Lord Death watched alongside Stein, Sid, Marie and Spirit through the glass of the window. He burrowed his brows together in sympathy as he watched Garry pull at his bonds, the leather straps pulling so much until he thought they might snap.
"This is just terrible," Marie commented as Garry cried out in frustration. She twiddled her thumbs nervously as Stein lit a cigarette he had taken out of his pocket. She snatched it from his mouth and threw it on the floor, squashing it with her boot, "and stop smoking- it's a bad habit." Stein rolled his eyes at her. He had dark bags under his eyes from staying up all night to re bandage Garry's face- and let's just say he wasn't very cooperative. Each time he held the scissors high, Garry recoiled and tried to hit one of them. Whenever Marie had come close, or touched him he started screeching like a banshee and plowed through them, trying to break down the door, which Stein had Kid and Tsubaki bolt tightly before dragging him inside. Sid had his arm reattached with a boatload of stitches after he had tried holding Garry down. Instead of complying, Garry had decided to use his teeth after Spirit had dove in and held his legs down. Sid's arm was then bitten clean off.
"Leave me alone!" they heard Garry shout, "Ib! Where's Ib?!" Marie shook her head somberly.
"Do i have to watch this?" she asked, "I really don't like the fact that he thinks I'm this person who killed this little girl he was trying to help." Blood poured from aery's cuts and scars as they ripped open into fresh new wounds.
'Stay," Stein commanded, "we'll need you, okay?" Marie sighed, bust stayed where she was, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
"How long has this been going on?" Lord Death asked. His usually chipper voice was tired. Stein checked his watch.
"About four hours now," he answered, "the kid should tire himself out sooner or later." Spirit groaned.
"You said that two hours ago!" he whined, "I wanna go see Maka and them, and instead I'm stuck here watching this psychopath scream his head off!"
"I'm sure your daughter is capable of watching hereof, Spirit," Stein said, "and besides, after this scare, I think they want t spend time alone to recuperate a bit." Spirit crossed his arms and huffed, sticking out his lower lip in a pout. Stein smacked him across the face, leaving a stinging red mark. Spirit rubbed his cheek.
"What the heck was that for?!" he asked with bewilderment.
"Grow up, Spirit," Stein barked, "this isn't about father-daughter bonding, this is about helping this kid in front of us. Maka can handle herself, she doesn't need you meddling with her and her friends right now. Got it?" Spirit nodded, shrinking himself until he cowered next to Sid, muttering, Stein is scary, Sid!" Sid patted the man's head.
"Anyway," Stein said, "like I said, he'll tire himself out eventually."
"And what if he doesn't?" Lord Death asked, "what if-"
"Lord Death, Sir," Stein interrupted, "If that happens, we'll just have to wait here."
"And listen to him scream?" Marie asked, "and arch him bleed to death?" Tears were forming in her eyes.
"Yes, Marie, we will do just that." he said. Lord Death shook his head, sighing.
"What's wrong, Headmaster?" Marie asked.
"Is this what happened with Crona?" he asked, "was he this bad?"
"I don't think so, why?" Marie asked.
"Because I'm thinking if this boy is worse off than Crona was, we might need his help," Lord Death explained.
"Crona? But why?" Marie asked, flailing her arms. Garry screamed again and there was a loud rip sounding. Everyone peered through the glass as Garry ripped his arm free of one of the leather bonds. Marie winced as Garry tore at his bond with his free hand. Stein grabbed Spirit and dragged him to his feet, running towards the door.
"Let's go!" Stein commanded. Spirit had to run to keep up.
"What! Now?!" Spirit focused on Garry as they ran into the chamber, "are you nuts?!"
"Duh! Now let's go!" Stein and Spirit dove for the floor as they ran into the room, avoiding a kick from Garry by a few inches. The boy cried out in frustration as his fingers scrabbled for a good hold on the leather. Spirit's body glowed until two curved blades protruded from his back. With a jump, he landed in Steins hand as a weapon of mass destruction- Lord Death's death scythe. With a swing, Stein slashed the blade at Garry, who bent over backwards to avoid getting cut. The air whistled right above his nose as he toppled over from the momentum.
