The cells in the old rental shop were shrouded in a thick, suffocating silence as everyone waited some sign of life from Alex's motionless form. Each of the captives lost in their own spiral of worry and fear. No one spoke, and every passing second felt like an eternity.
Viper was sitting next to the bars of Alex's cell, keeping his gaze locked on Alex, willing him to move soon. Ellie had sunk to the floor beside him, her knees pulled up to her chest, her eyes red from silent tears. Sam and Will were on the other side of him. Both shifting their eyes from Alex to Viper and back. As if believing that Viper's resolute stare could miraculously wake Alex up any minute now.
Snake was still standing, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he tried to maintain some semblance of control. Jaguar and Raven had sat down but were glancing to Alex's direction from time to time. Liam was on the verge of breaking down completely, having Henry's arms still wrapped around his shoulders.
Minutes turned to hours, time dragged by and the tension in the cell was becoming unbearable. Just when it seemed that despair might consume them all, Alex stirred. It was a small movement, barely noticeable at first, just a twitch of his fingers.
"Did you see that?" Sam whispered urgently, his voice a mix of relief and fear. "He moved! Alex moved!"
Viper's heart skipped a beat as he leaned closer to the bars, his eyes fixed on Alex. "Come on, Cub... You can do it," he murmured under his breath, his voice thick with emotion.
Slowly, painfully, Alex began to stir. He groaned softly, his body protesting every movement as he tried to push himself up from the cold, unforgiving floor. His muscles ached, his head throbbed, and every breath felt like fire in his chest, but the comforting darkness was beginning to recede.
"Alex?" Ellie's voice was soft, hopeful. "Are you... Are you awake?"
Alex blinked, his vision blurry as he tried to focus. Every breath was a sharp stab in his side, and the bruises covering his back and chest throbbed with every movement, his other foot was agonizingly painful. His mind drifted in and out of a haze, the memory of each blow replaying in the background like a bad dream that refused to end. He was feeling cold after lying down on the floor so long and he knew he would need to sit up to try and preserve some of his body heat.
"I'm... I'm here," Alex managed to croak, his voice hoarse and weak. He began his painful struggled to sit up. Every movement pulled his aching muscles. Every breath tearing his abused throat that was sore after the waterboarding and screaming through pain. Alex managed to rise from the floor and leaned heavily against the wall of his cell as he fought to catch his breath. The hard wall felt cold against his back since he still hadn't any shirt on and with that realisation he brought his other hand to his chest. Wanting to cover his bullet scar that had bloodied marks around it, left by Hawthorne's sharp nails. For some reason, he was feeling very vulnerable sitting there all the old and new injuries on him displayed like that.
He looked around. The light coming from through the windows had the shade of evening sun. He had been out longer than he had thought. The crates that had hold the plants had disappeared from the room. Only the black beetles were still there, crawling around making the opposite wall look like it was alive and never rested.
Alex turned to look at the others who had been waiting for him to wake up. He saw relief washing over them. Ellie let out a choked sob and gave him a small smile. Sam visibly sagged against the bars, his hands shaking. Viper closed his eyes for a moment, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as the tension in his chest loosened slightly.
"Thank God," Snake muttered. "You had us worried, Cub. Thought we'd lost you there for a minute."
Alex tried to muster a reassuring smile, but it came out more as a grimace. "I'm... still here," he said, wincing as he shifted against the wall. "Just... needed a break."
Will leaned forward, his expression concerned. "Alex... what did they do to you? You were out for so long..."
Alex hesitated, not wanting to tell them what had happened. But he knew they all could see the marks on his body.
"Just... a little roughing up," Alex said refusing to meet anyone's eye.
"Any broken bones?" came Snake's question and Alex almost felt like smiling a little. Having his unit medic here, asking the practical questions was comforting in its own way. "No, Snake."
Snake gave him appraising look. "Are you sure? Those bruises look quite nasty."
Alex took in a breath and ran his other hand over his ribs. They hurt, but not enough for them to be broken. "Breaking ribs this early on the game would be a rookie mistake", Alex thought darkly, his mind reeling back to one of Dr. Three's morbid lessons.
"I'm pretty sure", Alex said to Snake and leaned his head against the wall. He knew that this wasn't over. Walker would come back again and would probably have some new way of tormenting him when he finally arrived. But Alex could feel some of his strength returning. He had gotten some rest, he had gotten out of his cell and found something that would hopefully turn out to be useful, even if the thin piece of metal was still embedded in his foot, and he had information. It was much more than what he had only few hours ago.
