"Munkustrap, Munkus…wake up," Munkustrap gave a groan, his eyes slowly opening.
"Tanto?" Tantomile gave a rough sob, nodding before she pressed her face against his chest.
"W-What happened?" Munkustrap asked as he sat up, cradling her in his arms.
"They took Cori and Quaxo," Tantomile whispered. Munkustrap winced.
"I'm sorry, Tants," Munkustrap whispered.
"Oh, Munkustrap, are you okay?" Tantomile let go of Munkustrap as Jenny began looking him over.
"Are there any others badly hurt?" Munkustrap questioned.
"Just a few scratches and bite marks…but everyone is worried about Coricopat and Quaxo," Munkustrap nodded, pulling Tantomile back into his arms once more. She was crying silently against him, her body heaving with silent sobs.
"We'll get them back, Tanto,"
"But who has them?" Tantomile wailed. "They know we're mystics and that Quaxo is a conjurer, the tribe that has Cori and Quaxo will kill them!"
"You need to stay positive, Tants…we will get them back," Munkustrap whispered. Tantomile gave a rough sob.
Cori slowly opened his eyes, wincing as pain tore through his head. He looked around at the unfamiliar den roof before he sat up, wincing as his head throbbed with pain.
"C-Cori?" Cori quickly looked around, groaning as pain tore through his skull. Quaxo was lying on his stomach a small distance away, his paws and feet bound together. Cori suddenly realised his minimal movement. He looked down and saw his paws were tied together in front of him while his ankles were bound as well.
"Oh no," Cori murmured.
"Cori, w-what's going to happen to us?" Quaxo asked, whimpering slightly. Cori shuffled over to Quaxo, sighing.
"I-I don't know, Quaxo," Cori murmured. "T-They want to kill us, whoever they are," Quaxo whimpered, struggling against his bounds. Quaxo's paws were tied behind his back. Cori frowned.
He didn't know why they had been bound differently.
"D-Do you think Lonzo and Tugger are okay?" Cori was snapped out of his thoughts by Quaxo's question.
"Hm?"
"D-Do you think that Alonzo and Tugger are okay?" Quaxo asked. "Along with the others?"
"I think they'd be fine…the cats were only after us,"
"How'd they find out about us though?" Quaxo questioned, rolling his head around so he could look at Cori from his position on the floor.
"I…I don't know," Cori murmured. Quaxo could see trembles coursing through Cori's body.
"Cori…are you okay?" Cori shook his head.
"No…I'm terrified," Cori admitted. "I-I've been in this position before…and, and there have been times when me and Tanto almost haven't made it out," Cori murmured, looking around the dark den.
"Hey, Quaxo?"
"Yes?"
"Can't you transform into Mistoffelees?"
"I-I'm too scared," Quaxo admitted, looking at Cori. Cori sighed, lying on his back beside Quaxo. Quaxo managed to move closer to Cori, putting his head on Cori's stomach. Cori itched at Quaxo's ears with his bound claws. Cori listened as Quaxo's breathing evened out. Coricopat was terrified; he tried to keep his breathing even as he tried not to panic.
He didn't want to be in this situation again…he thought he was free when he had got into the Jellicles.
Cori's ears pricked when he heard voices talking.
"Quaxo, Quaxo, wake up!" Cori muttered frantically, pushing at the small Tux's shoulder, trying to wake him. Quaxo gave a groan, lifting his head up from Cori's stomach.
"What's wrong?" Quaxo asked tiredly. Cori sat up. Quaxo yawned, rolling onto his back before sitting up. Cori was staring at the door to the den, which was closed. The door opened and Quaxo looked at Cori as he gave a whimper. Quaxo was shocked to see how quickly Cori had paled as he stared at the large Tom in the doorway. Quaxo looked back at the dark coloured Tom. The brown and black splotched Tom just walked towards Coricopat, grabbing his bound wrists and pulling him up.
"Well, well…hello, Coricopat," Cori just gave a whimper, staring up fearfully at the large Tom that towered over him by a few inches.
"Let him go!" Quaxo hissed. Cori looked back at Quaxo as did the large Tom. The dark Tom glared at Quaxo, seeming to contemplate something.
"Cronus, leave him alone," Cori whispered. Cronus looked back at Cori, smirking at the fearful Tom.
"Twice you've escaped me, Coricopat…you won't be so lucky this time," Cori winced, closing his eyes.
"But of course, I won't kill you straight away…where's the fun in that?" Cronus purred. Cori turned his head away, a shiver running up his spine. Cronus chuckled at Cori's reaction.
"Oh, don't be like that, Cori…it's almost been a year and a half since I last saw you," Quaxo looked at Cori, shocked. Cori was just looking at the wall, his eyes oddly blank. Cori gave a sudden hiss, glaring at Cronus. Quaxo saw why. Cronus had trailed his paw down Cori's side, coming to rest on his hip.
