Meanwhile, back at the castle, preparations were being made, and the whole clan was more anxious than ever to bring their lost one back again.
Angela made sure she had enough supplies, which she figured they would probably need. Goliath said they would need to depart before sunrise, since Queens was far out of their way.
Hudson was the most worried, gazing out at the city. Goliath put a hand around his shoulder.
"He will come home. We will find Brooklyn."
Hudson sighed a little. "I jus' hope the youngin isn't badly hurt." Goliath nodded. He hoped so too. If he was, the humans that took him will pay.
The clan made ready to leave, all out on the balcony together. Xanatos came up to Goliath with Elisa. Broadway would carry Bronx.
"I pray you get Brooklyn back, Goliath. I never thought that this would happen again…" David said, still having memories of when Thailog caused trouble to the young red gargoyle last. Goliath nodded at him.
"We will."
Elisa hugged him. "Good luck," she said softly. Goliath hugged her back. Lex jumped onto the edge to get ready.
"Be strong, bro. We're coming." The olive gargoyle said quietly, as the clan took off into the night. Broadway hoped he could apologize to Brooklyn for allowing him to get caught.
It took a good long while to fly out of the city. But the clan fortunately were able to arrive in Queens. Goliath found a hidden area where they could roost for the day, so they could continue the rest of the way to their destination. He was grateful that Puck could find where Brooklyn was, looking out to the horizon as he felt the sleep taking him over.
…
The clan yawned the next night when they awoke. Goliath was the first to take off, since they had to get to Brooklyn as quickly as they could.
"Do you think he's still alive?" Angela asked in worry while they neared the outskirts of Queens. Goliath looked at his daughter, but felt like he couldn't find words now. His fear for Brooklyn's life kept him silent now that they were getting closer.
They glided for a time, trying to keep an eye out for the old building in Alex's vision. Hudson worried they wouldn't find it in time. But then, Lex with his sharp eyes, spotted something.
"Hey, look!" he called. The others glanced his way and saw that familiar brick building coming into view. Hudson smiled in relief that they managed to find it.
Goliath and his clan landed in a hidden spot a safe distance away, for guards stood outside. Bronx woofed frantically for Brooklyn, but Broadway held him back from charging in.
"How are we getting in this time?" asked Angela, studying the building. It was different from the last one. She didn't see anything on the roof, either.
Goliath looked at the wall. "We might need to go through a window this time around. Look through each window until we find him."
The others nodded, sneaking as close as they could. Once they got to the wall, Goliath went first, climbing up the wall.
Goliath looked through the windows, seeing empty rooms almost all the time. But then, he noted one in particular. It had a crack in it. Bronx had smelt Brooklyn's scent when they were at that window, and woofed.
"Brooklyn must be in that room," Lex said. Goliath narrowed his eyes, going up to the ledge; punching the window with his fist, breaking the window open. The clan climbed in through the broken window, praying Brooklyn was really in there.
Bronx was smelling Brooklyn's scent everywhere. The others could see some talon marks on the floor from when Brooklyn had dug them in from being in pain before. There were chains and cuffs in this room.
Hudson looked around for Brooklyn, but something wasn't right. He wasn't in here, not even in any of the corners in the cell.
"Where is he?" Broadway asked in horror, glancing about for his still missing brother. This didn't happen last time they found him! Angela looked scared.
"Is… is Brooklyn dead?" She said in a scared voice. Broadway held her comfortingly. "No, he can't be. I think I can feel he is still in this building." Goliath glanced at the door, eyes narrowed, guessing where he could possibly be right now, hands balled into fists.
"His kidnappers are probably holding him in another room. We have to get to him, now!" he said.
…..
Brooklyn was still huddled in his corner, arm stinging from his brand that he didn't want. He stifled a whimper when Thailog spoke to him again.
"I'm so glad you have my mark now, little plaything… Now everyone will know what you really are. You're mine…" Dream Thailog sneered at him, his spirit hovering close to his victim, who hugged himself.
"Keep away from me…. I- I didn't want your evil mark!" Brook said shakily, inching closer to the wall, and wincing in agony from his body that wracked with all sorts of pain. Dream Thailog moved a hand close to his stomach.
"Even if you die here, your spirit will still be with me, forever!" Thailog cackled cruelly. The young second choked down a sob, hiding his face in his hands. He couldn't stand it if that happened. All he wanted was his family, and for Thailog to go away! He didn't want to die here!
His door opened. Watson appeared, smirking gleefully. The evil doctor's eyes were gleaming with triumph after the success of branding the pathetic creature before him that used to be so strong and cocky.
