Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, You can't see me

The pounding continued. With each hit of the door, my heart jumped further into my throat. I remembered that I was in Mike's arms and soon thought that was where I was going to die. I kept thinking of all the time I had to tell him how I felt, all the moments we've shared. I looked up into his deep, emotional brown eyes and saw the same thoughts staring back at me. I began to cry harder than ever. I felt a hand on my back and jumped out of fear. I looked back to see Phoenix weakly smiling at me.

The thought that Phoenix was behind all this was not discarded with his weak smile. Perhaps if he was behind it, he wouldn't let me be harmed. Or seriously harmed. I kept thinking that this was just part of another nightmare that I was having. But all of a sudden I heard Rob scream. When Mike, Phoenix, and I turned around, Rob was being drug off! Joe immediately went after him, while the others stayed behind with me. Suddenly it occured to everyone that noone but us should be in the house. That's when the pounding stopped.

Joe returned shortly, but without Rob. He looked very pale. And as though he had been in a mighty struggle. He had a pretty severe cut on his arm, a less severe cut on his left cheek, a busted and bleeding lip, and a rapidly bruising eye. And no Rob. Joe Hahn looked as though he were about to cry.

"Guys, I tried to get him back. I did. I fought as hard as I could. They have him. There are at least two, one that has Rob and the one I got into the fight with. I...I'm s..... I'm soooo sorry. I couldn't save him. Please, I tried....." His voice trailed off. The phone once again rang.

I had to pick it up. I knew they wouldn't talk to anyone but me. That voice was cold and full of hatred. I delicately picked up the phone and slowly, almost whispered hello.

"If you want your friend back, come outside. If you aren't out here within 10 minutes, the lovely Mr. Bourdon is going to be....sacrificed. For you." The voice promptly hung up.

Apparently I looked very pale as I hung up the phone because, still being held by Mike, everyone gathered around (except Joe, being full of guilt for "losing" Rob) to find out what the kidnappers wanted.

"They want me to come outside in exchange for Rob. I have 10 minutes to be out there. If I'm not, they are going to "sacrifice" him.... for me. They are going to kill him if I don't make an appearance. It's him or me. Guys, I love you all." I turned to face Mike. "I love you most of all, there are so many things I want, no, I need to tell you. I've had all the time in the world to say, and now I don't have any time at all. I love you Mike. I L-O-V-E you. I want to be with you. You are, and always will be my best friend. It's just, well, I want more than that. If I come out of this alive, please let me know what you think." I gave him a big hug, a kiss on the cheek, and proceede to open the front door. With one look back at Mike, I was out the door standing on our front lawn.

**Mike's POV**

I stood there, looking at my Chester. He was going to give himself up so that Rob would live. That's just how Ches is. He is supportive, caring, and very generous. And then he spoke to everyone. When he turned to look at me, I knew something was coming. I just never guessed that he felt the same way about me. I have longed for him since he first auditioned for the group. His beautiful face, his beautiful eyes, that absolutely amazing voice, his inexplicable sense of humor. When he sayed that he loved me, and emphesized love, I knew. And now, as he realizes his true feelings and decides he wants to be with me, he is taken away from me. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get him back alive. I began to softly cry.

**Chester's POV**

I took a heavy sigh and looked around. Since the guys that grabbed Rob were last seen out back, I decided to wander there first. Hopefully they were still there and Rob was still alive. I made my way around the side of the house, with an increasing feeling of being watched. I knew all the guys were still in the living room, probably discussing what was going on right now. By the time I made it to our backyard, I was feeling extremely paranoid. I saw someone light a cigarette behind our backyard fence, next to the alley. That was the most logical place for these maniacs to be. Sure enough, the closer I got, I began to hear someone talking to Rob. I opened the gate and saw my friend, blindfolded, and handcuffed so he couldn't see his attackers and surely couldn't fight back. Again, I sighed heavily.

"Fellas, let him go. You have me." I said, with a creak in my voice.

"Well, well. Mr. Bennington. Nice of you to pay us a visit. Glad you could make it." The anonymous phone voice said. It was gruff and deep. Very creepy, to me.

"Ches, go. Don't let them force you to go with them because of me! Save yourself!" Rob said frantically. Just then, the tall, buff man that was guarding his right side, punched him hard in the face. I saw blood oozing from Rob's nose.

"Let him go." I repeated myself.

"In just a minute. I wouldn't have harmed him, except that your Mr. Hahn decided to act a little fiesty with one of my boys. I'm just repaying him the favor." He said cooly.

Rob's 2 guards proceded to use him for a punching bag. I could tell that they had broken a few ribs, possibly his left arm as well. They probably broke his nose at some point. But when the ring-leader was satisfied with the beating, he instructed the 2 guards to uncuff Rob and take him up to the front door. They did as was instructed. Before they took Rob away, I told him that I loved him and for him to tell the others not to worry about me, things would work out. My small way of encouraging the guys to be strong, I guess.

When it was only me and the "admiror" alone, he proceeded to tell me everything. I was disgusted and appalled at what he was telling me.

"You see Mr. Bennington, you probably don't remember me. We went to high school together. I was never a very good-looking young man, but I had enough dates. And then, I met the girl of my dreams. She was beautiful. So full of life and artisticness. She was, in fact, perfect. We had been dating almost a year. I had went out and bought an engagement ring so that I could propose on Prom night. And then she saw YOU. She was instantly infatuated with you. I could tell just by the way she looked at YOU, that she and I were on the verge of breaking up. YOU took my Samantha. You married right after school. You sorry little bastard didn't even have an engagement ring for her! You had a child together. And THEN, you hit it big with this stupid rock band. Shortly after that, you break things off with HER. You threw her aside like an old shoe. I could never understand why you would let something so perfect slip through your fingers. And that, my dear friend, is why we are here now." He said, in the most calm and collected voice I had ever heard. Like he had been rehearsing this for a very long time.