"Now really, Coricopat, that isn't nice," Cori just snarled, trying to pull away but Cronus had a tight grip on the ropes around his wrists.
"We really need to…reacquaint," Cronus laughed darkly. "The last time I saw you, you were just a kitten…now look at you," Cori shuddered once more. Cronus ran his paws down Cori's sides. Cori started trying to fight, trying to break free. Cronus just laughed, letting go of Cori's bound wrists. Cori fell over, unable to keep his balance due to his ankles being tied together. Cori landed heavily on the floor; he gave a groan as he writhed slightly.
"Cori!" Quaxo cried out. Cori just looked at Quaxo, his eyes pained.
"Cori, Cori, are you okay?"
"He's terrified," Cronus laughed darkly, nudging at Cori's side with his foot. Cori snarled, trying to bite him.
"Well, well, you've certainly become bold," Cronus said, looking down at Cori. "Don't worry, I'll soon fix that," Quaxo stared in shock as Cori shrunk down, his ears flattening in fear.
"Cori," Quaxo whispered.
"Is that all you can say?" Cronus asked, turning to Quaxo. "Is all you can say 'Cori', conjurer?" Quaxo snarled at Cronus.
Cronus just smiled at Quaxo before looking back at Cori. Cori was staring at the ceiling, his bound wrists resting on his abdomen.
"So, my old friend," Cori looked at Cronus, disgust on his face at even being considered a friend…or acquaintance.
"I think we should get…reacquainted."
"Stay away from me!" Cori hissed, trying to scamper away. Cronus just laughed loudly, reaching down and grabbing Cori's bound wrists.
"No, let me go!" Cori cried, struggling to break free. Cronus just laughed, smirking at Cori's frightened expression, at the trembling.
"Leave him alone!" Quaxo yelled, struggling to break free, to help his friend. Cronus just kicked Quaxo's side, making the young Tuxedo Tom yelp in pain.
"No, no…please, no, please!" Cori pleaded weakly, looking at Cronus, his ears pressed flat. Cronus just smirked, stroking the side of Cori's jaw.
"I told you if you escaped from me, that I would get you back…and you'd pay," Cronus growled, before lifting Cori up, slinging him over his shoulder. Cori was crying out, trying to kick and hit at Cronus. Cronus just left the den, carrying Cori with him. Quaxo watched, shocked and saddened, as the den door was shut and locked.
Tantomile sat on the tyre, watching the empty yard…keeping a vigil for Coricopat.
"I don't think he'll walk through the gates, Tants," Tantomile sighed, her shoulders slumping.
"I want him back, Munkus,"
"I know, Tants…we'll do our best to get him back…and Quaxo as well," Munkustrap murmured, rubbing her back. Tantomile turned towards him, burying her face into his shoulder.
"I miss him," Tantomile said, her voice muffled by Munkustrap's fur.
"I know, sweetie, I know," Munkustrap sighed. "I…I miss him and Quaxo too…but not as much as you do," Tantomile looked up at Munkustrap, craning her neck slightly so she could kiss his cheek. Munkustrap gave a slight purr, hugging her close.
"Munk,"
"Mm?"
"I-I've gotten some readings of Cori's emotions," Tantomile whispered. Munkustrap pulled away, resting his paw on her cheek.
"What have you read?" Munkustrap asked, worried.
"He's terrified, distressed and…disgusted." Tantomile whispered. "Munk…the last time I felt all of those emotions from him…" Tantomile trailed off.
"What, Tants?" Munkustrap asked, worried, as he rubbed Tantomile's cheek with his thumb.
"Cronus," Tantomile whispered, her eyes having a faraway look.
"Cronus?" Munkustrap questioned softly. Tantomile sighed, looking away from Munkustrap, looking over the empty yard.
"Tantomile, who is Cronus?"
"He's the Tom who killed our parents," Tantomile said. There was a small, gentle murmur from Munkustrap as he tried to comfort her.
"But…that…that isn't all he's done,"
"What?"
"When he captured us and killed our parents…that wasn't the last time he captured Coricopat and I," Tantomile explained, glancing at Munkustrap.
"Three months after we had escaped, he captured us again," Tantomile said sadly.
"He was furious that we escaped him the first time…just mere kittens, which we still were when he captured us once more," Tantomile sighed, looking at Munkustrap once more, who was staring at her, shocked.
"Cronus told us we were going to pay…he, he was very cautious around me…I was bound all hours, unable to move, to help Cori…Cronus identified me as the dangerous one," Tantomile murmured, lost in a painful memory.
"Cori…I don't know why, but Cronus was interested in Cori, he always had been…Cori was bound differently from me, his paws tied in front of him, his ankles tied loosely…but we didn't know why…until later,"
"Tants,"
"Cronus stole Cori's innocence,"
"No!" Munkustrap whispered, shocked. Tantomile nodded, her bottom lip trembling as tears escaped her dark green eyes.
