8. Everything Hurts and I'm Dying
Back from the Dead
Kalin stared off into the distance. It was still night, they were still trapped, and he was still trying to calm Radley down after what Sayer had put him through. That was easier said than done when all Kalin wanted to do was explode with rage. But that was what Sayer wanted, of course, so Kalin was fighting back the urge and focusing on caring for his devastated friend. Radley was laying across Kalin's lap now, staring off into the distance. Kalin was gently stroking his hair, trying to soothe him with the comforting motions and trying to calm himself as well. Radley had stopped shaking sometime back, so progress had definitely been made even though there was still more to go.
All had been silent since Radley's sobs had ceased. Kalin really didn't know what to say to comfort him, so he was waiting for Radley to be ready to talk. There was plenty of time for his thoughts to wander. Over the course of . . . however long this had been, Kalin had thought about Sayer's cruelty, all they knew about him, and so many painful memories from the past. He thought about why Radley was deathly afraid of electricity . . . of how the guards in Malcolm's mine had overloaded the shock collar again and again until his body had just given out . . . of how Radley had only been in that situation because Kalin and Yusei had abandoned him.
Kalin's thoughts wandered to his own past, to the terrible mental state he had been in during that time and why. His sorrow and grief over the sins he had committed against Yusei, against Jack and Crow, against the whole world . . . had led to him committing more sins in his quest to atone. Radley had died because of him. He was terrified of electricity because of him.
They were in this horrible situation with Sayer because of him.
Kalin still didn't know why he had been brought back to life. He certainly didn't deserve it. But he had tried to use his second chance to make good ever since getting his mind clear, and being with Radley and his other loved ones gave his life purpose and meaning. He would not let Sayer take that away. He would do whatever he had to in order to keep them safe.
"Kalin . . . ?"
It was such a relief to finally hear Radley's voice.
"Are you feeling any better?" Kalin asked with hope.
Radley drew a shaking breath. "Yeah. I'm sorry I fell apart like that. I played right into Sayer's hands, but . . . I couldn't . . . I just couldn't deal with it."
"I know. He knew too." Kalin's eyes were dark. To restrain Radley in the corner and threaten repeatedly to electrocute him until he sank to his knees in a complete sobbing mess had rendered Sayer utterly unforgivable in Kalin's mind, if he hadn't been to that point already.
Radley knelt up and looked back sadly at his friend. "I thought . . . I hoped I was over all of that, but he just crumbled me like a cookie."
"He played on one of your worst fears," Kalin growled. "It's not something anyone could easily get over. It's a brutal way to die."
Radley's shoulders slumped. "I should still be stronger than to still be affected by it."
"It's not weakness!" Kalin gripped Radley's shoulder. When he felt Radley tense under the sudden grasp, he loosened his hold. "Radley, you're afraid and you're probably suffering from PTSD. And I have no doubt whatsoever that Sayer would have really shocked you if I hadn't done what he wanted and forced him away with my powers." He looked away. "I was so helpless. . . . He deliberately set it up that way, that the only way to rescue you was to tap into my powers. I'll never forgive him."
"Doesn't he even realize that by making you use your powers more, he's making you more of a danger to him?" Radley snorted.
"He's arrogant and overconfident," Kalin said. "He thinks he has the upper hand, that he's more powerful than me, but he's wrong. He's creating a monster, and when that monster is powerful enough, he's going to pay for it."
Worry flashed through Radley's eyes. "Kalin, you know the last thing I want is for you to give in to the darkness because of me," he said.
"I won't lose myself," Kalin insisted. "I've been down that road too much already. But . . . as long as Sayer is forcing me to do this, I'm going to do what I can to turn it to my and your advantage. There's a difference between our abilities. You said it yourself, he only cares about himself. My powers . . . the reason why I'm fighting, is for you, for both of us to get out of here and go home. And that's more powerful than his selfishness."
Radley gave a wan smile. "I believe that too, but I'm still worried he has more tricks up his sleeves. This guy . . . he is seriously dangerous. I'm sure we only know the tip of the iceberg about him."
"Do you know anything else?" Kalin asked. "You seem to know more than I do."
"I just know what I read in the paper when they did that article on the Arcadia Movement and Akiza and Misty and others came forward to speak out about him," Radley said. He sighed sadly. "Misty is still looking for her brother's body. I wonder if Sayer even knows what was done with the victims who weren't good enough for him."
