Author's Note: Hi guys. Sorry for the delay. I'm travelling abroad and had a bit of trouble getting this one up. Please enjoy!

Chapter 9

Parado woke with a throbbing head and very sore throat. He couldn't even tell if the pain was external or internal. If he hadn't been conscious enough to realise he was still alive, he was confident he would have thought someone had broken his neck. He rubbed his throat. Or tried to. A clang and dull pressure notified him that his wrists were chained to something. Not good. If there was any kind of game Parado didn't like, it was an escape one. Being confined was something Parado would never be comfortable with. Being locked inside Emu for so many years still gave Parado a cold feeling. He suppressed a shiver and tried to orientate himself. His head and sore neck made it difficult. Every move he made had the room spinning and left him feeling like someone was trying to hang him.

He was in a small room that appeared to have few notable features. One wooden cabinet in the corner. Nothing on it. No draws open for him to see what was inside. Smooth walls covered in a horrid light green paint. A strange black door along the wall furthest from him. No windows. A sprung single bed underneath him. The sheets were white but had not been used to cover him. He lay atop, hands and feet chained to the bed posts, completely exposed. Parado pulled on the chains.

He really didn't like this.

Think. How could he get out of here? This was just another game. Just another challenge. He was the master of games. He could win.

The cabinet was surely a distraction. Too obvious. It was likely there was no key but there should be another way to open the door. His first task was to get out of the chains. He was not a magician. It was unlikely he would be able to wriggle out of them. But no challenge was beyond him. There would be another way. Perhaps a way to pick the locks? Or a way to trick someone into opening them? He pulled the chains again and raised an eyebrow. Or a slightly loose cuff. The cuff on his left arm was not completely locked in. It was not loose enough that he could get free instantly but perhaps with enough stress and vibration, he would be able to open it.

He began alternating between rattling the cuff and pulling on it. It came slightly looser. He grinned. This would work. He would catch up with Emu soon.

A sound outside alerted him to another presence and he painfully twisted his neck so he could clearly see the door.

The unknown Rider walked through, still in full gear. He stopped and looked down, scanning Parado up and down. Parado shifted uncomfortably.

The Rider's transformation suddenly dissipated, making Parado twitch in surprise, for beneath was an older woman with a stiff expression and short hair. The clothes she wore reminded him of Enigma and the belt she wore was completely foreign to him. She did not take off the belt.

"Where are the others?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Parado opened his mouth for a retort, felt his damaged throat muscles tighten and rethought his tactics. He shook his head.

"Who made the Portal?" she asked.

Parado shook his head again.

"Where does the portal go?"

Parado shook his head.

"What is your relationship with the pink one?"

Parado met her eyes and tightened his mouth.

She turned away from him and moved to the wooden cabinet. Her coat blocked his view as she opened the draw, although he strained to see. When she made no move to return, he carefully cleared his throat.

"Who….Who are…you?" he rasped, wincing as he spoke.

She did not turn and he heard no answer.

"What…do you want with my…friends?" he asked, a little louder.

She still did not turn.

"Where did you get…the belt?"

She turned: with a needle and vial in her hands.

Not good.

"What do you…want with me?" he asked.

She advanced and he struggled against his bonds.

"Get away!" he tried to yell. Even he was embarrassed by how feeble the sound actually came out.

She activated her belt with a swipe of her hand. Her transformation was quick and soundless. Not much like the ones he was used to. He glared at her.

"What are you…going to do?" he asked, still straining against the chains.

"Where are your friends?" she asked, voice once again distorted beyond recognition.

Parado stopped still and looked away from her.

There was silence. Then pain. He twisted back to find her pulling the syringe out of his shoulder.

"What…was that?!" He did his best to yell. The effect was less than impressive.

She returned to the cabinet.

"What did you…do?" Parado asked, although the words seemed slurred for some reason.

She turned and the room darkened with her movement.

Parado tried to ask again but his tongue was suddenly very heavy. He tried to move, to do anything, but even his awareness of pain was fading.

This couldn't be it. Not game over. Not without Emu. Not on his own...Not-