Maximum Ride Fan Fiction / Maximum Ride Fan Fiction ❯ If I Asked You To, Would You Kill Me? ❯ Demon's Heaven, Angel's Hell ( Chapter 25 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Irene Sharda
While Sky finds that his mortal enemy is on the move again, Ari decides to have a little fun with his beautiful captive...

Non Anime: Maximum Ride Fan Fiction / Maximum Ride Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Sci-fi / Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.23.2008 | Pages: 9 | Words: 18.1K | Visits: 179 | Status: Work In Progress

Chapter 25
CRR-SNAP!!
“AHHH!” Max screamed at the abrupt enflaming pain that had suddenly awakened her.
Gritting her teeth in agony, she focused her eyes. Her right leg felt like it was on fire! What the heck—?
“Nothing like breaking someone's leg to give them a little wake up call.”
She could recognize that cold amused voice anywhere in a heartbeat. “Ari…you heartless…”
She lunged at him in fury, only to find her arms restrained! Come to think of it, how was she standing vertically, if she wasn't standing? Looking up, she saw that her wrists were shackled in irons and chained to the ceiling. Looking down, she could see that her ankles were also chained together to the floor. She couldn't move much…if at all.
Ari stood in front of her, leaning casually against a far wall. “What's the matter, Max? Having trouble moving?”
She balled up her fists in anger, but stopped when she felt the chains begin to cut into her wrists. She took an assessment of her surroundings. She was somewhat bleeding from a number of scratched and cuts on her skin, her side and her leg screamed for attention that she was unable to give them at the moment.
The last things she remembered was getting ambushed, then being trapped in her own head. After that, she remembered Fang had somehow connected with her mind with the help of some guy named Blade. He had refused to tell her is location in all his stubbornness, and now she was finally awake and at the hands of a madman! And now, she was in an old, stone room, one with a low ceiling and a couple of flaming torches lit the place. It was like an old storeroom from the 18th or 19th Century. She looked once again at her chains. Better make that an old dungeon from the Dark Ages…
“What's going on here, Ari? What have you done with the flock? If you so much as—.”
He shook his head in pity, “What's wrong? Don't you like being here with me? None of your precious “siblings” are here to distract you…it's just you and me.”
He walked slowly in her direction, until he was just a foot away, before reaching out towards her.
Max closed her eyes and visibly flinched, expecting the worst. But instead, she felt Ari's cold hand lift up her chin lightly…almost, tenderly.
She opened her eyes to look at his pitiless smile. “What's wrong, Max? Did you think I was going to hurt you or something? Well…I guess you would expect that, seeing as you `killed' me twice and all. Good thing, I don't hold grudges against beautiful women, right Max?”
She looked at him strangely, “What's with the compliments? What is it you want, Ari?”
Shifting small steps closer to her, until he was basically only a hairsbreadth away, Max suddenly felt very uncomfortable and vulnerable. Especially since she couldn't really move out of his reach…
He whispered quietly into her ear, “I want—your attention. All of your attention…”
Ari began caressing her face softly, his warm breath tickling her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “Tell me what it is you cherish most.”
She cringed abruptly, trying not to throw up, as he lightly licked her ear.
He smiled, turned on by her response to his touch. Moving her face near his with a steel grip, he said lightly, “Please give me the pleasure of taking it away.”
She could only look at the face of her captor in rage, with all her fury, she spit in his face. “Go to Hell…”
He only smiled his psychotic grin all the more, and with one hand wiped the spittle off.
Then tightening the grip of his other hand, he leaned in close—and forcefully kissed his captive, hard and with a passion!
As hard as Max tried, she could not get away from the revolting action. Her mind began to spin with alarm and disgust, her instincts beginning to cause her to panic. She tried to scream, but Ari's mouth deafened the sound. She could feel him press harder, his tongue conquering her mouth, obviously enjoying her terror.
Just as she began to think her mind couldn't take anymore, the Eraser finally let go, moving away as he lingeringly let go of her hair. “Maximum, you were always the woman for me. I knew it when I used to look at you through that fence, watching you play with flock. I used to feel left out so I'd daydream of just playing with you. That one day, you would notice me.”
She gagged, trying to get the taste out of her mouth. “Ari, you were like, only three or something! And what are you now? Ten?!”
He hunched his shoulders, unconcerned. “You know, I can't even remember how old I am. But, it matters not…Max, what's age to us? Our genes have been so scrambled; we can no longer go along human standards. How many ten year-olds can do what I can do, Max? Maybe my puberty came early; I don't know…I really don't care.”
Max had once met an insane young man. He'd been one of the failed experiments at the School, and had gone crazy after the many painful testing that had been done to his body. He had been just like normal when she first met him, but after the weeks began to go by, she could just see him crack and breakdown more and more, until finally…she knew his mind was gone. He'd start talking about strange things, and mutilating himself. He once attacked a guard and was later put down, judged as dangerous and a failure by the whitecoats. However, she could still remember the look in the boy's eyes. One of complete regression from the world, yet having an almost obsessive attentiveness within them…it was the same look Ari had at this moment.
The crazed Eraser in question went on, “It took me years to realize it, but I found out that one couldn't just hope for Maximum Ride to notice him—you had to make her. You had to command her respect and then her attention. You had to bend her to your will, to break her, and break her, until she was forced to notice you… So, I decided to do just that. How do you like it so far?”
She looked at him with pacification, not sure how deeply rooted his madness was, “Listen, Ari—”
“How did Fang gain your attention? Or that redhead swamp rat? How did they do it?” he asked suddenly.
“What?”
“Well, it's obvious you're very affectionate towards Fang, anyone could see that. And after our brush in Delta 6, I can see you have feelings for that rugged Cajun as well. I just want to know, how they bent you to their will so easily.”
“It's nothing like that, Ari.”
The Eraser went to the table and poured out a couple of glasses of what looked like vodka. “You know I'm not supposed to drink alcohol until about ten years from now, but I have no idea if I'll live that long, I mean—Erasers don't have a very long lifespan. Not that my parents care. Father doesn't care about anything but his experiments, and mother……Am I even allowed to call her that? To me, she's just Anne, the whore who runs the place and married my father, yet no one can ever know about that, least of all their own son. I bet they aren't even cognizant of my relation to them, much less my age.”
