The Nightmare Factory
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Okey-dokey, first things first. I do not own the Secret Saturdays, and I never will. For future reference, this story starts after "Once More The Nightmare Factory", so all of the episodes following that have not happened, and most likely never will. Please enjoy, and don't forget to R&R! ^_^
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The Saturdays sat around the dining room table, each face more morose than the next. Their latest mission could be described as both a success and a failure.
On one hand, they had gotten Fisk.
On the other, they lost Zak.
The silence was more then Drew could take. She slammed her fist into the table, getting everyone's attention with a start.
"We have to get him back, Doc!"
Fiskerton's growls echoed hers. Doc looked up, staring sadly into his wife's troubled face. He knew that expression well. Too well.
"I know, Drew, but we need to think of a plan! We've lost too many people to Weird World already. We can't let anyone else fall into Argost's hands." His words were eerily similar to the ones he spoke to Drew and Zak five nights ago, when the mission was to rescue Fiskerton. Now it's Drew and Fisk on the other side of the table, waiting in fear and impatience for a plan to form.
She stood up, knocking over the chair in her haste. "Plans! Plans! Forget about plans! It's been five days, Doc! Five days! Who knows what that maniac could've done to our son by now. We-" her voice broke as she gave in to her tears. "We don't even know if he's still alive."
"Drew..." Doc rose to meet her, pulling her into an embrace. "Don't worry. He's alright, I know it."
"How?" Drew choked, "How are you so sure?"
He put on a weak smile. "He's a Saturday, Drew. And things always-"
"Work out for a Saturday." Drew finished his sentence. That had always been their little family joke. And, somehow, it still held true. "Thank you, Doc." She turned, pulling him in for a kiss.
"Tomorrow night."
"Huh?"
"We'll leave tomorrow night. That gives us enough time to gather supplies and some reinforcements.
"What about the plan?" Drew asked, her mocking smirk still muted by sadness.
Doc smirked back. "We can make it up as we go along. Time is of the essence." He paused, his smirk fading. "And I want to see our son just as badly as you do."
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The dungeon door slammed, and Zak weakly turned his head up at the noise. His glazed eyes met the cold, cruel ones of his childhood hero turned mortal enemy. Argost's unfeeling eyes narrowed as he looked upon his prisoner. He was not bound with chains, but it would not of mattered. The boy learned quickly that any attempts to escape Weird World were futile. His scars ere the only proof he needed. Argost walked forward, chuckling lowly at the sneer forming on the young boy's face. One week ago, Zak's family had tried to reclaim another one of his prisoners. They had succeeded, but Argost learned from his mistakes. They had rescued one son, but Argost was able to capture another. There was no doubt that another attempt would be made to right this wrong. Even so, as he stepped further into the young Saturday's chamber he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Argost had won, if only momentarily. He was only a foot away from the boy when he spoke.
"I will give you the same offer that I have given you every night you have stayed here. Aid me in capturing a certain cryptid, and you will be returned home unharmed. Well..." He hesitated for a second, "No more harmed then you are now."
Zak stared into his captor's eyes, resisting the urge to spit.
"And I'll give you the same answer. No." Crimson stained his teeth, streaking from the corner of his mouth.
At his outburst, Argost smiled. A shiver ran down Zak's spine. Something about Argost's smile seemed... unnatural. Cold. Malicious. Zak felt anything but comforted when he was faced with it.
"Then, my boy, let us change the stakes. You agree to my demands..."
Zak growled with impatience, "I already said-"
"Or I inform your parents of your unfortunate death."
Zak's blood ran cold. He had thought that Argost was clinically insane, but he never thought it to this extent. Was he really capable of murder?
He didn't want that question answered anytime soon.
"You... you'd kill me?" He couldn't keep fear from adding a child-like waiver to his voice.
Another chuckle. "Oh no, you misunderstand me. You will not be dead. I'll just let your parents think that."
He stared daggers into Argost for a moment before muttering a few choice curses and going into thought.
'That maniac! He... he can't do that to them! It would kill them!' Zak thought, trembling with the cruel irony of the entire situation. He didn't want to obey. He just wanted to be home, away from this cell, away from Argost, away from this entire situation. But his choices were clear. Help Argost or remain imprisoned. Help Argost or die. There were possible deceptions with either choice he could make.
'If I go with him and catch the cryptid, he could just kill me or throw me back in confinement. If I don't, he could kill me. Or, he could keep me alive, torture me and tell my parents that I'm dead.'
"Neither of the choices do me much good." He muttered to himself. His choice came down to one question. 'Do I trust that Argost will keep his word?'
His heart said no. His brain told him he would have to.
Zak took another ragged breath, steadying himself to voice his decision. Argost stared at him expectantly, and he wanted nothing more than to punch him in his pasty, scheming face. He sighed, then responded, dejection and defeat clearly sounding in his voice.
"I'll do it."
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How's that for a first chapter? Tell me with your reviews if I should post the next chapter! Until then, see you next time, R&R, and tip your waitresses!
-UltimateShipper2009 ^_^