"Save me, I'm trapped in a vile world..."

-Avenged Sevenfold, "Save Me".

Ichigo was having a nightmare.

This nightmare had been repeating in his subconscious mind, its events rewinding before his closed eyes, the fear and pain of it rising in intensity with every play through. Having to watch the masked man, an angel of death, continuously brutalize one of his closest friends over and over with his wicked weapon couldn't be more traumatizing or heartbreaking…

Except that this was not just a dream: it was real.

No matter how much his thoughts tried to deny it, this nightmare was actually a horrifying memory of what had happened not even an hour ago, two hours maybe; Ichigo didn't have a clue. He had no sense of time right now, for his mind was too full of regret and self – loathing to give space for anything else.

'Rukia…'

It was just too hard for Ichigo to accept that she was gone. Rukia had been with him since the very beginning: she was the one who had changed his life forever. Without her making him a Soul Reaper, Ichigo might not have even lived to see another day. He repaid the debt by saving her from the Sokyoku, letting her live just a little longer. How come he couldn't save her from that bastard Kingpin? Why couldn't he do what he did before? The answer was before him on a silver platter.

His powers.

Without his powers, Ichigo was just another teenager with his orange hair being the only special thing about him. His friends, the ones who followed behind him, who believed in him, only did so because they knew of the unique powers stored away in his soul. And now, when they needed him and his abilities the most, he failed them.

'I'm… so worthless…'

*CLANG!*

Hearing the sound of a door slamming in the distance, Ichigo opened his eyes and was momentarily blinded by the ceiling lights beaming down on him. Realizing he was on a hospital bed, Ichigo slouched upwards, rubbing his exhausted face before glancing around the room. The walls surrounding him were made of red brick, black grime caked in the creases. Another bed sat beside his, the faded cover showing signs of stained blood from a former patient (most likely victim). A tall lamp positioned beside the headset of Kurosaki's cot was turned up to its brightest. As the strawberry reached his left hand to turn it off, he discovered that he had been fastened to the cot by a handcuff.

"Dammit…!" Ichigo cursed, tugging on the restraint. After a few more failed attempts to break free, he gave up and plopped his head back onto the flat pillow positioned below him. Ichigo began to wonder about the others, not just those who were here with him (wherever they may be) but those back at the prison waiting for their return.

"Orihime…" he muttered, "Yuzu…"

Before he had the chance to tear himself apart over breaking his promise to them, he heard something outside the metal door: Someone was coming in. Clenching his fists, Ichigo sat up, ready for the worst.

However, he wasn't even close to being prepared for who he saw walk into the room.

"Hey…" the newcomer snarled, barring his teeth at the fear stricken Kurosaki. The man cracked his neck, brushing back the unnatural blue hair on his head. He pointed his right arm at the teen; where a hand should have been there was instead a dry-rotted leather gauntlet tipped with a rusty blade, probably broken off a hunting knife. Ichigo knew all too well where the man's hand had gone, for he was almost fully to blame. And now he was going to reap the whirlwind of revenge.

"Remember me?" Grimmjow Jaegerjaques sneered before slamming the door shut behind him, ready to finally get his hand on a defenseless Ichigo Kurosaki.

"I did it, Brianna."

The throne room was black, a void where shadows twisted and climbed its walls to escape the morning sun sneaking through the tightly closed blinds of its only window. The amber rays were painted like stripes on the floor, broken apart by the silhouettes of the various objects in the office: a lamp, a chair, the King's desk…

… And, of course, the King himself.

Sethrin "Kingpin" Sleichknot sat in the center of the room on his knees, speaking to what appeared to be nothing. His voice was not its usual rasping self, filled with malice and sinister words spewed from his demented mind. No, for once it sounded human: as human as it could sound, that is. Sethrin's face, covered by the nightmarish mask, looked upwards to the ceiling, staring into the eyes of his spectral love only he could see.

"You've done what?" 'Brianna' smiled gazing back at him, her hazel orbs delving into the yellowed ones of her poor, utterly broken man, "Let me know, Sethrin. It's the only way."