He brought the two glasses with him and stood in front of her, downing one with one shot. He then threw the glass to the floor shattering it to pieces. “They were more interested in you, one of their organisms in a Petri dish, than they were with their own flesh and blood!” He squeezed the other glass so tight that it began crack.
Then suddenly he began to relax, and smiled that grin again. “But I guess, even you couldn't hold their attention for too long. Now they have something even more interesting to observe. Your “brother”, Fang? Remember him? Or have you been around the scarlet stallion so long, you've forgotten? I thought you two had something going on? I really didn't take you as the philandering type, Max…”
“Shut up!” she snapped, trying to hold down her anger. She didn't want to upset Ari, he was obviously unstable. “Where is Fang? What did you do to him? What did you do to Derringer?”
“I suggest you forget the both of them, Max…I mean, it's not like you'll ever see either of them again. Want something to drink?”
He offered her the other glass, but she ignored it, looking at him with contempt. “Answer me!”
He went closer to her, his voice changing slowly from dangerously pleasant, to dangerously menacing…
“I don't have to do anything you say, Max. You're in my hands now…and that's the way it's going to stay. Now I suggest you drink this, because I might get offended, and not give you anything else for say…two weeks?”
“I'd rather die than drink that. And how would I? You have me chained up.” She answered back snidely.
He looked at her pitifully, “Oh poor Max! Here, let me show you.”
He reached out and grabbed her neck with a vice-like hold! She automatically gasped, trying to get air into her lungs. But instead, he began to poor the fiery liquid down her throat! She began choking, but he still kept pouring the stuff down, until she had no choice but to swallow!
He kept pouring until it was all gone, then throwing the glass away, he held her throat and kept it that way until she had finished the entire horrible liquor. Then with an almost caring gesture, he leaned up and licked the spilled drops from her the side of her lips, causing her to repulsively shiver. Finally, he let go, allowing her to breath once again.
As she sputtered and coughed violently, he got another glass from under the table and poured another drink, this one for himself. He looked across at her with pleasure. “I'll feed you later, but I just want you to get used to your new home for now. Maybe, after you learn to behave, than I might think about unchaining you.”
She looked at him with venom in her eyes. Her rage overriding her reason, her voice was slow and cold as she spoke. “Why…in the world…should I do that?”
He arched an eyebrow at her, “Because I want you to, of course.”
“Well, how about—I don't feel like it?” she retorted.
Ari shrugged and walked up to her nonchalantly, “If you feel that way, how about this?”
Without warning, he raised his hand to her, slapping her violently across the cheek! His voice was below zero, as he watched a long red welt rise up on her face. “Either you learn to behave like a good girl, or—you get punished. Is that clearer for you?”
She looked back at him vehemently, trying to ignore the pain that was coursing all over her body, from the jarring of her broken leg that the slap had caused. “Do you think I'll ever do anything you say, Ari? You may keep me here, but I'll never willingly obey you. Is that clear?!”
To her surprise, he turned away, laughing lightly for a few minutes before finally explaining. “You know? My father asked me that same thing when he gave me my orders. He told me…not to kill you, and asked `is that clear?', and of course, I said yes. I promised him. And you know what? It might surprise you Max, but I do keep my promises. I'm not going to kill you.”
He then looked over his shoulder at her.
Max couldn't help the shudder that went up her spine, at the deadly glint in those glowering eyes. “Ari…”
He turned fully around, and she was surprised that his face swiftly lost its angry tension, and his eyes softened. He almost seemed…well, normal and a little sad, and looking at her tenderly and with affection. His hand lightly stroked her skin, barely making contact. His voice for once had lost its harsh bite, and instead was soft and poignant. “I'm sorry, Max. I really am. But you really give me…no other choice. I guess you always did like to do things—the hard way…”
With a sudden movement, he pulled her into his embrace, his head lying on her soft chest as he spoke. “I thought you might have learned by now, Maximum. I don't hate you. In fact, it's just the opposite. I want you Max, and I want to take care of you.”
He let go, stepping away only slightly, but leaving a hand over her beating heart. She looked at him warily, not liking where this was going…something was really wrong with Ari, and these sudden mood swings were making him unpredictable and very, very dangerous. She didn't like the touch of his hand on her, but she had to placate him until she could get herself free—and then it would be no more kid gloves.
Yet, her mind shifted to thoughts of Iggy and Gasman, Nudge, Angel, and Total, and especially…did Derringer make it okay? Was he alright? He had been right in his warning against the operation tonight; she had walked right into a trap, which had caused her flock to be in danger—was she a complete idiot or what? She would definitely apologize to him, when they met again. And what of Fang? What had he been afraid to tell her? And why didn't he want to return to them? Mentally shaking her head, she had to remember that she had a more immediate situation right now. Pushing all thoughts of her siblings from her head, she pushed herself to concentrate, she had to find a way to get Ari to let her go and get out of here.
“I'm sorry Ari…but I don't need you to take care of me. I'm sorry I wasn't quite there for you when we were together at the School. I thought your father would have taken care of you; I didn't know then that he was a conniving, underhanded jerk. Somehow, whatever was done to you turned you into—”
She abruptly stopped, screaming out as an audible crack was heard in the air. As she was talking, her captor's face had remained still, while his arm had noiselessly snaked up her arm to her hand, and dislocated her right index finger!
He smirked at the way she tried to smother her outcry and the look of vehemence that flooded through her once understanding eyes. “Now that's the look I like to see. You are so much prettier when you're angry, then when you're filled with pity. What goes on between my father and I, is none of your concern.”
Another crack resounded in the dungeon-like chamber, but this time she was able to hold back the cry of agony as he dislocated her second right finger.
Ari smiled at her resilience and the slight anger at his virtually nonexistent father quickly dissipated. How could such a woman rile up these angry emotions within him one moment, and then calm his heart and comfort his being the next, he had no idea. “You truly are beautiful…”
However, as his hand came down from her throbbing digits to stroke her face, she quickly leaned away, avoiding his touch. Her voice was just as cold her actions; all sympathy for him was gone. “If you think you can flatter me into submission, than you are dead wrong. I want nothing to do with you, and the sooner you get that into your head, the better. You won't let me go? Fine, I'll get out of here on my own, but when I do, there's going to be hell to pay, Batchelder!”
