A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
Walter Winchell
Warnings: References to rape, nothing extremely graphic though.
Another month of horror slipped by. Any thoughts of escape, hope in being rescued by his comrades had disappeared from his mind. Aku was there every day to remind him. Jack hated to agree with the demon but surly he would have been saved by now if someone were searching for him. Aku was there every day to gloat over him. Taunting Jack about his weakening body, mind, and spirit. The demon antagonized the poor samurai over his failure, shaming himself and his pathetic people. The guilt of his demise was gnawing a hole inside. This mental anguish, combined with the sessions, made life extremely difficult to bear.
Another month of terror slipped by. The sessions had temporarily ceased. Aku had grown weary and decided it was time for a different approach to split Jack apart. Every day a new torture was set up for the samurai. He was tied down, lashed, bitten, and burned by any method Aku saw fit with instruments varying from knives all the way to heated prongs. When the demon had his fill he finally turned Jack over to his servants who also found innovative methods to torture him. It was a living nightmare that he constantly lived through hour after hour with every day that slowly passed. On several occasions he was beaten so terribly that he was taken to the brink of death but, as usual, the demon always brought him back. Pouring more of the life giving brew down his throat and then starting the torment all over.
Another month of hell slipped by. Much to Jack's dismay the sessions had begun once again and far worse then before. Aku was relentlessly taking him, attempting to force the samurai into sheer madness. But Jack always managed to keep himself calm and collected though it felt as if his insides were being turned to mush, and he was certain most of them were from the force of each invasion. He would be surprised if anything inside his body had alluded damage at the hands of the demon. With each fleeting day it grew harder and harder for Jack to maintain his stamina. The pain was becoming intolerable and the never-ending smell of the coppery liquid leaking from his backside was driving him insane. It finally broke Jack's mind, spirit, and body.
There came a time when no more screams of agony cursed through his lips. There came a time when he stopped struggling in Aku's iron grip. All he would do now was lay there silently, eyes glazed and staring blankly in the distance. The feeling of his ravaged body was becoming a numb sensation. Tears still rolled down his cheeks, gently splattering onto the floor, but his face was void of emotion. Overhead Aku roared in triumph.
"So it has finally happened samurai," Aku bellowed. "After only six months I have succeeded in breaking you! Tell me, warrior, do you dare to disagree?"
Jack made no effort to move, to speak.
"It is true then," Aku laughed. "I have finally defeated Samurai Jack! A great day indeed for my victory! It shall be announced all over the world and the pathetic inhabitants shall see your blank, unfeeling stare! Oh, how much it will scare them to see you so. No one will dare to oppose me after this!" Tears welded in his eyes. "Humph, it appears as if you still have some fight left but no matter. It should be easy enough to tear away from you." He trailed his claw over Jack's bruised cheek, eliciting a groan of disproval but the samurai made no effort to bat the finger away. "Yes, far too much spirit left. You will learn to make noises only when I command you to. Now, I will leave for a short period for I grow tired of looking at your miserable face. Enjoy your peace while you still can. It will be very short."
Jack continued to star blankly into the walls as Aku vanished, quietly pondering what the demon had said. Did it truly mean that he was broken just because he refused to speak or show emotion? Perhaps. He felt so empty inside, as if everything had been drained of him. It was true though. The last three months had sapped so much out his body.
The numbness in his rear was fading and the sharp pain was starting to return, making him focus entirely on that. The silence was shattered, the chamber echoing in his broken cries, his deranged curses, and his weeping fits. He hated himself. Hated the way he had allowed this to happen. There was no one else to blame. He viewed himself idiotic for entering the Village of Shadydale. If only he had listened to his gut instinct, like any smart person would do, he would never have been placed in this predicament. He could have been still continuing with his quest. Ah, the quest. Nothing but a failed dream now.
Although he had crushed down to practically nothing, the samurai rose to his hands and crawled toward the ledge. The demon's eyes weren't watching him for once and he was going to take advantage in the situation. He couldn't live this way any longer. What was the point in living? The world he fought to protect wasn't returning the favor and if the world didn't want him to be a part of it, then so be it. He made his choice. Death was the only way out.
However, the samurai was forced to still his body when dozens of minions ran by the gateway. A whole army seemed to pass and the hallways echoed with sharp commands. He didn't care to know what was happening. He began to move again.
Reaching the ledge he peaked over to gaze into the wide abyss. It was a long way down to the dark depths but Jack make out the ground below. The plunge would kill him, no doubt in his mind. Quickly, without hesitation, he pushed himself over and waited for the feel of descent. Just as he went over a hand wrapped around his ankle and hauled him over. He yelled in despair and waited for the punishment but it never came. Opening his eyes he gasped in shock, a very faint smile widening his features.
"Ack, you ought to be more careful there samurai," the Scotsman chirped. "You could have fallen over the ledge to your death."
Jack rubbed his eyes. "Is---is this a dream? You cannot be real." He slumped back into the ground, the momentary joy dissipating. "I am only having a dream. In a few more minutes I will awake to Aku's nightmare."
"Now, now, I can't have you lyin' on the ground like that!" the Scotsman ordered. "Up with you! There isn't much time to dawdle in this forsaken place! I must admit, though, it was a miracle that I found you. I've spent about two hours wandering around this castle with Aku's minions right on my tail. I nearly gave up when I heard your voice coming from this chamber. Good thing you spoke up laddie or I would have left you behind!"