"I have the boy," Sethrin replied, "Ichigo Kurosaki… The one I told you about, the one who'll make you love me again. Things will be right soon, Brianna. I just have to break him, that's all, and wait for… For him to return. I'll hurt him, and then I'll kill him, and then I'll kill him again, and again, and again… And once I'm done with that, I'll start over until you say you love me."

"Oh, you think?" the vision laughed, "I'll never say those words! Ever! This is all a pointless game of revenge, Sethrin! You don't understand that yet, do you?"

"Shut up!" Kingpin stood to his feet, grabbing Brianna by her neck, "Don't fuck with me now, you bitch! I just beat the fucking life out of a defenseless woman for you! I woulda fucked the shit outta her if it wasn't for you! I do all this for you! Don't you get that?!"

There was a knock at the door. Sethrin's head darted towards it; it had to that idiot Gentu, ruining his private time once again.

"Better get that," Brianna smirked.

Hesitantly, Kingpin released the vision's neck from his hand, cracking his knuckles in a fist. "This isn't over…" he snarled, "Just you wait, bitch. Just you fucking wait…"

"Oh, I won't have to," the apparition grinned, fading back into Kingpin's mind, "Because I already know…"

As Kingpin regained his composure, Gentu pounded on the door again, louder this time.

"Hold your shit!" Sethrin growled, "I heard you the first time!"

"Sorry, sir," the burly man said from outside, "Just here to tell ya that all them prisoners you brought with ya are locked up an' in place for yer visiting pleasure."

His attention caught, Kingpin quickly hurried and opened the door to address his guard in person. "All of 'em?"

Gentu nodded. "Like I just said, sir: They're ready for ya."

"And Kurosaki?"

"The orange haired one? I put him in the infirmary for safety's sake. That one dude you brought back, Growl-Jaw or whatever his name is, is probably gonna beat 'em up pretty bad, so figured it'd be best to have 'em in the med room already."

"So he's already on his way to meet Kurosaki, eh?"

"Yup. Let 'em outta his cell just before coming here."

"Good," Kingpin exited through the door and headed for the steps, beckoning Gentu to follow, "Let's go visit the others while they have their fun."

"Who you goin' to first, boss?"

"You'll see," Kingpin answered, "There's someone we gotta pick up first."

Gentu was utterly confused now. "… And that would be?"

"No idea. But as long as they're dead and hungry, they'll work just fine…"

"Gr-Grimmjow…" Ichigo stammered, his back pressed firmly to the filthy brick wall behind his bed, "You… You're alive!"

"No shit," the Sexta Espada spat as he approached his prey, "You thought you could get rid of me that easily, leavin' me on a roof like that? I'm Grimmjow-fucking-Jaegerjaques, the strongest Espada alive!"

'That's what you think…' Ichigo thought, remembering Halibel and Starrk. In any other circumstance, he would've said that to Grimmjow's face, but right now the Sexta didn't need to be any more pissed off. "Tell me then," Ichigo said instead, "What exactly are you doing here with that psychopath?!"

"Ha!" Jaegerjaques laughed. In a burst of speed he lunged at the bed and grabbed Kurosaki by his neck. The Espada watched the boy squirm for a few moments before continuing. "I wouldn't say you're in a position to be asking me shit, Kurosaki!"

Grimmjow banged his head into Ichigo's, thrusting his forehead into his temple. Before Ichigo could retaliate, he was tossed off the bed to the floor. The bed followed him, his arm still cuffed to its metal bars, and landed on top of his back. Jaegerjaques kicked the mattress off his prey, raising his bladed gauntlet high. He brought it down fast in a stabbing motion; Ichigo barely moved his shoulder away in time to avoid the rusted metal.

"Ironic, ain't it?!" Grimmjow grinned, "Look who's handcuffed now!"

The Espada continued to stab and slash at Kurosaki, missing on purpose each time. Grimmjow was overjoyed; it was just too fun to torment the boy. It wasn't long before he decided to make contact.

*SHUNK!*

"AAAAGH!"

