Chapter 3: Slowly but Surely

(5 days until the Cell games)

"It seems you've become accustom to the pain now Gohan. That's no fun. I have to get more creative with my torture methods. I need to hear the beautiful scream." Jason said as he looked for a certain tool.

Gohan looked stubbornly at Jason. He endured many torture methods but he didn't scream at all for the last two days. He refused to give Jason the pleasure of hearing him scream. It took a lot for him to hold in all the pain, but it was worth it to see the dissatisfaction on Jason's face.

Gohans eyes narrowed when Jason approached him with a drill. Jason laughed maniacally. "I want to hear that beautiful sound and I won't stop today until I hear it." He forcefully open Gohans mouth and began drilling in his mouth. Gohan struggled and thrashed about, but he wouldn't scream.

Jason frowned and pulled the drill out. He started slapping Gohan across the face multiple times. "Why won't you scream!"

He grabbed his hair and yelled in frustration. His eyes widened when a thought came to him. "Maybe this will get me what I want." He took the drill and slammed it in Gohans ear bursting his eardrum.

Gohans eyes widened as he screamed with pain. "Ah that's what I wanted to hear. would you rather I go clock wise or counter-clockwise with the drill." Jason said as he pushed the button to spin the drill bit. Gohans screams became louder and louder.

He brought himself into his own mind to stop thinking of the pain, but the pain seemed to follow him their.

Gohan cried as he was still stuck in the chair even in his mind. "I can't take this anymore. I want to leave! I want to go home! I'm tired of all the pain! Please make it stop."

"Stop begging for others to help you. You have to stand up and help yourself."

"By becoming a monster? There's no way that's happening." Gohan stated.

"So you're just going to keep getting tortured. Look at all the pain you suffered. Look at all the pain you're in now!" The manifestation said. "Do you really think your friends are coming to save you? Its been 4 days now. No one is coming for you. You have to save yourself."

"I..." Gohan paused as he couldn't think of a way to refute him.

"Just accept the pain and embrace it. Become the monster that's hidden deep within. Unleash your rage."

"I...I'm scared of what I'll become."

"You'll become a lot worse if you keep putting it off Gohan. Aren't you tired of the pain?"

Gohan sighed. "Honestly I want to die already."

He was pulled from his mind and screamed bloody murder while Jason snickered. "I didn't think I would have to gouge out an eyeball just to get a reaction from you. I told you about trying to zone out didn't I? I need to hear your screams."

"Y...o..you're sadistic!" Gohan yelled.

"You're just now figuring that out?" Jason said as he kicked Gohans leg making it bend at a weird angle.

Gohan endured the pain and refused to scream yet again.

"So are you going to make this a game for me? How much torture can I inflict before you scream? Keep playing that game and I'll have to cut off a certain private part."

Gohan yelped when he heard that making Jason grin. "You don't want that? Then I advise you to let your screams out."

"I will escape Jason and I will kill you!" Gohan said with vengeance.

"Kill me? Escape? You're not in a position to make threats little test subject. I still have much more fun to have before the day is over."

Gohan growled. 'I will kill you!'

(With Goku)

"Can't you find him King Kai?" Goku asked.

King Kai sighed. "I told you Goku I can't sense him anywhere. Not even on the planet earth. If he is on earth then he must be someplace where my abilities have no effect."

Goku lowered his head. "I'm using the namekian dragonballs then. I need my son back."

"I know this is tough for you Goku, but you need to think rationally. What if you need the Namekian balls after the Cell games. What if the earth balls aren't enough. I know it sucks to say this, but you might have to wait until after the Cell games to wish Gohan here."

"Without Gohan at the Cell games there is no choice. He's the only one strong enough to defeat him."

"It sounds to me like you've given up hope Goku. You still have a day left in the chamber. Why not use it?"

Goku shook his head. "I don't think it'll matter. My power won't increase much."

"Goku you need to get a hold of yourself. How do you think Gohan would react to seeing you like this. I hate to say this, but right now you need to focus on Cell. If the world dies, then finding him won't matter. Once the threat is over you can use all your time and resources, like the dragonballs, to get Gohan back."

Goku sighed. "I hate to think like that, but you're right. I need to make sure their is a world first for Gohan to live on. I'll pour everything I have into finding him, so there is no way I can lose to Cell."

Goku stood up and powered up a bit. "Cell will die and I will find my son. No matter what it takes."

(4 days until the Cell Games)

"It seems that some of your hair is starting to turn white. It must be due to the mental and physical stress you're going through." Jason stated.

"Well whose fault is that?" Gohan spat.

"You've been a bit mouthy today. I wonder where that's coming from."

"Go to hell!" Gohan snarled.

Jason chuckled. "And the language! Your mother definitely taught you better than that."

Gohan growled. "I fucking hate you!"

"Starting to accept your anger now huh? I guess you need some kind of outlet. You need to release that pent up aggression. You need to vent some of that pain."

"You will die!" Gohan yelled.

Jason waved his hand. "Of course and so will the rest of the world." Jason took a knife and starting skinning Gohans arm.

Gohan screamed, but the hatred in his eyes never left.

(In Gohans mind)

"You're starting to finally let go of your soft side. You're embracing the pain and the hate. You're turning into a monster slowly but surely."

Gohan struggled against the chair. "I'm trying to remain myself, but that's not helping me get out of here."

"You can maintain this farce for five more days until you die or you can give in."

Gohan sighed. "Even if I give in I still won't have the power I need to escape."

"You'll never know unless you try. There is a lot of power inside you. You just need to release it. I know you're tired of having your fingers, toes, and nails yanked off. I know you're tired of the eye gouging and the cutting off of the eyelids. Its time to break free of these chains. You know what to do."

"I'm kinda use to the pain now. I can hold out and find a way to escape without changing who I am."

"That naive mindset is going to get you killed."

Gohan looked down. "Maybe, but I'm not giving up on my self. I don't want to change who I am."

"You'll see it my way sooner or later." The Gohan look alike disappeared.

Gohan sighed. "Maybe sooner than you think. I'm getting tired of this torture. I do know one thing though. Jason will die by my hands."

A/N: End of chapter.