On a String

Chapter 19

"I don't belong to anyone," he spat hoarsely, eyes straining to see what lied inside the hood.

The figure shifted, its head sinking further into the material, and Cole was pretty sure the movement had been deliberate.

"Really?" A low chuckle accompanied the single word, and Cole's eyes narrowed further at the disbelieving tone.

"Really." he echoed flatly, wondering how a laugh could sound both gleeful and disturbing.

"You know," the figure began to walk around the cell, and Cole couldn't help but think that the movement looked more as if it were in threat rather than thought. "Fireboy said exactly the same thing... and look where he ended up,"

(In Hell.)

An image of Kai screaming suddenly appeared in his mind, and Cole resisted the urge to stand up and smack the bastar-figure (he was not going to lose his self-control) - in the face for making such a calculated statement. These people were sick.

"Kai doesn't belong to you either," Despite the effort it took to do so, he stressed the name through clenched teeth.

"Cute," Acknowledging the name with a sardonic nod, the figure chuckled. "Now, there's so much more to discuss, but it looks like you're still not over the ketamine, so we'll continue later,"

"Thought you liked your prisoners' sick," Cole muttered. The words came out louder than he'd intended, and he cursed silently. The person was right. He was definitely not over that drug.

This was just one of the many reasons why he hated getting captured.

Pausing at the door, the person looked back at him. "Oh, rest assured, there will be plenty of time for that later." With that, the figure waved one gloved hand and left the cell.

The thick door shut with a bang.

With heavy hearts and eyes cast down in grim defeat, Jay and Zane wearily boarded the Bounty. Hanging awkwardly between them was Kai's limp body- and it was much lighter than either of them had expected. Jay had gasped in disbelief when he'd first hoisted Kai off the sand.

"Geez, what's he been living on for the past month? Salad?"

(No. Pain.)

Even though it weighed heavily on their minds, neither ninja voiced the thought that this was the closest they'd been to their brother in a month. To do so would be to acknowledge that several weeks ago (long enough for him to be declared MIA), their team mate had disappeared, and this fragile shell had returned in his place.

Was Kai gone?

Their Kai.

(This Kai)

Surely, 'disappeared' did not (would not, could not) mean dead.

(Because their Kai was alive. Somehow. Somewhere.)

It couldn't. Because for the honourable and just and brave (like Kai), death was quiet and peaceful and rewarding and soft.

Angel's wings.

Like... Heaven. (Where there was forgiveness and mercy and no more tears and, and)

And this Kai wasn't there.

(...Yet)

Because his honour and justness and bravery had broken him and now 'disappeared' was made of screaming and pain and terror and burning.

Hell.

Which was the opposite of Heaven. A Heaven which had fallen. A Heaven that had died (disappeared) leaving nothing behind.

And they didn't know how to change that, for him. So they remained silent; boots barely brushing the deck and misty breath scarcely swirling in the cold night air, while wishing (hoping, praying) for a different outcome. A better tomorrow.

Salvation.

They held his body as lightly as possible. Somehow, it felt like betrayal to simply carry him while he was unconscious. As if they were thieves who had infiltrated their King's castle to plunder and break and take. They hadn't asked. And he hadn't agreed.

(And even if he had been awake and they had asked, they knew Kai would never have agreed anyway. Not when his eyes were hollowed with pain and mistrust. Not when he was still running from some invisible enemy. Not when shadows and demons still leapt and danced and glided through his mind.)

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Jay paused and hesitantly broke the silence. "Where should we... take him? The sick bay?" The hand on his shoulder twitched as Kai stirred with a barely audible groan.

Zane stopped beside Jay and gestured with his free hand up at the bunkroom. "If I were him, I would prefer to wake in my own bunk," he muttered.

Jay just nodded in reply, and together, the two ninja ascended the stairs, with their light brother (and his heavy burden) strung between them.