Brooklyn didn't want to move anywhere right now. He was still really sore from the branding and felt sick again. His stomach had a case of nausea that he was feeling that he had no idea what it really was from.
"Now that you are our Master's official toy with his new mark on you, it's time to 'reward' you for it." Watson sneered.
The only reward he wanted was his freedom. But he couldn't even glide at this point. "I don't want the reward. Just let me go." Brooklyn pleaded.
"Nope. All servants of the Master are staying right here." Watson declared. "Take him."
The two thugs behind him like usual came forward to pick him up. Brooklyn huddled closer to the wall, but they picked him up and unchained his shackle. They then pulled him out of the room to the surgical room.
Brooklyn pulled and struggled with everything he had in him left. He wasn't as strong as he once was. The men were able to keep a hold on his arms as they reached their destination. The torture room, to him.
"No! I don't want it!" Brook cried out.
Watson glared and pressed the button on the remote.
Brooklyn suddenly went into wincing in pain as he felt the shackle tighten on his stomach. The discomfort was adding to the nausea he already felt inside him.
"Get him on that table." Watson ordered.
The pain made it easier for the thug guards to wrestle the gargoyle onto the table again. He tried to pry an arm away to hold his belly, but the guard held him strong and tied his arm down. "Aagh! Stop please!" His legs were bent at the knees and he kicked his legs about before additional men came and tied them down too.
"What? You don't want food?" Charles mocked him.
"NO! Agh! It's hurting me!" Brooklyn gasped sharply.
Watson then applied the spikes too. "Hurting you, huh?"
Brooklyn could only bare his teeth and shut his eyes at the pain the shackle was causing him. He desperately tried to breathe. Sweat was covering his body. Then he felt the shackle begin to loosen. He felt blood coming down his sides.
"Get the tube in him." Watson ordered.
"I'm not… hungry..." Brooklyn panted.
"Oh, but surely, you are. This is just something special for you for getting the brand." Carlos smirked.
The tube was put into his stomach and a few cans of food was given to him. Brooklyn usually felt full when the cans were given to him, but this time, he felt instant nausea. "Agh! Stop! That's enough!"
"That was only two cans." The man replied.
"I can't take it!" Brooklyn cried, desperate tears coming down. He could feel big pain inside his stomach.
"What's the matter? Got a little tummy ache?" Carlos mocked him.
Brooklyn couldn't hold back the nod he gave. His ears were also flattened in sadness. He really wanted someone to comfort him instead of treat him like dirt.
Watson then whispered to Charles, "He really must be hurting from the poison we gave him if he admits it to us." Brook didn't hear him. Charles was pleased.
Another can was added to the two already in there. Brooklyn clenched his stomach. "Oh, please stop doing this to me!" he pleaded desperately.
"You have deserved every last bit of revenge we could dish out on you, Monster!" Carlos decreed.
"You… are the real monsters!" Brooklyn retorted as best he could.
Charles saw the discolored spot on the gargoyle's ribs and instantly took advantage of it. He slammed his fist into the bruised spot. "AGGGH!!" Brooklyn screamed in pain.
"Watch that filthy mouth of yours, Devil!" Charles exclaimed. There was a crack on the inside too.
Brooklyn felt a crack inside him and he knew there must be a broken rib or so. His eyes glowed from the pain.
"I think we'll cut the feeding short this time. But, there is another price to be paid." Watson said.
Brooklyn glanced at the evil doctor. He saw him come up to him with scissors in his hand next. His breathing picked up. "NO! DON'T!" he cried out, eyes wide.
Watson began to cut off some of the top bandages. They opened up to the skin above the shackle, which was not coming off. "I think the stitches have been in long enough." There was a foul smell coming from underneath them too. There was an indication of infection.
"I think I'm going to enjoy cutting these open." Watson sneered.
Brooklyn was breathing hard. "Please, don't!"
"Wait, Boss. What about cutting into him even deeper?" Carlos suggested. "All the way to the organs?"
Brooklyn had looked at Carlos, then back at Watson. "Sounds like a good idea, Carlos." He grinned big and evil.
"NOOOO!" The red gargoyle yelled in fear and pain. He tried hard to get loose despite his pain. Then there was a crash heard someplace else in the building.
"Go check it out." Watson ordered.
Some guards went to go see what it was.
…..
Goliath got ready to break down the door, the others behind him, when a familiar voice screamed, but faintly.
"I thought I heard Brooklyn scream." Lex said.
"Lead the way."
Then the door burst open before Goliath did anything and two guards came in. Bronx growled and charged one. He knocked one down, knocking him unconscious.
Lex attacked the second one, knocking him down but not unconscious. He winded him. "Where is my brother?!" Lex snarled at him.
