Chapter 22

"I'm coming over." Jade's voice came over the radio, Crane at the university with Spike having radioed Brecken and the describe the men.

"Thanks Jade, Troy is on the lookout for them too." The radio went silent, Spike glancing to Crane burying his face in his hands sitting on a chair.

"Kyle is a tough kid."

"I killed so many of Rais' men already, Spike and I just lost to one guy. I just had him back after almost losing him again. And Kyle lost against the other one. Damn it!" His fist slammed onto the table.

"You know if they had to separate you two that means they doubted standing a chance against both of you at once."

"You didn't see it Spike, I know you're trying to cheer me up. They were assassins with years of doing it and they're going to sell Kyle."

"Not on your watch, I know how hard you fight. And you got us backing you up. Old Town and the slums only have so many places to hide."

"You do better pep talks than Troy, Spike. Thanks."

"And he's waking up…" Kyle squirmed feeling his hands and ankles bound, mouth gagged and eyes blinded with a thick cloth, lying on a dirty mattress. His leg hurt worse than before as it had been hit again with a pipe to prevent any escape while he was out cold.

"Well, then let's get the auction going. Too bad, the display won't go as planned, people will just have to trust on us telling about those two quirks. The others they will see." The slim guy swiveled around in a chair away from the screens and crouched down by Kyle brushing a syringe tip over his neck to make a point. "Open your binds or attack us and you get it. I could do this a hundred times over."

"Nothing in the slums so far." Volcan's voice echoed through the radio.

"Nothing in Old Town." Rocket growled.

"We'll find them, they don't have many places to go, the safe zones are definitely a no go, so that slims it down." Crane said.

"Everyone, get to the Ember Tower you have to see this!" Savvy interrupted everyone causing them to head over there.

Rais watched the TV with his men with a smile. "Don't even try cheating at the auction, it won't work. You want to go higher, show it to the camera. The merchandise is the monster kid here, can't show it so you'll have to take my word it that this kid can't turn even though he was bitten months ago. Zombies ignore him unless he's hurt but to catch him I had to rough him up. Comes with a bag of antizin, it will kill him without an epipen. He's got telepathy."

"The tower residents looked on with horror, Kyle yanked up on his hair to his feet, Brecken wearing a snarl restraining himself from lashing out as it wouldn't help anyone. They would stop seeing what was going on with Kyle and no matter how morbid at least it allowed them to kind of keep track.

Kyle collapsed pushed to limp into a room, the blindfold and gag taken off. The door closed and he wasn't alone, a biter slowly turning around to him. Green eyes shifted to the assassin filming him, two more cameras in the barren room and the blonde didn't need to see it to know that an antizin shot was already aimed at him if he tried anything.

The GRE members watched silently, two guards posted careful that no else would see having been told anonymously to tune in a special broadcast just in Harran. With a close eye on them with an ongoing investigation, there was actually a chance for failure with only so much money to spend.

The biter groaned shuffling closer and closer to Kyle trying to shuffle away. "Do your thing to be ignored." Kyle wanted to close his eyes to spite the man but figured he'd just be put into the situation again or tortured until he did.

'Are you one of the bidders, Rais?' Kyle had no idea where he was but if he had even the slightest chance to end up staying in Harran, he had to take it. And he had to endure as much as he could to give Crane time to find him. 'If you are, please tell Crane. You'll want to rub it in his face anyway, so just do.' Kyle's eyes opened again, a few tears down his cheeks a second away from being shot with antizin, the white replaced with red causing the biter to veer off and shuffle around aimlessly.

Rais for a second was shocked as much as twisted joy quickly bubbled up inside of him. And while it didn't make sense to the man nor did he understand it, he had heard of it in his life. And after seeing the flesh claws on the boy, he was more than willing to accept hearing Kyle in his head as something real and not an illusion. But what really made the smirk was that he had reached out to him. Whatever the reason, every time Kyle placed as much as a morsel of trust or counted on Rais in some way, the man had a small victory.

The hand of the leader motioned for another bag to be placed down, ammunition mixed with money.

The old man motioned for another gold bar to be added and Bozak watched with a smirk.

Rais' man swiftly added another bag upon being told to do so by Tahir, Rais bumping down the gold bidder having been on top a second ago but the GRE nudged them slightly down right afterwards, hand motioning for more to be put down on all sides.