"Anything interesting happened while I was getting some sleep?" Alex asked with strained voice, trying to get more pieces to the puzzle his was trying to solve in his mind, the plan of how to get them to safety.
Viper looked at him under his brows. "Interesting way to describe being beaten to unconsciousness, Cub. But yeah actually, some operatives came to fetch all the plants a while ago."
Alex nodded looking at the opposite wall. "I can see that. Anything else?"
Viper gave him a long look. "What are you planning?" he asked with quietest voice, trying to make sure the guards on the room didn't see him moving his mouth. Then he raised his voice a little to answer Alex's question. "Nothing much. There were half a dozen people carrying those boxes, but they didn't talk much. Obviously didn't want us to hear anything."
Alex didn't respond, lost in his own thoughts.
The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps that could be heard coming from outside. Viper clenched his jaw, and the others exchanged worried glances. Alex instinctively tensed, his heart pounding in his chest. Moments later, the door swung open, and Walker entered the building with Petrov and Quinn. They cast long shadows across the floor, the light from outside slicing through the dimness until the door swung shut behind them.
Alex was feeling hopelessness creeping inside of him again. He had hoped he would have a little more time after waking up before Walker would be back. But the guards in the room had obviously relayed the news about him waking up. The room was heavy with silence. Alex could almost hear his own heartbeat echoing in the space, hammering like a caged animal, desperate to claw its way out of his battered chest.
Viper watched as Walker started to approach Alex's cell and noticed a small, black device that glinted ominously in the low light in the man's hand. He knew what it was and Viper swallowed hard. The need to intervene, to do anything to stop the man in front of them was almost overwhelming. But one look to Alex's classmates was enough to suppress it. And so, Viper did nothing but feel utter horror of what was about to happen.
Walker gave a brief victorious look to the other captives, as in daring them to intervene and opened the door to Alex's cell. Walker's lips curled into a cruel smile as he stepped inside. He stood there for a moment, savoring the fear he could see in Alex's eyes, before he finally spoke.
"Looks like we've got some unfinished business, Rider," Walker said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You passed out on us before we could finish our little session. But don't worry. I'm here to pick up right where we left off."
He activated the taser with a flick of his thumb, and the device crackled to life, blue sparks dancing between the prongs. The sound was like static electricity amplified a thousand times, filling the space with an ominous hum.
Alex forced himself to sit up straighter against the wall, his muscles protesting with every movement. He glared up at Walker, refusing to show the all consuming terror he was feeling. "You think you can scare me with that?" he rasped, his voice still hoarse from earlier screams.
Walker chuckled, as he approached Alex with slow, deliberate steps. "Oh, I know it scares you. Got a lovely scream out of you earlier at least."
He crouched down in front of Alex, the taser held at eye level as if he were showing off a prized possession. "Such a lovely voice," Walker continued almost softly. "Let's see if we can let the others enjoy it as well."
Alex's jaw clenched, and he forced himself to meet Walker's gaze. "Go to hell."
Walker's grin widened. "Not before I drag you through it first."
Without warning, he jabbed the taser into Alex's side. The sharp, blinding pain was immediate and all-consuming, every nerve in Alex's body lighting up like it had been set on fire. His muscles seized involuntarily as the electricity coursed through him. The agony was pure, unrelenting, and utterly inescapable.
Walker held the taser in place for a few seconds longer, watching with satisfaction as Alex writhed in pain, and when Alex's strangled cries turned to a scream of agony, he finally pulled it back. Alex collapsed sideways onto the floor, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His entire body felt like it was on fire, his muscles twitching uncontrollably even after the taser was removed.
"Now, where were we?" Walker mused, tapping the taser against his palm as if considering his next move. "Oh, right, finishing what we started."
He moved the taser toward Alex again, but this time Alex scrambled to get away, trying to crawl across the floor in a desperate attempt to put some distance between them. Walker's laughter echoed off the walls, a sound filled with dark amusement.
"Still got some fight left in you, huh? Good," Walker said, standing up and taking a step closer. "That just means this is going to be more fun."
Without warning, Walker lunged forward, jabbing the taser into Alex's back near his spine. The effect was immediate and brutal. Electricity surged through Alex's body, igniting every nerve in a storm of pain. His muscles locked up, seizing violently as he screamed, unable to contain the pain that overwhelmed him.
When Walker pulled the taser back, Alex laid on the floor, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe, his body twitching involuntarily from the aftershocks.
Walker didn't give him a moment to recover. He grabbed Alex by the hair, yanking his head. "Hurts, doesn't it?" Walker sneered. "I can do this all night, Rider. I wonder how long you'll last."
