Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Something About Him ❯ Plans of Escape ( Chapter 4 )

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VegoSacomoto~~You can expect updates from me on a fairly regular basis. I try to get new chapter up every Monday. (Since we all know Mondays suck) If you like blood, you'll love the later chapters. (and this one too, come to think of it…) This chapter will explain why Jason is so well behaved for a first time slave. You know, up until this point I hadn't considered any retribution for Jason's uncle, but you're right, he is an ass, and he should be dealt with. Hmm…

I love that you love that I talk back! I thrive on my reviews, so I like to let people know I'm listening and very appreciative!

 

Deangelised~~Thank you for the 10 rating! I was very happy to see it! ^_^

 

Author's note: This chapter will take you inside Jason's head! Warning: moderate violence ahead. And please try not to hate Katan too much.

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Chapter 4

Plans of Escape

 

Jason didn't fall asleep right away even though he felt extremely tired.

 

"I've got to find a way to escape. I refuse to be someone's trained monkey...I've got to get back to Kara...God I hope nothing's happened to her."

 

Jason's thoughts kept spinning as he thought of possible times to escape.

 

He knew his only chance was to do so before they were back on his new master's property. He was, after all, likely to have security of some sort. He wasn't fooled at all by this filthy Vessel's fake kindness. He'd seen the way the other slave shrank at the first sign of his anger. He was only trying to fool Jason so that he wouldn't cause any problems on the journey. He was, no doubt, every bit as cruel as Jason suspected, and at any rate Jason refused to stick around long enough to see. Besides, there was no excusing what the man did to the young boy back at the auction, that alone should prove his cruel nature. He had to free himself. He knew that his best chance was to escape relatively soon after leaving the city, and if he could do so without the Vessel knowing he would have a chance to make it back to the city and blend in with the crowd. He lay awake for quite sometime working out all of his plans, and then set in to ensure his easy escape.

 

He clenched his teeth tightly and then pulled hard with his feet and his ankles against his chains until he felt them begin to cut into his skin, finally he let out a strangled cry as he thrashed around violently. His plan worked flawlessly as he felt his master fly to his side, soothing him as Mark rushed in, turning the light on.

 

"Shh, shh, it's just a dream, you're okay." the Vessel cooed at him with such syrupy sweetness that Jason nearly laughed out loud at his act.

 

Jason slowed his breathing from his expert faux gasps of panic.

 

Mark brought a glass of water, which Katan raised to Jason lips.

 

"Forgive me, Master...it's embarrassing that I should react so to a stupid dream." Jason sounded shy and embarrassed even to his own ears, repressing a satisfied grin at his excellent acting abilities.

 

"It's okay, it's most likely a reaction to the sedatives they had you on, they're notorious for causing nightmares."

 

Katan's eyes ghosted over Jason's wrists and ankles. "You've injured yourself...you may not be able to feel it due to the pain killer I gave you for your feet."

 

"Have I?" Jason glanced up at his wrists as Katan unchained them.

 

Jason couldn't help smiling to himself as he saw through Katan's act of false concern. Mark brought a bowl of water and towels to the bed without being asked, and Katan quickly cleaned and wrapped Jason's wrists and ankles.

 

Katan sighed. "Well I can't very well re-chain you..."

 

"Please, Master, if you don't trust me, chain me up."

 

"I can't do that. Weather or not you feel it, it would be damaging to your wrists and ankles."

 

"I don't want to cause you any problems, so please, chain me."

 

"No, I'll trust you not to run."

 

"Master, would you like me to go get the harness restraint for him?" Mark suggested.

 

"A very good thought, Mark, but it's so easy to slip out of it'd do little more than leaving him unchained. We'll just trust him."

 

"Would you like me to stand guard Master?"

 

"No, that's okay, I need you well rested to help me with him tomorrow."

 

"Yes, Master."

 

"Lets all try to get some sleep."

 

Everyone settled back down and Jason smiled to himself as the lights went out. His plan was working perfectly. He drifted into a peaceful sleep, secure in the knowledge that he would soon be a free man.

 

 

 

 

When morning came, Jason was pleased to find that his plan had worked perfectly. Katan awoke and was pleased, though not surprised, to find Jason still in his bed.

 

"Mark, let's get going, traffic is bound to be a nightmare even this early." Katan said a bit crankily

 

'Should I go get the harness now, Master?"

