#nr 12

Jason slowly opened his eyes.  He just stared up at the ceiling.  For a moment he just blinked before the memories returned to him.  He groaned and tried to sit up.  

For a moment panic rushed through his body as he felt the ropes digging into his wrists and throat, causing the pain in his throat to flare up again.  

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.  

As his heartbeat calmed down, he opened his eyes again.  It took him a moment before he realized that he wasn’t looking at a ceiling, it was a mirror of some kind.  

“Oh just great...” he muttered, his voice barely working.  

After a moment he could make out two figures on the other side of the mirror.  He could make out Sam and the Rowan.  Blinking a few times, his vision cleared completely.  He could make out that Rowan was saying something, but he couldn’t hear what it was.  

After a moment he looked around.  He was alone in the room.  There was something cold touching his wrists.  It felt like metal.  

The door opened and a man walked in.  

“Spy...” 

Jason slowly turned his head, just watching the man without a word.  

“Tell me...  Why did you break into my laboratory?”

Jason turned his head away and closed his eyes.  He wasn’t going to say anything, it wasn’t worth it.  

“So you are not going to talk” 

Jason just opened his eyes, staring straight ahead. 

“Then we will have to make another plan” the man said “Since I have three of you.  Let’s see if the other two have something to say”

A flinch went through Jason, but he did not move.  

After a few minutes, he could see someone else moving on the other side of the mirror.  The first shock went through his body and he bit back a scream.  Slowly the pain faded.  

Jason slumped forward, gasping.  

Before he could get his breath back, the electric shock went through him again.  He could feel his muscles pulled together.  This time the shock went on longer.  His vision swam as he tried to breath through the pain.  

Again and again the electric shot burned through him.  

He lost time as the pain continued.  He could see the others.  Sam was saying something, but he couldn’t make out what it was.

When the pain finally stopped for longer than a few minutes.  He managed to lift his head again.  All he could taste was blood.  His throat hurt so badly that he didn’t even want to breath anymore.  

He wanted to move, but didn’t find the strength to.  

“I’m... sorry...” he muttered, his voice scratching in his throat.  

Without warning, the chair was tilted back and a cloth were pulled over his face. 

Water began pouring pour over his face.  He struggled against the bindings, feeling it ripping through the barely healed wounds.  

He couldn’t breath.  

It hurt.

His vision started to darken at the edges.  The water stopped and he gasped for breath, struggling to get air into his lungs.  He was still gasping when the water started again.  

It continued.

Over and over and over and over again. 

The darkness swallowed him.  

Slowly the darkness let go of him.  He coughed, ignoring the pain in his throat and gasped for breath.  

His body trembled.  It hurt so badly.

The water came again.  He blanked out again.  Again and again and again.

His thoughts became jumbled.  Just keeping a single thought became to hard to manage.  His eyes did not want to focus.  And he couldn’t breath right. 

***

Sam stared at the scene in front of her.  She couldn’t get her voice to work anymore.  

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rowan yelled, pulling on his binding “Let him go!  Stop that!”

“Tell us what we want to know and we will stop” the man said.

Rowan roughly pulled on his bindings.  “LIKE HELL!” he screamed at them “You’re killing him!”

“Oh please” the man said “You friend is stronger than that...  Isn’t he?  Since he is the leader of your marry little band”

The man motioned something and then the waterboarding started again.  

“NO!” Sam called out “Stop that!  Please!”

She watched as Jason coughed, his eyes barely flickering open.  It was clear that he was struggling to breath.  

“Let’s change things a little bit” the man said.

Another man walked into the room with Jason.  Then the beating started.  

“NO!” Sam called out.

“Leave him alone!” Rowan yelled, as he watch, fury burning in his chest.  As he watched, blood dripped from Jason’s nose and mouth, his eyes barely staying open.  The worst was when the man started strangling Jason.  As they watched, the wounds on Jason’s neck, caused by the barbed wire, started bleeding again.  

“STOP” Rowan screamed, but a punch made his head snap to the side.  

Jason just slumped where he was tied to the chair.  It was clear that he was barely conscious.  

“When I get my hands on you...” Rowan snarled as he spat out some blood “I’m going to rip you apart”

The man smiled and patted him on the head.  “Tell me what I want to know, and I will let you go” he said.

“I’m not telling you shit!” Rowan snapped again.  

“Then we continue” The man said and the beating started again. 

Rowan screamed.  

Sam just stared at the scene in front of her.  “Why...?” she asked after a moment “WHY?”

Before the man could say anything, the door exploded.  Smoke filled the room, blocking everything from sight.  

Rowan felt the ropes around his hands falling away.  “Mike...” he whispered.

“I got you, man” Mike’s voice said.

They heard a crash from the other side of the glass.  

“JASON!” Sam called out.  

“Sammy” Alex said, as she freed her friend.  

“Let’s go” Mike said.

