TW:
-general abuse
-Electric shock torture
-a lot of bad shit

THIS ISN'T PROOF READ PEOPLE SO IF THERE'S ANY SPELLING MISTAKES I APOLOGISE!

ALEXANDER'S POV

I've been here for about a week, well I think it's been about that long.

It hurts.
Everything hurts.

I've been hearing a very familiar voice creeping around with King. I can't place who it is. My mind is hazy and my eyes are constantly unfocused.

"Lexi... oh sweet Lexi..." a male voice whispers.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Lexi." They continue, pacing like King often does.

"Who are you?" I ask the concealed figure, sniffing the air and finding a familiar smell lingering.

"Oh silly Lexi, I'm a friend! How don't you remember me?" They chide, as though scolding a child.

"Step into the light and maybe I'll recognise you, dumbass." I growl angrily, gaining a vicious laugh in response.

"Lexi! Oh what a big, bad wolf you are." They coo sickeningly, swatting the back of my head with their hand.

"How about we play a game? Hmm? I know you like to play games with George." He continues, ignoring my pleas and instead firing up the shock generator again.

"Now, you know the rules Lexi, what's your name?"

"Fuck you." I spit and he laughs humorously.

"That's not right, Lexi!" They giggle and hit the button on the lowest voltage, then proceeding to turn the dial to one of the highest settings.

"No! No you can't do this! It'll kill me! Please!" I shout, fighting against the restraints that have been tied so tight that they've rubbed my skin raw.

"Oh don't be so dramatic, Lexi! It won't kill you! Or maybe it will, I don't know! Best find out." They giggle childishly again, placing their hand on my cheek.

They step forward, face fully illuminated by the light, and its-

I don't get chance to finish analysing his face, when I heard his hand press the button.

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WASHINGTON'S POV

It's been over two weeks now and the police haven't found anything. We've published missing persons reports, stuck up posters, asked around, and no one has seen our boy.

We're barely functioning, spending every waking minute searching. We eat at 4:00am for breakfast and at 10:00pm for dinner. We haven't gone to work, haven't met with friends- nothing.

Thomas and James have been a big help, along with the others too. They're all asking colleagues, neighbours and friends to keep watch.

It's no use, he's gone.

"George, dear, we've searched the house thousands of times- nothing's changed."

"We don't know that, Martha, he may have left us something and we haven't figured it out yet-"

"Stop George. That's enough. There's nothing here."

"You don't know that! He's out there, supposedly kidnapped and you want me to stop searching for him?! He's our child! Our son!-"

"No he's not. We didn't adopt him. He's not legally ours, George."

"But you saw how long it took for him to warm up to us, he calls us mom and dad! You're saying he's not our son when he calls us that?! How can you even say that?!" I sob, desperation seeping out of my mouth with each word.

"George, you can look at the clock as much as you want, it won't get any faster. Keep searching the house, if that's what it takes for you to know that we did all that we could- do it! He's out there somewhere, not in here."

"I know that! I just, need him back... I need him." I whisper, tears threatening to spill as Martha walks over to me and hugs me tightly.

"I know. You can't keep bottling your emotions up, honey. I don't want to have to play devils advocate to get you to let yourself feel something." She caresses my cheek, pressing a soft kiss to my face.

"I'm sorry, I know you care about him too." I apologise but she shakes her head.

"You've nothing to apologise for. They'll find him, George. They will."

—————————————————
ELIZA'S POV (well that's different)

I stir the hot chocolate powder into the two separate mugs, listening to Maria's heart wrenching cries from the couch.

She's not taken the news well, quite the opposite, actually. She has continuously sobbed and wailed, crying until she finds herself exhausted, waking, and then repeating the cycle again. It's a fight to get her to drink something, to speak to me, to eat anything- it's almost impossible.

I pick up the two mugs and carefully walk into the other room. I see Maria curled up on the couch, blanket pulled up to her nose and tears silently dripping down her cheeks.

"I know, sweetie. They'll find him, I promise." I say, not entirely sure if I'm trying to convince her or myself.

