Filter It only amounted to one, and it would always be one and never two --and through his jaundice-soaked corneas, all he could see was nausea. Suddenly, a violent heave claimed him, a primal urge rising in his liver. Bile stained his teeth, and the following retches were acidic, lashing the roof of his mouth with fury. It could never stop: his body rejected the substance over and over; he was dangling on the edge of sanity . "Not again. Please no-" Liam clenched his teeth, the crucial moment upon him; he had to keep the substance down, or the consequences would be dire. His eyes scanned the horizon with desperation before his lids slid closed, resistance wracking him. Then, as the urge to be sick overcame him, a voice pierced through his fog of despair, a lifeline amidst his struggle. "Can you hear me?" the rough, concerned tone asked as Liam writhed against the concrete, groaning... "Don't try to answer that, but try to blink twice. Take it slow." As he fought to drag his eyelids upward, the pain, like a coiling wire, constricted his blood flow in retaliation. "Make it stop-No I-" he choked out , his voice puncturing the air. If he expelled the Vanderine from his intestines, his efforts would to amount to zero. Square one. He was at the end of a long night,his vision raw from never resting his eyes, the blood vessels all but ruptured and torn. The ingested substance had been a sinister mistake. And if he threw up twice, the Vanderine risked expulsion from his system; he battled to hold it inside. All he had could never be enough, he countered, what ever could? Even his attempts to obey the voice , coming from somewhere above him, seemed in vain. As Liam writhed in the dying sunlight, his skin erupted in feverish bumps, a crawling sensation exploring the surface of his skin. Violation jolted down his spine as he screamed through his clenched teeth . As the nausea rose again, claiming his entire being, his heart continued to pulse, counting away the seconds. "Help me--No. No," he pled through his locking jaw as he fought another gripe. The instinctive reaction of his body gripped every fiber as he felt his fight ending. He embedded his teeth into his gag, screaming against the material bound across his tongue, taunting him. Then, in one dreaded motion, the inevitable rise built within him. His pupils dilated with horror as his gag soon became saturated with the vile substance, leaving a bitter sting as he struggled against it; the retches that followed heaving through his chest. Liam collapsed into the unforgiving embrace of the concrete, his ravaged body welcoming the end with resignation. "Shit," he lamented , the heat in his own voice spreading across his flesh like untamed fire . "Twice... now it's too late." Twisting his gaze away from the glistening pool of Vanderine, he diverted his gaze from the evident failure. And in a mixture of pure shock and trauma, his eyelids slid closed with exhaustion, his body embracing closure of his fight. After his ongoing efforts and endless torment, he failed to hold down the vandarine, and it was over. But the voice persisted, causing Liam to force his eyes open, gritting his teeth. "No, I'm still here Liam; I'm getting the binds off--hang tight," the voice reassured. Liam shook his head , protesting, the fear tugging at his psyche like a fishing line as he cursed in his mouth. "No, you can't help--" As Liam fought to refocus his gaze, a pair of deep hazel eyes locked onto his own with concern. "Hey, breathe. I've got you. It's me, Ry'. Hold on while I get rid of this--" Liam flinched as his gag tore from his mouth, and he gasped for fresh air, the stifling atmosphere saturating him with perspiration. "Now hang tight while I get these damned binds off-" , Ryan's voice reassured with an undercurrent of urgency, as Liam's arms obstructed his ribcage from accomodating his lungs. Liam's voice died in his throat as the sear of rope twisted itself around his flesh , grinding like wildfire into his veins as Ryan worked at the constraints with bare hands. His deft fingers delivered frantic sensations into Liam's malaise as they eroded the rope's grained surface, causing the fibres to snap. Then, as Ryan tossed the strews of rope aside, he rolled Liam onto his back, smoothing a palm over his chest and anchoring his sternum. "Ryan? How the hell did you get out of your?" , Liam questioned in untamed confusion, shocks coursing down his spine as Ryan elevated his head and hauled it onto his thigh. " It took a hell of a long time to wear down my own, but I managed to-ah it doesn't matter , just concentrate on the breathing." As his head lolled to the side , Liam's laboured breaths stalled his movements , the horizon meeting his vision while Ryan held his jaw in place . "Easy, slow breaths, feel how I'm breathing buddy and mirror that." It was a few minutes before Liam's chest finally fell into a rhythm, his spasmodic breathing evening out. "There we go, give it some time, it's been a long damn night.", Ryan said, his hands remaining secure against Liam's face as he refocused his vision on Ryan's steady gaze. Liam, reaching up and gripping