Day Two

Jaylie's Point of View

I woke up and felt like I always do... until I remembered my talk with the newest prisoner... Jak. I smirked and got out of bed. Quickly, I got dressed into my usual Krimzon guard uniform and flew down the stairs. Four guards were now heading to the prison, carrying another prisoner. It was a girl this time. I didn't get a good look at the face, but I could see the jet-black hair that was pulled into a pony tail. I noticed purple streaks here and there.

''Another one?''

''Caught her snooping around earlier this morning. It took a while to subdue her.'' A guard said.

''Oh.'' I whispered, trying to hide my emotions. If the guards suspected my true feelings, I would be sent straight to my father... and that would have been a fate worse then death.

The guards moved her into her cell and I headed down to meet with Erol. I figured I would have a mission today.

''What do you want?'' He snapped.

''My mission for today...'' I frowned. Something was making Erol nervous.

''Oh. You just have to patrol today. There's nothing stirring right now.''

''What has you so wound up?'' I folded my arms.

''Nothing. The injections start today, that's all.''

''Ah. I see. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get results soon...'' I lied again. It's a common theme with me.. the lying.

''Me too. It's my ass on the line, Jay.'' He sighed.

''I understand. One has to do whatever it takes to keep living.'' I turned away.

''Stay away from him.''

''What?''

''The prisoner. I've been hearing rumors.''

''You shouldn't listen to everything the other guards throw around. You know how jealous of Ashelin and I they are.''

''I trust my men more then I trust you. One of them said they saw you leaving the prison last night.''

''I was just seeing if he was awake-''

''So it's true?''

''I didn't talk to him. He wasn't even awake at that time.'' Two lies... I was on a roll.

''You better not have. If I get word that you're feeling the slightest bit of sympathy for our guest... you know what will happen.''

''Erol, doesn't it bother you that he's just a kid?''

''Why am I getting the feeling it bothers you? You're his daughter. You should support this program whole-heartedly.''

''You never answered my question.''

''And you never answered mine.''

''As the Baron's daughter, I order you to stay out of my business.''

''As long as you stay out of mine.'' Erol rolled his eyes.

''Oh, I plan to.'' I hissed, leaving his office to go patrol the city.

I couldn't help but think that there had to be more to this sort of life then just patrolling the city and taking missions from Erol and my father. What exactly was the stupid Dark Warrior Program anyway? What did they want to do all these Dark Eco injections for? More importantly, did Erol have a soft spot for the kid... or did he enjoy the torment that boy was going to receive? I wondered how old Jak was. I sighed as I got into my cruiser and headed out into the city. Erol wasn't going to stop me from talking to Jak...no one was. I felt a deep connection to him for some reason... I understood him. Even though I have been in the palace as long as I can remember, I've always imagined a better world. Ashelin was like that too... but... she stopped imagining a while ago. She 'grew up' as the red-head likes to claim. I grew up too... but I still understood that our father wasn't a good man.

The city seemed very much safe to me, so when I had finished patrolling the water slums, the port and the Bazaar, I headed back to the palace.

I rode the elevator up the floor just below the prison, and the instant I stepped out... I knew something was wrong. My whole body hurt. I felt like my skin was going to melt off my body as I dropped to the ground. I cried out in pain, hoping someone would hear me.

I woke up in the evening, in one of the hospital rooms we had. Erol was standing beside me, arms folded. My father was sitting in a chair nearby, looking confused.

''W-what happened?'' I asked weakly.

''No one really knows. Your systems seem to be alright, everything checked out okay. We heard you screaming from the prison while we were doing our injections.'' Erol informed me.

''It hurt...'' I remembered the pain.

''What hurt?''

''I don't know. I just remember so much pain before I blacked out...'' I whispered.

''Do you feel better now?''

''Yeah, actually. I can stand, I think.'' I nodded, attempting to get out of the bed. It took a few moments, but once I had my feet planted firmly in the ground, I felt perfectly alright.

''Strange.'' Erol shrugged.

'''Let me know if anything else happens. I have work to do.'' Father said, strolling off in the other direction.

''Be careful on your way back up to your room.'' Erol warned me. I nodded and left as well. I didn't understand it. How could pain that bad just... go away? I put a hand to my head as I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't look pale or sick at all.

Frowning, I crashed onto my bed and waited for night to fall. I drifted into a dark sleep, and awoke while all the guards were sleeping. Sneakily, I snatched my journal pad and crept downstairs once more.

