This chapter was written by the outstanding ShaunAllan

"Who's going to handle this," Nick asked, unable to contain his excitement at the prospect of leading an interrogation.

"Not you," answered Abby. "You're not meant to be enjoying this."

"I wouldn't say enjoying it. But there's nothing wrong with having a little fun. There's enough misery in the world. I'm just trying to inject a smile here and there."

"Let's throw you into the Hunt and see what you get injected with there, shall we?"

"Chicken! There's no need to be so 'Abby-smal' about it!"

The man's next sound was of him coughing and swearing whilst kneeling on the dirt floor. Abby's punch to his stomach had come fast and hard, something he liked in other circumstances, and he had zero time to prepare himself for the impact. He wasn't swearing at his girlfriend, he was cursing himself. He knew well that she hated being called 'Chicken', as Darren had christened her, and any plays on her name, such as taking a 'c-Abby' or asking if she was sitting 'comfort-Abby' were usually met with a sneer and a whack to the arm. He guessed the current circumstances didn't really warrant jokes. Her punch, much harder than someone her size should be allowed to produce, was her agreement of that fact.

Abby was about to swing again, but Tony stepped in. He'd been watching the pair for a few moments and had witnessed the exchange. He liked them both, though he'd only known of the girl previously. The reports on her conviction to the cause were strong enough for him to trust her. When he'd met her, that trust was cemented. He was a sound reader of people's character. He knew those who lied to his face and those who would stand by him. The former, he kept close. He could keep an eye on them and feed them the information he needed to, to ensure no-one really knew what he was going on. The latter were, perhaps, the ones who suffered more. There was a glass door between him and them. One that was opened very rarely. It was safer that way. Attachments were dangerous. He would, when called for, feign relationships – to the point lovers were convinced their feelings were reciprocated – but the glass in his door was very thick, and it only opened from the inside.

Or, that's what Tony thought. He tried to tell himself that he was feeling a fatherly protection of the girl. His affections were a one-way train that definitely didn't leave from his station. He wanted to make sure she was OK, that was all. He wanted to ensure her safety, just as he did the rest of his team. No-one in the resistance was expendable. They risked their lives and the lives of those they cared for to join him. When they entered his wide embrace, so did their families. Tony stood by them all.

That's all he was doing with Abby. Besides, she was with Nick, a good soldier, a trusted teammate. Even, if anyone could be called such, a friend.

The pang he felt when they looked at each other was indigestion. The satisfaction he felt when he saw her punch her boyfriend was nothing more than the knowledge that he deserved the telling off.

Christ. Get a grip.

"Come on, children," he said. "Playtime is over. It's time to get back to the lesson in hand."

"Sorry," Abby said, lowering her head.

She had done everything to prove herself to Tony. She felt that she'd been welcomed into the inner circle and didn't want to find herself back running errands and following people, which usually meant hiding in alleyways to avoid the ever-present cameras and drones. She'd left that behind and wanted things to stay that way. Being in his presence made her stomach churn. He was the leader of the Resistance. Charismatic and, she supposed, handsome. Sexy, even.

She... No. Get a grip. Nick was right there!

"I'm not talking to you," Tony laughed. "I'm talking to this muppet!"

He helped Nick up from his knees and leaned him against the wall.

"Are you going to behave yourself?"

Nick nodded sheepishly. Why did he feel he was back in school being reprimanded?

"Gotta admit," Tony continued. "You did kinda deserve that."

Nick didn't answer at first. The tone in Tony's voice showed that their leader found the situation funny. Nick smiled his winning, cheeky smile and slapped Tony on the shoulder.

"You've got to keep these women on their toes," he smirked.

Abby's fist rounded Tony's chest and connected with Nick's, winding him.

"I was joking," he wheezed.

"I know you were," said Abby, smiling. "I wasn't."

Tony sighed and shook his head. Even the smell of the girl...

He coughed and straightened up to his full, imposing height.

"Come on you two. You have someone to talk to."

"Good cop, bad cop?" asked Abby.

"Bad cop, worse cop?" Nick suggested.

"How about just two people wanting information?"

"That might work," Nick shrugged. "But what if he doesn't want to talk?"

"He knows he's been rescued, so he's likely to talk."

"How will he know that?" Abby asked.

"He's still alive."

Abby blanched, and Nick nodded. "Fair point," he said.

"You know what we need from him?"

"Yup," Nick asserted, the excitement creeping back into his voice. "Everything."

"Pretty much."

"Should we be gentle?"

Abby wasn't averse to being much less than gentle, but the contestant was going to be mistrustful, agitated and, quite possibly, violent. He was caged. He had, not long before, been running free, if not actually free. The promise of a forthcoming death was potentially something he desired. Not the end of his life, of course, but the lifting of his family's financial burdens. Now the man was a fugitive. His family would be at risk. Only Tony would protect him and them.

