Cal opened gummy eyes and dimly registered that he was cold. He had gotten used to the stench of blood, the constant hunger, and the pain of the beatings, but he always felt the cold - a constant like the dull ache in his heart where Niko used to be. He wondered briefly what had woken him, but then he heard the sound of feet approaching. He prayed that it wasn't feeding time again. The lessons and the beatings he could handle. He simply pretended he wasn't getting the lessons, playing dumb so that the Grendles would get frustrated and beat him into unconsciousness again. After all, he deserved the pain. He was a monster, just like Sophia always said. Niko had been wrong, Sophia hadn't always lied. He wondered how long it had been. The days ran together but he knew that a lot of time had passed. He could tell by the changes in his body if nothing else. He had finally had that growth spurt Nik was always hoping for.
He couldn't let himself think too much about Nik. Cal had to be strong and not give into the temptation to just open a gate and try to find his brother - that would be selfish. Enough time had passed by the time that he learned to open a gate that Niko would have done his grieving and found a life for himself. Cal was not going to mess that up. Niko deserved a chance at the kind of life he couldn't have with Cal in the picture. For his brother, Cal would face hell so that Niko could find a slice of heaven.
The Grendles still didn't know that he could open a gate. They thought he was still too immature. Cal planned to keep them in the dark until they gave up and just killed him. He hoped that day would come soon. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to sleep until the expected kick to his ribs.
"Up, Caliban. I have a surprise for you." Cal cringed inside. It was his 'dad,' the being responsible for his trip to hell and the one in charge of his teaching and discipline. A Grendle 'surprise' could only mean hell for someone. Cal got to his feet as quickly as he could. He knew that any hesitation at this point would only mean more pain for both himself and whatever poor soul was unlucky enough to be the 'surprise.'
Cal was led to the surface and the spot that was his training area. He expected to once again be instructed to open a gate, but, instead, his tormentor turned to face him. "It has been decided that you need an incentive to cooperate with us, to gain mastery of your gates. The human will be brought here to ensure that you do as you are told."
Cal felt a gate open nearby. He looked up to see Niko, sitting in front of their burned trailer with his head lowered. Cal felt rage flow through him. NO! This was not happening! These monsters were not going to bring Niko to this hell! Without realizing he had moved, Cal found himself tackling the Grendle. His hands wrapped around his sire's neck as he slammed the Grendle's head repeatedly into the rocks beneath him, his desperation and rage lending him a strength that he hadn't known he had. Cal felt the body under his hands shudder as the creature died.
He had no time to contemplate what he had just done. He had to get to Nik. Had to make sure that the Grendles couldn't harm his brother, A part of him still fought against the thought of returning, even now. How would Nik be able to love him after all that Cal had seen and done? How could the monster Cal had become still be the brother Nik was waiting for?
It didn't matter if Nik hated the monster Cal had become in this place, as long as his brother lived, Cal could deal with whatever waited for him. As long as his brother never had to know what hell truly was, it would all be worth whatever followed.
Cal took a deep breath and opened his first gate - for his brother.