Ryan's arm, smiled against the warm twilight rays of daylight that bathed his features. "Hell of a thing to endure, seeing all that... Damn lucky that we're both still here." Liam, pulling on Ryan's arm, found the strength to prop himself into a seated position, still deprived of breath. "Shit. Get over here, Ry'" he said, as streams of magenta dust hovered , creating a surreal haze that reflected the rising sun. Liam raised his arm and enveloped Ryan in a warm but rough embrace , melding their silhouettes into one as their shoulders collided. As Liam delivered a thump to his back, Ryan reciprocated by bumping his fist against Liam's shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, calm down," Ryan laughed in spite of his cool demeanour. "We'll get a decent shot of water into you, after we find your clothes." Ryan, lowering his deep hazel irises to meet Liam's contrasting blue stare , placed a hand on Liam's knee. "thank God I reached you in time." Although the light had drained from his eyes , Liam managed a smirk. "Yeah, I know what you did Ry' . It's all kinda hazy but-" Ryan dodged the heroics as he offered a smile and turned his head, the hues of the ominous sunrise casting across his profile , promising impending heat. "Nah, I don't go down easy or nothin' but someone had to save your ass." Passage two "The sight of his crumpled jeans, smudged with fingerprints, hijacked his attention. "Those bastards don't care what they leave behind," Liam muttered as his eyes located his left sock, freezing his joints. "Please help me-" he whispered, readjusting his grip on Ryan's shoulder, wrenching his gaze away from the twisted display of inhumanity. Liam's jaw clenched as he then noticed his dehumanizing undergarments strewn across the footpath, along with his boots and shirt. Ryan held his gaze steadfast on Liam's faltering eyes as he approached Liam's belongings, gathering them and subverting the underwear, scuffing it away with his boot. Liam was already sliding toward the dusty ground as Ryan handed him the brusque garments, his expression gentle. "You earned your dignity, just focus on that," he reassured as Liam accepted his ruined clothing with a wince. "Yeah, give me a minute-" he said with a glimmer of resistance in his bloodshot eyes. The drugs in his vision burned with a harsh sting, and Liam shook his head to regain some clarity. "I don't remember how I got here. No damn clue. Now here I am stripped naked- Ry', I'm not even sure what's real or what the Vanderine made me believe--and I only said yes because -". With a jerk, Ryan pulled Liam inward by the waist. "Doesn't matter. We never had a choice. But you put yourself in my place. And they never broke your damn spirit. And I can tell you right now, this is real." Liam, looking away with a nod, fell into silence as he wrestled with the task of dressing himself. Ryan was quick to offer careful attention as he assisted Liam into his jeans. The denim, rough against his bare skin, left his bite crooked with agony. Each movement caused Liam to flinch as he guided his ankle through the hem and then buttoned the waist of the stained jeans . Ryan passed him his destroyed Henley , and Liam yanked it over his shoulders. With a groan , Liam sought leverage in Ryan's grasp, haling himself upright. "Can you walk? Coz we need to find water , c'mon Li' , sweet hydration awaits-". As Liam broke into a grin that reached his pupils with a spark , his feet found equilibrium alongside Ryan's stance. "Hell yeah-I'm dyin' of thirst-" . But as they attempted to leave, Liam's breath was stolen by confronting remnants of his ordeal. He steeled his grip on Ryan's arm as his eyes swept over the discarded bottle of lubricant and plastic glove, turned inside-out on the pavement. "Sick, perverted bastards." Ryan almost spat as his heart was seized by the disarray that had paralysed Liam. Shielded only by Ryan's insistence as he guided Liam past the aftermath , he whispered, his tone punctured with disbelief. "So you're outta your binds and you untied mine, stripped my gag -and-" Liam's head fell to his hand , cradling his temple and gritting his teeth. "A lot of what happened is ..missing Ry' -how many times did they?" Ryan responded with a gun-metal hollowness, his words smoked out by his steady exhale. "Several times at least . Enough times enough for anyone, let's say that." Liam disengaged himself from Ryan's grasp as he diverted the glare that was already rebounding off the asphalt . "I wish you hadn't been forced to watch-" Ryan dragged his legs into co-operation as he anchored himself against Liam. "It was hard yeah-but what they did-I know you think it was a mistake to say yes , but my mistake was to resist-" The air clung to his flesh as Liam dragged his knuckles over his vision , finding a semblance of composure as he argued. "How the hell was it a mistake to avoid-this? Don't you go getting all survivor's guilt on me Ry. " The amber flecks dissolved from Ryan's aspect as he mumbled at the ground , grinding his hands into his pockets. "I just , never mind. We both need water, and shade. And soon." Liam slung a