Chapter Twenty-Four: Interrogations

"Spill it," Kai demanded, yanking hard on the leather, belt-like bed straps he'd put around Tyson's wrists after pinning him to the floor. He used them for patients but it was a rarity and he had plenty on him.

Kai moved to get off of him, lifting the other leg over as he did so. He stood tall and then folded his arms over his chest, widening his stance in the process.

Tyson craned his neck to turn his head and look up at him. Though he was as surprised as anyone would be, knowing Kai, he should have expected it.

For the first time in years, maybe even over a decade, he could see straight and keep himself level. It had only been about a week, though it felt like several months, but he was already on the right track it seemed and he had Kai to thank for that.

Confidently looking his friend in the eyes, Tyson gave a grunt and said, "I wanted to help,"

"Help?!" Kai roared, his arms falling down to the wayside, "The last thing anyone needs is you out. I'm callin' Max to come get ya,"

Peering off to one side, he noticed Kai's fists loosen and ball back up every second or so. The knuckles of them consistently went from red to white, giving him a visual representation of just how much Kai was trying to keep it all reeled in.

"By all means, take, take me back, but I wanna tell you something first,"

Kai took his right foot, not trusting his own hands at the moment, and flipped Tyson onto his back. Even the scum of the earth needed to breathe properly.

With deep inhales, Tyson refilled his lungs. He turned to him and plainly said, "Gou's upstairs, he's asleep, safe and sound,"

Kai sent him a stern warning before darting up the steps and in seconds running back down them again. In his peripheral he noticed that Makoto and Lin seemed to be lost in whatever he was teaching her to draw, boxes of crayons and printer paper splayed between them while the two sat on the opposite sides of the craft circle.

With a knowing grin, Tyson said, "Did you see him?"

"Yeah, he's been knocked out with chloroform," said Kai as he stepped around Tyson and proceeded to hoist him up by his shoulders.

Sitting the guy down in one of the table's chairs and moving a few paces away, Kai asked, "How long did you apply the stuff for?"

"Up until I saw you turning the corner that led to here. Maybe about an hour at most give or take some minutes,"

Kai nodded, doing the math in his head, "Gou should be up in an hour then,"

"That's good to know," Tyson said, his smile widening.

"I'm guessing you found one of my flyers hanging on a pole somewhere, or you tailed me?"

"I tailed you. Kudos to you for starting your own clinic though, about time the geezer gave you a life,"

Kai scoffed, letting Tyson know he agreed with his statement.

"Well, thank you, for bringing him back," Kai said after a bit, his face heating up some from the shyness.

"Though I am surprised," Kai added with a small pause.

"Why?" Tyson scoffed out, genuinely baffled.

"Knowing you, I thought you'd take him to get back at me," he finished darkly, his eyes scanning over him, taking in every detail like always.

"Oh," Tyson said, his face going tight, "A lot's changed, and I'd never do that. Not in this mindset,"

Despite the relief he felt, Kai refused to drop his guard. Confused, he asked, "Why did you break out of prison then?"

After a minute or two Tyson cleared his throat, and while wrestling with his chafing wrists, he answered, "I didn't come to get Makoto back if that's what you're thinking,"

"Right, because even over my dead body that wouldn't happen. You gave up your rights, he's mine,"

"I'm aware," Tyson growled out through clenched teeth, feeling a mix of furious and forlorn, "Anyway, I broke out to put Monica back in,"

Kai nearly went limp. Was he serious? Tyson had definitely cleaned up but he thought it was just on the outside. Guess he was wrong, and in the best of ways too.

"Let me get this straight. You broke out, to help keep Gou safe?" Kai said, his mouth slower than usual.

"Pretty much, and Makoto too,"

Kai wanted to speak but he couldn't find the words. He just let the former forensics analyst shed some light on things.

Noticing Kai was quiet, Tyson gave him what he knew his mind wanted, "Monica is in the therapy session before mine, and one day while heading in I overheard her say some stuff I'd rather not repeat. She's a sicker monster than when you last saw her. Right now I wouldn't put anything passed her,"

Kai broke out into a cold sweat and his heart raced. He paced around the kitchen briefly before stopping his trek and standing still.

Scowling at Tyson, Kai asked, "Where's she now?"

His train of thought was interrupted by three boisterous beeps on his pager and his heart plummeted into a bottomless pit of invisible ice.

Sprinting over to the stairs, Kai screamed up, "I'm headin' out for an emergency, Gou's asleep in his room. Call me if anything happens!"

Kai freed Tyson, and before he could say thank you, Kai was pulling him along and, in the van, racing down the roads with Tyson beside him in the passenger seat.

"What's going on exactly?"

"Not sure, but Joe's message was urgent-"

"And that message is?"

Pushing the pedal all the way down and deep into the floor, Kai made a sharp turn 'round a corner and sped on, the frame of the car rattling beneath them. He stayed silent, eyes glued on the road.

Finally getting the chance to learn something he'd always wanted to, Tyson asked, "What made you not kill her when you had the chance? I sure as hell would've, swiftly, painfully and with no mercy,"

Kai's anger rose and bubbled at the rim, "Good for you!"

Tyson jumped back and flinched at the booming voice, not expecting it at all.

"My question still stands," he said, feeling far less brazen.

With a weighted breath, Kai uttered out, "I was scared... I didn't want to give in to my old captors' wishes. They still had a hold of me, and I felt that if I gave in, to that temptation, then that meant that they were right all along. I was a monster and secretly enjoyed all they used to make me do. That I, liked shedding blood. I also thought I'd revert back to that mindset, given how fragile my state of mind can be at times, and ultimately fail Joe and all he taught me. I don't want to be like that,"

"Damn, I had no idea. I can't understand it but I can imagine... Still, you've proven time and time again that you're not a killer, and there's nothing wrong with protecting those you love. I know it's a fine line to cross, but, to me, it doesn't make you a murderer. It's what we in the real world call a justified killing,"

"... If you say so."

Deep down, Kai knew Tyson was right, but he still needed to chew on the notion of purposefully taking a life and the possible consequences of that action. He'd never lie and say that he didn't want to kill her. In fact, he'd openly said it, but then in one way or another he was grounded and reminded of all he could lose, and he couldn't bear the weight of that.

The two let the conversation fall from there, Kai's cellphone ringing in his pocket.

Watching him take the call, Tyson shifted away and gazed out the window, wondering where this chase would end.

To Be Continued...