Chapter 10
Tails awoke with a gasp and a cough. After he gained his breath back he realized that his body ached all over. He dipped his head to look down at his shackled wrists and he felt a warm liquid run down his forehead. He gasped as a fat red drop splashed onto his white gloves. Tails slowly raised his hand and touched a spot on his forehead, just under his bangs. It was warm and sticky and ached severely upon the touch. Tails took his hand away and felt ill as he saw that his hand was covered in blood. He looked about him more to try and get a better idea of where he was. There was a dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling. He could see all manner of tools as well as some very scary looking instruments around what he was guessed was a toolshed. He was bound to the wooden floor by chains round his wrists and ankles. Some straw was strewn about the floor where Tails was laying and formed some sort of bed. Tails tried to sit up but cried out in pain as his legs seized and began to ache. A glance behind revealed why. Tails' legs were covered in bruises and his right leg was bent at an unnatural angle and felt numb until he moved it once more. Clenching his teeth, Tails reached out and gingerly touched his leg at the place where it was bent. He nearly screamed as pain laced up his leg. Tails was beginning to feel faint due to the pain. A gruff, sandpaper voice snapped Tails back to attention, "Stop your whining, you big baby."
Tails whipped his head around in the direction of the voice but he quickly cried out again and held his head as it began to throb. There was a scrapping noise and heavy footsteps towards Tails. He slowly lifted his head only to see a steel-toed boot rocket at his cheek and slam into it full force. Tails was sent sprawling onto the straw straining for breath, each gasp sending out a spray of blood drops. "I said, 'Stop your whining!'" snarled the voice. Tails was able to glance up at his attacker. If he wasn't on the verge of passing out, the fox would have screamed. Staring down at him was the lion Tails had seen on the news and now as he recalled, the same guy he had bumped into as he fled the woods.
Oh Chaos. I'm trapped here. What's going to happen to me? What is this psycho going to do to me? No. I have to remain calm. The guys will be looking for sure. I only have to wait and bide my time.
Strands of daylight came through the board walls as Tails opened his eyes. His jaw was very sore and swollen and his other injuries which Tails suspected came from a baseball bat. After a moment of thinking, he shuddered as a flash of a bat swinging at his head went through his mind. Tails looked around the toolshed. It seemed that the Apex Killer was not there. Tails heaved a sigh of relief as he sank further into the straw. He was thirsty and licked his dry lips, tasting dried blood. Tails closed his eyes and thought Ok. If I'm going to make it through this, I need a plan. Escape is impossible. I'm definitely not strong enough to rip these chains from the floor boards. So I have to focus on surviving. Guys like the Apex Killer thrive off seeing people in pain. I have to be strong and not give him the satisfaction of seeing my tears and pain. He'll keep going till he breaks me. But I can't let him do that. I have to be strong like Sonic, Knuckles, and Shadow…
Tails had curled into a ball and was trying to conserve his energy by napping. He had finally managed to doze off when the shed door flew open with a bang, causing Tails to jump and scramble around in the straw. He managed to compose himself just as the Apex Killer stepped into view with what appeared to be a riding crop or whip. He sneered as he stalked toward Tails who was doing his best to keep his face expression-less like Shadow's. "Listen you worthless pipsqueak. This is how it's going to work. I'm going to make your life a living Hell. You're either going to die, or I'm going to tire of you and kill you. Either way, you're going to end up six feet under."
Thinking like Sonic, Tails rolled his eyes and said, "Well if you're going to keep me here, you should at least give me some water. I'm dyin' here." The Apex Killer growled and swung the whip. It lashed across Tails' face but he gritted his teeth as he always had seen Knuckles do when faced with pain and kicked outward at his warden and landed a solid blow on the Killer's knee cap. The Killer roared in pain as he stepped back and clutched his knee. After a second of hopping about he whirled around and brought down his massive foot on Tails' back, flattening the kitsune against the floor. Still determined to follow his survival plan, Tails forced himself to say, "The police know who you are now. It won't be long before they figure out where you live and where you conduct your dirty business."
The Killer narrowed his eyes before shouting, "It doesn't matter if the police know who I am, you're still going to be dead by the time they find me! Hell, they're not even going to find a body! So keep your damn mouth SHUT!" At this last word, the Killer swung the whip and it tore open Tails' back. Despite all his efforts, the young fox couldn't help but emit a pained yell. The Killer smiled evilly at Tails' cry, revealing rows of sharp teeth. He kicked Tails hard in the gut, causing a winded squeak to come out. With that, the Killer turned and left the toolshed. Tails laid in the straw, his back oozing blood and stinging and his gut aching and threatening to spill everything it had.
Thank Chaos Sonic couldn't hear me scream like I did. It would tear him apart. But, I can do this. I have to.
The Apex Killer slammed the padlock of toolshed shut and walked to his front porch. With an angry glance at the shed, he went inside his house. As he entered the living room, he couldn't help but ponder his latest victim's words. The Killer grabbed the remote to his television and clicked it on. He flipped through the channels till he saw the news. The anchorwoman was blabbing about how the Apex Killer and his victim Miles Power had yet to be found. The Killer laughed as the field reporter interviewed a police officer who expressed his hopefulness about finding the parties in question. Shaking his head, the Killer went into the kitchen. He began to prepare a sandwich for himself as the anchorwoman listed the names of the other Mobians that had fallen prey to the Apex Killer. What do I have to worry about? My house is located on the outskirts of the city in a secluded area that they'll never think to look for. Besides, I have a fool proof way to dispose of the bodies.
The Killer sat down in his armchair with his meat and cheese sandwich as the anchorwoman listed the second most recent victim, "And the victim before the most current one was a Mr. Jerome Waters who we believe to be a crocodile."
The Killer took a bite of his sandwich and chewed for a minute before saying, "Funny. I think it tastes more like alligator."
Author's Note: *sigh* you have no idea how painful it was to write this chapter. It took me all day to get it down and not feel guilty about what's happening to Tails. I know their made up characters but still… At least Tails is determined to remain strong and make it through! On the other hand is the Apex Killer. I hate this character more than anything in world! Anyways, vengeance will be had soon enough! Till then, read, review, and most of all… ok I can't say enjoy here. It's too horrible. Just please read and review. Thank you.