Yes Master."

Pete said, carefully scooping Ryan up into his arms. He carried him out of the laundry room with Master Grant right behind him, then out of the kitchen and straight up the stairs to the pets' room...luckily they didn't see Master Gabriel on the way. Grant quickly made a phone call to Ray and set the doctor in motion to Gabe's house. Then he went to meet this man that thought he could make a fool of him.

*

*

*

"Sorry to keep you waiting Gabriel, bit of business with one of my pets. They had a bit of an accident."

"Oh? Hope all is alright?"

"Yes yes, just...it's been a trying day."

"What is going on old friend?"

"Well I caught Gerard mistreating his pet. You would think after all the training he had with you..."

"Yes, well he was a bit of a problem. I had meant to talk to you about it, but my own...pets needed taking care of and you know how that goes."

"Of course, but now I am in a bind."

"Oh?"

"Well I can't have him stay here because he will influence the other pets."

"I see...but doesn't he have a pet of his own?"

"Yes I bought him Frankie remember?"

"Oh yes, the quiet one that I trained for you."

"Yes."

"Well, it's interesting cause my reason for dropping by was that one of my...pets has disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"Yes, I cannot find him anywhere in the house or on the grounds."

"Oh dear, which one?"

"Oh...it was Raymond."

"Oh, well I am sorry for that."

"Yes, but it means if you need, I can take Gerard off your hands and I would also have a place for Frank."

"Well that is most kind of you."

"It is the least I can do for our friendship."

"Let me make us some tea and I will fetch Gerard and Frank."

"Wonderful."

Grant rose to leave and head to the kitchen. Gabe sat there satisfied that his plan had worked.

*

*

*

Ryan felt human for the first time in years. He was currently in a puppy pile of pets and he felt warm and safe.

"You sleep like this all the time?"

Pete stroked his hand through Ryan's freshly washed hair.

"Not all the time, we all have our own bunks, but we do sleep like this quite often...I take it you don't?"

"No, we...we don't have beds. We have cots like...they used during the war. If you try and put more than one person on it, it folds up."

"Well that's shitty."

Bob said, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on Ryan's thigh. Mikey nodded in agreement.

"The Master will make sure that you don't ever have to go back there again."

Patrick kissed Ryan on the cheek.

"I hope not."

Gerard kept looking at the broken plastic. It could be sharp enough. He could try. Maybe he could sharpen it a bit more. It was so tempting...so tempting.

Frank had heard voices in the hallway before, after Master Grant left to talk to Pete. He hadn't heard what was said and he didn't have the strength to even think of going to find out. He was pretty sure he was going to be going to Master Gabriel's soon, and if...when that happened, he would be better off dead. If he had the strength and if he could move more than an inch without feeling like he was going to puke, he would find something sharp and make sure he never ended up in that monster's evil hands again. He feared that this was all out of his control now...his happy life here was coming to an end.

*

*

*

"Thank goodness I sent you when I did. Yes, please contact me when you get to the hospital."

Grant hung up with Ray, It was worse than he ever thought. When he arrived at Gabe's home no one answered the door. Ray kept a professional lock pick set from a former life choice. He figured that Gabe was not worried about anyone breaking in...or having the ability to break out, so the alarm was not set. When Ray opened up the door the stench of death hit him. He searched the house and found the cause of it. One of his pets was dead on a table. He had been beaten and raped to death. The other was in chains. His arms were infected from the wounds that were not properly cared for. He has messed himself and thrown up what little he had in his stomach, which could not have been much since he had been starved practically to death. Ray did not know what to do with the dead pet, but he rescued the live one and reported to Grant. He would take him to the hospital that Ray worked at and take care of him. Now that Grant knew everything he went to his gun safe and opened it. He grabbed his old Colt and then went to see his pets.

Gerard had the plastic. He had made several cuts on his wrist, but none deep enough. He had even failed at killing himself. He gashed at the mark trying to make the blood flow more.

"Useless, pathetic, worthless."