At first, he seemed surprised, shocked even, at her outburst. Then that self-same smile came back upon his face, and he laughed softly before turning from her and walking back over to the table. Max didn't know what to expect out of her archenemy, but she would hold her own, she would not break. Ari had never truly beaten her before, and she would not start now.
However, when he spoke to her again, she couldn't help but shiver at his tone of voice. “I thought that maybe you might have learned Max, that I don't give up and that I don't take rejection well. I thought you understood that, but I see now that I'm going to have to discipline you.”
“And what will you do to me Ari? I've won against you many a time. What makes this time any different?”
He kept smiling at her gently, but she watched with wariness as his canines became longer, and his fingers turned into sharp claws. “I'm much different than the last time we fought Max. And I think I will show you how different……tell me Max, have you heard of the `Three Threes' of life?”
When she didn't answer, he ticked them off on his hand. “Three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food, chose any of those three and a normal human body's biological functions will completely and utterly cease to operate.”
“Ari, this is no time for useless facts—”
She stopped suddenly as he grabbed her throat again and gazed into her eyes. “Of course you aren't a normal human, so to you it will probably only be like excruciating torture. So……which 3 do you want, Maximum?”
She snarled back, indignant at his behavior and ignoring the pain from his claws digging in her skin, “Do you think you can scare me, Ari? There is no torture you can do to me that I shall fear. I have been through enough pain in a lifetime not to even care anymore.”
To her surprise, he laughed out loud, “Ha! Oh Max, I do love that spunky spirit of yours!”
He looked at her with slight admiration and some other emotion she couldn't quite identify. “Your indomitable nature, is what makes this a challenge, it's what makes this fun. You see, after during the two years since we have last seen each other, father has been continuing to perfect the Erasers, giving some of us who survived the procedure, more abilities than even you can guess at. Viper, the female who you met out in the woods, is one such example; I however, am another…”
Max looked at him in examination, “I don't notice anything special, Ari. But then, if Jeb is the same whacked-out nut job I know he is, than what you're saying is probably true. But what does that have to do with anything?”
Ari shook his head in pity at the unknowing and overconfident young woman. She didn't know that the situation for her was completely and utterly hopeless. He had longed for her for more than three years now, and now that he had her in his grasp, he was never going to let her go. She was putting on a brave face now, but she would soon know who the actual master here was. She would soon know the full meaning of the word “agony”, and that he was her only salvation. If she ever wanted the pain to stop, she would have to surrender herself to him, and he would only agree to total and complete submission. He had complete ownership of her, body and soul—she just didn't know it yet…
“Max, the powers my father gave me, manifested as being cerebral. I can't use them often because they tax out my brain easily. However, I'm going to show them to you, Maximum.”
She rolled her eyes in return, “I feel sooo lucky…”
He laughed softly at her standard response, before coming closer once again and grasping her chin firmly and looking into her striking eyes. He lightly kissed her lips, not caring that she flinched at the intimate touch. Activating his power, his eyes suddenly dilated and began to glow bright emerald green, power radiating off of his body in waves!
Max took one look into those ethereal luminescent eyes, and her body suddenly lost all function. She was sucked into those blazing green orbs, unable to stop herself from drowning within their depths until she was totally surrounded by their intense power, like they were some sort of wormhole. What was happening here?
Before she knew the full extent of what was happening, she found herself in total darkness. There was no light at all, and neither was there a floor or a ceiling, no way to tell up from down, left from right. She knew vaguely that this was not physical reality and that she was not really here, at least not literally. This was all happening somehow in her mind…or at least, she thought so…
She had no idea how she gotten to this place, but the sensation—or the absence thereof—was not pleasant in the least. What the heck did Ari do?
`Patience is a virtue, Max.'
She flinched at the sound of Ari's amused voice answering her thoughts. “How the heck are you in my head? And how can you here my thoughts? Are you a telepath too now, Ari?”
She blinked surprised that her voice still worked in this place, wherever this place was…
Her thoughts were interrupted by Ari's pleased laugh, “No, my little Max-y, I am not a telepath. I am something much more interesting.”
She twisted and turned around in the darkness, but could not see or pinpoint anything, much less her demented archrival. His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere. “Where are you Ari? Show yourself! What is this place?!”
“This place—is mine. Just as you are…”
Her anger flared, “I belong to no one.”
She could almost feel his smirk from there as he laughed lightly at her, “That's where you're wrong, Maximum. I do own you. However, it seems that I have to prove it to you, baby. As I said, this world is my world and here: my wish is your command. I can do anything here, but it won't affect the physical world. I can show you anything that has ever existed within the imaginations of man…maybe I'll even show you those Three Threes I was talking about… Rest assured, our corporeal bodies will be absolutely fine…I can't say the same for the mind though.”
“You're insane, Ari!” she screamed angrily.
He kept speaking, ignoring her. “Did you know Maximum, that it is truly the mind that determines pain? It's the electrical impulses traveling up and down your spinal cord that tell you you're hurt. Now, you say you can do fine without me, Max? I'm going to hold you to that. I'm going to leave you now. And I'm not going to return until you beg me to…until you plead to become mine. When this is over Maximum, you'll understand…you'll understand completely.”
Before she could respond again, she felt his presence leave her alone in this forlorn abyss. Well, this is just great. What was she to do now?
She slightly regretted her short temper, knowing that it had lost her any chance to bargain with Ari, who she did have to admit, had the upper hand here. But that boy could be so irritating! How dare he presume that he owned her? Like she was some pet that he could pamper or neglect at will? That he had a right to kiss her…to touch her? Just thinking about where the Eraser's hands had come in contact made her want to take a shower underneath Niagara Falls!
And now he had left her in this strange black hole, telling her ominous threats and/or ultimatums. And though she held Ari in the highest disdain, she had to wonder what new powers those dastardly whitecoats had given him. Was he able to construct illusions and screw around with the mind of his victims? Was that what this was? Some giant, grand illusion?
A tingle began to crawl up her spin, and while she didn't notice it at first, it grew in strength the more it traveled. It was suddenly joined by others of its kind, each stronger and more intense than the one before it. Max at first just simply rubbed or scratched at the irritating sensations, but it stood to fact that that soon wouldn't cut it.