"He's down!" Spirit yelled, "go now!" Stein bought the blade down on Garry, the blade getting stuck in the floor between the boy's legs. Stein tugged at the thick black hand, but it was no use. Spirit was lodged in the floor.
"Crap!" Stein yelled as he ditched Spirit and jumped to the floor, hands outstretched for Garry. Garry slid across the floor, pain shooting up his arm that was tethered to the pole. Stein landed beside him, chin hitting the ground with a crack. Marie watched nervously with Sid and Lord Death. Sid was reaching into his pocket, producing a wad of cash. He flipped his fingers through the money, counting silently, then pulling one from the pile and waving it in the air.
"Twenty bucks Stein wins!" he said, "what about you?" He handed the cash to Marie.
"What?' Marie asked, shoving the money at the zombie, "are you crazy? You don't bet on people!" Sid shrugged, taking the money back.
"What?" he asked, "I'm bored, okay?"
"Please, just watch in case anything happens, okay?" Lord Death chimed in. Spirit was still lodged int he ground as Stein went to punch Garry in the face. Garry dodged his swing and bought his leg up between Stein's legs. Stein sank to his knees and cried out in pain. All three of them cringed.
"That's gotta hurt," Sid commented as Stein spewed a string of curses, each one worse then the one before it. They watched as Spirit returned to human form, flailing his arms and legs wildly as he went to help Stein. Still tied to the pole, Garry delivered a roundhouse kick and sent Spirit flying across the room, crashing into the wall. Sid lifted the money in the air.
"Is it to late to take back my bet?" he asked. Garry had gone back to scratching at the leather around his wrist, finally able to tear through it and free himself.
"Ah, shit!" Stein yelled, grabbing Spirit and heaving him over his shoulder. Spirit had hit his head against the wall when he landed, knocking him unconscious. Garry was advancing on them, his hands curled into fists. As Garry swung, Stein lurched forward, dodging Garry's blow just in time.
"Do you think they need help?" Sid asked, watching as Stein ran around with Spirit's limp body, Garry charging after them like a bull. They watched as Garry jumped, wrapping his arms around Stein's waist, bringing him down with a thud. Stein's glasses flew off his face and clattered on the floor, skittering a few feet away.
"Yup," Marie nodded, "let's go." They ran past Lord Death and pulled open the heavy iron door, throwing themselves into the fight. Marie had her arm transformed into a giant hammer, and she was slamming down wherever Garry was. Unfortunately, Garry was nimble and quick, dodging every one of her attacks while he ran away from Sid, who was plowing his way after Garry, who was running in circles after Stein and Spirit.
"KYAAA!" Stein shrieked, "TAKE HIM! TAKE HIM!" With a grunt, he heaved Spirit's body behind him. Garry cried out as he was hit, falling to the floor. He tried pushing Spirit off him, but to no avail the man's body was a dead weight, anchoring him to the spot. He gasped for breath as Marie and Sid joined Stein, leaning over him.
"That was not a very smart idea, young man," Sid commented, wiping sweat from his forehead. Stein shot him an annoyed look.
"Why…. are you sweating," he panted, "if I was the one who….ran… around carrying…. this tub of lard here?" He gestured to Spirit as Marie and Sid lifted him off of Garry. Stein grabbed Garry's wrists in one of his big hands, dragging the boy towards the door. Garry blew his purple hair out of his face as he tried digging his heels into the floor. Stein jerked him forward, and with his free hand slapped him across the face. The blood on Garry's face was crusting over, drying in his cuts.
"You've caused enough trouble, don't you think?" he asked, his voice sharp and bitter. Garry stopped resisting and followed Stein, who tightened his grip on his wrists as they walked out of the chamber and past Lord Death.
"Where are you going, Stein?" Lord Death called after them. Marie and Sid stood beside the Headmaster, watching Stein and Garry's receding forms as they held onto Spirit.
"The lab!" Stein yelled over his shoulder. Garry stiffened, but continued walking. Stein gritted his teeth as he grabbed at the large bolt in his head, twisting it furiously. To Garry, he said, "You and I are gonna have a little fun." Garry's eyes widened as Stein walked faster. He had to run to keep up.