 

"No, you walk in front and I'll walk behind him." Katan turned to Jason, "I'm sure you're pain killers are about to ware off, just hang in there until we get out of the city. There's a little dinner we can go to and eat breakfast since you really shouldn't take them on an empty stomach."

 

Jason said nothing, but nodded, a bit surprised that the man was aware enough of his needs to know that he was beginning to feel a dull ache in his wrists, feet, and ankles.

 

The horrors Jason saw as he was led through town convinced him even more so that he could not stay in this strange world of Vessels. Everywhere he looked there was pain and suffering.

 

He nearly vomited as he saw a little girl of about 12 years old being sold as a love slave. She was chained naked, spread eagle and completely helpless as prospective buyers poked, prodded, and touched her.

 

There was another young girl, about 15 being led into a tent with a sign in front that said "Live Snuffings! Admission: 50 gold."

 

It seemed every sight his eyes rested on was more terrifying than the last, and suddenly a strong sense of panic washed over him as he realized how high the demand for young girls was. It was all he could do to force himself not to make an attempt at escape then and there. He fought hard against the tears that sprang to his eyes at the thought of his dear baby sister meeting a similar fate.

 

His stomach turned as they passed booths advertising prices for various services, such as a certain amount of time with a slave in a dungeon, or, for a slightly higher price the ability to participate in the torturing of a slave till death.

 

The most disturbing sight, however, came not form a booth or tent, but from another vessel, as he watched a slave that wasn't paying attention walked into the back of his Vessel Master having not realized that he had stopped to talk to someone.

 

The Vessel turned on him with more anger than Jason had ever before witnessed. The slave immediately began to apologize sincerely, bowing until his face was mere centimeters from the dirt, which Jason recalled was also a sign of respect. The Vessel, however, showed no signs of forgiveness as he kicked the slaves chest so hard that the sound and the actions of the slave left no doubt that he had collapsed one of his lungs.

 

The vessel's eye's glowed a terrifying orabge color and the slave was immediately pulled and held to the ground as if by invisible chains, the Vessel pulled out a cruel looking whip, and it took only 5 forceful blows, no doubt at the vessel's top strength, to cut the boy completely in half. It was as if the images and the sound of the slave's agonized screams and the sickening tearing of his body were burned into Jason's senses.

 

This was the first time Jason had witnessed the full strength and power of a Vessel, and it left him trembling. He now began to reconcile himself to the fact that if he didn't successfully escape, if he was caught, he would not live to see his sister again.

 

By the time they reached Katan's elaborate and beautiful carriage, Jason had regained his composure. Katan helped him into the back of the carriage.

 

"Should I ride with him, Master?" Mark asked

 

"No, he'll be fine. I need you to help me up front."

 

"Yes, Master."

 

Katan turned to Jason, his fake smile plastered in place,

 

"The road out is a bit bumpy, but the diner isn't far, so just hang in there."

 

Jason replied with a nod.

 

Jason waited, carefully waiting until they were right at the edge of the busy little city before taking a leap of faith out of the back of the carriage.

 

The pain that shot through his feet was excruciating, but he was too scared to stop, he sprung forward and ducked into an alley way, pausing to peek back around the corner to watch the carriage, which to his relief was still moving in the opposite direction.

 

He followed the alley, which lead him to an equally crowded street in the city. This street had a very "dark" feeling. It was clear that this was where the shadier and less glamorous dealings went down.

 

A chill of fear went through him as he began moving quickly toward the opposite end of the city, eyes glued to the sidewalk as he pulled his dirty, tattered coat around him.

 

"I guess you really were a troublesome one."

 

Jason ignored the voice, sure it wasn't speaking to him, until his body involuntarily turned to reveal a man with purple hair, whose eyes were glowing yellow. It was immediately clear that he, too was a vessel, though not a strong one. Jason tried to fight against the pull of the Vessel's powers on his body, but it was completely useless.

 

'My boy, you've run out of the trap and straight into the beast's mouth."

 

Jason's eyes widened as he suddenly recognized the voice to be the one belonging to the man from the auction and the restaurant.

 

The man's eyes glowed again and Jason screamed as an intense pain like nothing he'd ever felt before tore through his insides. It was as if every muscle, every bone in his body were under a great pressure, one that threatened to crush him from the inside. He dropped to his knees, his injured feet and ankles no longer able to support him.

 

The man looked at an old fashion lantern that was lit outside a run-down tavern, the flame suddenly materializing in his right palm, and igniting into a blue-white ball of fire. Jason began trembling in fear, as the man brought the flame close enough to his face that heat from it made sweat form on his forehead and upper lip.

