Chapter Text
It happened, finally, not that you were happy about it, but you were kind of relieved, you’d been running for a while. You put up a good fight though, got a few shots in, almost made it out, but there were just too many of them. The first time they got you, they underestimated your abilities, you got out of those zip ties so quickly they didn’t even know you had gone until the next morning. The second and third time they caught you it was more of a challenge to yourself, to see if you could escape. You’d never seen John so mad as when you blew up his giant ‘Yes’ sign, he came at you with everything he had, you finally let him tattoo ‘wrath’ into your skin, he thought he’d won, but you slipped away again.
This time they weren’t taking any chances. Two guards sat in the back of the van with guns pointed at you, your hands were handcuffed with ropes tying your legs and feet to your hands. They put a gag in your mouth too, because last time you convinced one of the followers to let you go, in all fairness they were too blissed out to really know who you were. The van stopped, you knew you were there, your home away from home, John’s Ranch. The van doors opened and you were pulled out, obviously they hadn’t thought this through because your feet were tied together you couldn’t walk, they pretty much had to drag you.
“Ah, good to see you back home, Sweetheart. I’ve missed you.” John waited on the porch for you, a dumbass grin spreading across his face.
You tried to say something, but it only came out in a muffled sound. You were being held up by two men, John slowly strode over to you.
“Now, I’ll remove your gag, if you promise to keep that foul mouth in check. Deal?” He stood in front of you, you nodded your head. He pulled the gag out of your mouth.
“Fuck you.” You spat out, which earned you a slap across the face from John, pain radiating through your cheek.
“What did I just say?”
“Sorry, it slipped. I’ve missed our little back and forth, Johnny.” You smiled up at him, blood dripping from the new wound on your lip.
“Good, because I have your room all set up for you, I have made a few… changes.” John turned motioning for the men to bring you inside.
They carried you inside, you never could understand how Joseph signed off on John’s lavish and over the top cabin. They took you down to the basement, that familiar smell of mold and blood still in the air. You approached a big steal door with a small window in it, John unlocked it using a key code and a fingerprint scanner. He opened the door and they dragged you in.
“You two can leave now.” John said as they sat you on the bed.
“Before I untie you, I want to tell you about the upgrades to your room. I’ve added 3 cameras, they are hidden this time since last time you smashed them to bits. There will always be a guard posted at your door, which will remain locked unless I come in. There are a few other safety measures in place, but I won’t bore you with the details.”
“No, I’d love to hear all of the ‘improvements’ you’ve made. It will make escaping much easier for me and honestly I’m tired.”
John walked over to you, pulling his knife out and cutting the ropes off of you. He left your hands cuffed. He grabbed you by the collar of your shirt and picked you up off the bed, slamming you into the concrete wall.
“I have missed that smart mouth.” He pressed his lips to yours and kissed you hungrily, if there was one thing that could be said about John, he definitely knew how to kiss.
You moaned into his mouth as he deepened the kiss, his hand wrapped around your throat, holding you still, pressing you against the wall. You bit down on his bottom lip, sinking your teeth into it, your tongue lapping up the blood you had drawn.
“Bitch.” He pulled back touching his lip, seeing the blood on his finger.
“Sorry, I got a little carried away. Why don’t you uncuff me so I can show you how much I missed you?” You smiled at him coyly.
“You know, if Joseph weren’t on his way here, I’d tear into you right now. Maybe later.” His hand squeezed your throat tighter before releasing you.
“Better keep that promise, Johnny. It’s not polite to leave a lady hanging. So, what does Joseph want?”
“He still thinks your soul is worth saving. I’ve tried to tell him to cut his losses with you, but you know him, he’s determined to save as many as he can.”
“You never know, maybe I’ll let him save my soul, it’s hard work running from you guys.” You walked over and sat down in the chair against the wall.
“I’ll believe that when I see it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some things to take care of.” He turned and left, making sure to lock the door.
Every one of them would probably have heart attacks if you did let Joseph save you, if you Atoned and joined the Project. It’s not like you hadn’t considered it, you had been captured so many times the Resistance were skeptical of you and cast you out. They thought you had been turned and were spying for The Father. You’ve been running for so long it feels like you haven’t had a chance to catch your breath for a moment, maybe you’d just chill here with John until you were ready to run again. You were curious what Joseph was going to say this time, and you were hopeful he’d bring Jacob with him, you felt kind of bad with the way you left things with him last time, he really didn’t deserve that bloody nose. It didn’t take long for John to return with Joseph, no Jacob though, maybe he was still brooding.
“I hope John is taking care of you, my child.” Joseph walked in, John close behind him.
“It’s like staying in a five-star hotel. What’s the good word today, Joseph?”
“I know my brothers want me to give up on you, but I wouldn’t be a man of God if I did that. We have big plans for you this time, John has obtained your confession and branded you with your sin, you still need to Atone and just for you, we’ve added a few extra steps, just to make sure your soul is extra clean.”
