Chapter 7 Torture

"Nami! Nami!" a voice called to her.

She awoke with a start, sitting up right, breathing heavily, her face broken into sweat. She looked around. I'm back on the Going Merry?

"Nami!" a voice squeeled in pure delight.

She turned her head.

"I'm so glad your all right!" said Sanji's grinning face as he wiped tears and snot onto his sleeve.

"You sure gave us scare." Zoro, who was also in the room along with all the other pirates, said wiping his forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Chopper asked.

"I'm fine, thanks," she answered with a nod, "but what happened?"

"Well," Zoro began, "It seems Luffy-"

"Luffy?" she interupted, looking around, "Where is Luffy!"

"He saved you." Chopper answered looking up at her from the side of the bed,

"But he wasn't able to save himself." Sanji added.

She gasped then yelled, "Why didn't you save him?"

"We wanted to but between fighting snake pirates and having the ship blown to pieces we really didn't get a chance to." Zoro replied. "And after we got rid of all those pirates we had to fall back, the ship couldn't afford any more damage."

She was afraid to ask, "W-where is Luffy now?"

There was a silence then Zoro answered, "The merman captured him."

Nami gasped. "What? Where are they?"

"They probably made it to Coco Village already." Sanji answered.

She got on her knees, "We have to save him!"

"Don't worry," Zoro said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "We will."

Nami gripped her blankets tightly. Not again! Not again!

Luffy's head hung heavily, it swayed a little as he began to come to.

"Oooooh..." he groaned.

His eyes slowly opened partually and became aware of his surroundings. He was in a small room. There wasn't much to it. It was cold and damp. There was a small light, he guessed there a small window behind him. Then he realized he was in the room he had found Nami in.

He tried to move forward only to find his hands were shackled to the wall behind him. He also discovered his ankles were shackled as well. He strained to break free but it hurt him so he stopped. His still half way open eyes looked around, there was a door in front of him, it looked like a dungeon door. He struggled a little again but soon after stopped. He hurt worse than before, he ached everywhere.

Even though this all majerly sucked, he was surprised he was even alive! He had been beat up pretty badly and after all, Arlong did want to kill him. What was this all about?

"Good morning!" Arlong said opening the door.

The pirate Captain hung his head.

"And how was your night?" he asked squating down in front of the pirate.

Luffy lifted his head and spat at him.

The merman growled and wiped his face. He back handed the pirate then said, "I suppose your wondering why I let you live."

Luffy lowered his head and shook it.

Arlong sneered, "Well I'll tell you anyway," he snorted, "Seeing how you let my little Nami get away, I thought if I wanted to get her back I'd have to leave you alive so she could come and rescue you!"

You couldn't see it since his head was hanging but the pirate was clearly growling.

"And then when she gets here I'm going to kill you and make her my slave!"

Luffy's head flew forward biting Arlong in the face. The merman screamed in surprise then ripped Luffy's mouth off of his face.

The two glared at each other for a moment both growling and grinding their teeth.

"I'll never let you hurt Nami!" he shouted at him. "Never!"

Then Luffy gasped. There they were again! Shark eyes! Before Arlong did anything Luffy wacked Arlong in the head with a powerful headbutt knocking him down.

The merman sat up. "You'll pay for that!" he hissed.

He kicked the pirate captain in the stomach then punched him five times in the face.

The merman stood, glaring down at him, smiling in truimph.

Luffy's body flinched.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you!" Arlong taunted.

The pirate Captain glared up at him hatefully, "Same here!"

Arlong laughed, "And what do you think you're going to do?"

His voice was cold and distant "I'm going to kill you! That's what I'm going to do!" he replied.

He glared. "Not likely, kid!" the merman smiled, "More like the other way around." he laughed.

He didn't laugh long because the next second Luffy bit his ankle. The merman cried out and shook him off. He kicked him then stepped back. "Don't worry," he said opening the door to leave. "I'll make sure Nami has a front row seat as she watches you die! HAHAHAHAHA!" he left.

Luffy hung his head.

Everyone had left the room except Chopper of course, who had to make sure Nami was okay.

Why on earth did he save me? He practicaly gave his life for me! But why? I don't deserve his help.. Why Luffy? Why?

"I sure hope we can find Luffy in time." Chopper said, handing Nami a glass of water.

She took a sip then sighed. "Yeah, I hope Arlong hasn't done anything to him."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that, Luffy's strong, he can take whatever that guy throws at him."

Nami looked at him concerned and confused, "Then what were you talking about?"

"His infection." he answered as he finished his checkup.

"His infection?" Nami repeated, as she set the glass down.

"Yeah! I figured out what I can use to treat it! I just hope nothing has already happened." the reindeer cocked his head to one side, "You didn't know about it?"

Her eyes widened, "No!" she pounded her fist down against the bed. "Why didn't he tell me!"

He shrugged, "Maybe he didn't want you to worry."

She put a hand against her face. All this time he had an infection and he didn't tell me? But why? She glanced out the window. I sure hope he's all right..

She looked back at the reindeer, afraid to ask, "W-what can happen to him?"

