Chapter Two
He was right. Three hours later the door had been unlocked and they had been roughly hauled out into the main body of the church. They had stared around in dismay at the destruction caused. Alters, statues and benches had been shoved back and smashed up to make more room, the men were drinking out of communion chalices, their irrelevance causing Father Maxwell to shudder. There must have been about 80 rebels in the church. These were outlaws, desperate men willing to do anything to bring L2 under their control. They placed the three captives under armed guard, and they were left to watch helplessly as the destruction of the church continued and as the rebels began dragging kids up off the streets as a form of slave labour.
The week had been hardest on Duo, Father Maxwell decided, as he felt the small figure next to him stir. Duo had slept cuddled up to the priest's strong form, head resting on his chest. The man winced as he caught sight of the vicious beatings the boy had undergone. They had all been hit or kicked in some way or other, but the rebels, encouraged by the leader whose personal dislike of Duo, made certain by the bite to his hand and intensified by Duo's defiant nature, had made a game of the youngster, despite the efforts of the nun and priest to intervene. They would gradually crowd in on him until he was encircled. Then the raucous laughter and jeers would begin, cruel taunts and curses. The game would continue for hours as the small boy was shoved from man to man, kicked, beaten and slapped until he would collapse. Duo's rebellious side had emerged in full force. He was tough enough to withstand the beatings – clearly the boy had decided better him than Father Maxwell or Sister Helen, or even the other kids. And he refused to back down, fighting back as viciously as he could, until he earnt the cruel title of Maxwell's Demon. He could never stop his mouth either, Father Maxwell thought with a wince, his wicked, clever retorts and tongue earning him more pain.
They were looking at her again. She could sense it. Swallowing nervously Sister Helen tugged at her habit in a futile attempt to cover herself up more effectively. The children were crying and she hastened to shush them, despite the fact it drew more attention to herself. The children needed comfort. That she could give.
A strong hand landed on her wrist, then on her waist, tightening as she gasped and began to struggle. A leering mouth drew closer, forming words she was unable to understand as the world around her began to slow down in panic. Then the hand snapped back and the mouth widened, spitting out a curse.
"Shit!"
Duo, her little Duo, stood between her and her tormentors, eyes glinting dangerously, fists clenched, but so young, so small, so hurt, scarce able to stand…
"Leave her alone!"
"Why you little bastard!"
Duo didn't cry out as hands grabbed harshly at his braid, yanking him forward. He slid her a look, warning her to get back, get out of the way, stay quiet, pleading with her. It was hard to remember sometimes that he was only 10.
"What's goin' on here?"
The leader caught Duo roughly as he was shoved forward, twisting his arms until Duo cried out in pain. The leader's mouth pressed close to Duo's ear snarling softly, "My little demon again, trying to protect your Sister Helen. We're going to have her, boy, don't you worry. You're not going to stop us. She's gonna scream…"
"Shut up!" Duo lashed out trying to kick, but the leader held him too tight, twisting savagely until something gave way with a crack and Duo screamed.
"Yes, just like that. Now unless you pipe down and shut up, we'll be having her all the sooner, understand?" Wide eyes, Duo nodded. Smiling, the leader brought his mouth closer, hot breath skating over the smooth bruised skin. Duo shuddered, trying to move away but the iron grip on his arm tightened until he moaned. "What do they see in you anyway? A filthy little streetrat taken in by the church coz no one else would have you? Worthless scum." He yanked Duo's head back. "Keep your eyes open" The eyes opened, revealing a torrent of anger, abhorrence, fear, pain. "What did you do, huh? How'd ya get caught? Answer me!" He spat as Duo gasped in pain as fingers dug painfully into his jaw, then caressed his cheek. "I was a thief, stole antidotes outta the labs. They found it in a raid." The leader's yellow eyes narrowed in thought. "A thief? Could you steal a mobile suite?" This might well be the answer to his problems.
"No!" Father Maxwell's voice rang out "No, you cannot ask this of him. It is too dangerous!" A rifle butt smashed into his face. Duo and Sister Helen cried out. Dragging Duo roughly along, the leader strode to the priest's prone form, flinging the boy down next to him then yanking him back as he reached out to touch the priest. Crouching down, the leader looked into the priest's dazed eyes "Of course its too dangerous, why else do you think I'd send a worthless rat, rather than one of my men?"
"Duo is not worthless" Father Maxwell replied with conviction, "He never was, and he never will be". The leader sneered.
"If I steal the suite, will ya let us go?" Violet eyes burnt into him, strength and desperation at their core. The leader considered, he needed a mobile suite very badly, and promises were made to be broken…"Yes, I'll let you go, with a few conditions."
"What conditions?" Sister Helen asked warily. His hungry eyes raked her form; "Lets work them out closer to the time, hmm?"
"An' ya'll leave Sister Helen alone until I get back?" The fear was palpable, it was delicious. He pulled the boy closer until their noses almost touched; "Until you get back." He whispered.
Suddenly Duo's eyes narrowed with cold rage, "If you touch her, I will kill you." Then the boy had twisted out of his grasp and was gone, leaving the leader feeling surprisingly shaken by the look he had seen in the young thief's eyes. He turned to look at the nun and priest. "Start praying your little demon makes it back, otherwise you'll be cursing the day he was born" he spat, striding off to the vestry doors.