"Nowhere, Freak!" The man snapped.
Lex growled and was even able to pull him up, where he pushed him to the others. "Ah, the clan of the monster has come for him. Don't bother. He's done for."
"That isn't true! You're lying!" Broadway snarled.
"Oh, am I?" The man mocked them.
Bronx barked and ran out of the room. Broadway punched the other in the face and knocked him out. They all followed Bronx.
There was a screaming coming from a room just as the door was knocked down by Goliath. The big lavender leader was snarling angrily, along with his clan coming in behind him. "Get away from him!" Goliath ordered.
"HELP!" Brooklyn cried out desperately.
"Get out of here, Monsters. Stay back, or he dies now!" Watson took hold of the scalpel in his hand and was ready to use it.
Brooklyn squirmed. Was his clan really here to save him? Or was it another illusion from them drugging him? Hudson saw the mark in his bicep, gripping his sword. "What did ya do to the lad?" He snarled in rage. Watson smirked.
"He's no longer your Second in Command. He's for Master Thailog now. He is our trophy to do with as we please." Watson exclaimed. Brooklyn had tears coming down his cheeks from this, hot shame bubbling inside his heart.
"Brooklyn is no one's trophy! And he is not a monster!" Lexington snarled angrily. Brook could feel himself cry a bit more from hearing his true name again. It had been so long since he heard it from his family.
"Oh, but he is, green one. He's just about done for anyway." Carlos sneered.
Bronx wasn't taking this anymore. He charged and knocked down a man, Charles.
The rest of the clan was too desperate. They all attacked. Watson plunged the scalpel into Brooklyn's skin. It got a loud cry out of him before the evil doctor was pulled away from him. Watson was slammed into the wall and knocked out.
Angela came over to Brooklyn who was still awfully scared, even with her approaching him. He still didn't want to be touched anymore except from Hudson. She instantly unhooked him from the table, taking care not to scare him too much. "Don't worry, Brooklyn, we're here to get you out of here. Please, let me help you up." She looked down at him gently.
When his hands were free, his arms went immediately to his stomach, where he was in pain. The scalpel became dislodged and fell to the floor. "Please… get the… remote..." he moaned.
Brooklyn felt a sharp pain go through his stomach and he cried out in pain. Angela freed his legs too. She also let his wing hands go from the ropes binding them. Once again, there was a broken wing that would need mending.
The clan subdued all the humans in the room. Some had even been killed in their anger. They were all tied up too for the police, the ones that were left alive. Angela went over to the lead man, Watson and got the remote that Brook had spoken of and pressed the button, making the shackle come off.
"Hudson!" Brooklyn cried out. He could breathe easier now without the shackle on.
"I'm here, Lad." Hudson replied and was there in a heartbeat. "Oh, it hurts!" Brooklyn cried in pain.
Hudson took the red one into his arms. Angela could smell the infected wounds. She removed the old rotten ones and saw the extent of the damages. Brook flinched a bit from being touched, holding Hudson weakly. But she did her best not to hurt him.
"Oh, Brooklyn. We have to get those off and treated." she said.
Brooklyn's body just had a big massive infection in it from those wounds and the poison in his system. He winced again.
"Uh! Want the... the pain to stop!" Brooklyn sobbed, his whole body feeling like it was on fire.
"Just hold on till sunrise, Lad. The dawn will heal ya." Hudson tried to comfort him. He petted his head soothingly.
"How's he looking, Angela?" Goliath asked.
"He's in bad shape, Father." Angela said. "We have to get him home. I can patch him up for until we get home."
Broadway came up to his brother. "Brooklyn, I'm so sorry that you got captured again. I'm sorry I allowed this to happen. It was my fault."
"It wasn't your fault, Lad. You couldn't control what happened that night." Hudson declared.
Brooklyn hadn't held it against Broadway about what had happened to him. But now, he wasn't saying anything, just staring wide-eyed.
The red gargoyle still couldn't believe he was really getting out after weeks and weeks, fresh tears still flowing down hot on his cheeks from his current trauma. Hudson continued to comfort him as much as he could while Angela pulled out more bandages.
He winced as he was patched up in fresh bandages around his middle, his wing, his tail, and it was discovered about his ankle too. That was also wrapped up.
Hudson would have to carry Brooklyn back to the castle. The pain he felt in his stomach got to the point of finally making him go unconscious.
The clan was all glad to have their Second back, but was he going to make it? He was in rough shape. It was still a long flight back to the castle yet. He had been starved and beaten almost to the brink of death. He was so thin, with a major blood loss, too. They would have to go through this traumatic recovery thing all over again.