"I doubt it," Kalin growled. "If he did, he probably doesn't remember. He wouldn't think that was information worth keeping."
"Probably." Radley nervously looked around. "So . . . what are we going to do?"
"I'd like to just force our way out of here," Kalin said. "Even though I know it's not likely to work, it's better than just sitting and waiting for Sayer to come back."
"Yeah, no kidding." Radley pushed himself up. "Well, I'm all for it if you wanna try."
Kalin got up too. "The problem is, I might bring the building down on our heads," he growled. "I'll have to try using the door."
"Maybe you could use your powers to force the doorknob off?" Radley suggested.
"Maybe." Kalin went over to it and grasped, trying with all his might to focus. But no matter how he tried, nothing happened. The doorknob remained stubbornly locked. Kalin jerked his hand back, his eyes filled with utter aggravation and helplessness.
Radley sighed. "Hey, it's okay, Kalin. Your powers came out when we really needed them. That's the most important thing."
"If I had better control over them in the first place, Sayer couldn't have used you against me!" Kalin snarled in frustration and discouragement.
"I don't blame you, Bro," Radley said.
"I blame myself," Kalin retorted. "The only reason I have these powers is because I welcomed them in as a Dark Signer. Even if I didn't want to hurt anyone until the darkness warped me, that's still the case. The powers linger on as a reminder of my selfishness and cruelty."
Radley sighed again. He never knew how to counter that. He had wondered if Kalin was supposed to conquer the powers, not give in to them, but he couldn't deny those powers had saved him.
Kalin went to the side of the door. "We'll have to wait for Sayer to come back in and try to ambush him," he decided.
"I'm sure he'll be ready for something like that," Radley sighed.
"Maybe, but we still have to try," Kalin said. "My powers aren't cooperating, so a regular attack is all we have left."
Radley couldn't counter that either. Kalin was right.
They waited for what seemed an eternity before the doorknob started to turn and Sayer started to step into the room. Both prisoners leaped him from either side of the doorway, shoving him inside and then running into the hall before he could get up. Radley pulled the door shut and locked it, but he looked worried instead of triumphant.
"That was too easy," he said.
"You're right," Sayer called from the other side of the door. "You won't find a way out of this compound. And if you do, you still won't be able to get home before I catch up with you!"
"By the time you catch up with us, I'll be ready for you," Kalin vowed. "You're right I can't control my powers to come whenever I want them. But they'll come out when I'm angry enough. That will happen if you try to stop us."
"You're a walking timebomb in that condition!" Sayer insisted.
"Maybe so, but you're the last person I want trying to help me figure this problem out," Kalin retorted. "You almost killed my friend. I won't forgive that."
"I frankly don't care whether you do or not," Sayer said. "Just be warned that I am not the only danger in this place."
"Booby traps?" Radley said in annoyance. "I can't say it's a surprise, but I expected something not nearly so cliché."
"No, not booby traps." Sayer sounded sickeningly delighted, which only served to enrage his prisoners all the more. "This is one of the most haunted locations in the City. The restless spirits of the dead walk among us."
Kalin scowled. "I'm not afraid of a few ghosts."
"It's more than just a few," Sayer sneered. "And with all their eyes trained on you, you may end up afraid after all."
". . . Why are there so many?" Radley warily asked.
"This was one of the Arcadia Movement's facilities," Sayer proclaimed. "Those who weren't good enough were . . . disposed of here. I can feel their psychic energy, weak though it was in life. In death at least some of them have become more powerful, like poltergeists."
"I haven't felt anything up to now," Kalin retorted.
"They're all around you," Sayer said eerily. "They'll come out if you try to leave."
"Why would they care?" Radley frowned. "Is this one of those 'the dead want the living to join them' kind of things? That's also cliché. If anything, I would think the dead would want you to join them, not us."
"I can repel them because of my psychic abilities," Sayer said. "You two won't be so lucky."
"Being attacked is what would likely bring my powers out," Kalin retorted. "I'm not afraid of restless spirits. Especially not ones who were tortured by you."
Something cold pricked the back of Radley's neck and he stiffened, moving closer to Kalin. He might not be as terrified of the prospect as Biff would be, but he couldn't say the idea of being ganged up on by angry spirits thrilled him either.