recuperating arm around Ryan's shoulder , and staggered in sync with his footsteps as the navigated the footpath as it winded into potential oblivion... As they walked in shared disorientation, and noon encroached, Liam's psyche was flooded with a flashback. His hand flew to his temple, clutching his hair as the thumping blades of a chopper cut through his thoughts. The unforgiving smash of his torso onto the ground, the impact coursing down his spine as he thrashed across the dirt and onto the pavement, echoed through his chest. "They threw me from a chopper, Ryan, arms bound to my sides. Did they do the same to you? Please tell me you know more than you've been letting on-" At first Ryan hesitated, his words dead on his tongue as he swiped it across his teeth , as he stared out into the distance. "Yeah, after you, they hurled me down here , and I found myself staring into the barrel of a gun. Said there were more captives , but nothing about their sick intentions. Then you know the rest-" With a somber nod, Liam added "Yeah, they brandish the damned pistol in my face and -" Liam exhaled into the particles of oppressive dirt and debris as his posture slackened with the sobering reality of the moment . "I already feel like they've killed me, Ry'. And they'll be back. They'll kill us like dogs-" Ryan's complexion drained out a shade of its colour and he shifted his weight under Liam's one sided embrace, maintaining his stare into the spanning horizon. "Well, I'm guessin' they could zone in on us at any moment, and while I've out walked my limits, it's probably only been under a mile. But as I said before , I don't go down easy. " he said, his detached voice peppered with defiance. "Hell yeah you don't " Liam's appreciative chuckle warmed the air along with a resonating smile, shrugging Ryan into closer proximity and supporting his weight. "If I live to see a stiff drink, I owe you . Speaking of which-". Ryan's eyes followed Liam's to a ransacked dumpster further up the path, garbage cascading onto the concrete. "Liam, I don't know that I'm above crawling in there to get out of this sun...just pull the lid down and die of dehy-" Liam interjected as his eyes caught on several bottles of water , his relief interspersed through his laughter. "Don't finish that thought Ry' , I think we might not be the only survivors out here after all-"

How's this tie in Maybe it amounted to nothing-after hours of rotting in the daylight , night had fallen over his helpless frame, bathing him in solitude. Maybe it could only ever be nothing, and he was nowhere, as a thousand stars danced across his vision. Blood pulsed in his throat , chasing the burn of rope that encircled his wrists . It was useless to seek solace amongst the dazzling constellation, his pupils shone with the terror of his demise. His spine , bound against the metallic surface of the black Mustang , refused to elevate as restraints held it captive . In a thrash of despair , his pelvis rose upwards , only to be scorned with the grind of further entrapment . Victor's helpless screams punctured the air , sending a reverberation to his core. "Please-help me -please-" With the wheels of the car submerged under water , the underpass flooding, his pulse was counting his moments away . Time pirouetted in tight circles, casting shadows that piqued over and over as he screamed. "Please-help me-". Victor could almost taste the hollow voices that had taunted him , whispering his fate against his flesh. He thrashed, despite the protest of his limbs , resisting the suffocation of his bindings. As the menace of frigid water encroached the edges of his mind , his demise was closing in. And while the car's wheels were against the ground, his captors had left him unable to escape as he lay infused with the car's roof. Binds had been wound over his torso and hips, securing his fate atop the dormant shell of freedom and open roads . Victor had been fleeing his ill choice , until the day had taken a twist toward hell, with his beloved Mustang now on the floor of the highway's underpass, and the ocean's water set to flood the channel . Entering his peripheral vision , a now buoyant can of soda that had been embedded in the mud hours earlier sent a wave of nausea to the pit of his guts. Victor had resisted the implantation of the contraband , and as a consequence, he awaited the flowing seawater's embrace. It had been a mistake to resist. To misinterpret an ultimatum for an option. Had he been too blind to see with the clarity his eyes did now , as they gazed in terror at the clear , taunting glow of the stars , his heartbeat striking against his shivers of revulsion . With his boots soaked in freezing saline and his clothing sodden with his autonomy; it was ending. His delusion of agency, of his earlier liberation as the steering wheel had laid under his hands, was running dry. It seemed the very essence of his humanity was seeping into the air as he closed his eyes. "Don't worry Vic, someone will notice you're gone , right?" , the voice had sneered against his neck. "Before we rope you to the roof of your vehicle, here , take the keys , so you can drive it on out of the middle of who knows where, you pathetic fool." The flashback lingered on the edges of his psyche , as he flinched at the recollection. His eyes refocused on the sky, and he struggled to hold back another futile scream, his ears ringing from the sound of his own pleas. And as his tears bled into the void atmosphere, he convulsed in reactive horror, the sensation of his captor's breath still travelling across his flesh, draining his insides. Twisting his head away from the rising soda can , another scream wrought itself from his chest, albeit his better instincts . "Help me-" , his own voice echoed against the underpass , surrounding him. As he thrashed against his binds , throwing his head back against the roof of the drowning car, the frigid water bit at his flesh as it rushed over the gleaming surface of the Mustang's roof. The same one he had driven to the side of the highway earlier that day. Now with his hands placed on his chest, and clasped around its keys , his teeth clenched with the irony of control being buried in his own grip. "Those bastards -" he muttered, his energy dying , the stars seeming closer yet further away as water lapped over the car's bonnet. As his eyes slid closed , the silence mocked him. With its clinical , resounding illusion, rushing water creeping closer , he cursed. Poised to spit at how his existence was unheard in the lucidity, he heard the voices of drunken strangers . "Yeah Ryan, I don't understand where this Hennessy came from but , damn I'll take what I get." Laughter followed , and the air was filled by the oncoming revelry. . "Nah , Liam, it was abandoned , which is why I'm thinking these roads aren't so safe-who would leave a bottle of decent-" Victor elicited another scream, his chest encompassed by the unyielding binds. "Please-Oh God-please-" --------- Ryan halted in his tracks, gripping Liam's forearm and steering him toward the overpass , as the wrenching voice curdled through his eardrums. "Bloody hell, Li , I'm sobering up damn quick-" he said, his voice skirting a whisper. Liam dropped the bottle , splinters of glass raining over the pavement , along with the remains of their alcohol ."Ah, shit. Well fun's over Ry-but what the hell was that ?". As Ryan surveyed the scene below ; a dark figure strapped strategically to the roof of a car , he identified the nylon ropes with a hint of distress occupying the rasp in his voice . "It seems like those bastards -namely Valen-are getting into more intricate tactics. I'm guessin' the poor guy is no older than us, and he made the same mistake I did -" Ryan stumbled back into Liam's shoulder , his face consumed with pallor. "I think if that underpass could flood it'd take hours but- cutting through those damn ropes would take just as long- but I can tolerate the cold at least-" Liam was already stripping his shirt as he nodded "Well, it's not as if we can keep walking now, and this place is only bearable after dark anyways-" . Ryan levelled his gaze at Liam as e inspected a rock and other various debris in his hand as he crouched by the roadside. "Are you sure you're alright to -after , well..." Liam, dropping to his knees beside Ryan, scooped up a handful of stones."I'm -lost in the middle of nowhere-I'll deal with it-that poor guy has gotta be freezing-and if I'm honest, after finding Logan's dog..this whole area is just a dumping ground right?" . A low whistle escaped Ryan's teeth as he replied, "seems like the body count will only rise at this rate , but if he survives this, it kinda proves that while these bastards can try-we can't even walk a mile without finding another victim, or the traces of one, and they will fail at this bust. " As Liam hauled himself onto his feet he said, a strain in his words "It's all get-out of hell or die trying right? , let's get down there-" Another of Victor's screams ripped through Ryan's core as he followed Liam down into the underpass and waded through the shallow water , his boots lending him traction . "Hey , buddy , it's alright, we know Valen , you coukd say-" Ryan called out as he reached the roof of the ruined Mustang, and his hazel eyes met Victor's grey stare. "What's your name , I'm Ryan, but just call me Ry'-he does-" . As he gestured towards Liam , who was already hauling himself onto the trunk , offered up a lopsided grin. "Liam also survived a similar set up, he broke out of his own binds , then he severed mine. We're gonna get you out of here. Looks like we've got a few hours to damn well try anyway-" Victor's eyes glassed over as he chuckled darkly, "In a body bag right-coz I'm gonna drown. That asshole knew the tide would flow in here eventually but he planned to kill me soft and slow and all that-" Ryan reached over Victor's body smoothing a finger along the trademark nylon texture of the rope binding his wrists. "Good thing I've done this before , huh? " Victor , waggling a thumb, introduced himself , "Victor, I'd shake your hand but-I'm trying not to jump out if my skin here." Ryan inspected the proximity of the rope against Victor's flesh, cursing at his failure . "Damnit, I can't