Hello everyone, here is another one shot. This is a missing scene
And finally, here is how Ace got his fourth brand, aka the brand from Thatchs family. I have given the family a name, since they kind of needed one. And Thatch won't be mentioned, since he has abandoned this family long ago
And there is a violence warning for this chapter, somethings are a bit bloody and gory
This also got way longer than I thought. Still hope you enjoy
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Ace felt his mind coming back to him as he slowly woke up, mind foggy. But not the foggy kind one have after sleeping, Ace didn't have that from normal sleeping, but this was the same feeling he got after being drugged. He had felt this enough to know that. Ace kept his eyes closed for some seconds, trying to hear anything that might give anything away as he tried to rid of the fog. He couldn't hear anything distinctive, but he heard breathing and a tapping. As his mind got more clearer, he tried to think how he had gotten drugged.
He hadn't done anything that normal would have him kidnapped, he hadn't even been working.
He had the last days off and used them to go around and see different Islands, so he knew where things was and where certain people were. He had been in a bar on an island in the grand line, close to the calm belt, just to see if he could find any information on the island since he hadn't been there before. He remembers some people being willing to tell some stuff and being drunk, before he couldn't remember anything. They must have slipped something in the drunk he drank. Ace cursed himself for being stupid, since he weren't working, he didn't think to be as careful as he usually were, thinking no one would do anything.
It wasn't even long since he had been captured last time. Ace was going to make sure to stop letting his guard down, even when he didn't work. Ace must say he had gotten captured way to much the last two years. Ace might only be 15, an easy target many would say, but he should be wiser and stronger than this. He had trained to be an assassin since he were eight.
Ace decided to open his eyes and looked around the room, seeing many other people there, sitting around a table, who seemed to be drugged too. As his gaze got to the end of the table, he saw a man sitting, awake and grinning, legs crossed as a hand was tapping on the armrest of the chair, like he were the king of everyone. He seemed to maybe be in his thirties, brown eyes and blond hair in a pompadour style, grinning like a madman.
Ace knew who this was. He was Theodore from the Malasugi family. A noble.
As the man saw him awake, the grin got bigger as he gave a small clap. ¨First one awaken congratulations. But you'll have to wait for the rest to hear what fun we will have.¨ The man then gave a laugh, going back to watching them with the sick grin. Ace noticed three large males behind him, no doubt guards, that was standing ready. He remembers one of them from the bar. He must have slipped him something and taken him here.
Ace looked down at his hands and feet, to see if and how he were chained. He had a cuff around his wrist, a seastone cuff, not a well made one, but it took his devil fruit away and made him weaker than normal, but not as much it would have been of it were a well made one. He was sire Theodore picked this one on purpose. Around his legs were chains, making so he couldn't take any steps or walk good or fast, the chains being about 8 inches long. He also didn't have his own clothes on, meaning he couldn't fight like this, he had no weapons or anything. And the three guards had weapons, as well as Theodore himself. Ace had to figure out a plan, hoping to save as many as possible.
Ace tried to get the outlet of the room and see for any escape while others started to wake up. The curtains were all drawn, so he had no idea where he were or what time it was. Maybe he even had been put for more than a few hours or a day. As he saw the top of one window, he saw it was boarded up. Clearly they weren't supposed to escape this, the only way he saw out, was through the door behind Theodore and the guards. This would be hard, but he would hopefully find a way As most was now awake, many still groggy as they seemed sluggish, Theodore clapped his hands loudly, making everyone look at him.
¨Welcome everyone! Hope you are all ready to play a game! Not that you have any choice.¨ Started the man, a sick grin.
Theodore looked at them with this sick glee in his eyes as he continued. ¨The game we will play is pretty simple. Let's say Ida,¨ He mentioned towards the girl at the end of the table. ¨Would you rather kiss cutey Roger here, or fancy Todd?¨ He said as he motioned towards to guys, most likely the people. The girl, Ida, didn't answer, to shocked, so Theodore continued. ¨And you only have 15 seconds to decide, and you need to decide. When you decide, you need to do it.¨ Ace felt something cold settling over him as he understood where he was going.