The irritant sensations soon became vaguely painful, and while Max tried to put the pain behind her, to block it from her brain like she always did, her mind simply wouldn't work as she commanded it too! She instead began to feel anxious. Panic began to consume her mind and her heart became heavy with distraught. She had never considered herself an emotional woman—so why were her feelings going all over the place without her permission? It was making her uncomfortable and she didn't have time to deal with both her inexplicable bleeding heart, as well as the bizarre sensations of pain!
She suddenly burst out into tears without notice, and her body curled up in a futile effort to stave off the pain. W-Why is my body b-betraying me l-l-like this…?
Of course no one answered her questions. No one helped to comfort her emotional and physical aches and pains. And it was a certainty, that no one told her—
That this wasn't even the half of it…
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As his eyes slowly returned to normal, Ari looked at the unconscious young woman chained up in front of him. His chest heaving in an effort to try to catch his breath, he wasn't at all surprised when his legs crashed beneath him and he fell to the ground. Using his new mental powers always had a habit of wiping his energy reserves dry, and his body was often immobile for at least a half hour afterwards.
But he had to admit, it was well worth it.
Max would be stubborn enough to not call out for him for at least an hour's time, but she would fold. They all did eventually…
As he looked up at her, he smirked as he heard soft but painful moans coming from her throat, and small, silent tears begin to fall down her cheeks. Yes, it wouldn't be too long now…Max was many things, but she was still part human…and it was that human part that was going to be her undoing.
His new powers were quite strange and uncanny…but they made him more of a threat that anything the Flock had ever seen. Even Viper had respect for his abilities, and that was saying quite a lot when it came to her.
In a nutshell, using his own mind, he could send his victim into their subconscious and en masse, trap that person there. His mind would then jumpstart the nerves all over his victim's body to send messages of different varieties of physical impulses from all over her body. He was single-handedly able to tell her brain that anything was happening to her body, and it would believe him. He spoke with the brain of his victim through neuron synapses, deceiving it into thinking that all sorts of pain and torture were happening to the host body. He could say that she was having a car crash, fracturing twelve bones, he could say she was being burned alive in a five, he could even say that she was being drawn in quarter, and her brain believed every single lie—and responded accordingly, sending back out signals of the very agony that one would experience in such situations. Yet, it didn't stop there.
At the exact same time, he also sent signals of sensitive situations such as the death of a family member, a relationship break-up, a betrayal of friendship, and of course her emotions would respond fully to every command. Not knowing what to expect, her normally hardened resolve would quickly crumble to nothing.
It was the perfect form of torture.
One that didn't harm the victim physically, but it was just as effectual as any form of possible corporeal punishment. The longest anyone had lasted under his powers, was an hour and a half. Many that came before had even lost their minds…
But he wouldn't let his Max get that far. He would let her feel enough pain just to let her know who held the true power. Just to give her enough in order to break her.
He was going to possess her body and soul before all this was over, and by taking control of her thoughts, he had already won half the battle.
He smiled wildly as he heard the female bird-teen's moans escalate into whimpers and tiny screams. Oh Maximum, you never did like things the easy way. I truly didn't want to do this, but you always have a habit of forcing my hand, little one…
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Curtis De La Vega rose his heavy eyelids painfully, the lights in the room burning his cornea. What the heck happened? His head felt like a fuel tanker hit him square in the face and left him to die. Raising a hand to his aching skull, a cold voice suddenly interrupted his muddled thoughts.
“Feeling better?”
Hearing the voice of his friend and leader brought some relief to him as he took in his surroundings. He had some how gotten home to the Conservatory, and he was now safe for the most part, among his friends and adopted family. His vision getting better, he could see that he was in his room, lying on his bed, his old clothes removed and replaced with new fresh ones. Glancing over to the area where the voice had come from, he saw Sky leaning against the wall watching him, a pair of crutches lying slack against his arms at the ready for his use.
A thought of worry came over Curtis as he wondered what had happened to his young leader in his absence, but the vice on his brain suddenly got tighter and he had to close his eyes in order to detract from the pain. However, in the midst of it, he still dutifully answered his boss' question. “My body feels like road kill, but other than that, I think I'll be fine.”
Sky had a strange dark look on his face, and Curtis wondered even more what had happened in his home. The sapphire-eyed man took up the crutches and limped towards him, he looked haggard and tired, but the anger that lit his eyes seemed to temporarily revitalize him. “Something wrong, Sky?”
The man ignored his question and instead, laid a hand across his forehead, before taking up his wrist and measuring his pulse. “No fever…and your pulse seems fine.”
The Hispanic nodded, “I told you I'll be fine. I just need a little rest is all…
Sky lay his crutches against the nearby nightstand and sat on the bed, before looking directly at him with those striking blue eyes of his.
“Good.”
SMACK!
A sudden sharp crack resounded through the room; the sound bouncing off the walls in one continuous echo until it finally dissipated…
Curtis could not contain the shock as a raging shade of scarlet spread across his right cheek, smarting stings traveling across his flesh in little sparks and lances. Of all the things he had expected, he had not remotely thought that Sky would so violently slap him! He had known the man was mad, but why the heck was he taking it out on him?
“What in the world was that for?!” he asked disbelievingly.
Karinkov stood there seething, “How could you do such a thing, De La Vega? You put this entire group at risk with your hedonistic behavior!”
He could only look up at him with surprise, not understanding a thing the guy was talking about. “What—”
But Sky would not be stopped, “Look, I'm a sensible guy. I know that some of you drink, and I'm patient with that. But to get drunk and then fall apart along the alleys of the city?! I'm glad Rainshadow found you before the police—because then both you and I, and all the rest of the Angels, would really be in trouble!”
Certain things began to click in his head as heard the irate man's tirade. “Wait, you think I was drunk?!”
“I don't think—I know! I had to throw your clothes away because of the stench! Of all my guys, I didn't think you be as irresponsible and selfish as to—”
Curtis jumped to his feet, no matter how much it made the pressure on his brain quadruple and the room to start swirling around him. “Sky, listen—”
The Russian turned from him, foreign curses coming from his lips. “God, Curtis! I'm not going to kill you for what you've done, but if you start giving me excuses for your behavior, I might be sorely tempted…”
“Skylark, LISTEN—TO ME! Por favor!”
