No point in saying anything, I know you wanna see what happens. On with it!

------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16

His world turned black and his body sunk into the pool of his own blood. His body spun endlessly in what felt like an eternal passage of time. He landed onto what felt like a glass floor and it sent goose bumps along his skin. His heavy eyelids fluttered open but were only greeted by a deep darkness. His body was bare and the crimson pool had vanished. He looked upon his chest and no marks were visible. All pain from his body had gone numb. He looked around him but found nothing.

Where…am I?

He scratched the brown locks on his head as he went into deep thought. His eyes widened as the memories came flooding back to him.

Ashelin! Where is she? Am I dead?

His head fell in despair. He felt helpless and stared at the palms of his hands. He sighed in frustration. He felt his deep blue eyes burning with emotion. It was lonely. It was cold. It was silent. It was dark. There was nothing preventing him from containing himself anymore. There was no image he had to keep up or people looking unto him for his authority. He let the drops of tears well up at the brinks of his eyes and stream down his cheeks. There weren't many and his face did not quiver but he felt the pain. The pain throbbed in his chest from losing her and not keeping her safe.

He spoke to the nothingness engulfing him, "Ashelin, if I could come back I'd…I swear I'll keep you safe. I swear, I'll never let you go"

His hands trembled as they formed into clenching fists. There were no walls to punch and no one to vent his frustrations to. It was then that he heard it. His ears perked up as he listened. It was faint but he heard it. It was his name. A feeling of relief spread through him as he rushed toward the sound. Within a few seconds he dropped to his knees as he clutched his chest, feeling the pain increase as he approached the sound.

I don't care about the pain. I must follow that sound.

He stood back up and walked toward it. The burning was returning to his lungs and his mouth was slowly growing dry. His stomach was beginning to churn and his chest throbbed. He saw the crimson begin to leak from his chest but he did not stop. He continued on with a look of determination on his face. His eyes widened once he realized the voice's source.

Ashelin! It's Ashelin!

He forced his body to run at full force as the sound grew louder. A light shone brightly and grew as he approached it. The pain was returning but he had to go on. He heard it, he heard her, calling out for him.

He wasn't sure what happened next. All he knew as that he was blinded by the light. Then he heard his own heartbeat, thumping and echoing loudly in his own ears. He felt a surge of fresh blood flowing through his veins. The pain that was in his body was growing numb and transforming into a hunger. It was a hunger for blood. His nostrils inhaled the smell that seemed somehow pleasing to him. He heard her call again.

"TORN!"

His eyes shot open and on some sort of animalistic instinct that he had never had before, he pounced up onto the ceiling unnoticed and quicker than the speed of sound. The anger in his body rose as he laid eyes upon her below, crying helplessly as Cutter was about to plunge a knife into her heaving chest. Torn licked his lips and roared, roared with all the anger and might in his lungs.

Everything in the warehouse was brought to a sudden halt. Cutter stopped the knife in midair and looked around, confused. His golden eyes glistened with fear along with everyone else in the room with the exception of Jak. Jak had locked eyes with Jinx on the upper level and finally locked eyes with a familiar yet horrific creature latching onto the ceiling.

Jak's black eyes widened as he gazed onto a pair matching his own. There he was, Torn was alive but somehow in Dark Eco form. His skin was white and his brown locks had transformed to the color of charcoal. Two gray horns curled from his temples. Electricity flickered across his pupils and the black ink from his tattoos contrasted with his pale skin. It was no wonder his skin had grown so pale, it wasn't from death but from his slow transformation.

Jak should've been relieved to see his friend alive but he wasn't. He knew the stages of Dark Eco all too well. While undergoing the Baron's experiments himself, the early stages included the sickly feelings and eventually death or Dark Eco form. One or the other came first. Even if the body transformed successfully, the temporary strain on the body and blood vessels from the Dark Eco and transformation would kill the host later on. So even though Torn was now alive and crawling on the ceiling in Dark Eco form, it only meant that if his body wasn't strong enough, he'd die after the Eco wore out. Also most men successfully past the stages of Dark Eco form and escaping death, gained animal instinct that could not be controlled. Therefore the Baron killed those subjects as they were too savage to use to his advantage. If Torn survived, could he control the blood thirst within him? Would he be able to keep his sanity?

Torn's body fell into the crowd as he began violently thrashing through men with his claws. He enjoyed the warmth on his claws from being buried into their bleeding chests. He roared and was met with a sudden pounce from Jak. They landed roughly onto the concrete as Jak tumbled on top of him.