Alex handed Sam a gasmask, while Mike did the same for Rowan.  

“Let’s go” Mike said “Clover is taking care of Jay”

Rowan held patted him on the shoulder.  “I’ll help” he said “Get out of her”

Mike nodded.  “Go” he said “We’ll be fine”

“Be careful, Row” Alex and Sam said.  

Rowan grabbed the first man he got his hands on, knocking him out before going to the door that lead to the room Jason should be in.  Clover was already inside. 

He paused for a moment as he stepped into the room.  Jason was slumped on the chair, while Clover was busy choking out one of the attackers.  So he rushed forward, untying Jason.  

“Jay-Jay?” he said softly.  

His friend groaned, but did not open his eyes.   The worst was the blood running down Jason’s throat and his pale face.  

“Come on buddy...” Rowan said as he gently removed the restraints from Jason.  As he got the last one lose, Jason all but toppled of the chair, forcing Rowan to catch him.  

“Rowy” Clover said as she finally let go of the man and stepping towards them.  

“Clov” Rowan said as he gently helped Jason to his feet.  The other guy were barely managing to stay upright.

“Let’s go” Clover said “The extraction should be here is about 10 minutes”

Rowan nodded.  “Come on, Jay-Jay” he said “Time to get out of here”

They barely made it out of the house.  Clover got behind the wheel of car that waited for them, while Rowan helped Jason into the back.  

Rowan dug out a first aid pack and started cleaning Jason’s throat.  

His friend were barely able breathing, the sound were strangled and wheezing.  A small trail of blood  dripped from the corner of Jason’s mouth.  

“We need to find a place to stay for tonight” Killian said worried as he looked at Kade’s pale face.  

They’ve been walking through the back streets.  They did not get a chance to rest since they started running.  It was a miracle that they even made it of the Academy grounds.  

All thanks to Kade.  

He teleported them out of there, before the heroes and teachers could reach them.  It had a terrible effect on Kade.  He’s been pale and out of breath ever since then.

Kade hugged his arms to his chest, shivering slightly as he just lowered his head.  “Killian...” he muttered quietly, eyes flickering to some people that came a bit to close to them.

Riley and Killian glanced at each other, before Killian stepped closed, matching his pace with Kade’s.

“Are you alright?”

Kade shook his head slightly.  “My chest hurts...” he said, out of breath “I feel light headed....  and cold”

Killian cussed.  “Riley” he said and nodded towards Kade.  

For a moment panic flashed over Riley’s face before he quickly stepped over to the two.  “How bad?” 

“We need a place to rest” Killian said “Or else we’re going to need a hospital again”

Riley clenched his jaw and nodded.  “I’ve got some cash” he said pulling some money out of his pocket handing it to Killian “Get some food.  None of us will make it if we don’t eat something and enough water”

Killian nodded.  

“What are you... going to do?” Kade asked weakly as a shiver ran through his body.

“Kay” Riley said “Don’t worry.  We’re going to take care of you for now.  So please don’t do anything stupid.  I’m just going to find us a place to sleep.  You need rest”

Kade nodded, before he stumbled as Killian caught him around the shoulders.  

“Go” Killian said as he helped Kade to a bench that stood next to the road, letting him sit down.  

Riley watched him for a moment before he nodded and disappeared into another street.  

Killian knelt in front of Kade.  “Stay here” he said, looking around “Don’t cause trouble.  I’m just going over the street to buy us some food and supplies”

Before Killian could leave, Kade caught his wrist in a weak grip.  “Here...” he whispered, holding out a credit card towards him “It’s for... emergencies...  My Dad forced me to... always carry one.  Untraceable”

“Thank your Dad” Killian said as he took it “I’ll be back in a few minutes”

Kade let go of Killian’s wrist, almost curling up into himself as he started shivering.  He barely registered when Riley came back.  Only when the other guy sat down next to him, did he flinch slightly. 

“I found a place we can stay” Riley said, putting a hand on Kade’s shoulder “But we’re going to need to find some money”

“No need” Killian’s voice said “We’ve got Kade’s back up money”

“What?” Riley asked.

“It’s a villain thing it seems.  He has a secret account for times like these it seems” Killian said as he handed Riley some of the bags “Let’s go”

With his feet hand, Riley helped Kade back to his feet.  

Kade stumbled along between the two.  At the little motel, Riley quickly payed for their room before they went inside.

Killian locked the door behind them, while Kade just collapsed on the bed.  

“I’m worried about him” Riley whispered “He’s not looking so good”

Killian nodded.  “He needs the medication” he said “But the moment we buy that stuff they will be on us.  They will monitor everything that he might need”

“There has to be something we can do”

“If only Bell was here...” Killian said “She’d know what to do”

***

Kade slowly opened his eyes.  He felt exhausted and cold.  His chest still hurt, but not as bad as before.  

“Kade?”

He turned his head slightly, blinking at the face that happened.  

