Chapter Text
“Are you sure you wanna stay in the caravan, Eugene?", Rapunzel was looking at him with concern in her pretty green eyes. She was probably thinking he'd get in trouble or something like that. Which was weird, considering they were the ones going into that hostile city, while he could relax in the caravan.
Eugene chuckled, “It's safer than going there. I'm not really in the mood to get arrested, ya know. And it's not gonna take long anyway. I'm sure you can handle an hour without me.", he wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
Rapunzel rolled her eyes and replied, “Alright. You enjoy an hour to yourself then. Don't do anything stupid.", she looked at him warningly. And she looked adorable while doing so, causing him to smile widely. Why was this girl so adorable, no matter what she did or how stern she tried to look like? He really loved her, he knew that, but it just hit him again just how much she meant to him.
“You know me. Nothing will happen. Also, I wouldn't risk Cass or you getting mad at me.", Eugene grinned, and he felt his blonde princess kiss him, so he gladly kissed back and watched his friends go, heading towards that weird town he never really liked. The people there were very weird, and besides, he had stolen something really valuable from them years ago. So much time had passed, but his gut told him they would probably still be mad, and he always trusted his gut.
Once the people were out of his eyesight he went back into the caravan, stretching as he dropped into his bed. He got a brilliant idea and gasped, “I can read again!" His eyes lit up at this thought. He hadn't been able to read the Flynnigan Rider books in quite some time, and now that no one was there to distract him from it, why shouldn't he take the chance? The young man got up and reached for one of the books he had put under his bed.
“When Flynn Rider met Lance Archer.", Eugene whispered, amazed. I love that book!
“Give me your treasure, you dashingly handsome, yet pathetic worm!'- 'Never! They don't call me the sweet-feet-champ for nothing!", Eugene laughed as he continued reading. He remembered reading it as a little boy, always wanting to be like him. Now he knew he was way happier with his life as Eugene. He had Rapunzel, his friends, a home, he was loved and always had food and shelter. Then again, these books still meant so much to him…
“Oh man, did I miss this book!", the former thief smiled happily, totally unaware of what was happening around him. He didn't hear the door opening, he didn't hear the footsteps and he certainly did not hear the mean giggles coming from behind him.
“I doubt you missed your books more than I missed you, Rider.", Eugene froze when he heard a familiar voice say that. He turned around quickly and was met with a frying pan. It hit him and he instantly knew that wasn't Rapunzel. She would never hit me this hard...But who- he couldn't finish his thought, because he collapsed and everything went black.
Eugene blinked, coughing. His face and head hurt, pretty badly actually. He noticed his hands were tied together behind his back, which wasn't great either. they were tied to some kind of pole, and he was leaning against it. Suddenly he remembered the person that had knocked him out, and he started struggling, but the shackles were made out of metal, so it was no use. His arms were in a rather uncomfortable position, and his head throbbed.
“Well well well, look at who decided to wake up.", a voice said cheerfully and Eugene immediately felt uneasy.
“Stalyan?", he panted in disbelief, his eyes widened as he recognized the woman he had hoped to never see again. She stepped in front of him, causing him to struggle again as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
“Hello Flynn. long time no see, wouldn't you say?", she greeted, an evil smirk on her face. He didn't like it when she smiled like that. It meant trouble, and trouble was never good.
“Can't say it bothered me not to see you.", he shot back, giving her a grin of his own. Take that!
The young man suddenly felt pain on his left cheek and noticed he was staring into another direction...She slapped me.. he bit his lip to stop himself from letting out a gasp of pain. It hurt...
Stalyan growled, “Watch your mouth." She looked pretty upset, and Eugene had to suppress a grin. He loved making her angry, it satisfied him in a way he couldn't explain.
He rolled his eyes and grumbled, “Anyway, may I ask why you broke into the caravan, knocked me out and dragged me here? I had just arrived at a pretty exciting moment in the book!It was-"
“Stop talking, Rider.", Stalyan cut him off, then she turned around, taking something.
“I brought the book with me, of course.", she was indeed holding the book he had read earlier. Why did she bring it with her? That was weird, she'd never bring him nice stuff, he knew her. That was really, really suspicious.
Eugene raised an eyebrow and commented, “Did you seriously bring me here to read books? I can do that by myself."
