Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley straightened his back and stretched slightly. A long day. He ran his eye over Christian approvingly. Long lines of whipmarks decorated his torso, and pins glittered from different areas of skin. So close...he could feel it.
Christina panted slightly, trying to ignore the burning pain in her feet. He'd flayed them and then put her feet in salt water. Stung like a bitch.
Christian
Christian held back a groan as he tilted his head slightly, tired eyes glancing up at Blakesley then away again.
This was really getting to be... in a word, bad.
He twisted the wrist that wasn't wounded, the chains holding him up cutting into that cut.
Blakesley.
"Next..." Blakesley murmured.
He smiled slightly at Christian, then dropped acid into one of the open whipcuts.
Christian
Christian clenched his teeth and groaned as he tilted his head back.
"$#!+," he cussed, feeling his upper body shaking slightly as a reaction.
Blakesley.
His smile growing a little wider, Blakesley decided that the acid was gaining a quite welcome reaction. So he started to trickle it into any bloody wounds he could see on Christian's body.
Christian
"$#!+," Christian hissed again, and continued to cuss for a while under his breath.
His eyes began to tear at the sting of the acid, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
He pulled on the chains on his ankles again, but due to past experience he kenw nothing was going to budge.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley paused, then swiped his fingers across Christian's damp cheeks.
"My father was right..."
Christina shifted her feet slightly, chains rattling and he glanced over. And smiled.
"Christian..."
Blakesley dug his fingernails into one of the whipcuts and lifted the skin slightly.
Christian
"Oh my $#!+ing God," Christian cringed, his arm shaking from trying to hold his weight.
The rest of his body was shivering from the pain now.
The water in his eyes turned suddenly to tears.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley almost purred.
"Christian...as I was about to say...how would you like to play with Christina? But...there would have to be a few rules..."
Christina's eyes widened and she started to shake. She had no idea what she'd done exactly to piss this guy off, and she was betting if he took Blakesley up on it...whatever it was, was gonna be painful.
Christian
Christian took a deep, shaky breath, then blinked away the tears and looked down at Blakesley - as his head was still tilted back.
"Like what?" his voice croaked.
Blakesley.
"For example...you can't kill her. Or do anything that won't eventually heal. If she lives that long..."
Blakesley smiled slightly.
"And of course, you agree not to try and escape, or to harm me in anyway."
Christian
Christian gulped, and glanced at Christina.
"If you're not gonna let me kill her..." he flinched slightly, "then what the $#!+ am I supposed to do with my afternoon?"
Christina & Blakesley.
"Oh, I'm sure you can think of something..." Blakesley said.
"There are a lot of tools in the cabinets. And don't forget...I have the remote."
Christian
Christian looked into his eyes for a moment, breathing heavily, then looked to Christina.
The first thought that crossed his mind - apart from why - would be that it was an avenue for escape.
He watched her for a moment, contemplating what he could do.
Christina & Blakesley.
Christina shuddered and looked away.
"Don't kill her or maim her irrapairably," Blakesley said.
"Even if you wanted to escape...you can't."
Christian
Christian glanced at him again, then looked to the door and back at Christina.
"How long do I have?" he voice croaked softly again.
Christina & Blakesley.
"From when I leave that door until I enter again. Most of 24 hours, I should think..."
Blakesley started to lower Christian so his feet touched the ground.
Christina closed her eyes. He was going to kill her.
Christian
Christian stood on the one foot that was still useable, and managed to balance himself. He looked up at the cuffs on his wrists again.
"Dare I ask why you're letting me do this?" he raised an eyebrow, his eyes becoming more focused and alert by the moment.
Christina & Blakesley.
"Because I want to?" Blakesley said softly.
"What other reason do I have to do anything?"
Carrot and stick, Christina thought grimly. And she was the carrot. Hoorah. Oh, wasn't this just gonna be *fun*.
Blakesley unlocked the handcuffs on Christian's hands, then bent briefly to unlock his shackles.
"Have fun."
Blakesley left and slid all of the locks in after him. Christina eyed Christian briefly, then looked away again.
Christian
Christian collapsed where he was, careful not to let his burnt foot hit the ground. He rubbed his wrists for a moment, looking them over, then looked up at the door.
If only he could get the damn collar off. He'd be out of there in a flash.
He looked himself over for a moment, then struggling to his feet. Well, foot. He made his way over to the sink and used some of the water to wash himself off a little.
Christina.
Christina went very, very still, her eyes tracking his movements warily. She didn't know what to expect from him. Blakesley had been easy enough to figure out. Christian though... she had no idea at all.
