Chapter Five:
Despite being bone tired and suffering several injuries, Blue didn't sleep at all once he got to his cage.
He shivered, taking off his shirt and tearing it with his teeth. He used the dirty material to wrap up his leg, hissing whenever his fingers brushed it. Then, he checked his arm, seeing how much worse the bleeding had gotten. His entire bandage was stained and his arm was beginning to throb just as bad ― if not worse ― than his leg.
Blue carefully lied down and stared at the barred ceiling of his home. The only home he had known for the past ten years. His body ached and his shoulders still shook from his violent discussion with his Master.
Blue knew that he would be severely disciplined if he did not succeed on this mission. Blue looked at his hands ― small cuts from where his nails had drove into his palm when he was trying to punch the man. His knuckles were also a little bloody from that first strike. Disciplining wouldn't even be an option for Blue at this point. His Master was going to kill him if he didn't kill this man.
Blue curled up. He didn't want to die, not here. He didn't want his Master to kill him ― if he did, it would be slow and painful. He would drag it out for hours, days even. He would make Blue slowly bleed out, until he was frail and weak. He would laugh at him, drag him to the bottom of the sea, letting him drown slowly.
Blue whimpered, closing his eyes, fading into the surroundings around him. Slowly, his body began to blend in with his surroundings.
It was a trick he discovered a year back, and hadn't told his Master. He knew he should ― and he knew that if his Master found out he would be severely disciplined ― but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Blue had one secret, one thing he knew that his Master didn't. It made him feel. . . weird. His stomach would twist and he felt. . . giddy.
Eventually, Blue decided that he would simply keep it to himself ― it wasn't hurting him in any way that he knew. And, when he went to go to get check-ups once every six months, if the doctor, his old Master, found out, then he would pretend that he hadn't known at all.
Blue breathed through his nose, his eyes fluttering closed. He was so exhausted. He swallowed hard, breathing in and out. Steady and consistent. But, Blue couldn't bring himself to actually fall asleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear his Master in his ears.
"I'll squeeze all of the blood out of you."
Blue shivered, letting out a moan when he twisted his arm the wrong way. The time seemed to fly by because one of his Master's men kicked his cage. "Get up, You gotta fight tonight."
Blue rubbed his weary eyes, feeling the exhaustion in his limbs as he slowly crawled out, standing on shaking legs. Every step burned with pain as he followed the man to the basement. The group of men cheered loudly. There had to be at least fifty, maybe sixty. A lot more than usual.
Blue looked around, confused as a man shoved him forward. That was when he saw it. In the ring, was a dog. Blue stared, assessing the animal, if he could even call it that.
This thing — this beast — was huge. Limbs packed with muscle, its eyes were a pure white. Its teeth were so big, they couldn't even fit in its mouth. It was being held back by not one, not two, but five leashes ― and even those seemed to be straining.
It was snarling at everything and everyone. If the metal mesh hadn't been bolted to the ground, Blue believed that this monster of a animal would've killed each and every one of the men.
Blue stared at the behemoth of an animal. He looked over where his Master sat, watching smugly. He was being disciplined. Blue swallowed, carefully shuffling towards the ring, his hands shaking by his side. The announcer opened the door, and Blue saw what almost looked like pity for him in his eyes.
Blue swallowed again.
The man began to speak, but Blue wasn't listened. He eyed the beast, who seemed to go crazed with anticipation as soon as Blue entered the ring. His arm and leg was still injured, and Blue wondered if the beast knew that ― he hoped it didn't.
The familiar whistle sounded and one by one, all five of the leashes were released. However, once it got down to three left, the beast leapt, drawing it from the handler's grip. Blue jumped in surprise, barely managing to dodge the huge, dangerous fangs of the animal.
He turned on his heel, kicking it square in the side with all his strength. This only made the animal angry. He snarled, his teeth downing on his leg. Blue jumped back, it just skimmed him, and he landed on his bad leg. He winced, but rolled away when the beast jumped again. Blue forgot about the metal rods still attached to the animal's neck, and one managed to hit him square in the head.
Blue's head snapped back and he cried out in pain, just as the animal jumped on his back. His claws dug into his skin and his teeth in his shoulder. Blue let out another scream, immediately flipping the beast on its back, managing to get the animal off of his shoulder.
The beast jumped back up, snapping at Blue's body, its claws flailing, landing a sharp, scratch down the side of his leg. Blue clasped his hands together, swinging it into the beast's face. It hit it's mark and Blue heard a sharp crack.
The animal stumbled a bit and let out a intimidating growl. Blue replied with one of his own, baring his fangs, ready to attack. Blue got to his feet and the animal ran at him again. Blue waited until it was right in front of him. Then, he moved out of the way, letting it run into the metal mesh.
The people on the other side jumped away in surprise. Blue wrapped his arms around the beast's neck. It snarled and thrashed in Blue's grip, but he held tight, coiling his arms tighter. The beast was beginning to weaken, his movements slowing and struggling beginning to cease.
That is, before it bit right into his injured thigh.
Blue felt the teeth sink into the flesh of his skin and let out a scream, the tender skin already burning with an unheard fury. But, he didn't let go. Ten seconds later, the infernal animal sinked under his weight. Blue pulled his leg out of it's massive jaw and slowly dragged himself away. Around him the people screamed.
Blue was gasping, his hands shaking as he gently touched the bleeding wound. His shoulder sent hot pains through his body too and Blue squeezed his eyes shut. Then, he heard growling and people shouting ― but it wasn't cheers.