"Can you track it?!" Crane almost shouted.

"I was already on it." Savvy smiled but the smile dropped with the finding of the location.

"He's behind the wall?!" Rocket exclaimed.

"There is no way we can reach him…" Jade said, Kyle forced to show his other claws after the red eyes resisting a few times with his screams breaking their hearts.

"No, no, no! The cliffs, I have to get to the cliffs by the stadium!" He couldn't lose him, a knife anew in his heart twisted relentlessly as pain and grieve consumed him like a wildfire. "Brecken, Brecken do you copy?"

"I do Crane-"

"How much money does the tower have?"

"Almost none, Rais just sold us antizin before this broadcast. A whole crate…" 'That's why…'

As if on cue, the voice on the radio made Crane's blood boil. "Crane, your boy has reached out to me and he wants you to know that I am one of the bidders. I'm sure he is trying to plot some way for you to rescue him but be assured that he will be with me and any attempt will fail."

"You stay the fuck away from him!" Crane yelled but did not get a reply. 'Why did you reach out to Rais, Kyle?!'

'I can't believe this but I really want Rais to win right now.' Kyle smiled to himself, Crane not receiving an answer.

"You can break your binds." The assassin assured, the goon lured in dragging itself to Kyle. "No red eyes, fight it." Kyle tried to stand, his leg shaking barely having any footing and the rebar piece came down, Kyle falling as he pulled aside. The goon slowly turned, rebar lifting again and gun by the slim guy didn't move to protect the kid. Kyle could feel his heart speed up, every second no bullet came a second closer to death and instinct with fear took over before he could wait a second longer for the shot. Down on his knees, Kyle's hand caught the swing, the goon mindlessly pushing down as Kyle pushed back slowly raising one knee feeling his lung about to sting. With a snarl, Kyle yanked the rebar with concrete piece aside keeping his grip on it managing to trip the goon falling forward beside the boy raking his claws over the thick neck. Biting his lip, Kyle turned around on his butt and kicked the goons head off straight against the metal bars by the assassin causing him to jump back. His lungs burned having poured everything into it, and Kyle let himself collapse onto the floor steadily more red with the widening blood puddle. "Get up, punk!"

"Crane, you'll just get yourself killed!" Jade protested.

"We didn't know who the other bidders are, he could end up leaving Harran!"

"Mate, no one gets in or out of Harran listen to her!"

"I got in!"

"Under the GRE, they wouldn't risk someone else have Kyle so these guys are not GRE!" Jade pointed out.

"She has a good point, Crane." Troy added.

"I can't just sit here and watch this! And do nothing!"

The old man glanced to the gold bars then shook his head at the next one to be added but didn't seem to be bothered to be stepping out of the bidding. Bozak wasn't either, in fact he simply had a bigger smile.

The leader of the gang snarled but motioned to stop outdone by Rais and the other bidder unwilling to lay down anymore.

Rais smiled at the next one dropping out leaving just him and the GRE now but he knew that they were in a tight spot, all thanks to him however this competition was still bidding fiercely making Rais fight for victory.

Kyle got shoved down to the floor again, bound, blindfolded and gagged. "Wanna place a bet on who wins? They're bidding fast."

"What, half of what we'll make not good enough for you?" The guy chuckled watching the GRE and Rais bid furiously though the bids started to slow down, hesitation slowly creeping in delaying a second here and there and he got ready to count down.

"We got trouble." A member warned adding if they had to go much higher it could very well blow up in their face. They were under the microscope now, the backlash of buying a trafficked kid, wonder child or nor not would be monumental along with Kyle's existence known all over the world.

Another bag was added to Rais bid, the man glancing to what was left. And that wasn't much. This competition had to stop. Another bid from them. Another from Rais. Hesitation. But another bid came but far lower than the previous gaps. Rais bid again keeping the pace and upping it, everyone in his tower staring intently. The competition dropped, the few seconds for another bid to come in counted down and Rais declared, the buyer, the broadcasted ended as a voice came through the radio for Rais now telling him a place, the layout and conditions.

"Damn it, who bid the highest?!" Crane growled, the broadcast ended having ended.

"Can't tell, sorry." Savvy sighed.

"Shit!" 'Kyle, who bought you?'