She consciously slowed her breathing down, not wanting to make any noise that would make him look at her any sooner then he did.
Christian
Once Christian convinced himself that most of the acids and blood that could be removed had been removed, he turned the tap off and leant against the sink for a moment.
Taking a deep breath, he considered his options. He knew the sizes of the bolts on the door. What if...
He looked up at the door, then slowly made his way toward it. He'd noticed that Blakesley's father had left a walking stick behind last time, and opted to use that as a substitute for his burnt foot.
He ran his fingers up the edge of the door, squinting as he tried to see through. Oh yeah. He'd forgotten about the sound proofing. Damn it all.
He turned and leant his back to the door, and sighed. He rubbed his eyes, glanced at Christina, then looked to the cupboard.
Christina.
What the hell was he up to? Christina's fear was starting to reach new heights. She didn't let any of it show on her face and she kept her breathing slow and even. Even if she was afraid, the hell she was letting him know that.
Suddenly, Christina wished Blakesley hadn't gotten rid of most of her clothes. Don't even think about that. Calm, calm, calm...
Christian
Christian groaned a little and hung his head as he leant on the walking stick again.
He slowly made his way over to the cupboard and began to look over what the two men had in there. Not so much as for something to use on Christina - more to find out what he might be in for. Or she might be in for.
He found the collection a lot like the labs, with some... interesting added extras.
He grabbed the dagger Blakesley's father had used to practically grate his stomach with, then took it over to the wheelchair.
"I'm not gonna kill you," he half groaned as he sat down.
He glanced up at her, then returned his attention to the dagger.
"I don't need Kaleb to get too pissed off and give me absolutely no chance of getting out of here. And I know you're afraid, you always have been.
Christina.
Christina coughed to clear her throat of blood and spat on the floor.
"And you not killing me...is s'posed to make me feel so much better," she said in a slurred voice.
Missing part of her tongue made it hard to enunciate some words.
"'Course I'm scared, you f*cking asshole. I don't know what I was before...but...f*ck...I might as well be some girl he picked up off the street. Which he did."She coughed again and looked away.
Christian
"I'm not here to make to you feel better, that should be obvious. And you can't expect sympathy from me... even though you don't know what you've done."
He looked across at the table.
"Insults don't mean anything to me, because I've heard just about every variation you could think of. It happens when you show up to aliens' doorsteps and announce they're gonna die within the next few minutes. Or hours, depending on the games you play with them."
He chuckled a little.
"Kaleb won't care that you don't know anything. He's still pissed at you for helping me kill his cousin, and he's going to get his revenge for it no matter what state you're in."
Christina.
God, she was so tired...she couldn't even be bothered pretending that she was coping anymore.
"Seeing as how you're the one that used to hang with the telepath, I would think you'd know something about how minds worked. The woman you two are so f*cking desperate to hurt, doesn't exist anymore. She's dead. She's not coming back."
Christina coughed, then breathed shallowly through broken ribs.
"All there is, is me. And f*ck you both. You're both as twisted as each other. *I* am not the one who did whatever to you."
Christian
"You don't think I know that?" Christian squinted up at her.
"I know that. He doesn't. But he doesn't give a $#!+ about anyone or anything, so it's no good trying to convince him."
He rubbed his face.
"I'm not going to torture you. I'm not into that. I am nothing like him. Want proof?"
He threw the dagger across the room.
"If my powers were working I'd dust the entire $#!+ing room and I'd have us out of here in a millisecond."
He sat back into the wheelchair and closed his eyes, trying to keep himself calm.
Christina.
Christina lifted her head to look at the dagger which was stuck into the floor.
"Mmm..." she said non-commitedly.
And also because she was too damn tired to try and argue with him about anything.
Christian
Christian put a hand over his stomach as he looked up at her.
He scratched at a scab for a moment, then looked away.
"Get some sleep," he insisted, "you'll need it."
He leant over and picked up the walking cane from where it had fallen to the floor.
Christina.
Christina looked at him steadily for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"You probably should as well. Less you think you can manage to pick the locks. Or get rid of the collar."
Christian
Christian shook his head.
"I can only sleep for a couple of hours. Better later when I actually feel tired. And as to the collar, I'm going to damn well try."
He stood, leaning on the walking cane, and made his way back to the cupboard. He began to look through for anything that could help in getting it off.
Christina.
Christina watched him warily, eyelidsblinking tiredly. She still didn't trust him as far as she could throw him...and that was even less of a distance now then before.
