Twisted Hearts
Chapter 4: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
A/N: Okay this is a disturbing chapter so you've been warned, a lot of slashy talk…I'm trying to capture a sadistic spirit so just – gimme a break if it flunks!
"What should we watch out for?" Blake asked as he held the tinderbox and mats for Theo. "Is there much security?"
Theo nodded. "Yes a great deal more – our sensei was paranoid…with reason I suppose, many ninjas wanted our secrets. Thought, Movement and Phase – all sought after and never retrieved. Now…" Theo set out the candles on the small table and he and Blak laid out the square mats. "I have to open the gateway onto the Astral Plane and that requires everyone to meditate"
"Don't hold your breath for Dustin" Blake smiled.
"He's come along in that respect…further then most do in two classes" Teho admitted. The others walked in. "Take a seat" he said as he finished laying the mats out in a circle. He sit into the middle and put four candles down around him, then he put a gem between each.
"It's been a while since I opened a portal onto the Astral Plane so…stick with me" Theo smiled.
"You have our full support" Tori said. "Just – no prying into my brain"
"yes heaven forbid I should ever discover that Tori likes the song "Me Against the Music", Hunter has a stuffed chicken called Baron Von Cluck-Cluck, Blake has a Riverdance DVD under his mattress, Dustin has a recurring and very intimate dream concerning Carmen Elektra…and six cheerleaders, Cam likes to line dance, Shane eats marmalade and ketchup on wholegrain toast every morning…and if you're wondering: I have a tattoo of the Superman logo very low on my hip"
Everyone stared at him.
"Sorry – but I can't help it if I pick up people's thoughts when they sleep in the rooms here, close range while sleeping trumps all good intentions" he shrugged.
Everyone sat down…there was silence…then Tori laughed and it spread to everyone in the room. Even Sensei who gave little giggle.
"The worlds bend and time is broken/ The mind dreams and its words are spoken/ Echoing wishes and hopeful cries/ Open the gates to where all psyche lies/ Open the void and reveal the way/ tread to a valley of neither night nor day"
The wind sprang up and the rangers gasped as they were dragged into a rift high above them.
"The rangers have gone to the Astral Plane" Diabolique said, her half-masked face was expressionless unless she moved her eyebrows. "They're after the other map"
"Then stop them – what do I pay you for?" Lothor scoffed.
"Simple answer: You don't pay me…my union rep will discuss that with you later" she disappeared in a flash of black and purple smoke and light.
"She's a good worker but needs an attitude adjustment"
Diabolique murmured the words over the box. "Violent spirits bring terror and fear…move your asses and get out here!"
The flash of light burst from the box in the porch of the academy and four glowing energy trails streaked out. "That's right you sense him… smell him…want him…so go get him…" she laughed.
"The mist forests are dangerous if you forget where you are – they spit out illusions and make you see things you don't want to or that you desperately do. If you follow them and get lost I'll have to go looking for you – and if I don't find you fast enough…you die" Theo held the candle (it had a black and white flame dancing on top). The others held the same golden-wax candles on bronze sticks that shone with their respective colors.
The forest of black bare trees was cloaked in mist and shadows darted around in it, each step brought the rangers deeper and deeper into a place they didn't understand. Only the boy in the strange black and white leather ninja suit did… and he was definitely not happy here.
Theo was just ahead of the other rangers. He gasped. "Get away" he said in a monotone. "You're not real…go away, back to hell" three figures in white trimmed black outfits stood there.
The first was short and stocky, built like a tank, his tightly cut hair and broad muscled frame were like precision sculpting.
The second was lean and toned under his outfit, he had wavy brown hair that was combed only a little
The third was tall and thin, very pale with long black hair that fell across his pale eyes.
"What makes you think we're illusions little toy" the tall one said
"Do you still taste like honey?" whispered the long haired one
"I bet he still cries" laughed the stocky one
"Hey it's okay they're illusions" Dustin said confidently, patting Theo's shoulder. Theo's eyes had started to tear…he was breathing slowly – carefully.
"W-w-what?"
Dustin strode over and poked one.
"You're not supposed to be able to see them" Theo gasped. The tall one grabbed Dustin's wrist and the long haired boy kicked him back so that the short one could use a leaping kick to knocked Dustin back.
Theo looked to each of the ninja's in turn.
"Tom" he said to the short one. "Reilly" he choked out to the middle one. "Finn" his voice was a terrified whisper…he was trembling and pale. He stepped backwards. "No…no you can't be here"
"We got parole from captivity" Finn sneered
"Theo what's happening?" Tori asked.
"They're…here…" whimpered the Astral ninja as the classmates approached.
