Should I have expected this? Should we have seen this coming? Perhaps... But it is too late for that now. Too late for me...

Who would have thought that something like this could happen? I can't help but chuckle bitterly at myself. I regretted it as my damaged lungs burned with pain. I felt myself enter a horrible coughing fit, which did not help my lungs the least bit. A small bit of blood dripped down the corner of my mouth.

I looked around what had become my 'home' the past few days. Or had it been weeks? Years? I lost track of time. There's no sense of passage here, no way to know when a day ended and a new one began. For the longest time, I had been trapped here, in what had become my virtual hell. Lyoko.

Although I wore a blindfold, I could remember what this room looked like. It was inside a tower. No, not a tower. It looked very much like a tower on the outside. The inside was a different story. It was...horrendous, to put it simply. Coming from her, I never would have suspected something like this. Perhaps we all should have paid closer attention...

I recalled the room having twisted walls, spikes sticking out in many places. It was filthy and seemed to have some dark red stains. Blood? Was that possible on Lyoko? Then again, there may have been many things about Lyoko that were hidden from us. Perhaps I should not be surprised.

The chains cut deep into my wrists and ankles. My shirt and pants had been torn, charred, stained. I could still feel the stinging pain from the multiple bruises and cuts that now adorned my body. My hair, once held up in that wacky hairstyle, now lay flat at the sides of my head, unkempt and matted. I had gotten thinner, which I didn't think was possible. I hadn't eaten in so long.

We thought we knew Lyoko well. Jeremie would have told me I can't starve on Lyoko. She has been proving me wrong. My strength, I can feel it fading away.

She had put me here, this hell hole of a dwelling. Me, out of all people, she had chosen this fate for. What did I do to deserve this? Sure, I admit I wasn't the best ladies man. And yes, I was quite the bragger. But all I wanted to do was have fun. I liked to get enjoyment out of life, make the most of it. I know my jokes don't always go well, but I had good intentions. Did I deserve this because of that?

If we had seen right through her from the start, if we had put our guard up and be suspicious when she seemed to appear out of nowhere, maybe, just maybe, this never would have happened. Oh who am I kidding? No one would have suspected this, not from someone like her.

I could hear footsteps coming. Though I couldn't see, I turned my head to the source of the sound. I didn't need to see who it was. I already knew it was my 'gracious host'. It was her.

"You are not looking very well today, Odd."

Her voice, sickenly angelic, masked her true intentions. It made my stomach burn in anger. But I could do nothing except snarl at her and twitch my tail wildly. She cared nothing for me. She made that clear enough already. No, all she wanted to do was use me, for I had something she wanted.

"You are wasting your time." I hissed at her. "You know you'll never get me to talk."

If I could see her face, I imagine she'd be grimacing in anger. I turned my head away from her.

"I do not understand why you insist on hurting yourself more. I would have let you go if you would just..."

I snapped my head towards her. "If I what? Agreed to go along with your plan and let you use me, my power, to gain the upperhand against the Lyoko Warriors, my friends?" I shocked myself at how deep and angry my voice sounded. I held no regrets, though. I would not let her hurt my friends. I would never forgive myself.

"Oh Odd, Odd, Odd.." She said. I heard her take a step towards me. I tried to free my bound limbs. She appeared to take notice. "Try all you want to attack me. I know your fighting abilities well, Odd. I can assure you, so long as you are here with me, you can never harm me. Your Laser Arrows will be of no use here."

"Big talk from someone who had been playing the 'damsel in distress' when I first met you." I taunted, managing to smile despite my face being sore. "And you are really pathetic if you think I'd ever trade over my friends just so I can survive. I really don't want to die, but I will not bring my friends down. So you can just forget it."

I knew, deep down, this would not be the last time she would try to get information from me. She had been persistant. She acted calm, but each time she asked, I felt her growing angrier, more desperate sounding. She was a persistant one. Had it not been for my predicament, I would have admired that about her.

Then she screamed in anger. I felt my heart freeze. Had I finally worn out my welcome? She had never shown that kind of anger before. Her patience must have worn out. I braced myself for what was about to come.

She grabbed my tail and yanked it hard. I let out a hiss of pain, gritting my teeth, my cat ears flatted against my head. I heard a faint clang sound. She had pulled something out. I struggled to see what it was. The blindfold made it impossible. For once, I was not grateful not being able to see the torture room I had been placed in.

Sheering pain swept through my body as I felt her press something sharp against my tail. The blade sliced back and forth, about three inches away from the tip. I thrashed about, feeling hot tears spill down my face. When the blade cut through completely, I let out a scream.

Slowly, the pain had subsided. My breaths came in ragged and heavy. I had not expected her to go this far. I had not expected her to cut off the tip of my tail. Once again, I had made the mistake of assuming I knew her well. She always found a way to take me by surprise. How much further was she willing to go?

This was answered quickly as she grabbed one of my cat ears. I uttered a whimper as I prepared for what was about to come. I felt the blade's sharp edge against the midway point of my ear. I cried in agony as the blade began slicing through. I could feel my blood, warm and sticky, cover the side of my face.

When she was done cutting my ear, she dropped the blade to the ground. She grabbed my chin and held it tightly. She peeled my blindfold off so I could look into the eyes of my tormenter.

She had a small smile on her face. In her free hand, she held the bit of my tail and ear she had cut off. She let me have a long good look. I gulped, letting out a shudder. I felt myself fill up with dread. Before she had just caused somewhat minor bruises and cuts in an effort to get what she wanted. Obviously, she had been kind then. This, what she did, she was going to dismember me...

"There is more where this came from, Odd, if you do not tell me what I want." She said, her voice showing no signs of remorse for what she did to me. I felt her finger trace around my right thumb, and I knew what she was implying.

Despite the threat of dismemberment weighed heavily on my mind, I ripped my head from her and growled. "I will never tell you how my Future Flash works, Aelita!"

Her smile darkened, and I swore I saw a glint in her eyes. I was terrified and I could no longer hide it. I watched in horror as she brought the knife to my thumb.

"Have it your way, Odd..."