"Wake up." A hand delivered a sharp slap across Asher's face. Her head snapped to the side. She opened her eyes and glared at the man standing in front of her. He was holding a riding crop.
"What do you want from me?" Asher asked Kronos as he circled her.
He laughed. "I think that's rather obvious. But as for why you, I like to think of you as insurance. You see, I'm going to rule the world and Methos is going to help me do it. You're here so he doesn't get any ideas about leaving or trying to stop me." Kronos laughed and walked all the way around her, the crop running over her naked body as he moved. Asher closed her eyes, turning her head from him and tried to curl into a ball. "I think I'm going to enjoy breaking you. Open your eyes." He forced her to look at him. "I can and will kill you as often as it takes for you to realize who is in charge here. We have eternity after all. When I'm done, you'll call me master." He pushed her down, kneeling over her. She reached up and scratched him.
"Now that wasn't very smart, was it?" He slammed her head into the hard surface beneath her and her body went still.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Duncan asked.
Methos nodded into the phone. "Yeah. There's not much we can do."
"Joe's still keeping an ear open through Watcher channels."
"I know."
"We'll find her."
"It's been more than a week MacLeod. Time's running out."
"Don't think like that. We will find her." Determination was hard in Duncan's voice.
"Yeah. Listen, I'll talk to you later."
"Right. I'll keep an ear out for any information."
"Thanks, MacLeod." Methos hung up the phone and scooped up his bag from the couch. Tossing it over his shoulder, he headed down to his car.
As he approached his car, Methos felt another Immortal. "MacLeod?" He called out turning to face the Immortal. "Is that you?" He stopped in surprise as a knife lodged itself in his chest and he came face to face with Kronos.
"Greetings brother." He smiled evilly, grabbing the front of Methos' sweater.
Methos gasped in pain. "Kronos." He choked out.
"I missed you, too." Kronos let go, letting Methos slide to the ground as he died. He watched, grinning ferally.
"We're going on a little trip." A scarred man towered over her. Something seemed vaguely familiar about him. He kicked her and tossed a T-shirt and a pair of dirty jeans at her. "Put those on." She was sacred and unsure of where she was and how she got there. She knew that the scarred man in front of her was dangerous and dressed quickly. He pulled her to him, wrapping a cord tightly around her wrists. He forced her to sit and tied her feet the same way. He drew a dagger and she scooted away from him in fear. "Good night, my dear." He said and stabbed her in the heart. When she was dead, he bundled her up and slung her over his shoulder, carrying her out of the cell.
When she woke up this time, she was in almost complete darkness. There was a very small window in the corner but it let in little light. She'd been stripped of the garments she'd worn for traveling and shivered in the cold. After gingerly exploring the tiny room, she sat back down on the cot. She had no idea of her own name. All she knew was the scarred man who she called master. Eventually, she was too exhausted to think any longer and fell into a deep sleep.
The metallic slam of the door woke her and she sat up, her knees drawn to her chest. The scarred man watched her for a moment, taking in her scared and confused look. He knelt down beside her.
"Who are you?" He asked in a deceivingly soft voice.
"Nobody, master." She responded softly.
He smiled. "Good."
Methos pretended to read the book on his lap, watching Caspian and Silas argue. He knew Kronos had something to do with Asher's disappearance and he would find her and get her safe before Kronos completed whatever his insane plan was.
A shout caused Methos to look up. Caspian and Silas were standing, glaring at each other, their weapons drawn. Kronos strode into the room.
"Put them down! Do it. Now." He turned looking at both of them. "We never raise a blade against each other. Isn't that right, Methos?"
He looked up nonchalantly. "You said it." He smiled and went back to pretending to read.
"We are the Four Horsemen. No other band of men has ever been more cruel or more feared. Remember that." Kronos walked around the table and held out his arm. The four men linked arms and smiled.
She was cold again. The scarred man had been gone for a long time and she was grateful but at the same time there was no food or water. She was so tired and she had almost no energy. Sitting back on the cot she gazed up at the tiny window. Realization hit her that she might be able to use the glass as a weapon.
Standing on her toes, she hit the window with her fist. It shattered, leaving only a few pieces still in the frame. She freed the biggest one and held it in her hand. The sharp edges of the glass cut her so she tore a strip of material from the mattress and wrapped it around part of the glass, fashioning a crude handle.
"Come with me brother. I have something to show you." Kronos appeared by Methos' chair, looking eager.
Methos looked at him for a moment. "What is it?" He sounded bored.
"Trust me, brother." Kronos held out his hand to Methos.
Methos clasped Kronos' hand, letting him pull him from the chair. "Never. That's how I've stayed alive this long."
Kronos barked a short laugh. "Come." He led them down a dark hallway. "It's an old friend of yours. She's been most accommodating to me."
She looked up suddenly alert. The nauseous feeling passed and she could hear voices coming down the hall. She hid in the darkest corner of the small room, clutching the glass shard.
The scarred one was talking to someone as he opened the door. "I really think you ought to have a turn with her, brother. When our plan is complete, I'm going to let Silas and Caspian have a go with her. We share everything, remember?"
As soon as Kronos stepped into the room, she lunged. There wasn't much strength behind the attack but she stabbed him in the heart.
His cruel eyes widened in surprise. He grabbed at her and she scrambled out of his reach. He stilled and she grabbed the dagger in his belt, holding it up, ready to defend herself against the stranger. He was watching her as one observes a wild animal.
"Ash," He began and took a step forward. She drove the dagger into his chest and let him fall to the floor next to the scarred one. She stripped off the stranger's long coat and put it on to cover her nakedness. Then she carefully made her way into the maze of corridors. Outside, the sun was bright and she had to let her eyes adjust to the light. There was a road running away from the base and she began to run.
She ran as hard as she could before exhaustion overcame her. She had gone into a small forest once she was far enough away from the base. Once at the edge of the trees, she could see a large estate house in front of her. She stumbled out of the trees and collapsed a few yards from the forest. The last sounds she was aware of were shouts and screams before she passed out.
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