“Um, ‘extra steps’ doesn’t sound very good, what does that mean?” You furrowed your brow at him confused.
“John has convinced me that maybe you need a little more work than the average person, maybe you need to suffer a little bit more before you’re truly ready to Atone.”
You were taken aback, you must have really struck a nerve with him. Joseph approached you and leaned down, inches from your face.
“You will reach Atonement this time, or you’ll die on your way there. The choice is yours.” His gaze was intense, he wasn’t playing into your game this time, he was serious.
He pulled back from you and left the room, John smirked at you before he did the same. You couldn’t help but think about the ‘extra steps’, what the hell could that mean? You stood up and went over to the bed, laying down, it had been a while since you’d slept in an actual bed. It was difficult to get comfortable with your hands still cuffed behind your back, you settled on laying on your side, closing your eyes for a moment.
“Where the fuck is she?!” You heard someone shouting, you struggled to sit up.
“She’s down here, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to see her right now.” You heard John trying to calm Jacob.
“Open the fucking door.”
John unlocked the door and opened it, Jacob quickly entered the room, his eyes fixed on you as you sat up in the bed. He walked over to you angrily, grabbing you up by your throat he slung you against the wall.
“Hey, Honey, I missed you too.” You choked out.
“Shut the fuck up. If it wasn’t for Joseph I’d shoot you in the head right now and end this.” His eyes burned into you, John standing behind him looking genuinely worried.
“I’ll have to thank Joseph then. I see your nose has healed, though it looks a little crooked.” You don’t know why you did it, but you loved pushing their buttons.
Jacob pushed you against the wall, his large hand pressing in the middle of your chest, making it hard to breath.
“Okay, okay, look I’m sorry about last time. I didn’t mean to hit you that hard, sometimes I don’t know my own strength. But you did look so peaceful passed out in that field.” You smirked, but you shouldn’t have, Jacob’s fist landed hard against your stomach knocking every bit of air from your lungs as you dropped down to the floor.
“You never know when to quit do you?” John moved closer, making sure you weren’t dead yet.
“Maybe… I’ll learn… one day.” You coughed and choked to fill your lungs again.
John leaned down and uncuffed your hands, “It’s not going to be a fair fight if you can’t use your hands. Don’t kill her, Jacob.” He stuffed the keys in his pocket as you rubbed the indentions on your wrists, shakily getting up to your feet.
“You want a rematch? Alright, but you may want to ask John to leave, don’t want little brother seeing you get beat again.” You brought your hands up in front of you making fists.
“I’m going to enjoy bringing you down a few pegs, then I’m going to enjoy fucking that smart mouth of yours.” He removed his jacket and clenched his fists.
“Promises, promises.” You grinned.
Jacob lunged at you, you dodged his attack, moving around the small room, it was going to be hard to move out of his grasp for too long, you were still tired. You evaded the next three swings, landing one in his stomach, finally evening things between you. He coughed for a moment before standing straight again. You let your guard down for a moment, looking at John as he seemed to be cheering you on silently, that’s when Jacob got you, you saw his fist coming straight for your cheek in slow motion. It landed hard, if you didn’t know better you would have swore you got hit by a brick wall. You immediately fell to the floor, consciousness fading in and out as your head pounded.
“I told you not to kill her.” John said as he rushed over to you.
“She’s not dead, just out cold. Shame, she must not be on the top of her game today.”
You woke up in the bed, your head felt like it was vibrating with pain as you sat up slowly.
“Fuck me.” You said to yourself, feeling your swollen face.
“Hungry?” You heard someone speak, but didn’t see anyone, maybe you hallucinated.
“I installed an intercom so I can bother you whenever I want. Are you hungry?” John said over the intercom.
“Yeah, just don’t speak so loudly.” You rubbed the side of your head.
John entered your room shortly with a sandwich, water, and some Tylenol for your head. You took the pills immediately. You remembered when you were taken for the first time, you were skeptical of taking anything from them, worried it would be poisoned, now you’d take whatever they gave you.
“You always take the best care of me.” You smiled up at John.
“Why should it all be torture and pain?” He pulled a chair up and sat in front of you.
“So, what are the ‘extra steps’ Joseph has implemented?” You took a bite of the sandwich.
“Nervous already?”
“No, just curious. Will it be more beatings from Jacob? Because I’m not sure if my face can take anymore.”
“You’ll see tomorrow. Try to get some rest tonight.” He stood and walked towards the door.
“Sometimes I forget you’re a sadistic asshole.” You said, he turned and smirked at you before stepping out of the room and locking the door behind him.
You decided to take his advice and get some rest; not like you didn’t need it anyways. You finished eating and laid back down. Out of all the trouble you’d caused him, John was always able to step back and make sure you were alright.