Frank had made the decision to try to end his own life before Master Gabriel had the chance. Moving hurt more than he could've ever imagined, Hell, even breathing hurt, but he had to try. He had shuffled to the edge of the bed, and off onto the floor with a thud that took his breath away. Now he was dragging himself across the floor toward the bathroom, where he hoped that he would be able to find something to use...something sharp, or something poisonous, or just...something.

The door to the pet's room opened and Grant appeared with a gun. Ryan's first thought was they were in danger and one of them was getting killed or at least pistol whipped, but the other pets seemed to have different concerns.

"Master, is everything alright?"

"No Patrick it is not. Ryan, I am sorry, but one of your companions is no longer. Dr. Ray is trying to save the other."

Ryan gasped feeling the tears pour immediately.

"D-D-Does he know who it is?"

"He did not say as much, but we have more pressing matters. Peter, I want you and Patrick to go and fetch Frankie and head to the panic room. Michael and Robert, you free Gerard and do the same. Do not close the door till you are all safe in there."

"What's going on Master?"

Pete pulled a trembling Ryan tight into his chest as they all started to move off of the bed.

"I am going to confront that poor excuse for a master and I fear that he would try and use one of you as a shield if given a chance."

Pete and Bob nodded in unison as Mikey answered quietly.

"I wouldn't put it past him Master..."

He turned to the others.

"Ok, Pete, Patrick, take Ryan with you to fetch Frankie, he's on your way to the panic room. We'll meet you there as soon as we have Gee, ok?"

Pete nodded, taking Patrick's hand.

"Ok...be careful."

"We will."

Mikey and Bob nodded to Grant, gave the other pets a pair of brave smiles, then headed down to Solitary. Pete looked at his Master.

"You'll come for us when it's safe?"

"If you don't see me, you will see Ray, he has the only other key."

Before they all left Grant kissed each one.

"May I have one too?"

Ryan looked at Grant with fear and awe.

"Of course...my pet."

Ryan leaned up on his tip toes and Grant kissed him softly like all the other pets. It had been so long since he had been kissed like this that his knees buckled. Patrick caught him.

"Whoa, Master, you promised not to do that anymore."

Patrick chuckled lightly and Grant returned it.

"Sorry, I have not tasted something so sweet in a while."

Ryan blushed.

"Thank you Master."

"No, thank you Ryan. Now off you go with the others."

Ryan nodded and left.

*

*

*

Frank had made it to the bathroom, barely. His vision was blurred and his breathing was labored, but he had the cupboard under the vanity basin open, and a bottle of cleaner in his hands. Now if he could just get his hands to work properly and undo the childproof lid...

"Frankie?"

Patrick opened the guest room and saw the bed empty.

"Where is he?"

"Bathroom?"

"Perhaps."

Pete carefully sat Ryan on the end of the bed.

"Stay here, ok?...Patrick, stay with him."

Pete smiled at them then headed over to the bathroom. The door was mostly open and as he reached it and looked in...

"Frankie!...no, what are you doing?..."

He hissed quietly, rushing in and snatching the bottle from Frank's uncoordinated hands. He looked at the bottle, then at Frank...a tiny crumpled and broken figure on the floor. Pete sighed, crouching down in front of Frank and setting the bottle on the floor.

"Frankie?...what were you trying to do?"

"I...I want to die, before M-Master Gabriel k-kills me."

"Frankie, the only thing that's gonna dye if you drink this is your mouth...blue!...this is toilet cleaner Frankie."

"Oh."

Frank looked down at the tiled floor despondently.

"Besides, you are not going to that monster's house...no one is. Our Master is sorting it, but right now we need to move...we have to go to the panic room, ok?"

"Panic room?"

"Yes Frankie..."

Pete stood up and scooped Frank up into his arms...alarmed for the second time today about a pet's meager weight.

"It's going to be ok..."

Frank laid his head against Pete's shoulder, too weak to hold it up as Pete carried him back to the bedroom and the two waiting pets.

"Come on guys, let’s go..."

Frank's tired eyes widened when he saw Ryan, but he really didn't have it in him to question right now. Pete led the way out of the bedroom and along the hallway to the plain white door that opened to the attic stairs.

"Patrick, could you?"

Patrick opened the door and led them up the stairs. The attic looked normal like any other, but at the very end was another door. Patrick slid a hidden panel and showed Frank and Ryan.

