Hey guys. I bring you the next chapter of Fire & Thorns! :-) Getting quite busy these days so I'll try updating as soon as I can. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Chapter Four

Perceptions

Seconds ticked.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

It came to a stop, finally. A pair of feet encased in delicate dark glass heels paused just at the rim of the light and darkness - enough to see the long slender pale legs that followed.

"Interesting." Her voice was like a glacier, cool yet sharp. "You're both still in one piece."

Ruby grimaced, pushing off the bunched up blanket on her laps, off of her legs. The instant feel of the chilly air replaced the warmth on her skin making it prickle with goose-bumps. The little hairs on the back of her neck arched up once more. Her first thoughts were of how disappointed Cinder sounded, she probably assumed that due to the hatred both she and Torchwick shared, one of them would have killed the other. Surprisingly, she too wondered why Torchwick was still alive. Why didn't she just strangle him while she had the chance?

She stood up, almost swaying from the weak and numb feeling built up in her stiff legs. God, they ached. But it felt good to finally be standing instead of lying down. At least now she was somewhat able to show a little intimidation. She had grown taller a fair bit since the last time she had seen Roman Torchwick.

Speaking of the devil, he was now staring right at her with guarded eyes though he looked a little hesitant to see her standing. What did he think she would do? Bang his head against the bars? Use him as a human weapon to thrash Cinder?

Well, it was rather tempting.

"You won't be for much longer, I'll be sure of that," Ruby snarled, hating the incredulous smirk on Cinder's lips.

The witch let out a low cackle, starting off high pitched before suddenly cutting off to be replaced by a deeper and sterner tone. Her eyes were ablaze as she glowered at Ruby. "Your empty threats mean nothing to me," she leaned back satisfied. "In fact, I'm going to enjoy watching you rot with that scumbag."

"Harsh, and here I thought you actually liked having me around," said Torchwick, now easing up against the bars and looking out.

How did he always manage to act so casual in tough situations?

Cinder flinched, obviously not approving his humour. "You were just a tool, nothing more, nothing less. You're practically worthless Roman, how disappointing you turned out the way you did." Her voice was patronizing and it seemed to be affecting Torchwick in some way.

Ruby glanced at her nemesis to see him grip the bars suddenly, diving forwards until his face pressed up right against the rusty metal bars.

"Grrr, you'll get what's coming to you. You'll regret ever double crossing me!" The words resonated through the still air.

Ruby watched the spiteful smile appear on Cinder's lips as she folded her arms across her chest and stepped closer. The amber glow in her eyes intensified, almost as if she were about to attack. Ruby hesitated. If she attacked them here then there was no way either of them would survive. Then again, why was she keeping them alive in the first place?

Wait, did he just say he was double crossed? Ruby glanced back up in awe, suddenly peeking an interest in Torchwick for once. She never really uncovered the reason as to why Torchwick was prisoner here instead of working side by side with Cinder. She watched Torchwick grip his pale fingers around the bars, tight. Even from this position, she could see the slight tremble of his body, the stiffness in his visible muscles. He hated Cinder.

The question was, why?

"Oh Roman, you never fail to entertain me." Cinder stepped forwards. Clink. Clink. Clink.

"Just what will you achieve by locking me up in here?"

Ruby felt the effort she had put in to speak. Her throat felt quite dry and again she regretted drinking all the water. But Cinder did stop in her steps, suddenly eyeing Ruby with interest. A perfect dark eyebrow arched. Then it dawned on her. She seized a gasp.

"You're after my semblance."

The horror when it was revealed that Cinder had formed a plan to steal their abilities - was brutal. No one saw it coming and neither one thought it to be possible. But Cinder had found a way – a way to extract their unique powers and use it to her own advantage. Blake lost hers. That's why she...

"Achieve?" Cinder repeated with thought. For a moment, Ruby had a fleeting feeling that she had been unprepared, having expected her to have died but then she saw the smile. "Not that it is any of your business, but there are lot of advantages for me to have you locked behind bars. Do get comfortable, you're going to be here for a while." She paused again and suddenly Ruby hated the expression on her face. There was darkness behind her words.

"That's if, you can survive that long anyway. As for your semblance, as useful as your speed is to you, I have no use for such a pathetic skill."

There was the catch. She was going to die in this cage, or Cinder was hoping for her to but she refused. Some way or another, she would find a way out of this prison and tear Cinder to pieces. At least her semblance was safe for the time being.

With a final smirk, Ruby watched alongside Torchwick as Cinder flounced off, the tail of her red dress swaying behind in tow until the darkness swallowed her once more. The tension in the atmosphere decreased and Ruby felt air fill her lungs with ease. She hadn't realised she had been struggling to breathe. She wrapped herself up in her cloak, inhaling the small fragrance of the outer world that lingered and felt a pang in her heart.

What would become of their Resistance? The surviving Huntsmen and Huntress's who were counting on her to bring back Professor Ozpin? And what about Yang...? She dreaded to think of the motionless figure lying in the white bed, unresponsive. Ruby's hands clenched tightly onto the soft material of her cloak. She had to get out. Her anger drove her to attack Cinder recklessly so it was her own fault. She had to get back.

Ignoring Torchwick, she took a deep breath and walked to the far back of the cell where the single mattress was thrown. Another thought crossed her mind.

Torchwick must have slept there.

Had the brute actually given up his small luxuries for her? She daren't look at him now. She continued to reach the flat stone wall where the mattress was lined up against it and faced the bars ahead of her. There was a good couple metre's between her current spot and the bars, if she could gather up her energy and focus, she could use her semblance to break through.

Torchwick seemed to have caught onto her plan and stepped in between her path.

"Whoa, hey Red, stop! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" he raised both hands up, palms flat, eyes wide open.