Riley.

His eyes flickered around, searching.  “Where...?” he muttered.

“In a motel room” Riley said, sitting down next to the bed “Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

Kade’s eyes focused on Riley again and he frowned.  “I don’t...  Some of it”

“That’s good” RIley said, smiling slightly as he handed Kade a bottle of water “Here drink some water.  How are you feeling?”

“Weak” Kade muttered as he took the water.  His hands were trembling, arms felt weak, but he managed to take a few sips of water before collapsing back onto the pillows.  “Where’s Killian?”

“He went out to see what he can find out”

“Can you contact him?”

“Yeah, we got burner phones yesterday”

“Tell him to come back” Kade said, closing his eyes.  Just that little bit of water already made him feel better “I’ve got a better way....  Someone that might be able to help out”

Riley studied him for a moment before he nodded.  “Alright” he said and got up.

Slowly Kade started drifting again.  He knew when Riley came back to sit next to the bed.  He drifted again.  This time Killian was back when he opened his eyes.  

It took him some time before he managed to open his eyes again.  

“Kade?” Killian asked, leaning over him, his eyes filled with worry.  

“I’m alright...” Kade said softly as he sat up and Killian pulled back.  

“I don’t believe you” Killian said “You look like death”

The corner of Kade’s mouth pulled into a slight smile.  “You want information about what’s going on, right?” he asked and Killian nodded “Give me a phone”

Killian handed him a phone.

“Got some evil contacts you’re gonna call?” Killian asked.

“Yeah, terrible ones” Kade muttered as he dialed a number.

The phone rang.  Kade waited with his eyes closed.  A voice yelled something over the phone.  It continued, sounding like the person was never going to stop.  

“Shut up Golam” Kade growled and silence fell “Good.  I’m glad you still remember me”

The voice started again, but Killian couldn’t hear anything it said.  

“Stop complaining.  I always pay what I owe” Kade snapped, winching before pressing a hand against his chest.  

More talking.

“Tall me what you know about the academy hunting three students and how I can get into contact with Brine”

Kade rubbed his chest as he listened.  

“It better be or else I’m coming for your head” he grumbled before hanging back.  Slowly he sat back.  

“What did you get?” 

“They are still looking for us” Kade said, closing his eyes.

“Not all that surprising” Riley said from across the room.

“Apparently another three students disappeared.  Curio, Roland and Shaun”

“They are probably looking for us” Killian said as he leaned back slightly.

Kade nodded.  

“Who’s Brine?”

“A info dealer” Kade said “He has the ability to see what happened at a certain point in time”

“Sounds just like what we need” Riley said “So where is he?”

“In the graveyard”

“He’s dead?” Killian and Riley asked at the same time.  

Kade shot them a flat look.  “No you idiots” he said “He lives there”

“In a graveyard?”

“Yes”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”

Riley and Killian looked at each other and shrugged.  

“When are we leaving?” Riley asked.  

“Now” Kade said as he sat up again “The Academy will find us here.  We need to stay on the move”

***

The attack happened before any of them knew what was going on.  Kade slammed into a wall, sliding down, barely conscious.  Riley managed to block the attack with a blood shield.  While it looked like Killian just disappeared.  

Kade could only watch through a muddled mind what was happening in front of him.  

Both Riley and Killian were good fighters, but they were up against at least four professionals.  There was no way they would win with just the two of them.  

As he watched something that looked like electricity hit Killian in the chest and his friend just crumbled to the ground.  

Another supposed Hero had Riley by the throat, lifting him into the air.  

Kade gathered his strength, struggling to his feet.  He stumbled forward, collapsing next to Killian.  

“Killian?” he whispered, shaking the other guy's shoulders before checking his pulse.  

Nothing.

A cold fury rose through Kade’s chest.  Without a second thought he started chest compressions.  He could feel his own chest tighten as he continued with the CPR.  

Riley let out a scream.  A blood mist filled the entire area.  

“Come on, Kill” Kade gasped as he finished the two breaths, feeling out of breath himself “You’re not doing this to me, you hear me?  I need you.  You’re my friend.  I’ll never forgive you if you do this”

It took him a moment before he realized that Riley was next to him.  “I’ll take over” he said.  

Before they could switch, Killian gasped.  His eyes snapping open.  

Kade pulled back, staring at the blonde for a moment, before he just hugged him, taking a shaky breath.  

“You’re alive...”

Killian groaned and Kade let go of him, before slowly getting to his feet.  

Shadows gathered around him feet, rising from the ground like smoke.  He tilted his head slightly.  “You shouldn’t have done that” he said coldly.

Before he could attack there was a flash of lighting and blond head stood between Kade and the Heroes. 

“Come on, Kade” the blond said, tilting his head so he could look at Kade “You cannot have all the fun”

Kade smirked darkly, green eyes gleaming like crystals.  

“Welcome to the party, Kid”