Eventually she fell into a sort of half doze, black hair falling forward to veil her bruised face.
Christian
Christian grabbed a one-sided knife and tried to cut the collar.
Wait... the core was adamantium...
He put the knife back and tried to find something that could burn or eat it off.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley cursed and stood from his computer. Damn, he'd left that sample of Christina's blood in the room. He'd have to go get it... he walked down the corridor to the room and started to unlock the locks.
Christina's head came up and she blinked, then came to a conclusion.
"He's coming...look, just hurt me, would you? If he thinks you're still thinking the way *he* thinks you are..."
Christian
"I don't give a $#!+ about what he thinks of me," Christian almost growled, but held himself together.
He shoved the acid he'd found back into the cupboard, and quickly leant on the walking cane before he could fall over.
Christina & Blakesley.
"I was thinking more along the lines that he might do this again some time..." Christina told him, then let out an earpiercing scream of pain. At least, that's what it sounded like.
Blakesley smiled to himself as he undid the last lock.
"Having fun, Christian?"
Christian
Christian looked confused for a moment, before catching on.
He looked up at Kaleb, then away as he backed against the cupboard door and leant there.
"Maybe," he almost groaned, blinking slowly.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley smiled slightly as he walked confidently into the room. Of course, he locked the door behind him, and kept one finger on the button that would sedate Christian.
"Good, good..."
Christina hung her head and generally gave off defeated, submissive vibes.
"Forgot something..." Blakesley said as he walked over to the bench.
He picked up a vial of Christina's blood and slipped it into his pocket.
"Amazing the things you can learn from a blood analysis these days."
Christian
Christian kept his eyes on the remote in Kaleb's hand.
"There's many other ways to learn things too," his voice croaked a little.
He looked up at Kaleb again.
Christina & Blakesley.
"Very true..."
Blakesley paused and looked Christina over again, then shrugged slightly as he went to the door.
Christina cracked her eyes open slightly and watched him as he unlocked the door and walked out again. The locks clicked as he locked the door behind him.
Christian
"$#!+ing asshole," Christian said under his breath.
He stepped back a little and opened the cupboard again, grabbing the acid. Then he began to make his way over to the sink.
Christina.
"Can say that again," Christina agreed faintly.
She flexed her fingers and watched him curiously.
"How, exactly, are you planning to get out of here if you get the collar off?"
Christian
"It's adamantium. I probably won't get it off. But I'm definately going to try and screw it up."
He wiped some sweat from his forehead as he set the acid on the sink, then leant the walking stick against it.
"The problem is not electrocuting myself in the process. There won't be enough to kill me and I don't particularly feel like making Kaleb's job easier."
Christina.
"Heaven forbid anything should go right for him, ever again," Christina said.
She yawned, and decided to see if she could manage to catch another catnap. ANytime without Blakesley was to be treasured.
Christian
"This is going to hurt..."
Christian leant over the sink, and poured a little of the acid over the control box of the collar.
He hissed and almost cried out as he felt it hit his skin. This wasn't dillated like the acid Blakesley had used on him before.
He heard the collar hissing a little, then felt a small shock go through his body. He dropped the bottle of acid, then - as his body shook - he ran the taps and tried to wash most of it away.
Christina.
"You alright?" Christina asked in concern.
If he'd gotten me down off this thing, I might have been able to help...
Christian
"Fine."
Christian's voice shook as the remnants of the electricity still hovered.
He leant on the sink for a moment to recover, wondering what he'd actually been able to do.
He grabbed the walking stick and made his way back to the wheelchair so he could sit for a moment.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley jotted down observations on the pad next to him as he studied the material he was slowly gathering on Christina. If he could just isolate this factor in her blood...he was pretty sure he could manufacture a chemical which would mimic the effects of the Null ability.
"That's good then...no point in doing Blakesley's work for him. Think ya managed to disable something?" Christina asked in interest.
After all, if he got free...maybe she could manage to make her escape as well.
Christian
"Well... that's what I'm about to find out."
He closed his eyes and tried to use his atom manipulation on the walking cane.
Zap.
Christian hesitated for a moment, waiting for his body to calm somewhat.
"Ok, that didn't work."
He looked up at the door, then across to the cupboard. Taking a deep breath, he tried to use his telekinesis to closed the door.
Zap. Slam.
Christian panted after he was electrocuted, hardly noticing he'd closed the door.
Christina.
"Well..."
Christina looked at him thoughtfully.
"How about getting me down off this thing now?"
Christian
Christian glanced toward the cupboard door, taking deep breaths to calm his body down.