Crying out in agony, Ichigo's eyes shot down to his right leg, where he saw Grimmjow's gauntlet punctured into his lower calf. Grimmjow twisted the blade underneath his flesh, making sure his prey felt every bit of pain.

"Come on, Kurosaki!" Jaegerjaques pulled his gauntlet from Ichigo's skin, "You're tougher than this! Why don't you use that mask of yours, huh? Oh wait, you can't!"

The Espada stabbed Ichigo's calf again, higher this time. He cut down through the flesh until the new wound met with the old one. Kurosaki was beginning to pour blood now; his sight was blurring by the second. Gritting his teeth, Ichigo mustered the strength to kick his attacker in the face with his good leg.

"Fucker!" Grimmjow fell back, wiping his bleeding lip with his hand. He reached out and grabbed Ichigo by the leg, pulling him back into the onslaught. "Think you're getting' away that easily, eh?"

When he managed to pull Ichigo close enough, Jaegerjaques grasped the back of his skull and slammed his face into the floor. After three repeated smashes, he turned the boy onto his back, placing his boot on his face.

"Dammit…" Ichigo growled, clawing at the foot on his face. He had forgotten how strong and ruthless Grimmjow actually was, and had underestimated the Espada when he walked into the room.

Victorious, Grimmjow cackled. "You're probably thinkin' you've lost, eh Ichigo? But I can't call this a win over you yet. We ain't even on equal levels right now," he gestured his gauntlet at Ichigo, "If you know what I mean."

Realizing what the Espada was inferring, Ichigo found the power to shove his attacker's foot off his face. Not much good came from it though, as Grimmjow brought his boot back and kicked the side of his skull. Dazed, Kurosaki could barely feel the weight of Grimmjow's leg stomping down on his right arm.

"Giving up, Ichigo?" Jaegerjaques raised his bladed arm into the air, ready to sever the strawberry's hand, "I expected more from you. How pathetic…"

Ichigo closed his eyes, clenching his jaw tightly as he braced himself.

This was going to hurt.

Toshiro Hitsugaya didn't like being afraid.

Fear was something that sat hand in hand with hatred, two feelings that the young Captain had felt not too long ago in the Soul Society. When he had found Momo Hinamori, his oldest, dearest friend, lying in a pool of her own blood, the fear of losing her burned in his soul. And no sooner did he see the culprit Sosuke Aizen and heard his despicable taunts did hatred fuse with the fear inside him. Toshiro couldn't hold the rage in any longer, and he charged at Aizen with all his might…

And lost instantly.

Ever since then, Hitsugaya had vowed to not feel fear again, for it would only lead to defeat. But now, tied up in this putrid cell in a madman's paradise, he didn't know what to feel. The utter dread in the air stopped him from falling asleep, the paranoia of dying while dreaming too great. Even if he could, he was much too weak to stand, let alone move. He had tried to wriggle his hands and feet out of the tightly bound ropes around his wrists and ankles, but his efforts were in vain. With no other options, Toshiro had slouched into a corner of the cell, his knees up by his head as he tried to think of some way to escape.

"Hey."

Hitsugaya sat up instantly at the sound of the familiar voice. His head swiveled as he looked around his cell, trying to figure out which direction it had come from.

"…Halibel?" he asked loudly, "Is that you? Where are you?"

"Beside you, I think," the Espada answered from the adjacent cell "It's hard to tell; these metal walls echo sounds much too well."

Toshiro slumped back down in his corner, "Indeed… I think we're in storage spaces, like the ones humans use to put old inventory. It would explain these thin, aluminum walls."

"And the filth as well, I presume?" Tia responded as she watched a rat scurry across the floor in front of her. Her predicament was quite different than Hitsugaya's. In her unconsciousness, she had been placed in the center of the room, with her arms raised and tied to the walls beside her. Her legs were bound as well but not as tight; apparently her captor wanted her to be allowed to stand for some sick reason.

After a few awkward moments of silence, Toshiro raised his head up once again.

"How are going to get out of here?"

