Date-December 12, 10:00 AM

Location- ?

Apollo lay on his side with his knees curled up to his chest. He was back on the ratty mattress, that much he knew, and the cloth gag was back in his mouth. It was stale with blood he'd coughed up, as was the front of his t-shirt. He breathed shallowly, to escape the pain, and because the ropes around his chest were too tight to allow anything more.

He stared through the hair that had fallen across his face at the wall, allowing his tired mind to see patterns in the mottled concrete surface. Slowly, he felt his eyes glaze over, felt himself slip away into unconsciousness. Each time he closed his eyes, he didn't know if he slept for a minute or an hour. Time passed, regardless of what was happening to him. He was one person. One life in a million.

I don't matter… he thought. No one is coming for me. It was almost a relief, knowing that no one else would get hurt trying to save him. The last thing he wanted was to lose Athena, or Trucy the same way he'd lost Clay. As he stared at the dull grey concrete, he began to see their faces in the patterns, swirling and drifting before his delirious eyes. Athena grinned and slapped a fist against her palm, Trucy waved her top hat after performing a trick, Clay laughed and tugged at the brim of his visor, Phoenix dug his hands in his pockets and flashed a calm smile. Apollo smiled back at them all, wishing he could wave, but for some reason he couldn't move his arms. A wave of nausea swept over him, and a sudden sickening weight pressed down on his body. His eyes rolled away from his friends as darkness took him.

When he woke again, the delirium had passed. Apollo looked again at the concrete wall, blinking. He no longer saw his friends, or patterns, or anything. I'm going crazy, Apollo thought to himself.

Time moved slowly for Apollo. Fullbright came and went, stopping to tease or pester him before leaving again. The detective would often prod him awake, or pour the remnants of a water bottle over his head, only to laugh in his face and depart right when Apollo woke up. Apollo assumed it was his way of checking that he was still alive, and his odd behavior afterwards was Fullbright trying to disguise his worry. If he didn't move after a few pokes, he'd earn himself a slap or a punch, and if he still didn't move, cold water would come raining down.

Apollo didn't pay him much attention. He lay still, not moving. Barely blinking. He focused inwards, counting his breaths, forcing his nervous muscles to relax. If he breathed too quickly, pain spasmed across his chest.

Apollo tensed against a small cluster of coughs. The acrid tang of blood lingered on his tongue, his throat was dry and sore. He ached to take a deep, full breath, to stretch his tired limbs. His right shoulder was now swollen and painful. He couldn't twist his neck enough to see it, but he was sure it was all kinds of horrible colors. His lip was stiff with dried blood, and his mouth tasted like it was full of pennies. He blinked slowly, deliberately. His eyes were dry and itchy, no matter how long he slept. As he breathed in and out, the air that passed through his throat scraped painfully

The door clanged open suddenly, and Apollo instinctively froze.

Fullbright came back every now and then to check on Apollo, and make sure he was still alive. He jabbed him in the ribs, slapped him, poured water on his head, did just enough until he got a reaction that satisfied him. He never stayed long, that or Apollo never managed to stay conscious for an entire visit.

Apollo listened closely as the door slammed shut, and footsteps advanced to stop just behind him. He kept his eyes closed, and focused on keeping his breathing slow and relaxed. What am I doing? He thought mildly. This won't change anything. It wouldn't make any difference if Fullbright thought he was awake or asleep, but then again… Maybe I can freak him out a little, he thought with an internal giggle.

"Oi, kid you awake?" The detective jabbed a finger in Apollos cheek. Apollo forced himself to stay limp, not to flinch. He kept his breathing slow and regulated, doing his best to seem like he was sleeping. "Hey!" Fullbright slapped him across the cheek, waited for a moment, and then slapped him again. Apollo let his head roll with the impact. He felt a trickle of blood run down his chin. Fullbright cursed and stepped back. Fingers pressed against his neck, just under his jaw. Apollo counted to ten before they pulled away.

He heard Fullbright curse again. Another slap caught him off guard, and he almost gasped. Footsteps moved away, and there was a click that Apollo recognized as a cell phone opening.

What's he doing? Is he calling someone?

"Hey, this is Fullbright…Yeah, do you have the report from the Justice kid's hospital room? Mmm Hmm… yeah, I need you to hand everything over. Yup, everything…. its ok, I'll take care of it. "

Apollo's stomach lurched into his throat. He's covering this up!

"No problem. Hmm? Yeah I'll grab it while I'm down here. Which case is it? …Got it, ok I'll bring it back upstairs with me. Ok, see you in five."

Down here? What is he talking about- Apollo froze. Suddenly it clicked. The codes on the doors, the concrete walls, the industrial lighting. He knew exactly where he was.

Oh my god. I'm in the evidence lockup under the police station.

The phone snapped shut, and footsteps clicked away again. The heavy door opened again, then slammed shut, echoing through the small space. Apollo lay still, frozen in shock, staring at the wall.

Fullbright was ballsy, that much was true. By keeping Apollo in the police station basement he could visit him often without drawing suspicion, but it also meant he might be discovered more easily. Apollo felt himself twitch with frustration. Help was so close, but so far. The police were literally just upstairs, but there was still no way for him to get to them.

I can't even tell anyone where I am! He thought angrily. He almost wished he didn't know where he was, what was the point if he couldn't do anything about it?

Wait… maybe I can do something! Apollo's sluggish mind whirred into motion, clouds of delirium finally clearing away.

That's it, he thought with more clarity than he'd had in a long time, I'm not waiting around to be a victim anymore. I'm getting myself out of here, today.