Cold bones, yeah that's my love
She hides away, like a ghost
Does she know that we bleed the same?
Don't wanna cry but I break that way
SYML ~ Where's My Love
Flynn POV
As soon as the news from Frank came Rapunzel and I had a drastic change of our normal misery. We began to make preparations to be rid of our own mini horror show. It was during these moments where her fire, her spark was most prevalent and it was also in these moments where I was the happiest. The bruise on her face had gone from dark purple to a greenish yellow tinge it was an improvement from the first night I woke up after my face surgery.
I woke up and saw her eating her applesauce vigorously. She turned and it was all I could do to hold in my gasp. The side of her face looked like it had met a brick wall, but she stilled smiled at me and relayed the message that Frank had sent her. It was impossible to me how she could still hold that fire and that strength with the terrifying bruise, but that was the reason I found her addictive. It was the reason I came up for air and was able to survive.
Before I could stop myself and ascertain some god damned self-control my hand was skimming her cheek bone ghosting feather light over the bruise. She looked at me unmoving as still as a statue under my touch, her breaths came out shakily and my gaze softened. She looked down breaking my eye contact I moved my hand down to her chin and forced her to meet my eyes, "What did they do to you?" I asked incredulous, but tender. She looked at her hands which had fisted in the sheets and then I instantly regretted asking the question when she looked up at me with tears swimming before her eyes.
I have no idea what came over me, but I gathered her to my chest and held her while she wept against me. Her sobs were pure torture and anger clawed at me. I wanted to hurt these people for what they had done, but for Rapunzel's sake I pushed down this anger. She needed to know I was there for her I ran my hands through her now short brown hair, the stress of being locked in here had caused her hair to fall out. I remember when it was growing just passed shoulder length before they had taken her.
She kept sobbing and I found myself running my hand up and down her back quietly murmuring into her ear "Shh shh its okay I'm right here, you're safe now shh." I knew I was lying to her and to myself we were not safe, not in the slightest. Slowly she began to calm down and her sobs calmed down into shaky breaths and she mustered up the courage to look at me quiet tears still falling. She wiped them away and I gave her a sad smile.
She smiled weakly back and said, "I'm sorry, I'm a mess, I, I, I'm just sorry." I looked at her incredulous, "You have nothing to apologize for so please quit it." "Yes I do," she insisted, "I dragged you into this I almost got you killed I" I interrupted her "Listen to me I entered into this willingly, stop putting this all on you; I am your protector and that's not just a job. Please understand that you will always be more than a job to me." Something in her expression changes and she wipes her tears and nods while simultaneously disentangling herself from my embrace. She walks over to her bed and sips her water giving me a tight smile…
I shook myself from my reverie and looked over and watched her sleeping form the moonlight casting her in a strange glow. I had to control myself I had begun to care too much for her and it was dangerous, it was going to be the death of me and of her. I was close to the prospect of sleep when the door to the door opened with a bang Rapunzel sat up quickly and I rubbed my eyes annoyed. Gothel strode into the room and flicked on the lights.
She had a nurse with her, no not with her, she dragged a nurse behind her by the arm who looked positively terrified. "I just caught this one with a message in her pocket." said Gothel. I steeled myself and forced a look of confusion to my face not letting myself look at Rapunzel and just hoped she mirrored my expression. I crossed my arms skeptically and narrowed my eyes at Gothel. "So," I say rolling my eyes, "it's not like it means anything." I remarked. Gothel sneered at me and gave a feral growl as her lips pulled back to reveal a set of teeth.
She reminded me of a wolf right before it tears up its prey, and sadly I was her next target. She looks at me and with quiet malice and says, "Who knows your location, you better give me their name or there'll be hell to pay." I squared my shoulders and said, "Then I will gladly pay it because I have no idea what you are talking about." I would live to regret those words because Gothel hit a button on what looked like a walkie talkie of some sort. Four guards burst into the room and grabbed me a Rapunzel and dragged us out of the room and down the hallway. I cursed myself, knowing that I might have gotten us seriously hurt.
They brought us into a menacing looking room lined with an assortment of medical torture devices as I liked to refer to them. They strapped Rapunzel down to a gurney and she looked petrified. I lunged forward but was held steadily in place. Gothel looked at me as she helped hook Rapunzel up to one of the machines.
