So… Chloe kidnapped. Bad.
Chapter Thirty One; Beauty Hurts
"I think she's coming to."
"And what do you want me to do about it? Either give her another dose or make sure she's tied." Tied? Chloe worked through the haze flexing her hands. They soared in pain against a binding tight enough to break her bones. "We're not that far away and master will probably want her conscious. But if she's too much for you to handle…" The voice was teasing and most definitely female.
"Shut your mouth!" Then a breezy huffing to follow. Chloe pried open her eyes. They stung terribly, trying to see shapes in the darkness of the van. "Well good morning sunshine." A large man knelt before her. A hand fisted in her hair and she was dragged to sit up. Her roots pulled painfully, her hands and feet tied to prevent any movement. Finally, her eyes registered him and doom swallowed her whole. He'd been the one before that had worked with the electro twins. If she had really killed them he wouldn't be too happy with her. "How are we feeling today after our spa visit?" he mocked and a fist connected with her jaw, knocking her to the floor. Pain exploded across her face, rededening her cheeks and dragging tears from her stubbornly silent eyes. "Beautiful I'll bet. Shame there won't be much of you left after today."
"Stop taunting her and shut the fuck up." the female hissed. Chloe cracked open one eye, the other side of her face crushed against the floor byt the brute's paw. She was the driver of this mean machine and clearly tension between captors were high. The man knelt, his large solid weight pushing Chloe further into the floor.
"You and me are going to have some fun later. But right now I'll save you for Master" Chloe barely registered his words but knew she should feel fear, and that was pretty much all she had to accompany the pain.
Next thing she knows he's throwing his arms around her and shoving her over his shoulder like the prize kill from a hunt. Her breathe flew out of her, his shoulder bones digging sharp into her. The man had more upper body strength than a speeding truck and by the vice tight grip on her, as he kicked open the doors to the van, it was clear he had no intention of holding back. Chloe kicked her bound legs against him, the green heels only connecting once and seemingly ineffectual.
"Blast." Everything in Chloe's body tensed, she froze, her mind acutely aware of what this 'Master' could do. His voice was unforgettable and she knew, like she knew she wouldn't be able to take his favourite pet down with her feeble kicks, that he would do anything to get information from her. "I trust everything went as planned." The happiness could have been false but Chloe greatly doubted that, and it scared her even more. The sadist would enjoy every second with her.
"Yes Master. Bullet and Canine are staying in the city." This came from the female as she strutted past Chloe's position on the warrior's shoulders and cuddled up to her master.
"Very good. Now let's see our beauty." Chloe kicked back up, wriggling for her freedom as a large arm shifted and changed her from his shoulder to be locked in front of him, her eyes forced up to the 'Master'. "Miss Sullivan. I'm glad you could make time for us again in your busy schedule." He seemed sincere in his words, and that didn't help quell any fears that were rising higher in her mind, ready to consume every muscle and lock her in a state of constant panic. 'Master' narrowed his eyes, the black shadows draining into the dead ground, mixing in the darkness of the night. "You said you found her at a spa, did you not?"
"Yes Master. White Sands. We took our opportunity as they came back to Metropolis." Blast answered, his grip tightening as Chloe tried to find an inch of freedom. The blood in her arms protested finding a death grip blocking their path, if this continued, she'd be blissfully unconscious for a while.
"Correct me if I'm wrong. But spa's don't usually abuse you do they?"
"No." The confusion from her captor's voice suddenly dropped as he repeated his answer. "No master. She was getting out of hand."
"Are you trying to tell me, not only that you didn't find the male she was staying with, but you also found yourself over-powered by this tiny specimen of a female?" Master's eyes narrowed still and the shadows started calling back to him. Chloe felt her guard gulp and his body tense, in response she gasped, his grip tighter around her. Pretty soon her arms were going to drop off or she would pass out, she was gripping onto life desperately without a clue why.
"How did you… we saw no male companion." At least Oliver was safe.
"So you gave her the hickey?" Master asked, already knowing the answer. Blast panicked, his pulse raised. Chloe flickered her eyes up, hoping the black haired female could be swayed in her conscience. Instead she met the eyes of her newest lord and master as shadows flew out of him. Chloe squealed and turned her head, her eyes squeezed shut tight. A cold sweat settled before she breathed again, her arms pulsing with returning blood, no shadows playing dolly with her fears.
Instead Blast was pinned against the van, a hand mark across his cheek to match her own.
She blinked, what had she missed?