 

"Let's see how ole' Katan reacts when he finds his expensive acquisition scarred beyond recognition..."

 

As the flame was inched closer the pain in Jason's body intensified and tears began to flow freely from his eyes as he realized that his chances for escaping back home were about to be lost forever.

 

"Please..."

 

The man sneered down at him.

 

"What self-respecting slave begs like a little bitch?"

 

As the fire crept closer Jason let out an involuntary scream at the first contact with his cheek. The man pulled the fire away.

 

"Better accept the pain, boy, I intend to make this very slow."

 

Jason's body trembled in terrified anticipation as he watched the fire again creep closer, his collecting tears blurred his vision, and when finally they spilled over he was relieved to see that the fire had been extinguished.

 

His relief was short lived, however, as he heard the unmistakably angry voice of Katan behind him.

 

Chapter 5

Blinding Rage

 

Katan was seething as he used his powers to locate his missing slave. He was more angry with himself than anyone else. He knew he should have seen through it. The sad story, the compliant attitude, how did he not see through the act? He felt like the boy had intentionally made a fool of him. He was thinking of all the ways he would punish him as he angrily followed his powers to the location of the slave. He stopped dead in his tracks when the heart-wrenching scream reached his ears, and he knew at once that his slave was in trouble. No longer requiring the help of his powers, he rushed toward the sound of the scream, his anger multiplying itself when he rounded the corner to see Tobin holding a power-flame to his slave's face.

 

Katan realized that now he was beyond the point of dealing with things civilly. He used his own power to extinguish Tobin's, his legs shaky with anger as he approached them.

 

"ENOUGH! What the Hell do you think you're doing?"

 

Tobin smirked, and it was all Katan could do to keep from killing him at that very second.

 

"Finders keepers, right?"

 

"You son of a..."

 

Katan let his fist finish his statement as it connected with Tobin's Jaw with a sickening crack. Katan walked over, and picked the half-conscious Tobin up by his shirt collar, his eyes glowed a dangerous blue, and Tobin screamed as the mark left on Jason's cheek from his flame slowly faded and appeared twice as bad on Tobin's face.

 

“If you ever touch anything of mine again, you will not survive the encounter.” Katan was not yelling, but his voice held more than an empty threat, and Tobin knew it.

 

Tobin scurried away the second Katan's grip relaxed enough for him to pull free.

 

Jason shrunk back as Katan turned sharply on his heel toward him. The anger still present in his now blank, icy eyes. Katan's glare settled on the boy, whose failed attempt at words came out as a quiet squeak.

 

Katan's eyes again glowed blue, but Jason did not have to look in them long, as his body involuntarily flipped face down on the ground, and he was held as if by invisible chains. Jason's breathing became panicked, and erratic, as tears welled up in his eyes. Katan was working on blind rage at this point, visions of the fatal punishment he'd witnessed on the way out of town replayed in his memory, and he was barely aware of his actions. A whimper was heard from the boy as a whip made of pure, raw, Vessel power hit the ground beside him, leaving a burn mark in its wake.

 

Katan saw Jason begin shaking uncontrollably, bracing himself for what was coming. Katan knew that he had lost control of his anger, and he tried to fight it, feeling as though his body was moving of its own will. He saw himself raising the whip, ready to bring it down on that flawless, un-scarred back. Knowing that the force he was putting into it was fueled not by true necessity but by anger…anger that he was no longer in control of. He was screaming at himself to stop as the whip was brought forward with tremendous force. The scream that followed, however, was not Jason's but Mark's, who had flung himself atop of Jason, shielding him, and taking the first angry blow.

“Master!”

Katan heard the pleading in Mark's voice and he fought to reign in his temper. The whip was brought forward with slightly less force, but it was a devastating blow, none the less. followed by another agonized scream.

“MASTER!!” Mark's voice was now unsteady with tears. Guilt and shame wracked through Katan as he tried harder to control the hot anger that pulsed through his veins. He loved Mark, he was a good slave, he didn't want to do this to him, or to Jason. He had to calm down. Another scream, capped off by a sob erupted from Mark's throat.

“KAJEERAH!!! wayla, wayla.”**

The foreign word was a pained plea, through Mark's sobs, but it triggered something in Katan. He dropped to his knees and pulled Mark off of Jason, carrying him carefully in the direction of the carriage, a trail of blood from Mark's wounds stained the ground as he went.

