Johann stood on the deck of his ship. He stared into the ocean surrounding him. They were headed for Dragon's Edge. Where Hiccup Haddock was hiding out. They would draw him out of hiding, capture him, extract all the information they could squeeze out of that massive brain, and then kill him the most painful way possible.
Johann laughed to himself about all the things he was going to do to that hiccup who dared to call himself a man.
"Sir, there is a small ship approaching from the south. It is carrying two passengers. One appears to be the Haddock boy," a Hunter called down from the crow's nest.
"Let them approach. Arrows and catapults ready!" Johann ordered.
Ryker finished tying Hiccup up. He had bound his arms to his side, making it so it looked like he trying to prevent the other man from trying to escape. He was getting ready to gag Hiccup as they went over the plan once more.
"Remember, Johann has to think he's won," Ryker stated. "As soon as the handoff is complete, I'll sail back to Minnow and head straight for Dragon's Edge. Stay strong and don't give in. That is your mantra. Your team and I will fly into 'rescue' you. Once on that Night Fury, kill Johann. No hesitation, no fear. One shot and it's over."
"Got it," Hiccup nodded.
Ryker tied the gag over Hiccup's mouth, making it tight enough to press into the bruise on the young man's cheek. Ryker than pushed Hiccup down to his knees. He unsheathed his sword and aimed it at Hiccup.
Hiccup watched as they approached Johann's lead ship. A rope ladder had been dropped for Ryker to climb. Fear ripped through Hiccup's very soul. He didn't want to be here, but he had to be here. The final face-off had arrived. It was time to deal with his demons.
The Pride of Berk swallowed the scream of terror threatening to escape. He was a man. He was a Viking. Vikings were strong and brave. They feared nothing. Johann was just a man. He might be strong, but Hiccup was stronger. He had survived and he would do it again.
Ryker draped Hiccup over his shoulder. "Showtime." He began to climb the ladder with his free hand.
Once on board, he discarded Hiccup. "I, Ryker Grimborn have brought Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third to Johann, Leader of the Dragon Hunters. Where is my prize?"
Johann stared at the man. He was supposed to be dead. He died during the Shellfire Battle.
"How are you alive?" Johann demanded.
"I washed up on an uninhabited island after days of floating adrift. I made a boat and made my way home, only to find nothing left," Ryker lied. "I went to the Northern Markets and heard of the bounty. 100,000 gold pieces are enough to begin a new life. Plus knowing that Hiccup Haddock will finally get what he deserves. Oh-ho, that's just icing on the cake."
Johann stared at Ryker before him for a moment before snapping his fingers. "Pay the man."
A Hunter gave Ryker his prize and he left. Once he was headed toward the horizon Johann looked at some of his men. "Follow him. I want to know what he's planning."
Johann walked over to Hiccup. He studied the man tied up in front of him. He could see the fear in the young man's eyes. "At last, Hiccup Haddock, you are mine. You and I are going to have so much fun together. No one will be coming to save you. You are going to die and be dumped into the ocean. Your traditions will not be met, thus leaving your soul trapped, wandering the earth looking for peace when none can be found."
Hiccup struggled against his ropes. Denying his right to go to Valhalla made him angry. After everything he had done, he was not going to become a wandering ghost. It was against Viking law to deny a hero his final passage.
Johann knelt down next Hiccup and sneered. "That's right, get angry. You'll last longer and break easier."
The evil man stood up and stomped on Hiccup's face, knocking him out. He looked two of his Hunters. "Lock him in one of the cages. Remove the ropes and his fake leg. Chain his good leg up. Come on! Get to it before he wakes up!"
Hiccup woke up to two men laughing. He looked around and realized he was in a cage. The second the thing he realized was his leg or lack thereof. The still air of the cage was rubbing up against the scarring. It caused the rest of leg to feel tingly.
