My instinct told me to scream, and scream as loud as I could. That was always the first lesson in self defense - and of course, me being the all-I-can-really-do-is-defend-crap-ninja - scream as loud as you can. However, that wouldn't work in my case. That's what they wanted. We were trapped, doomed to a fiery death. The only possible way out was if Sasuke knew that something was wrong. That 'wrong' would be me stuck in here. If I let out any indication that I was in here, Sasuke would have to stop, and let me out, probably releasing my captors in the process.
I cursed myself for being tricked so easily, again, and allowing someone to capture me. I was going to screw up Naruto and Sasuke's plan.
"Listen to me carefully." The man holding my tight in his grip said with a voice that sent chills down my spine. "Unless you want to burn to death, you're going to let your friends know you're in here."
I shook my head as I bit down on my lip, terrified to even make a peep. Makes sense, right? You're about to die, but you can avoid that by screaming, and normally when you are being held against your will, you scream. So, what the hell was wrong with me? I mean, I'm doing the opposite of everything I've ever been told. So, why'd I do it? Probably the pessimistic side of me that thought my life had little value, or maybe the part of me that didn't want to screw up Naruto's and Sasuke's plan. I don't want to be the one to mess things up.
"Never." I hissed, barely loud enough for my captor to hear. It takes him a second to register what I said, but when he does, he's furious.
"We'll see. Just you wait." And I will wait, but I won't be the one to squeal.
Then, to my surprise, my headband was pulled down over my eyes, and tied securely behind my head. Now my heart is pounding away in my chest, and my lungs are begging for me to scream, as loud and as long as I can.
What did they have in mind for me? Torture? [Probably.] But why the headband? [So you can't see who's torturing you, duhh.] And again, I'm talking to myself. Shut up Toki! [Make me.]
Blindly, I'm pushed away to god knows where. And I'm terrified. Yet I refuse to scream. Soon, the smell of smoke crawls up my nostrils and I know Sasuke has done its job. Now it's just a matter of time until I burn. Despite this obvious fate, all I can worry about is if Kakashi made it out okay. I always did value other lives above my own.
"What's this? A captive?" A new voice, raspy and not nearly as terrifying as my captor's, but it still sends chills down my spine. Maybe the fact that I know I will die with these men is scaring the crap out of me.
"Yeah. Damn leaf bitch." The first one says, shoving me in the back.
"Well what the hell do we do with her?" Another new voice. How many people will die here? Me and at least three others. At least.
"Get her to scream. If they know she's here, they'll have to let her out, and then we can get out as well."
"Make her scream, huh?" Yet again, a new voice. All men. Now I'm terrified, and not for my life. There's a lust in his voice, as if he's not about to die.
"We don't have time for that!" Someone's sticking up for me? No, not really, more like sticking up for themselves.
A groan comes from behind me, and I realize the exact man who is lusting for me is only inches away. I'm too afraid to speak, but I do stumble forward, trying to get away from him. However, that was a futile attempt. Strong hands grabbed my wrists, and I they were bound together by a thick rope.
"Tie her ankles too."
"Please... No..." I whimper, feeling completely helpless. Where did my confidence go? Any strength I had left? Gone. That outer core of mine was washed away, and now I was the old me. No, I wasn't even the 'me' I had become. I was the cowardly little girl that I didn't even remember. I think only Kakashi can remember this girl at her full potential. Toki, please, I need help. But she was gone. I was alone in myself.
"Now she talks." The sarcasm dripped off his voice as rope strapped my ankles together, and cut into my flesh. I gasped at the force of it and the pain that surged through my ankles.
"Tighten her wrists too." Oh god, no! They were going to torture me! Then the rope at my wrists tightened too, and another gasp escaped. This time though, smoke entered my lungs. The fire was getting closer, and the smoke was swirling around us.
I coughed painfully as my throat tightened, then brought my knees up to my chest and hid my face in my knees, hoping to get some fresh air. Or less smoky air.
The men around me coughed and swore. Four of them. I was outnumbered four to one. And I was losing. I hope they all burn in hell after they burn here.
"This isn't working! Get her to scream, now!"
Pushing with my feet, I scooted back on the ground, trying to get away from them, but I ended up at the feet of another.