“Oh no…I brought it here for another purpose.", the girl smirked and simply, without warning, ripped out a page from the book and Eugene's eyes widened in shock. Why was she doing that?
“Why did you do that? That's one of my favourite books! What was the reason to rip out a page?!", he snapped, feeling sad and confused. He had that book since he was 3! How could she destroy this memory? She knew how much the Flynnigan Rider books meant to him, especially the one she had just started to destroy...He had always read it when he missed Lance, when he was in prison or in another country for example...
“You see? I’m gonna destroy it page by page.", Stalyan explained as she stared at the page she had just ripped out. Was that supposed to be his punishment? That'd be weird, it hurt, but was she really that soft?
He rolled his eyes and laughed, “Oh, I'm gonna cry."
“And another side.", Stalyan said, taking out the second side. She was making him really upset now, he hated how she grinned like she had just found the biggest diamond in the world. It reminded him of the smile she gave him when he was almost forced to marry her.
Eugene muttered, “What's the point of this? And you still haven't told me why you knocked me out and brought me to this cabin! I don't wanna complain, but Rapunzel and the others are probably looking for me, so would you mind letting me go? And give me back my book?!"
“They're not looking for you.", Stalyan simply stating, causing Eugene to lift his head. She sounded so convinced and sure, it made him feel nervous...even more nervous than he already felt.
“What do you mean? Of course they will!", the young man growled,narrowing his eyes. Just because you don't have any friends doesn't mean mine won't look for me!
Stalyan chuckled and spoke, “Even if they could, they wouldn't. But unfortunately, they won't come anyway. I made sure of it."
“Made sure of- hold on...What did you do to them?!", he pulled at the shackles, glaring at Stalyan in anger and fear. If you did anything to them, you'll regret it! But if they wouldn't look for him, that meant something must have happened. They wouldn't just leave without him, he knew they wouldn't. Cass probably would, but not Rapunzel, and Lance wouldn't either. Not willingly...
“Don't worry, Flynn. It's just us now. We can be together again. Forever.", she knelt down and Eugene shuddered, his blood running cold. What had that evil woman done to his friends?
“I swear, if you hurt them I'll-"
"You’ll what? Come on, dear, you can't escape me. And soon you won't even want to anymore. ", she gripped his chin and he pulled it away, snarling. Don't touch me, you psychopath! You're insane!
He let out a gasp when she suddenly pulled out a knife. It wasn't big, but looked pretty sharp and overall, he didn't like knives after what he experienced on Rapunzel's 18th birthday. They made him uneasy, especially in the hands of his enemies. And Stalyan certainly was an enemy to him, considering she had blackmailed him, kidnapped him and was now pointing a knife at him.
“Whoa whoa, easy!", Eugene pressed himself against the pole as she came nearer. She was too close...he didn't like it.
“I brought you here to get you to behave like the Flynn I know again, and each time you don't do as I say something like this will happen.", Stalyan smirked, then she stabbed the knife into his shoulder and pulled it out after a few seconds.
Eugene couldn't help but shout as the searing pain erupted in his shoulder. His vision blurred and he immediately got dizzy. The stab wasn't deep, but it hurt. The man let out a choked gasp and closed his eyes tightly. Nevertheless Eugene forced himself to open them and panted, "I can deal with knives. And that didn't even hurt."
Stalyan grinned at him and giggled, “Your shaking says otherwise. Also, this was just a light stab. I have other things to entertain you with. There are so many things we'll do to bring the old you back. Candles, hot water, poison, my hands, belts, soap...We're gonna have so much fun together, Flynn! But I think you've had enough for now.", she pointed at his bleeding shoulder and added, "Think about what you're saying, or I'm hurting you far worse."
Eugene growled, "What is the point of this? I'm not who I used to be! My name is Eugene Fitzherbert, not Flynn Rider! I'm not that guy anymore! I'll never be who you want me to be!"
"We'll see about that, Flynn.", Stalyan said, she didn't even look up from her knife. She was looking at his blood and it made him feel very uneasy and vulnerable, even though he tried to hide it as best he could.
"The name's Eugene.", Eugene panted, feeling frustrated by her constantly calling him Flynn even though he just told her his name was Eugene. Eugene..not Flynn...is she stupid?
Stalyan calmly corrected him, "No, it's not."
