Heya! This is the chapter where many things happen (including where Kai melts) *sniggers*

Well, enjoy! And remember to REVIEW! ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade and never will . . . unless . . . *ahem* sorry.

CHAPTER 5: THE BEAST WITHIN

Haley blinked, trying to figure out if it was just her imagination.

It couldn't possibly move . . . could it? Boris had told her earlier that the creatures were in suspended animation and even if they were to somehow get out of the goo that suspends them, their physical bodies would burst because of the mutation and the physical state they were in.

Haley shook her head and scolded herself for being so foolish. She had nothing to worry about after all, and even if it does manage to somehow escape its confinement it would just die. Plain and simple! She crept around the creature with confidence and even dared to put her palms up against the tank, feeling the coolness of the glass as well as the warmth of the creature's energy. She almost felt as if she could communicate with the creature somehow.

Help me . . .

Haley gasped and quickly took her hand away. This time she was sure that it was the creature that spoke because she had felt the vibrations running through her open palms. She took several steps back and kept her distance.

"What do you want?" Haley demanded boldly even as her heart was racing and a dozen images of her being torn apart by the beast flooded through her mind.

I only wish to be freed . . .

"But you can't!" Haley screamed back, on the edge of one of her tantrums. "And even if I do let you go you'd die."

I'd rather perish than work for such evil . . .

Haley stood in silence, not sure of what to say. Half of her mind questioned the entire conversation and the other half was thinking about what to do.

If you free me, I will be yours to command . . .

That bit struck a chord in her. The power of such a spirit was extremely tempting; such power was what the abbey had always taught her to find. It was not a proposal she could turn her back on.

Haley nodded and walked towards the controls for the tank, head completely clouded by the hunger for power. She fiddled with the controls blindly, hoping to somehow accomplish her task by pure luck. She looked up at the tank to see if there were any changes and discovered that the blue aura was starting to glow brighter, there were bubbles in the liquid where there were none before, and there was a definite rise in temperature in the room. Underneath her shaking fingers the control panel was starting to shake.

Then everything happened all at once.

The liquid in the tank grew even brighter until it was a blinding tube of light. The red emergency lights in the lab blazed as the alarm was triggered. Haley covered her eyes from the light and for a brief moment heard the glass tube crack before it completely shattered, raining sharp bits everywhere. But Haley didn't notice the pain from the glass, in fact she lost all thought as she caught a glimpse of the beast in spirit form before itself, too, was blown apart.

The last thing she remembered, as her surroundings grew dark was a flash of light, a rushing sound, and something entering her limp body before she hit the floor.

~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~

***

"Any good ideas?" asked Rei as he looked at their choice of passage options, wishing that he had a map at a time like this. "If we don't take the right one, we might be stuck in here for days."

"Days?" Tyson started to panic and looked around him wildly. "NOT days! I mean how are we going to get food?" he started to chew anxiously on his thumbnail.

"Oh, Tyson, is that all you ever think about?" said Kenny sitting on the ground and lifting up the lid of his laptop. "Well don't worry guys, Dizzi's coming to the rescue."

The screen came to life, greeting Kenny with the usual display of data grid and a wave line.

"Hi Dizzi, do you have any ideas?" asked Kenny quickly

"Hey, slow down cowboy! Remember, I was still asleep when you guys got yourselves into such a jam." Said Dizzi in her normal sarcastic tone.

"Well, take a look now." Said Kenny impatiently as he glared at the screen. (if we could see his eyes)

"Fine! Be that way!" sniffed Dizzi as she prepared to work her magic. "Searching area files."

"Well, I guess we might as well sit and save energy while Dizzi finds the right passage." Said Max sitting down beside Kenny.

***

Haley ran her fingers through her hair and sighed, seeming very weary. Kai was looking wide-eyed at her; he was in total amazement and struck speechless wondering how the little girl he used to know could possibly be the host to such a weird thing.

"The next thing I saw was the health wing, and Boris standing over me. He said that Draco, the bit-beast, was blown apart and a chunk of its essence got absorbed into my body." Haley's eyes started to well up. "He screamed and I think he would have killed me if my body didn't hold the only existing DNA sample of Draco. That's why they put that tattoo on me, because they wanted me attached to a leash so that when they have the technology to drain partial humans, they would suck that bit outta me and clone it." she looked at Kai who sat across from her. "I'm just like a jar, only there because I hold more important things."

Kai didn't know what to say. It seemed like the great and fearless veil that Haley had put on herself slipped off and was once again left with the fragile and insecure little girl that he once knew. Before he could stop himself, Kai had stood up and walked over to her, putting his arms around her in a slight but caring embrace.