From the cells nearby, the other captives watched in horror as they took in the scene. There was nothing to muffle the sounds of Alex's suffering. It was inhumane and Viper was scared that Alex's heart might give out if it continued for long.
They saw as Walker lifted Alex off the floor and shoved him back against the wall, slamming the taser into his chest this time. The prongs bit into Alex's flesh, and the shockwave that followed was pushing Alex at the edge of his resolve. His vision blurred, and his entire body convulsed violently, a scream tearing from his throat as the pain surged through him like wildfire.
Walker finally pulled the taser away, and Alex slumped against the wall, barely conscious, his breath coming in shallow, ragged bursts, his head hanging forward. Walker crouched down before Alex, gripping his chin and forcing his head up to look at him.
"I think you're starting to get the picture," Walker said, his voice dripping with malice. "But just in case you need a little more convincing…"
He raised the taser again, the blue sparks flickering ominously and brough it close to Alex's face. And it was too much. Alex was in more pain than he ever had been in his entire life. He couldn't take it anymore. He felt himself break, to crack under this relentless torture that seemed to stop at nothing. And before Alex could stop himself, his voice, weak and hoarse, managed to croak out, "Stop… please… just stop…"
Walker paused, cocking his head to the side as if considering Alex's plea. His eyes lighted up with the pleasure of knowing that he had finally pushed Alex to the brink. He slowly lowered the taser, but the sadistic gleam in his eyes never wavered.
"You want me to stop?" Walker asked, witch mocking voice. "It's simple. All you have to do is talk. Tell me what Hawthorne wants to know, and all of this ends."
Alex took a deep breath, trying to muster the strength to speak. "I… I don't know anything," he rasped, his voice cracking from the pain and exhaustion. "Please… just stop…"
Walker's expression darkened. "You're still playing that card?" He clicked his tongue, shaking his head as if in disappointment. "Well, I guess we'll have to try a different approach then.
He turned to the door, calling out in a cold, commanding voice, "Petrov! Quinn!"
The two guards straightened up, ready to listen to Walker's instructions. Walker gestured lazily with the taser. "Bring me one of the other kids. Let's see if Rider here is more cooperative when it's someone else's skin on the line."
Petrov nodded and moved toward the cells where the other captives were held. Fear spiked through the room like a jolt of electricity. Quinn took her gun pointing it to the captives ready to kill any resistance that might arise.
Alex's heart skipped a beat, his blood running cold. "No… no, please…" he started to say, panic flooding through him as he realized what Walker intended to do.
Walker's gaze scanned through Alex's classmates, each petrified with fear, then his eyes locked onto Sam. A twisted smile curled his lips. "You, kid, come here," Walker said, pointing at Sam. "We've had fun before."
Sam's eyes widened in fear, and he instinctively shrank back against the wall. Viper and Henry moved protectively in front of him, but they knew it was futile. The guards had guns, and they weren't in position to fight.
Walker smiled, enjoying the fear he could see in the prisoners. "Come on boy. Step out of the cell, nice and easy or we will shoot one of your friends."
Sam was visibly shaking, tears running down his pale face. Petrov opened the door and gestured for Sam to come to him. But before Sam could took a step, Alex's voice cut through the tension.
"You give up that easily?" Alex attempted to mock with a bravado he didn't truly feel. "I can't imagine Dr. Three would be very pleased with you. I mean, we were just warming up."
Walker chuckled darkly, clearly amused by Alex's desperate attempt. "I know what you're doing Rider. It's not going to work. Besides we had the same lessons. You should remember that interrogation isn't always about pain. It's about finding the most efficient method. With you, this would have been my first approach. But since you have a habit of being such an insufferable brat, Hawthorne wanted you hurt first. And it's been fun, don't get me wrong but still, I think this will get us the results."
Alex watched helplessly as Petrov gestured to Sam again. Sam was obviously fighting every natural instinct he had as he approached the guard on their door. As soon as he was within reaching distance, Petrov grabbed Sam's arm and started to drag him to the cell where Walker was waiting, still holding the taser in his hand.
Walker's smile widened as Petrov shoved Sam into the cell. Sam's wide, fearful eyes locked onto Alex's, silently pleading for help. His terror was obvious and his chest was heaving with ragged breaths.
Walker rouse from his crouched position and reached out, grabbing Sam by the collar and dragging him closer. Sam struggled weakly, his fear overwhelming any attempt at resistance. Walker's cruel smile only grew wider as he toyed with the taser in his other hand, the blue sparks crackling ominously.
"Please, don't..." Alex tried to move from the wall to get between Walker and Sam, but his muscles were still uncooperative after the electrical shocks and his attempt was desperate and futile.