"No! You can't promise that!" She wails, a sob punctuating her sentence.

"Shh, easy now sweetie. Come on, we'll put on a show, drink our hot chocolate and then we can go over to the Washington's, yeah?" I ease, rubbing my hand up and down her spine comfortingly. She nods her head weakly and shuffles so that she's situated under my arm and leaning against my chest.  I flick through Netflix, untimately deciding on The Umbrella Academy. It's something we had started watching and they'd recently released a second season. (Watch it, people. It's good.)

The show begins and we both sip our hot chocolate tentatively, being careful not to burn ourselves.
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(TiMe SkIp brought to you by me, the author, who is in complete control of this story)

We arrive at Mount Vernon, kicking off our shoes and leaving them on the doorstep. I knock confidently and after a few seconds of waiting I hear footsteps approaching the door. It's pulled open, light flooding out into the darkness of the night air. Washington stands, shoulders drooping slightly, bags under his eyes and his usual graceful demeanour erased temporarily. He straightens his spine (SMILE FOR THE NEIGHBOURS-) readjusted his arms and places a smile on his face which is evidently fake, but it's more than nothing.

"Eliza, what brings you here?" His voice is smooth yet slightly hoarse, suggesting that he's recently been crying (with good reason, obviously).

"We thought we'd come and see how you've been doing. Maybe stop and grab some food out if you're up for it." I smile.

"I'm cooking dinner, dear! Feel free to sit with us, we have food to spare!" I hear Mrs Washington flatly call out from the kitchen.

"Would you like to stay for dinner, Ria?" I ask softly and she nods in response.

"I'll go set up two more places. In the meantime you two can go into the family room and sit with the others." He tells us and moves from the doorway, gliding into the kitchen to retrieve the place mats.

Unsure of who I may encounter, I step into the family room slowly, before seeing both Thomas and James sitting huddled together watching something on Thomas' phone.

"Liza! It's been too long!" James says, standing and embracing me tightly.

"Trust me Jemmy, I know!" I hug him tightly and repeat the embrace with Thomas.

"Guys, I know you've both met Maria." I gesture for her to come over and she waves shyly, giggling quietly.

"Hello again, Miss Maria." Thomas grins softly, James waving back at her.

"Hi!" She giggles again, cheeks flushing slightly when I wrap my arm around her waist.

"Come here, darlin'." Thomas gestures and Maria shuffles over innocently. Thomas opens his arms and she quickly hugs him, burying her face in the crook of his arm.

"You needed that, huh?" He asks, leaning his cheek on the crown of her head.

"Mmh, I miss Lex." She mumbles, Thomas cooing and shushing her gently.

"I know, I'm sure he misses you too darlin'. He'll be back soon, we'll find him." He rocks her, caressing her hair motherly.

"I-I just want him to come h-home!" She wails, pitching into a round of sobs as Thomas holds her, speaking softly into her ear.

After a few minutes she calms down, all the while remaining in Thomas' tight hold.

"Good girl, you're okay, sweetie." He sways with her and she wraps her arms around his neck, he picks her up and sits on the couch, holding her head against his chest. He runs his fingers through her smooth brown hair and her eyes flutter closed in response.

Once I'm sure she's asleep I talk lowly with Thomas, ensuring we don't wake Maria.

"How'd you do it? How'd you known how to calm her down so fast?" I ask in slight awe.

"She's evidently a very touchy person, physical contact is key, that's all. Hold her, carry her, anything as long as she knows that you're present and within her grasp. Jemmy is the same" He smiles at his sleeping fiancé and adjusts his hold on the younger girl.

"She has a habit of wrapping my arm around her shoulders. Oh, and she likes it when I brush her hair and pin it up." I smile softly at the memories of the bubbly girl giggling and nuzzling her head into my palm.

"Eliza's got a crush! Eliza's got a crush!" He whispers, making my cheeks flush red.

"Shh! This stays between us Thomas or so help me God-"

"I won't tell anyone, Liza, relax. I'm here to help- you know that." He reassures, the smallest hint of amusement in his voice.

Oh boy.