"Go ahead and try to get out," Sayer said. "They won't let you. I can promise you that."
Kalin growled and grabbed Radley's wrist. "Let's go."
Radley was more than willing. He walked with Kalin to the end of the hall, tensing as a purple mist began to rise from the floor. "They're coming," he said low.
"They shouldn't want to do what Sayer wants them to do," Kalin snorted. "They died because of his twisted mind! If they're still following him even now, they're all pathetic."
"Not that I don't agree, but I don't think they're listening to you," Radley said. He gripped Kalin's arm a little tighter.
The mist was starting to creep up and encircle them both. Kalin held Radley to shield him, glowering into the shapeless fog. "Sayer wants to hurt us," he said. "He already got rid of all of you. Why are you willing to be his attack dogs even now?"
There was no response.
When the mist kept climbing, Radley couldn't take it anymore. He pulled Kalin down the hall as he tried to get away. "There has to be a window or an outside door somewhere!" he cried.
"You'd think so, but there's not," Kalin said in frustration. "All the rooms are blocked off, probably to push his victims to show their powers!"
What felt like icy fingers grabbed at both of them now. Radley was beginning to panic inwardly, but outwardly he just clutched Kalin and kept running.
The sudden stairs were a surprise to both of them. With shocked cries they fell and began to tumble over and over each other and the steps until crashing in a dazed heap at the bottom. The spirits swirled around them, finally beginning to take shape. When neither man moved, the phantoms drew closer, ever closer.
"Your place is with us. Come with us!"
One of them reached through Radley's back, trying to pull his spirit out of his body. Another grabbed for Kalin in the same way.
Radley's eyes snapped open, fear and fury mixing in his visage. "In the name of God, leave us alone!" he cried.
The spirits shrieked, but backed up to the other side of the room and lingered there, warily watching the two men.
Radley gripped Kalin's shoulder, all the while staying on guard to make sure they didn't come forward again. "Kalin?! Kalin, can you hear me?"
Kalin groaned, rolling onto his back. "Radley . . ."
Radley perked up in relief. "Kalin, are you alright?! We took quite a spill."
"I've been through worse," Kalin grunted.
"We both have," Radley said wryly. "Here, I'll help you up. We need to get out of here now." He pushed himself to his feet and reached for Kalin's hands.
Kalin let Radley take hold and pull him up. "Where's the ghosts?"
"They're still here, watching us," Radley said. He kept a firm arm around Kalin's back as he led his friend back to the stairs.
Kalin looked over his shoulder to see for himself. "Why aren't they attacking us?"
"They tried," Radley said. "I don't know. . . . I guess threatening them with God's wrath made them think twice?" He grimaced. "I'd really hear it from my grandma. Only priests are supposed to try to perform exorcisms in the Catholic religion. But I just got them repelled, not thrown out altogether, so . . ." He sighed and shook his head. "I had to do something. . . ."
"She doesn't have to know," Kalin said. "We're safe from whatever they were going to do, and I'm grateful. I couldn't care less whether you technically weren't supposed to do it."
Radley smiled a bit. "Thanks."
They made it back to the top of the stairs and looked around the corridor. There was still the original problem. How were they going to get out?
Kalin finally heaved a sigh. "There has to be an exit somewhere. Let's keep looking."
Radley nodded, also sighing. There was pretty much nothing else they could do.
"We can try this way," he said, indicating a path they hadn't tried.
"Fine. Let's." Kalin started in that direction, bringing Radley with him.
Radley went agreeably, looking all around for any trace of their enemies. Not finding them was not a comfort. He may have stalled some ghosts, but he was sure there were others. They would have to be careful.
". . . I wonder if the others know we're missing by now," he said.
"If they do, they'll be panicking and tearing everything apart looking," Kalin said.
"Unless . . . what if Sayer hurt all of them?" Radley couldn't keep the worry out of his voice.
"Then Sayer will have to answer to me," Kalin said darkly. A small purple wave rolled off his body.
Radley's brow furrowed in his concern. Kalin was always furious when loved ones were hurt, but his anger didn't always bring his powers out. Why now? Was Sayer's continual pushing causing Kalin's powers to become unstable? Or . . . could something about this place be amplifying them? It was something he would have to watch for carefully either way.