"Petrov," Walker ordered, his voice cold, "cuff Rider and hold him down."
Petrov moved swiftly, his eyes gleaming with malice as he approached Alex. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. Alex's heart sank as he saw them, a familiar dread settling in his gut. Petrov wasted no time. He grabbed Alex roughly showing him back against the wall. The impact sent fresh waves of pain through Alex's already battered body, and he gritted his teeth against the cry that threatened to escape.
Without a word, Petrov yanked Alex's arms forward, snapping the cuffs on with brutal efficiency. The metal bit into the raw, tender skin of his wrists, reopening the wounds that had barely begun to heal. Alex hissed in pain, but Petrov didn't care; he tightened the cuffs until they were firm and secure. Once Alex's hands were restrained, Petrov pressed his palm against Alex's chest pushing him against the wall. His hand snaked into Alex's hair, yanking his head back cruelly, forcing Alex to look up at Walker.
"Please…" Alex's voice cracked as he pleaded, his eyes locked on Sam's terrified face. "Please, Walker, don't do this. He has nothing to do with this."
Walker ignored Alex's pleas, his attention fully on Sam who was breathing rapidly and looking at Walker with fearful wide eyes.
"Now," Walker began, his tone smooth and cold, "let's see if you care more about your friend here than your secrets. Tell me what I want to know, or I'll make sure he gets a taste of this." He waved the taser in front of Sam's face, the sparks crackling ominously.
Alex's heart raced, his panic rising as he struggled uselessly against Petrov who was holding him in place. "Walker, please!" Alex's voice was desperate, his breath coming in short, painful gasps. "I'm begging you! Stop this! I don't know anything!"
Walker's eyes flicked between Alex and Sam, clearly enjoying their suffering. He tightened his grip on the taser, his cruel smile never wavering. "You're begging, Rider," he said, almost casually. "And as much as I enjoy hearing that, I'm not interested in pleas. I need answers."
Alex swallowed hard, tears of frustration and helplessness welling up in his eyes. He didn't have the information they wanted, but it was clear that wasn't going to matter. Alex wondered if he should lie. Come up with something to prevent Walker from hurting Sam. But in the exhausted state, under this pressure, his mind was coming up empty.
"Please… I don't know," Alex whispered sticking with the truth, his voice trembling. "I swear, I don't know anything. We were just… just in the wrong place…It was a coincidence. I was here with my school! I'm telling the truth!"
Walker moved the taser closer to Sam's body, the boy whimpering as he tried to pull away, his body shaking with fear. "Please…" Sam whispered, his voice barely audible. "Don't…"
"No!" Alex's voice cracked. "I'm not lying! Please, Walker, just let him go! I'll do whatever you want!"
"Tell me what you know!" Walker shouted. Alex felt tears escaping from the corner of his eyes. "I don't know anything! I swear!"
Walker's expression darkened with irritation at Alex's response. He looked at Sam, who was still quivering in his grasp, whispering "No, no, no, no, no", over and over again, then back at Alex. "Wrong answer," he said flatly.
With that, Walker jabbed the taser into Sam's side. The device crackled to life, sending a jolt of electricity through the boy's body. Sam cried out, the sound sharp and pained, but the shock was brief, more a warning than a full strike. Walker pulled the taser back, leaving Sam gasping and shuddering in his steely grip.
"Stop!" Alex shouted his mind racing with panic and dread.
Walker's eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he saw the torment in Alex's face. Without any hesitation, he jabbed the taser into Sam's side once more, holding it there longer this time. The crackling of electricity filled the air, mingling with Sam's anguished scream. His body convulsed violently, the pain overwhelming his senses, and his cries echoed through the cold, unforgiving walls.
"STOP! Please, stop!" Alex begged, his voice raw with desperation. He strained against Petrov's grip, trying to reach Sam, but the larger man's hold was unyielding. Petrov's hand twisted cruelly in Alex's hair, keeping him immobilized against the wall as he watched in horror.
Walker released the trigger, and let Sam crumble to the ground. The other boy sobbed on the floor, curling in on himself, his face ashen. Walker stepped back, examining Sam with a cold, calculating gaze. He seemed to be weighing his options.
After a tense moment, Walker turned his attention back to Alex, his expression shifting into something darker, something cruel and twisted that made Alex shiver. "You know, Rider," Walker began, his voice dripping with contempt, "I'm starting to think you're telling the truth. Maybe you really don't know the information Hawthorne wants."