 

Katan, too concerned with his injured slave, used his powers to force Jason's body to stay near him, his feet involuntarily moving after Katan. Upon reaching the carriage, Katan lay Mark on his stomach.

 

“It'll be okay, Mark.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Shh, rest now.”

 

Katan glanced back at the still approaching Jason, shrugged, and climbed into the carriage, deciding a punishment of some sort was certainly warranted.

 

As Katan drove, he was angry at himself. He had not been in a rage like that in a very long time. He thought he had finally conquered that part of him. The beauty and power of being a Vessel did not come without a price. Vessels were naturally more aggressive than average humans. Most assumed their aggression and attitude was simply a by-product of having such power, control and status. But in truth, Vessels felt all emotions much stronger than others.

 

Anger was often uncontrollable, emotional pain, unbearable. Vessel love had the passion of legends, and hate was avoided at all costs, because it usually destroyed the Vessel and all around them.

 

Suicides accounted for more than 70% of all Vessel deaths. Crimes of violence and passion were most often committed by Vessels. This was made worse by the fact that Vessels were almost above the law. The law smiled on them, because they were valuable to communities. If it came down to it, an army of Vessels would be unstoppable, so everyone tried to stay on their good side.

 

There had been a time when Katan was young, that hate had very nearly consumed him. He was angry at everyone. He indulged in self destructive behavior. And found ways to vent his frustrations that he was still not proud of. He had very nearly lost himself in his own hatred and pain, and it was Mark that had saved him.

 

Katan had known Mark since he was just starting out on his own. He was 19 when he acquired the 14 year old boy, and they had since become quite close, despite the fact that Mark was his slave, Katan had thought of him as a friend for many years.

 

He would often talk to Mark about the stresses of his job, the annoyance at the expectations society had placed on him, and had even asked him for advice. Despite the difference in their years, Mark had proven to possess wisdom far beyond that of his years, and a compassion which still astounded Katan. His gentle and giving nature was something Katan had always longed to be able to have, but he knew that it was the curse of the Vessel to never be completely at peace.

 

Tears stung Katan's eyes as he realized that he had once again hurt someone he loved because he couldn't control his anger. His anger quite literally controlled him. He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to look his friend in the eye again after what he had just done to him.

 

“Master.”

 

Katan barely heard Mark's weak words over the sound of the carriages' wheels rushing along the gravel road.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Jason.”

 

Katan gasped as he realized that he had let himself get lost in thought, paying no mind to his pace or the distance they had traveled with Jason still running behind them. He instantly broke the spell which bound Jason to him, bringing the carriage to a stop, and flinging himself from the seat.

 

He found Jason in a crumpled heap, gasping for air, the soles of his feet swollen and bleeding, sweat soaking his bangs, tears drying on his cheeks. Jason looked up at him, contempt obvious in his eyes.

 

Katan wanted nothing more than to scoop him up, carry him to the carriage, give him some water, and tend to his wounds, but he realized that this was a pivotal moment in their master/slave relationship, and he needed to respond accordingly.

 

“Don't look at me with such hatred. You brought this punishment on yourself, and you know it.”

 

Jason's nostrils flared, but he didn't speak.

 

“I am your master. You are my slave. I showed you every kindness and you threw it in my face. So now I will be the master that you deserve.”

 

Jason looked away from Katan, but Katan was on to his acting skills by now and didn't believe for one second that the boy's guilt was genuine.

 

“Get up. You got yourself into this, and you will ride out your punishment.”

 

Jason pulled himself up onto shaky legs, tears springing instantly to his eyes as he put weight on his abused feet. He took a few steps toward the carriage and then fell to the ground with a cry.

 

“Come on, only a few more feet. Once you've accepted your punishment, I will forgive your crime.”

 

“Like I give a fuck about your forgiveness.” Jason's tone was biting, and his eyes filled with so much hate. Katan didn't understand what he had done to earn such hatred from the boy.

 

“You can hate your master, but you'll soon learn that its better to stay on his good side.”

 

“You will never be my master,” The spark of defiance in Jason's eyes was oddly reassuring to Katan, he looked so much more promising than the boy with lifeless eyes that he had seen on stage yesterday. He would prove to be quite the challenge indeed.

 

**”Kajeerah” means “master” in Mark's native language, and “wayla” means “please.” Later chapters will explain why this had such an effect on Katan.

 

 

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