It was hard for agent Rossi to ignore the death grip that Hotchner had on the steering wheel. His knuckles were practically white.

"I told you I could drive" Rossi said.

"And I told you that I can drive just fine" Hotch replied, copying his tone.

Rossi didn't react.

"All i'm trying to say is that you're stressed. You could relax and I could drive but hey if you're going to be sassy..." He stared out the window casually.

"I'm sorry. you're right. I didn't mean to snap at you" Hotch replied.

"I know" Rossi said.

"This is too easy, Dave" Hotch said.

"Elaborate" He replied.

"I don't know. Something is just off"

"We'll be extra careful" Rossi tried to reassure him.

Neither of the men knew what to say next so they sat in silence.

The address under Graves' name lead to a big farmhouse out in a rural and secluded area. Hotchner and Rossi arrived first with the rest close behind. The house was eerily dark. Everyone hopped out of their vehicles quickly but their team leader stopped everyone before advancing towards the house.

"We don't know what we are walking into here. Be cautious and communicate. Most likely this guy isn't going down without a fight." With those words Hotch nodded and turned toward the direction of the house, walking with his gun ready.

The team followed, spreading out and watching the area. When they finally got there and stepped up to the front door Hotch motioned for Morgan and JJ to go around back. They nodded in agreement and quietly crept around the side of the building. Hotch wasted no time using his foot to kick the door open with all his force.

The door flew open and everyone perked up. The inside looked pitch black with only faint outlines visable upon first look. They walked in and their flashlight showed that it was an average house. Wall art and plants decorated it and the furniture was matched well. Hotch nodded for Reid and Rossi to head upstairs while he checked the front of the house and the other two checked the backside.

Hotch cleared the living room quickly and moved further into the house where he checked a bathroom and a closet that were empty too. The only thing that was off about the place was the blackout curtains covering every window.

Soon JJ and Morgan sound off from the back of the house announcing that it was clear.

"This isn't right" Hotch said as he met up with the other two in the kitchen.

"What isn't?" Morgan asked.

"you can't get a read off this place. An unsub like this doesn't live in an average place. There's nothing personal here"

" Is it a trap?" JJ wondered out loud.

Hotch shook his head. "I don't know what it is but Emily isn't here and neither is out unsub" Hotch said.

After a few seconds of silence Rossi and Reid called out that the upstairs was clear. Their entered the kitchen instantly talking about how the unsub doesn't live there.

"We were just coming to the same conclusion" Morgan said.

The team looked around at each other with disappointment and confusion.

"Let's go check out the storm cellar out front" Rossi announced.

The team exited the house and started walking towards the double wooden doors that lead underground when JJ got everyone's attention.

"uhm guys?"

Hotch turned around to face her and saw her arm extended pointing at something in the distance. He squinted his eyes until he finally saw it in the distance. A big slaughterhouse.

The rest of the team turned to look too.

"Let's go" Rossi said, and they got back in the cars to drive up the road.

They parked once again and as they grouped up Morgan spoke.

"swat is about 10 minutes out"

"We'll go in now, they can catch up" Hotch said.

"Hotch we can wait ten. the place is too big for just the five of us" Morgan replied.

"Wait then. I'm going." With that Hotch withdrew his weapon and started heading towards the building.

"Did you really expect anything else?" Rossi said, giving Derek a pat on the shoulder.

Morgan sighed and followed his boss as well as the rest. They spread out to make sure they had eyes on every part of the building.

Hotch spoke through the mic on his wrist.

"I want you guys to pair up" He said.

"What about you?" JJ asked.

"I'll be fine by myself. You all know the drill. I need two of you to cover the perimeter and look for other entrances."

"Reid and I got it" Morgan spoke.

Hotch made his way to the weathered white door that sat at the front of the slaughterhouse.  Rossi and JJ were close behind. Hotch kicked the door open with one strong motion and moved in swiftly. With the click of their flashlights three beams of light illuminated the dusty place. It was abandoned and unkempt. Ahead of them was a long hallway with doors lining each side. Hotchner motioned with a flick of his gun, indicating for JJ and Rossi to take one side. Hotch began with the first room, nudging it open with his shoulder and poking his head in with his gun at the ready. The room was empty. He continued on quickly but carefully. Every room the same as the last.

Finally he made it to the end. Just as the other two were about to join him JJ pointed out that the hallway didn't end there, in fact it branched out to the left. They moved in that direction and saw one door at the end of the hall.

Slowly, with the other two holding up the back, Hotch crept towards the door. It was a heavy metal one that is used to keep people out but it was cracked open.

Hotch used his elbow to throw the door open all the way. It was a big room with one thing in the middle. A body.

"Emily!" Hotch shouted as he ran to her in the middle of the room.

He tossed his gun down and crouched down beside her. She was on her stomach but her matted, dirty hair was identifiable. He rolled her over carefully so she was laying on her back. He grimaced when he saw her.

One eye was black and swollen shut. Her cheek was covered in dried blood. Her lips were cracked and bloody.

She wore nothing but her undergarments so Hotch also saw the dozens of bruises on her body. There were burn marks on her stomach and she had raw ankles and wrists. What looked like whip marks we're all over her shoulders.

"oh, em." Hotch said as he gently touched the side of her face.

He could see her breathing was shallow. At this point Rossi and JJ were approaching but Hotchner put his hand up.

"Call in backup! we need medics!"

Rossi stayed in the doorway to keep lookout and JJ turned and jogged out of the room with her phone to her ear.

"Hey Em can you hear me?" Hotch shook her gently by the shoulder.

He saw movement under her eyelids. A small groan escaped her lips.

"Help is coming....Hang in there" Without looking away from her face he reached down and felt around with his left hand until he finally grasped her hand in his.

"Aaron.....aaron help" Emilys feeble voice shocked him.

He squeezed her hand tighter.

"I've got you. I'm right here"

Suddenly a gunshot booms through the building. With his other hand Hotch instinctively reaches for his gun and turns his head. Rossi was still guarding the door.

"I got it don't worry!" Rossi shouted.

Hotch nodded and turned his attention back to Prentiss. As if right on cue, They heard the distant sound of sirens. Hotch studied her battered body again and that's when he saw it. Momentarily he released Emily's hand and scooted down to her lower half. He looked quizzically at the piece of paper attached to her ankle with a rubber band. Gently he removed it and unfolder the paper.

"The game is not over" He read aloud.

Wow this chapter took forever. Life has been so crazy, even before the virus, that it has been really hard to find writing time. I really hope you like it. New chapter coming very soon.