When a continued silence went on for the next couple seconds, Curtis gripped the bedside and lowering his voice, continued. “Please believe me, Sky. That wasn't how it was. I would never endanger the team like that. You guys are my familia, and you know how much that means to me. Family always sticks together, hermano.”
Sitting back down, the torture to his head becoming too intense, he looked at Sky, trying to judge the other man's emotions. The alpha male looked over his shoulder at him sternly, but without the spark of anger from before. Both men were quiet for five very uncomfortable and long seconds, before Sky was the one to break the silence.
“I'm going to listen to your explanation, Curtis. You deserve at least that. However…if your excuse isn't up to par, you will have to face the consequences of your actions, correct?”
Curtis nodded and settled back on the bed as Sky got comfortable in a nearby chair. The Russian-American sat back and closed his eyes before nodding his head, indicating he was ready.
Pushing back some stray blond hair from out of his face, he began his sad and strange story, a slight undercurrent tone of bitterness and hatred in his voice.
“You know that I lost my parents when I was fourteen and it was my older brother, Julio, who took care of me after that. When I got involved in the F.A.s, Julio was still there for me and everything, even though he totally disapproved. However, my brother for all his protectiveness of me, he didn't take care of himself enough. He was killed in an accident with a car.”
Sky's eyelids fluttered slightly at the reiterated news. He remembered when Curtis had shown him a picture of his older brother. The man was the exact opposite of his brother, jet black hair instead of platinum blond, short instead of tall, blue eyes instead of brown, a look of trust a kindness on his face rather than the scars of street life. But he could tell that the two had been close, and that Curtis had truly been crushed at the fact of Julio's death. It was something he encountered multiple times. The others of his little clan had similar stories of sad childhoods and it was like a common past time. But that didn't make it any easier to listen to…
Curtis continued, “I know for sure that it was a threat from Damian to keep me in line, but as always there was no proof. I did stay in the Fallen Angels, but I rebelled silently in my own way. Assuming the same mantle of guardianship that Juilo gave me, I took on the responsibilities for Julio's wife, Sandra, and their two sons that my brother strangely named, Dawn and Dusk.”
A slight smirk and a coughing laugh came from Sky, but the man just nodded and told him to go on.
“Well, since the day of his death till now, I've been doing my best to take care of my sister-in-law and the boys, even if I can only visit them once or twice a year. This was one of those times I thought I could get away to see them, since we has just finished that big trafficking bust and you had given us the weekend off. They still live in LA, but seeing them all again is well worth the risk. It's not that far to get there by air.”
“The risk would have been lessened if you had told me of them before.” Sky interrupted him plainly, “Most of us have no family outside the gang. They would be put in danger because of our harsh lifestyle. I have a responsibility towards you, and that transfers to them as well, because they are your close kin. I honestly hope you didn't go commercial, did you?”
The other man looked at him incredulously, “What do you think I am? Loco? Of course I got Rex to take me.”
The gang leader nodded in approval. Rex Hampton was a pilot they had met two years ago on a job in New York. Ares had had the man's license revoked when the African-American had had the “audacity” to try to press charges after Ares had raped the man's wife. Stockholm making the man's life a living hell, Sky had approached Rex with a proposition. After all the details were worked out, Rex and his wife Angie, moved to Arizona with them. They helped Rex get his own private plane and a fake license that could stand up to the most intense scrutiny. Sky took care of the couple and in return Rex provided secure air transport for the Angels when they needed.
Sky smiled a little as he thought of the man who was now expecting a child in six months. He hated being a burden on him at such a precious time, but Rex was always more than willing to help, feeling that anything was worthwhile to take down the evil reign of Ares Stockholm.
“Thank you for telling me now. Later this week, I will take measures to make sure your sister-in-law and her nephews are protected, even if that means bringing her here.” He blinked as he looked back at the Hispanic male, “However that still doesn't explain why you were intoxicated…”
A flash of distress and anger went through Curtis' eyes, “I wasn't intoxicated—I was drugged.”
The other man looked at him with surprise and concern, “What?”
He turned away in frustration, but it was not aimed at his leader. “When I got to LA, there was a problem. I went to Sandra's place but she wouldn't answer the door, so I had to pick the lock. When I went in, I found her curled up on her bed crying her eyes out, Sky…”
Karinkov began to get a sick feeling down in the hidden depth of his stomach. “What happened, Vega?”
He looked up at his leader with tear-welled eyes. “He took them Sky! He took my nephews—mis sobrinos! Sandra told me that three months ago, some men dressed in black, broke into her apartment during the night. They beat her and trashed the place. And then…¡Dios mío! They stole the boys right out of their beds, Sky! They ripped them from their home, from the safety of their mother's arms!”
His hand curled into a fist so tight that he was starting to draw blood. “And then she said that that the police have been not any help in the least. They basically said to her face that she was lying, that the boys had simply run away and that she had fallen down some stairs. Can you believe that! Of course you and I both know who's truly behind it, and I was just too thoughtless to think that he wouldn't find out about the only blood kin I have in the world. I should have known! Debo ser la persona más estúpida del mundo! Que jodido bastardo…”
Sky watched the man for a time, His heart going out to the person he held as one of his little brothers, wanting to watch over him and protect him from danger. “You are not stupid, tsipotchka. Ares doesn't work in the same reality as those with sanity. I think sometimes I go insane a little…just so that I can understand how he works. Now I know nothing of your nephews, but are you absolutely sure it was Ares who was responsible?”
Curtis' face was totally downcast as he nodded, “I had been hoping for another answer myself when I promised Sandra I would find them. I know Dusk (he's the elder) will look after Dawn. Those two have always been really close, especially after Julio was murdered. I had hoped to find them somewhere in the city, even though after three months, even I knew that was a slim chance. I eventually told Sandra that I would talk to you and perhaps have her moved somewhere safe. I came back here as fast as I could, but my mind was totally consumed with worry, I didn't know that while I was driving my car, I was being followed.”
Blue eyes narrowed at the revelation, “`Followed'? By whom? And did they follow you from the plane or—”
The Hispanic shook his head in response. “No, they don't know about Rex or anything. They followed me in a dark van on the road once I got back here. I actually didn't pay any attention to them until they tried to run me off the road.”