Tia closed her eyes. Just like the Soul Reaper beside her, she too had been thinking of ways to escape this hell. And just like him, she had failed to do so.

"… I don't know."

As those words slipped from her mouth, Toshiro swore he could feel the claws of fear on his back digging into his skin, their owner whispering horrid words of torture and death into his ear.

"Stop!"

Ichigo opened his eyes. No sooner did his sight focus on his right hand, the one Grimmjow was about to slice off. The blade of the Espada's gauntlet hovered mere inches over his wrist; in a second it could come right down and pierce through his bones. After a mental sigh of relief, Ichigo looked up at his assaulter whose gaze was stuck on a woman standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a white lab coat and green scrubs, with her honey brown hair tied back in a bun. In any other circumstance, Grimmjow wouldn't have even listened to her order to stop, but seeing the woman pointing a sub-machine gun at him made a huge difference in his decision.

"Is there a problem, girl?" Jaegerjaques snarled at the med-student, "I'm a little fuckin' busy here, if you can't tell."

"Get off the boy, Grimmjow," she demanded, cocking her firearm, "You know your limit. The big bloke said you could 'have your fun' with him, but nothing excessive."

The Espada held up his gauntlet for her to see. "I wouldn't call getting even excessive, bitch. Didn't you ever hear of an eye for an eye?"

"I have… but I don't give a bloody fuck. Don't make me have to call the bloke down here, because trust me, it won't end well for either of us."

Grimmjow hesitated, thinking over his options. He looked down at Kurosaki, still helpless under his foot. It would only take a second to cut off his hand, to make things even for their next bout. But was it worth the potential hell and torture he would receive from the madman running this place?

"Dammit…" the Espada cursed. Standing up, he removed his foot off Ichigo's arm. The strawberry quickly backed away, his fist clenched and ready to punch. The blue haired Hollow spat on the floor and shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked towards the exit. He deliberately bumped the girl's shoulder with his, making sure it was hard enough to show his displeasure.

"You're lucky I wanna live another day, Ichigo," Grimmjow snarled, "Or you'd be bleeding all over that floor right now. I'll be back tomorrow, when this bitch won't be here to save your sorry ass."

Both Ichigo and the girl waited until the sound of the Espada's footsteps disappeared in the hallway before making any kind of movement. The med-student quickly shut the door and leaned up against the wall, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

"Glad we got that berk to sod off, eh?" she said to Ichigo, "You're off the hook… until tomorrow, that is. Name's Abigail. You're Ichigo, I presume?"

"Yeah," Kurosaki slid back onto his cot, giving the med-student a wary look. "…Why did you save me?"

"Pardon?"

"You work for Kingpin, or whatever that sick bastard calls himself. Shouldn't you have let Grimmjow cut my hand off? Wouldn't your boss want that?"

"Look, you little bugger," Abigail wagged her finger at Ichigo, "There's no need to get your trousers in a bunch. Unlike the other berks who work here, I'm not a nut. There's no way I'm going to let something that terrible happen to you. I'm a doctor, after all."

"Surprised that psycho managed to recruit a doctor who isn't mentally deranged… I'm guessing you're not gonna be nice enough to get me and my friends out of here?"

Abigail thought about it for a moment. "… Look, just because I don't like what the big bloke does to his prisoners, it doesn't mean I'm going to let them go. Because then he'll let all those bad things happen to me."

"So you're just a coward, then?" Ichigo leered, "Just like the rest of his crew?"

"Do you have any idea what he does to his prisoners?!"

"As a matter of fact, I do. I watched him bash my friend's head in with a baseball bat! And he laughed the entire fucking time! He probably does worse to his prisoners here!"

A few tense moments passed. Sighing, Abigail walked over and sat down on the edge of Ichigo's cot.

"You have no idea, you poor little bugger…"

Renji Abarai had been in many tight situations before, but none were as bad as this. After being asleep for who knows how long, the lieutenant awoke to find himself tied to a wooden chair in the center of a room. The room was filled with tons of random objects; tires, tables, sections of fences, even an old pinball machine. He could hear rats scurrying throughout the garbage and putrid water dripping from the ceiling. He had been thrown in here to rot just like the rest of the useless trash.