Alex's heart pounded in his chest, a small flicker of hope daring to take root. "Then let him go," he rasped, barely able to speak through the tightness in his throat. "Please… Just let him go. You don't need to hurt him anymore."
Walker's lips curled into a mocking smile as he shook his head. "Oh, I might believe you don't know anything. But as it happens, Hawthorne believes you do and here's the thing, Alex...I'll keep doing this because I enjoy watching you suffer."
Alex's blood ran cold at Walker's words. That tiny flicker of hope was extinguished in an instant. Walker crouched down, leaning in closer until they were face to face and Alex couldn't help himself. "That's very unprofessional of you." Alex gritted holding Walker's cold gaze, radiating the hate he felt towards the man.
Walker's grin widened. "But it's almost like a tradition now, isn't it? Everyone around you seems to suffer and die. Your parents, blown up when you were just a baby. Your uncle… What was his name again? Oh, yes—Ian. Shot dead by Gregorovich. That must have been fun to learn about. Your last family member, killed by an assassin your father trained. I love the irony in that."
Walker's voice was like a low, venomous wave, each word hitting Alex like a physical blow. Alex clenched his fists, the metal of the cuffs digging painfully into his raw wrists as he fought to maintain control. The words were like poison, seeping into his mind's deepest wounds.
"And then there was that American woman," Walker continued, his voice oozing with cruel satisfaction. "Blown to bits in Cairo. There really is no one who sticks around in your life. It's almost poetic."
And Alex could vision it again. Julius pressing the button that triggered the explosive killing Jack. He could almost hear the clone's manic laughter, echoing in his head. Alex wanted to fight back, to lash out at Walker, but the cuffs and Petrov's grip kept him firmly in place, a prisoner to his own mind as Walker tormented him.
"So why not continue the tradition?" Walker sneered, his eyes narrowing as he watched Alex's reaction. "Make people around you suffer and die. After all, you're the common thread, aren't you? Wherever you go, death and pain follow. We're just honoring that legacy."
Alex's chest tightened with grief and fury, the weight of all the lives lost because of him pressing down until it was hard to breathe. Images flashed through Alex's mind: Yassen, bleeding out on Air Force One; Edward Pleasure, lying motionless in the snow after they had plunged into the freezing lake; Tom, bleeding after being shot at school; and now Sam, laying on the floor in agony, all because of him.
Walker stood back, clearly satisfied with the torment he had inflicted. He glanced down at Sam, who had crumpled to the ground, curled into himself. Then Walker looked back at Alex, his grin deepening. "You're right where I want you, Rider. Broken, desperate, and helpless. Maybe you don't have the information we're after, but that doesn't mean I can't have more fun with you."
With one last cruel smile, Walker jabbed the taser into Sam's side again, this time holding it there just long enough to elicit a weak, pained cry from the boy before pulling back. Sam sobbed, his whole body shaking with fear and pain, the sound ripping through Alex like a knife.
"Stop it..." Alex whispered, his voice trembling as he watched Sam, the guilt and helplessness threatening to overwhelm him completely. "Sam, I'm so sorry…"
Walker leaned down again, his face inches from Alex's. "Remember, Alex," he whispered, his voice cold and menacing, "you're the reason they suffer. You're the reason they die. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."
Alex's body was trembling with a mixture of pain, fear, and rage. He could barely comprehend the words Walker was saying, but the threat sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over him.
Walker straightened up, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he glanced between the slumped forms of Alex and Sam. He'd gotten what he wanted—for now. He turned to Petrov, who still held Alex firmly against the wall, and gave a curt nod.
"We're done for today. Leave him be, but we'll continue tomorrow. This was just a taste of what's to come, Alex," Walker said, his voice dripping with malice. "Let's go."
Petrov nodded, finally releasing his grip on Alex. As the pressure on his chest and scalp eased, Alex slumped forward. He could feel the raw, stinging pain from where Petrov had yanked at his hair and where his back had been crushed against the cold concrete, but it was nothing compared to the pain he felt as he looked over at Sam who was crying on the floor.
Walker and Petrov stepped out of the cell and Walker turned to look at them. "Sleep well, Rider," Walker laughed. "Tomorrow, the real fun begins."
Walker gestured for Petrov and Quinn to follow him further away from the cells. "Fetch some water and a cloth. We don't want Rider's wounds getting infected just yet," Walker instructed when they were a good distance away, out of earshot of the captives.
Walker cast a glance back at Alex, who was watching them with intensity. The boy was clearly trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Walker could see a new fire in Alex's eyes, something fierce and desperate, and it made him uneasy.