even slip a finger underneath-" . An ease , amalgamated with caution, laced Liam's response as he dug a stone from his pocket. "Well there's enough assorted debris around here , a damn sight more than what we had at our disposal, I'd imagine these rocks will erode the nylon without cutting his ribcage when when get down close-" Ryan , elevating himself onto the roof of the car, knelt beside Victor's head, and held his concern on Victor's terrified gaze. "Not that we wont use broken glass if we have to, as long as it ain't fatal, it's a variable I'll deal with, but buddy , I need you to work on slowing the breathing down 'cause those binds 'round your chest seem tight. You're gonna need those ribs for drinking when we get some booze onto you later , huh?" . As the levity quelled Victor's panic breaths, the shallow reach of his breaths encompassing depth, he laughed. "Well, if you two escaped Va-that bastard-I'd be buying you the drinks. I won't go into specifics but, I may have committed a serious crime if it weren't for my stubborn resistance-and now, here I am." Ryan's hazel aspect shone with flecks of illumination as he said "you never actually had a choice , so don't beat yourself into insanity-none of us ever had a choice. Liam can tell you for himself . It was an ultimatum, say no ..you get this ..say yes , well..." Liam interjected, his blue irises averted into the distance ,"You wind up in the centre of a different hell. But either way, it felt like agency but-define that. I nearly died." Victor lifted his head to confront Liam's expression . "And I'd take your own advice there. You look like hell talkin'-" . Ryan , angling a stone with meticulous precision, exhaled another low whistle through his teeth. "I've been telling him that myself . But that's Li'" . As Ryan tackled the fibres of rope , with hours of the same repetitive motion staring him in the face he watched Victor in his peripheral vision , noticing the steadying of his respiration. "I gotta admit , I'd be out of my skin by now if I had ropes hugging me-I'll give you kudos for that-" Victor shifted under the hold of his confinement, his eyes weathered and betraying his composure. "This isn't the hardest part. It's -well , I believed I'd escaped , I was driving her, and then-well , I had so much nothing .. I was lost , my face is probably on flyers back home -and here I was picturing my face staring back through a plastic sleeve when they find my drivers licence at the bottom of -" Liam finally opted for a razor edged stone, one that sat in his palm with a smoothness and lent the binds around Victors chest a glance. "Well you better keep that breathing steady for me , I can't stall this any longer. It's gonna hurt but it beats the alternative . I suppose when you think about the realties of being captive , you start dissecting the disturbing shit , but right now we need you clear minded ." Liam's subsequent smile was laced with a sober empathy, as he slithered the sharp edge of the rock into the thick tethers , the motion grinding Victor's chest. "Damn, yeah that hurts but, somehow I don't half mind it-" . Ryan was quick to slap a hand down over Victors forearm, "that's the spirit , cause this ain't exactly easy-but hey we have nowhere else to be. And you're more that a mugshot under plastic. I'm gonna see to that." As Ryan worked on the rope , his fingertips abrading and his sweat intermingling with blood , the cool air skimmed across the rising water . "Hey Liam, at what rate do you figure that's rising? I'm guessin' we've been at this half an hour , and it's only just submerged the bottom rim of the passenger door. It's not rapid , but then , neither are we-my fingers are-" Liam nodded , shaking his fingers and running a hand over his bruised eye sockets, wincing. "Yeah, we have time , but we need it. I'm struggling not to pass out. " Liam's earlier brush with the concrete caused his temples ache with exertion, his expression exposing his effort. "But I can do this for as long I have to-" he muttered, more to himself as his voice trailed into an internalised musing. Victor rolled his head to the side with unease , "if this goes south, I -well-please don't leave me when-y'know-" . Ryan's voice , filled with metallic resolve , stated calmly as he said "It doesn't matter what they made you believe you deserve, to lose your dignity is not one of those things. I told him, and I'll tell you . Ain't nobody getting left behind, now let ol' Ry severe this damn bind-it's getting weaker." He grunted, his muscles gleaming against the moonlight as he edged on Victors wrists, applying a mixture of calculated pressure and measured dexterity. Controlling his own strength left his fingers trembling as the binds neared their limits. And then , with a satisfying snap, the rope sprung from Victor's skin and Ryan uncoiled the rope , freeing Victor's arms . Liam ceased his rhythmic efforts on Victor's torso as he gazed up, his crooked grin beaming in the moonlight. "Hell yeah , Ry, he's able bodied from the waist up". Victor was quick to raise his cramped hands to his face, running his palms over his bloodshot