The prison was eerily quiet now, but I could feel the sorrow and the silent screams that lingered in these walls the moment I walked in. The girl the guards had brought in earlier was huddled in the corner of her cell, glaring. The hair that had been pinned up was out of it's pony tail and hanging around her shoulders. She was glaring at me. Shivering, I made my way over to Jak's cell. He was curled up on the cell floor, bright blue tears spilling out of the corners of his eyes. It was even sadder then the girl. Those bastards had destroyed two souls tonight.

''Jak, I am so sorry.'' I breathed, wanting to cry too. I barely knew this kid... why was I so upset over this? I handed him the journal pad and he brushed away the tears from his eyes with his arm. Then, I noticed the blood gushing from a deep wound on his arm.

''Oh my God. They didn't take care of this at all...'' I looked around to see a stack of prison clothes on a shelf nearby. I grabbed a shirt and tore a large strip off.

Jak gazed up at me with tears in his eyes still as I reached for his arm. Reluctantly, he gave it over and I bandaged it up as best as I could. I didn't care who saw it anymore. This was too cruel.

He sniffled loudly as he picked up the pad and started writing once more.

Help me.

''I wish I could... I really wish I could. My father would kill me if I did... literally.'' I wanted to stop feeling so useless.

I understand. Thanks for the bandage.

''I have to ask you something.''

What's that?

''If you've seen the other guards.. and my sister maybe... torture you today and yesterday... why do you let me talk to you?''

I trust you. I don't know why, I just do. It hurt. I don't ever want to feel that way again. What's the Dark Eco going to do to me?

''I don't know that either, Jak. I've wondered that myself.''

They did it to that girl too. He nodded at the prisoner they just brought in today.

''It must be something important, if they're trying it with both of you. Just hang in there, okay?'' I said, holding onto the bars of his cell.

Don't leave me.

The words were written by a scared kid, who was honestly afraid he was going to die.

''I won't. I promise.'' The first time I didn't tell a lie all day.

You know what?

''Hmm?'' I asked.

I miss my friends... but I'm glad they aren't here with me. I wouldn't want Dax to go through this.

''Wow. That's a very... mature thing to say. How old are you?'' I finally remembered to ask.

Sixteen.. but I will be seventeen soon.

''You can't be. That's impossible.''

Why?

''Because, I am turning seventeen in June.'' I shook my head.

June…20? He wondered.

''Y-yes! How did you know?.''

Lucky guess… but… that's my birthday too!

''That is so strange. This is just too… too weird.''

What do you want to talk about?

''Anything but this place. Tell me what your home was like!''

We went on and on for hours about the differences between his village and Haven City, and the more we talked, the more I began to feel a strange connection to him growing. Just where was Jak from anyway?

''I really should be going for the night. I have to get out before the guards catch me again...'' I yawned widely.

Okay. Good luck. Thanks, Jaylie.

''Call me Jay. Goodnight. Don't worry, I'll come back tomorrow.''

Promise? He typed, a smile spreading over his face.

''You amaze me. After all you've been through today, you still manage to smile. Yes, I promise, Jak.'' Wow, I've told the truth twice now.

I stood up and just before I left, Jak grabbed my hand. I turned to see him holding the journal pad out to me.

''Oh, right. I almost forgot. Thanks. See you tomorrow.'' I took it from him and slowly let go of his hand.

I couldn't believe how warm my hand felt after he grabbed it. Smiling, I wiped out the conversation once more and cuddled into bed.

Raven's Point of View

I don't remember a whole lot about this day, because if the truth be told, I was sleeping through most of it. When I did wake up, I noticed I was in a prison cell. Damn. They finally got me. Torn would be so pissed if he ever knew... I decided I would have to escape before then. Sighing, I knew I would have to wait for the opportune moment. I watched as a young boy in the cell across the room from me looked around nervously.

''Hey, do you know a way out of here?'' I asked the blonde boy. He had to be around my age…

He shook his head.

''Okay, dumb question. If you did, you wouldn't be in that cell. You got a name?'' He nodded, then opened his mouth.

''Well... out with it? Oh, do you have to throw up or something?'' I wondered at the faces he was making. I wanted to tell him to just say whatever the Hell his name was and start talking to me like a normal person, but then I realized what he was trying to say.

''You can't talk? That must really suck. I'm sorry.'' I apologized sincerely. He rolled his eyes.

''Wow. Well, it's going to be boring as Hell in here.'' I sighed, leaning back against the wall of the cell.

We fell silent for hours, during which, I had counted how many tiles I could see on the ceiling, how many drips I heard from the leaking pipes, how many bars on my cell and thought numerous times about how pissed Torn must have been that one of the Underground's best had been put behind bars... probably for life. Did the thought scare me? Honestly, no. I had been in tight situations before, I knew I would eventually get myself out. Torn would be begging people to rescue me for a whole week and then I would show up out of the blue and scare the living shit out of him.