Blue looked up to see the entire snout and front-side of the beast drenched in someone's drink. On the other side of the metal mesh of the ring, people were shouting. Drunken, intoxicated fighters began to throw their fists at each other, shouting slurred insults. It was chaos, and nobody was watching Blue or the beast anymore.
Inside the ring, the beast stirred, awoken by the man's drink ― and now the sounds of the fight. Its eye opened and fell on Blue. Blue felt his heart skip as he heard it growl. He couldn't run. He could hardly fight.
"Help," He squeaked, looking around for anyone who was still watching them. The beast got to its feet, its growling getting louder. "Help ― please!" His eyes fell on his Master, who seemed to be the only one watching.
And the man was smirking darkly, his teeth shown and his eyes narrowed. Blue wanted to cry, looking at the sour expression on his face. This wasn't a fight, his Master knew he was injured and tired. This was discipline. His Master was teaching him a lesson.
And seeing the look on his face, it was certainly one he would never forget.
The beast growled and launched itself at Blue. He raised his arms in defense, and it's teeth sank into his forearms, and Blue let out another cry of pain. The animal sank its teeth in deeper and shook its face as if Blue were merely a squeaky toy. Blue tried kicking it, but it's muscles were clenched and unable to be penetrated.
Blue gasped, in and. . . in and. . . in and. . .
Finally, he heard a gunshot, and the animal growled, releasing Blue from his jaws, and turning for the shooter. Another gunshot, and the animal collapsed on its feet.
Blue sat there, shaking. In and in and in and in and in and―
Someone stepped in, dragging Blue out. Blue whined loudly, pain shooting through him from all him. The men around him argued and spat, probably for the money they had lost.
Blue got one last glimpse of his Master. He was grinning.
p·l·a·v·a
Blue waited outside of the building of the man he needed to kill. His hands were shaking, his eyes coming in and out of focus. He stared at the door, hardly blinking, hardly breathing.
His arms, shoulder, and legs were bandaged as well as he could get them. He lost a lot of blood, but to complain would be equivalent to a death wish now. He hadn't slept in hours, and after nearly dying, Blue wasnt sure he wanted to. Everytime he closed his eyes, he saw the crazed frantic look of the beast's. And, if it wasn't the beast's, it was his Master's. The dark eyes that loomed over him, the knowing smirk that teased his lips.
Blue swallowed, no. He didn't get to sleep at all.
Finally, after hours of waiting, his target stepped out of his house. He stopped, looking around for a minute, before starting to jog down the sidewalk.
Blue pulled the hoodie he stole up over his head. It covered his bandaged firearms and face. His Master still wasn't. . . satisfied with his performance in the Ring.
Blue kept his eyes down as he followed the jogging target. The man nodded to a few people as he passed. Blue stayed on the opposite end of the street ― limping slightly and giving a low growl to whoever looked his way. He didn't have time for distractions. He would die if he didn't kill this man.
For nearly twenty minutes, he followed his target as he jogged. That is, until he came to a path to a park and turned the corner, a few thick trees hindering Blue's sight. Blue followed him, but as soon as he stepped on the path, the man was gone.
Blue frowned, looking around confused. Then, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to react, but was met with a sudden blunt object and push him to the ground.
Blue's shoulder struck the pavement with a crack and he let out a sharp scream, gripping the offending limb, trying to crawl away. "Stop!" The man ordered. Instinctively, Blue obeyed, looking down submissively, before realizing that he was supposed to be killing this man.
He reached into his pocket to pull out the knife and tried to stand, but someone came behind him, twisting his arms behind his back - his injured one.
Blue's eyes went wide and he screamed, pain spreading through him and his body shaking. "Stop! Stop! Stop! Please! Stop!" He begged, tears coming to his eyes. His eyes rolled into his head, and he tried to breathe. In and out. In and out. In and― In and out.
"Stop, let him go, Nat," Steve said, and suddenly he was released. Blue crumpled to the ground, holding his freshly bleeding shoulder, his eyes screwed shut. He tried to breathe, but they were coming in short pants. His shoulder throbbed - god it hurt so much, he thought he was going to die.
Blue's lip quivered and a few tears slipped down his face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Blue shook his head and moved away, bumping into the legs of the woman who was still behind him. Blue cowered, trying to breathe. In - out. In - out. In - out.
Was this man going to discipline him? Was he going to squeeze all his blood out? Or, twist his arm so bad that he fainted from the pain and blood loss? Would this man kill him?
"Hey, look over here," The man said, waving a hand in his face. Blue noticed the white bandage on his hand where Blue bit him. "Hey there. Are you injured? Do you need help?"
"He tried to kill you, Steve," the woman, Nat, frowned.
"He's a kid. Look at him ― he's terrified." Blue's eyes darted around, looking for an escape. No, no escaping ― he had to kill him.
Blue lunged, trying to attack the man, but the woman was faster. She yanked him back by his collar, and he fell on his back. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "He's scared," The man supplied. "Just ― dart him. We need to get out of here before people start showing."
The woman shook her head, sighing, "You're insane," She scoffed, but did as he ordered. He felt a sharp prick in his neck. Blue raised a hand, pulling out a small dart. He started at it for a few seconds, blinking, his eyebrow furrowed. "Wha. . .?" She murmured, shocked, but Blue didn't get to hear the rest as he slumped forward, eyes rolling in his skull.