Finn lunged at Tori. The blue ninja swung but her fist passed right through the boy, she swung around and was kicked in the face so hard she flipped into the air before crashing down after two full spins off the ground.
Reilly blocked Blake's punches and double kicked the Thunder ninja away. He swung his body into the air and brought a kick down on Blake, slamming him into a tree.
Tom avoided Shane's slash and slammed a palm into his chest, Shane attacked again and his leg passed through the ninja who grinned and performed a spin punch – hard, in the chest, hurling him into a bush.
Finn weaved past Cam's strike, phasing through Cam and spinning into the air for a helicopter kick that caught Cam in the back of the head and knocked him down.
Reilly blocked the punch from Hunter. He twisted and phased through the attack. He pulled close and twisted Hunter's arm across his chest. "You smell just like Theo…you and him been going at it? Hot and Heavy?"
"Leave my brother the fuck outta this"
"Mmmmm…. Incest is the best" purred Reilly. "I'm guessing twins…maybe me, you and him can have fun a little later?"
Hunter twisted free and kicked furiously, Reilly became intangible and savagely punched Hunter in the face, knocking him down.
Dustin and Tom circled. Dustin spun and kicked, his foot went through Tom. Tom's eyes glowed white and he laughed. "You're so afraid of him" he sneered. "It's all in your brain…that little twitch in your dick you tried to forget"
Dustin stayed quiet, he punched but Tom caught his fist and dragged him close, weaving a muscular arm around the boy's chest. "In case you're wondering, he tastes like honey, is as flexible as a rubber band…and is always nice and tight"
Dustin paled and swung an elbow. Tom caught the arm. "He's great at giving head too and he can make you go for hours…I should know I made him learn… every time…he learned…he cried but he secretly wanted it…we always made him want it to some point – we used our thoughts and made him want it coz he was hot and weak and so pure no matter what we did or made him do"
Dustin gave a cry and kicked out. Tom phased through Dustin and grabbed the boy's collar smashing his face into a tree. As Dustin tried to stay conscious he heard Tom's voice: "If you want when we'll let you watch then maybe…maybe you can have him, taste his sweet mouth…before we kill him for good."
Dustin collapsed.
Theo scrabbled backwards, he couldn't function…everything hurt.
"Come on – let's have fun like we used to" Finn whispered. "Just us…"
Theo's eyes glowed white and a glow settled on Hunter. The twin sat up with the others in time to see the trio close in on the terrified Theo…and drag him away.
"No!" Hunter exclaimed, falling forwards on his knees.
"Sensei – we got him" Theo fell to his knees before the man. The Sensei was Maori, his bulging muscles were prominent under his robe. He was relatively young but his glowing silver eyes affected the boys before him, as they grew closer their eyes glowed more. "He's ours again"
The Astral Sensei dragged the boy to standing position
"Yes…he is…well what a joy I've missed his body, his cute stomach, his strong legs and how they wrap around, and his mouth…the soft lips…the taste" he traced a hand up Theo's inner thigh and touched his lips.
"His soft hands…like velvet" Reilly hissed as he leaned in trailing his hands over Theo's arms.
"And his hair, you can grab and pull at it, drag his head however you like and listen to him moan" Tom chuckled as he firmly gripped the blonde locks and tugged it back.
"His cute little ass" whispered Finn. "We all missed that…" he cupped it firmly. "Like the sound of his voice…when he pleads and begs…whatever we want him to say but it's always sad, humiliated, submissive and scared…because of us"
"And most of all I missed his eyes" The Astral Sensei said. "Those beautiful eyes…wide and teary…as he can't fight me…as he submits to my superior mind and body" he leaned in and forced his tongue into Theo's mouth. The other boys smiled and leaned into each other, three pink tongues meeting with lips and teeth close to Theo's face.
The tear snaked down his cheek…
"We have to find him" Hunter said. "We have to find him!" the panic in his voice made Cam want to hold him, hug him and tell him it would be okay. Possibly kiss all the words of fear away – but not in front of the others.
"Why don't you try and find him?" Blake said. "You've done it a few times, when you go looking for him…you just figure out where he is somehow"
"Twin psychic bonds" nodded Tori. "It'd make sense since he's psychic"
Hunter nodded. He just cleared his mind, aware that Cam was standing nearby but was holding his hand in spirit… he shivered, he still felt that jolt of fear from Theo just before he'd been taken.
He remembered the message: If you get there too late I want you to kill me
Hunter gasped, he knew where to go. "Come one – Ninja speed!" leaping away the six youths sped through the shadowy mists.