The man's glasses are still in the chamber, Garry thought as they turned a corner. He blinked as he saw other people - the group who saved me, he thought as Stein stalked past them, tugging on Garry's wrists hard. A girl with brown pigtails raised a hand.
"Professor Stein!" she called. The man gave a grunt. A boy with white hair and menacing red eyes put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"I don't think you should talk to him right now, Maka," they boy said, "Stein's got Garry, and he looks pissed." Garry stared at them as he and Stein passed, shooting a curious glare at them. The boy jumped slightly as Maka- what he called her- furrowed her brow, giving him a sympathetic look. A strong wave of chlorine hit his nose as they walked further down the hall. Stein was mumbling to himself.
"Gotta find the scalpel first…incisions there…stitch up that area too….maybe the cleaver? No…."
Stein jerked him forward as they entered a room. Counters lined the wall, covered with papers. Glass test tubes with chemicals of all different colors lines the countertops. Needles lay in open drawers, sharp and ready to sting. In the center of the room, a single bulb hung from the ceiling, an examination table sitting underneath it. Grabbing him under the armpits, Stein carried Garry and threw him onto the table, leaning underneath and pulling up a single black velcro strap.
"What are you-" before he could finish asking, Stein smacked him across the face, opening some of his cuts. Fresh blood dripped down his cheek. Taking the strap in his fingers, he pulled it tightly across Garry's chest, securing it underneath the other end of the table. Garry squirmed.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" he sounded frantic, his eyes wild. Stein ignored him, instead grabbing another strap and stretching it across the boy's legs, tightly securing this as well. Garry kicked, but it was no use- he was stuck, at Stein's will. Garry's face stung with pains he said every word.
"Shut the fuck up!" Stein barked, spitting as he yelled. Garry winced, thinking he might slap him again, but thankfully didn't. His blood was warm against his skin. After tightening the straps under the table, Stein clamped his hands over Garry's wrists, anchoring them to the surface. With a faint purplish glow, Stein removed his hands, and in their place were two thick metal cuffs. He did the same with his neck, leaving slightly red marks. There was no lock on any of them. Garry tried to squeeze his hand through, but the hole was too small, fitting tightly around his bony wrist. Due to the cuff at his neck, he was unable to move it well. He gasped for breath as the metal dug into his trachea.
"I don't think that's wise," Stein said nonchalantly as he went over to one of the counters, hunching over whatever he was doing. Stein carefully held a syringe between his fingers, flicking the long needle. Garry stared at the lightbulb that hung from its chain on the ceiling. Stein's shadow fell over him as the professor approached, syringe in hand. Garry took a quick glance and his eyes widened. The man's eyes were wide, his pupils dilated until it looked as if they were just tiny pencil dots at the end of a sentence.
"Wh-what are you doing….?!" Garry shouted as loud as he could. If someone hears they might be able to help me! he thought as Stein leaned over him. With a shaking hand, he grabbed at Garry's shirt, his fingers digging into the fabric. With a silent laugh, he ripped it, green cloth floating to the needle was poised shakily over his heart, pressed sharply against his skin.
"You've been causing a lot of…. trouble, lately," Sten said, licking his lips.
"Wh-what do you mean?! Why did you pause!?" Garry was frantic, shaking his head side to side as best he could while he tried to pull his hands free. There was a loud bang as Stein pushed the boy's head against the table, holding it there. Sweat dripped down Garry's face. He felt a small sting as Stein pushed the needle into him. Garry could feel some sort of fluid move through his veins, he felt the liquid freeze. His body jerked as he felt something cut into him. Stein released his grip on the syringe, leaving it plunged through his skin.
"There," Stein said, wiping his forehead, "now you won't cause any trouble." Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at where he felt the strong sting of pain. He noticed Stein jump slightly as the door banged open, hitting the wall.
"Professor! Professor!" came a girl's voice- Maka's voice, Garry recalled from hearing it before.