Daxter had long released his companion's shoulder and ran up to Jinx at the sight of Torn's Dark Eco form. He left behind a sarcastic yet fearful remark before scurrying away, knowing Jak was about to attack Torn, "I do not wanna f-ck with that! Hell no!" He crawled up to Jinx's shoulder on the upper level that was staring with his jaw hanging at Torn up on the ceiling. He couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Jak attack Torn once he landed on the ground.

"Count me out!" Daxter finished and Jinx responded, "You got that right!"

Jak's dripping fangs hung over Torn's face that was also flashing his long sharp fangs. His gaze met with Torn's and although they could not speak words in this form, the look in his eyes would tell Jak if Torn was sane or not. He searched his eyes for some sort of human emotion and Torn growled in warning at Jak. It seemed that Torn did not have control over his bloodthirsty instinct but if that was the case, why did he awaken at the sound of Ashelin's screams?

Right as Torn was about to raise his claw to plunge into Jak's skull he heard it again.

"TORN!" Ashelin screamed as Cutter stood stiff, still in shock and holding the knife near her. Her wide jade eyes shook with fear as she looked upon the man she loved, now a screeching demon who was just latched to the ceiling moments ago.

Torn turned his head to the blade in Cutter's fist and roared. Jak knew Torn had regained his sanity, if only for a moment it was okay, Ashelin was keeping him at bay. Jak pounced off him and back into the crowds of men that were now trying to shoot at the two demons. Torn jumped to his feet and on all fours began to run toward Cutter. Cutter let out a frightened squeal before he cocked his machine gun and ran toward the upper level staircase.

Torn rushed up to the trembling woman's body, still clasped onto the brick wall by steel bonds. He used his claws to thrash through the steel and her weak body fell forward. He caught her in his large white arms before she hit the ground and she gasped. Her wide eyes met his cold black ones. He saw the fear in her unsure eyes, unsure if he was the Torn she had always loved or an untamed animal.

She hesitated at first but slowly raised her hand to cup the demon's face. She gulped nervously before she whispered, "T-Torn? Is that- is that you?"

His eyes closed to the warmth of her hand. His body felt warm and relaxed at her touch. He couldn't speak but in his thoughts he answered her lovingly. Yeah, it's me Ash…

As she felt his body relax and saw his eyes close to her touch, she knew that it was him. She knew deep down, beneath that horrific exterior, lied her commander, her best friend and her lover. A weak smile spread across her lips, "Well I'll be damned"

His eyes shot open and anger resurfaced through his eyes. One name flashed through his mind. Cutter!

He placed her gently on the floor before pouncing onto the brick wall behind her. He crawled up onto the upper level and away from Ashelin's sight. She tried to call out to him but he had already disappeared.

The two FL soldiers from earlier came running to her aid. One said, "Are you alright governor?"

She nodded as she looked onto them in question. "I'm Myke, this is Jigs. We've come to escort you safely outta here"

She shook her head, "No, what about To- I mean the commander? Someone needs to go after him"

Jak saw Torn jump out through a back window moments ago. He moved to stop him but was quickly interrupted by more men attacking him. He threw them aside and his eyes saw the bodies around him. Too many people were injured, too many people were dying, and the stench of death was too strong. If he didn't do something, his blood thirst would soon give into his surroundings.

He heard the pleading cries of his fellow comrades, shaking already dead bodies or clenching onto ones who were at the near brink of death's door.

Please wake up!

We must keep fighting!

My leg! I can't walk!

Please leave me behind! Save yourself!

No, don't leave me!

I- I don't wanna die!

Anya, stay with me, I'm here!

The voices clouded his throbbing head and Jak couldn't take it any longer. It was too much. He allowed the Dark Eco to simmer from his veins as he brought another power to rise within him.

Anya's eyes were beginning to grow heavy but Seij shook her in his arms. His brows furrowed as he looked at her, "Stay with me Anya, don't close your eyes"

It was then that the world around them was brought to a halt. A bright blue hued light blinded their eyes. Time had ceased around them and a cooling, almost drowsy feeling spread through his body. He watched as Anya's eyes fell closed and struggled to keep his own from falling.

The last thing he saw before his world turned black was a large blue angel, floating above them. His skin was pale and his eyes were white with sincerity. His large graceful wings spread out from his spine and even though he held an almost dying woman in his arms, he somehow trusted that if he allowed his eyes to fall, that everything would be alright. Finally his eyelids fell and a soothing dream greeted him.

--------------------------------------------------

So are you happy now? Well it ain't over yet remember? Torn hasn't fully escaped death yet but Ashelin is ok now. Isn't Torn the coolest in Dark Eco form?