'I can't tell, they won't tell me! And I think they're going to knock me out again!'

Rais' men cheered, their leader tempted to call Crane to throw it in his face but the last thing he wanted right now was the man's interference possibly ruining his plans putting off the gloating for later.

With a yell, Crane punched the wall bruising his own fist as the man was shaken, at a loss and wounded in more than one way. His body still slightly ached though his grief drowned that out easily. It hurt so damn much. Crane turned to the streets to take off but Jade's firm grip paused the runner in his actions. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to find my kid." Crane yanked away, his voice slightly a growl, with a tornado of emotion boiling over the edge and the man found himself silently crying feeling the tear slip down.

"You're still hurt." Jade warned.

"I DON'T CARE!"

"You won't do Kyle any favors if you die!" The Scorpion yelled back, stepping forward to the man to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I can't lose him…"

"We won't, Kyle." Jade flashed a smile, Crane's straying to the radio, eyes widening with an idea.

"Rais, you fucker answer me!"

"What are you doing?"

"RAIS!" Crane didn't receive an answer, anger mixing with more grief. The silence said as much as it said nothing.

The room was always lit, that much Kyle could tell even though the blindfold was a thick one that didn't allow for him to see the place. The two men were busy, he could hear things being moved but they made it clear with little gestures that he was never out of their sights. 'Hey, who bought me?'

"Is he talking with telepathy thing?" The bulkier chuckled raising an eyebrow.

"Shut up, kid."

'Not until you tell me!' Kyle flinched, the man hovering over him in a second, boot coming down on his hurt leg, the gag muffling the scream.

"Now shut it." 'Fucking annoying… I'm surprised the GRE lost the bidding, only barely though.' Still on the uncomfortable mattress, Kyle could only listen trying his hardest to pick out anything standing out in vain as pain and exhaustion slowly started dragging him to sleep. The boy tried to fight it hearing a bag being zipped up.

'I'll tell an ability you don't know if you tell me!' Kyle flinched but the boot didn't come down again, slowly recoiling instead as the man crouched down pulling his head up by the hair.

"That doesn't matter now, brat. You're sold. And you never had any bargaining chip to begin with."

"Oh what did he try? I want to know!"

"Says he has another ability."

"Oh let's have him tell us anyway! I want to know now!"

"Well you heard him."

"I don't like to be kept waiting, come on kid. I don't like this kind of suspense." The jovial tone didn't hide the clear threat.

"A-acidic blood. When I want it to be."

"You'd make one heck of an assassin if you weren't worth so much freaky boy!" The man laughed.

"Fine, you want to know who bought you?" The slimmer guy smirked beside his face with a glint in his eyes. "The GRE." The grip on the hair was released without warning, Kyle desperately trying to figure out if he was being tricked or told the truth by the tone of voice. And the more he tried, the more exhaustion set in, the more confused he became unable to decide feeling sleep creeping in against his will. His time to tell Crane anything was limited. He could see that guy for the type to enjoy seeing others hurt especially if the affected person made him angry. And Kyle knew he had definitely pissed him off. His heart was racing again as fear gripped it tightly, tears wanting to get out with a scared and frustrated yell with an abyss of torment inside him. If they made the exchange, he would never see Crane or the others again. They would never be allowed out of Harran and by any chance that they did after a while from trying, the GRE would be sure to have Kyle stuffed away. Fear pushed to do something, say anything he knew, any further thought trying to think through cut off. 'Crane, the GRE- the GRE… they… I don't know what do, I don't know where I am! I'm scared, dad!'

"Kyle!" 'Kyle, I hear you! Calm down, what else did you hear? Where is the exchange? Kyle? Kyle!'

"What's going on? Do you know who won the bidding?" Jade asked, everyone present having their eyes glued to Crane with Brecken having joined the group by Troy.

"The GRE… the fucking GRE bought him… I can't reach him anymore… DAMN IT!"

"There is still time Crane, we know what to look for now." Brecken pointed out feeling like punching the wall or another TV himself.

"They would come with a chopper I guess." Rocket suggested.

"So we have to keep any roof big enough for landing under watch." Jade said.

"One problem." Troy sighed, slightly to be pointing out the horrible possibility. "They could make the exchange over there."

"Then I'm going over there."

