Heart's Redemption (MxM)

Chapter 35 ~ Ian

When Sam screams, I lose it.

I'd been holding my cool pretty well up until that point, too.

After Sam passed out, Maria had told Jack and Sofia to lock him in the basement below the lodge. I'd only agreed to this idea because they'd promised not to hurt him, and Maria had threatened to shoot me if I didn't go along with it.

I'd spent the past thirty minutes doing my best to convince her and Inez that Sam was not a threat, but I'd made little progress so far.

The only reason I hadn't lost it already is that Cass has taken our side, and Toni proves a level-headed ally in a crisis.

We've been standing in the kitchen, near the basement stairs—Maria, Inez, Cass, Toni, and I—trying to hash things out while Jack, Sofia, and Carlos keep an eye on Elliot.

So far, he's remained unconscious, but no one knows what will happen when he wakes up—whether he'll be himself again, or if he'll go on another rampage.

I've just finished telling everyone—for the eleventeenth time—that Elliot attacked us and that Sam is not dangerous, when I hear his high-pitched, terrified scream rising from below.

Shoving Maria aside—call me a jerk, but old lady or not, she's blocking my way to Sam—I leap down the steps to the basement, taking them four at a time.

Sam is in a small storage room at the back, the door bolted and locked, and even as a bear I don't know if I'd be able to bust through. I pound my fist on the heavy boards that separate us and shout his name.

"Sam! Sam!? Are you okay?"

"Ian!?"

"Yes, I'm here, Sam I—"

"Ian!! There's something in here! Please, please get me out! Get me out!!"

His voice is high and strained with panic, and the sound twists like a knife.

He screams again, cutting me off and making my heart leap with fear.

"IAN! Get me out of here! Please!!"

I spin at the sound of footsteps at my back, and see the others have followed me down, all with looks of worry, concern, and confusion on their faces.

"Please, I'm begging you—he's not a threat. He used all his energy fighting Elliot. Whatever you're doing, please stop!"

Inez frowns. "There's nothing in there. It's just a storage room."

"IAN!" Sam screams again, and I can't take it.

Fortunately for everyone, Cass seems to understand that if there's anything to be afraid of right now, it's me.

"Jesus, Mom, open the door!" they say, holding out a hand for the keys. "Something's clearly wrong in there!"

Maria frowns but hands over the set of keys, and Cass quickly unlocks the door and throws it open.

The sight that greets me makes my heart burn with rage.

My little Sam, in chains.

His wrists are caught in thick metal bands, suspended above his head and secured to a thick wooden beam at his back. The only light is what spills in through the open door, and by its feeble cast I see that his pale face is streaked with tears and his whole body trembles, making the chains rattle faintly where they pull at his arms.

"Sam!" I rush forward and drop in front of him, taking his face between my hands. "What is it? A demon?"

He shakes his head. "I d-d-don't know. Something t-t-touched me," he stammers.