Rylan had been trying to contact his old 'friend' for the last few days. It was getting ridiculous now. Maximum apparently needed police manuals for a class. Rylan wasn't the one to ask questions, and happily lent them to him. Apparently it wasn't the best idea since he hadn't heard from him in the last week. If the chief found out he lent them to someone, he was doomed. It seemed really pathetic for a 27 year old man to be afraid of a 50 year old woman, who seems half his height of 6'4.... But well that woman was in charge for a reason.

"Rye. Have you heard anything about that college student, the university reported missing this morning?" Rick asked. He was Rylan's partner and best friend. Rick was a bit shorter than him at 5'11, and a few years older at 29. For a long time Ryan envied him... among other feelings. Rick was handsome and good at his job. The picture of what every man wanted to be. Sandy blonde hair, gun metal blue eyes, perfect in every way most would think. In the near ten years they had know each other, he'd done everything for Rylan. The contrasted in many different ways. Rick was the all American man, while Rylan was from Australia originally. Rylan also has light brown hair and miss matched eyes of jade green and dark blue. Traits he shared with his twin sister.

"I haven't. Are you sure he just didn't drop out or something? Kids do that all the time?"

"That's the thing. This Nori kid made good grades, and he had a job too.... of course they fired him, for not coming in." Rick said tossing the file to him. "It doesn't make sense. He could have graduated early with his grades."

"Yeah, but I mean there's drugs, girls and what ever else." Rylan shrugged.

"There is an interesting thing. The kid made good grades, except for one class."

"Don't tell me it's Max's."

"It is...."

"Perfect. Well I'm heading there now anyway." Rylan sighed. "Do you think Max had something to do with this?"

"I don't know. I mean it's possible. I'll go with you."

"Nope. It's your turn to do the paper work."

"We're partners, we follow leads together." Rick glared.

"The last time we did that, I got stuck with the paper work three times in a row. It's your turn." Rylan smirked.

"You're an asshole Rye."

"Do your paper work, then you can go and harass people."

"Don't get yourself killed, cause I'm not going to your funeral."

"What ever you say, love."

_____________________

Nori rubbed his head, groaning slightly. He'd been locked in the plain white room for days now. He was t sure how many. Did anyone know he was here? Did they care? Nori wanted to go home. He wanted to sleep. He wanted to close his eyes with waking up to find Max next to him. Watching him.

Maximum.... Was a complete and utter psychopath. He constant sprouted nonsense about Nori being a broken doll, but could be fixed. He said it so much, that Nori started to wonder if it were true. If he was meant to be here.

Surprisingly enough, Max hadn't done anything sexual to him, even though a few nights ago he had tried so hard. Nori guessed it was the whole broken doll idea. Perhaps he should be thankful.

Nori got up and went to wash his face in the bathroom, in hopes to get rid of the tired achy feeling that plagued him. That was something else surprising. The rusty chain let him walk around the small room, but kept him three feet from the door. So he could shower and change into the clothes that were stolen from his house. He knew this must have been the back up plan for, the start. It could be worse. He was fed even though the teacher was a horrid cook. There was a bed he could just lay in, where he often found Max.

Nori knew there wouldn't be anyone looking for him. His parents never cared to call. He didn't exactly have many friends. He'd really be stuck here... Hmm. So that's what it feels like to lose all hope. Nori kicked the chain slightly. He tried so many times to get it off . Nothing helped. It wasn't even a standered lock, it was bolted together. He rubbed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. Damn he was tired. Max was at work or something. Why couldn't he just sleep a bit?

Under the bed was a box. He hadn't noticed it before. Maybe there was something that could help him get lose.

That wasn't it.Pictures of him. All the way back to his first year of college. Max had been targeting him for that long... Some of the pictures looked nearly impossible to get. There were so many of him sleeping. Why hadn't he noticed? Why hadn't he known? Nori felt like crying, he wanted to, but couldn't.

_____________________

"Max. Open the door." Rylan called as he knocked on the door. Max had taken time off, but not enough to leave. "Maximum. I'm busting down the door, if you don't answer." Still no answer.

Well he was a simple man who loved to kick down doors, but in this instance, he new Max hid a key on the door frame.

_______________________

Nori heard the person knocking from out side. He had tried yelling... But he couldn't make a sound. It was like someone put him on mute. He kicked the wall and chain, Hoping it would make a loud enough noise to get the persons attention. More than anything he hoped this person wasn't a psychopath like Max.