"How's that working for you?" He hissed mockingly, wrenching me up by my shoulders. I gasped out, but refused to scream. If I could just keep this up for a few minutes, maybe, just maybe, I'd achieve.
My body shook in fear as his grimy hands tightened around my upper arms to the point where his fingernails dug into my skin. Desperately, I bit my lower lip, trying not to scream. I only succeeded in bringing myself more pain, tasting the blood that now flowed from my lip. Was I trying to help them?!
"God damn this stubborn bitch." Now, a blow to my stomach. Hard.
This time, the air was knocked completely out of me, and all I could do was gasp for air. Again, more smoke filled my lungs.
"Go burn in hell." I hissed, trying to stay as quiet as possible. Only the guy holding me heard my remark, and in exchange his grip grew tighter and he shook me violently. Now tears welled at my eyes - of course, only to be absorbed by the black cloth of my headband - from the pain and my breath came in raspy sobs.
"This isn't working."
"Don't you think I noticed?"
"You shithead! Getting us a useless captive! We might as well kill her." Please, just kill me.
"I got a better idea." The sound of footsteps thundered off, and my heart dropped even lower then it already was. The room was getting hotter and hotter, the smoke was getting closer, and I could hear the fire blazing somewhere not too far off. Where did he plan to go and not get burned?
Soon he returned, and a gasp of awe came from his companions. This did not sound good.
"Ever seen a cow branded little girl?" Branded? Branded! Oh shit! Now I knew what they planned to do.
"Stay away from me!" I yelled, struggling against the man's grip, but he held my strong and firm. I was doomed. I always did want a tattoo, but not this way.
"There we go, now we're getting her to scream." Shit, I just gave them what they wanted. Immediately, I bit my lip again, bringing the blood back into my mouth.
"Won't be too hard to brand you, there's so much fire here. And lucky us, we found a bar." He pressed the warm bar against my bare arm, which made me jump. It wasn't hot enough to leave a mark, but just knowing that he wasn't bluffing was scaring the crap out of me.
"Please, no! Please! I'll do whatever you want!" I sobbed. I had caved in, and failed. I'm sorry Naruto. I'm sorry Sasuke. I ruined it. I messed up the plan. I always was the weakest link.
"Good girl. Now, you're going to tell your friends you're here, alright?" I nodded slowly, my whole body shaking.
"Good. Good. Where are your friends?"
"The one b-burning the b-building is at the back d-door. The o-others are... are at the f-f-front." I felt like I was stuttering or drunk, but I knew I was sobbing, only because the cloth of my headband was wet against my eyes.
"C'mon, go to the front!" He barked the command at the others, and soon I was being dragged along at a slow pace. My legs shook and I was having trouble walking. I failed. I failed.
"Alright, now call your friend."
I didn't for a little while as I was pressed up to the door. "N-Naruto..." I cried out, my voice shaking.
"Nikki!?" He called back, the surprise thick in his voice. "What's going on? I thought you were with Sasuke and Kakashi!"
"P-please Naruto..." I cried.
"Tell him to let you out." My captors demanded.
"Hang on; I'm going to let you out!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto! No!" I screamed. "Don't!"
"Bitch!" Another blow to my stomach, and I was exhausted of breath. My throat was so tight, my lungs were screaming insanely, begging for air. Light-headedness overwhelmed me, and I struggled for breath before calling out to my teammate again.
"Don't Naruto, whatever you do." I gasped for breath again. "The ones you locked up in here. They have me. If you let me out, you let them out." I sobbed, slumping against the door.
"I don't care!" Naruto snapped. The door knob jiggled beside me, and I could almost see the triumphant smile that would be on my captors' faces - although faceless they were to me.
"Naruto! NO!" I shouted, pushing against the door. It opened inwards, so as long as I kept my weight against it, he couldn't open the door.
"Get her out of the way, now! And somebody deal with the pest on the other end." I was picked up, and I could hear footsteps beneath me.
"You're the only one gonna burn now." He laughed. As he ran, the heat increased around us, and I felt completely helpless. Soon enough, I was thrown into a room, and the last sound was the door slamming closed, a lock clicking, and footsteps growing more distant by the second.