eyes. The jangle of his keys hitting his sternum cut through the air, and he clutched at them, his knuckles shaking. "Thanks-I-" he whispered, and Ryan grabbed his free hand. "It was nothing, that I wouldn't do for ya Victor . Now lie back down , conserve the energy for thanking Liam, he's burning himself out like a candle with no wick" . A laugh replied , as Liam's arms shook with the smattering of his amusement ringing through the air. "Ah Ryan, deflecting gratitude , has its downsides, because I'm basting in it because I'm too exhausted to resist sweet nothings , you'll be down here finishing this off-" Ryan's warm smile , not leaving his worn features , faded as he noticed the keys wedged between Victor's fingers. "Damn, I'm sorry -" Victor diverted his irises in the darkness, laying his head back down and dropping the keys into the water below . "It's not as if I'd drive her again after-" . A silence consumed them , its thickness distilled only by Liam's hacking at the thick rope in his grasp. The splash caught Ryan's broader attention, as he noticed the water was lapping at the handles of the car doors. "Its halfway to the roof Li' , tell me you're halfway through those damn things -" As Victor writhed under the subtle movements against his chest, Liam mouth to Ryan , his fingers covered in blood "I'm not even half-way-" . It was a sinking pull, gnawing at Ryan's instincts , as he leaned forward and grasped Victors hand. "Try to keep still , I know it's gotta hurt like hell but, the sting of cold water on a laceration-I admit I have some medical training, nothin a first aid course couldn't take care of but, I don't want you suffering more than you have to-" . His voice slaved Victirs raging nerves , the short circuiting of his scattered thoughts coming together ." You guys are both-I'm just , so glad you found me-" Ryan ran his tongue his teeth, as he gestured toward Liam, "Well , this guy here , I was trying to get us both a bit of relief from the trauma we escaped ourselves two days ago. We found a pair of boots further up the street. And a malnourished dog. The boots were sock-less , straight and perfect. And the dogs tag -had a phone number . I called it and Logan grey's recorded voice answered me. We're gonna find him, most likely alive and tortured in the usual way. Finding you was no accident , Vic, we're just lucky to have found you alive -" As the moon hit Liam's profile , he turned his face away and rasped a quiet string of words. "The way his boots were , like some sick calling card. Nauseates me. And I don't have to explain why I have a weak stomach after what they-I mean I said yes after all." As Victor nodded with a grave expression he replied. "It's alright. I know the alternative and I couldn't bear it. Why did you?" Liam directed his blue stare at Ryan, answering without a beat. "Thought if ai said yes I'd spare him. But we'll, I'm not so sure that what he had to watch was any better-" . As Liam's breaths grew laboured he threw a glance to the rising water , now covering the car's windows. "Not to alarm ya both-but I'm just halfway on this rope now . . Ryan you'd better get down here and help me. "I should , but/Ive gotta stay close to his neck because if the air irritates his airways he's spasm right into your rock, and secondly, if the water gets to high , he'll need mental preparation-" Liam's face drained of colour, and he nestled the heel of his palm against his temple. "oh God Ry' , I can't -maybe I'm too raw for this after all-" Ryan leaned in closer to Liam, muttering close to his ear "It's not gonna be easy for him to hold his breath , but I have to get him through if he goes -" . Victor, clenching his jaw as he felt the lap of water just below his head stared straight upward . "It's getting higher, it will spill onto the roof soon and then" Ryan held Victors sternum in place as he felt him start to spasm into a cough. "Easy buddy , I really need you to focus on the breathing for me ok. I'm gonna help you practice holding your breath , and controlling those spasms when and if they happen. It might all go out the window in the moment but we can work on it over the next few hours.." Victor twisted his head towards Ryan, fear lacing his voice as it cracked in the cold air. "Oh god-this is really-" . Ryan , quick to disperse his own concern into the atmosphere gave a steady reply ." Not if we can help it. it's more of a worst case scenario, because you're gonna pull the hell through this . And you won't be be alone. I'm right here to help you stay warm alright" Ryan said as he dragged Victors head into his lap, the friction of his jeans heating up the cool skin on Victor's throat. "The air is gonna get abrasive as all hell but we can do what we can to keep you breathing strong and even. Now , tell me Victor , do you have a dog? " Victor shook his head against Ryan's thighs, incredulous at the question . "What on earth does that matter , although hes probably peed on every damn surface he can find , and my neighbors will have broken my front windows to get him out, feed him-ah shit the poor thing won't know what he did to deserve total