For the past half hour Abarai had been tugging at his restraints, mostly the ones wrapping his calves to the chair legs. Whoever had tied them had done a damn good job, for he couldn't even loosen them one bit. It was the same for the rest of the knots, all of them too tight for Renji to work with.

"Dammit…" Renji flung his head back, breathing heavily, "It's useless… I can't do shit…"

It wasn't just his physical strength that was failing him; the memory of Rukia's death was still too fresh in his mind. Though it had happened only a few hours ago, Renji's despair felt like a lifetime's worth. He wanted to get his hands on that bastard Kingpin and tear him to shreds with Zabimaru, making sure he suffered tenfold what his closest friend had.

But what could have been a reality was only just a daydream now. Without being able to contact his Zanpaku-to, or use any powers in the first place, Renji gave up on the idea and focused his attention back on untying his restraints.

"C'mon…" Abarai grunted, biting at one of the knots around his wrist, "Just give, dammit, give!"

"Having fun?"

Renji was surprised he hadn't heard the door in front of him open, and was surprised even more to not have noticed the man he hated most right now walk in. Kingpin stood there, his arms folded, smirking at his prisoner from behind his mask as the tied up man went into a fit of rage, biting and lunging at him from the chair.

"Wow," Kingpin chuckled, "You've only been in here a few hours, and you've already lost your fuckin' mind."

"Why don't you come a little closer and say that?!" Abarai snarled, "I fucking dare you!"

"Ha! Now I remember why I liked you. You're feisty, just like that little dead girlfriend of yours… Rukia, right?"

Renji winced at the sound of her name, "Don't you say her name ever again!"

Kingpin couldn't help but laugh at his prisoner's empty threat. "Who's gonna fuckin' stop me? You? Rukia? I don't fuckin' think so!"

The masked man approached Abarai, kneeling down to his eye level far enough away so that the lieutenant couldn't head butt him.

"There's something I want you to do for me," Kingpin pointed a crooked finger at Renji, "And its real easy, so even a simpleton like you can do it right. You hear me?"

"…Go fuck yourself."

"I'll take that as a yes… Now, all you gotta do for me is this. I'll let you live if… You can get outta that chair."

"I doubt that," Abarai sneered, "Why the hell should I believe a goddamn thing you say?!"

"True," Kingpin stood up and began to walk to the door, his back to Renji, "Even if I was lying, you wouldn't be able to tell. Ten years of acting school really helps with that. But I told you before: I want to see you eaten alive, not rot in here for the rest of your life."

The masked man reached the doorway and stopped, looking over his shoulder at his captive. "Remember: if you can get outta that chair, you get to live a little longer… Oh, and I almost forgot…"

Kingpin snapped his fingers, calling for someone. Renji's eyes widened as he saw a burly man walk past the maniac, wrestling to control a hungry walker with a cloth bag over its head. The beast clawed at the air in front of it, reaching for something to feast on.

"You've got this guy to keep ya company." Kingpin finished, stepping outside the door. He took one last glance at Renji before signaling to Gentu to release the walker. The burly man quickly pulled the cover from the corpse's empty eyes, which immediately focused on Abarai in his chair. After his guard left the room, Kingpin pushed the door shut, with one last parting comment:

"Good luck."

"The Grand Stand?" Ichigo repeated.

Abigail nodded, "Ring a bell?"

Kurosaki thought for a moment. "… Yeah, it does… I think he mentioned something like it to Renji."

"Which one of your friends is Renji?" the med student asked curiously.

"Red hair, bandanna, tattooed eyebrows… Kinda hot-headed."

"Oh, dear…" Abigail trailed off, shaking her head.

"What is it? Tell me, Abigail! Is he gonna be alright?"

"Well, that depends. If your definition of alright means fighting for hislife is better than being murdered, then yes."

Ichigo looked at her confused. "Fighting for his life? What the hell does that mean?"

