Author Notes: Thanks for the review, Mirrored Soul! I really appreciate the advice and support. I've been working on this chapter for a while so I hope it turns out better than the last one!
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
Just like every other day, he arose from the stiff, half frozen bed. After ten years of miserable experiences, everything he did had turned into a mindless routine. He unconsciously walked over to gather his freezing clothes. It was true the Russian winters were bitter, but no one knew it more than Tala. The dank cells weren't updated with modern connivances, like heaters or comfortable beds. He gave the gloomy room one last look as he headed unconsciously headed out to the training center.
It may not be much, but right now it's all I have. In a way it's better than on the streets this time of year.
Like robots the rest of the students filed out of there identically depressing cells. Tala, along with the others, moved silently through the freezing hallway.
*Flashback*
His arm weighed over a hundred pounds and with the Beyblade shooter, it was well on its way to two hundred. His whole body was quivering with fear along with the mere three-pound Beyblade shooter he was clutching. But pulling through pain, he loaded his blade again knowing that the other option was far worse.
Through the loud clashes of high pace metal, a small voice was barely overheard.
"May I have a break, please?" Adam asked weakly.
"Breaks are the weak. But if you must take one, follow me." Boris stated.
Hesitantly Adam followed Boris, through the mysterious door. By this time all the beybattles had ceased to exist and if you listened hard enough you could hear the faint breathing of Adam.
"Back to the battles, you slacker!" Shouted Boris when he came within an inch of the door. The huge room was instantly filled with the sound of whirling Beyblades. With all the noise, everyone failed to hear the screams of pain coming from behind the door.
*End Flashback*
Ten years later that door still was the same. Signs of weakness were not tolerated. Rebellious boys weren't taken lightly. Behind that door was a world of punishment and pure torment.
As the bladers silently walked into the immense room a lean, dark figure approached them from across the room. His serious face turned into a smirk when he began to speak.
"Due to unfortunate actions taken, there will be no breaks today. Or for the next two months." Boris chuckled amusingly to himself, as if this was a joke to him. "You can also look forward to not eating more than bread and water for those two months. And you all can personally thank Tala and the rest of the Demolition Boys. Really, was it too hard for you to beat those pathetic excuses for beybladers?" Boris snickered.
"The four of you are coming with me for some special training. You put the entire abbey at shame with your pathetic excuse for beyblading. As for the rest of you, you'll continue working here, but if you should fail don't except to see that bread and water that was promised to you."
Boris silently led the four young teens down another icy cold hallway. The hallway appeared very familiar, but Tala couldn't place where the mysterious hallway led. Although he wasn't sure where the hallway led, Tala instantly started to get nervous. Inside he stomach began to churn at what the special training really was. Tala's mind paced back and forth recalling all the tortures Boris had thought up for him and the Demolition Boys.
*Flashback*
"You're obviously not ready for this level, but perhaps with a little special training you could get to it." Boris lectured the boy. Tala considered the special training a great honor. If Boris, himself, was willing help him become a better blader, then he must have the potential to become great.
"All you have to do is make it through my training sessions then you're blading is sure to improve. Of course if it doesn't, then we'll just come up with another idea." Boris chuckled about the secret joke had made. Not realizing what he was getting himself into, Tala willingly followed Boris down the chilly hallway. When the two reached the end of the hallway, Tala felt something inside his gut. Fear. Something inside Tala, told him not enter that room. But ignoring his instincts, Tala slowly turned the doorknob, a move he'd regret.
Twenty beyblades shot pass Tala, two barely missing his ear. Behind him Tala could hear Boris laughing, behind the protection of the metal door.
This was all a hoax. I can't believe I was so naïve! I must find a way out of here before they attack me again. The door…it's the only way out.
Knowing that Boris locked the door, Tala pulled out a shiny, metal blade. If I can't open the door, then I'll just break it down.
"Let it rip!" Tala shouted as his launched his blade toward the heavy metal door. The sound of blade scratching the metal door was enough to make a person deaf.
Tala felt the piercing pain long before the blade struck him in his back. Before he had time to react to the blow, another blade stabbed into his right leg. Tala let a scream fill the empty room. Soon more blades began charging for him. Each blade that assaulted the redhead, felt like a knife slashing open his pale skin. What shocked him even more was the crimson color he saw in a pool around himself. It sent a wave of nausea down to his stomach and caused him to loose sight of the blades for an instant. But all it took was an instant for a blade to strike him in the head, causing Tala to slip into unconsciousness.
It was dark. Tala couldn't see anything in front of him. But he could feel the cold. It penetrated his clothes and dug into his skin.
Where am I? Just a second ago I was getting pummeled by beyblades. Now…now I'm in some kind of forest. But there is no forest near the abbey, so where am I?
"Hello? Is anyone out there?" Shouted Tala at the top of his lungs. Ugh, I'm alone…
"Rrrgh." A low but fierce growl came from behind Tala. Frozen with fear of what the animal could be, Tala remained silent. The animal's breathing was getting closer toward him and if he didn't do something soon, he'd be dinner. Tala began to inch his way slowly away from the animal.
Uh? Where'd the beast go? I can't hear its' breathing or its' movement.
Without warning an enormous creature jumped out from behind the bush and lunged itself at Tala. The surprising swipe knocked Tala to the ground. Above Tala's face now loomed a fuming bear, more than five times his size!
This is it! Death has caught up with me and now I am doomed. I'm going to die out here in this merciless forest. No one will find me.
The bear raised its powerful paw up to deliver the final blow to Tala, when Tala heard a howl not a foot away.
That sound. It resembles a wolf's howl.
The gigantic threat retreated away from his prey as the wolf carefully walked toward the injured Tala. Still half-dazed from the bear's hit, Tala stumbled toward his magnificent rescuer. Having little strength left, Tala managed to hold out his hand to thank his savoir.
"You're such an stunning wolf. You're brave and strong. Nothing compares to you're skills." Tala whispered as he stroked the wolf's soft fur.
"If only I were more like you. Boris wouldn't put me through all that hell." He confided. As if in response the wolf gently nuzzled him.
"A noble rescuer needs a noble name, I suppose. So how does Roklen sound?" The wolf pawed at the ground in disagreement. "Alright, Roklen isn't such a good name. Well, let me see. Wait! Wolborg. How does that sound?" The wolf eagerly jumped up with delight over its' new name. But the blissful occasion didn't last long, for Wolborg heard a noise in the distant and dashed off.
"Wait! Wolborg stop! Don't leave!" But Tala's cries were in vain, for the wolf was already out of sight. "Oh…I'm alone…again." Tala sighed hopelessly.
Tala awoke to the sound of shouting. It resembled the voice of one of his friends, Spencer, who was nine just two years older than him. The other voice belonged to Boris. But it wasn't the sound of shouting and Spencer's screams that made Tala start shaking and sweating. It was the dream about the wolf…about Wolborg.
It was a dream, but it felt so real. But what did it all mean?
*End Flashback*
The horrible pain and realization of what was waited for his teammates and himself beyond that door had flooded his mind with memories. Once again he knew what was awaiting him, but wouldn't listen to his instinct.