Theodore gave a laugh, making a motion to one of the guards, ¨But we won't play that cute and funny, we will up the stakes.¨ The guard walked up to the start of the table, Ace being the 5th, and placed something on the two that date at the ends heads. When it was placed, a switch with two buttons was placed in front of the one at the end. Theodore then spoke up,
¨Now, Nic. Would you rather electrocute yourself, or small Lisa?¨ He said as he started a clock that slowly ticked down from 15 seconds.
Ace could see the man, Nic, looking at Lisa, who were a young kid, and he didn't want to electrocute her, but neither himself. Nic looked at Theodore, ¨I won't do it! You sick man! She's a child!¨ Theodore only waved his finger in tune with the ticking of the clock, not caring that Lisa was a child. Nic did nothing, crossing his arms and glaring at Theodore, not going to do it. But what would Theodore do when he didn't choose? Then the clock rang, and Theodore looked at Nic with a grin. ¨Oh, I forgot to tell, but if you don't choose,¨ The grin widened as he reached for something, and Ace knew what it was.
¨You die.¨ And Theodore took his gun and shot the man through his head, the bullet going straight through and covering Lisa in blood and other things, screaming.
Everyone either screamed or stared in shock, understanding how serious this was. Ace closed his eyes for a second. This was a really sadistic way to play with his victims. The thing that was on Nics head, was placed on the person next to Lisa, the remote being placed in front of Lisa. Theodore grinned. ¨Now, Lisa. Would you rather electrocute yourself, or June?¨ Lisa, still shocked and terrified, only breathed hard and stared at the dead body of Nic, hand shaking over the remote.
As the time got lower and she made no movement, June yelled, ¨Shock yourself!¨ The shock of her speaking up, made her hand hit the remote, shocking herself.
Theodore gave a small laugh, ¨It counts. Now, onwards. June, would you rather electrocute yourself, or Kurt?¨ He said as he timed the clock again. Before it had moved 3 seconds, she electrocuted herself, and the game went on. Ace gave a small nod to himself. They needed to continue this, to continue to electrocute themselves, they could survive it, it didn't seem to be too strong. If they didn't do it to themselves, it would make people go for the other person. It might not be a strong shock you would get, but too many would kill one. When the thing got to Ace, he didn't even think about it as he pressed the button to be electrocuted, they needed to keep each other on their good side of they wanted to survive.
The game went on, and when the round ended. They being 19 people in the game, not counting Nic. When they were sure it would start again, Lisa was handed a knife, from a grinning Theodore. ¨Would you rather cut of your finger off, or stab June in the leg?¨ Lisa stared terrified at the knife she now held, the clock starting to tick. She sent a desperate look at June, and Ace knew what she was doing. She didn't want to hurt herself or June.
But when the time counted down and Theodore started to say ¨Tick, tack.¨ Lisa lifted the knife and stabbed June in the leg.
June let out a scream, trying to stop the bleeding that started. It hit an artery. The only thing keeping her alive was the knife. She could make it, but only if they were careful. Then, before anything else, the guard came and removed the knife, making blood pool out. The knife being handed to her as the guard forced her hand away from her wound. ¨Now June, wou-,¨ June didn't even listen as she stabbed the knife into Kurt, making him yell.
Theodore laughed. ¨Oh, no no no. What did you do, June? That wasn't the question.¨ He gave a sick grin, ¨It was: Would you rather whip Kurt, or cut off your tongue?¨
June stared shocked at Theodore, who had started the clock, stammering. ¨B-but I already-.¨ Theodore smashed his hands on the table, making her flinch. ¨Choose!¨ June started to cry, ¨W-whip K-Kurt.¨
Theodore grinned and motioned to the guard, who grabbed a whip and walked up to Kurt, giving 10 hard slashes, making his back bleed. The game continental from there. They either needing to ship someone, or cut of a body part. No one chose to cut of their body part, not even Ace. He would roll with this for now as he planned. But when the game was just past him, June's head fell on the table and she stopped moving. ¨June? Oh, Juney June?¨ Said Theodore in a sick sweet voice. When a guard nudged her, she fell to the floor dead.