"Move out of the way Torchwick." Ruby straightened her legs, they felt a little numb but it would have to do. She crouched slightly, one leg bag as she lowered her head down keeping her eyes up and focused.

"I told you, those bars are laced with something. They will fight off any form of attack that is thrown against it and that also means your speed kid."

"I'm going to get out of here and if you don't want to be crushed against those bars then I suggest you get out of the way."

Torchwick seemed to hesitate, fuming that his orders weren't being followed. He always would bring out a cigar in this kind of situation but she guessed he hadn't had the chance to smoke a few in a while. That explained the absent stink of burning cigars. Huh. Good riddance.

"You're crazy."

"Bite me."

Torchwick groaned. "For once can you actually listen to what I'm saying? You're going to get us both killed and quite frankly, I don't want to die yet."

Ruby frowned, wishing she could drone out his voice but she could still see him in front of her and worse, he actually looked anxious. Yes there was the risk but it was one she was willing to take. It wasn't like he had tested it himself. Those bars were going down.

"I said move!"

Silence.

Torchwick shrugged his shoulders, slapping his forehead. "Nice knowing you Red."

Finally, Ruby thought as he moved out of her path. Even if the dread was weighing down on her, she couldn't back out now.

Ruby closed her eyes, feeling her strength swimming around her body and focused. The warm feeling of power began to surge through her legs, slowly moving up to the rest of her body. With one hand firmly laid flat on the hard ground, she raised her head.

Now or never.

With a confident expression, she opened her eyes and let out a sharp breath before taking off.

Within seconds she pierced her way through the air, feeling the overwhelming feeling of power surge through her veins. Even in the small space, she could feel the draft behind her from the whirlwind that followed. Her cloak wrapped around her, twisting with her body as she dove head-first right into the bars.

The first thing she felt was the scorching currents of electricity being zapped into her, burning her inside out. It felt like she hit a wall made of diamond. Hard, and solid. Something trapped her. She couldn't move her body and the sharp feeling of wires circling her body cut into her from all angles. She cried out in agony. It was excruciating.

Then it faded briefly. Just for a moment.

Something warm wrapped around her body, yanking it back. She could feel the currents pulling her back in, trying to torture her even further but whatever was stopping it, was strong and reluctant in letting go. Whatever it was, she prayed it didn't stop. Ruby had long blocked out everything, feeling only the brutal burns of electricity trying to pierce her flesh.

"Come on Red! Fight it!"

A voice. His voice. Ruby's vision blurred but the screaming didn't stop. The pulling continued and something was being murmured behind her but she couldn't understand. All there was... was pain.

When did it stop? When did she black out? What happened?

Ruby groaned, opening one eye after another slowly, blinking profusely when the scenery finally came to view. God, her body ached worse than before. But she couldn't move.

"What the..." she raised her head to see an arm draped over her torso, pinning her down. Something was pressed into her right side. Her eyes widened in horror. "T-Torchwick?!" she gasped.

What is he doing on top of me?!

She tried to pull herself free but felt the searing aches kick in when she moved. Wincing and hissing out in pain, Ruby took even breaths before looking up to see the bars. It all came to her then.

She had attempted to break through the bars even after hearing Torchwick's warnings not to. As much as she hated to admit it, she should have trusted him. Why else would he still be here after all? It felt like her head had been through a cyclone because it pounded against her skull and throbbed. The bars hardly seemed to have a scratch, remaining it's deceiving rusty looking self as usual. Were they really laced with magic or Dust? And if so, how the hell was she going to break out from here?!

Her eyes drifted to the walls with hope, in search for a crack or some form of indent which marked it as weak and vulnerable enough to break through.

Nothing.

Her heart gave out a small cry. Helplessness seemed inevitable and what's worse is that she could actually be trapped here until she died. She would never make it back to the Resistance, to Yang and Weiss, to her friends.

What would Uncle Qrow say in this kind of situation? What would Mom have done?

Bad idea. Just thinking of her deceased mother and dear uncle, who was thankfully still alive and well, made her feel worse. She would never get to see him again...

"I'm so stupid..." she whispered to herself. Tears threatened to fall but she forced herself to keep them in. She couldn't give up yet.

Ruby looked back down to the unconscious form beside her – or partly on top, depending how you looked at the situation. How could she have forgotten? As she raised a hand to shake him off, she froze mid way.

The unkempt tuft of his bright orange hair was visible, his usual bangs brushed aside to cover the one eye. He was so close it was terrifying. But even then... Ruby narrowed her eyes closely on his face.

His eyelashes really are that long...

"What the hell am I thinking?" she shook her head quickly. "H-Hey! Get up!"

She pushed at his arm that seemed to have snaked its way around her torso, but if she tried lifting her body to pull free, his head was still pressed into her side. On top of that her body felt half scorched and even she could see the defects on her clothes. Charcoal marks where something had burned its way through leaving a few minor smudges.

She remembered the electrifying currents attacking her body –had the bars retaliated against her semblance? But then it had a hold on her, forcing all the air to leave her body and inflicting pain. She quivered at the thought. Then what? Something grabbed her and pulled her away, or tried to, and succeeded.

Torchwick.

Her stomach dropped. Yes, she had heard his voice somewhere in the midst of the torture, she heard him and he helped her.

Ruby sharply turned to look at the immobile figure beside her, the relaxed expression on his face. The scuff marks evident and by the look of things, even he took a beating.

Why? Why does he continuously help me when he knows we're enemies? Have I been seeing him wrong- No. He is a thief. He caused great harm in the past. He would always be a hindrance, so why this act of kindness? What is he hiding behind that gentleman act?

She had to find out.

Hm. Yeah. Let me know what you think.

Next chapter should be up soon!

Thank you frik1000 for your review :-)

Til next time!