"My apologies Miss Sullivan, I had instructed them to leave all the damage till I saw you personally." Because clearly that was a better deal… He nodded to the door of whatever living situation he had now and she paused. "I suggest you step inside Miss. Unless you prefer we start the more violent methods of persuasion now." His voice purred. Not in the sexual way, or the persuasive way. But the way that said 'dare me, because I know I'll enjoy it'. Sick freak. She took a glance left, away from him, sneaking a look around. Trees; thick dense, forestation on all sides. "I'll just drag you back kicking and screaming." he warned, sensing her thoughts.
"My feet." she spoke "I can't walk with them tied." Secretly she hoped she could knee one of them, get one down and make her escape. Even if she couldn't, she could put up a much better fight with her feet free for kicking than if they were tied together.
"So you cannot. My apologies Miss." The shadows seeped into the ground again as he bent and pulled out a switchblade slicing through the plastic tie in one easy swoop. Yet, where she ordered her body to move, even just a few centimetres, the shadows in the ground pulled at her feet and she stayed rooted in place. "Now please, step inside out of the cold." The niceness was fake, designed to encourage trust and to build connections. It explained his miniature army all following his lead. The woman who had driven them there stood aside eyeing Chloe with hatred, clearly no sympathy would be shown there. But she let her pass and she walked into what could only be described as an arena.
Clearly this had been used for underground maintenance of sewers a while ago and the pit below her had tunnels leading further into the sewers maze like structure. But now it just looked like the arena of gladiators; floors scuffed with weapon markings, walls dented... blood drying. She gripped the railing, and followed the lead around the upper level and toward a control room with TV's and electronics scattered around. This was not original of the structure.
"Through the door." the female hissed and yet again Chloe felt fingers push at her back to keep her walking. The stench of sewage attacked her, clouding her brain till she opened the door and met fresh air. Never had she been so pleased for the air of Metropolis. Then again, she didn't know if they were still in Metropolis. She didn't have any idea how long she was unconscious for. It was dark, that much was for sure, but with no clock or time device she had no idea of time. At her best guess, she'd say it was around 9ish, but inside the bunker style hide-out the lights were all aglow and seconds passed slower.
As she walked into the control room a red laser flittered over her and suddenly started beeping. The female swore under her breath and went to attend to the alarm. Seconds later, as the room started to fill with 'Master' and his not so loyal servant Blast, the female turned and snapped violently at no-one in particular.
"Left Shoe. Gps tracer." She flickered back her long, black pony tail and fussed over the computer screen. Chloe's eyes naturally followed her movements. She was trying to find its signal loop back or block it. She wasn't very good and Chloe could have told her it was useless in half the time it took her to figure it out. But who aids there captures in killing them? Certainly not Chloe.
"Don't mind me cinders, but that slipper's coming off." Chloe felt her legs suddenly wiped out from under her and her back hit the floor. Blast took her kicking legs and pulled off both heels. "Kit, go take these for a walk." He tossed the shoes to 'Kit' who just scowled and arched a black eyebrow at her fellow accomplice. Chloe put her back to the wall and pushed herself up to her bare feet once again.
When she finally got out of this, no doubt after running barefoot again, she was going to maim Oliver. Not only were they her favourite heels, but he had a gps put in them and now she'd have to run halfway across the country side cutting open her already abused feet just because he wanted her lo-jacked. Maybe she'd beat him with the heels, after he'd bought her some new of course. Teach him to invade her private life. Then again, if Dinah had got back and they knew her location they would be arriving momentarily. Her hope died… Bart would already be here if that was the case. What was keeping them?
"Kitty, please. Take the shoes." The beauty turned to her Master and dutifully stormed out, her hair swinging from side to side. Chloe couldn't help but wonder what her power was. Maybe she could turn into a cat or something. Maybe it was best she was leaving. If Chloe could get these distracted, she could make a break for it.
A few minutes later Chloe took her chance and her bare feet were slapping against cold concrete before Blast could turn around. Risking a glance back she saw Shadow man grinning sadistically at her before slumping back against the desk, appearing to let her run as much as she wanted. Chloe didn't think twice, but wretched open the door and flew out into the woods. No time to find bearings, just keep heading forward.
The darkness had engulfed the sky, just the pale half shaped moon calling her turns. Following the soft glow of moon light she stumbled over roots and rocks, a burn in her muscles pleading for a rest. She didn't know how long she had been running, no idea how far away her pursuers were but she saw a road. Her freedom. She broke through the tree line her lungs raw and her arms and feet cold with sweat and the occasional drop of blood from her falling. She scanned around, up and down the black road, lost in the night. A car! Headlights to her left. She just had to be seen, they'd be turning up toward her in no more than 30 seconds.