Haley closed her eyes as tears fell and leaned her head against his shoulder. She had also missed him in a way that he provided the shoulder to cry on.

"I missed you Kai . . ." she whispered into his blue hair softly. Kai didn't say anything in response but she could feel the slightest nod that he gave. That was enough for her and she knew she couldn't ask for anymore than that.

"Aww . . . how sweet." Drawled a voice from the open doorway. Both Haley and Kai let go and turned in alarm. Boris stood at the doorway, his usual smirk on his face. "Now, Haley, we can't have you softening our star blader with such foolish words." His thin cruel smile stretched wider. "Also, visiting time's up! Please come with me Haley."

Haley looked over at Boris, and it seemed that he was hiding something. This must be the catch, she thought to herself. She took one look at Kai before standing up and walking over to Boris obediently. She stood behind of him for a moment to throw an 'I'm all right' look at the boy before exiting the room completely.

"Kai, I suggest that you prepare yourself for the match tomorrow and forget everything that that girl told you." Said Boris stiffly before he exited the room as well.

Kai crashed against the couch that Haley was sitting on as he heard the dull clunk of the door when it closed. He wondered about Boris's last words. Was he listening?

***

"Okay, Dizzi says to turn right here . . ." said Kenny as team Bladebreakers ran along the corridors.

"Hey STOP!!!" cried Tyson as he stopped in his tracks. "Does anyone know where we're heading?"

"We're trying to find Kai remember?" said Max with a smile

"Yeah, but we don't even know what room he's in, so we're basically running around blind!" Said Tyson waving his arms around in frustration, looking rather like a hummingbird.

"Shhh . . . Tyson, pipe down." Whispered Rei fiercely. He stood a little away from the rest of the group near the mouth of a corridor, peeking around the corner and listening carefully. "I think someone's coming. We gotta go somewhere else."

"You know Rei, it's not like there's anywhere to hide." Said Tyson with his arms crossed.

"Wait! According to Dizzi there's a small crawlspace over there that they use for storage. Maybe we can hid in there." said Kenny as he folded up the laptop and stood up, pointing to another corridor that looked a lot smaller than the ones they've been through so far.

Rei quickly whipped around and headed for the small space followed closely by everyone else. In the next passage they heard the deep voices of two men as they approached. The team held their breaths as the voices grew louder.

"You know I actually feel kind of sorry for the girl." Said one guard to the other.

"Yeah . . ." laughed the other coldly. "She's not going to expect this at all."

The guards slowly walked by the hiding spot without noticing the teenagers. When their voices could no longer be heard, the boys walked out of there in a single file.

"What do you suppose they were talking about guys?" asked Tyson blankly as he stared down the hall where the guards went.

"Whoever it is Tyson, I have a feeling they're going to be in a lot of trouble." Said Max, pity showing in his blue eyes.

***

"Where are we going Boris?" asked Haley in total annoyance as she and the tall man walked down the hall.

"Oh you'll see . . ." Boris chuckled darkly.

Haley shuddered, what he said and the way he said it gave her the creeps. Whatever it was it didn't sound too good for her. "Just spit it out."

Boris simply laughed.

They turned several times into different hallways until they arrived in a small one that Haley has never seen before. A single lamp on the ceiling lighted the small alcove and even then it was still very dark. There was something painted on the heavy metal door that Haley couldn't quite make out but the outline of it looked strangely familiar. She narrowed her eyes and the design slowly came into focus as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She caught her breath. It was her tattoo, except magnified several hundred times.

Boris took out a crafty key from his inside pocket and unlocked the door. The sudden clank as the tumblers fell into place echoed in the small space and gave Haley goosebumps.

She couldn't take the suspense anymore and decided to just turn around and leave. Haley backed away from Boris but instead colliding into something else. She looked up to see two guards standing behind her, both their eyes shadowed by their large hoods. Haley turned back to Boris and demanded to know what was going on.

"It's time Haley." He signaled the two guards behind her and she felt both her arms being gripped tightly. Haley struggled but it didn't help. She watched Boris helplessly as he took out a bottle of chloroform and a white handkerchief. He dabbed some of the liquid onto the cloth and advanced upon Haley.

She struggled even harder although she knew it was useless. She fought against her restraints until the cloth covered her nose and mouth.

Then everything was black.

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Ohhhhhh . . . what happens to her is coming up next chapter! (although u might already know what's coming) ^.^

Well, you know da drill! REVIEW!!!!!!! ^_^