He sat up and noticed that his other leg had been chained. He had no way to escape. Johann knew how well he could move on one leg. Hiccup had shown him several times before he turned out to be evil.
The Rider looked through the bars and could see where the laughter was coming from. Two guards. Time to get this show on the road and play his part.
He stood up and used the wall to help him stay balanced until his one leg got used to holding his weight. "Excuse me, I think there's been a mistake. I'm not a dragon. So if you could just let me go and give me my leg back, I'll be out of your hair in no time."
The guards turned and faced Hiccup.
"Go get, Johann. The prisoner is awake," One of the guards said. The other guard walked away while the one who had spoken unlocked the cage door.
He walked in and pushed Hiccup down. "How long do you think that attitude of yours will last?"
Hiccup looked up at the man. He wasn't afraid of him. He could take this man down no problem.
The other guard returned. "Johann wants him brought to his chambers."
The guard unlocked Hiccup's shackle and brought him to his foot. "Hop."
As the guards led Hiccup to Johann's chambers on the other side of the deck. Hunters stared and laughed at him. He was finally their prisoner. This was a victory.
Finally, they reached the chambers. The guards pushed him in and shut the door.
Hiccup propped himself up on to his knees but kept his head down.
"This is quite an interesting leg you have. Three different settings and a slot to hide a small weapon. Carved out enough for your stump to rest comfortably. Your brain is truly a gift from the gods," Johann relished. "Too bad you won't need it anymore. Your days of walking and flying are done."
Johann tossed the leg aside as he stood up from his seat. He walked around his desk and over to Hiccup. He grabbed a fistful of Hiccup's hair and yanked his head up.
"You will look at me when I'm talking," the villain sneered as he stood Hiccup up. "Before we get started, let's set some rules." He dragged Hiccup to a chair and forced him down into it. "Rule number one: you will only speak if told to. Rule number two: you are now my property. I own you. If you try to escape, you will be burned. Rule number three: you are not allowed to die unless I say so. I know how to keep a dying man breathing. Lastly, rule number four: you have to earn the right to be seen by a healer. Now let's get down to business."
Johann tied Hiccup's hands together and made quick work of picking up where he left off. He broke his left collarbone again. Hiccup screamed.
He smiled at Hiccup's pain. He took out a blade and cut the young man's leather armor to shreds until only his tunic remained. Johann ripped the tunic off of him and stared at his bare chest. He readjusted the dagger in his hand and started making small cuts all over Hiccup's torso.
Hiccup bit his lip and endured the pain. He thought of happier times. He thought of the time when he and Toothless bonded. He thought of the kiss that made him and Astrid an item. He remembered the moment when they announced their betrothal.
When Johann realized he wasn't getting a response out his prisoner, he growled in frustration as he dropped the knife. He balled his hands up into fists and began to punch Hiccup wherever he could reach. "Don't you ignore me, boy. You will react to everything I do to you."
Hiccup finally reacted when Johann landed a punch to his stomach. He did his best to keel over to protect the sensitive area but failed. His arms didn't allow for much movement.
"That's better," Johann stated as he picked the dagger back up. He kneeled down his eyes leveling at Hiccup's waist. He ripped off his left pant leg, revealing the whole stump. It was heavily scarred from having to force the remaining skin together. It was an ugly sight to look at.
Johann smiled at the memory of when he first found out this snobbish runt of man had lost his leg. He remembered how pitiful he looked. The pain plastered across his face as he tried to remain standing. He remembered pretending to feel sorry for the boy and offering herbs to ease his pain.
He traced his dagger over the stump's scars. What was left of Hiccup's leg twitched at the coolness of the blade. It was an odd sensation. Few people had actually looked at his stump.
Johann was now one of the few. He looked up at Hiccup's face and into his eyes. Scar tissue was so sensitive. Having it touched was one thing, but what Johann planned was entirely another. A grin formed on the villain's face as he cut into the scar tissue. Hiccup screamed in pain.