"Even without being shot at military, what about that Bozak guy? Wasn't that close by?"

"In the stadium." Crane replied. "It doesn't matter, I have to try."

"Well, you won't try it alone." Jade stepped closer.

"Think they took the bait?" Kyle limply hung over his shoulder, knocked out, the duo moving out of hiding.

"We'll see."

Rais didn't like it, being told what to do. He barked the orders around Harran but somehow the guy promised to know any wrong move and with what the gang leader could receive he did not want to risk it. The location with the wide ditch and pipes could as advantageous to Rais as much as it could screw him. Only so many men allowed. The location perfectly hindered guns too as the open space only allowed for visual hiding but allowed swarming if one made noise. Already so out in the open in a way, no one would want to shoot a gun anyway. While Rais would love to shoot the mystery person and claim his money back with the boy, he'll take the boy over the money for now if he had to. His men scratched around in the dirt in boredom, everyone equipped with blades and some with throwing weapons. The boredom washed away with an arrow rushing into the ground with a note warning again not to try anything or he'd lose the merchandise. Out of sight, two men came into view, sliding into the ditch dragging along a limping, struggling Kyle with him ahead with a knife to the throat. They stopped two feet away, Rais motioning for the money to be tossed to them. Rais didn't recognize their faces, the taller one almost completely obscured with cloth and hood. It went over smoothly so far, Kyle trying to say something but the gag muffled it to gibberish. "All there." The slimmer assassin smiled, confusing every single one of Rais men placing a bag next to his partner in crime below his arm while the other free hand took the given bag. "Hey punk, come here."

"M-me?"

"Yes" Rais nodded to the guy with a red Mohawk given the bag of antizin and the countermeasure in it. "Back off again." Rais didn't like it and later he was sure he saw them smirk. Kyle suddenly got shoved forward into the dirt as something slipped out of the slim guy's hand, all bag picked up except the one under the knife hand and thick some followed the short fizz.

"Secure the kid!" Rais yelled, no one seeing where they were going and no one able to try throwing weapons after them either as Kyle squirming trying to crawl on the ground could be hit, the binds easily torn with a tug apart, shaky hand pulling off the blind and gag. The blonde didn't get far barely having finished freeing himself when the smoke cleared and the thug rushed at him, the kid yanked to his feet and handed to Tahir having an iron grip on him putting tight handcuffs on his wrists. A quick slash on his arm ensured a bleeding cut since his leg was black, blue and swollen but not scuffed. They shook like earthquakes though from the pain. The two assassins were out of sight and gone with the money but Rais had a triumphant smirk turning all of his attention to Kyle held by Tahir forcing him to stay standing in agony. "Since you made your sudden debut in Harran I've been waiting for this moment. No attempt at an escape, no fight?"

'Crane, they lied! It's Rais!'

"Crane, what's wrong?" Jade asked.

"Fuck… Fucking damn it! It's Rais, they tricked Kyle!"

"Come on, the exchange must be somewhere in the slums! Brecken, do you copy? "

"Are you asking me when I will gut you and hang your corpse from a building for Harran to see? I'll gladly do that soon." Kyle choked out a cry a cry of pain as Tahir twisted his arm, the kid biting down on his lip after spitting Rais in the face in defiance and Rais chuckled before lashing out with a backhand causing his men to chuckle at the display.

"You have much to learn first of respect to your new family and you'll quickly learn that there is no escape so it's best for your own wellbeing to forget Crane and the tower as fast as possible. Let's get back to your new home."

"It's completely fortified, multiple guys on watch all the time." Jade growled, they had gotten there too late with Rais already back in his tower and they had just narrowly avoided being turned into swiss cheese by bullets.

"Rais, I know you can hear me pick up the damn radio!" Crane snarled almost shouting.

"Crane, I was wondering if I would call you first or if I would hear you bark first like I suspected."

"You're going to let Kyle go or I'm burning down your whole damn garrison!"

"Crane, Crane, Crane. We both know the answer to that. But go ahead and try, bullets will welcome you. You can contribute in the boy's… adjustment to his new…. Family… by having your corpse for me to show him so he'll stop clinging to the hope of you swooping in quickly. Now, bark all you want Crane but I have little Kyle to take care of now and my men are eager for the newest member to complete his initiation, a little tradition you've probably have heard of. Perhaps if you survive long enough, you'll see him again Crane. As your enemy. Loyally by my side, he will kill you on command. You can resign your position as guardian over him, you won't need it nor will he need you."