“WHAT?!”
“They kept trying to cut me off and push me off the path, and eventually it worked and I skidded into a ravine.”
The older man looked down at him with worry, probably thinking that he should give his man another examination.
Curtis continued, “At some point I fell unconscious, and the next thing I knew, they had me inside the van, tied up, shooting stuff up my arm. They tried to question me, asking me to betray the Angels. One guy even tried to drown me, by dumping several bottles of alcohol down my throat to try to make me talk. I of course showed them all, that we Angels are loyal only to one man and that I would never betray him, even when the drugs were making my head spin, and the alcohol—even though I kept spitting it back in their faces—made me want to puke. But that's when they threatened me with the lives of my nephews…”
Sky had to sink back to his seat from the enormity of it. What was Ares plan this time?? “How did you get out of there?”
He sighed in return, trying to stave off the piercing headache that came with remembering. “When they found they couldn't get anything out of me, they left me alone, drugged and tied up, thinking I wouldn't be a threat. While the idiots were eating, I picked my handcuffs and got out of there. I don't know how far I got before my mind caved to the drugs. The next thing I knew, I was here in sickbay.”
The room was silent for a few tense moments as Curtis looked toward his boss, who was deep in thought. He knew that there was a chance that the goons he had left behind had followed or tracked him and he would never know it. He hoped that this would not be the case, for then it would be quite true that he had put his entire family's lives in jeopardy.
As if knowing his thoughts, Sky spoke to him solemnly without looking up from his steepled hands. “I doubt they followed you here, Curtis. Tony found you, and he would have made sure that no one was trailing you. What I'm worried about is that somehow, those men knew you were in the immediate vicinity, and that Ares may be getting to close to actually finding our location. I'm going to step up security and then I'm going to start Tony on our newest assignment.”
He looked up at him, his blue eyes intense with purpose. “We will find your nephews, Curtis. You have my word. You have proven your innocence and I apologize for not letting you explain in the first place.”
The man smiled crookedly, “Gracias, Sky. I'm not going to delusion myself into thinking that Ares hasn't done anything to Dusk and Dawn by now. They've been missing for three whole months, and they might actually be injured or…worse.”
“You mustn't give up hope, for Sandra's sake. For right now, you have to heal and be strong for her. You've been in a car crash, had unknown drugs pumped into your system, and even tortured into talking. I'm going to—”
But as Sky reached for his medical supplies, he winced as he muscles screeched in protest. His body was warning him that if he didn't get some actually sleep soon, if was going to drop again, and this time it was going to take more than soup and water to get him back on his feet again.
Curtis saw the intense weariness that seemed to overshadow the young man. He felt slight guilt over the fact that he was in a way, partially responsible for that. “Why don't you rest Sky, I'll be fine.”
The older male smiled back in appreciation, his face apologetic. “Taking care of the kid has really worn me out.”
It took a minute for Curtis to remember who `the kid' was. “Oh, you mean that strange boy you found in the park? I think you said his name is Fang; everyone's been waiting to meet him. Is he okay?”
He nodded, “Yeah, we moved him to another room. We think he may be linked to another one of Ares' plots and so we're going to be keeping him with us for awhile.”
Skylark took up his crutches and got to his feet, “Despite your reassurances, I'm not sure of your health. You might have a concussion or something and not know it. I'll send Luke up here to check you out, and don't give him any grief okay? Tomorrow, I want you to call your sister-in-law and tell her to get her things packed. I'm going to talk to one of my LA contacts, Evan Lyles, and see if he can't take her in for the time being. I don't like the idea of her living alone in a place that Ares knows where to find her. Evan lives outside the city with his sister, and they have enough money and security to protect Sandra. Will that satisfy you until we can actually find a new home for your cuñada and rescue your sobrinos?”
Curtis felt a swell of pride and unworthiness of his leader, who was doing so much to help people who weren't even his own. Sky had lost his entire family years ago, and his Angels were all he had in the world. Because of this, he treated his Angels as his kin, and their problems were his problems.
“Thank you, Sky. My boys mean the world to me. They're all I have left from Julio, and I'd die before I let another Stockholm take away my family again.”
The other brushed his black hair behind his back, before heading toward the door. “Rest for now, it's practically daylight. I'll see you again later, okay?”
The Hispanic nodded and leaned back onto his pillow as he watched his chief depart. He silently wondered, how any of them had ever gotten along, without a man like Skylark within their midst…
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Sky had only walked three feet when his legs once again collapsed under him. Falling hard to the ground, he groaned in both annoyance and soreness, before trying to reach for the wall to attempt to push himself back up.
Suddenly, hands grabbed him around the torso from behind and pulled him up. As his arm was pulled around so that he was supported by the other's shoulder, he looked over into the brown eyes of his second-in-command, who was sporting a toothy grin.
“Overworking yourself again, pretty-boy?”
Sky gritted his teeth, but knew that Tawny only used the aggravating nickname as a slight rebuke. “When did you get back?”
The brunette grabbed the crutches with his other hand as he held onto his leader solidly. “Twenty minutes ago, Joaquin filled me in on what's been going on here in my absence, and I agree with the others in that you need to rest—right now. I'm going to take care of things for the time being, and absolutely no arguments.”
His blue-eyed friend smirked, “And what makes you think I'm going to give you an argument?”
Tawny looked over at him peculiarly, “Because I know you.”
He laughed softly, “Right you are, tovarishch. I will relent this time however. But I expect you to keep the others on task. I've given most of them their orders, but I do need to tell Tony to add two more targets to his list.”
“Did you chew Curtis out? Because I'll gladly do that too.” He said with a steely tone to his voice.
Sky's eyes drooped slightly, “Yeah, about that…it's more complicated than we thought. Let's walk and talk.”
As the two made their way to the dormitory floor, Sky explained to Tawny all that Curtis had told him, as well as the new twist in Ares' constant attack against them. The man listened closely, his anger rising in that Ares had had added innocents to their dangerous little game of cat and mouse.
“Looks like we're going to have another fight on our hands, but I still want you to sleep. You need the rest. I'll make sure to keep the troops on their toes.”
Sky sighed, the tiredness spreading even to his resilient eyes. “Finding those two boys are going to be our top priority. Tell Tony to get on this now, and Luke to go up and check out Curtis; he might have some head injuries.”