The young man couldn't hold himself back, so he shouted, "YES IT IS! I KNOW MY OWN NAME!"
That was immediately followed by Stalyan kicking him in the abdomen, causing him to let out a wheeze and gasp for air, coughing violently.
"Don't talk back to me, Flynn. You know what, you're not gonna get a meal today. I was considering making you one, but you just ruined it for yourself.", Stalyan shrugged and slowly walked to a door that lead out of the small room.
“I wouldn't take anything from you anyway!", Eugene gasped, still trying to catch his breath. That kick was mean...
"We'll see about that. Soon you'll beg me for my touch and food, just you wait.", he heard Stalyan snicker and the man glared at her, panting. Begging her for food and touch? He'd rather die than doing that. He meant it.
"They'll come for me.", he grumbled, determined. They would, wouldn't they? Stalyan was talking nonsense anyway…She was manipulating him...And she was good at it, he had to admit that. He was already questioning whether his friends were okay or not.
Stalyan laughed, "As I said, they won't. I'm the only one that's ever loved you and soon you'll realize it. I promise you will, and then everything will go back to normal."
Eugene clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, his aching shoulder throbbing. Let all this be a nightmare...please...
"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.", someone said and Eugene grumbled, “Blondie, I'm tired...", but as he opened his eyes he remembered where he was and he let out a frustrated groan. So it wasn't a dream...
Stalyan was looking down at him, an apple in her hand. It looked delicious and Eugene was very hungry, but he wouldn't take anything from Stalyan. She had probably poisoned it or something like that, who knew...
"I don't want your stupid apple!", Eugene snarled as she knelt down beside him. He turned his head away, narrowing his eyes angrily. He did want it, but no...not from her. He remembered she HAD mentioned poison, so he definitely wouldn't take it.
The woman chuckled, "Do you think I care? You're either gonna eat it or I'll do something you won't like. It's for your own good.", Stalyan shoved it in front of his face, but Eugene turned his head to the side and snorted, "I won't eat it."
She growled, then she shoved it into his mouth and he grunted, trying to spit it out, but didn't have the strength to do so. Stupid apple!
Stalyan got up, turned to a table and grabbed something, Eugene was watching her carefully while struggling to breathe properly with the annoying apple in his mouth, making gagging noises as he desperately tried to get it out, but it wouldn’t budge.
"I want you to say sorry.", Stalyan said, revealing a belt, causing Eugene to shudder. His eyes widened and he pressed his body against the pole, trying to get as far away from Stalyan as possible.
"I'll be nice and only go for your knees. I don't wanna wipe the blood away, you know. But...if you say sorry, I'll stop. It's just a simple word. I won't undress you either, it will hurt enough like this.", Stalyan said and ran a hand through his hair, making him hiss as she pulled it back, revealing his throat. She brushed his throat with her belt very gently, seeming to enjoy seeing him tremble with fear.
This is bad..., he thought as he glared up at her and mumbled, "I won't 'ay 'orry!" He struggled to talk properly due to the annoying apple in his mouth.
Stalyan let go off his hair and instead hit his knees with the belt forcefully, making him hiss in pain due to the force Stalyan used to swing. He silently cursed himself for showing it hurt, but he couldn't help it. He hated the stinging pain, especially taking into account that he was under stress already.
"Don't like that, do you? You can just say sorry and everything will be over!", Stalyan said, then she ripped out a few strands of his hair without warning.
Eugene bit the apple so hard it fell apart, making him gag and cough as he gasped for air, the juice of the apple mixed with his saliva running down his chin. As he managed to get his breathing back under control, he dried his chin on his shoulder and angrily growled, "You think you're gonna get me back by doing this? The only thing you'll achieve is a lifelong sentence in prison! And Rapunzel or Cassandra beating you up, but I guess you're aware of that, aren't you? You're not gonna get the old me back, that person is dead! Flynn Rider doesn't exist anymore, and the sooner you realize it, the better!"
Stalyan's lips formed into a smile and she knelt down, she told him, "I'm gonna bring the old you back, don't worry. And if that means cutting off your arm. Don't underestimate me, Flynn.", she patted his cheek, he wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Eugene glared at her and snapped, "You can try!"
The woman smirked and replied, "Oh, I will lean back and enjoy the show. But as I said, say sorry and all this will be over for now.", she cracked the belt and let it do its work, aiming for his exposed knees.