Laughing quietly to myself, I waited for signs of anything. Suddenly, the doors nearby opened and in came Erol and the Baron. My God, did they look happy. That wasn't a good thing. I watched in anticipation as the boy's cell gate was opened and Erol dragged him out roughly. The boy thrashed and kicked wildly, but he was no match. In the center of the room was a large metal table with chains attached. Near that was a control station. Above the table was a large machine with a rather pointy looking metal needle sticking out. My grip on the cell bars tightened as a few Krimzon guards came walking in and helped Erol chain the poor guy to the table.

''Start the cycle.'' The Baron ordered. Within seconds, Erol was pushing buttons as the boy struggled fiercely against his bonds. The machine stayed where it was, but the needle started glowing a dark purple color. Suddenly, lightning started bouncing off of it and into his body. I could see the pain he was feeling... but he wasn't crying out. There were no screams, no cries, no moans. He just fought as hard as he could. I feared the worst for him when it stopped. His head hung limply and he just gave up. There was no fight in him anymore.

Dark Eco injection cycle is complete. Bio Systems unchanged. A female voice announced. Dark eco... my God. That should have killed him. Now I knew that his pain was unimaginable.

He was quickly unchained, but he gave Erol a nasty surprise when he got a spark in his eyes and went for the door. He got a deep gash in the process from a knife the Krimzon Guard who caught him. Afterwards, he was tossed back in his cell and the door was shut. My heart skipped a beat as they started heading my way.

''Let's see if it works early on her.''

''Baron Praxis, I am afraid that it will take a while for the eco to fully react with their systems.''

''How long?''

''Weeks, months perhaps.'' Erol said.

''Well, try her anyhow.'' He ordered. Erol came at me and I instantly shrank back in my cell. They had stripped me of my weapons completely. Boy, was I pissed. I went to kick him the instant the door was opened, but he grabbed my foot. I got a successful kick in the face with my other leg and while Erol was holding his face in pain, I shoved past the Baron and ran straight into more guards.

''I told you we would need back up!'' Erol spat blood on the ground. He grabbed me by the ugly prison shirt he must have forced on me while I was unconscious and dragged me back over to the table. It took four guards plus Erol to chain me down successfully, but sadly, they managed it. I fought against it, but what was the use? I could hear the machine roaring to life and then the purple glow flooded the room. A pain sharper then anything I had ever felt before ripped through my body and coursed through my veins. In my lifetime, I had been through some hard core torture, but nothing compared to dark eco being injected into you while in it's natural form. Suddenly, it came to a stop. I thought my heart had too, but no, I was still alive.

Dark Eco injection cycle complete. Bio Systems unchanged. The voice repeated.

''Her as well. I am surprised neither of them have died. The last few didn't even make it past their first one.'' The Baron grumbled.

''Perhaps we are finally getting somewhere.'' Erol nodded in agreement. I didn't remember if I fought them before they threw me back in my prison cell. I didn't even recall if I screamed when the Dark Eco pulsed through my veins. I could still feel its poison swimming through my body. I hated it. I was going to kill them for this. BOTH of them.

I sat there for hours on end, thinking of ways to kill them for this, until a young girl walked in. She couldn't have been older than that guy or me... she had to at least be the same age. She looked at me and I locked eyes with her. She was wearing Krimzon Guard colors. What did she want with the boy? I noticed she had brought something... a journal pad, it looked like. I was shocked when she fell beside his cell and gazed at him.

''Jak, I am so sorry.'' She confessed. A Krimzon Guard... sorry? I watched as she even bandaged up the wound on his arm. Jak, she called him? I listened in on their conversation and easily figured it all out... she wanted to help him, even though she was the Baron's daughter. What was her connection with Jak? Other then the fact that they looked remarkably similar. She didn't even look like the Baron... or his other daughter, Ashelin.

I actually felt bad for him. He seemed so innocent. What had be done to honestly deserve this? Was he in the Underground too? I had never seen him, but there were some people in the Underground you didn't get to meet until you were higher ranking. Or… maybe he was just starting out. Maybe he wasn't in the Underground at all.

She went on and on while he wrote in the journal pad. I figured he must have been here a while if they already figured out a means of communication.

''Oh, right. I almost forgot. Thanks. See you tomorrow.'' I watched as she walked away. Jay, as she said her name was, gave me a very sad look before leaving. Jak... and Jay. They were too similar. Something wasn't right there. I tried to ignore this and just attempted to fall asleep. I would figure a means of escape later.