Theodore shrugged, ¨Oh well. Now, Ida, would you rather slash off your hand, or whip Kurt?¨ The girl looked shocked at Theodore, ¨B- But he already…¨ A menacing laugh from Theodore. ¨Yes, but he can handle more. Don't you think Kurty Kurt? Now, tick tock.¨ The girl did chose Kurt again, this time the slashes was three times as many, literary tearing his back. He couldn't handle too much more of this. Ace was trying with all his might to figure out an escape route, there had to be one. He could handle this torture, but the others couldn't. He needed to get as many as he could out.
It continued like that, targeting the boy, Kurt, wanting to have him die and us doing the deed. When Kurt fell to the floor when the round was almost over, Lisa trying to help, she was pushed to sit again, Theodore tutting. ¨Tut, tut, Lisa. You're not going to help. He is apparently weak.¨
Then it continued, hearing Kurt's ragged breath as he tried to keep alive, before it stopped. Many of the people around the table was crying or shaking, knowing they would die.
And Ace felt absolutely helpless. He had no idea how to escape this or to save anyone. He felt useless.
The game continued, and with each second, each death or yell, he felt more and more useless and his brain tried to figure it out. There had to be a reason for this, a reason to play this game. But what could it be? He felt his back throbbing, but he had gone through worse, he could handle this. But this awful game had to come to an end before they were all dead, before they had on-. He looked at Theodore, ¨What does the winner get?¨ There had to be something there. The man grinned. ¨Oh, someone's smart.¨ Theodore gave an evil and sadistic look.
¨The winner gets to leave.¨
Before anyone could respond, he continued. ¨Normally, like the rest of my family, aside from the traitor, usually keeps their playmates. You know, torturing, raping and all that over long periods of time. But that's so boring. I would rather have you torture each other, then the best one leave and live their life. Or stay, like some have, I don't mind that at all.¨
Ace closed his eyes, it was just a sick and twisted game. He had faintly heard about it, but not much. Not that anyone would tell about this. And people even stayed. But what else would they do? They would be traumatised from this, after killing once and going through this, they probably felt they didn't fit anywhere, so they stayed with what they now was familiar with.
A gunshot made him look to his left, towards Ida who fell to the floor with a bullet through her head.
Theodore laughed. ¨She didn't choose. If you're slow, you die.¨ It was then Ace realised he had not stopped the timer.
¨Now, let's continue.¨ Said the man with a grin.
And the game went on, some being shot as they couldn't chose, some dying from being targeted. One person even gouging out his own eye, but the wrong eye, so he was still shot. With each death, he felt his hope fading, hope that he would manage to save anyone.
When there were only 5 left, the game changed.
All the other bodies were removed, and the guards brought in things. Things like a barrel, cleaver, razor, jars and more. Theodore grinned, ¨Now let's see.¨ He then pointed to them as he started to rhyme. ¨Eenie, meenie, moe. You will get the special card.¨ The finger stopped on Rena, a woman who looked to be in her twenties. Theodore gave a grin. ¨Rena, you're the winner! Not of the game of course, but you get a trump card. If you don't like the choose someone makes for you, you can make someone else get the fun.¨ The woman nodded, seeming way to pleased with that.
It was done on purpose, she had gotten the least wounds or punishments. She only had a cut in her arm and a few slashes on her back. She had been spared for some reason.
¨Now, Lisa. Would you rather cut your eye with a razor, or use the barrel?¨ The girl looked at the barrel, it had been heavy to get in, no doubt containing something horrible. ¨W-what's in it?¨ Theodore chuckled, ¨Now, why would I tell that? And tick tock.¨ The girl was having issues, and when there were only 10 seconds left, they now getting 20 seconds total, she grabbed the razor and held it to her eye, shaking. When it was 5 seconds left, Theodore saying ¨Time is running out.¨ In a singing voice, she slashed her eye open. A yell left her as she cradled it, keeping the blood at bay.