Hiccup's eyes rolled into the back of his head. Johann slapped him across the face. "Don't pass out yet Hiccup. We're not done with today's session."
Hiccup opened his eyes and stared at the man before him. He swallowed thickly and hid his fear and pain behind a glare that could scare Toothless. He wasn't broken yet.
"You will not break me, Johann," Hiccup spat.
Johann chuckled as he sliced into another scar, causing Hiccup to cry out once more in pain. "But I already have, my dear boy. 'I was so damn scared of you that I was afraid to open my mouth. I was terrified that if the horrors came out, they would never stop. That you would come back to shut me up. You broke my body and my mind.'," Johann quoted. "And you just broke rule number one."
Hiccup said nothing. He wasn't going to confirm or deny ever uttering those words. The young man simply looked down at his stump as it dripped blood on to the floor.
"Just out of curiosity, how long can you go without a seizure?" Johann pondered as he traced another scar.
"How did you-?" Hiccup never finished his question.
"I saw you shaking the day of the battle and the day you came back. Magnus confirmed what I thought," Johann answered nonchalantly. "He said that if someone goes more than 48 hours without a tonic, a seizure could occur. If the tonic isn't given within an hour of said seizure, the person can suffer horrible brain damage or die. We're going to see how long you can last. Does that sound like fun?"
Before Hiccup could answer, Johann, cut into yet another scar. Hiccup screamed for a moment before passing out.
Johann stood up and walked to the door. He opened it and allowed the guards to drag Hiccup back to his cage.
"Get Jorn to treat his injuries. I need him alive," Johann called out.
Hiccup woke up someone touching his stump. He flinched away, in fear that it was Johann getting ready to slice another scar.
"Calm down, kid," a gentle voice soothed. "You're alright. You're back in the cage."
Hiccup opened his eyes and saw a man about his father's age. He wasn't big and bulky like the rest of the Hunters. He could have passed for an older Dagur.
"Who are you?" Hiccup asked.
"Jorn," Jorn replied.
Hiccup looked up and saw that the guards were gone. "Where are the guards?"
"Up on deck," Jorn answered. "Celebrating your capture."
"Ryker said you were his inside man," Hiccup remembered.
Jorn nodded. "I am. Can you sit up?"
"You got to help me then," Hiccup stated as he used his right arm to sit up. "I have to have a specially made tonic. It was in my leg, hidden in a secret compartment. I need it to live."
Jorn stopped cleaning Hiccup's stump and stared at the young man. "What makes you think I won't go tell Johann this?"
"You're a healer. A gentle one," Hiccup answered. "You don't like seeing any of your patients suffer. Trust me; you will see me suffering a lot at the hands of Johann. You won't be able to stomach what he has in store for me. If I don't receive this tonic in the next 12 hours, I could die a horribly painful death. You won't be able to live with yourself."
Hiccup couldn't believe he was putting his life in the hands of a complete stranger. "Look, if you help me survive long enough for my friends to find me, I promise that you will not be punished and greatly compensated."
Jorn looked at the man before him. He was desperate enough to trust a complete stranger. He was right, he was a gentle healer. He couldn't stand to see people in pain. He never planned on working for the Hunters, but he was paid greatly for his services. They paid more than most villages.
"I'll get you your tonic," Jorn sighed. "After I finish treating you."
Hiccup nodded and continued to let the man tend to his injuries.
Author's Note: So what do you guys think of Jorn? Think he'll help Hiccup or betray him?
Jorn is the man mentioned in Guardians of Vanahiem. The Dragon Flyer said he was a healer with a gentle touch. This is my take on what he meant by that.
As always thank you for the reviews and follows. They fuel me to write as much I can.
Special thanks to Draconbiend2.0 for being an amazing friend and beta reader. She was only supposed to do few chapters for Beating in Stride and has helped me develop the Seizure Procedure series. Without her, this wouldn't be possible