Jack cringed, cursing at himself for making such a racket. If only he had kept his mouth shut then he could have found peace in the depth bellow.
"Boy you're a real mess," the Scotsman continued, grimacing at the sight of Jack.
The warrior was riddled with black and blue marks along his pale face. Scabbed cuts were covering his arms and legs and the Scotsman could only wonder what injuries were hidden under the torn robe.
"I'll help you get out here," the Scotsman assured. "There's a whole group stationed in a discrete location awaiting your arrival. The medic team will take care of your wounds. I just hope nothin' has become infected."
"But how did you find me and enter this place?" Jack inquired.
"Never mind that," the Scotsman replied. "Explanations can be saved for later. I want to get out of here and meet the rest of the team before Aku spots us. There's a decoy unit currently distractin' him but I doubt that will last for long."
The Scotsman helped Jack to his feet, placed the warrior's arm over his shoulder, and began to walk toward the gateway. Although Jack could hear the man speaking the voice grew faint. Was he all right? Was he finally safe? He didn't think so. If in fact this was his liberation from hell, he didn't know if he could ever function properly again in the outside world. How could he, after what had befallen him? So what was the point in trying to escape? What was the point in carrying so much shame and disgust for himself when he could easily end it?
Everything in the chamber was spinning and Jack stumbled forward, nearly crashing into the ground, but strong arms caught him. He wished the Scotsman didn't have to see him like this. He wished he wasn't fainting in the Scotsman's arms, only proving how weak and pitiful he truly was. He wished he were dead. But he knew better then to pray for that. Death was a grace that he doubted ever knowing, especially laying there like a rag doll in the bulky arms of the Scotsman.
"Don't drift off on me now samurai," he heard the Scotsman say. "I'd prefer if you were awake and alert so I wouldn't have to carry you. No offense intended, friend, but you're a bit heavy even for me and we still have a long way till we reach the exit."
"So tired," Jack mumbled. "So much pain. Can barely walk."
"Where are you hurt Jack?" the Scotsman asked. He placed Jack on his feet and held the samurai by the shoulder so he wouldn't topple over. "Perhaps I should have a quick peak eh? I carry some herbs so I may be able to relieve some of the pain."
The robe was partially lifted, much to Jack's dismay, to reveal crusted blood on the samurai's thighs. There came a long, eerie pause that made tears form in Jack's eyes. The Scotsman had found the source of the oozing blood and was staring in shock. A cold wind blew over his bare buttocks.
"I--I don't believe this," the Scotsman muttered. "Jack---I---."
The man was unable to finish, still in alarm from the dreadful sight. He lowered the robe and stared into samurai's pained eyes.
"Please I do not wish to talk about it," Jack squeaked, choking back a sob.
"Aku---did this to you?" The Scotsman asked. Realization came over him and he shifted uncomfortably at the notion. The sight of his friend's reaction wounded Jack even further and him began to crumple to the ground. "I think we need to get you back to the shelter where someone with more experience in medicine can help you. I'm afraid this is beyond my skill."
"Please, just leave me here," Jack wept. "Let me die in peace."
"Ack, you're delusional," the Scotsman replied. "Here, I'll give you a lift. We shouldn't linger here for too long."
"Leave me alone!" Jack snapped.
"Listen, you're in pain, you're not thinkin' clearly!" the Scotsman pleaded. "Cooperate with me! I only want to help you and I won't be able to do so if Aku pops his head up, which could be at any moment!"
Jack staggered toward the Scotsman. "If you want to help me so badly then let me drop over the ledge. Let me die!"
"I don't know what took place down here but obviously it's made you plum crazy," the Scotsman growled. "Now, I will be gettin' you out of this place whether you decide to cooperate or not."
The Scotsman made to grab Jack but the samurai, using his last reserves of strength, leapt into the air and kicked the man aside. Falling to the ground Jack scrambled to reach the abyss but the Scotsman was a lot faster then he perceived. The man was upon him, pulling him into the air kicking and screaming.
"What's your problem?!" the Scotsman snarled. "Have you forgotten that I'm one of your friends?! I'm not the enemy! Stop fightin' me!"
"If you were a friend you would have never abandoned me to this torment!" Jack shot back. His chest rose in sobs and he mumbled incoherent words.
Hurt and anger clouded over the Scotsman face. "I'm sorry you were trapped here for so long but there were over two hundred places to search and we didn't know where to start! You're lucky we found you in this amount of time! It could have been much longer!" He calmed his voice. "Do you realize how hard it is to search for someone with limited resources and recruits? There are a lot of people in the world who don't care of your fate, Jack, but there are a few who do. I, along with several other groups, had no intentions of ever abandoning you. True friends would never turn their backs on each other, no matter how dire the threat becomes." Shame came over Jack but the Scotsman did his best to soothe it away. "There, there, friend. Everything will be set right again."
Jack sobbed as the man carried him out the gateway, taking him back into the cold world. The idea of things returning to normal seemed ridiculous. He didn't want this. Once more, he struggled vainly against the Scotsman hold, causing confusion to spread into his friend. All he wanted was to die. But they wouldn't allow him that, his so-called friends. They were too stubborn to understand the torment his soul had suffered.
To be continued.....