Physis: Lol… I'm sorry… -sweatdrop- I'll try and do… something… Thank you for the review! Saying sis sounds so new to me… Anyway… Bye Sis!
Frosticdranzergal: -tries to catch them and gets one- Thank you! Eh… Read… I hate spoiling a story…
Wasurenaikara: Thank you… Hey! Don't pick on Ian! He's adorable! –hugs him- Pinnochio? He can't help how his nose grows…
Sailor-stardestroyer13: But if you're hunting me down, I'll have to run and that means I won't have time to write, which means I can't update which means I'm gonna get blown up! –faints-
Aries1391: Yeah… Tala is a bit of an ass… Oh well… Ian's a cute midget! Thank you!
DrawFire: Who said I wasn't going to put Rhys in the story anymore? Who knows, he may pop up! Tala is mean…
Jaganthunder: Really? Thank you… -blushing-
WARNINGS – Eh… There's abuse… Very sorry…
Disclaimer: Read prologue…
Chapter 4
"20 more."
The child resisted the urge to groan, his eyes resting ahead of him. His stomach felt like it wanted to scrunch itself up, stop moving completely. He kept going; he only had to do 16 more sit ups to do.
He counted backwards in his head. 13, 12, 11, 10, 9… He collapsed backwards when he'd completed them, gasping for breath as he rubbed the sweat on his forehead away.
"Good Kai. Next week we'll increase the amount."
The child nodded, his light blue bangs falling over his eyes as he stood, "Yes Grandfather."
o0o0o
They stared, their eyes wide as they were shown around the facility, the men around them wearing long white lab coats, rushing from one machine to another. The room was huge, built under the current abbey. The main difference other than the room's size was the computers set up all around the room, their lights twinkling, the quiet buzzing sound echoing in their ears.
"It's like the movies." Ian whispered to Tala, getting a snicker in return.
"I heard that." Their guide spun around, his midnight blue eyes glaring dangerously down at the short boy, "I don't know exactly what Rhys has taught you, but it's obvious manners wasn't introduced."
He wasn't overly tall, definitely shorter than Rhys. He had dark blue, near black hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail and the same coloured eyes. He had an overly sinister aura, the man's narrow, calculating eyes burning into the kids.
Tala huffed, "What's that supposed to mean? Rhys taught us heaps, manners expecially! You just haven't been nice to us!" He blinked stupidly as the man smiled evilly. His raised fist fell to his side as the dark haired man loomed over him, circling both boys. Ian whimpered, his small frame shuddering at the man's stare.
"You must be Tala. Rhys warned me about your smart mouth, he commented on how opinionated you were. We're going to have to teach you when to open that mouth of yours." He frowned, walking over to a table, lowering it to Tala's height, "Put your hand over it." The man stood, his hands tucked neatly behind him.
Spencer, Bryan and Ian watched as the red head sucked up a breath, striding confidently over to the man. He did as he was told, placing his hand palm up on the white, metal table.
The little blonde gulped, he didn't like the look of this. It was like... It was what his father would do when he did something wrong and it usually ended with pain. He didn't have a chance to react as the man smirked. None of them did.
Tala let out a yelp of pain as a metal rod slammed onto his palm, tears falling from his eyes immediately. He stared up at the man, his abused hand pulled close to him, rubbing gently across his chest, trying to ease the throbbing, "You'll learn to talk when you need to, or you'll receive more than that."
Tala let out a sob, examining his bruising hand, the sickening purple splodge making more tears fall from his eyes. He found Spencer's arm wrap itself around him, the blonde's hands rubbing his palm, "What did you do that for?" He snapped, "We're allowed to say what we think!"
Bryan and Ian were stuck to the spot. Bryan with his hands in front of him, eyes staring and wide, Ian with practically the same look, sobs threatening to run through him.
Never had anyone of them been struck while in the abbey. Rhys would always order them to do chores, he never hit them, they weren't used to what had just happened. Spencer glared up at the man, he didn't even know his name yet he was starting to hate him, "You're Spencer?" He nodded, still rubbing the sobbing red head's hand, "Yes. Rhys told me about you too, you're mature, slightly too mature for your age." The man's dark blue eyes twinkled, "You're very protective of Bryan. Who is he, the navy haired one?" The blonde shook his head, "So he's the lilac haired one? Ian's the navy haired one then?"
The boys had unconsciously grouped together, Ian and Bryan finally running over and hiding behind the two older kids.
"You four aren't going to voice your opinions, you aren't going to speak unless you're told and you aren't going to cry." He glared at Tala, his tears still falling on his flushed face. "I'm your new teacher, Dr Robert Tabener, you'll do what I say when I say."
The boys didn't respond. Spencer released Tala, standing up to his full height. He came up to the doctor's mid stomach. He glared, his eyes snapping over to Bryan momentarily, finding the boy latched onto his hand. He squeezed it, comforting the younger a bit.
"Now… I'm sure you four understand you're going to be working hard? That you won't be slacking off at any time?" They nodded. Tala had finally risen to his feet, rubbing away the remaining tears in his eyes. His hand still hurt, but it would go away, he wouldn't have to worry, "Good. We're starting now. Go! Four laps around the abbey!"
o0o0o
Kai stared out the window adoringly, a very small smile on his lips. He was getting out of the house! He was actually leaving his grandfather's mansion!