"Max? Is something wrong?" The person called out, his voice now sounding on edge. Nori desperately wanted to call out and say that son of a bitch had him locked in this room, but The words still wouldn't come. The door to the room Nori was trapped in started to move. Of course Max never failed to lock it. Why would he? His prisoner could escape.

"Stay away from the door. I'm going to kick it down." The man called.

Nori ended up jumping back and falling against the wall. Only a few seconds later the door flew open with a loud crack.

Rylan was completely and utterly shocked when he saw the kid chained up in the room, huddled in the corner. Max actually.... This poor kid... Rylan kneeled down next to who he assumed was Nori. He held his hands out to show he was unarmed and not going to hurt him.

He took out his badge, but it must have scared Nori into shrinking back. "It's ok, Love. I'm a cop. I'm gonna get you out of here, ok?"

Nori nodded slightly. From what he heard, the person had a slight Australian accent. His eyes were so I interesting.

"You're Nori Ryo, Right?" Rylan asked looking at the rusty cuff.

Nori nodded.

"I'm detective Rylan Hayward. Your school reported you missing this morning."

Nori nodded again. Thank God for his school.

"Damn I'm going to need a tool to break this off." Rylan muttered, getting up. On instinct, the Nori grabbed his hand. He was afraid to let him out of his sight. He couldn't stay here any longer.

"Don't worry love. I will be right in the next room." Rylan explained, gently helping Nori stand up. He was so tall that Nori had to tilt his head back to see his eyes. Noru let go of his hand and took a step back nodding.

"I promise everything will be ok." Rylan said as he left the room. Nori could hear him going through things that could be used to get the rusty bolts to come loose. It didn't take long for him to come back with a wrench. Getting the bolts off actually took a lot more strength than either of them thought. It was a wonder how Max got them on in the first place.

Nori flinched when the cuff finally came off. His ankle was an angry purple and red color, with multiple scrapes from when he tried to get loose.

"Alright love. I'm going to take you down to the police station with me." Rylan said as he took off his jacket and wrapped it over Nori's shoulders.

Nori looked up at him confused.

"What? It's like 4 degrees out there. You'll catch a cold." He said leading Nori out of the house. Rylan wasn't lying when he said it was cold, Nori was shivering once they walked out. Rylan helped him into the black Camaro and handed him the keys.

"I need to make a call really quick, turn on the heat however high you want it." Rylan smiled, as he shut the door. He stood out side and called Rick.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Asśhole. What can I do for you?"

"Not the time. Remember that missing college student?"

"Please don't tell me you found his body." Rick said with worry in his voice.

"Well yes, but he's still alive so..."

"Where?"

"Maximum's. That son of a bitch had the poor kid locked in the back room, chained up."

"Damn.... I don't even know what to say. I'll put an APB out for his arrest. Get that kid down to the station. We'll need to question him." Rick noted.

"That's another problem. He hasn't said anything to me. I think he's mute. At least now anyway.

"Many people would be, we'll figure out something. Just hurry and get down here."

"Alright. We're on the way." Rylan sighed, hanging up. He never thought someone like Max.... Would do something like this. It took a moment to realize he was standing out in the cold, when they needed to leave.

"Hey Nori, are you doing ok?" Rylan asked as he got in the car.

Nori nodded and smiled slightly. Rylan's nose and cheeks were tinted red. He put his hands on the jacket, offering it back.

Rylan chuckled. "Keep it for now love. You don't exactly have clothes suitable for cold weather."

That was true. He was only wearing jeans and a T-Shirt.

"So Nori... Is there someone I can call. Someone who can come stay with you?" Rye asked.

Let's see. Parents? No. Perfect twin... Hell no. Best friend? If only.

Nori shook his head and the detective gave him a worried look. He should have his parents down here or something.

"Tell me if you think of anyone, I'll be glad to call them for you. So we're on the way to the police station.... They're not going to let me question you or even be in the same room. Since I'm the one who found you. If you need anything just tell them to send me in." Who was he kidding? The kid probably didn't feel any safer around him, but it was all he had. He didn't know how to help him any other way.

Nori nodded slightly at his comment. It seemed easy to talk to this Rylan guy... But the other cops? What if they just said he was lying and threw him back to Max. Like it was some kind of domestic thing. Ok that was far fetched, but still. Nori was terrified. He couldn't imagine what would happen if Max got a hold of him again.

"Don't worry love. I promise you everything will be OK. I won't let anyone hurt you." Rylan gently put a hand on the Nori's shoulder. Almost like he was trying to help a scared puppy.

To Nori his warm hands were oddly comforting. Naturally he was still terrified of going to the police station.