"Hello, Maka, Soul," Stein greeted them with a normal smile, as if he was not sticking needles in people that were chained to examination tables in creepy labs at the moment. He heard Soul gasp.
"Professor! What the hell are you doing?!" he heard Soul shout.
"He won't be causing any more problems," Stein said casually, "that's for sure." Garry had his eyes fixed on his arm, where he felt the most pain. Opening his mouth, he let out a bloodcurdling shriek, making Soul and Maka cover their ears.
Blood flowed freely as it literally poured from his arm. Protruding from his arm was a large shrapnel of metal. It twitched and writhed as it burrowed, big slits blinking and showing pale white eyes. With a loud squeak, it dug into his arm until it disappeared completely.
"Wh-what did you do to me?!" Garry shouted. Stein wiped the needle of the syringe on his lab coat before placing it on the counter-top next to him.
"If you get into any trouble," Stein said, "the shrapnel will come out of your arm and go warn us." Soul's eyes bugged in his head.
"Dude…. that is so disgusting there are no words to explain how disgusting that is," he said. Maka punched his arm.
"Even if it's disgusting, it may prove helpful," Maka said, "what if Mary comes back?" At the name, Garry stiffened on the table, still bonded to it by the metal cuffs. Sweat beaded on his forehead as his eye widened.
"I suggest that you don't mention that name around him," Stein suggested. Garry's face was slick with sweat. Maka pointed to the cuffs.
"Maybe you should undo those?" she asked, "it looks like they're hurting him." Indeed, the cuffs were cutting into his skin, leaving fresh raw gashes. Stein waved it away as he took out a cigarette and lit it.
"Sorry, but he'll have to be secured until he calms down," Stein said as he placed the cigarette between his lips. He glanced at Garry, who was trying to get out of his restraints by squeezing his fists through the cuffs. his chest heaved with effort.
"But he's been through so much lately, do you really think this is necessary to-" Maka protested.
"Maka, I am a teacher at this school. You are a student," Stein explained through gritted teeth, "As a teacher, you kids are my responsibility. And in order to take care of you, which is what we do while you kids are here, we must take certain measures in order to do so."
"But-" Maka started. Soul put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back a step.
"Maka, don't" Soul warned.
"We must take these measures in order to keep the students safe," Stein said, "do you want to know why we're doing this?"
"Nope," Soul said, "I think we're good, so come on, Maka, let's go-"
"Yes, please tell me, Professor," Maka cut Soul off as he slumped his shoulders, moaning.
"You always need to push, don't you?" Soul muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. He jumped when Garry gave a scream of frustration, flinching when Stein slapped him across the face. Garry's head hit the metal table with a loud bang.
"He's dangerous," Stein said, "you don't know what happened to him during those three months. You know that little girl, Mary? The girl int he painting that tried to kill him?" Maka and Soul nodded. Stein continued, "Well, once he heard Marie's name and once he saw her- they both have blond hair- he went into a rage, thinking Marie was Mary. He attacked us- Sid, Marie and I, that is. Your father as well."
"But you're adults! You're able to protect yourself to the fullest!" Maka suggested to him. Stein's shoulders shook as he laughed.
"Are you kidding me? He knocked your father unconscious-" Soul grimaced at this, since Spirit was more of a liability then a help- "Marie and I were barely able to make it out of that room with our hides!" Soul raised an eyebrow. He had only mentioned four of them, after all.
"And Sid?" Soul asked, "what about him?"
"This one here," Stein tugged at Garry's hair, pressing his neck against hard against the cuff, "bit the zombie's arm clean off. And this was when we had him tied to a post as if he was a wild animal!" He let go of Garry's head and let it hit the table again. A loud bang echoed in the room as Maka glanced at Garry, then at Stein, then back at Garry. Soul took her arm and started walking her tower the door.
"Well, Professor, thanks for your time, but I think we should go now," Soul said throwing a wave behind him, "so see you later!" The door slammed behind them as Soul dragged Maka out of the room, leaving Stein alone with Garry. The last thing they heard were Stein and Garry screaming at each other, each one sounding more inhumane than the other each time they shouted, accompanied by loud bangs and crashes.