Seeing as I'm stuck in a rut with actually working I may as well procrastinate usefully and get more of this done. Thanks so much for reading and reviews, very useful. Especially to Amitris – I think part of this session today will be planning the whole plot a bit more to let you guys know what you're in for And Albany, short but sweet – lets me know I'm on the right track, so cheers and enjoy.
Recap: 'Kindly!?' he was yelling now 'Kindly would have been to leave her with fingers! Kindly would have been to leave her teeth! Kindly would have been to leave more to identify her by than just the fragments of reconstruction and the tiny amount of DNA we could get! Kindly was not the charred corpse you left of her…' The man was emanating a rage and despair Alex knew only too well, to lose someone you loved.
The stranger was trapped. In the chair, in the room, to the mercy of the Man with the blade and to the mercy of his ravished and tortured emotions. Hope seemed to empty from him in one great sigh as he hung his head in despair; there was no hope for him now he thought.
'Now we've addressed that… issue… let's proceed shall we?' The Man with the blade walked over to the helpless stranger his guards closely surrounding the chair and Alex was forced to watch and listen to the screams and yells as the Man relentlessly questioned the Stranger.
The questions were unoriginal and the methods were simple, things Alex had heard and undergone countless times, 'What do you know?' Punch to the ribs 'What have you told others?' Cut to the face, but it didn't make watching any easier; Alex was worried of making any noise if he turned away in that small space or of missing something important. Alex just hoped the Stranger would be able to hold on until Alex could find an opportunity of saving him, if he was even someone he would help.
After what felt like an age the Man stepped back from the chair and Alex could get a full view of his handiwork. The torture was meticulous and thoughtful yet unimaginative, designed to inflict as much pain as the captive can hold without a severe threat of them dying before the chosen moment. There was obviously a plan for this Stranger.
'Well then, was that so bad? A little payment I think for the inconvenience you've caused me so far. But next time I would appreciate it if you were a little more forthcoming with answers …' The Man glanced briefly, as if bored, at something passed to him by the biggest and ugliest member of the group. '…Special Agent DiNozzo.'
This decided it for Alex; the stranger was an American Agent, a fed. The next opportunity we got he'd get them both out of here. Memories flashed back of Joe Byrne mentioning the Navy Criminal Investigative Service- NCIS.
DiNozzo looked up at the Man who had caused him so much pain, who had taken …her away from him forever. 'Are you telling me' he struggled to say, spitting blood. 'That you didn't even know my name!? That you've only just learnt it?!'
'I meet many people Mr DiNozzo.' The Man clipped back, ignoring the agent's title.
'Did you even know HER name? Did you bother to find that out while you tortured her? While you burnt her?' The agent was enraged, pulling at the ties that held him fast to the chair.
The Man, who had started picking at his fingernails with his blade, ignoring that it was now covered in DiNozzo's blood, looked up with a smirk playing on his lips and a questioning look in his eyes and raised eyebrow.
This only seemed to push the agent over the edge as Alex watched his desperately fight against his constraints, rocking the chair and yelling 'Special Agent Ziva David! Ziva David, that's who, trained Mossad Assassin! Daughter of Eli David- Director of Mossad! And there will be HELL to pay for what you did to her! Cos you have royally pissed off our boss now and that's one man even the Devil himself wouldn't cross!' As the Stranger, DiNozzo, screamed and yelled these words with venom he pulled, fought and rocked against the chair that held him so much that it span and fell smacking the agent against the hard floor.
DiNozzo's head span from where his head had hit the ground. He was now lying on his side, facing the metal door at the end of the room but, he realised as his head stopped swimming, still tied fast to the chair. Fighting had done nothing. He wasn't strong enough to break free, to get his revenge on the foul thing that had done that to Ziva. He'd failed. Failed in keeping the promise he made to her charred corpse, to her memory. Failed in keeping his team mate safe. Failed in ever really telling her how he felt; now he'd never get the chance. He'd also failed Gibbs and the rest of their team; he should never have tried to do this alone. DiNozzo knew his boss would blame himself and DiNozzo knew he'd never be able to make it right, to tell him otherwise. And perhaps that was what finally crushed Very Special Agent DiNozzo's spirit. That his death would be another ghost that would plague the ever faithful Leroy Jethro Gibbs. That and the thought of Ziva.
The hall was silent. Alex strained to hear any sound. After the noise of the Agent's shouting and the chair falling the silence was eerie. As he peered out between the slats he saw the agent's body slump and thought he heard him whisper 'Ziva.'
The Man with the blade, who had an uninterested composure throughout the Agent's tirade and threats, now had a cold, triumphant expression.
'Ah, yes Miss David.' The Man moved to the other side of the agent so he now faced the stairs and crouched so he was face to face with DiNozzo.
Alex knew what could come next. He'd been through it before; he'd heard this speech and his heart went out to the broken Agent who would hear it now.
'Let me tell you something about myself Anthony, I can call you Anthony can't I?'
When no response was uttered by the fallen agent the Man grasped his shoulder hard and a cry of pain burst from him.
'My thanks' the Man continued 'As a child, where all these things begin, I never understood others, their ease with which they cooperated with each other and were subjugated and dominated by people, mere people. I have always sort control, to bring order to an otherwise chaotic environment. You mustn't me think a megalomaniac or focused on the absurd 'world domination' plan, I prefer to focus my talents. People are easily manipulated you see. Their emotions, in fact have become rather a hobby, a speciality of mine. As with you. I have broken you completely. I have undone you. Anthony DiNozzo no longer exists. What is left is the shell I have left you. I have removed, quite by chance, that which you love and have destroyed all hope. You are broken emotionally as well as physically.' The Man spoke with a cold enthusiasm, he reminded Alex too much of Dr. Grief.
'There are other torturers who enjoy this control, who claim the joy is in the physical destruction.' The Man grew venomous now, his distaste of these other torturers evident.
'But they are wrong. Given time and a good enough environment your body will recover, it is a healing machine. The mind however, is something else. Right now, I can make you into anything I desire. Even if I did release you now, your body would heal but mentally, you would never be the same. I'll always be a part of you now. Torture is personal. Those flesh monkeys miss the element of creation!' The Man stepped away from the Agent now, standing straight he continued with his speech.
'I have a gift for you now. And it will change your world entirely. It may be a moment that comes to define you totally. And you will know it is because of me. Remember that, I don't have to show you this; I simply choose to, it is by my power that shall begin to remake you. I am your God!'
And with that Alex saw the Man nod to two of his guards who disappeared for a moment behind the metal door. When they returned they were dragging an unconscious body, sorely beaten and barely breathing.
Tony stared at the body before him.
'Ziva.'
I'm so sorry. I will continue soon. Now I do need to actually get some work done this is too much fun.
Let me know what you think, if there's any recommendations etc. Sorry there's not a lot of Alex atm but there will be next chapter!