Theo fought his body, telling it not to unbutton the jacket of his ninja clothes. The Astral Sensei was standing nearby, the three boys were tangled nearby, undressing each other as they lay against the pillows of an alcove.
"yes….slowly Theodore…slowly…" he whispered, his glowing eyes projecting thoughts into Theo's mind. The Astral Sensei undid the sash around his waste and unbuckled his clothing at the neck. He slipped it off to reveal his naked body, toned and tattooed. "Now…what shall we do?"
Theo was choking back tears, he wouldn't cry, he wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction…if only he could act, if he could think and make his body react…the kiss made him want to vomit, with the three boys there was a dead element mixed with mimicry of what the Sensei kissed with.
Posession and obsession, taunting laughter, the taste of domination and spite…
The explosion racked the bedroom. The Sensei turned around, commanding even when naked. "Go and see what happened, I'll be with you momentarily…" the boys pulled on their clothes again, disappointed, each one kissed the Sensei as they left and vanished down the hallway.
The Astral Sensei put his robe back on. "I'll return in a moment" he smiled.
"Where's my brother?" Hunter snarled.
They stood in the main hall of the Astral academy which was perched on a mountain high above the forest of mists. "He's around" Finn leered.
"If you've hurt him-" Dustin snapped.
"Oh let me guess? You'll try to hurt us?" sneered Reilly.
"Please – we're too strong for that, you don't understand how to fight us" Tom scoffed. They moved in ninja speed and encircled the ninjas. The black bursts of telekinesis hurled the wind, thunder and samurai rangers up into the air.
"Well done boys" the Sensei said.
Reilly grabbed a handful of Hunters hair and dragged him up. "This one says he's Theo's twin"
"Then we'll have to make him feel welcome like we did Theo" the Sensei shrugged. "After some mental rehabilitation of course…" his eyes glowed and the rangers were grasped by psychic talons.
They screamed as more pain then they'd ever believed possible pumped into their every braincell.
"No…I won't…" Theo said. He heard the screams. "Not when I have to make amends!" The silver flashed away in his eyes and he sprang from the bed.
The Sensei's strike of thoughts faltered. "What was that?" he murmured. "I can no longer sense Theo…boys he might be free"
"No might be about it" Theo said as he descended the steps behind the Sensei. "I don't know why – but when you started to torture them I suddenly go really, really, really pissed off"
"Bend to my will Theo" hissed the Sensei.
"Let me see - NO" Theo smiled. The Sensei unleashed a psychic wave at the boy who's eyes glowed white and deflected the sivler energy.
"You'll be submissive to me!" the Sensei hit the boy with a psychic blast and knocked him down, pinning him with thoughts, taking the power he'd been ramming into the intruders and forcing it on Theo.
"No" whispered Theo…he stood up, fighting the pain. "Not now…not then…NOT EVER AGAIN" the waves of silver light shot back into The Sensei and forced him to his knees. Theo extended a hand and hit him with waves of black light. He glanced at the trio of glowing eyed ninjas. There was a flash and they were bathed in auras of white light.
"They can't phase anymore" he said with complete nonchalance.
Reilly turned around – Hunter flip kicked him into the air and then gave Cam a boost of speed. The Samurai flipped and slammed his feet down onto Reilly.
Blake leapt at Finn, rolling along the ground and lashing both feet out into his torso, he flew backwards and was caught by Tori who used a Judo flip on his outstretched arms to slam him into a wall
Tom punched at Shane, who leapt into the air and delivered multiple furious kicks to his body before delivering a spin that sent the Astral ninja flying along the ground. Dustin spun through the air and slammed his leg down on the man's chest.
The Sensei staggered, his eyes were flickering. "You'll break!" he roared and unleashed a psychic energy blast at Theo…the boys nose started to bleed but he stood up and cracked his back.
"No – you will" he blasted his Sensei with telekinetic waves hurling the man into the air before a black glow surrounded him and smashed him down into the wooden floor. "That's the end of you"
The Sensei collapsed.
Finn, Reilly and Tom blinked, the glow had faded in their eyes. "Where are we?" mumbled Finn.
"I don't know – The academy?" suggested Reilly.
They noticed the rangers standing in fighting positions. "it's okay" Theo said. "They were under long-term control from the Sensei, he implanted his mind into them, that's why they worked together as one…"
"Theo…oh – God…Theo…" Tom gasped. "We…"
"No…he did"
"He did it to us to…he used…" Finn blushed.
"We had…have…crushes on you" Reilly sighed. "He tricked us and – we just couldn't fight him"
"We're so sorry" Tom said. "You have to believe us!"
