Troubled Times

Kai's body felt like lead. He could not even open his eyes to see what was happening. It was if he was asleep, but he was conscious of some things, like some voices that were very faint. It sounded as if they were from really far away, but Kai had a feeling that they were actually really close to him.

"Kai?" It was a distant voice, but he could still just make out what the person had said.

"What did they do to you?" Tala had his hand on Kai's forehead – he was feeling really hot.

Kai had yet to respond to him in any way. Something was wrong, because Kai had not looked this unhealthy when he had left. The markings on his face, which he had removed before Kai went with them, had masked the fact that Kai had been unwell at the start.

"Just stay with me Kai. We'll make it through this. I promise."

After the World Championships Tala's impression of Kai was not very good to put it lightly. He had watched Kai switch teams and yet Tyson and the rest of the Bladebreakers had accepted him back with little discussion. Tala had been furious that Kai had friends like that, but now it gave him some hope that his team could become that.

Yes, he was jealous of Kai. He had been ever since Kai rejoined the abbey andwithout being ashamed Tala could still say that he was. Kai had everything, friends and great power, and yet he did not even see how important his friends were.

Tala placed his hand into Kai's and held it, hoping that Kai would respond. He was rewarded when Kai's hand clasped his. A smile came onto Tala's lips; maybe the two of them could work out at least an understanding of each other.

"Well, what were the results?"

"We were able to give him the test serums that you wanted. So far he is still unconscious, so any real testing will begin after he wakes up. Sir, the thing that I'm worried about is that he seems to be sick and getting worse."

"Then fix it!"

"He has a high fever, but without him able to tell us what is wrong we would have to try way too many treatments. He would most likely die before we got through them all."

"Keep an eye on him and make sure he is kept cool."

"Yes sir. We just put him back with Tala, though."

"Keep him in there. Tala won't do anything, yet."

"Yes sir."

Kai finally had the strength to open his eyes, but no words escaped his mouth to get Tala's attention other than a small gasp as he took in air. Fortunately Tala had heard and was by his side.

"Your fever is still pretty bad. What happened?" Kai did not understand what he was saying and continued to stare at him.

"Kai?" Kai felt a cool hand touch his face. He smiled closing his eyes, before they slowly opened again.

"Kai stay awake!" Even if Kai had registered what Tala had said he would not have been able to do anything as he somehow lost control of his body.

Kai's eyes were open, yet he was asleep, or at least that is what it sounded like as Tala listened to his breathing. Something was wrong, whether it was from what Boris had done to him or something else Tala did not know.

Tala looked up to see Boris standing in the door. "How is he?"

Tala growled, "He needs medical attention."

"So you do care about him, or is it just that you'll feel guilty if he dies?"

Tala looked away from Boris and back to Kai. He would never admit it to Boris, but that sick man was right. He did not want to have anything to do with Kai's death, but did he actually care about the boy?

Boris chuckled and Tala knew he had waited too long to say anything. Boris picked Kai up and turned to leave, but not before adding: "If Kai dies you may go free."

Tala glared at the man, but he could not answer. If Kai's death would get him out then would he sacrifice the boy's life?

Tala looked away from the space where Kai had been lying. "I don't think I can keep my promise to you Kai. Not when your life is the only thing that is keeping me in this cell."

"Why did you say that to him, sir?" One of the scientists had come with Boris.

"It would be an easy way to get rid of Kai."

"But sir aren't we doing the experiments to make him the best warrior? You also said we would be taking care of his friends."

The man opened the door as Boris walked in with Kai, setting him on the table.

"Why use Kai when I am positive that I can get someone who will actually follow me? I could care less about his former teammates; they've split up, which means that they won't pose a threat to me."

The scientists took Kai and were hooking him to a machine to monitor him as Boris and the other man continued their conversation.

"Sir, you have someone in mind?"

Boris smiled. "He has more talent than Kai will ever have."

"Sir, why don't we just finish him off now?"

"Because you idiot, if that happened the BBA would never stop hunting me. I need some time away from their prying eyes so that I can bring about their destruction."

One of the other scientists suddenly spoke up, "Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but Kai has slipped into a coma."

"What!"

Voltaire sat at his desk in the darkness of his office. The man who most people feared looked like he was in another world. His eyes, normally full of ambition, were dull and red from the lack of sleep he was getting.

Every so often he would rest his chin on his warn hands or pick up a lone picture on the desk. The picture showed Kai as a young boy with a wide grin on his face, being held between his mother and father. Voltaire was standing next to his son with a proud smile on his face. A drop fell onto the picture, temporarily distorting the young boy's face.

Voltaire wiped the tear away with his thumb and carefully set the picture back in its place before wiping his eyes. He looked back on the years he had spent with his grandson and he could not remember a single day when he had been kind to the boy after his father left them.

Voltaire looked at the photograph sighing again, for once feeling helpless.

If I could go back in time

and do one thing differently than before.

I would tell you how much I love you

and I would let you finally soar.

I watched you fall and get up

on your own, without a fret.

Leaving you to conquer it alone

will bemy biggest regret.

I am an island, a mountain,

I made my life yours as well.

I stopped your dreams that day

I watched you as you fell.

Nothing really to add to this, except the poem is mine and I thought it would add to the mood. Unfortunately my poem writing skills are not very good. Please review and tell me what you think of the chapter (and the poem).