He bit back the screams that wanted to come out of his mouth. From time to time, a wheeze, cough or gasp escaped him, but he didn't dare to say sorry. He even smirked at Stalyan a few times, which made her mad and hit him even harder, but Eugene didn't regret smirking. After some time though, the pain was overwhelming and he lost consciousness again.
Eugene blinked slowly, his whole body felt sore. He had been in that cottage for about 3 days now, but he hadn't given in...yet.
Stalyan grew more impatient each day, whipping his knees, stabbing him a little and she had also started slapping him whenever he said anything without permission or made any sound at all.
The man wanted nothing more than to go home, he missed Rapunzel...he even missed Cassandra...But Stalyan wouldn't let him go, she was too determined to break him, and each day that passed without him giving in made her even more merciless.
"Hello Flynn! How are you doing?", a way too friendly-sounding voice said and Eugene suppressed a sigh. He felt Stalyan look down at him, he narrowed his eyes, not daring to make a sound even though he wanted to. He hated not being able to talk when he wanted to…especially when the person deciding when he's allowed to speak and when he's supposed to stay quiet was his crazy ex!
"You can speak now, you know.", she spoke and Eugene snapped, “Oh, I'm doing alright. If you don't count the fact that my arms cramp, my whole body hurts and I'm locked in a cottage with the psychopath I tried so hard to escape from! And the fact that you're slapping me each time I make the tiniest sound makes it even better!"
Stalyan cupped his cheek, smirking as he stiffened. He didn't pull away though, because he knew she would hurt him if he did.
"I'm doing this because I LOVE you!”, the girl said, blinking.
“Love?! You call this love? If you really loved me you’d let me go! You wouldn’t have kidnapped me in the first place if you did! All you do is making me hate you even more! Just you wait until Rapunzel finds us! She will KILL you!", Eugene spat out, staring at her with all the hatred he had for her.
Stalyan laughed, "That's the point. She won't come to find you!"
"Yes she will! She will always come for me! Because she loves me! SHE does!", the former thief snapped, but broke off when Stalyan suddenly dropped a familiar bird-hair-clip in front of him.
"I'm afraid she's not able to rescue you, even if she wanted to, which I highly doubt.”, she chuckled darkly and Eugene looked at her with wide eyes.
"What did you do to her?", he practically yelled, pulling at his binds wildly.
Stalyan picked the hair-clip up and dramatically sighed, "The bird lost its wings. Or shall I say she's dead? What sounds better?"
Eugene's brain didn't seem able to form thoughts as he looked at Stalyan blankly. It couldn't be...She couldn't be- his friends were dead? Rapunzel was? But how? When? But the evidence was there, wasn’t it? Eugene knew how cruel Stalyan was, and she had contacts. And that hair clip was the one Rapunzel had worn the day he was kidnapped…
He let out a choked sob, suddenly not caring anymore that Stalyan was watching him. His heart felt like it had been ripped out and he let out another sob, feeling like he would lose consciousness anytime. This was far worse than dying....Eugene felt tears stream down his face, but he didn't even hide them. He curled into himself, the sobs making his body shake uncontrollably.
Rapunzel...this is all my fault...Oh Blondie, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you...Lance buddy I love you so much...Cass...Max, Fidella, Pascal...Rapunzel...
He felt Stalyan rub his arm and he kicked her away with his feet.
"LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING! I HATE YOU! STAY AWAY FROM ME!", he screamed at the woman, not caring how pathetic he probably looked. She had taken everything from him! Nothing mattered anymore...He was practically ready to beg Stalyan to just kill him...if Rapunzel wasn't there anymore, there was no reason for him to live or fight.
"This is how it's meant to be. I'm the only person that has ever loved you, and now it's just us again. Like old times. As it should be.", Stalyan told him, but of course that made him even more upset.
He shouted, "SHE loved me! SHE WAS INNOCENT! You had NO reason to...to do this! Rapunzel is my everything!", the tears were coming faster and faster, making his vision blur even more.
Stalyan grinned and corrected him, "Was."
Eugene's eyes widened and he pulled on his shackles harder than ever before. But after a few seconds he felt exhausted and just couldn't stay conscious anymore. His vision went black.
to be continued