Chapter 27

Darkness threatened to overwhelm him again as it had done many times before but he somehow managed to fight it off and forced his eyes to open. A groan escaped his parched throat and it hurts just doing so. With a weak hand, he brushed back strands of his fiery red hair from his bruised face and took in his surroundings. A small cell. No surprise there. The only light came through the window bars of the door. It had been his 'room' for the past year since his capture. There he thought he could at last live a normal life but Boris had second thoughts about letting one of his best bladers go and ordered his recapture. The mad man had him ordered beaten into submission and even then he had refused to battle for Biovolt. Only when he threaten to hurt the others, his old teammates, did he agree to battle for Biovolt. Boris had even promised him freedom if he defeated Kai in the finals.

Kai...what'll you think of me now...if you saw me?

Tears stung his eyes and he wanted nothing more than to cry but by will-power he forced them away, knowing a sign of weakness will lead to nothing but more pain for not just only him but Spencer, Bryan and Ian. As team captain, he had to strong. But was he strong enough to beat Kai?

He had seen the advanced technology Boris had used on the latest member of the Demolition Boys. It was clear that Alexis was stronger than any of them. Her Bitbeast was a new and improved version of Black Dranzer only far worst. He could not imagine his Wolborg in such a condition nor did he want it to happen. Boris had offered to increase the power of his blade and Bitbeast but he had turned down the offer. He was unsure whether the other had done then same or whether they were so desperate for freedom, they would neglect their pride.

A tired sigh barely escaping his dry lips, he stood, taking in the pain that shot through his body with every movement. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead from the effort. He wondered if Boris was trying to kill him instead of let him battle. The training had been has hard as he could remember or maybe worst. The worst was when he had battled Alexis. It was the battle that had placed him in such a condition as now. She had been ruthless like a predator toying mercilessly with its prey and he had been the prey. Even Bryan couldn't match up to her viciousness. The power of her Bitbeast was unbelievable. His own power had been nowhere near it. In a haze of pain, he had lost the match and was punished for his failure as if the pain from the battle wasn't enough.

He felt sorry for the person from the Bladebreakers who will be battling Alexis in the finals. He wondered if he could warn them but it was most likely he never get the chance. Boris made sure of that.

Dammit...how long more can I go on like this....?

Even as he wondered at his own power and will-power, the door to his cell swung open and a guard stood at the doorway. He blinked at the sudden brightness and tensed.

"Boris wishes to see you, boy." the guard said gruffly. "He wants to show you something. Says it's important."

A shiver ran down his spine as he resigned himself to his fate.


He had lied when Jade had asked him if he was okay. Then the question had seemed unimportant but now it came rushing back to him, making him wonder whether if he was alright. His mind was heavy with dark thoughts, probed by what Tyson had said earlier. Next to him, caught in a blissful, much-needed sleep, Jade sighed softly and snuggled closer to him. The pendent necklace he had given her glimmered faintly from the little light spilling in from the open doors that lead to the balcony. She looked so peaceful as if what happened hours ago never did happen. Wearily, Kai tried to push to thoughts away but it kept reemerging. Hands behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling through the darkness of the early mornings. Clear turquoise eyes penetrated his mind and a pang of guilt swept through him.

Tala...

Silently, he left the bed. In the bathroom, he turned on the tap and doused his face with cold water. The chill helped wake him up and clear his tired mind. But it could not erase the vivid images of a certain red-haired boy. Kai walked to the balcony and leaned on the railings, staring at the crescent moon in the sky.

True his memories were still in broken pieces but of all, the memory he remembered the clearest ever since he set foot in the abbey three years ago was that of Tala. He remembered he and the red-head as children always trying to out-do each other in just about everything from Beyblading to snow fights. They had a friendly rivalry that was nothing like now. They were so young then, unaware of the purpose of their harsh training under Boris.

He shivered involuntarily, a shiver that had nothing to do with the chill of the early morning.

Tala...where are you? Are you well?