"Just shut up! I'm coming for your ass Rais and every scratch you put on him, I'll carve into you!" Crane knew no matter how much he yelled into the radio, Rais would not pick back up. Night was right around the corner, they would already have to dodge volatiles just by getting to the tower now and Jade gave a light tug on his arm even though she would laugh to tear into Rais right now as well. Crane yanked away with a snarl, feeling another tear but turned to go giving Jade an apologetic glance that got accepted immediately. The man tried to look tough. But everyone could see it was wearing on him along with the previous events.

"Aren't you afraid to have me able to walk and run? You should be Rais." Kyle smirked, ignoring the twist on his arm from Tahir, his leg tended to, currently with an antizin right by him to threaten as the boy sat in some crates with one propping up the damaged leg. Eyes shifted to the called out man just a few steps away with entire gang in the garrison, supplies stockpiled roof high in rooms to easily allow for at least a week of the place being completely fortified without a single guy having to go out for a run. Everyone gathered, with everyone trying to get a piece of the verbal showdown, trying to cram into the place with their eyes shifting back and forth between their leader and the blonde.

"Your snarls will not get under my skin. I'm well aware of what you are, of your 'specialties' and while that limp greatly stifles you it won't help me when you're trained and I tell you to do something. But I'll gladly enlighten you on how I'll have you behaving yourself. Homemade, with found parts and a little tweaked to give it more bite. I don't think you compare to a dog when it comes to… 'persuasion'." Rais smirked and the gang chuckled, some with a ripple of laughter as it dangled from the man's fingers and Kyle snarled with Rais stepping closer enjoying as he tried to squirm away but stopped as the antizin was just a poke away from his skin. It was some old shined up shock training collar. Except it wouldn't give a little uncomfortable zip like for a pooch. Tahir grabbed Kyle's arms, from actual tending to his leg used from pain and the other pinned as well so their leader wouldn't be kicked with the antizin still threatened. The spikes rushed out, Kyle shoving back, Tahir's eyes widening and narrowing barely scrambling back still getting grazed as the two thugs at the kid's hurt knee smashed pipes into it the moment the blonde twitched causing Kyle to scream out botching the quick attack. Tahir immediately pinned the arms again ensuring to have the spikes face away from him and Rais over Kyle close to his face.

"Well this fucking will!" Without hesitation, Kyle swiftly bit his own lower lips, sucking the quickly pouring blood into his mouth and spitting it out into Rais' face turning having expected a spit from him. But not the sizzling burn as the spat on blood burned into the side of his face sending the cruel man stumbling back with a pained yell and snarling instinctively trying to wipe it off only burning the back of his hand a little. 'Shit didn't get his eyes.'

"Argh! Give me a mirror or something!" Rais bellowed, the blood done etching itself into the side of his face slowly a little down to his neck and by his ear. "You little…" Kyle screamed, the antizin injected crumbling to the floor and Rais stormed forward again kicking the already gasping boy in the gut before strapping on the collar and watching him struggle for life for a few seconds before given painful relief. Tahir yanked him up by the hair, propped up with the leg on the box again, drops of blood from his lip dribbling down onto his shirt. "Now, I'll be remembering that… I'll make sure to beat such disrespect out of you really fast. You could've hit my eyes… I don't like that Kyle…"

"I don't care what you like."

