AN: Ok, this is a nice little chapter full of torture and violence. Really guys, this chapter takes fucked up to a whole new level. You have been warned.
AN2: For any reading this, this chapter was inspired by one of my favorite stories. "Tenth Street Red" by Astarpen. Its under Mass Effect and I highly recommend it. Damn good fic.
Alienvspredator5- Not good indeed, and as for what Blood has in store. Even I feel bad for Jake after writing this. Thanks for reviewing and enjoy teh show.
Whisper dark rose- He's not dead yet. But I think even the icy heartless bitch queen will feel sorry for our hero by the end. Nice nickname by the way, and can't say I wouldn't have done the same as you in that situation. Thank you for teh review and hope you like the chapter.
ON WIT TEH FIC!
In the Hive's central operations HQ there lived a select few individuals. Just enough to manage all the different cells and enough security to ensure nothing short of a tank could make it through their defenses.
The school and training grounds on another location, and very isolated. Past incidents with new trainees had taught them the importance of keeping it hidden away. The organization of the command structure meant that all the individual cells operated independently from each other and only reported in via a secure line to a communications operative who then relayed to the HQ.
All said and done, it was a very closed community in witch everyone working in the HQ knew everyone else and were very wary of any newcomers. And especially alert around outsiders.
So when a strange electric blue haired girl strolled right inside like someone left her a key under the doormat, people spared her than just a second glance. Yet despite the suspicious stares she kept bouncing down the halls wearing a grin that on anyone else would have been just plain creepy.
She looked to be about fourteen. Barely more than a child. The way she acted, how seemingly unaware she was of the world her only seemed to confirm this. But it was her eyes that gave away her true age. Though seemingly care free, her eyes were devoid of the innocence that they should have held. Instead they were cold grey orbs, holding the experience and wisdom reserved for someone much older.
Her attire, however, was much more her age. Black skirt with purple, black striped socks going to her knees and combat boots adorning her feet. She also wore a hooded grey jacket with an intricate abstract pattern going up the selves and more art that looked to have been sketched onto its back and chest. Lastly, what was visible of her shirt suggested she was a fan of Evanescence.
Two guards standing outside a door watched the blue haired girl bound down the hall, paying no attention to any of the cameras, turrets, and eyes tracking her every move. One smirked trying to hold back a laugh at the ridiculousness of the girl. The other checked to ensure his assault rifle was loaded. Years of training had instilled the belief that everyone was to be considered a threat until proven otherwise.
As she made a move to enter the door they were tasked to guard he stepped in front her before she could even reach for the handle. "Authorization." He demanded.
She cocked her head to the side and gave a confused look. Bringing her pale hands up to her head to remove a pair of earbuds from obstructing her hearing. "I'm here to see Blood." She spoke in an almost excited tone. "Something about you needing a pro at information extraction."
He looked her over, true they were expecting a someone to drop by for exactly those reasons but they couldn't possibly be her. She was a kid for fuck sake. He was about to ask for some ID when his comm cracked to life. "She's clear, let her through."
He hesitated a moment longer before stepping aside. "Sorry for the delay, ma'am. Understand, security is tight for a reason."
Without another word she stepped past him and into the office behind him.
Upon entering the change it atmosphere stunned her for a moment. Florescent lighting replace by the soft warm glow a fire place on the far side of the room. Steel walls gave way to wood paneling, and white tile merged with black and the gold hexagonal emblem displayed in front of the antique wooden desk. A desk witch Brother Blood was seated behind.
"Thank you for coming miss, Artemis, wasn't it?" Blood spoke to the newcomer.
The girl walked up and spun around a chair, taking a seat facing Blood while resting her chin on the backrest. "Yep, that's me. Hear you got a prisoner you need broken." Once again there was an eagerness to her voice.
"Something like that yes." Blood sifted through a few papers before him before plucking one from the file and sliding it toward Artemis.
She reached her arm of and brought the paper before her face. Examining the paper she could honestly say she was intrigued. Lowering the paper so she could see Blood she arched an eyebrow. "Ex-S.W.A.T. What'd he do to deserve my company?"
"That is another matter, one witch we won't be discussing today. For now all I need you to do is to break him" Blood's tone though civil held an edge that didn't go unnoticed by Artemis.
"Alright, will do. Provided that you don't mind the bill."
"You will be paid when and if he gives, you come highly recommend and said to be well worth the price. I trust you'll live up to your reputation." He stated.
"Oh I'm worth it alright. Just let me grab my kit and we'll get to work."
Half an hour passed and Artemis was just about ready to get to work. In her hands was a five gallon bucket full of ice water. Strung up by rusted chains from the ceiling was the nude form of one Jake Arius.
She ran her eyes over his body and was absolutely giddy with anticipation. Oh, he was attractive for sure. Toned muscles from years of physical training and the still healing scars running over his chest and back were testaments to his resolve and endurance. But that had little to do with her current mood. No she was anxiously awaiting the fun she had been deprived of for so long.
She walked up, rested the bucket on the floor and brought her hand up to frame his face. She ran a hand down his cheek coming to a stop on the scar that had been recently cut midway between his left eye and his mouth and stretching all the way to his ear. She ran her thumb across the reddened skin before retracting her hand and picking up the bucket once more.
Stepping back she threw the contents of the bucket forward, cold water jerking to him back reality.
The first thing Jake noticed in his newly awakened state, it was colder than hell. The second was the pressure on his shoulders and strain on his arms. His conclusion, he was being chained up again. When he blinked open his eyes his prediction was proven correct and he saw his feet hanging beneath him. Then he saw why it was so bloody cold.