abandonment-" Ryan maintained his hold over Ryan's sternum as he responded with an insightful tone. "You realise that, now that you have two people , and an animal , that even if you put one foot in the grave , we own your other damn leg-" a wry grin twisted Victors lips "Yeah, I'm beginning to realise that. Oh shit , this hurts though. The air , the binds , It's been hours-" Ryan, not shying away from Victors faltering resolve , wound his fingers through Victirs , "if you do convulse I've got you. At least , while being cold out here, it's not hypothermic or anything. Your have decent color in that mug. But holding water in your mouth while you fight your own urge to inhale won't be easy. And I won't sugarcoat this. All I can do is let you feel that I'm here , and you'll feel Liam, don't worry about that. Remember , you got three lives counting on you to stay strong." Victor cracked his darkest smile yet , "but the likelihood of me lasting long underwater is as slim as finding any actual booze to drink if I were to live-" . Liam interjected , his through hoarse from the lack of use -"actually me and Ry-found Henny earlier. So at this stage I'll bet on you living-" as Liam's comment elicited a chuckle from Victors throat he lamented as he said"Well , it's true, I owe you both my hands , just to have some autonomy as I go under is-and I owe it to you both to fight , even as my lungs are filling up with -oh-g-" . Victors eyes, widening with the realism of the impending fate, albeit interwoven with a newfound empathy and humanity, slapped him cold. "I-I'm not gonna live through this-" Ryan fought to contain his instinct to flinch, countering as he said "Well Victor if we lost you , you know that, you'd die a fucking hero- also , not under my watch. I won't let Liam check out so easy and the same goes for you. You'd better stay with me and that's a threat. " a smirk stole Victors panicked demeanour as he grinned "or what? You'll kill me?." "Ah shut up-"Ryan smirked , jest in his voice before returning to his metal tone. "Block off your nose and give it some run throughs of holding your breath . It's not some skill to be mastered but you'll have the subconscious knowledge that you can do it . Maybe that'll help. We can focus just holding it longer and longer. Or will we just let you do what you gotta if this goes -" Victor held a look of resilience in his eyes as he nodded . "No , I should practice being' calm , embracing my demise is not gonna happen anyhow but I'll do anything to fight it. I mean, I'll probably inhale a lungful of water as soon as I go under but I'll do my best" Ryan held Victors collarbones as Victor ran through holding his breath, lasting a full minute before gasping . "That's one minute you've bought yourself" Victor stared with dread into the distance. "Is that really long enough. One lousy minute." Liam piped up "if I'm still hacking away by then, yeah every minute will count. I'm over halfway through -"

The threat of the cold water lapped at Victors jaw, licking his earlobe with tongues of freezing peril. Holding Ryan's hand as the water crept higher the keys of the Mustang long forgotten in the tide, , Ryan braced a palm under Victors head , as his neck collapsed with exhaustion. The tide, without mercy , hedged at Victor's temples , and he prepared for water to fill his lungs . His teeth settled painfully against his gums as he struggled to keep his jaw locked. , ensuring not even a droplet would berate his airways, or his demise would be met. Instincts overrode him as he dragged in the chilling air, closing his eyes as the water claimed his eyelids and lashes. Ryan's voice, seeming a mile away as the seawater engulfed his head, rang out clear . "Victor , I have my hand on your sternum, I can feel you buddy,. You can do this. It'll hurt and you'll have to fight your instincts to breathe but, you've gotta fight the urge to cough. You might feel dizzy but this is all we've got-" As Ryan held Victors head , his arm was an eirie lifeline in his lap. "Liam , how far in are you?", he asked, Victor's gums were torn with the motion of realignment. He fought the urge to scream into his mouth , instead staring at the isolating darkness of his eyelids. ""This ain't ideal Ry' and I don't mean to alarm ya but, the rope is thicker than-my fingertips are bleeding-". Shaking the stiffness from his hands , Liam rested the heal of his palm over one of his bruised eyes , his earlier injuries shadowing his features. "I'm trying not to pass out, but I'm maybe a third of an inch from done" . Ryan , interweaving his fingers through Victor's hair as he held his head steady, whispered, "Liam's got you, now this is gonna hurt as he gets closer to your chest but that means he's almost there, so hold tight. We'll both be right here.." As he fought against his abraded airway, with every urge to cough careening him towards the edge of his control, he managed to contain another cough.one single urge extinguished , his every fibre of his being concentrated into the very act. Ryan's firm grasp was all that tied his fragile state to a tangible reality, each following urge