Consequences

Part 4 of 9

"I have to go to the bathroom!"

"He kidnapped us, dofus. I don't think he really cares about that."

Gwen Tennyson glared back at her brother before turning again to the door. She didn't know how long they had been there, and so far 11K hadn't seen any need to give them any food or water. Regardless, 9-year-old bladders were not intended to hold waste indefinitely, and she had to go.

"I gotta use the bathroom! I gotta use the bathroom!" she repeated, banging on the door. She hopped up and down, crossing her legs. "Lemme out!"

To the kid's immense surprise, they heard a loud clanking noise, the thick door swung forward, with Gwen backing quickly out of the way.

"Who is making that infernal noise?" human Kevin Levin roared at them. His fists were clenched and a vein in his forehead stuck out. Gwen took another step backward, her eyes growing larger as she craned her neck back to look at him. She was small for her age, and he was… not. Ken sat up straighter where he was seated across the room.

"Umm… I gotta… go potty…"

"That is what the floor is for, child," he glared back.

"But, … I can't… that's bad, I can't do that!" she stammered.

"Listen very closely, insect," he leaned down, closer to her face, his voice deadly calm, "I have no time or patience for your whining. It would be very prudent for you not to anger me. Do you understand?"

Gwen froze, but it wasn't so much from his words or proximity as it was from the feeling that seemed to radiate off him. It was like she could feel him as well as see and hear. It was... strange.

The feeling was dark and threatening and scarier than anything she had ever felt before. She didn't like it. But she couldn't focus on anything else.

"I said, do you understand?"

Ken was at her side, his hands on her shoulders. She didn't feel him as strong, but she could suddenly feel nervousness and protectiveness coming off him. He felt more familiar to her. "We understand."

"Wise answer, Tennyson. I trust you will keep your sister in line from now on."

"We'll be good."

Kevin's eyes narrowed. "I doubt as a Tennyson you have the ability to tell the truth, but for your own sake I suggest you try." He turned and left the room, shutting and chaining the door behind him.

Gwen still stood frozen. Ken focused on her. "What is up with you?"

She blinked, trying to clear her head, but it was foggy and hurt. "I dunno. I feel weird."

"How weird?"

"Like…" she searched for the words, "like I could feel him, his feelings. They felt scary."

Ken frowned. "How do you feel his feelings?"

"I dunno, but, I think, I can kinda feel yours, too. Like… like now, you feel… confused and worried, an' you want… us to get rescued real soon."

"Like some kinda telepathy?" He felt a bit alarmed.

"Maybe, I dunno what that feels like, but maybe." She looked up at him. "It hurts, Ken. It hurts my head."

"It'll be ok," his feelings not quite matching the tone in his voice, "go lay down for a little bit, ok? Maybe that will help. That's what Mom says to do when we're not feeling well."

So Gwen lay down on the floor, but continued to feel traces of 11K and Ken's feelings drifting to her the whole while.

The 10K Compound had been a bustling, hectic place filled with all types of people and beings since long before Gwen had been born. There had always been cons to that situation; the lack of privacy, inability to have a "normal" family life, and the fact that Gwen often became attached to people who were simply employees and would leave for new jobs and never look back. However, overall she had always liked it. The activity was exciting. She had extended family around her all the time. She was a social child, and liked having numerous people to talk to and play with. The Tennyson children were highly liked by all, and got quite a lot of attention from everyone. All in all, the compound was a good place to grow up.

In Gwen's current situation, it was a nightmare.

She was constantly picking up on stray emotions from people all over the base and beyond. The "signals" seemed to vary based on two factors; the closeness of the person and the intensity of the feelings. The closer and more intense they were, the stronger she felt them. Family members had taken to staying in the infirmary with them, and this was intensifying the problem. She was simply being exposed to too much.

It didn't help that she hadn't spoken to anyone except Kenny, so no one knew about her new powers or what they were doing to her.

Gwen was drowning in negative adult feelings she had never felt before, and becoming more and more withdrawn and worn out.

Author's Note:

Once again, thanks to Afigureofspeech for betaing. Also thanks to everyone who has reviewed! I appreciated your comments, thoughts, and support.

Last chapter was a bit… intense. I thought long and hard about that turn in the story, and I really feel that was the best way to go. I didn't take it lightly, nor did I do it for any type of shock value. It felt, organically, like it was the best, most realistic, course for 11K's abuse of the kids to take. Having said that, I do take Kevin's psychosis to a level well beyond seen in Ken 10, so I can understand why it can seem out of character. I appreciate that you have stuck with the story.