"There is another panel on the other side. When we activate it, the room will lock and no one can get in from the other side unless they have the special key. Only the Master and Dr. Ray have it. Inside is food, water, a bathroom, books, an emergency cell phone...pretty much all we need."

"Th-that's cool."

Frank mumbled sleepily. Pete carried him inside followed by Patrick and Ryan.

"And now we wait for the others."

Gerard was tired. So tired of living and so tired of trying. He just wanted to sleep. Maybe Gabe would kill him early. Kill him so he could be at peace.

"Pretty..."

He used his blood to write Frank's name on the floor.

"Maybe just a nap. Just a small nap before I go."

Gerard laid his head down and closed his eyes. He thought he heard footsteps, but his eyes were too heavy to respond. Bob and Mikey reached the bottom of the stairs and opened the door. In front of them were the bars of the Solitary room and...

"Gee!!..."

Mikey cried out, rushing forward. Bob was glad for the fact that they'd shut the door at the top of the stairs...they didn't want Master Gabriel to hear.

"Oh God Gee...what did you do?"

Gerard opened his eyes slowly. They felt like they weighed so much.

"Miiikey?"

He slurred as his face slipped into a lazy smile.

"You can't be here...you're too pure."

"Nor can you Gee...we're here to get you, we have to go now..."

Bob had grabbed the key to the barred door and was unlocking it.

"Everything's gonna be ok Gee."

"Take care of Frankie for me. I give him to you now."

"You don't have to do that Gee, you're gonna be ok."

Bob got the door open and the two pets moved quickly to Gerard's side. Bob kicked the sharpened piece of plastic away that had fallen from Gerard's fingers, then carefully picked Gerard up with Mikey's help before they headed up out of the basement. Gerard felt light as he floated up out of the darkness and into the light.

"Is this heaven? No it can't be, I would never go there."

Gerard heard loud and angry voices and then there was a loud bang. Mikey and Bob looked at each other with scared eyes.

"We have to get to the safe room."

Mikey whisper/shouted.

"I...I don't know if it's safe to go."

Bob replied, trying to be strong and not cry.

"DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD BEST ME GRANT? DID YOU THINK I WAS A FOOL? NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE THE FOOL! NOW I WILL NOT ONLY GET GERARD AND HIS INNOCENT PET, BUT NOW I WILL GET THEM ALL. I AM MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO DESTROYING THAT SIMPERING SLAVE'S BROTHER. PERHAPS I WILL DO IT IN FRONT OF HIM!"

Mikey whimpered, huddling closer to Bob and burying his face against Gerard's. Bob looked around for somewhere they could hide...there was nowhere.

"Bob...put me down."

"No Gee, you're too weak and it's not safe."

"Please, I need to do something."

"Yes, you need to be quiet."

"Bob, if you do not put me down I will expose us all."

"And doom Mikey?...I don't think you're that far gone Gee...I don't think you could ever be."

"Just trust me Bobby, please."

"Gee, you just said you'd expose us all...how am I meant to trust you?...hmmm?"

"Please put me down."

"What're you g-gonna do Gee?"

"I'm going to protect you like I should have all this time."

Mikey shook his head.

"You're hurt Gee, it's my turn to protect you now."

"Please Mikey."

"Gee, Master told us to get you and take you to the panic room...and that's what we're gonna do."

Gerard had enough. He took advantage of Bob's lax stance and pushed out of his arms. He scrambled away and ran into Grant's office. He saw the gun safe and saw it wasn't closed all the way. He grabbed a gun and checked it. It had only three bullets, but it was enough. He ran back out into the parlor and almost froze at the sight. Grant was on the floor clutching his arm and Gabe was standing over him. Gerard didn't even wait, he fired the gun near Gabe, but not hitting him.

"What the fuck?!"

Gabe spun around bringing the gun away from Grant and saw Gerard.

"Well well well, what do we have here?"

"Get away from my Master."

Mikey and Bob reached the doorway and froze...this wasn't going to end well.

"Gerard, please leave."