consuming the frail line of sanity . As Liam's blood intermingled with the saltwater , staining the rope under his finger, his vision glazed with tears. "Hold on Vic, last few damn fibres." he muttered . Grazing the rock against Victor's chest with a careful precision , watching him contain his flinches, Liam cut through the pain with meticulous dedication. Just as Victor felt teeth grind , the insidious twist of execution set his chest into a fatal spasm. As his body wracked with terror , water seeped into his mouth and he clenched his jaw, his pupils wide , his chest shaking with a violent force . "Oh shit- Victor , listen to me, if youve got water in your mouth squeeze my hand" Ryan said, staving off his own panic as he felt the jolt through his fingers. "It's alright , hold your breath, we still got some minutes, you're doing great, Vic. We'll get you up soon. Count to ten for me." . The next moment, the rope broke, and Ryan propelled Victors head upward , as he gasped for fresh air. As fatigue laden tears fell from his bloodshot eyes, he smiled through bloodied teeth. His neck then collapsed into Ryan's chest as Victor was rendered unable to speak . Ryan, breaking into a smile of relief, delivered a gentle thump to Victors head. "He's up and kicking-almost... you took about twenty breaths. Damn amazing job, borrowed you some life" Tears fell from Victor's eyes as adrenaline rushed through him "Thank you -I -thought I'd die." Ryan pulled Victor's weak frame against him , replying , "well you scared the hell out of me and I don't scare easy". Ryan scanned his trained eyes over Victor's back, before noticing Victor's shoulder had dislocated during his attempts to overcome his own imprisonment. As he realigned his shoulder blade , and guided in back into place, Victor groaned at the force. "What the hell was that?" . Ryan , dodging Victor's outpouring of gratitude, responded coolly "You must have put your shoulder out thrashing around, and you're too cold to feel it, but don't worry , you will later." Victor's cheek , still nestled aside Ryan's chest, vibrated with his low murmur. "Oh, shit, how did you-" Ryan only laughed as he gazed at the exhausted Liam who had already travelled to Victors pelvis , strain in his eyes. "I've had some experience with medical -it doesn't matter . Liam is on breaking point so I'm gonna take his position. Victor offered his hand to Ryan , his eyes gesturing at the rock "I can help you cut-" Ryan stashed the rock out of reach as Liam slid himself behind Victor's back, wrapping his arms around his chest to keep him upright. "Sounds like you've got a bit of hypoxia -what I mean is , your brain's messed up, with that shoulder you and Liam are gonna share body heat while I finish this. " With a laugh, Liam readjusted Victors head against his chest , allowing himself to shiver , his muscles radiating heat. "I gotta say, you did one hell of a job breathing for that pipe for a few minutes . It's a good thing you didn't have to resort to holding' your breath ." They both chuckled, their relief intermingling with the surrealism of the moment. "I couldn't have breathed through that, you're really something, huh? " Victor grinned , his humour still intact as oxygen crawled to his nerve endings . "I'm death warmed up, thanks to you-". Ryan finally snapped the binding from Victor's left hip, groaning as he hauled himself to the other side of the car , the water holding its rapid infiltration of time. "And this is the easy part-bloody hell, the alcohol is catching back up to me -" . Liam's heartbeat slowed as his eyelids sank lower and he replied "Keep at it Ry' , the tide is reaching my armpits here, and he must weigh as much as I do-" . Victor's gruff reply, filled with the thickness of his throat , hung in the air as the keys to the Mustang hit Liam in the forearm. He retrieved them, flipping them around his knuckles , and handing them to Victor. "This was your car-man I'm sorry-", he lamented a somber tone lacing his voice. "Well it's not as if I planned to drive her again after this-" Silence fell over Victor in a blanket of emancipation from his former identity. "I just want to block the whole incident out-" he said, and turned his attention to the rising water. Finally, Ryan sawed through Victor's right hip, pulling the rope away , his expression betraying his strength. "Thank goodness for that. Now Victor, wanna be a dead man swimming?" He asked, his smile illuminating in the dark. With his arm slung around Victors injured shoulder , Liam heaved him into a one armed embraced and swung his legs from the roof of the car. "Lean on me, and let's get you to shore huh? Me and Ryan don't know where the hell we are but it seems like right place at the right time cuts it..." Victor nodded, as Ryan swam to shore , and sprawled across the bank , chest heaving .Liam and Victor's conjoined shadow swam across the rushing water, as Liam eased Victor onto his back . Joining him , the sky held its silver edge of despondency, quiet and somehow offering meaning . It could maybe be more than nothing, and nowhere , even it that's precisely what it was. -------