ENSLAVED

Chapter 3

They were not the only two who had been taken by the cult, inside the van Gail was huddled in a corner terrified at being in the grips of the cult again. She had tried so hard during the past month in therapy to forget her ordeal with Simon’s members.

Starsky was thrown into the back of the van, Gail still remembered him from the previous month, remembering how he somehow managed to get through to her not to cut him as Simon had wished. Remembering the agony she had caused him with the water she had given him. He was the one who had managed to break the hold Simon had on her but now he looked so weak.

"Why are you doing this" Gail asked moving over to Starsky pulling him closer to her and holding him in her arms.

"Why can't you leave us alone"

One of the robed figures and Doctor Lancaster climbed into the van slamming the doors behind them. The van slowly moved away followed by the second van containing Hutch and the remaining Simon members. Simon’s followers quickly set about securing Hutch who would not be awake for quite some time

"Simon dreamed the night time will become one of us" stated Joseph who was riding in the van with Doctor Lancaster and their two captives.

"He will soon be joining you" commented the doctor looking down at Starsky who was slowly starting to stir.

Gail was trying to make Starsky more comfortable and had his head resting in her lap, he was slowly coming round. Joseph started his chant "Simon, Simon, Simon" Starsky was only semi conscious but started to toss around again hearing the chanting, thinking it was all a bad dream. If this was a bad dream then where ever he was the place was

moving. He called out for Hutch but all he could hear was a voice chanting that name again over and over and over, slowly he opened his eyes and tried to focus. He only took in one image, Gail holding him before he slipped into the darkness of sleep again.

An hour later both vehicles had reached their destination, the farm had been deserted for a month since the owner had been blown to pieces in his fertiliser shed. Apart from the shed being in tatters the remaining buildings were in reasonable order, some a few run down, the house was old but suited the current purposes of the cult.

Hutch was still out cold and was carried into the house by two of the cult members and dumped onto the bed in one of the rooms, the room was very small, more like a cupboard than a bedroom with only just enough room for the bed and a chair. He was blindfolded and his hands were locked behind his back. Starsky was half carried into the house, he was still rather sleepy from the sedative and falling on the steps was dragged the rest of the way by his arms into the house and dumped on the chair in the room with Hutch. The door was slammed behind them and locked.

"Come on Hutch" Starsky pleaded "Wake up for me buddy" All he could hear was the faint noise of the chanting continuing or was he dreaming it again. No, he couldn't be dreaming it could he, Hutch was lying in front of him unconscious and now it was all starting to come back to him, he had seen Gail looking down at him, feeling movement underneath him. "Please Hutch wake up"

Simon’s worshippers were preparing for their next ceremony. An altar had been prepared in one of the outbuildings. The day was starting to turn into night and in a few hours Simon’s dream of death would be realised.

In the early evening, Hutch had finally woken, "Hey, its good to have you awake" smiled Starsky as he helped sit Hutch upright.

"You alright Starsk?" Hutch looked worriedly at him wondering how long they had been here, where ever here was. Hutch’s memory was coming back to him as he remembered the lift and the doors opening and the hooded figures rushing towards him.

"Yea fine, still tired, don't know where we are, but Hutch its Simon’s people all over again" Starsky’s voice was quite shaky the fear welling up inside of him at the thoughts of what could happen to them. Time seemed to be an eternity. They could not get out of the room, Starsky had already tried the door but it was locked from the outside, the windows had bars over them, there was no way out and the hours ticked by.

The door opened and they were quickly pulled to their feet and shoved out through the house towards the outbuilding. Starsky’s hands had been tied behind his back, he was still too tired to try and struggle with his captors and besides it was night time, he had no idea where they were and he had to help Hutch get out of this, they both had to get out of this alive.

Two chairs were positioned in front of the altar and they were shoved into their seats. Some of the cult members where standing behind the altar, chanting Simon, Simon, Simon. On the altar where two glasses filled with fluid.

Memories where flooding back again at Starsky when he saw the glasses and the fluid. "Hutch, whatever you do, don't drink that liquid" he tried to warn Hutch remembering the stomach wrenching pain he had after Gail had given him what looked like water to drink.

"Starsk, what do you think they are up to" Hutch was looking around as best he could but could not see a great deal in the dimly lit building. The only light provided was by all the candles burning, encircling the group.

Two of the cult members each approached the altar and bought the glasses to Starsky and Hutch.

"Simon dreams you will join us" stated Joseph "He dreams you will help him become free" and with that Starsky and Hutch were both grabbed from behind, their heads pulled back and the glasses placed against their lips.

Both did not obey the requests for them to take the drink. Gail was pulled into the building screaming.

"Let her" and before Starsky could get the rest of the words out the contents of the glass were poured into his mouth, he managed to spit the contents back out again, the spitted contents landing at their target Joseph. Joseph signalled his man nearest Hutch who delivered a sickening blow to Hutch’s ribs. Hutch’s mouth flew open in a gasp and the contents of his glass were emptied into his mouth, his jaw held shut and his nose pinched he finally had no choice but to swallow.

The room begain to spin, pain raced through his stomach. Starsky looked on at his partner wishing he could help stop the pain he was going through. Hutch turned to Starsky "Fight them Starsk, fight them" and then the darkness started to clam him.

"No, why are you doing this" asked Gail who was being held in front of them both.

At that moment Joseph pulled out a large knife and held it to Gail’s throat. "Now night time, you will take your drink and swallow it, it is Simon’s wish you join us" The glass was again refilled and placed against Starsky’s lips. Again he refused to obey the request. A knife was then held against his throat.

"You will drink the fluid, night time" and with that Joseph slit Gail’s throat from ear to ear, the blood spurted everywhere and her lifeless form was dumped on the ground. "Now night time, you will take your drink" and with that Starsky’s head was held right back, the blade started to cut into his skin, his mouth was forced open and the contents of the glass poured in. His mouth held closed and his nose pinched shut he desperately tried not to swallow, he could hear Hutch’s moans from the drink taking its toll on his partner but soon he too had swallowed the contents and now the pain was ravaging him again.