"You know, there is still a trust issue happening here..." he frowned, "just because you don't have your memories doesn't mean you're not as cunning as you were before."
Christina.
"Look, Christian...all I'm looking for is a chance to get my weight off my arms, and maybe to get the hell out of here," Christina told him.
"There is no hidden agenda in that."
Christian
Christian hesitated, looking her over.
"You always did suck at mind games."
He stood from the wheelchair, cringing at the pain in his neck. A couple of red streaks flowed across his neck above and below, where the acid had spilled.
With the aid of the walking stick, he made his way over and began to unstrap her left wrist.
"You realize that I'm the one that's gonna be in the $#!+ for this."
Christina.
"And you aren't if he sees the bubbling on the collar from where you spilled acid on it?" Christina asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Christian
Christian shrugged, getting the strap undone.
"Could have spilled it by accident."
He chuckled a little as he started on the first strap on her arm, then once that was undone, the one just below her shoulder.
"After all, why would I hurt myself?"
Christina.
"His opinion of you is so low, he'd believe you were stupid enough to do that," Christina said dryly.
She flexed her fingers, moving her arm slightly.
"Much better...thanks."
Christian
"A point..." Christian raised his eyebrows, ignoring the thanks.
He wasn't exactly used to getting it.
He hesitated for a moment to lean on the walking stick, then began unstrapping her other arm.
Christina.
Christina watched him silently. Odd guy. But he was getting her down...more or less the first time she'd be off this thing in over a fortnight. Her muscles were screaming at her now she was moving again, and she winced slightly.
"Gah...pins and needles..."
Christian
"You get used to it after a while."
Christian got the last strap off, then backed away.
"I'm guessing you can get your ankles free yourself. If I get down I probably won't be able to get up again."
He looked her over again, then made his way back to the wheelchair.
Christina.
"Right. Thanks."
Christina bent over and soon was able to step out of the restraints. She hung onto the cross for support when her legs refused to hold her for a few moments, then walked over to the tap. She washed her face clean of blood, wincing slightly as standing put pressure on her feet.
Christian
Christian turned away and rubbed his nose, before trying to get his fingers between his neck and the collar. He had no idea what he'd done to it, but at least he had telekinesis back.
At least he could knock Kaleb out when he wanted.
"It's probably a good idea to sit down for a while," he said absently.
Christina.
"Good point."
Christina drank a few mouthfuls of water then slid down the wall to sit on the floor. She wasn't sitting on the table. No way in hell.
"Do you have a plan?"
Christian
"Like what?" Christian shrugged, "I've been here since two days after..."
He hesitated.
"Nevermind. You wouldn't remember."
Christina.
"Just a general get out of this room, out of this house kind of plan...I'm assuming this is a house, yeah?"
Christina raised an eyebrow at Christian.
Christian
Christian shrugged.
"Don't ask me, I've never seen outside of it. I was drugged when the asshole brought me in."
He scratched his neck.
"I think I can safely say that... I've been here as long as you can remember being alive."
Christina.
"Tough break," Christina commented.
She sighed and rested her head against the wall.
"It's really odd...this memory of mine. I remember...but I don't."
God, she hoped RK turned up sometime soon.
Christian
"I can only imagine," Christian rubbed his forehead.
He looked back toward the door, trying to think of any way to get through it. He knew if he could, all he'd have to do was knock the two men out with his telekinesis and get out of there. Getting back to Tulsa could wait.
"If you can get Kaleb to the floor when he comes back, you could probably make a break for it," he sighed finally, "he recovers semi- fastly. Just make sure you back off, cos he'll turn around and backhand you."
Christina.
"I might not remember...but rest assured the body does..."
Christina bit her lip and looked down at her hands.
"Found that out when I loaded a gun."
Christian
Christian frowned and gave her a curious look.
"Ok, now you're worrying me. You, getting freaked by being able to load a gun?"
He raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
"At least you're not pissed I dusted that rifle anymore."
Blakesley & Christina.
"Don't know who I was, but I don't think I'd be proud of it. Finding that out more as I keep meeting people who knew Spook."
Christina flexed her hands slightly, thinking.
"Just wasn't right..."
She shook her head faintly, knowing he wasn't going to understand.
Blakesley pushed back from his desk and stretched his back. Nearly done...he thought. A few more hours work, and he would have it.
Christian
"Well just steer clear of the YIRAAS... you and me both. You probably still have a death warrant on your head and... I'm guessing they still want me."
Christian hesitated.
"YIRAAS is the Yes, I'm Really An Alien Society. General 'good guys' of the alien population."