"Are you quite finished?" Chloe jumped, a voice speaking calmly beside her. Her heart kicked up a fuss and she ran toward the car, following the road. No way was she staying in this sicko's fantasy. Again he materialised in front of her, she had no time to see more than a blink of his anger crossing his features before she was propelled from the road, her cheek exploding in pain, blood pooling in her mouth as her teeth cut into her cheek. Her body slammed into a tree, her ribs sliding freely inside her body and winding her.
She looked up through the foggy vision to see the car drive past, un-aware, her hope slipping from her grasp.
Her lungs demanded oxygen, coughing up blood, tears and chocked air as 'Master' knelt down beside her. "Are you quite finished my dear?" he asked again. He was completely covered in black again, the faceless shadow creature asking if his victim could feel. Tears blurred her eyes as she swung out, feeling a fist glide through the air where his shadows were. "I think we're finished." he answered for her and she screamed, the shadows taking over her again, dragging back scenes she never wanted to see ever again. Her pulse throbbed, her mind spun, rivers streamed from her clamped eyes where hurtful visions tugged on her strings.
She found herself freed from her inner darkness and to be back in the control room, the sudden change in light blinding her eyes. 'Master' fell pained to the floor himself, his breath rasping. "Lock her to the chair." he ordered to the larger brute.
Chloe didn't have the strength to fight back, only scramble away. It was eventually useless and she had metal bindings curved to her wrists locked with bolts making any chance at escape fly out of the room. Chloe watched as the shadows drained from his face, an old face showed instead. The true face; the skeletal structure prominent over his features; the eyes were sunk deep, the cheek bones ready to cut through his taut skin.
She turned her own features away as Blast lifted his Master to a chair, the shadows fighting against the pull of the body and the ground. It had weakened him. Pulling her from one location to another had severely drained his strength. It explained why he hadn't just phased in and taken her before, and it gave valuable hope the fuel to bloom inside her. This could be the way of stopping him. He could barely move his own limbs, never mind fight back.
Minutes turned to hours, she tugged against the bindings, her arms covered in mud, sweat and blood congealed from her grazes. She wasn't left alone though, not once. Kitty came back and between her and Blast they alternated between caring for Master in another room and questioning her. Her left arm was covered in blood red stripes, each a perfect centimetre apart. Courtesy of Blast. Her most recent was finally loosing sting but she knew what that meant. It was time for another.
"Now. I'm going to want something to go on Blondie, or I'll save myself all this trouble and just fuckin' chop off your arm. I'll ask again. The others. Names and powers. We'll start with the speedy little fucker. What's his name?" Chloe gritted her teeth, not answering and he picked back up the knife, his fingers slamming against her cuts digging the pain deeper and holding her still as he made his next move. She screamed, the blade hovering in mental torture before the cold hit her blood soaked skin and it dug in, a shallow cut, and he dragged the blade across with a pace to rival a snail, to make sure she felt every cell sliced in two and pouring out his crimson reward as her screams filled the room. "There are other places I can cut you know. Other places you won't want me anywhere near." He dropped the red tipped blade to the floor with a clatter and his large hands went to her knees, heat shot through the jeans and up her legs. "I can ruin you. And you'll wish you were dead." His hands moved further up, her heart almost visible in it's pounding against her broken ribs, each throb still more desirable that his hands anywhere near her. Chloe needed an escape, she'd rather die that be violated like that. Something to get him away from her.
"Simon." The words left her split lips and his hands stopped. It was the first name to mind and succeeded in her task.
"Simon. What's Simon's last name? What powers does Simon have?" She paused to think and he took that momentary gap as the need for more movement. She gasped and again words just spilled.
"King" He flashed his eyes up to her. "Simon King." she repeated.
"What can Simon King do?"
"She's lying to you, you know." The female was back in the door, the shadows curled back around the Master. "There's nobody called Simon King working with her." Chloe watched Blast's teeth slam together and his hands pushed her back against the wall again, the chair rattling. Master laughed, his ability to stand having returned. In fact he looked as healthy as usual.
"I gather you have learnt nothing at all. I do believe we have tried it the nice way so far. And that was clearly a mistake." Nice way? Clearly he needed his head chopping off and putting in a museum for the criminally insane. "Blast. If you could fetch the twins for Miss Sullivan." Blast ground his large jaw and left without a word.