"You will soon enough. Just a fair… 'heads up' for you. I'm not the only one with a remote. Don't think if I have my back turned or Tahir or even us both that you can try anything. Kyle, you remember what it takes to join my gang right? Not that you get a choice like others but I see from what just transpired, a little… 'tradition'… will do you well. Bring out the prisoner." More chuckles and cheers went around, Karim having avoided being part of it with the others eager to see making it easy fighting a clearly disgusted from already feeling himself wanting to flinch when Kyle had screamed. He had already planned to let Crane know that Rais had his boy but that message Rais had beat him to it eager to brag to Crane about it. This wasn't like smuggling Crane's stuff back to him. He couldn't smuggle Kyle out, Rais would never allow it and the blonde would be watched constantly by more than one person. The only thing he could hope to do was sneak Kyle one of his things that had come with him or anything really at any opportunity to make it look like Kyle had managed to flee himself. Kyle instinctively jerked back almost getting pricked as some helpless ragged survivor with his hands with rope got shoved through the group and shoved down to his knees begging for his life. The man's begging turned into bone chilling screams, his blood dripping onto the floor as two thugs eagerly gouged his eyes out placed in Rais' hand, the gang leader turning around to see Kyle having turned his head away and shut his eyes. "You tear apart infected with monstrous capabilities and my men without hesitation or mercy but can't stomach a stranger losing his eyes?" Rais voice only grated on his nerves as the man still screamed and cried out with the gang member laughing at the soul in agony and the kid wondered if his ears would be ringing after all that, guilt already whispering into his heart that the man's demise was his fault. "Is there still battery left on the camera you found?"

"Yeah, boss."

"Record this moment, I wish to send Crane a… present."

"It's recording."

"You know what comes now, Kyle. Don't make this hard on yourself."

"Fuck you and your damn rituals."

"Why must you be that way Kyle… little Kyle… Honestly though I didn't expect anything else on your first day. So have it your way. You can let go of his arms Tahir. Keep him down." Rais stepped forward, the leg bashed again as Kyle instinctively tried to jump away and pinned by Rais himself leaning over with Kyle against a box, two thugs at his arms and Tahir right behind him. Kyle went for a spit again but Rais stepped back in time and Tahir pressed the remote with a smile, the thugs stepping away as Kyle dropped with a scream curling up on the floor.

"I'll hang out your corpse for all of Harran to see and watch volatiles feast on it." The blonde rasped with a snarl and glare trying not to cry. Tahir did it again, the man's agony mixing with the kid's scream gasping for breath after the shock pulled up by the hair by Tahir and sat up against a crate with Rais stepping on the leg again and two thugs at his arms.

"Listen to me well, Kyle. You are most use to me without 'disabilities'. But if I lose an eye so do you, or even get a single mark more on my face, I'll mark you right back and far worse than what you do to me. I'll torture you day and night, for days. Even if you managed to kill me that would not free you. Tahir will make sure to strip off your skin, piece by piece and just keep going until you're a pile of flesh for Crane to find. Don't make me go that far." Kyle didn't spit, partly because of Rais very real threat and because the blonde figured Rais would shove them down his throat the moment he did. But maybe he could make him give up on the 'initiation act' if it was too bothersome. Even a twitch remotely indicating kicking got punished with more weight on his leg consumed with burning pain. Kyle tried to squirm back and turn his head away as much as he could, Rais' eyes slowly narrowing in annoyance with the eyes almost knocked out of his hand. "Don't let him breathe Tahir." The cruel man's hand cut off Kyle's air trying to hold out, heart pounding as he could feel himself slipping and the urge inside screamed with the man still weeping with his eyes gouged out and the barbaric chanting around him. Tahir's hand left and Rais boot slammed into his gut right under his lung, Kyle gasping for a deep desperate breath unable to stop himself and Rais pounced on him immediately, Tahir yanking his head back on the hair. Kyle's cheeks streaked with tears as he felt the warmth and blood spreading in his mouth, desperate trying to spit them out but Tahir kept his mouth shut as Rais cooed for him to swallow, steady pressure on his leg that he wished would just finally go numb from all the torture suffered. A gut punch made him involuntarily bite, feeling the eye balls crushed in his mouth wanting to gag but stopped by Tahir's strong hand and growing too weak to physically fight back as his body was worn beyond exhaustion, too tired to keep putting coherent thoughts together, as the cold dagger in his heart settled in, the tidal wave of agony and burning pain crushing him. With tears and disgust, Kyle could feel bit by bit slipping down, his mouth rancid with the taste of blood as the men around him cheered gleefully, Tahir's hand not budging the slightest. Rais grinned watching a weak kick from his good leg, so weak it wasn't even near the kid's regular strength without the special extra, feisty attitude drained for now. Tahir kept his mouth shut a little longer even after being sure there was nothing to spit out anymore, certain Kyle would try throw it up. Rais immediately warned him against it as Tahir let go, Kyle allowed to drop on all fours whimpering in pain with tears dropping onto the floor screaming in frustration causing the guys around him to cheer again. "You must be tired and in quite the pain. But before you can put your shaking limbs for a rest, I have one more task for you. After that you can rest, I'm sure you're tired."