Christina.
"And we were bad guys, I'm guessing," Christina said dryly.
She shrugged slightly.
"Figures. I seem to have screwed everything else up..."
Christian
"It's probably a good thing that you lost your memories," Christian shrugged.
"It'd be better for you to get on their side. You were kinda... falling. You weren't going to hack it for much longer."
Blakesley & Christina.
"Saying I do get out of here...and you don't, anyone I can contact for you who won't kill me on sight?" Christina asked.
Blakesley cursed as his data suddenly froze on the computer screen.
Christian
"Maybe Tanya," Christian looked down at his hands, "but I don't know what she thinks of me at the moment."
He gulped and looked up at the door again.
"I can't htink of anyone else that doesn't hate you as much. Apart from Mouse, but... I'm not exactly in her good books either."
Christina & Blakesley.
"See what I can do," Christina said quietly.
"I find RK...he knows where to find Tanya. All I saw was her ofice, I think it was."
Blakesley stood and walked down to the room. He started to unlock the door.
Christina looked up sharply and got to her feet.
"Well...here we go."
Christian
Christian rubbed his tongue on the back of his throat as he waited for the door to open. If things got out of hand, he'd knock Kaleb out. No doubt about that.
He glanced at Christina as he heard the last of the bolts being undone.
"Good luck.
Blakesley & Christina.
"Think I'm gonna need it."
Blakesley entered and Christina sprang. She kneed him in the groin and punched him in the gut before she was out the door like scalded cat. Blakelsey knelt on the floor, almost blind with rage and pain.
"C'mon, you bastard thing, c'mon..." Christina cursed at the front door as she slid back the deadlock.
She'd worry about clothing once she was outside.
Christian & Blakesley Snr.
Christian stood from the wheelchair and gulped, before using his telekinesis to knock Blakesley out. He cried out when the electricity hit him, and shakily fell to his knees, then the floor.
His body jolted a little as he kept his eyes on the door.
A knife suddenly lodged itself in the front door, less than an inch from Christina's face.
"Next time..." came Blakesley's father's mild tone, "if there is a next time, dear... I may aim a little... left."
Blakesley & Christina.
"Motherf*ck..." Christina said quietly, eyes almost crossing as she looked at the knife.
Her hands stilled for a moment, then she dropped and rolled, coming out of her crouch behind a couch in the living room. Right...old guy. With very good aim with knives. F*ck. And double f*ck.
Blakesley slumped on the ground, unconsciousness.
Blakesley Snr
"How many knives do you believe you can dodge, Miss Terry?" Blakesley's father raised an eyebrow, another dagger in his hand already.
He let his eyes wander, taking in her position. The only places to go were to her left - into the kitchen - or between them, down the hallway.
Christina.
"Enough?" Christina hazarded.
F*cckkkk...she was *so* screwed.
Blakesley Snr
The old man tapped the blade against his other hand for a moment, considering.
"And how much would it take to convince you to return to the room... unguarded?" he raised an eyebrow.
A knife lodged itself in the floorboards on both sides of Christina, and a third was in the doctor's hands already.
Christina.
"Definetly a lot," Christina said firmly.
She was SO screwed. Maybe if she...
Thought became action and Christina caught her breath as she sheltered behind the wall of the kitchen. Oh fantastic. No door to the outside here. And she was too big to fit through thw window easily.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father tutted slightly, as he slid the bolts back in the front door. He padlocked the largest shut, then made his way down the hallway.
Looking through the open door, he saw his son and Christian on the floor, Kaleb obviously unconscious.
With a small grumble, he made his way over to Christian and hauled him upward.
"Leave me alone," Christian barely got out.
Blakesley's father ignored him, and pulled him to the door. He positioned himself by the front door, with the knife to Christian's throat.
"Oh Christina?"
Christina.
F*ck, f*ck, f*ck...just when you think things can't get any worse...
"Yeah, old man?" Christina called back, having returned to her place of slight safety after peeking around for a bit of a look see.
Christian
"Now I know my dear offspring would blatantly detest me for damaging his precious Taylor's clone..." he began in a soft but stern voice, "but such needs call for such measures."
He used the knife to move some hair out of Christian's face as the alien froze, afraid of slitting his throat by accident.
Christina.
God DAMN.
"Alright, you bastard..."
Christina stood and slowly inched around the door, green eyes smouldering with anger.
Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father shook his head.
"Don't look at me like that Miss Terry. You brought this on yourselves. Now please retire back to your room..."
Christina.