Walker turned to the two operatives. He didn't feel good about leaving these new recruits to watch over Rider when majority of their crew was off premises. But he was hired to do a job. And it paid well. So, he didn't question Hawthorne's orders, as stupid as they were in his opinion.
"Be careful," Walker warned Petrov and Quinn, his tone suddenly more serious. "Don't take any risks with Rider tonight. Now that his friends are on the line, the boy might get desperate. Desperate people can do desperate things. Watch him closely but let him sleep tonight. That way, he has less time to brew up any stupid ideas."
Walker gave one final, lingering look at Alex before turning away, his boots echoing against the concrete floor as he exited the building. Petrov followed closely behind to fetch some water as instructed, while Quinn stayed behind to watch over their prisoners. The door clanged shut, leaving the room in oppressive silence.
As soon as the door closed, Alex tried to push himself from the wall, his entire body protesting with pain. He needed to get to Sam, to check on him, to make sure he was okay. But his body was too exhausted, too drained. He collapsed back against the wall, gasping for breath, his vision swimming.
"Sam…" Alex croaked, his voice hoarse and broken.
Sam slowly lifted himself from the floor, wiping at the tears that had streaked down his face. His entire body was trembling from the sheer terror that had gripped him moments before. Every muscle felt weak, drained of strength by the fear that had consumed him.
Sam took a deep breath relieved that, for the moment, it seemed that they would be left alone. Sam glanced at the adjoining cell where Will was staring at him with red eyes and pale face.
"Sam, are you okay?" Will asked. His voice was barely a whisper. Sam nodded and looked at Alex who was now in the same cell with him. Alex was slumped against the wall, looking at him with worry, trying to catch his breath looking like he had been through hell. Which, he was, Sam thought darkly and forced himself to summon whatever strength he could find to stand up. Sam's legs felt shaky and unsteady, but he forced himself to take steps and move towards Alex.
"Alex..." Sam's voice was raw and hoarse from the crying, but it was laced with concern as he knelt beside the other boy. The sight of Alex's battered body, the cuffs digging into his wrists, and the blood staining his skin made Sam feel nauseous. Alex held his hand over his chest, over the place where Petrov had had his hand just a moment ago.
Alex looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and guilt. "Sam…are you okay?" he asked, his voice strained. "I'm so sorry… I couldn't stop him."
Sam shook his head. "I should be asking you that," he whispered, reaching out hesitantly to touch Alex's arm, careful not to jostle him too much. "You look…really bad, Alex."
Sam bit his lip, his hands trembling as he tried to find something to do, something to help. But he felt so powerless, so useless in the face of everything that was happening. He could still feel Walker's cold grip on his collar, the taser's crackling threat hanging over him. It was too much.
"I... I don't know what to do," Sam admitted, his voice cracking. "I don't know how to help you."
Alex shook his head weakly. "It's okay…We're going to be okay. I won't let him hurt you again. Any of you."
Sam nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over again. He scooted closer to Alex, making sure not to touch his injured side.
Petrov returned carrying a familiar looking bucket, causing both boys to tense up. Sam's heart leaped into his throat, fear tightening its grip on him once more. Petrov opened the cell door and stepped inside, setting the bucket down beside Alex. The sight of it made Alex flinch, fresh memories of waterboarding flooding his mind. His breath quickened, and he felt Sam place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Petrov watched Alex with a twisted smile, clearly finding some humour in his reaction. "You should see yourself, Rider." Petrov dipped his hand into the water and flicked a few drops at Alex. Alex's breath caught in his throat as the cold water hit his bare skin, and he flinched involuntarily. "Hard to believe you're the famous teenage spy, Malagosto trained assassin. Here you are just a trembling child, panicking over a little bucket of water. It's almost pathetic."
Alex clenched his jaw, trying to keep his breathing steady. The fear was there, but he tried to bury it deep, replace it with anger, with defiance. He focused in on Sam's hand on his shoulder. He would have to be strong. Just a little bit longer.
Alex lifted his gaze to meet Petrov's, his eyes narrowing as he channelled his fury towards the man beside him. "And here you are," Alex shot back, "getting your kicks harassing kids. Scorpia operative, my ass. More like a schoolyard bully."
For a split second, Petrov's smile faltered, his eyes darkening. "You've got a mouth on you, Rider," he said coldly, reaching for the cloth in the bucket. "But that's not going to save you or your friends."
Alex's eyes followed Petrov's hand as it reached for the wet cloth, feeling a pressure build in his chest. The fear of suffocating under that cloth, the memory of water drowning him, haunted every cell in his body. But Petrov only tossed the wet rag onto the hand Alex had instinctively kept over the scar on his chest.
