6

Kami: 14

Kai: 14

Tala: 14 1/2

Bryan: 14 3/4

Spencer: 15

"Faster you little maggot!" the deep voice rang through the cold night leaving many frightened. "I SAID FASTER!"

"I'm doin' the best I can!" a loud yell answered back boldly hopping to earn some slack.

"Well looks like your best just ain't good enough!" the harshness of the words was followed by and equally harsh kick in the ribs.

Dropping to the ground flat the child doubled over in pain holding their side in a desperate attempt to block any more oncoming blows to the already aching area. (A/n whoa triple a's!) Rolling away the child yelped when he received another kick this time to the face. Blood trailed down from a possible broken nose as the boy spit blood and a chipped tooth to the dirt. The crimson was quickly joined by salty tears as the child cracked under the pain, sobbing aloud the boy called desperately for his mother.

"I WANT MY MOM!"

"Shut the fuck up you little brat! Your mom doesn't want you, that's why she sent you away!" the instructor lied through his crooked teeth. Most of the children locked in the abbey had loving parents who were tricked by the lie that their child was receiving the best educational skills in blading available. Nobody outside the biovolt team knew of the horrendous experiments and daily tests.

The child remained on the ground crying and whimpering; eventually the guard grew tired of this and began his physical abuse once again. Pulling his foot back he sent another blow to the boy's abdomen pulling a gut wrenching cry from deep within. Gaining a twisted smirk the guard continued, kicking faster and harder aiming for the most sensitive parts of the body. Stopping to take a break the man's breathing was rough and erratic having worn himself out. Reaching to his belt he pulled out a nightstick and began beating the now immobile child with the end of it. Raising arm to the air he was about ready to finish it, "Say goodnight you little wretch!" bringing his arm down he was surprised to feel the blunt object strike the dirt forming a cloud of dust.

Feeling the weight of the stick absent he looked down to his hand to find it missing. "Hey what the?" turning around rapidly he looked for the boy as well as his weapon. As if sensing eyes on him he turned to find the child standing with 4 other lean boys all of which looked furious. The tallest one cracked his knuckles as if to further emphasize his point. The guard's eyes widened and he stumbled backwards, scrambling up he managed to get to his knees before he found himself coming to face to face with another figure. Violet eyes pierced through the dust the orbs filled with unbridled anger. He only managed to catch one word before a painful blow to the head, "Goodnight."

Watching as the man dropped to the ground limply she smirked before turning to the rest of her team. Stepping over the fallen guard she walked towards the rest of them her eyes softening. Cocking her head to the side she examined the bloody heap lying stiffly in the blonde's arms. The kid was probably about 12, dark purple hair and blood red eyes. Kami had seen him training before; every time she watched him he had reminded her somewhat of a mini power plant, always full of life and not to mention dirty insults.

"Well c'mon, lets get him cleaned up I guess." turning away she walked back towards their cabin the others following close behind.

Two years had passed since the doctor had gone insane and tried to kill her off. Since then she had trained her hardest, eventually the outcome had been one mean panther with a nasty uppercut. Shutting off all emotions she was everything the biovolt organization wanted in their top bladers, a perfect rose in a valley of thorns. While her teammates where trained in brute force she had been trained in acrobatics and stealth. Her blading skills had developed to their peak, she along with the four in her team were an unbeatable force.

"Well home sweet home. If you can call any part of the abbey sweet." Tala commented pushing the door open and flipping the light switch. "Hey Spence dump the kid on the couch." he yelled back over his shoulder while entering the bathroom.

Spencer shrugged and walked to the couch, extending his arms out he started to lean forward letting the limp body roll forward. "Spencer, you're not going to be dumping him anywhere he's hurt. Set him down on the couch." Kami yelled to him while entering the kitchen. Sighing Spencer barely managed to catch the kid before he fell, leaning down he gently set the shrimp onto the soft material.

"Real nice idea Tala, drop the defaced kid." Kami scolded as she passed the bathroom door munching an apple.

"You'd do it if it were me." his voice echoed throughout the restroom.

"Yeah well I like this kid." she responded closing the door to her bedroom with her foot.

Tala emerged from the bathroom scowling at the closed room of his teammate. "Yeah yeah whatever." he mumbled turning into the living room.

Minutes later Kami appeared in the doorway, scanning the room she found nobody had bothered to help the child who was still lying on the couch. "Don't everybody jump up at once." she growled finding Spencer and Bryan sitting on the loveseat watching will dull amusement. Glaring at the two she pushed herself up from the floor and wandered off to the kitchen to find a cleaning rag. Pulling open a drawer she reached in and retrieved a faded blue cloth the edges starting to fringe. Dragging her feet across the linoleum she turned the knobs to the sink, leaning against the counter she waited patiently for the water to warm. Testing it with her fingers she wet the end of the cloth bringing it back to her to wring it dry. Absentmindedly she reached across and shut off the water flow before scuffling back across the floor and into the carpeted den.

Dropping to her knees she extended her arm to the swollen face and began to dap at the wounds gently. Wiping away the blood she moved it over his neck and then continued to the rest of his exposed flesh. Wiping her forehead she stood to find all of her team seated in the den observing the seen with curious eyes, "Yeah thanks for your help." she muttered before throwing the soiled rag at Tala who was trying to stifle his laughter. "Well since I did the dirty work, again. You can all get him changed and fixed up." she smiled at them triumphantly before walking to the bathroom to wash herself clean of the dried crimson. Looking in the mirror she wrinkled her nose in disgust at her reflection, her face had blood streaks from where she had put her hands to her the skin leaving the imprints of her finger tips.