She smiled. She had the leverage she needed to get the information they wanted.

"What are you grinning at," Nick wanted to know.

He did love his girlfriend's smile, but the smug taint to it meant she knew something he didn't. He liked to be the one to be in the know. In control. She'd taunt him with this for weeks, now. He sighed.

"Follow my lead," Abby said confidently.

Nick looked at Tony as if to ask: 'Are you happy with this? Aren't you going to say something?' Tony shrugged and nodded towards the door.

"Off you two go." He patted Nick on the shoulder. "Play nice."

He saw the grin on Abby's face as she turned to enter the room. She managed to hide it from Nick, though, who looked almost offended at the turn of events. Tony held his own smile inside, where he was secretly beaming.

Abby punched the code into the keypad and turned the key in the lock. Normally, she would have paused and taken a deep breath before entering but she was concerned Tony might find it a sign of weakness. She couldn't have that. She turned the handle and pushed.

"After you," Nick whispered, patting her on the backside.

She laughed in spite of herself. Tony gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, then shook his head and walked off, a touch more stomp in his step than he'd admit.

***

As the door swung open, James backed quickly into the far corner. He'd been pacing constantly, more so since his recent realisations. He now needed to get out of there to find his wife. To get to the truth. He knew he was far from prepared for a fight, but Mary was embroiled in something that could be extremely dangerous. She might need him. She must need him. He was her husband!

The girl who came through the door was a surprise to him. He was expecting a heavyweight brawler ready to beat information from him. The woman was petite. Feminine, though she had a definite Lara Croft vibe about her. She was confident. Able. Someone who, he didn't doubt, could beat the shit out of him if he tried to escape her. Still, she was preferable to the expected brawler.

Besides...

Oh. The man who followed her stopped any thoughts or words from forming. He looked to be the sort who could handle himself, and the way his fists were clenched showed he was prepared to do so. James would bide his time.

"Sit down," Abby said. It wasn't exactly a command, but James obeyed.

"Why don't you tell us your name?" Nick asked. That was a command.

"James. I'm James Phillips."

"Well, James, why don't you tell us what you know?"

"What I know about what?"

"Well," Nick said, leaning forward onto the table between them. "You're the first contestant to escape the Hunt. Not finish, mind, but escape. You can give us valuable information about what they tell you. How they prepare you. And what happened with the Addington boy."

"I don't know much," James said slowly.

He had no real issue with telling them everything he knew, except it wouldn't be quite everything. There would be certain things he would most definitely leave out. His wife's involvement for a start.

"You know enough," Abby said. "More than you probably realise. And you're not going anywhere until you tell us."

"I need to get home to my wife. She'll be in danger. Our children!"

"They'll be safe," Nick said. "We'll look after them."

"You can't. You don't understand. It's all so complicated!"

"Complicated?" Nick smiled. "I disagree. It's very simple. Tell us everything we want to know, and you and your family will be reunited and can live happily ever after. Or something like that."

"We're meant to be nice," Abby told him. "Not threatening."

"I am being nice," Nick insisted. "I don't know how to be threatening!"

"Pffft!" Abby snorted. "Are you sure about that?"

"Are you two finished?" James interjected. "Aren't you supposed to be interrogating me or something?"

The pair stared at him for a second and then both started laughing. James stared back, completely perplexed.

"What's going on?"

"Look," Abby said. "We're just trying to put you at ease. Now, I probably shouldn't have told you that, but I want you to trust us. We're here to help."

"Course you are."

"No, really," Nick agreed. "I'm sure you can figure out where you are, and I'm sure you're smart enough to work out we wouldn't have brought you here if we didn't think we could be mutually of use."

"I guess."

"So, talk to us." Abby reached out and took James' hand as she spoke. "Help us."

James nodded. For the next three hours, apart from asking from some water and taking the occasional sip, he didn't stop talking. The flow of words was as easy as that of the liquid that gave him sustenance. Once he began, he surprised himself with how willing he was to tell them everything. Well... almost, of course.

When he was done, he slumped back in the chair. He felt as if years of pent up anger and frustration had been released. Perhaps the happy home he thought he lived in had some cracks he wasn't aware of. Did he already suspect Mary of her indiscretions and double life? Had his subconscious already started to piece together the puzzle? He didn't know, but he felt relieved.

"We'll leave you to it... and we'll make sure you get a good meal. Rest for a bit."

James nodded. He needed both.

The pair left, with Nick exiting the room first. Abby paused before following and turned to James.

"What the hell aren't you telling us?" she whispered knowingly.