The next few days dragged. Brooklyn was struggling to rest with his shackle that rubbed his incision, like before when he had that torture in his belly. He gave groans of pain when the temptation to itch them came again.

It had been hard for him to move since he had his appendix removed, which was the next worst operating experience so far.

Brooklyn was about to close his eyes and rest when his cell opened. He panted fearfully, his legs pulled close with what strength he had. Sure, Thailog seemed to be taking it easy with Brooklyn, but the second in command still feared him.

Thailog entered with the shackle's remote, smiling darkly, but not as intimidating as usual. He sat down, tracing his hand along Brooklyn's cheek again, and down to his belly, making him flinch, still hating his touches.

"The doctor told me that leaving the shackle on you right after the operation wasn't good for you. You shall be given five days until the stitches heal. But after that, this goes back on again. I trust you will comply and not try to escape without it on, little Plaything?" Thailog asked in a silky, icy manner, stroking his stomach tenderly. Brooklyn, of course couldn't speak up or move so much, and he nodded timidly. He would do it, if it meant not having this thing on him for a few days. He felt too weak anyway.

"Very good. I'm glad we're able to trust one another," murmured Thailog in a pleased voice, taking the shackle off. Brooklyn felt the weight of the shackle leaving him breathing a little better. Thailog massaged his incision, and he squirmed slightly. At first, it felt really uncomfortable and sore, but Thailog did the same movements over and over. Eventually, it began to make him unwillingly relaxed.

"Yes, little Plaything, just relax and rest," purred Thailog softly, smiling and looking forward to the day when he stabs him in the back.

Brooklyn felt his limbs growing limp, eyelids drifting closed, a little whimper coming before doing so. Thailog finished massaging him and got up to let his plaything rest.

….

Another man, the one that Brooklyn had hurt once in his first fight test, was riddling with desired revenge, and jealous that Carlos got to poison the red devil before he had his chance.

Yes, he pleaded for mercy and the beast backed away, but he still felt cold revenge surging through his core, gazing at the old scars on his chest and face in a mirror in his room. This man, Charlie was his name, had been out of it for several days, which held off his revenge plans. But he had noted Brooklyn's shackle, and wanted to make one that could hurt him even more than his current one after witnessing Carlos poisoning Brooklyn.

And so, he worked on it for himself, asking for off duty from Thailog, who knew about it, allowing his guard to heal and gather strength. But Charlie didn't want to tell Thailog about his new shackle idea until his project worked one hundred percent, along with a super strong metal glove that he was certain would come in handy, smiling cruelly as he imagined inflicting pain onto that devil.

….

Brooklyn was able to recover a little through his five days. Thailog then had the doctor remove the stitches off of him, even the cast, for his arm had healed well enough, and placed his shackle back on like he promised.

He was glad the cast was off, for it got rather irritating to wear.

During his operation though, Brook had a question. "Why are you s-so interested in my stomach?" he croaked while the doctor pressed on it again.

"It is because your chemistry is quite fascinating. I wish to research your genes more and collect further DNA," the doctor responded, grinning in a sadistic way. Brooklyn shivered a little from this answer, closing his eyes after that.

He was pushed once more through the brink of exhaustion with more tests, though Thailog would sometimes pull him out of them early to keep displaying his fake trust, luring his plaything into a false sense of security again.

….

Charlie one day decided his project was ready, grinning sadistically down at his new device he made, looking forward to using it, as well as something else he pulled onto his right hand, balling his fingers into a fist.

….

Brooklyn lay on the floor of his cell after a maze test, laying his head on his arm, wheezing softly with over-exhaustion, only able to drink a few small sips, and eat just one half of his sandwich. He had been able to eat again after his week of recuperating because Brooklyn didn't want them to force feed him anymore.

He looked up at the window, wishing to feel the wind in his face. Tears began to flow again, wiping his eyes, as Brooklyn heard the cell door open, and Thailog entered.

"Hello, Plaything, I only came to bring you out to talk again, if that is fine with you?" he purred, massaging his shoulder. Brooklyn had to admit he was bored, especially with no other prisoner to talk to, and Thailog had been the only thing now to keep his mind sane because of his new merciful attitude, though he still hated Thailog.

Nodding numbly, he allowed Thailog to help him to his feet. Thailog took Brooklyn out to the interrogation room.

He sat down his little plaything in a chair, who was shivery all over, watching Thailog nervously. Smiling, Thailog brought him a drink, which was mostly apple juice, then sat down across from him.

Brooklyn took a few sips of his drink, still feeling muted, as Thailog began to talk.