"Clean yourself up," Petrov ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Wouldn't want you getting an infection now, would we?"
Alex glared at him, holding onto his anger to keep his composure from cracking. Petrov returned the ugly look before turning on his heel and leaving the cell. The door clanged shut behind him, and his footsteps echoed in the corridor as he walked away to join the other guard. Alex's heart pounded in his chest, the wet cloth laying heavy on his hand, its coolness sending a shiver down his spine.
Alex stared at the piece of fabric, feeling a wave of dread wash over him. He knew he would have to clean his wounds, but the thought of moving his hand from covering the bullet scar felt like an impossible task. With Sam so close to him, it felt like he was about to reveal a dirty secret, and he felt exposed.
"Alex," Sam's voice broke through the fog of anxiety clouding Alex's mind. Alex looked up to see Sam watching him with concern. "Let me help you."
Alex hesitated, his pride urging him to refuse. He didn't want Sam to look at him so closely. But he knew that with cuffed hands and the little strength he had left, the task would be painful and exhausting on his own. After a short silence, Alex nodded reluctantly.
Sam took the cloth with trembling hands, his fingers brushing against Alex's as he did so. He could feel the tension in Alex's body, the way he was barely holding himself together.
"I'll start with your side, okay?" Sam said and moved closer, trying to offer some semblance of comfort as he gently dabbed the cloth against the wound on Alex's side, which was surrounded by dried blood.
Alex flinched at the initial contact, biting down on the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out. The cloth was cold, and every touch sent a jolt of pain through his body, but he forced himself to stay still. Sam's hands were shaking as he worked, the other boy clearly terrified of hurting Alex even more, but he kept going, determined to do what little he could to help.
From the next cell, the other captives had observed the scene unfold in tense silence. Viper finally spoke up watching the two boys. "Sam, Cub... how are you holding up?" His tone was thick with concern.
Alex forced a weak smile. "I've had better days," he replied, trying to keep his tone light despite the situation. Sam touched his skin again with the cold cloth causing Alex to flinch a little. "Sorry", Sam mumbled. "It's okay. You're doing fine", Alex said and took a breath.
Sam glanced up at Alex as he continued to clean the wound, the cloth now stained with blood. Alex took a sharp breath as the cloth brushed against a particularly tender spot.
Snake's voice cut through the tension in the room, calm and steady. "You're doing good, Sam," he said from the other cell. His tone was warm, encouraging. "Make sure to check the back too."
"Snake…", Alex hissed through gritted teeth, he definitely didn't want to be scrubbed all over. The knife wound on his side was enough as far as he was concerned.
"Cub", Snake returned sternly. "Those marks have to be cleaned."
Alex shot a defiant look at Snake, but Sam just nodded, moving the cloth to Alex's chest, where the angry red marks from the taser burns stood out against his pale skin. The sight made Sam's stomach churn, but he swallowed back his fear and focused on the task. Walker's threats about tomorrow were fresh in his mind, and seeing the damage done to Alex made his hands tremble.
"Your back, Alex," Sam said quietly, noticing how Alex gripped his chest above his heart as if holding on for dear life, never letting his hand move from the spot as Sam worked.
"My back is fine. It didn't bleed," Alex said, avoiding Sam's eyes.
Snake's heavy sigh carried across to their cell. "Cub, it doesn't matter. The skin might still be broken. It has to be cleaned. Lean forward. Now."
Alex glared at the man. "I said it's fine, Snake."
Snake held his gaze, his expression serious. "As your unit medic, I say it's not fine. Now, let Sam check it."
Alex took a deep breath and let out a huff, but he leaned forward, moving his back away from the wall. Sam picked up the cloth again, swallowing hard as he saw the state of Alex's back up close. He had seen the marks before when Alex was unconscious, but seeing the damage this close felt different. Alex's back was covered with angry red welts, some of which had broken the skin where they crossed over one another.
As Sam worked, his eyes wandered across Alex's torso, noticing more scars than he'd expected. Thick scars marred the skin of Alex's shoulders, the once smooth skin now rough and uneven. Sam's fingers brushed over them as he cleaned, and he couldn't help but wonder what had caused them. There were other marks too—thin, jagged lines on Alex's stomach and side that looked like they'd been made by something sharp. And then there were smaller, scattered scars, remnants of past injuries, each telling their own silent story.
Sam's breath caught in his throat as he realized just how much pain Alex had endured, how much he had kept hidden from all of them. He suddenly remembered how Alex had always been careful not to show too much skin, even when they had sports at school. He had always kept his shirt on, avoiding the showers when the other boys were around, changing quickly and quietly, away from prying eyes.