Sighing, Abigail turned on the cot to face Kurosaki. "The Grand Stand is basically Kingpin's Roman Coliseum. He invites everyone living here at the Sanctuary to watch the shows he puts on. Women, children, his soldiers, you name it. The cracker says it helps keep their sanity, lets them enjoy something for once in this bloody world. But I don't get how they could even stand to watch those fights."

"I'm guessing he doesn't put on boxing matches, huh?"

"Not even close. It's basically a series of street fights. Men beating on each other with anything they can get. Their fists, bats, hammers, knives; anything and everything is a weapon to those berks. I'm surprised the fighters don't actually try to kill each other, but I guess there's still some humanity left in 'em. Though I doubt they'd show mercy if your friend was thrown in there. Kingpin himself would probably tell them to push him straight into the walkers…"

Ichigo's eyes widened. "Walkers?! You mean there's walkers outside the ring?!"

"Worse," Abigail answered, "The walkers are the ring."

"Oh, shit!"

Renji was kicking himself now for thinking things couldn't get any worse. Looking at the approaching walker with panicked eyes, he started thrashing his body in the chair, hoping to loosen his restraints one last time. Every second he struggled, the snarling beast grew closer, gnashing its jaws at the helpless prey.

'I gotta do something!' Abarai thought as the walker reached out at him with bloodied hands. Pulling his strength together, the lieutenant thrust the chair backwards and fell onto his back. In a stroke of luck, the rope around his legs snapped. With the walker hovering over him, Renji shot a sharp kick into its gut, knocking it over and giving him some time to strategize.

Glancing around the room, Renji looked through the mounds of garbage and supplies behind him, hoping to spot some sort of weapon. He could see some broken pieces of lumber piled in the far right corner; if he could get to those, he'd be home free.

"Come on…!" Rolling over onto his side, Renji used his shoulder to push his weight off the ground. As he propped himself back up to his feet, his walker opponent returned to standing as well. Staring the beast down, he waited for it to make the first move.

"Rhharg!" Slowly, the walker limped straight towards Renji. With the chair still strapped to his back, the Soul Reaper spun towards the beast. The wooden seat collided with the walker's right side, throwing it to the ground once again. Seeing a chance, Renji charged at one of the brick walls surrounding him, slamming the chair into the stone. After a few impacts his handicap shattered, minus the armrests still tied around his forearms.

"Much better," Abarai panted, cracking his shoulders. Suddenly, he heard the familiar growl once again, and turned to see the walker mere feet away from him. Realizing that the armrests still tied to him could be used as weapons, Renji clenched his fists and smirked. "Guess I didn't even need a plan."

*WHACK!*

Renji's makeshift weapons bounced off the walker's soft skull, sending its blood flying into the air. The corpse stumbled on its feet, still hungry and kicking even with its jaw hanging by tendrils from its face.

"Just die already!" Abarai yelled. Raising his palms so the blunt edge of the armrests jutted outwards, he lunged at the walker, thrusting the wood straight into its head.

*SKRUNCH!*

The walker hung motionless from Renji's weapon, its arms dangling towards the ground. Victorious, the Soul Reaper pushed the corpse off his wooden stakes, letting it hit the floor in a pool of its own black blood.

Usually, Renji would let the walker lie; he wasn't much for desecrating corpses. But, as he looked at the body even more, he saw something else in its dead eyes. The eyes began to turn yellow in his mind, resembling those of the man who had killed his dearest, closest friend.

"Bastard…" Renji breathed, falling to his knees. All he could see, all he could hear, was that sick maniac before him, laughing at him, mocking Rukia's name.

"Bastard!"

*CRUNCH!*

Renji slammed the armrest into the beast's skull, its blood now on his face. Enraged by his emotions, he quickly brought the wood on his other arm down into the broken head.

"RRAAAARGH!"

*CRUNCH!*

*SKRUNCH!*

*SQUASH!*

The distraught Soul Reaper continued to pummel his rage into the body, sending showers of blood into the air until he could move his arms no more. Exhausted and numb, both physically and emotionally, Renji arched his back and let out a roar of anguish, which could be heard throughout the entirety of the underground prison.