Ace knew none of these people would get over this, none would manage to live normal lives, but they all wanted to survive.
Theodore looked at Tina, the next one. ¨Now Tina, would you rather do the bucket, or give everyone a card?¨ Card? Would everyone get a trump card? No, he would never do that, there had to be something more to it. Tina shakily said ¨Card.¨ A menacing chuckle was there as everyone was handed a card, the back up and told not to look. Theodore looked at Jack, the next one. ¨Jack, would you look at your card, or have Rena look at hers?¨ The man eyed his card, before looking at the woman, ¨Rena look at hers.¨ Rena shakily did, and when she looked at it, she went pale and looked at Theodore.
¨I use my trump card!¨
The man grinned, ¨Who do you want to trade it with?¨ The woman looked at everyone at the table, before stopping at him. ¨I chose him.¨ Theodore sent him a grin. ¨Acey Ace? How nice! The silent smart boy who is still here.¨ A guard came and took Renas card and gave it to him, handing his to Rena. When this was done, Theodore looked at him. ¨Now, pretty boy, what does it say?¨ Ace turned it around and saw a picture of the Theodore's family crest, with a flaming background.
Before Ace could figure out what it meant, a hand pushed his head to the table, making his head spin, before he felt his shirt being lifted and an all too familiar searing pain on his back, exactly over his shoulder blade.
Ace gritted his teeth together as he tried to not make a sound. When he was finally released and the pain stopped, he tried to take deep breaths and ignore the flaring pain. Not only did the new brand hurt like hell, but the harsh movement made his whip marks flare up. As he tried to gather himself, Theodore chuckled. ¨Now Lisa, would you rather check your card, or use the barrel?¨ Lisa shakily lifted turned her card. When Ace looked over, he saw it was a picture of the barrel with the number 10.
Lisa was grabbed and dragged over to the barrel, the lid removed, it was filled with liquid. The guard looked at Theodore, who timed the timer to 10 minutes, before giving a chuckle. ¨Deep breath now.¨ Then the guard dunked her head in the barrel, making water slouch over the edge.
She was going to be held under for 10 minutes, she would die.
Jack shook his head, ¨There's no way she can hold her breath for 10 minutes!¨ Theodore chuckled again, ¨Who knows, maybe she can.¨ Lisa then started to struggle, trying to get out, making Jack more mad as he yelled. The she went limp, her body giving a last shudder. When the clock rang minutes later, the guard let go as she fell to the ground, eyes open and dead.
Theodore fake pitied, ¨That's too bad. Now, Ace. Would you rather use the barrel, or get a new card?¨ The cards was probably made to kill them fast or slow, being sadistic. He looked at Theodore. ¨How long in the barrel?¨ He could hold his breath long, at least he thought so. The man chuckled, ¨5 minutes.¨ Ace nodded, there was no way he was chancing a card, ¨I'll do the barrel.¨ A menacing grin was on Theodore as the guard dragged Ace to the barrel.
Ace bare managed to take a deep breath, before he was pushed in the ice cold water.
Ace tried to keep his head calm, to not panic. Panic and fighting would make him lose oxygen longer. He tried to think about good times, good times he had with Luffy and Sabo, imagine the calm look of Azuruko to keep his nerves calmed. If he did die now, he would at least have happy memories as he took his last breath.
When he felt he couldn't much longer, the hand on his head let go and Ace fell to the ground, taking gasping breaths.
¨My, what amazing lungs there, pretty boy.¨ Ace ignored the man, not wanting to please him more. As he tried to get his breath back, he was dragged to a chair, being placed on the other side of Rnea, next to Jack. He heard Theodore laugh. ¨Now, Rena, would you rather do the barrel, or have Jack look at his card?¨ The woman looked at Jack. ¨Jack look at his card.¨ Jack threw her a glare as he turned it, being shown a gun and the number two.