Luffy's arm was beginning to throb with pain. He swung his head sickly. Man, I feel dizzy.. He looked up at door, his vision of it swayed. He hung his head. I feel sick..He shook his head hard, then looked up with determination in his eyes. No! I can't feel sick! I have to get out of here!

He looked around for any possible way of escape. There was nothing he could use to free himself. The only things in the room was a window and a door... The door!

Luffy stretched his neck out and grabbed the handle with his teeth. He tried to turn it.

"Come on!" he said through his teeth, "Open!"

When it didn't work he let go. He tried again only this time he used his neck. Luffy stretched his neck forward and wrapped it around the door a couple times.

He coughed, "I'm choking!" he said in a raspy voice.

Then he thought about it. Luffy, you moron! It's probably locked!

Suddenly footsteps could be heard. He tried to yank his neck back, but found he couldn't. I'm stuck!

The door flung open smashing Luffy's face into the wall.

"Just thought I'd!- AAARGH!"

Arlong went flying head first into the wall in front of him, as he tripped over Luffy's neck when he walked in.

The door shut behind him. Luffy saw him and laughed.

"You think that's funny, huh?" The merman growled.

Luffy unraveled his neck putting it back in place.

"If you think that's funny you'll think this is hilarous!"

The pirate screamed as his throat slit.

Arlong smiled. "You're lucky! That's just a little scratch! Any more and you'd already be dead!"

Luffy eyes looked up at him, he growled dangerously.

"You think you can- OOF!"

With the use of Luffy's head as a battering ram, Arlong's body smashed against the door.

Scratches sliced at the pirate. He refused to scream again for Arlongs pleasure, so he held it in, the only thing that got out was a short grunt.

"Don't mess with me, kid!" Arlong warned him, "I'm surprised you're not dead already, but I can kill you any time I want!"

Luffy chuckled, "You can never kill me!"

Arlong bended his head down, "And why is that?"

One eye could be seen as he looked up, "Because you're nothing!"

"SHUT UP!" the merman yelled smacking him knocking off his hat.

"HEY!" the pirate captain shouted.

Arlong grinned, "You like that?" He stepped on it.

Luffy struggled. "STOP THAT!"

"I know you'll like this!" he smashed it with the back of his heel.

"STOP IT!" he struggled even harder now."STOP IT!"

Arlong could hear the bolts starting to break out of the wall, even when it seemed he was at his weakess point Luffy seemed to have suddenly grown up to his strongest in just a minute. The merman knew he shouldn't play around with that anymore. To stop him he scratched him even more. When Luffy continued to struggle Arlong punched him. Finally Luffy stopped. He hung his head.

Arlong knelt down bringing a knife to Luffy's throat. "I should just kill you right now!"

Luffy eyed the weapon nervously.

Arlong smiled. He rested the blade against Luffy's shoulder and started cutting down slowly. Luffy tried to hold back, but he couldn't and he screamed.

"Their here!" one of the pirates shouted.

Luffy lifted his head and gasped.

Arlong lowered the knife and stood "I'll be right up!" the merman shouted back.

Arlong bent down beside the pirate and grabbed his face. "You know what?" he sneered, looking Luffy directly in the eyes, "You're the one who's nothing." he wipped his face out of his hand then left.

The door slammed.

Luffy ground his teeth, he looked down, "Jerk..."

Then suddenly something happened, something strange and painful. His chest started to hurt, it felt like fire shut up in his bones! Then he heard something. Ta-thump ta-thump ta-thump. He could hear his heart beat! But why was it so loud? It started to speed up. Ta-ta-thump! Ta-ta-thump! Ta-ta-thump!

The front of his body began to shake. Suddenly a horrible and extreme pain developed in his chest. It felt like someone was stabbing his chest and trying to rip his heart out! But even though his chest hurt immencly his arm hurt worse. He screamed as the entire pain became worse. His body shook violenty, as it began to worsen. Then suddenly, it stopped. His heart beat slowed down then was steady and grew quieter. Then it was gone.

He breathed heavily. What's happening to me?

For Nami it was good to be home but she had no time to waste! Every second was crucial in saving Luffy's life!

When the Going Merry was moared, the Straw Hat Crew hurried out of the ship and into Coco Village.

Nojiko was the first one to greet them.

"Nami!" Nami's sister shouted running up to them. "It's terrible! Arlong's alive!"

The Navigator sighed. "I know."

"What are we going to do?" her sister questioned panic stricken "He's demanding our immediate surrender!" Nojiko added. "And he's got a whole new crew!"

"I know," Nami said again.

"Where is he?" Zoro asked.

"He's staying in his ship!" Nojiko answered.

Nami looked at her unsure, "We didn't see any ships at the dock."

"He's not docking there." Nojiko explained. "He docked somewhere else so you wouldn't find him."

"Show us where!" The pirate girl urged.

She took them there. When they could see it from a distance they hid behind some bushes. They peeked out.

"There!" Nojiko said, pointing.

Nami nodded, "Thanks."

"By the way," her sister began, "Where's Luffy?"

Nami looked down then at the ship.

Nojiko gasped, "Oh, Nami, I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok," she assured her, looking off at the distant ship, "We'll save him."

Or will they?