He beamed up at his grandfather, the man's frown making him turn away, grin fading. He watched, entranced by the way the snow fell lazily to the ground. He rubbed irritably at the fog on the window when he breathed too hard. He liked the look of snow, it looked peaceful, almost… heavenly. He knew that the snow had a dark side also: killing slowly, smothering.
He was 11, still very much a child though his grandfather had been training him for a few years. He had blue hair, his fringe lighter than the flat back, his red eyes widened as a large, old building came into sight. They widened even more when he felt the limousine they were travelling in slow down.
"Get out Kai, we're here."
o0o0o
"Come on… we… only got… two and… a half laps… left…" Spencer panted as he jogged backwards, watching worriedly as Ian swayed tiredly. He was just too young and too little to be doing this kind of a run. Bryan and Tala weren't coping any better. He ran back to Ian, "I'll carry you."
Ian looked up with surprise, "You will?"
Spencer nodded, kneeling down slowly in front of the younger boy. Tala and Bryan watched a little bit ahead of them, their own breath coming out in quick gasps, steaming up in front of them. Ian nodded, climbing up on the blonde's back his arms wrapping loosely around his neck.
Spencer took a deep breath, stepping forward, "Come on... two and a... half... laps left..."
o0o0o
"Where are these amazing bladers?" Voltaire asked, his hand rising to shake the abbey owner's.
"They aren't amazing bladers, at least not yet. They are picking the sport up quickly, very quickly for their age." Boris replied, his eyes falling to the boy beside Voltaire, "Is this the young Kai?"
The older man nodded, "This would be hi-"
"Watch out...! People are… in the way… up ahead!" The two visitors and owner turned curiously watching as three boys ran up to them.
"Come… on Spence… Do you… think… we're blind… or something?" Tala panted back, jogging just in front of the blonde.
Kai watched curiously as the last boy giggled slightly, "Ah boys! Come here, I have someone you need to meet!" The three boys stopped, Ian slipped off Spencer's back, all four of them wandering closer to Boris, panting and gasping for breath, "Voltaire, Kai, meet Spencer, Bryan, Tala and Ian. They are the boys I've been telling you about." He patted each on the head as he said their name.
"What is the meaning of this Boris? You told me they were improving at a quick rate, but these… these kids can't be doing that well!"
Tala growled, his eyes widening in surprise as Spencer spoke up, "Ian's been beyblading for about a year now, Tala, Bryan and I for about six months." The blonde bowed politely, recognising Voltaire's name immediately, "We need to go now sir, training and all." He motioned for the others to follow him as he started jogging, "Two and a quarter laps to go!"
Voltaire watched as they ran off, yelling goodbyes behind them. Kai waved slightly back, amazed; he'd never really seen other kids before.
Boris smirked, "Lively, aren't they?"
"Yes." The older man replied, "Too lively. You agreed to create the perfect army, therefore, they need to be emotionless, all they will do is distract them." He turned to Kai, "Return to the car, I'll be out in a moment."
o0o0o
They collapsed, Bryan on top of Spencer, their bed squeaking noisily as they shuffled around.
"I don't like that guy." Spencer nodded, though it was hard with Bryan practically sitting on his stomach. He groaned as he rolled over, effectively making Bryan land on his head.
After their laps they'd had to do sit-ups, then more running before they actually got to use a beyblade. They were constantly critisised, "Elbow up!"
"Tilt the launcher!" He sighed. They hadn't even had dinner, they were just too tired. He promised himself that he'd talk to Rhys tomorrow, or he'd let Bryan use him as a mattress.
"So tired..." He snickered as Bryan curled up against him, burying his head in the blonde's shirt. The lilac haired boy sighed, clutching the blonde's hand. The thing with Tala had scared him. He never thought about pain, about punishment; as soon as he came to the abbey Spencer had warned and watched over him. He felt tears prick the sides of his eyes; he didn't want to feel pain.
Spencer wrapped his arms around him, whispering to the youth. The blonde sighed, he'd also been surprised by this... Taberner guy's actions. There had to be a rule against it! There had to be! You couldn't go around hitting kids with metal rods! He'd been disgusted with the man, the respect he held for everyone, wasted on him. He wanted Rhys back, he wanted Boris to get rid of this other man, this... Doctor.
He knew that was very unlikely.
He'd overheard Boris talking and it worried him. What did they mean by emotionless? How can someone not have emotions? It was... impossible. You had to feel something: anger, hate, love, like, happiness, sadness... He sighed, trying to imagine any of them without feelings.
It wouldn't suit Ian, the boy was too hyperactive and annoying for that, it would cause the boy to lose who he was. Tala? No, he was too bossy and opinionated, always arguing, he couldn't see him beign quiet. Bryan... He pecked the boy's cheek. He couldn't see his innocent Bryan without feelings.
He felt Bryan kiss his chin, smiling a bit as they clung to each other under the blankets. Spencer sighed, what was going to happen to them?
Fire: Not my best chapter but eh… I hit the 99.9 percent… -sweatdrop- Review please!