Kyle refused to move, Rais quick to grab him by the hair and yank him up and shove him forward sending him stumbling and falling on his knees to the man whimpering on the floor in a puddle of his own blood, bloody fleshy sockets left on the place of his eyes. The man screamed and wailed in pain, whimpering, begging for the pain to stop, repeating over and over again that he couldn't see despite it not changing anything. "He's in pain Kyle." The boy's green eyes wandered over to the knife slid to his hand from Rais. "You can't let that man suffer like this. Don't think he can be saved. We're in Harran. You know the misery of it, someone blind wouldn't last a second out there." Rais leaned down a little stepping closer forcing Kyle to look at the groveling man by his hair. "Look at him! Kill him Kyle!" Rais let go, halfway circling the shaking blonde, his booming sharp voice above the killing chant by his men. "I command you to! Put him out of his misery!"

"No!" Kyle screamed, hands balled into fists, jerking his head back as the man tried to reach out for him blindly begging for the pain to stop yet still begging for his life desperately as pain consumed him like fire. The chanting, Rais bellowing, the man's agony. It was suffocating. And loud. So fucking loud. His own heart pounded its own beat drum as everything felt like a insufferable weight caving in on him. It had to stop. All of it. the chanting, Rais, the man's cries.

"I'll drag out this man's suffering out past until the morning, you know I will Kyle! And you will watch every second of it! Kill him! End his suffering! Stop torturing him Kyle! Won't you help this man?!"

"Sh-shut-"

"Kill him!" Rais shoved the knife into Kyle's hand, grabbing it with his own so Kyle, reduced to a shivering yelling mess, couldn't let go and plunged the blade into the man's neck using Kyle's hand over and over again as Kyle cried out and the man's screams faded away. Rais stepped away again, the bloody blade clattering to the floor picked up by one of his men hollering along with the others in triumph as Kyle cried out unable to hide his pain. "You helped the man, you ended his suffering."

"Y-you stabbed him! Y-you gouged his eyes out, you fucking monster!"

"And you ate them."

"Y-you forced me to, I-I d-didn't-! I didn't…! I… hate you!"

"Some sleep will be good for you Kyle, you have long days ahead of you. Tahir, cuff him and put him to bed. Once you have learned where you belong you can have a proper bedroom Kyle. End the recording, tomorrow Crane will receive it." Too tired and exhausted down to the core, Kyle didn't try to fight Tahir shoving down onto a mattress on the floor with his wrists handcuffed. Rais watched with for a minute raising an eyebrow at the docile quiet behavior. "No remark about the accommodations?"

"You just want to gloat and I won't stroke your ego."

Rais' finger playfully hovered but didn't push down, the man turning away, Tahir sitting down on a keeping watch for bit with others.

Rais's hand closed around the gun, Kyle's stuff by Karim. It held memories, Kadir's brother had hated the modified weapon. Kyle on the other hand used the gun or to the man's knowledge, liked it at least enough to carry it around. A smirk played on his lips as he pondered how to use that fact against him, hurt him more than he already did.

Kyle tried to fight knowing he got watched and any move indicating escape would be punished but exhaustion won out slowly lulling him onto slumber with his eyes falling shut heavy with pain.

Crane slipped in, the volatile's breath felt in his neck as it scurried back with a screech from the UV light, the panting man met by Jade and Brecken with the woman giving him a look. "Why don't you just wear a shirt that says 'Kill me Rais!'" With a scoff, Jade turned around to go to back to bed.

"I figured maybe no one was up! Or just a few…" 'It worked before at the outpost…'

"Come on, let's get that bullet out of your shoulder…" Brecken offered with a sympathetic smile. "But Jade has a point. And if he keeps it that tight at night, it'll be worse at daytime."

"I know that! Sorry, I just… Every minute Kyle is over there that psycho is hurting him…"

"You're not the only angry one. We'll figure something out."

"Thanks Brecken."

"Family sticks together. You know, Rahim and Jade are like my own kids to me even though they are quite hard on my nerves. I'm not sure what I would've done if he wouldn't have survived back then. The tower owes a lot to both of you; you can count on everyone to be there to help."