"I do and – I may never really be free" Theo said, he looked over at the crumpled Sensei. "But I'll never be a captive again…I'm moving on with my life"
"How beautiful, I need a Kleenex" sneered Diabolique from the top of the stairs in the main hall. "But I'll settle for three ninja studs"
Tom, Reilly and Finn leapt forwards. "I remember being captured…and I remember her taking us with the Sensei!" snarled Tom
"We'll handle this" Finn said
Theo pulled a scroll out of the inside of his jacket. "We have what we need, don't fight her…"
"We can give you time to escape" Reilly said. "We have to make amends"
"…I can understand that" nodded Theo.
The trio attacked Diabolique, she weaved away from their attacks and drew her glowing black sword. A pulse of light lifted them into the air, trapping them in bubbles and sealing them in the box she held.
The Sensei tried to rise. "Stay down" sighed Diabolique as a shadow coiled around his neck. "You're dead anyway" there was a flash of lightening in her palm and it leapt onto the sensei.
He screamed
All that was left was an ash stain on the floor.
Theo looked at Dustin as he entered the dojo. "Hey" he smiled.
"So…the guys know what…happened…it all sorta played out…"
"I know"
"Dude – I'm sorry -"
"I told you, don't pity me, I fought back and I'll never be weak again, that sicko made my body his puppet and left my mind intact so I could be shattered by what he did. Tom, Reilly and Finn were as much victims as I was"
"Three guys thought you were cute though"
"And I'm flattered… but relationships are complicated for me" Theo shrugged. "I'd need to find someone who could accept me as a ninja, a traumatized school kid and just me in general" he smiled. "Here for more lessons?"
"You bet!" Dustin grinned, cycling his arms slowly.
"That's terrible" Theo laughed as he stepped out of his stance. "here, let me show you" he gently guided Dustin's limbs into the right positions. Dustin shivered, aware of their proximity and feeling – strangely happy about it.
"Not too hard is it?" beamed Theo.
"Not really" murmured Dustin. He looked into Theo's eyes for a moment and smiled. "So now do we go slow-mo?"
"Well if you want to put it that way – yes" laughed Theo as he stepped away and took a place beside Dustin to adopt the same stance.
"THEY HAVE THE MAP!" Lothor exclaimed. "What kind of evil ninja witch general of darkness are you?" he bellowed.
"The kind that thinks ahead -" Diabolique sighed. "All we need to do is get to the urn before them, I've already begun deciphering the maps" she turned on her high heel and marched away. "Leave it to me – I have things to do"
The Psycho's stepped forwards. "Let us take care of them" Psycho Crimson said.
"Yes, Orion and I -" Psycho yellow began
"Who's Orion?" Psycho Crimson snapped.
"You silly!" Marah exclaimed. "As in Orion the Hunter…hello?"
"I'm not being called some stupid hippy name" snarled "Orion"
"Shut up all of you I need my advil" Lothor groaned. "I should've been a second hand car salesman…but no I had to choose a vaguely more honest position"
Cassidy entered StormChargers and waved at the others. "Hey Cassidy" Kelly smiled. "How are things?"
"Oh, y'know…good, still getting grief from my boss at the Computer-Dial phone centre but…what can you do?"
"Well, there's always a few bucks to be made fixing up my computer here" Kelly said.
"Problem is, when I fix a computer, it's a long time before it needs to be fixed again" smiled Cassidy.
"Hey" a voice said. Cassidy jumped and turned around…it was the guy from the computer centre…he was wearing a tight white t-shirt and baggy blue jeans and looking quite attractive – Cassidy ignored that thought and nodded at him.
"Hi" she said.
"Hi uh – okay I covered that – my name's Matt Bradshaw and I was hoping you'd consider going out on a date with me" he smiled hopefully.
Cassidy looked at him Wearily. "No thanks" she said with a shrug.
"Mind if I ask why?"
"I don't have time to waste on guys who'll conduct conversatiosn to my chest while imagining me naked"
"Um – look I can promise I'll not talk to your chest"
"Sorry, but I'm not looking for anyone"
"Well – I'll wait until you are…I should warn you though" Matt smiled. "I'm persistent"
"And I'm stubborn – that'll be interesting" shrugged Cassidy. He smiled at her and left.
"He was cute" Kelly said.
"Maybe – but love and that bull doesn't happen to me so…let's not waste the time and effort on it" she shrugged and walked over to join the rangers.
TBC
Well there we have it now... should Cassidy accept Matt's offer of a date? Should Dustin just go for it and move on his impulses for Theo? Should Hunter and Cam come out?
Many questions answered next post and even more created...den-den-den!
Merry Xmas! Happy new year!