"Yeah, because walking down the street looking for a job is something that just screams, f*cking take me, I'm yours to torture. Wanker."
Christina limped forward a few steps.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Regardless of what you may think, people have been taking the blame for others' mistakes for centuries. Do not annoy me Miss Terry. The threat to Christian's wellfare does not solely exist on your physical co-operation."
Christian flinched a little as a small droplet of blood ran down his neck.
Christina.
"Rightio then.
So...he suffers from extreme sexual tension as well. Christina kept her mouth shut on the particular thought as she walked ahead of him to the room. She trod on Blakesley's fingers and hoped she broke one.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Cage, Miss Terry. I will let Kaleb decide what he wishes to do with you when he awakens."
Christian gulped slightly, and closed his eyes. Oh great. they were in for it.
Christina.
Christina shrugged slightly and slid gracefully into the cage despite her injuries.
"He's weak."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"And I can agree no less with that statement," Blakesley's father mused, leaving Christian to lean on the table as he fasted a padlock on the door of the cage.
Christian glanced toward the door, but it had already been bolted shut from the inside. There'd be no way he could make it there in time.
"Thank you for your co-operation," Blakesley's father smiled down at Christina for a moment, then turned back to Christian.
As he slowly advanced, Christian began to back away.
"Get the $#!+ away from me," he breathed, hands slipping on the table.
Blakesley's father tutted again, taking hold of Christian's shoulder and then driving the knife into his left hip. Christian cried out in shock, as the knife was held in place.
Blakesley & Christina.
Christina put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes, blocking the world out.
Blakesley slowly came to, hand going to his head as he levered himself off the floor.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian gasped for breath as his hands fell over Blakesley's father's and they stared into each other's eyes.
Christian gagged for a moment, then almost choked as the knife was twisted slightly, then pulled from his hip.
Christian let out a soft cry as he collapsed to the gorund, holding his hip.
"And let this be a lesson to you. We don't need these little mishaps becoming a routine."
His eyes turned to his son.
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley stared at his father for a moment, approaching very real hatred for him, for the first time in years.
"Of course not."
Blakesley coughed, clearing his throat.
Christina darted a glance at Christian, feeling really worried for him.
Christian
Blakesley's father tilted his head slightly as he looked down at Christian gasping for breath.
"Young Christian here need to learn some manners," he tutted, "no doubt he's responsible for the release of Miss Terry."
Chritsian's eyes darted from side to side, mostly ignoring what they were saying.
Christina & Blakesley.
"One would suppose that..."
Blakesley closed his eyes briefly, then shook off the lingering headache.
Christina flexed her hands slowly. She'd hurt him once, and she'd hurt him again if she had to.
"What punishment do you think would be fitting?" Blakesley asked his father.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Something extremely painful... possibly, lingering..." the old man seemed to consider.
Christian let out a groan, trying to roll over.
Blakesley's father smiled at his son.
"He's starting to cry out," he whispered, knowing through Christian's state of mind that he wouldn't hear properly.
Christina & Blakesley.
Don't do it, Chris. Don't give them the satisfaction.
Christina didn't say a word out loud as she gazed at Christian fiercely. She wasn't going to draw their attention to her any sooner then nessecary. Which she'd only do if it looked like he was gonna die.
Blakesley smiled back.
"Good."
He looked consideringly around the room.
"Where would you like him restrained? It's really a pity I can't do to him what I did to Taylor. I buried him alive for a few days."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Well I would suggest we make our own... grave... in the backyard. However I'm sure the peeping Tom neighbours I currently have would be a little... shall we say, suspicious?"
He took a whip from the cupboard back over to Christian, and began to run it softly down his body to make him shiver.
"Do you remember what I once did with the glass box?"
Christina & Blakesley.
"Yes..."
A cruel smile appeared on Blakesley's face and Christina shivered.
"We still have that somewhere?"
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"We do..."
Blakesley's father crouched down beside Christian and blew softly onto his neck, watching his body shake with satisfaction.
"It is in the den. Don't let me other... new aquisitions alarm you. I have been gaining some new stock which I... had to place somewhere."
"Leave me alone," Christian's voice shook, as Blakesley's father moved some hair out of his face.
Blakesley.
"As you say."
Blakesley moved out of the room and went to get the glass cage. He brought it on with a bit of effort and started to set it up.
"And what would you say should happen to the lovely Miss Terry?"
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father stood.
"Well we shall have plenty of time to contemplate it while young Christian fights to... keep himself alive as it were," he pointed out.
He waited patiently as Christian cringed, trying to curl in on himself.