Sam and Will had made fun of him for it. They'd teased him, thinking he was shy and insecure about his body. It had all seemed so harmless back then, just stupid jokes. But now, seeing the evidence of what Alex had gone through, the scars that littered his body, Sam felt a deep sense of guilt settle in his chest. He had never known, never even considered that Alex might have been hiding something so terrible.
"Sam?" Alex's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. Sam realized he had stopped moving, the cloth still in his hand, hovering just above Alex's back.
"Sorry," Sam mumbled, quickly resuming his task. His voice was tight, the weight of his guilt making it hard to speak. "I'm almost done."
Alex didn't respond right away, but he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes meeting Sam's. There was a flicker of understanding there, as if Alex knew exactly what Sam was thinking.
Snake, still watching from the other cell, noticed the pause in Sam's movements. "Take your time, Sam," he said gently. "You're doing great."
Sam nodded again, his throat too tight to speak. He moved the cloth to Alex's back, tracing the marks on his skin. Sam continued working, his hands trembling slightly as he cleaned the last of the welts on Alex's back. He could feel the tension in Alex's muscles, the effort it took for him to remain still, to not show how much pain he was really in. When Sam finished, Alex slumped against the wall again, his breath shaky.
Sam noticed the dried blood around Alex's wrists, where the handcuffs had dug into his skin. The sight of it made his stomach twist. He hesitated before speaking, not wanting to push Alex any further, but knowing it needed to be done.
"Alex, I need to clean your wrists too," Sam said. He could see how Alex's hand remained protectively over his chest, as if shielding something. There was an air of vulnerability about him that made Sam's heart ache.
Alex glanced at Sam, his expression guarded. He shifted uncomfortably, his hand still firmly in place over his chest. "It's fine, Sam. You've done enough."
But Sam had caught a glimpse of something on Alex's chest earlier when Walker had been in the cell. Sam had been too scared at the moment to look closely but he knew that there was something on Alex's chest that he would need to attend to.
"I saw something… around your chest earlier," Sam said carefully, trying not to sound too pushy. "I should check on it. Just to make sure it's nothing serious."
Alex stiffened at that, his gaze hardening as he shook his head. "It's nothing. Just… don't worry about it."
From the next cell, Viper, who had been watching the exchange with a keen eye, spoke up.
"Cub, you need to let Sam take a look," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. There was a note of understanding in his tone, like he knew exactly what Alex was trying to hide. "You've been through hell, kid. It's not the time to be stubborn."
Alex's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it looked like he was going to argue. But then he sighed, the fight seeming to drain out of him. He slowly, reluctantly, moved his hand away from his chest, revealing the bullet scar above his heart. Surrounding it were red, bloodied marks, almost like claw marks, as if someone had dug their nails into Alex's skin with brutal force. The skin was raw and red, the fresh wounds stark against the older, round scar.
Sam's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. All the times Alex had been absent from school because of mysterious illnesses flooded his mind. One of those times, Alex had been away because he had been shot. It was impossible to believe and yet, the stark evidence was right there, in the middle of his classmate's chest. Sam dipped the cloth back into the water, squeezing out the excess before carefully dabbing at the area around the scar.
He swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper when he finally found the courage to speak. "Alex… what happened? Who did this to you?"
Alex's expression remained guarded, his jaw clenched. For a moment, he didn't respond, his eyes distant as if he was somewhere else entirely, lost in memories he didn't want to revisit. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat, almost emotionless. "Scorpia."
"Scorpia…" Sam repeated, the weight of it sinking in. He didn't know what to say, how to respond to something like this. All he could do was continue cleaning the wounds, trying to be as gentle as possible, his mind reeling with the realization that they were in the hands of a group that obviously didn't hesitate to shoot a teenager. Sam felt the terror creeping in his gut. Until now he had believed, in some corner of his mind, that the threats about killing them had been just a way to control the soldiers and Alex. But now it seemed, that it might actually happen, he might die here.
Sam's panic began to rise, his breathing quickening even more. He felt like the walls were closing in, the reality that they might not make it out of this alive suffocating him.
"We're not gonna get out of here, are we?" Sam whispered, the fear creeping into his voice. "They'll kill us… just like they almost killed you. Alex...I don't want to die." A couple of tears rolled down Sam's face.
Alex reached out, placing a steadying hand on Sam's arm. "Hey, listen to me," Alex said, his voice firm but calm. "You are not going to die."
Alex's grip on Sam's arm tightened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the room. He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper, his breath ghosting over Sam's ear as he whispered, "I have a plan."