Something in his mind began to break through and his eyes hardened at the thought. Something Boris had said when he cornered them earlier in the warehouse. "Tala was weak but we're taking care of that even as we speak now."

Kai didn't like the answer to what the mad man meant. There was no doubt Boris will try anything to win the tournament and attain their Bitbeasts. But will he go so far as to do whatever he did to Alexis to Tala? The answer was yes, he would.

A frustrated sigh escaped his pale lips and he cursed his helplessness.

Dammit, Tala...I'm sorry...


The sound of sobbing echoed off the walls of the cell. A small trembling figure curled in a dark corner of the cold cell, trying very hard to keep from sobbing louder than she already was. That man, Boris had said any show of emotion was a weakness. How could she have known for it was only a week since she arrived at the abbey?

She had won her Beybattle that day against one of the abbey's longer students. Just like she did since she arrived at the abbey. But for some reason, Boris didn't treat her like he did to today. On previous battles, after she had beaten his other students, he would congratulate her and praise her for her show of skill. But today was different. After her victory, she had turned to him, her face beaming with self-pride and happiness. To her surprise, he had slapped her across her face and scolded her for revealing emotions. She was sent to her cell after a harsh session of training and no dinner. Her tummy grumbled now.

She cringed to the sound, hoping no one heard it. Then she heard footsteps. Praying that whoever it was would just walk pass her cell, she held her breath. The footsteps stopped outside her cell and she let out a sob in dismay. The person was surely here to punish her for crying.

The door was opened. The person stepped in and stopped in front of her. She flinched, hoping it wouldn't hurt too much. Something soft touched her face, wiping away the dried blood on her lip gently. Surprised, she looked up and her wide green eyes met clear blue turquoise eyes.

A young boy with fiery red hair knelt in front of her, gently wiping her blood away with a piece of cloth. His eyes were gentle and warm, very different from those other children she had seen and battled in her arrival.

Once he was done, he reached into his shirt and pulled out a small wrapped up bundle. He unwrapped it, revealing a piece of bread. "Here." he said, offering it to her. "Eat this."

She stared at the food curiously, wondering if there was poison in it. Sensing her hesitation, the boy broke a bit of the bread and eat it himself. He offered it to her again. Hunger won out, she took it from him and nibbled it. She looked at him gratefully. The boy smiled and gently wiped her tears away with the back of his hand.

"Don't cry, Green Eyes." he said.

Then he told her the rules of the abbey and the rules of Boris.

Jade opened her eyes and sighed softly. The dream played in her mind very clear for it was not a dream but a memory. A memory of the first time she learn the ways of the abbey. A memory of Tala.

She sat up and glanced aside. Kai wasn't in bed. Looking at the balcony, she found him staring at the disappearing moon outshined by the rising sun. Watching him, she saw that his eyes were serious and intense, plagued with memories he couldn't forget. He was thinking about Tala. She knew how hard it was for him, that he would soon face the one he called bestfriend and brother. She knew because Tala had once been like a brother to her as well. She knew because she knew she herself will soon face Alexis in battle.

Alexis...Tala...


Suppressing a shudder, Tala entered Boris's personal office. The room was dark and cold. The cold however was due to the eerie aura that surrounded it. The walls were empty save for a corner where an old cupboard stood. Dust-coated books filled the shelves. No one knew what those books were about. The director wasn't known for his habit of reading.

And in the center of the room, facing the main desk and the man sitting behind it were the Demolition Boys.

"Ah, Tala. How nice you to join us." Boris said in a way of greeting.

Tala bit his lip to stay the retort that formed. He moved to stand next to Ian and glanced over at his teammates to check to see if they were fine. To his relief, there were no obvious injuries and they seemed fine to his eyes. In fact, among the four of them, he was the worst off.