"The shackles suited for it are in the cupboard. Most likely in the back, as they haven't been used for some time."
Blakesley.
Blakesley nodded sa he finished assembling the glass cage, before going to the cupboard and reaching into the back to get out the shankles. He put them on Christian with a minimum of fuss and then dragged him to his feet.
"I really don't feel like dragging you, so I would suggest making the nessecary movement to get into the box."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father stepped back a little, considering Christian's state.
"I can't... $#!+ing walk... asshole," Christian said between breaths, still holding onto his hip.
He knew that hopping was probably his best chance at moving anywhere, but there was no way he was going to do that with a stab wound.
"Maybe..." Blakesley's father began softly, as Christian closed his eyes and gulped.
"Maybe we could add something... that would the water even more painful."
Christian squinted up at him for a moment, pain evident in his eyes.
Blakesley.
"Salt, perhaps?" Blakesley suggested silkily as he grabbed Christian's shoulders and more or less manhandled him into the glass box.
He bent in and quickly clipped the shackles to the correct connections, before getting a length of hose and adjusting it so that the water from the tap would flow freely into the box. He turned the tap and the water started to fill.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father watched as Christian's body started shaking - partly from the cold water, and partly from the pain in his hip.
"I'll fetch some salt from the kitchen."
Blakesley's father left silently. Christian glanced up at Blakesley, then closed his eyes again.
Blakesley.
"The salt will have a twofold effect...it will sting...a lot, and help your wounds not get infected," Blakesley said in a distant tone of voice.
He watched the water pour into the box and sighed slightly as he thought about what he could to Christina.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father returned with some sea salt. As the glass box was filling rather quickly (the water already turning red) he dropped about a kilogram of salt into the water.
Christian bit his lip, but once the salt hit his hip he had to cry out.
Christina & Blakesley.
Once the the water reached the limit, Blakesley turned the tap off and recoiled the hose, putting it away in the cupboard.
Christina crouched further against the back of the cage, green eyes watching him warily as he unlocked the padlock. She didn't move, staying as far away from him as possible as he opened the door.
"Out," he ordered quietly.
Christina stayed silent and almost seemed to merge with the plastic at the far end. Blakesley sighed slightly, then reached in quickly, grabbing her hair and wrapping it around his fingers. He slammed her head hard into the top of the cage and while she was dazed, dragged her out.
"This might have gone easier on you, if you'd just done what I'd said," he told her as he strapped her efficently to the table.
A trickle of blood ran down Christina's temple where he'd knocked it on a corner of the cage.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian struggled to keep his head above the water, his only means by putting weight on his damaged wrists. Blakesley's father didn't even smile as he made his way back to his wheelchair and sat, silently.
Christina & Blakesley.
Once he was convinced that no matter what happened, Christina wasn't going to be able to move a centimetre, Blakesley went over and washed his hands. He didn't need her getting an infection and dying on him too early.
Christina stared upwards at the ceiling, having already discovered that she couldn't move much more then her fingers and toes. Thus she was unprepared for the blinding flash of white hot pain as Blakesley neatly cut a gaping incision across her stomach.
She screamed.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian cringed at the sound of her scream, knowing it was just what Kaleb wanted.
"Leave her alone," he managed to choke out.
"And of course that always works so well, young Christian," Blakesley's father said softly, "and since when have you ever been concerned of Miss Terry's wellfare?"
Christina & Blakesley.
Blakesley smield softly, blood welling up around his gloved fingers. He patted it away and then completed the C-section style incision.
PAIN! PAIN! Christina would have thrashed her head if she could, fingers curling and uncurling in shocked agony. Tears welled up from her eyes and ran down the sides of her face as she gasped for breath.
Blakesley bent his head and studied the hole, then started pinning back the neatly cut flesh.
Christina wailed.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Oh man..." Christian moaned.
"Since her screams started hurting my ears, asshole."
Blakesley's father smiled slightly, watching his son work.
Christina & Blakesley.
Carefully, eyes focused on his work, Blakesley studied Christina's insides.
Mind lost in a white blaze of agony, Christina screamed again as his knife hovered over the red and gaping hole.
"Yes..."
Blakesley made a few more decisive cuts, then straightened back up. He got the first aid kit and started to stich up the wound neatly. Christina moaned in pain, nearly unconscious. Blakesley smiled slightly and *twisted* the knife slightly.
One more wail of unbearable torment and Christina passed out on the table.
Blakesley continued his calm stitching.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian let himself fall back into the water, keeping his eyes squeezed shut. He stayed down as long as he could hold his breath - to give his arms some rest - before having to bring himself back up.
