Cammy was running down a hall. It seemed to go on forever. Cammy stopped and looked to her left and right. It looked as if there were mirrors on either side of her, reflecting and re-reflecting each other's images for eternity. But for some reason she knew she had to keep running. And she did. Suddenly she heard voices and saw deep blue eyes. The blue began to envelop her. She began to scream…
Cammy's eyes snapped open, looking around franticly. Just a dream. Slowly she began to remember. The two guards, running, overpowering Vega, then the man, the one with the blue eyes. She would never forget them for they were the reason she was trapped again. Trapped again. She was sitting strait up in a metal chair, hands shackled behind her back; feet shackled to either chair legs; in the same cell as before. Her body hadn't changed since the last time she examined it. Still tight and hard, dangerous even. She never in a million years though she would have the strength to throw Vega. It felt so natural when she did it. Like it was the thousandth time she had, really being the first. She smiled upon remembering the look on his face as he flew through the air, no mask to protect his 'precious' face. She hoped she had crushed it, knowing she hadn't. A voice rose behind her, Vega's voice.
"Have your little laugh now, because it's time to pay."
Cammy held her breath waiting for the blow to come, but she wasn't going to show fear. Even though she was going to pay for it now, she was glad she tried to escape. It's what her father would have done. Vega traced his finger along her back and shoulders until he was in front of her, finger on her chin.
"My sweet Camilla, I again underestimated you. I thought you had no spirit left. You certainly proved me wrong. However, spirit cannot help you now. It will only prolong your pain. Just remember that. On the matter of you attempting to harm me, purposely or inadvertently, you will pay."
Vega slapped Cammy hard on the left cheek. She felt blood run from the stitches that were on the brink of breaking now. Show no fear. Cammy forced her face to show no expression, forced it to be blank, no matter how much he tried to hurt her, to make her cry out, she would not. And hurt her he did. With loud cries of anger, hatred, love and pleasure, Vega delivered blow after blow to her face and body. Cammy tensed her muscles against the shackles but they wouldn't budge. Even with her new strength. After a few moments and a few more blows, Vega stopped and spoke to her again.
"Soon, very soon, you will be mine. You will beg me to touch you like this, to hurt you. You will pray for it each night."
Vega ran his hand against her bloodied and bruised face and into her tangled mass of hair. He used her hair to pull her face towards his. Cammy gritted her teeth in pain. Vega spoke sensually, his lips almost touching hers.
"Nothing can stop it. It is only a matter of time. A very short time."
Ken sat devouring his meal while he thought. After going into the room last night everything was quiet, but he had gotten a bad feeling. Like in the hospital before. He had gone to the door to leave and found that it truly was locked. This place is so strange. They tell all the men they can do whatever they want, break any laws. But then their doors are locked. Looking to his left and right, Ken took note of guards at each door to the eating area. The other men seemed oblivious to this. Then Ken saw Julian enter through the door to his left, past one of the guards. Ken had been wondering about him because he had not come in with the other recruits. He looked exhausted, troubled even, but put on a smile when he noticed Ken. Under his right eye there was a huge welt accompanied by a dark purple bruise. Julian continued towards Ken as he spoke.
"What you doing sitting all alone?"
Julian sat down and began picking food off Ken's tray.
"Waiting for you. Where were you?"
That was only half true. Ken was waiting for Julian, but he also didn't want to have to converse with these men, he couldn't trust them.
"Oh, I just slept a little late. You know it takes the apocalypse to wake me up in the morning."
Julian sounded nervous, and Ken was becoming suspicious. They had come barging in his room to wake him up, why wouldn't they do the same for Julian.
"What happened to your eye?"
"What? This? Oh that's nothing man, just ran into a little trouble on the way to my room."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Like I said nothing, just drop it."
"It can't be nothing if you got a black eye like that. I saw you fight yesterday; I know it would take a lot to land a punch that square. I want to know who was able to take down Mr. Shadowlaw."
Ken was trying to sound casual, but it wasn't working, or at least Julian wasn't falling for it.
"Don't say shit like that. I'm not Mr. Shadowlaw. Just fucking drop it!"
Julian stood and began to walk away from the table, Ken followed.
"Wait! Julian!"
Ken was able to catch him in the hall.
"What's the big deal? What happened to you?"
"It's nothing! I'm just not very proud of myself alright!"
"Why? What happened? Who hit you?"
Julian looked at the floor. And quietly, so only Ken could hear, spoke.
"Some chick."
Ken couldn't hide his surprise or interest.
"Was she a recruit? What'd she look like? What was she doing?—"
"What's with all the questions? I told you who did it now leave me alone. She was just some crazy blonde chick!"
Cammy? Ken was silent. He chose his next words very carefully.
"Julian. What was she doing?"
"I don't know! She was freaking out. Running and pushing all kinds of people out of the way. I stopped her, Vega yelled for me to, and she started screaming. Some doctors came and gave her an injection and that was it."
"And she hit you."
"Yeah, in the struggle."
"Struggle?"
Julian began to yell.
"Yeah you heard me, she was fighting me. Fighting the bad guy. Don't you see? That's what we are now, the bad guys. She begged me Ken. She begged for my help."
Julian grabbed his head as he let his body slide down the wall and onto the floor. He was in agony. Was it Cammy? Ken kneeled down next to Julian.
"Julian, this is really important. Besides being blonde, what do you remember about her?"
"Everything."
"Tell me."
"She looked beaten up, her hair was in tangles. Her face had a scratch on it, left cheek I think. But I really remember her eyes. They were green, so green, and scared. Ken, she was scared. Of me."
Ken didn't hear anything else Julian said. Cammy was here. She was in trouble. He had to help her.
"Cammy."
"What?"
"It's her."
"Who? The chick? You know her?"
Ken looked into Julian's blue eyes and that's all it took. In that moment Ken told Julian everything he needed to know.
"Your girl. That's why you're here. Oh God, and I helped them."
"It's not over. We can still help. You just have to take me where you last saw her. That's all I need. You don't have to risk yourself."
Both men stood, determination on their faces.
"I'll take you there. I'll help you get her back. I have to make up for all the wrong I've done."
"VEGA!"
Bison yelled and within seconds Vega appeared.
"Yes master, what is it?"
Bison threw a file at him; Vega caught it.
"What is this?"
"It's the check on your men."
"Julian Marquez, age 20, mother Lillian Marquez, father deceased. He's wanted for murder. How is this unusual? The majority of the men here are wanted for crimes."
"No you imbecile. The other one, Masters."
"He is in it for the money. No family to worry about."
Bison gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes.
"Of course that's what he told you. Read the dammed file!"
"Kenneth Masters, age 19…mother Deborah Masters, father Kyle Masters. Kyle Masters? Isn't he?"
"Yes. A multi-millionaire."
"Then why would the son of a multi-millionaire need money?"
"You idiot! He doesn't need money. He has been planted here. You find him before he does any damage and bring him to me. I cannot have any interference! It will be your head if there is any."
"Yes Master Bison."
Vega hurriedly left to find the recruit Ken. He knew something wasn't right, but had been to distracted by Camilla to take full notice. Now I have to clean up the mess. But this kind of cleaning is fun.