April 4, 2019 – 07:20
Klaus wakes up dazed and confused. Where is he? What happened? He blinks but does not recognize the scene before him. Bulky, concrete pillars tower above against a backdrop of dull, gray walls. High windows with the panes removed let in sunlight. From his angle, he cannot see where the sun is in the sky. The place is massive in terms of width and height. He moves slightly and realizes he is laying on his back. He can feel the cold concrete on his bare skin and the way his hands are numb from laying atop them. He rolls onto his left side to free then when pain radiates through his broken body. The illusion of being in a numb, muted state of being shatters. Klaus cries out and scrunches himself up into the fetal position. The new pose fails to improve his situation. Footsteps echo behind him, and he gets a kick to his back.
"Shut it. We need to talk."
He whimpers and tries to make himself smaller. Memories of when he was last conscious flood his brain. Klaus's breathing quickens. He was so close. He had gotten out. He had escaped. He thought she was dead. But now here he is back again. Back with her. Back to pain and torture. He will never be released. Not after that last stunt. No. He will be stuck with her forever. Until death. And then after if he comes back again. Forever her prisoner. A constant circle of torment. He cannot do what she asks. He does not know how. It has all been an accident so far. And even if he knew, he would still be doomed. No. No. No. He is cursed to live in this misery. No one will find him. No one has even tried; he is sure now. Why didn't he listen to Ben and move more quickly, act more quickly? Cha-Cha's voice breaks his thoughts.
"So, you have been lying to me this whole time?" She shouts in his face.
He moans through a wave of sharp pain and ignores her.
"Answer me!" Cha-Cha commands and follows up with a kick.
"No." He gets out between a pant.
"That's not what it looks like to me. You have been wasting my time."
She scoffs and turns away to pace the room.
"I think you require a different incentive; Something else to motivate you." She steps briefly on his right shoulder, pushing Klaus into the hard ground. He gasps and wriggles under the pressure on his injuries.
"Clearly, no one is looking for you. While you were on that little escapade, I was out looking for the rest of your family. And you know what I found?" She pauses, as if waiting for an answer. Receiving none, she continues. "I saw them in a cafe, looking to be enjoying themselves. Laughing and chattering. Having a great time. Without you. I think you were right you know. That first day we talked. You said you were useless. I didn't believe you at first, but I think you may have been right. I have seen first-hand how incompetent you are, and it looks like your siblings felt the same way. They must be glad I took you off their hands."
"She's lying." Ben hisses into Klaus's ear.
Klaus flinches. He had been too out of it to notice much of what was going on around him. He can barely see Cha-Cha standing before him through the haze of tears and pain. Maybe he has brain damage. Ben did always say it will happen to him. He does not think kidnapping and being held hostage for days is quite what Ben meant though. But is it true about his family? How does Ben know? As far as Klaus can remember, Ben had not left his side. On the other hand, Cha-Cha had the chance to tour around the city before catching up to Klaus, seeing as she is alive, and he is bound. What if she did find them. He knows he is not a favorite. Entertainment, sure, but a valuable member of the team he is not. Getting a rise out of people is something Klaus is an expert at, however.
"You are lying," Klaus says.
Cha-Cha's face turns dangerous.
"Why don't we collect some proof."
Klaus doesn't like her tone and the look on Ben's face says the same.
.·.0.·.
Klaus feels lightheaded when he wakes up. His throat is raw. He is still on the ground, legs stretched out instead of close to his chest. He feels a pull on his neck and notices the dog tags are pooled on the ground by the side of his face. Everything hurts, hurts, hurts. The room around him spins and he can see a figure nearby. Ben? The silhouette looks familiar. He wants to talk to Ben but cannot figure out how. He does not remember much about how he passed out in the first place. Just searing pain that would not end. He passes out again.
.·.0.·.
Klaus wakes up clearer this time. Less light seems to be shining through the windows above. He flitches at the pain that returns with each awakening. The slight movement is enough to summon Cha-Cha, who walks over and proceeds to kick him in the ribs, right into a long, enflamed, raised scab he did not remember having. He yelps and tries to make himself smaller. Cha-Cha moves away and starts speaking.
"Since you don't believe me, I'm going to send them a message." Cha-Cha shakes a package in her hand. The contents rattle. "I've got a letter detailing where you can be found and a little gift from you. If they really care about finding you, all they will have to do is follow the coordinates. Mark my words, they do not care about you. They will not come. Be good while I deliver this." She chucks a full water bottle in his direction and walks the other way.