"What in hells name? Where the fuck'd my clothes go?" He shouted at no one. He looked up and saw nothing but an empty room and an equally empty bucket discarded on the ground.
A voice to his left caught his attention. "Don't worry, they'll be returned after we're through. Until then, well." She threw a glance over her shoulder. "Experience has shown me they'll only get in the way, and we wouldn't want that would we?" The owner of the voice turned back to her work, picking items out pf what he guessed to be a backpack of sorts. Already on the table was a bottle of clear liquid and black box with a digital readout and various knobs and switches covering the front. Lastly out pf the bag was a clear plastic case containing several needles in varying sizes.
Jake watched as she loaded it all onto a wheeled cart and turned to face him. What he saw was the last thing he expected. Facing him was a girl that looked to be barely more than a child. Her eyes though, they were not the innocent orbs that children held. No they were the hungry eyes of a predator on the prowl. "Who… What are you?" He asked in disbelief.
So looked up at him while rolling the cart over, "Oh, where are my manners?" She spoke in such a playful, carefree voice. "My name is Artemis Shepard. But for conversion sake you can call me Artie. As for what I am." She cracked open the case full of needles and began removing them one by one, washing them in a cup to the clear liquid. Judging from the smell it was alcohol or something along those lines. "I'm what some refer to as an extraction agent." After washing the needles she set each down on a white towel. "I'm called upon to forcibly retrieve information from people unwilling to talk. But in your case, well lets just say we'll not be stopping quite so early."
She deftly plucked a needle from the end of the row and in one fluid motion slid it effortlessly into the base of his spine. A sharp intake of breath was all Jake responded with.
"No offense Artie, but is this it? Needles and cold water?" Jake asked.
Artemis smirked as she stabbed another needle into another nerve cluster. "All in due time Jake. You of all people must appreciate patience and its rewards."
She continued the same pattern, running her hands across his skin and every so often stabbing another needle until Jake could safely call himself a pin cushion. The she flipped back the top of the back box and started taking leads within and hooking them to the needles.
She took a moment to examine her handy work. But once again her eyes were brought to the scars given to him by those who had came before her. "You know, its been so long since I've seen any work this sloppy." She said running a hand down a scar that ran across his chest. "You have my condolences, such amateur work. But now I'm here." She walked to the box and flipped two switches before hovering a finger over the now glowing button on top. "It's been so long since I've had to pull this out, it's one of my favorites. But often times it's a little to extreme. But not for you. No with you, I get to pull out all the stops." She slammed her finger down and Jake felt a jolt of electricity course through him.
Though the pain never came, a slight tingle yes, unbearable pain no. In fact over time the sensation could prove to be quite comfortable. Jake turned to look at Artemis with confusion written plainly on his face. Artie could feel the look without even looking at him and without turning around she answered the unasked question. "The electricity your feeling wasn't meant to hurt you. No far from it. I needed access to your nervous system. More specificly your sensory nervous system.
Those electrical impulses are interrupting the signals sent to your brain. In short you feel what I want you to feel." She turned and walked back up to him. "And right now Jake, I want you to feel pain." As lightly as a feather she touched a finger to his chest.
The response was immediate, searing hot pain from the point of contact caught Jake off guard. "SON OF A GOD DAMN BITCH!" He shouted.
Artemis ran her finger down his chest all the while Jake struggled in vain to distance himself from the pain inducing touch. Without missing a beat she picked up where she left off. "You see, your brain now interprets changes in temperature as sensations of inimaginable pain. Akin to that of lava being poured on your skin."
Jake clenched his jaw shut and forced his eyes closed. He would not show weaknesses. She brought her hand to his face and traced his scar. The pain exploding from every nerve in his body. It felt like someone was ripping him open with a knife and cauterizing it without anaesthetic.
Still she explained how this was possible, and the excited tone of her voice conveyed just how much she enjoyed this. "And the greatest part about this method. I was practically born for it." Her hands continued exploring his body in ways that were reserved for only the most intimate of lovers. "If you haven't already guessed. I'm one hundred percent, pure, grade A meta-human. My specialty? You guessed it, temperature alteration! I can freeze hydrogen and boil steel! But for now, lets stick with a comfy 50 below."
Jake bit his tongue to silence the cries of pain threatening to escape. A copper taste filled his mouth and Blood could be seen leaking from the sides of his mouth.
Artemis upon seeing this ceased her ministrations. She circled him as a predator would it's prey. Noting the time she realized she'd been at this for nearly twenty minutes. And aside from his rough start she'd heard not a single noise from her victim.
"Jake." She cooed as she lowered her hand onto his shoulder. She leaned in from behind him, pressing her body against his back. "Scream for me Jake" she whispered into his ear.
Jake managed to spit the blood pooling in his mouth on the floor and in a shakey voice uttered two words. "Fuck. You."
She retracted her hands and stepped away. Jake opened his eyes to try and find what she was doing walking away. Knowing it wouldn't be good he still had to see what was going on.
She bent down and opened a large box that until then Jake hadn't noticed. From it was retrieved another bucket. As she stood and started walking toward him he could hear the sloshing of liquid inside and the clanging of ice against it's sides.
His eyes widened in realization and slowly he shook his head, trying to dissuade her. The grin on her face, the look in her eyes, they showed not intention of stopping. He could do nothing but watch in horror as the bucket was lifted over his head and emptied.
AN:Ok so how bout that torture scene. Good? bad? Am I a shining golden god of the fanfic or heretical vermin deserving nothing less that to be burned in eternal hellfire? Drop me a review and tell me.