Bryce Crenshaw stepped out of the silver Mazda Miata. He smoothed the wrinkle from his black suit and allowed the chauffer to take his car into the parking lot. He was determined to find out what exactly was up his former employer's sleeves, and what he had done with Jess. A small thought scared the shit out of him, what if she was dead?? No that would be impossible, he thought to himself. Or was it? He pushed all his thoughts to the back of his head and concentrated on making everyone believe that he was the distinguished young bachelor Monty Ratcliffe III, son of the wealthy and eccentric Montgomery Ratcliffe II, owner of the biggest investment company in the mid-west. "Your coat Mr. Ratcliffe?" a servant came up to him. "Here you go," Bryce said softly handing the young man his black coat and scanned the room for his host. He had no idea how he looked like, but the momment he saw him, he would know. The only catch is that his former employer might know him as well, however unlikely. Bryce apporached a waitress who was standing alone in a corner, holding a tray of expensive tidbits and appetizers. "Excuse me, would you kidnly point out where my host might be?" he asked her quietly. "Of course, he is the man dressed in the white suit, talking with Senator Robertson and his wife," the young lady answered him politely. "Much obliged," Bryce smiled as he made his way to the bar to get some champagne. "Can I have a glass of Asti ?" he asked the man at the bar. "Make that two!" another man exclaimed as he stood beside Bryce. He was a handsome man in his late twenties, conservatively dressed in a black tux. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Aaron Stanton, Mr. Mallgoth's finace manager." "Monty Ratcliffe," Bryce replied smiling as he shook his hand. Now he knew who had hired him. The prominent Preston Mallgoth, entrapreneur, wealthy, no fabulously wealthy, and horribly power hungry. "Tell me, Mr. Stanton, why has Mr. Mallgoth suddenly thrown a party?" "He wants to inform some investors on a possible investment that will pay off billions I'm told," Mr. Stanton replied. "Hmm, that would explain my father's interest," Bryce grinned. "It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Stanton, but if you excuse me, I must find the nearest bathroom, care to inform me where?" "Go through that hallway, right next to the den," Stanton informed Bryce as he got his drink and left. "Thank you very much indeed," Bryce muttered as he hurried to the den. The hallway was dimly lit, as he silently walked through, finally reaching then den. Bryce took out a small decoding device and attachted it on top of the electronic lock and the device began trying random codes onto the lock. After a few minutes the door opened quietly and Bryce slid inside. He swiftly moved to the elegantly carved marble desk and put his gloves on, then sit himself before the computer terminal. He quickly tapped into the security system around the estate and tried to locate Jessie. He looked into the blue prints, and found that there were storage areas underneath the basement areas, and the only way it seemed to get down there was through a freight elevator, but he was certain he couldn't just waltz inside and say, oh I'm just about to rescue the girl you are trying to get information from. "Great then what the hell do I do??" Bryce muttered angrily as his mind furiously tried to find another way in. Suddenly there were footseps and Bryce held his breathe as he quickly exited the program. "I'll be at the den Stanton,"a voice called out as small beads of sweat formed on his temples. Bryce looked worriedly for an exit, a window, another door, anything! In franticness, he ran into the bathroom and quietly shut the door as the mysterious Preston Mallgoth entered the room in his expensive white tailored Armani suit. Preston Mallgoth smiled evily as everything was going according to plan. He had the good Doctor, the thief was probably dead lying in a ditch somewhere, and pretty soon he was going to be even more fabulously wealthy. The middle aged man chuckled softly thinking of his own shrewdness. Unknown to him, Bryce was still inside the bathroom where he was trying to make his escape and make a return at the party. But how?? He took out a pocket flashlight and moved it around the bathroom. Luck was shining upon him as a door appeared. *halleluia,* he thought to himself as he opened the door and found himself outside in the hallway again. *Guess, I did use the bathroom afterall,* he grinned inwardly as he quickened his