"I have to tell you that you have been the most interesting purebred gargoyle I've conversed with since Goliath and Demona," Thailog purred. Brooklyn shuffled his feet as he usually did before answering.

"Um, uh, thanks, I guess," he replied nervously. But then, Thailog got an unusual interested gleam in his eyes.

"But, you still haven't told me how it feels to be next in line and why my father chose you. I promise it isn't an interrogation," Thailog then persisted. Brooklyn hesitated, looking around for any guards that would sneak up on them, for this room felt different from talking in Thailog's quarters.

"How come we're here and not in your quarters?" Brooklyn asked in suspicion, but Thailog just smiled.

"I thought it was nice to be in a different room for a change." he replied simply. Brooklyn at first still didn't understand, but ended up giving a rather small answer.

"I-It feels okay. And must be because they all believe in me," he mumbled softly, clutching his glass. Thailog felt disappointed with his answer, but kept up his act.

"There must be more than that," Thailog pressed gently, cupping up Brooklyn's chin in his hand. But Brooklyn shook his head. "I-I can't say much more, that's all I got," the red gargoyle replied, his nerves tingling a danger warning. This talk felt different from others.

Thailog gripped his chin tighter, and the shackle suddenly squeezed him. Brooklyn flinched from the pain. "You can tell me. I've been merciful enough to you, haven't I?" he sneered darkly, eyes glowing red. Brooklyn panted as he tried prying away.

"Y-yes, b-b I still c-c—." Brooklyn gasped, as his air was cut off again. Thailog couldn't play nice any longer.

"Damn it, I've waited long enough!" he snarled, gripping Brooklyn's throat now. Brooklyn gave a startled yelp of shock, Thailog's strong grip constricting his windpipe.

"What are you—?" Brooklyn choked, dropping his glass. Thailog smirked.

"This had been the most gullible you've been since those holograms, Plaything. I can't believe how much of an idiot you are," he spat, back to his old threatening self now. "All of this was to build your gullible trust into me, to lead you into this interrogation room without fear. And you fell for it like a stupid hatchling."

Brooklyn felt his heart shattering into a thousand pieces, tears of the second betrayal from false trust like Demona boiling up in his stomach. He had been dirtily used, again.

He gave out a snarl of hurt and rage, struggling, and Thailog pushed him back into his chair, calling out guards. They grasped him harshly, and he squirmed in their clutches. Thailog traced his finger harshly under Brooklyn's chin.

"Now, we're going to do this interrogation again, small one. And you will answer them." he hissed. But Brooklyn growled loudly, tears coming down his cheeks, eyes glowing brightly.

"No! G-go to hell, manipulating bastard!" he shrieked, wanting to shred Thailog's insides to pieces. Thailog smacked his face harshly from his words.

"Watch that filthy beaked mouth of yours, Plaything. Chain him," he snarled to the guards who brought Brooklyn. He grunted as he tried pulling free, but felt weak, as the guards tied down his feet, then raised up his hands. Brooklyn cried furiously as he struggled against the chains, while Thailog took off his old shackle.

"Y-you said the guards wouldn't hurt me!" he pleaded, but Thailog smirked. "Yes, but that was also part of my plan to break you, to make you think I'd be gentle, and it would've softened up your beak to speak."

Brooklyn sniffled with hurt as he writhed, until Thailog cupped his chin again, holding out a familiar taser gun. Brooklyn's eyes rounded in fear from recognition, remembering the last time he had been hit by one of those. It wasn't pleasant at all.

"I say again. You will answer. Or…" he tuned up the device, shooting the electricity at Brooklyn. Brooklyn winced, hissing in agony as the surges tinged his skin painfully, but somehow, his bravery kicked back in.

"I-I won't ever talk, NEVER!" he choked, as Thailog turned off the taser. He hissed before hitting Brooklyn's belly again, and again.

Brooklyn gritted his teeth, struggling to hold in his cries after the first one, as Thailog kept it up for a while, making his stomach feel rather sore all over.

"St-stop hurting my stomach!" he whimpered, writhing back and forth, the taser still hurting him. Thailog grabbed Brooklyn's hair, tight.

"All I want you to do is speak. But since you're still stubborn even with your shackle, I decided that it wasn't enough. There's someone I want you now to meet. I think you're well acquainted."

Brooklyn heard footsteps coming, and gazed over to see who it was. He expected Carlos, but it wasn't the case. A new, but familiar human man stepped out. He had a small beard on his face, as well as deep scratches on it and his chest. He wore a tough metal glove, and held something else behind his back.

The red one gulped in fear. He recognized the one he showed mercy to after scratching his face. The man came closer, grinning evilly.