“And what about the kid?”
“Tell Joaquin to look after him tonight. I have not forgotten that boy's fate.” His free hand twisted into an unyielding fist. “That svin'ya…these children all deserve a future, but with men like Ares, no one is safe. Experimenting and scarring their young bodies for his own personal gain….I won't rest till I've found and freed all these children from that scum's twisted grasp. My own child was denied a life, but as God is my witness, I vow to make sure Fang, Dawn, Dusk, and all of those captive children are freed from the Stockholm shadow, once and for all.”
Tawny simply gazed at his superior and friend as the man spoke his determined and obdurate words, a glimmer of admiration in his hazel eyes. Even after all these years, his love and respect for Skylark never seemed to fade. In fact, if anything—it was intensified.
As they made it to Sky's room, Tawny pushed him onto the bed and placed the crutches far out of reach. “The next time I see you out of bed, I want you to be able to walk with your own two feet. You understand me?”
Sky laughed a little as he looked up at his stern taskmaster. “Sometimes I think you're too good at giving commands, tovarishch.”
He shrugged his shoulders in return, while making sure food, water, and the radio and cell phone were within easy reach of the bed. “Well, what did you expect? I learn from the best. And you know what? You've been calling me that `toe-va-retch' or something word for all these years, and I've never stopped to ask you what it means exactly. It had better not mean something extremely stupid, or cute, or something.”
Those azure eyes could not have gotten more mysterious sparkle, if diamonds themselves took their places. “Remind me when this is all over, to give all you guys a lesson in rudimentary Russian. You're a smart man Tawny, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually.”
The man simply answered by splashing him with water from a nearby bottle. “You have got to be the most frustrating man I've ever had to work for.”
He received his answer as he walked out the door, the same, now empty, plastic bottle hitting him playfully hard in his back. “Insubordination is a crime, you know.”
Tawny laughed as he closed the door. “It's a good thing I'm already an outlaw!”
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She could feel every bone in her body, break and shatter into small pieces.
She could feel the petals of fire's flames lap and eat at her skin and tissue, burning her all the way to the bone.
She could feel the unbearable pain and pressure of a man's body on top of her, ready to ravage her for the tenth agonizing time.
She could feel the tears run in torrents down her face, from a broken heart she didn't have an explanation for.
She felt all these things all at once, and yet all separately, and her brain was beginning to crack and fragment in an effort to make sense of it all.
She was in Hell, and she welcomed death to come and claim her at anytime, even unconsciousness would be a mercy. Yet, no such mercy was allowed to be bestowed upon her. She was wide awake to ever agony, to every amount of anguish, to every possible torturous amount of suffering that was afflicted upon her. She had tried to resist, but it only became worse and worse as time went by.
And how much time had gone by? Minutes? Hours? Days? Months? Years?
It didn't matter, time didn't seem to exist in Hell. Nothing mattered anymore to her. She couldn't stand this any longer.
She was going out of her mind…
Her voice called out, only a slight cracked whisper. “Help-p me….”
Feelings of doubt came at her from her heart. No one can hear you. No one can help you.
A small, almost forgotten sliver of determination came to her, and with all the remaining energy that she could mange, she shouted out with her mind a cry for aid. “Someone…Anyone…HELP ME!!”
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Iggy and the remaining flock soared through the early morning sky, not stopping for rest until they reached their destination. Everyone had been quiet since Derringer had left them to go after Max. Even Nudge didn't say a word, but chose to fly closer to Gasman, while Angel ended up next to Iggy.
The youngest of the flock used the silence to send her mind out to look for any type of danger. At one point, her mind-net caught on to something. And subsequently—she screamed.
The other three turned to her in alarm, and Ig quickly swooped down to catch Angel as she fell out of the sky, her concentration broken.
The three hovered over Angel in midair, as she regained her bearings.
“What's wrong, Ange?” Gazzy asked anxiously.
The young blonde girl trembled in her big brother's arms as she remembered what her mind her seen.
“I-I saw Max…she called out for help.”
Iggy cocked his head to the side in thought. “Is she close to us?”
Angel shook her head, “No, but her shout was so loud that I couldn't help but pick up on. Probably every telepath in the country could.”
Tears began to spill down her face, as she remembered the misery and pleading in that outcry. “I-I've never heard Max like that before…she—she was in so much pain…”
Iggy grimaced and took the small girl in his arms, pressing her head to his shoulder. He then continued flying on their present course, the other two following him, the worry in his visage, reflected in theirs.
He was worried about Max, and Angel's news had only increased his concern. However, it also increased his resolve. He had to get the flock to a safe location soon. He would protect them, and he had to hope above all else, that Derringer would find Max before something—irreversible happened.
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Fang laid down motionless on his bed, his mind drifting thorough a dreamless sleep. It had been one eventful night, and his body needed to heal the wounds that still dotted his flesh.
`HELP ME!!'
Jumping up from the mattress, wide awake, Fang gasped as the horrible images flashed through his head, accompanying the voice, that shrieking outcry for help that seemed to rock his brain.
He knew that voice, and he knew she was in pain! Max!
Instinctively, he jumped from off his bed and unfolded his metal wings as he walked to the window. Sky and the others would understand. It didn't matter that he had no idea where she was, he had to save Max. His heart felt if it was being squeezed in an iron vice as he remembered that scream, that pleading howl for relief. If something happened to her…
However, just as he pulled up the shutter, his body suddenly froze!
Are you out of your mind, Fang?
Shut up, Blade. What are you doing to my body?
Our body, and I'm not letting you go out and do something stupid that could threaten my life.
Fang growled in outrage and anger, so much that he spoke aloud. “Listen! This is MY body, and I'm going to save Max whether you approve or not!”
No, you're not…
Watch me.
Fang pushed all his strength against that of his unwanted “houseguest”, and found that he could move ever so slowly if he applied all his will.
Don't test me Fang. If you die, I die. And it will be a snow day in the Sahara, before I risk my life for some dirty-blond broad, who sleeps with the very next man who catches her eye.
Don't you DARE talk about her that way!
Anger filled his heart and he pushed even harder against Blade's will, and finally stepping onto the window sill, the night breeze hitting his face.