A laugh was heard from Theodore, ¨Let's see, two from you is Tina.¨ A gun was handed to him. ¨Now, shoot her.¨ Jack held the gun, but his hand shook way to much. He tried to aim it at the girl, but he quickly lowered it again. ¨I can't!¨ Theodore waved his finger. ¨Tut tut, times running out.¨ He tried to aim it again, but couldn't pull the trigger.
Then a gunshot was heard as Theodore shot Jack, the time running out.
However, the fact he was shot, made him push the trigger and fired a bullet, a bullet that hit Tina in the leg, making her yell out in pain, shaking from the pain. She was already close to her limit, this was bad. The man gave a chuckle, ¨Now, Lisa. Would you rather check the card, or shoot Rena?¨ Ace sent the man a glare. He skipped Rena, he was sparing her for some reason. Tina made no sound as she clutched her leg, shaking as she went into shock, everything becoming too much. They had been here for hours.
It wasn't long before the time ran out and Tina was also shot, falling to the floor.
Now there was only him and Rena left, sitting opposite of each other. He would probably skip her again, jumping straight to him. Making him choose between a card or something. The man gave a chuckle. ¨Ah, we have pretty boy and lady black left! How interesting. One young and kind kid, and one dark and mysterious lady.¨ Rena was dressed in black, piercings on her face and a glare that said she wasn't afraid to throw someone under the buss. Theodore gave a deep laugh.
¨Now, Ace. Would you rather shoot Rena, or-.¨ Ace didn't even hear the rest as he grabbed the gun and shot Rena. Making her head fall on the table, dead.
A loud and excited laugh was heard. ¨Yes! Pretty boy killed! Who could have guessed? But then again, you're not a normal kid.¨ He then shook his head, ¨Too bad the queen of darkness lost, I would have loved to keep her around.¨ Ace placed the gun on the table again. He knew he was sparing her, that sadistic bastard. One of the guards came over to him and released him from the chains and took the cuff off.
¨The exit is there. Hope to see you around, pretty boy.¨ Said Theodore with a grin.
Ace didn't spare him or any of the others a glance ad he stood up and left. Walking out the door and the moment he felt he had the energy, he got Dust here, before he disappeared. When he reappeared on Amegakure, he quickly walked to his room and did a quick patch of his wounds, Moira could look at them later. Before he changed into his assassins clothing.
There was no way he would let that man get away after this.
When he got some more of his energy back, somewhat healing his wounds and taking a quick energy shot, he disappeared and reappeared on the island again.
It wasn't hard to find Theodore again and making using his powers to put him in a trance, before locking the door and being sure the guards wouldn't get in. He didn't have much security, him thinking no one would come inside like this. When he let the man out of his trance, he could see the panic on his eyes as he yelled to be released and for his guard. Ace waited until he calmed down, Theodore sending him a glare. ¨What do you want?!¨ Ace sat down on a chair in front of him.
¨I want to play a game. Would you rather me take an ear, or a finger?¨ Said Ace as he started a clock.
The man hissed at him, sending him curses, recognizing his own game. When he didn't give an answer and the clock reached zero, Ace sent him a pleased look. ¨Then, I'll just settle for an eye.¨ he could see them man looking at him shocked, probably thinking Ace would shoot him.
Like Ace would pass up this opportunity to play with this man back.
The man yelled for a finger, but Ace gave a chuckle. ¨Too late.¨ And pushed a knife, a dull knife, into his eye, starting to gouge it out. Theodore screaming his throat raw.
Yes, he would enjoy this.
And that the chapter. Hope you enjoyed
It became way longer that I thought. And I didn't focus on the branding and such, but other things to build up for later. Might have been anticlimax, but u went for this, I liked it and had fun writing it
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If you have any scenes you want to see or event you would like to go different, leave a review/comment. Don't be afraid to send a PM either. I'm a nice person, I swear