"No, I won't abandon you again. I made the terrible mistake of betraying you and this is how I can prove my loyalty."

Gabe laughed.

"Do you really think you can best me?"

Gerard shot the floor next to Gabe's feet.

"You not only hurt my Master, but you threatened my brother and Frankie. I cannot let you go through with these crimes. This ends now."

"Geeee."

Mikey whined as Bob held him back from entering the room and going to his brother.

"You think you can stop me Slave? You can't even protect yourself, let alone anyone else. You are weak and worthless and soon you will know your place too."

Truth was that last shot was too close. Gabe would not let the simpering boy get to him though. Bob tried to pull Mikey away from the door.

"We should go to the panic room."

"Not without Gee."

Gerard was starting to worry. He hoped that the last bullet had an impact on Gabe with his words, but he still stood his ground. Now he had one bullet left. After that it would be on bravado only. Gerard was worried he bit off more than he could chew. Still he would not let up on the abusive master in front of him.

"I am only weak and worthless cause I let you convince me to do all those horrible things to Frankie. I don't care if he ever forgives me, but this is how I will make amends to him."

Gerard aimed the gun.

"Go to hell Gabriel."

He fired.

"Where are they? It has been too long now. What if something happened? What if Gabe got them."

Patrick was pacing nervously. Pete looked up from where he was sat with Ryan asleep in his lap.

"There's nothing we can do Patty, Master said to come here and stay here...so that's what we have to do."

"I know, but...we haven't heard anything."

Patrick looked a Pete.

"I can't. I can't just stay here and not know. I'm going."

"Patty no!...please don't?"

"I have to Pete. Stay here with Ryan and Frankie and I'll..."

"Patrick?"

"Yes Frankie?"

Frank hesitated for a moment.

"I'm coming with you."

"Oh Frankie, are you sure?"

Frank nodded.

"I have to...Gerard's out there somewhere and I have to help...if I can."

Patrick looked at Pete and nodded.

"Alright, but you have to listen to me."

Frank smiled.

"Anything..."

He held out his hand.

"Just help me up, yeah?"

Patrick pulled Frank up and then waving to Pete and left the room. They crept down the attic stairs and then took the stairs in the back of the second floor that led to the kitchen.

"What're we gonna do?"

"I want to find the other pets and figure out why they haven't returned yet."

"What if we run into...Master Gabriel?...what do we do then?"

Patrick moved out of the kitchen into the hallway.

"Hopefully we...hey, it's Mikey and Bob!"

Patrick moved over to them.

"Hey, what's taking you guys so long?"

"Shhh..."

Bob hushed Patrick urgently.

"Why aren't you in the panic room?...you shouldn't be here."

"It's been like 30 minutes and you guys didn't show so we got..."

There was a gun shot from the parlor and Patrick jumped. Bob quickly covered his mouth muffling the scream. Mikey tried again to pull free from Bob's hold.

"Gee."

Frank's eyes went wide.

"Gerard?"

Bob was so busy holding back Mikey and now Patrick, that there was no one to stop Frank. Frank moved passed them to the doorway and looked in, a gasp leaving his lips at the sight before him. Gabe had been knocked on his ass as the bullet grazed his ear. Now Gerard had moved up. He was sluggish though and Gabe could see that his arms were covered in blood. He missed this before when he wasn't taking the Slave seriously.

"Gerard, you need to stop."

"No Master, I won't till he is gone. Till he stops coming around and threatening those that I love dearly."

"Love? You think he loves you? It's not about love it's about replacement. You replaced his last pet just like you replaced your brother with Frank. You are just as guilty as we are. You are just as bad as we are."

Gerard started to shake a little, his confidence failing. Gabe saw this and kept going.

"When is the last time you paid any attention to your brother hmmm? Now it's all on Frank."

"YOU TOLD ME TOO! YOU SAID I SHOULD GET USED TO BEING AWAY FROM HIM SINCE I WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN!"

Gerard was screaming and yelling now as his gun hand started to shake. Frank knew it had been Master Gabriel's doing and not Gerard's...he just didn't know how to help Gerard now. Gabe took the moment and lunged for the boy knocking the gun into the hall. He pressed Gerard into the floor.