"How nice to see you again, Devil. I believe you remember these scars you gave me?" Brooklyn didn't answer as he trembled, arms aching from being held up like this. The man punched his metal fist into his other hand menacingly after handing Thailog something, stepping closer. Brooklyn's heart thumped wildly as he tried getting away after Thailog tazed him one more time before moving back.

"Master, do I have the permission?" Charlie asked Thailog from the side, and the dark gargoyle nodded unpleasantly. Charlie smirked once at Brooklyn, before suddenly he used the metal hand, ramming it into Brooklyn's stomach with a hard punch.

Brooklyn gave out a shout of pain from it, the air knocked out of his system, body feeling nauseous all over, gritting his teeth afterward with his eyes closing, as though all his air was squeezed out of his lungs.

"Let this be a lesson, Freak Devil," snarled Charlie dangerously, doing another hard punch at him again before taking his new device from Thailog, who had a terrible gleam in his eyes.

Brooklyn opened his eyes again, threatening to throw up, seeing something new dangling in front of him in blurred vision. As it came back, cold fear radiated inside. It was a new shackle, a new deadly one.

This had spikes in the front of it; a couple small ones and one large one in the center, Charlie laughing menacingly at seeing Thailog's plaything looking wide-eyed and panicked. Thailog stepped forward, taking the shackle from Charlie, putting it close to his face. Brooklyn was breathing shakily and noisily, scared of what was coming.

"This is your new little discipline chain, Plaything, to remind you even better of what you are: my toy," he said in a soft, deadly tone, grasping Brooklyn's face tight. Despite having air knocked out of his system, Brooklyn whimpered again, struggling, as a voice echoed in his head, remembering a past vision.

"I want to be inside you… to be with you… forever…" That terrible voice had purred in his vision. And now, it was about to come true! He didn't want it put on! And with that, he kept struggling in his chains, trying to pull back from his enemy.

"Please, don't do it! I can't have that on me!" he pleaded, Thailog unstrapping the shackle, grinning in pleasure at Brooklyn struggling.

"No! NO!" Brooklyn sobbed in fear, Thailog getting closer, beginning to hook the chain on. Brooklyn squirmed violently, trying to wriggle out of his chains. Thailog whispered into his ears.

"This is what you deserve for blindly trusting others, Plaything. It is a price to pay. And we'll see if this time, it will make you talk in the next interrogation." Brooklyn shook even further from this threat, the spikes beginning to poke him in his stomach, and Charlie watching in happiness at seeing his revenge unfold before his eyes. This was a perfect moment.

Thailog clipped the non-spiked part behind Brooklyn's back, and Brooklyn breathed hoarsely, small tears dripping down his face. The big spike hurt his stomach the most than the others, poking further in and delivering painful stomach pangs like one of his past disciplines that made him shiver and want to puke. He looked back up at Thailog weakly in sadness.

The dark gargoyle nodded in approval as the spiked shackle was in place in the most tender and tazed part of Brooklyn's stomach, adjusting it with the remote, where it remained. He then unstrapped Brooklyn, who fell to the ground on his hands and knees, whimpering, as those spikes poked into him terribly and started to bleed.

His enemy tied a chain to the shackle, pulling Brooklyn to his feet, who had a hard time doing it, staying down there.

"Come on, stand." Thailog commanded viciously, tugging harder, pressing the button on his remote that injected the belly pain from the big spike. Brooklyn yelped piteously, a hand over his stomach as he struggled to get up.

Thailog even smacked his face again, too. "It seems your new collar works wonders, let's see how much longer you can live with it, and with your guilt you probably feel right now too," he said in a deadly tone.

Brooklyn didn't speak back, too busy staring down at his new torture device in agony and sadness.

He was taken back to his cell, where Thailog pushed Brooklyn in. Brooklyn collapsed weakly to the ground, feeling so sore and sick, and the new shackle didn't help.

"I shall see you again very soon to continue working with your new collar with other tests," snarled Thailog harshly, slamming the door. He didn't leave any water this time.

Brooklyn wept bitterly, hot guilt and self blame threatening to destroy him mentally, sitting against the wall, letting the grief spill even more out his eyes.

I'm so stupid! Why did this happen to me again? Maybe… maybe Thailog is right. Perhaps I really am nothing but a plaything. I trust people too easily, letting them play with my head, then they stab me in the back… I'll never be able to trust anyone again for a long time...

This made him wail out loud into the darkness of his cell since it was night, shivering in pain from the new spikes in his tummy, as Brooklyn felt himself slowly starting to go into oblivion again. He welcomed it, though Brooklyn felt he didn't deserve it either…