Gothel smirked at me, "Mr. Ryder" she asked, "have you ever heard of a mental treatment called aversion therapy?" I had heard of this, but the military was not permitted to practice it. "Aversion therapy is when a person is exposed to a certain set of stimuli while being subjected to discomfort." I answered almost bored, she was acting like we were in a classroom. "Excellent, never thought you would actually read up on botched military programs." She replied. I rolled my eyes and drawled out indifferently, "Wow when do I get my sticker?" Her gaze snaps to me and anger bubbles behind it and for a second I think she is going to snap. To my disappointment she remains cold and calculated.
She continues her speech "I seeked to use aversion therapy to rid certain soldiers of characteristics, for example some soldiers are too emotional and crack under the pressure. I suggested we advance aversion therapy to rid these ridiculous notions out of the brains of soldiers so they would blindly follow commands." I begin to feel sick to my stomach she is suggesting human drones by ridding soldiers of their individuality. Soon my thoughts connected and my voice was tight, "Don't you dare try this on Rapunzel." Gothel gave a harsh laugh and said, "Give me the information and I won't do it."
Rapunzel turned her head and her iridescent eyes met mine, "Flynn, whatever happens don't tell her anything okay?" I nodded even though I knew I was probably lying. What would happen if I never saw fire light behind those green orbs again? They hooked up electrodes to her face and I knew this was going to be hell. During the first few shocks she held herself together. It was when the screaming started that it became pure torture. I needed them to stop to tell them to take me instead; they kept asking her question after question and she did not know the answer. How could she know the answer to becoming unfeeling?
She started to sob, begging them to stop and she looked at me then her body contorted in pain shrieking. I lunged forward and started shouting at Gothel pure primal rage clawed its way out of me, "Stop it!" Gothel saw how tortured I was and glanced over at me with a look of pure glee, "Stop this right now you sadistic bitch." She laughed, "You have the information I seek Mr. Ryder and you better come out with it or I will continue until she at the edge of death." She turned back to the ones administering the test, "Turn up the voltage!" I would not break I would not give Gothel the satisfaction.
I used all my strength and tried to break free but it was no use. Suddenly, the door burst open and in charged men and women in military uniform. To be more specific they were Pascal's men and leading the charge was Frank; the two men holding me released me and tuned their weapons on Pascal's men. I seized the opportunity and ran over to Rapunzel. The first orderly tried to detain me but I swept his legs out from under him and kicked him for good measure. I repeated the same to the next and switched off the machine yanking to electrodes from her face. She was unconscious and had a terrified look frozen on her bruised face.
I eased an arm under her legs, the other under her back, and lifted her up. She was limp like a rag doll and she was light, as if she had lost weight. I saw Pascal leading the charge, making sure the rescue team was smooth and swift. Gothel was on the floor her teeth bared and shrieking like a wild beast; I stepped past her without a second glance. "General Pascal! Rapunzel she, she needs to be taken to the hospital she had a series of electric shocks dealt to her."
My voice sounds desperate and as if I am close to tears. Two medical officers try to take Rapunzel from me but I will not let her go, I am too afraid. Last time she was taken from me she did not return; Pascal sees my reluctance and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Flynn" he says, "These are my most trusted men they will take her to a safe hospital you have to trust me." I finally let them ease Rapunzel on to a gurney and say, "I'm going with you; I go where she goes." Pascal replies slightly annoyed, "You're going with her all right, but to the hospital so that you can get checked out as well. Both of you will also have full body scans, we've found some other patients here who have been experimented on and I want to make sure we don't miss any abnormalities." I sigh and grumble out, "Yes sir."
I follow them out into the ambulance and hope that this new hospital will not serve as a house of horrors. Rapunzel lies there looking almost lifeless, but I know this is not true. The heart monitor beeps to the rhythm of her heart it is slower than usual and the paramedic gives me a tight lipped tense smile that looks more like a grimace and looks down at my hand clasped in Rapunzel's limp one. He gives me a simple nod of understanding and says, "She's going to be alright sir." I nod though not quite believing what he says.
I need to separate myself carrying about her this much, relying on her it is going to get us both killed. I press my lips to her knuckles and whisper "I'm sorry." And I let her go.