“Time to get up. Atonement waits for no one.” You heard the intercom crackle.
You stretched your muscles, waiting for whatever John was about to do to you. It didn’t take him long to come down to the basement.
“What? No breakfast? I’ll have to leave a bad review, Johnny.” You smarted off the second he walked in.
“Glad to see you’re feeling better. Stand up.” He closed the door behind him, carrying his toolbox.
You stood up shakily, your legs still kind of weak. John approached you and bound your wrists together with rope. He led you over to a hook on the cement wall, raising your arms and tying the rope to it. He stayed silent as he moved around you, he moved behind you cutting your shirt off you with scissors, and removing your pants as well, leaving you in only your bra and panties.
“I’m not so sure this is the kind of ‘extra’ Joseph meant.” You leaned against the wall.
“Keep going. Keep making your jokes, I know they bring you comfort, I know that deep down you’re really just a scared little girl hiding behind clever remarks. Get them all out now, because when I’m done with you, there will be nothing left. You will be stripped down to the bone, your greatest fears exposed, and just when you’re begging for me to show you mercy, I’ll start all over again, destroying what’s left of you.” He stood inches from you, his eyes dark, you’d not seen him like this before.
“Promises, promises.” Your voice was low and trembled slightly, you were legitimately worried.
John smirked at your tenacity, your commitment, but he knew you were about to drop all of that. He turned you around to where you were facing the wall. Your arms were already aching from being stretched out hanging on the hook. You couldn’t see what John was doing and figured that was part of it, the suspense, leaving you wondering and waiting.
That first strike really caught you off guard, it felt like someone had taken a hot iron and slowly dragged it down your back. You lurched forward, pressing yourself against the wall, screaming out in pain. Two, three more strikes and you could feel the blood streaming down your back as you sobbed.
“Hush now, we’re only getting started.” John caressed your cheek briefly before stepping back and striking you again with the bundle of wires.
This round he focused on your legs, the wires would separate on contact and wrap around your legs, leaving marks all over you. You shook and trembled as he continued his assault on your body, you cried out in pain, over and over, at one point you were sure you were going to pass out. John’s breathing was ragged, he finally stopped, dropping the wires to the floor. He reached up and removed your hands from the hook, you instantly fell back against him, pain surging through you as your back touched him. He sat you down in the chair and removed the binding from your wrists.
“You did well. I’m surprised, figured you would’ve been begging before it was over.”
You remained silent, your body was in too much pain to respond.
“What’s that? Nothing to say? No smart retorts? Maybe there’s hope for you yet, Sweetheart.”
Your gaze fell to the floor, you knew now what Joseph meant by ‘extra steps’, they were going to beat and torture you worse than they ever had to for however long it took. He said you’d die on your way to Atonement, they were willing to kill you to get you there. Everything before was just a game, you played cat and mouse with them for so long, you never stopped to think about what would happen when they got tired of playing. There was no escaping this time, you had two choices, to Atone, or die. John packed up his toolbox and decided you’d had enough for now, leaving you sitting with your blood dripping into the floor.
You stayed in the chair because you knew the second you moved you would be in too much pain to even think straight, you knew you’d have to move eventually but you wanted to put it off for as long as you could.
“Did she break?” Joseph asked John as he saw him come up from the basement.
“No, and I didn’t go easy on her. I’m sure she understands now there will be no leaving this time.”
John washed your blood from his hands and led Joseph to watch the cameras in your room. They watched as you sat in the chair, not moving, not even crying anymore.
“Did she say anything before you left?”
“Not a word. I think she’s exhausted, she couldn’t keep her own in a spar with Jacob last night.”
You decided it was time, time to get up and at least move to the bed. You took a deep breath before standing up quickly, the sudden movement pulled at your skin causing the wounds to all shoot waves of pain throughout your body, making you fall to your knees and cry out. You didn’t know where the cameras were, but you knew he was watching you.
“John… Please help me…” You hated asking for his help, but there was no way you could move again without someone.
John looked over to Joseph as if asking for permission, they were both surprised by your plea. Joseph nodded in approval, John left the room and headed down to you.
“Begging so soon?” He opened the door to your room and stood over you.
“Please, John. Just help me to the bed so I can bleed to death in comfort.” You were still on your hands and knees in the floor.
John bent down and grabbed your forearm, pulling you up to your feet as you yelled out in pain again. He helped you walk slowly over to the bed, he looked over your back and legs, the wounds he had inflicted were still bleeding and red, if he didn’t do something, they’d get infected for sure. You sat down on the bed and laid down on your side facing away from him. You wrapped your arms around yourself as your body trembled, John left the room momentarily but returned. He pulled the chair up behind you and applied medicine to your back, trying to be gentle, but each time he touched you, you winced in pain, tears streaming down your face.
“Once these heal, we’ll open them back up again. We’ll purge every sin from your body.” He said as he turned to leave.