Scott's POV:

As all of my teammates and the kids left the house to go searching for Troy and Gia, I couldn't help the small smile that appeared on my lips...despite the circumstances. Everyone was so determined to find them, and I just knew that it was going to happen.

Troy's POV:

Shawn and Michael had left some time ago. Probably to go and laugh and mock about what they'd done to me. Leaving a beaten lump in the floor. Lifting my head as I struggled for each breath, I looked around for a way out, each movement I wanted to be my last. 'Come on...I know there has to be a way out somewhere...' At last, I saw a window at the top of the wall, and I could see outside from where I was. Next, I looked around for anything I could use to climb up that far...with the least amount of pain possible, which was near impossible, since I could hardly move. I could feel the prick of tears in the corners of my eyes as I bit my lip. Some red ranger... some leader I turned out to be.

Swallowing my tears, I rubbed my eyes and sighed while I tried to get to a position where I could stand, but it seemed that my legs were broken. I couldn't move away from the wall. Looking up at the escape route that was so close yet so far away, I almost let out a scream when a face suddenly appeared. It was Gia! My sister was here! "Gia.." I whispered, not believing that someone had finally found me. I scrambled to sit up when I realized that she was opening the window, once again the immense amount of pain almost causing me to pass out. Her eyes widened more and more as she took in more of my appearance as she got the window open and began to slip through. My eyes trailed over to the door, fearing that one of them would come back and see her here with me. "Gia, how did you find me? You need to leave before they come back.. get the others and our parents. Get to safety!" I whisper-yelled to her as I coughed, looking back at the door once more.

Gia ran over to me as her eyes quickly flooded with tears, laying her hand on and part of my body that was unscathed...if there was a part, that is. "T-Troy... what... what did they d-do to you?!"

"Shh... Gia, I'm fine... listen to me, you need to climb up that pile of boxes and leave.."

"I will NOT leave you here alone, Troy. You're hurt. I won't let them hurt you if they come back."

Why? Why couldn't she understand what I was trying to say to her?

"G...come on, listen to your big brother. These wounds... they may get infected if you don't go and get help quickly. Please...please listen and do as I say.."

With each quivering breath, it was taking more and more struggling. "I might pass out from pain and blood loss if you don't hurry.."

Before she could respond to her brother's pleas, a terrifyingly familiar voice fluttered into their hearing range.

AN: I am SO sorry that I haven't updated this until now. It started with writer's block, and then I fell away from writing for a while, and now I've gotten back into it. I apologize once again for the terribly long wait, if anyone is still reading this story.