You're not going to leave this room. This is my last warning to you.
Blade was tired of arguing. If his vessel wanted to be naive and stubborn, he would just have to use a firmer hand on the restless young boy.
Fang no longer responded, but instead began to reserve his strength in order to successfully launch himself off into the skies.
Suddenly, he screamed and howled as large blue sparks of electricity crackled all along his body! Each charge lanced over his skin and through his flesh, muscles, and organs, his body smoked and sizzled under the onslaught.
His body still weak, Fang was quickly conquered by the pain, and he tumbled off the window sill to the hardwood floor of his room, unconscious. Needless to say, the minute the bird-teen was reduce to steaming immobile heap, the electric charges that had plagued him disappeared, leaving his body to recover.
Inside of Fang's mind, Blade sat on his side of the brain and watched his vessel's side, slip out of consciousness. Well, it wasn't like he hadn't warned the boy, but then again, Fang was mostly human. Humans had a habit of becoming obstinate idiots, at the most inopportune times.
It was time Fang realized that while this body was half his, he was the more dominant and the stronger of the two. Fang was subject to him, and not the other way around.
One day he would have total control…but until then, he would have to bide his time.
Blade watched without comment as the human called Joaquin came into the room in worry, probably having heard Fang's screams. He looked over the body and quickly carried it back to the bed, before closing the window and then, interestingly enough, sitting down and relaxing in a corner of the room, probably to personally look after his bizarre charge.
Blade didn't mind, he liked it here. For humans, the Avenging Angels had proven interesting and worthy company. Here he had food and shelter, and he was perfectly comfortable—he was in no hurry to leave.
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Derringer fell to the roadside once again in pain. But this time, it wasn't from his wounds, but from the psychic blast he'd just received.
`HELP ME!!'
He could recognize that voice anywhere, even within the telepathic bolt that had just hit him. The images and feeling that accompanied that shout for help drew a shudders down his back, and the pain in the plea awakened the feral heart within him.
Derrin had yet to tell the flock the obvious nature of his own spliced genetic make-up. However, to learn the truth, one only had to look into his eyes….
Nearly fifteen percent of his DNA was feline in origin, and it was that part of him, that was aching for control now. For, cats were both very protective and very dangerous—but above all, they were territorial.
He had already marked the flock, and above all, the flock's female leader, as his own. And he would destroy any challengers…
The redheaded Cajun stood slowly to his feet, his golden eyes aglow in the early morning night. His fingers curled into fists, and his nails became longer and curvier, with keen points.
How dare they touch HIS woman? How DARE they hurt her?
He let his rage simmer low within his abdomen till it smoldered and boiled into a flaming inferno. Nothing—No One—was going to come between him and what was his.
Using Max's plea as a beacon in the night, Derringer sped up the mountain paths like a freight train down the metal rails, his mind focused on a single goal…on a single woman.
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Ari, who had recovered from his zapped energy, sat at the table looking at his writhing captive in amusement. She was so beautiful when she was in agony…
He too had heard her mental cry for help, but he had ignored it.
When she called for him, and only him, to save her—that would be the point in which he would go into action.
Until then, he was quite satisfied to just watch his Maximum struggle.
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Max felt real despair take over her as her last call for help went unanswered, except with more agony and hopelessness. She had no more strength, no more plans, no more ideas, no more tricks…she had nothing…
As much as the thought should have piqued her, she wasn't strong enough to be concerned about her pride any longer. At this point, she would do anything to be released from this infernal, damned place.
There was only one way…
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“Ari…A-Ari…” the feminine voice was broken, breathless with malaise.
After a few minutes, his voice nonchalantly returned to her after having been absent for what felt that an eternity, “Hmm? Did you call me Max?”
“P-Please…no more…”
“`Please what, Maximum?”
“Please Ari…I-I can't…I can't take it anymore…”
“You want my help, Max?”
A shudder came to her voice at his sweet, condescending tone. “I—I…”
“What was that?”
Her voice began to sob “I'm begging you…take me from this place.”
“Then tell me the words that I want to hear.”
She felt the tears flow even more, her spirit crumbling as her pride was torn from her piece by piece, and crushed into pulp. What else could he possibly want from her?! She had already begged him!
Then she remembered his words…
`I'm going to leave you now. And I'm not going to return until you beg me to…until you plead to become mine.'
Her heart began to join the remains of her pride, as Max waveringly formed the words on her lips.
“P-Please…Ari…let me become…y-yours…”
She could almost feel his smirk of triumph. “If I release you, Max, you will belong to me, to do with as I please. Is this your choice?”
Her head hung, and she no longer had the strength or want to pull it up again. “Yes, Ari…t-that is my…my choice.”
The minute she said the words, the pain and misery that had pushed her to the brink of insanity, abruptly disappeared! The darkness that had held her prisoner also receded, bringing her back into full consciousness.
It took her a minute to realize she was back within reality, but even that didn't make anything any better. Gasping to catch her breath, she realized her body was covered in sweat, and real tears covered her cheeks.
She shivered as she felt Ari walk up to her and lick the tears from her face. But even then, she didn't look at him.
She didn't dare look at him.
To look at him, would make everything real…
Ari smiled as she didn't resist his touch. Lightly caressing her cheek, he whispered into her ear, “You are mine now, Max. Do you understand what that means?”
She tried to turn away from him, but he grabbed her chin roughly and forced her to face him. “I said do you understand what that means?”
She bit her lip, trying to look away from those intense eyes.
“It means…that you own me.”
The Eraser lowered his lips to her own and kissed her possessively, loving how the object of his affections, didn't defy him as him as he dominated her mouth.
He released her and smiled as she looked away from him, her eyes glistening from unshed tears. “You won't regret your decision, Max baby. I'm sure you'll come to take pleasure in your life here…I know I will…”
She watched silently as Ari walked away from her and out the door, locking it behind him. She then let the tears flow again. Whatever shards of dignity she had had left splintered, as she realized that she had just surrendered to her archenemy. Her spirit had been broken, and her soul was shattering.
How was she supposed to face her flock now? What would she say to Fang? To Derringer?
Did she even care anymore?
She just wished the blessed darkness would come and swallow her up again—and just end it.
She didn't feel like fighting anymore…she didn't have the strength…