"There's something I would like to show which will give you boys an advantage over your adversaries in the finals." Boris said. With a move of his hand over a remote control Tala didn't see him holding, Boris flicked on the television set in the wall behind them. Automatically, the Demolition Boys turned to watch. A pale eerie light was thrown through the room from the screen. It showed a white Beyblade battling Alexis's black blade and it was clear that the white one was loosing.

Tyson's Dragoon, Tala thought with a start.

"Here it comes." Boris whispered.

On cue, another blade, a blue one appeared on the screen and knocked Rashka from the weakening Dragoon. The intruding blade cut across to where a net held up a pile of crates and sliced through the ropes. The crates went crashing down. A shadowy figure leapt down and in a blink of an eye, two guards were taken out.

By now Tala could not pull his eyes away from the screen. His breath was caught in his throat and it hurt just to breath.

No. I can't be...

"Green eyes." the words slipped from his mouth without meaning to. It was the nickname he had given the young girl whom Boris had brought to the abbey years ago when they were kids.

Behind him, Boris laughed. "You remember her, young Tala. That's good."

His breathing increasing, Tala watched as a familiar face came into view of the camera. The face filled him with dread. It was Kai. Tala looked up at his other teammates to see their expressions but theirs were passive, completely focused on the battle taking place on the television. A disturbed look crossed Spencer's face.

The next moment, the television was suddenly turned off and Tala blinked as they turned back to face Boris.

"As you have seen, the Bladebreakers are no match for the power Biovolt now wields." Boris said.

"Then why do we bother with them?" Tala asked on impulse. "If they are not a match to your power, why do you waste your time with them?"

"For more than one reason." the abbey director said. "However to ensure this victory, a few...requirements must be done. I'll not let you make a fool of me like you did the last time."

The Demolition Boys shifted uneasily afraid but mostly from silent anger they kept to themselves.

"I want you to destroy the Bladebreakers this time, give them no chance to fight back." the man went on. "And Tala, I want you to especially make our young friend, Kai suffer."

Tala jerked visibly from the order he had just received. It was his worst nightmares and Boris was handing it to him on a silver platter. "No!"

Boris's eyes narrowed. "No? Perhaps you forget who owns you. Shall I remind you?"

The threat beneath those words were clear and all Tala could do was lowered his gaze and muttered dutifully. "No, sir."

However Boris wasn't satisfied with him. Every speck of rebellion must be removed from his apprentice and this one he would personally see to it. Without looking at the other three, he growled. "Leave. I would like to have a word with your captain."

Heavily and reluctantly, they moved to the doors. Ian spared his friend a sad glance and the door closed after him. Tala winced from the sound for it sounded like a final click. Keeping his eyes on the curtains over Boris's shoulder, he waited for the punishment that was to come.

"I do not find your antics amusing, Tala." Boris said slowly deliberately taking his time. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"I need not remind you what will happen if you dare defy me again."

"No, sir."

"Of course, if that happens again, your teammates will not be the only ones who will pay for your insolences." Boris turned on the television again and it was replaying the battle again. "She has grown up quite lovely, don't you think?"

Closing his eyes, the teen fought down the sickened feeling rising in him. "Yes, sir."

"It will be a waste to see such beauty go to waste."

Tala couldn't answer. Bile was stuck in his throat from the fear and tiredness.

"Isn't it?" Boris probed, knowing how hard and painful it was for the teen.

"Yes, sir." the answer was a weak whisper.

"Tala, you know Kai must pay for betraying Biovolt." Boris said with false patience. "Just think of the lives depending on you."

He did and it sickened him, knowing the lie that it was and yet he was helpless to do anything about it because in twisted way, those lives did depend on him. He wondered how he will face the boy who had been his bestfriend and more than a brother than anyone else.

I'm sorry, Kai...

Boris took his silence as obedience. "You may leave now."

Tala turned to leave, certain he was about to be ill.

"Send Alexis in." Boris added after a thought.

Tala hesitated before he blunted out his question. One that has been troubling him. "Sir...who will Alexis be battling in the finals?"

Boris grinned casually. "Why, Jade of course."