Splashing cold water on her pale skin she glared down at the blood draining down the sink creating a small whirlpool. 'This won't be the last today.' she though glumly to herself turning the faucet off and reaching for a hand towel. Holding it to her face she breathed in the scent of the last to use it, definitely Bryan. It smelt of fresh winter air, crisp and cool just like Falborg. Letting out a deep sigh she glanced one last time at her dark reflection before flicking the light and walking back towards the den. Stopping to listen she frowned, it was quiet. Too quiet. Hurrying around the corner she froze when Kai held a hand up behind him his eyes still fixed on the scene in the center of the room. Peeking around the phoenix she smiled slightly, the boy from earlier was sitting up on the couch. He was wearing clean pants but his upper half was bare. Scanning she found Spencer sitting with Bryan holding the clean shirt, they must've been in the middle of changing him when he woke up. 'Poor thing.' she thought her frown deepening when she noticed the slightly fearful look covering his face.

Stepping passed Kai she moved forward slowly holding her hands in front of her so that he could plainly see that she wasn't intending to harm him. Reaching out she held out her hand to Spencer waiting until she felt the soft fabric pressed up against her palm, closing her hand around the shirt she stepped forward again her violet eyes soft and sympathetic.

The boy didn't move an inch, he watched as the girl proceeded to move closer. The others had startled him at first, waking up to find bigger boys staring down at him strangely, even dressing him. Wincing he closed his eyes as he thought about the last time he had been alone with a man, it had hurt. The rest was fuzzy but he could still remember the pain the elder had inflicted upon him. Whips, chains, knives, blood, screams and pain.

Kami watched as the boy visibly tensed and stopped dead in her tracks waiting for him to calm. Seconds later his red eyes flicked open and he stared at her pain reflecting in his eyes. His feelings started to build up and eventually he let them go in the form of moist droplets. Sniffling he closed his eyes and she could tell he was mentally cursing himself for giving in.

Inhaling deeply she moved closer her breathing soft and calm, "Hey, what's your name kid?" she asked soothingly kneeling in front of him. She waited while he reached out and snatched the shirt away from her quickly scampering to put it on.

Looking up he cocked his head to the side watching her carefully before replying his voice showing more confidence than she had expected, "My name's Ian." He looked at her his eyes narrowing slightly as if judging her from the inside out. Finally he snorted and turned his head away, "I didn't need help you know I could've handled that all by myself."

Kami rolled her eyes and was about to let him have it when somebody beat her to the punch. "Yeah we could tell by the way you were calling for your mommy you little baby."

"I'm not a baby! You jerk!" Ian jumped up regretting in instantly, crying out in pain he grabbed his injured side and fell to the ground with a resounding 'thud'. A pained cry followed as the boy rolled on the floor clutching at his side.

"Tala lay off." Kami sneered reaching to the child to try and calm him: no luck.

"Leave me alone!" he whimpered tearing himself from her grip, "I'm fine and I don't need your pity treatment!"

Glaring Kami decided to drop her sympathy act and help him forcefully. "Fine you don't want pity that's your choice." Taking matters into her own hands she yanked Ian painfully towards her and rolled him on his back moving to straddle his hips in an even more painful hold.

Ian nearly screamed from the pain twisting and turning under her weight. "Get off me!" he yelped trying to push her away.

Ignoring him Kami reached above his head for the bandages Spencer had lying at his feet, grabbing a wrap and gauze pad along with some healing ointment. Moving down to sit on his legs she yanked up his shirt and let some of the cold formula fall onto the wound formed were his skin had split. Pushing the gauze over it she preceded dress the injury rounding the wrap around his body. Having some difficulty getting in under him because he insisted on squirming relentlessly. After finished she pushed herself off him and smirked back at the winded boy before walking to the kitchen to throw away the bandage packages.

Walking back into the den she leaned against the door frame she found Ian with a angry pout on his face pulling his shirt down and pushing himself up to lean against the couch. Tala and Bryan were snickering while Kai and Spencer were wearing a familiar smug look. Words came to mind but before she had a chance to say them aloud their door busted open. Kami's eyes shot to the door and she let a low growl emit from her throat at the intruder, the sound was cut short when there was a crack and what felt like a whip wrapped itself tightly around her throat cutting off all air supply. Her hands instinctively reached up and clawed at the material of the bull whip cutting her neck in the process. Shooting a look back towards the den she looked at Ian and then towards her room, Bryan got the hint first and was up in no time. He grabbed Ian, covered his mouth and dashed to Kami's room looking for a place to stash the younger. The others rushed to help their subdued panther her face starting to turn red from the lack of oxygen. The owner of the whip stepped forward and Kami glared at Boris who gave her a twisted smirk before yanking on the whip, her legs felt like jelly and she collapsed to the ground putting even more pressure on her neck as she squirmed and thrashed trying to get free.

Boris seemed to have other plans...

A/N

Yeah I know I haven't updated this story in forever...I'm terrible just terrible. But I'm going to try to update faster next time. Oh and thnax to wolflover7 for being my beta! You should all read her story 'The Transporter' I love it some much and she is the one who got me started on expressing my vocabulary and writing somewhat poetic stuff. Still not as good as her though...-shrugs- Oh well. Anyway catcha' later.

-Tawnie