pace back into the party. Jessie stared at the dark ceiling and felt extremely tired. She was nauscious felt like a fever was penetrating her body. The room was cold, clammy, and humid. It was like someone chocking her, the air was so dense and heavy that every breathe she took was making her feel even more dizzy. She wondered if anyone would ever find her. She wondered if Bryce would find her. No longer being able to stand the overwhelming nauscea, she slipped into a deep sleep, inwhich something happened, something that triggers the memories embeded in the back of mind. She was another cave, it was also cold, dark, and damp. She was shivering from fear and the fact that she was drenched. The wails and moans from the other prisoners could be heard, and each scream made Jessica even mor determined that she was going to get out of this place alive. "Are you alright?" a soft voice asked her. "Who are you? What do you want???" she asked meekly, not trusting anyone. "I just wanted to see if you were alright..." the voice replied cautiously. "Sorry if I disturbed you..." "NO!" Jessica said a little to strongly. "I mean I'm sorry I acted so defensively. Its just that I've been through some ordeals the past few days..." "No need to apologize, I was being unsensitive, " the voice told her. "I'm Brynne Crenshaw, theif and notorious liar extrodinaire, at your service!" "Jessica, daughter of Lord Bannon of Wessex," she said as the boy was silent. "Err did I say something wrong?" "Oh no!" he quickly replied. "Its just that I didn't know I was infront of royalty, mi'lady.." "Well," she laughed. "Do you have an ingenious plan to get us out of here thief??" she asked softly, with a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I'll get you out of this," Brynne swore to her, "and if there's one thing that I am, is stubborn." "I appreciate the effort Brynne, but hopefully with what I've got planned I can get myself out of this.." Jessica replied as she got Brynne curious. Suddenly two guard arrived and opened the lock on Jessica's cell. They grabbed the fiery haired maiden and dragged her out, and she defied them all the way. With all the struggling she did they didn't even notice that Brynne took their keys. "Lady Jessica, how nice to see that you are looking wonderful this morning, " Mallgoth chuckled as Jessica entered his dining chambers. She stared at the man with such hatred, that the blood in her veins felt like they were going to burst. Her face got hot and flushed as she was forced to sit down across Mallgoth who was eating a big piece of chicken and sipping his wine. "Wait and see, my father will get you!" Jessica told him as he laughed manically at her expense. "My dear, oh your father will get me alright, but not in the way you intend, hope you are worth to daddy-dearest as much as I am going to ask for, we'll see how much he really cares for you..."Mallgoth said strongly as he suddenly grabbed her long red hair and yanked it hard. "So if you want to live to see your father I suggest you treat me with a little more respect..." Jessica sneered and spat straight into his eyes. He didn't hesitate and slapped her hard across the face. "You witch! You will soon learn that I am not a man to toy with. You two send her back into the dungeons!!!" He motioned for the two guards to drag her back into the cell. Jessica stood up and left Mallgoth's chambers, and was being led back into the dark halls to the dungeon when she finally thought it was time to act. She suddenly kicked one of the guard in the side of his stomach, then kneed him in the groin sending him tumbling to the ground in pain. The other guard was about to hit her when someone hit him in the back and he fell to the ground unconcious. "Brynne!!" she exlclaimed and hugged her rescuer in relief. "JESSIE!! JESSIE!!!!" a muffled voice called out in the darkness. The image of the boy disappeared and she opened her eyes but all she could see was darkness. Jessie was shivering all over as she tried to remember what was happening. "Hel..help!!" she struggled to scream, but exhaustion washed all over her. Jessie could barely even keep her eyes open, but she was determined to get out of there alive. Bryce burst into the pitch black room and saw Jessie's faint figure on the ground trembling uncontrolably as he rushed and scooped her into his arms. She was burning! A wave of panic swept Bryce as he slowly carried her out of the dark room. "I'm so cold..." she murmered as her eyes drifted and her world turned into blackness once again. (c) Nix C. 1998