"Cori was three months shy of becoming a Tom," Tantomile whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"That's the last time I felt Cori feel disgust, anger and distress at the same time," Tantomile looked back at Munkustrap.
"W-What if Cronus has Cori again?" Tantomile whispered, distressed. Munkustrap hugged her tightly.
"We'll find Cronus, Tanto…we'll find Cori and save him,"
"And Quaxo too, right?" Munkustrap's ears flicked.
"Yes, Lonzo…of course we'll save Quaxo too, I wouldn't dream of leaving him behind," Alonzo nodded, his eyes tired and sad as he came over to sit beside Munkus and Tantomile on the tyre.
"Tants,"
"Yes, Munk?"
"D…I hope you don't mind me asking," Munkustrap hesitated. "But…did Cronus do….anything to you like he did to Cori?"
"No," Tantomile replied softly. "You were my first, Munkus," Munkustrap sighed, somewhat relieved.
"Why?"
"I just wanted to know…in case I needed to kill any more Toms other than Cronus," Munkustrap said truthfully. Tantomile smiled, nuzzling at Munkustrap's neck. Alonzo looked at the both of them as they nuzzled at each other, purring deeply. He gave a small smile.
At least they're happy together.
Alonzo looked away, hoping his little brother was okay.
Quaxo growled as he rolled around, trying to loosen his bonds. He needed to help Cori, he needed to get back to his brother…so Alonzo didn't worry too much. Quaxo snarled as he failed to loosen the rope around his wrists.
"It's useless trying," Quaxo looked up at the guard who was looking boredly at Quaxo.
"I don't give a damn!" Quaxo hissed, his fur and tail puffing up angrily, before he went back to writhing. The guard just sighed.
"You ain't the first to try get loose…it's useless,"
"Shut up!"
"I'm just tellin' ya how it is, conjurer,"
"It's Quaxo," Quaxo snapped.
"What?"
"My name isn't conjurer, it's Quaxo…I'm not the magical one," Quaxo spat, rolling around, rubbing his ankles together to try break free of the ropes around his ankles.
"What?" The guard asked, confused. Quaxo sighed annoyed as he went still, looking at the confused guard.
"I'm not the one with powers…my alter-ego is," Quaxo explained, knowing that since they knew he had powers of some sort…then they should know how his powers worked correctly.
"Wait…what?"
"I have an alter-ego, his name is Mistoffelees…when I transform into him, my appearance changes and I also gain access to the conjuring powers," The guard blinked.
"Right…"
"Hey!" Quaxo called as the guard went to leave.
"What?"
"What's happening to my friend?" Quaxo asked. The guard blinked.
"Please…I just want to know,"
"No, kid, you don't,"
"Please!" The guard sighed, looking down at Quaxo.
He had a kid around Quaxo's age.
"Kid…it's not pretty," The guard murmured. Quaxo rolled over so he could sit up.
"Has Cronus done this to Cori in the past?"
"You don't know?"
"Cori's secretive about what's happened to him in the past," Quaxo said slowly.
"I don't blame him," The guard said, leaning against the door. Quaxo blinked, looking down at his lap.
"What…what Cronus is doing to Cori is bad, isn't it?"
"Yes, Quaxo," The guard said. Quaxo nodded.
"You still want to know what Cronus is doing to Cori right now?"
"No…I know what he's doing, it explains Cori's reactions," Quaxo said. The guard nodded.
"What's your name?" Quaxo asked him before the guard went to leave.
"It doesn't matter, Quaxo…I doubt you will be around much longer," Quaxo nodded dully and lowered his head.
Cori sobbed and tried to crawl away but was stopped when his tail was grabbed and he was dragged back.
"Oh no, no, no," Cronus laughed teasingly. Cori struggled, trying to break free as Cronus dragged him back to the mattress. Cori snarled weakly as his wrists were grabbed and forced above his head. Cori closed his eyes when something cold and metal snapped around his wrists. He gave a small tug but nothing happened…his wrists were firmly shackled to the wall above his head, he couldn't move his arms an inch. A paw patted his stomach.
"Don't go anywhere," Cronus laughed. Cori opened his eyes when he heard Cronus leave. He tilted his head, seeing what condition those shackles were in, seeing if he could break them in some way.
Cori's heart dropped when he saw the chains and shackles were all shiny new.
"No," Cori whispered, tugging once more. The chains barely strained. Cori gave a rough sob, tears spilling down his cheeks as memories of what Cronus just did to him came back, the pain fresh in his mind.
"Tants," Cori whispered. "Tants…hurry please, please," Cori closed his eyes.
"Tants…help me, please, please, help me," Cori opened his eyes and turned his head towards the blocked door as he heard pained cries.
Quaxo.
CCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
I'm probably going to struggle to update this week…I have a fair bit of homework I have to do…and this week is my drama production, so Monday I have dress rehearsal, and on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I have the actual performances…so yeah :S
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!