About a hundred feet down the hallway, in one of the many corridors of the subterranean chambers, a man smiled beneath a sinister mask. He turned to the guard walking alongside him towards their next destination.

"Hear that?" Kingpin asked with a small laugh.

"Yup, sir," Gentu smirked, "Ya broke another one."

"And I'm about to break two more…"

Toshiro opened his eyes, looking around his dark space of confinement. He had been able to find solace in sleep for only a few minutes before hearing what sounded like a scream of utter despair echo throughout the outside hallway. It wasn't Halibel for sure; the sound would have been much louder if it came from beside him. Maybe it was Ichigo, or Renji, or some other poor soul trapped in this hell.

Before Hitsugaya had the chance to ask Tia if she had heard it as well, there was a pounding on the metal door locking him in. Not even a second later it was pushed upwards, and his visitor stepped into his cell. Another man Toshiro hadn't seen before was visible behind him, keeping guard in the hallway.

"How ya doin' in here, kid?" Kingpin asked in a fake tone of concern, "You lose yer fuckin' mind yet?"

Hitsugaya was gritting his teeth at the man. It was hard for him not to want to charge and strike him down with Hyorinmaru. If only he had the Zanpaku-to!

"What do you want from us, you bastard?" Toshiro snarled, "And why is Ichigo so important to you?"

"Now, when did you start askin' the questions, little man?" replied Kingpin, "You see, children are supposed to shut their traps when adults are speaking. So keep your fucking mouth shut. I'm not afraid to beat some respect into you if I have to."

As the Captain reluctantly silenced himself, his tormentor clapped his hands together. "Good boy. Now, here's how shit's gonna go down between us. You're going to tell me where the rest of your group is at so my boys and I can fucking kill them all. Simple, right?"

"There isn't anyone else," Hitsugaya lied, "It's just us four!"

Suddenly, Kingpin rushed Toshiro, pinning him up against the wall. "Don't lie to me, brat! There's more of you fucks out there, and I'm gonna find out just where they're hiding! Tell me where they are right fucking now, or we do this the hard way!"

Hitsugaya looked the maniac right in the eyes. "Go to hell."

Seconds passed. Then slowly, Kingpin lowered the boy to the ground, patting him on the head when his feet touched the ground.

"…You're gonna regret that, kid," the masked man said, "And you're about to hear why."

Kingpin turned and left the room, the door sliding down behind him,, letting Toshiro to ponder what he meant. He could hear the psycho muttering to his goon outside the door, but couldn't make out any words. Then he heard something else: the sound of another door opening.

The one to Halibel's cell.

"Wha-…" Toshiro breathed, before realizing his crucial mistake.

Pissing Kingpin off was not a smart thing to do.

Halibel watched as the man who had killed Rukia Kuchiki walked into her cell, cocking his head at her. She could tell he was smiling under his mask, and it made her want to kill him even more. If only she could break free…

Tia's captor stood silent, studying her, before moving his arm towards his waist. Reaching under his shirt, he unbuckled his belt and threw it at the wall. The metal on metal clash vibrated throughout the room; there was no way that Hitsugaya couldn't hear it.

Just what Kingpin wanted.

"You wanna know a secret, doll?" Kingpin crooned, unzipping his pants, "I really, really hoped the brat next door wouldn't tell me what I wanted to know. Because that meant I'd have more of a reason to do this."

Halibel's tied hands curled up into fists as Kingpin's pants dropped to the ground. She had a feeling this may happen the moment the madman said she was "hot". But now, with the sick act mere moments from happening, it all felt too horrible to be true. Tia Halibel, the Tres Espada, one of the most powerful beings in existence, was about to be raped.

For the first time in her life, Halibel felt weak.

"I hope you're listening, Toshiro!" Kingpin cackled, grabbing Tia by the throat, "This is the punishment for your sins!" He leaned in close to Halibel, glaring into her emerald eyes filled with hate.

"This is going to be fun..."

In Memoriam:

Renji's Walker Buddy

"What better way to relieve stress than with your very own rotten, walking corpse?"