"All your talk and you still end up on the bottom...where you belong."

The gun landed right at Frank's feet. He looked down at it, then at Master Gabriel as he towered over Gerard. Frank leaned down and picked up the gun, he'd never held one, or even actually seen one in person, but he'd seen enough on TV to know how to use it. He took a breath, then stepped into the room, raising the gun to level it at the Monster before him.

"Get away from My Master, you bastard!"

"No F-F-F-Frankie!"

Gerard knew there were no more bullets in the gun. Frank didn't have a chance. He knew that if Gabe knew though, it was all over.

"That's enough of this now."

Another click was heard in the room. With Gabe distracted, Grant was able to recover some strength and get his gun again. He leveled it at Gabe and now he had two guns pointed at him...but his gun was still pointed at Gerard.

"You think you and a mere slave that clearly doesn't know how to hold a gun can kill me faster that I can kill this brat that started this all?"

"No Gabriel, you are the one that started this all. Right now Ray in on his way to the hospital with the one slave that survived your sadist desire. You will pay dearly for the other death."

"Two."

Gabe looked up and saw Ryan. He was dressed in real clothing and looked healthy. Gabe didn't like it.

"You killed Jon. You killed Jon right in front of us. He didn't deserve it. He did nothing wrong. You were angry about something that had nothing to do with us, but you TOOK IT OUT ON HIM!"

Ryan was in tears now as his voice rose.

"YOU BEAT HIM! YOU RAPED HIM! HE BLED OUT FROM IT IN OUR ARMS YOU FUCKING MURDERING BASTARD!"

Gabe was taken back. He thought he had broken Ryan, but clearly he hadn't. Ryan charged at Gabe plunging the knife that no one knew he had grabbed from the kitchen. It landed in the middle of his chest, but the gun in Gabe's hand went off before he dropped it.

"NOOO..."

Frank screamed as he saw red blossom on Gerard's chest. He dropped his gun and rushed to the older boy's side.

"Gerard?...please be ok?"

Mikey, Bob, Pete and Patrick ran in then, Mikey dropping to his knees on Gerard's other side.

"Gee?...GEE!"

"I'm calling Ray now."

No one paid attention to Gabe and his last dying breaths as Ryan repeatedly stabbed him. Grant figured he deserved that death. His pet though...

"Frankie...your gun...had no bullets in it."

"What?..."

Frank looked at Gerard with wide eyes.

"It didn't?...oh..."

Suddenly he felt a little sick, he pushed the feeling down and shook his head.

"Doesn't matter now, it's over and he can't hurt anyone anymore..."

He leaned down closer to Gerard's ear.

"I would've still done that if I'd known, but I think my hand would've shook more."

Gerard chuckled, but it was painful. Gerard then turned to Mikey.

"Mikes, I'm sorry for everything. You take good care of Frankie for me."

Mikey shook his head.

"I won't need to Gee, you're gonna be ok...you can take care of him."

"No, I l-lost that privilege. I mistreated him, I hurt him, I abused him. I don't deserve to be a master anymore."

Gerard coughed and the pain in his chest flared.

"That wasn't your fault Gerard..."

Frank said softly, frowning at how weak and pained Gerard sounded.

"That was Mas...that was Gabriel, not you."

"Still, i-if I was stronger l-like a master sh-sh-ould be, I could h-have..."

"Easy now my pet, rest, no more talking, help is on the way."

"M-Master, please t-take Frankie away from m-me. Be his M-Master aga..."

"Gerard..."

Frank whimpered quietly. Even though he'd asked Grant to be his Master before, he really still wanted Gerard...wanted him to be his first, despite everything.

"Don't talk...rest."

Gerard reached up with a shaky hand and touched Frank's face.

"F-F-Frankie, my p-pet. Be good f-f-for..."

As Gerard's hand fell limp and his eyes fluttered closed, and the other pets gathered around, holding each other with tears streaming down their cheeks, Frank and Mikey let out matching cries of despair.

"NOOO!"

"GEE...NOOO!"

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So we're heading toward the homestretch now, but it's going to be a rough ride to get to the end. Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, we're currently writing the next one.

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3