Were the twins still alive? Did they know what had happened? "We tested your blood Miss Sullivan. You're not meteor infected are you? No special powers what so ever. So I can't help but wonder who helped you destroy my electricity twins." So they were dead. Score two for Chloe. "But that's a different issue. Now I assume you've read my lab results about my experiments on the meteor infected. Well, as you know powers can only be exchanged with others that have them, otherwise, it creates what I believe is described as 'intense neurological pain'. Much worse than what I can create. Ultimately, after a few hours of endless agony you die. But, dead people can't talk. So we've made something else, something that extends those few hours into an entire 24 hours of indescribable torture, mentally and physically. You'll lose all sense of yourself. But not until after you've told me everything you know." He leant forward. "And you will. You'll do and say anything I want. Because I hold your relief. Even just for a few seconds I can make that hurt vanish completely and you'll do anything for that. Betray your closest friends, divulge secrets of the highest importance. Tried and tested." Blast came back into the room, a black briefcase in hand. He set it on the desk and popped the lock. Master grinned and told both Kit and Blast to take a walk. Kitty didn't question his words; clearly she knew what happened and didn't get off on an orchestra of screams. Blast was more reluctant, hesitating after Kit had left.
"Master. May I?" He hovered his hand over the serums in the briefcase.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." he caved and motioned for Blast to prepare them. He did so with a grin. "Now Miss. You'll feel a slight tingle of a headache, but that will develop into something a lot worse later so don't worry." He flickered a needle and jabbed it into her arm, letting the clear substance invade her system. "There, now that will keep you alive for the next 24 blissful hours. On with the real stuff." Chloe blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision and remove the blurs. She shook out her head, watching as the colours bleed together then repelled and her visions came back, the irritation now being in her head. Mild would not be the word to describe her headache. "Both?" Master's voice seemed marginally surprised and also impressed. "You brought both?"
"She did kill both of them. I figured it only fair that they both kill her. We'll get our information a lot faster this way." A shadowed hand waved a gleeful warrior forwards with two needles. Chloe sat her back up, forcing coherency through the muddied waters that was her brain. His fingers gripped her slashed arm again, a sadistic grin taking his face. "I'll enjoy this Blondie. Remember to scream. Nobody's going to come for you though." He laughed and she watched in grimace as the needle stabbed into her vein in her elbow and the bluey green tinted liquid was pushed into her. He swapped arms and the same was done with a liquid of the exact same colour from a different syringe. "I hope it burns every fuckin' live wire inside you." he snarled low and shoved back from the chair. Chloe stilled herself, awaiting the pain. She waited, then some more. Was she immune? Had Brainiac fought them off?
She was about to breathe a sigh of relief when screams filled the air, her lungs burned red, her skin crawled.
Her throat protested, her screaming becoming claws scratching down all the way to her stomach. Then it was her toes, spreading up her legs. The red hurt, knocking all sense out, just kept growing, taking over her body. Like pins and needles, only the pins were toxin covered nails jabbed into bones cracking their way through and the needles were white hot blades, repeatedly thrust into every inch of soft tissue she had. The sting of tears from her blood shot eyes were lost in the myriad of pain. The broken ribs fused only to be re-cracked by the energy flowing in her foreign body.
It was too much.
It hurt so much.
She wanted it to end.
Just for some relief.
Something to stop the unbearable pain, just something.
Her nails dug into her own palms trying to hold onto her own will, to protect them, that was all she ever wanted to do. But they were strong, names and powers weren't that important. They would fight them. They would be alright. They didn't have two sharks swimming inside their veins biting everything they found and tearing her up from the inside. She could have every bones pulled from her body and the pain would be preferable to this. It even hurt mentally, like the crawling of flesh you get when you see long nails dragging over a chalkboard slowly and screeching, or the mental shudder of seeing someone have their Achilles tendon cut at the back of their ankle and told to walk. Except this wasn't just a momentary horror flick scene and you couldn't think of other things to make it go away. It was constantly clawing at your head, driving you off the edge of reason.
Just tell them what they want and it will go away, she reasoned. They would be fine. Her last courage clattered to the floor and she submitted, ashamed of her own lack of tolerance, her eyes flashing up to meet their eyes. Before she could say a name the door flew back open slamming against the wall and drilling into her further.
"Bullet and Canine are dead. There are arrows in their chests." Kit announced, her eyes purposefully away from Chloe's torture.
"Arrows? Collect their essence and bring it back. We won't be done for a while. Make sure there aren't any ties back to us there." Master ordered and she nodded hurriedly rushing out.
Arrows? Oliver was coming; he was coming to save her. She couldn't stop now. She couldn't give in. Oliver was coming. Oliver would save her.
Believe it or not, but I never intended for this fic to take a walk on the dark side. Yet here I am writing about torture to our darling Chloe. At least Oliver's on his way to sweep in and play hero yet again.
After all, the clock is ticking.
Happiness will come... lot's and lot's of bubbly happiness. Xx Stay with me people... it can only get better.