Blakesley's father heard the movement, and watched him silently. Once Christian had a moment to gather himself, he took in a shaky breath.
"What did you do to her?"
Blakesley.
Blakesley turned and smiled at Christian, blood painting his hands and flecked on his face and front.
"I cut her open like a biology experiment. I am a scientist, it's what I do. She fainted once I started to stitch the incisions across her stomach closed."
Christian
Christian groaned, wishing there was something to lean his head against.
"Can't you just let her $#!+ing die?"
Blakesley.
"And where would be the fun in that? I still have plans for the lovely Miss Terry..."
Blakesley turned back to Christina and stared down at her still body for a moment.
"Just because my labs were closed down does not mean that I do not still have experiments to consider. And she can help me in that... willing or not."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian blinked tears of pain away as he turned away from him. It wasn't as if they could tell if he was crying - his whole body was wet anyway.
"And how long's that going to take?"
Blakesley's father tilted his head, regarding Christian.
Blakesley.
"A while. At least a few months. I have tests to consider...and they can take a variable amount of time."
Blakesley's eyes were lost in thought.
"Even if the government isn't claiming ownership over the labs...they're still willing to pay for results. Enough of the mutation lingers that I-"
Blakesley cut himself off, and smiled again.
Christian
"Months?" Christian groaned.
He looked up at the restraints holding him in the box, and considered how he could use his power to get out once the Blakesleys left the room. Without electrocuting himself in the process...
Christina & Blakesley.
"Maybe nine," Blakesley said in an amused voice, then laughed.
Christina's eyelids fluttered briefly and Blakesley pressed a finger to the neatly stitched line stretching from one hipbone to the other.
She yelped, eyes opening wide and panting with pain.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Nine months," Christian murmured under his breath.
There was no way he was going to even bother keeping himself alive for that long if he didn't figure a way out.
"Kaleb?" Blakesley's father began softly, his eyes still on Christian.
"I have the slight feeling you'd be interested in seeing the current state of Christian's suppressor collar..."
Christian gulped, hoping that whatever he'd done wasn't that noticeable.
Christina & Blakesley.
Christina moaned as Blakesley pressed down harder on the line of sutures.
"And what do you know about it, Christina?"
"N-n-nothing!" She managed to gasp out past the pain.
"And yet somehow, I don't believe you."
With one last vicious jab, Blakesley walked over to the tank. He lifted Christian's head by the hair and studied the collar.
"You poured acid on it."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"Oh really?" Christian said between breaths, welcoming the fact that Kaleb was holding his head up - even though it hurt.
"Acid?" Blakesley's father looked interested, "and how much damage would that cause, Kaleb?"
Blakesley.
"A significant amount..." Blakesley murmured.
He pushed Christian's head under the water and held it there for over a minute. Then he brought the alien's head back to the surface.
"Well. I think that gains a few more weeks in the water."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Christian coughed and spluttered for a moment, struggling slightly to breathe again.
"Asshole," he cursed, "drowning is not a favourite way to commit suicide, but I God amn will if I'm pushed."
Blakesley's father hesitated for a moment.
Blakesley.
"Suicide...the last refuge of the weak."
Blakesley let go of Christian's hair and stepped back, thikning slightly.
"I'll have to go and work with one of my spares..."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"It's not that I'm weak. It's that I have better things to do than put up with your $#!+," Christian cussed, clenching his free fist.
"If you do have a replacement, it would be wise..." Blakesley's father seemed to consider, "as long as the severity of the damage caused does not allow Christian to become a problem in the meantime."
Blakesley.
"And in the afterlife you don't believe in, you assume things will be better?"
Blakesley shook his head slightly and walked towards the door.
"It's best I get started as quickly as possible."
Christian & Blakesley Snr
"It would be wise," Blakesley's father nodded.
"When you die, there is nothing. Nothing. And nothing is better than where I am now," Christian insisted, before holding his breath and letting his arms relax again.
He soon came back up.
Blakesley.
Blakesley ignored Christian and left the room to get the collar fixed up. It was a job that was going to take several hours, at the very least.
Christian & Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father slowly stood and made his way over to Christian.
Christian glanced up at him, but looked away. His healthy hand was flat against the glass, slipping slightly every now and then.
Blakesley's father used the handle of his walking stick to raise Christian's chin, though Christian wouldn't look at him.
"You're progressing nicely for someone of your status, Christian," he said sinisterly.
"$#!+ off asshole."
Blakesley's father smiled, took the walking stick away, then slowly left the room.