[IC] The Two Sides

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ptelea cries a bit as he squeezes one of the cuts. Tears begin streaming down her cheeks as he tightens the wires. She whimpers, her ankles hurting more now. She tries to pull her hand away from him, crying a bit louder now. "Please stop!" She sobs, shaking her head painfully. She then begins screaming again as he slams the scalpel into her hand. She wails loudly, trying not to look. "Rosey..." She sobs, shaking painfully. She squeezes her eyes shut, crying still.

Ambrose groans. "Slowest elevator ever!" He begins pacing he small space, kicking at the side of the elevator, counting the seconds in his head.

@Fionraella

"But it's not enough for dear Rosey, is it?" The Boss's grip slips from the scalpel. It remains standing upright, glinting in the dim light. Its presence keeps most of the blood in the wound but a little bit still dribbles out. "Where is he, Ptelea? Has he not seen you suffer enough?" He touches a finger to the blood welling out and holds a spot of the liquid up to his eyes. "Clearly I need to step up my game." He spins around to the trolley. At the bottom of it was a large box. A battery. He pulls out cords that are attached to it with alligator clips on the end. He playfully snaps the mouths of the clips open in front of her. "Do you know what the most painful process a shifter can go through is? It's called forced transformation." He pushes one of the clips onto the index finger of her trapped hand. "Shifting, as it happens naturally, is an entirely painless and in some cases even a soothing act. However, I have been told that being forced to shift by outside factors is akin to having your body turned inside out. I came across the idea on an island in the tropics. There was a group of shifters who, in thunderstorms, would stand a top of hills and wait for lightning to strike them, and then they would shift. It was some proof that they were the strongest. First I laughed, but then I saw the event actually occur. It worked! Shifting without input from the shifter." He attaches an alligator clip to her reddened and bruising hand. "Of course, we lack lightning bolts in a common scenario. It's a good thing my scientists found electrocution to be a suitable replacement."

The elevator made its calm ding once again and then opened its doors. The guard runs out and points in the direction that they're going.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"But it's not enough for dear Rosey, is it?" The Boss's grip slips from the scalpel. It remains standing upright, glinting in the dim light. Its presence keeps most of the blood in the wound but a little bit still dribbles out. "Where is he, Ptelea? Has he not seen you suffer enough?" He touches a finger to the blood welling out and holds a spot of the liquid up to his eyes. "Clearly I need to step up my game." He spins around to the trolley. At the bottom of it was a large box. A battery. He pulls out cords that are attached to it with alligator clips on the end. He playfully snaps the mouths of the clips open in front of her. "Do you know what the most painful process a shifter can go through is? It's called forced transformation." He pushes one of the clips onto the index finger of her trapped hand. "Shifting, as it happens naturally, is an entirely painless and in some cases even a soothing act. However, I have been told that being forced to shift by outside factors is akin to having your body turned inside out. I came across the idea on an island in the tropics. There was a group of shifters who, in thunderstorms, would stand a top of hills and wait for lightning to strike them, and then they would shift. It was some proof that they were the strongest. First I laughed, but then I saw the event actually occur. It worked! Shifting without input from the shifter." He attaches a alligator clip to her reddened and bruising hand. "Of course, we lack lightning bolts in a common scenario. It's a good thing my scientists found electrocution to be a suitable replacement."

The elevator made its calm ding once again and then opened its doors. The guard runs out and points in the direction that they're going.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea looks at her hand and sniffles. She could barely feel her fingers, her entire hand throbbing painfully. She looks back to watch the old man. She whimpers and flinches as he clips the alligator clips to her fingers. She tries to move, even a little bit, but cries out in pain. She sobs softly and looks at the old man. "P...please don't." She cries. "I..I can shift! I can do it if you want! I'll even...I can say I hate Rosey, just stop please!" She stammers, watching him sadly. "Please...it hurts..." she whimpsers.

Ambrose nods and runs that way, listening for his sister. "Ptelea!" He calls out, hoping she could hear him...

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ptelea looks at her hand and sniffles. She could barely feel her fingers, her entire hand throbbing painfully. She looks back to watch the old man. She whimpers and flinches as he clips the alligator clips to her fingers. She tries to move, even a little bit, but cries out in pain. She sobs softly and looks at the old man. "P...please don't." She cries. "I..I can shift! I can do it if you want! I'll even...I can say I hate Rosey, just stop please!" She stammers, watching him sadly. "Please...it hurts..." she whimpsers.

Ambrose nods and runs that way, listening for his sister. "Ptelea!" He calls out, hoping she could hear him...

@Fionraella

"What is speaking without meaning? Your words of hate will mean nothing if they're not true, Ptelea." The Boss shakes his head as he pulls out the large box to make operating it easier on him. "But you're wrong. I do not want you to hate him. I just want you to see that he's the one doing this to you. That, no Ptelea, he does not love you. His is a voice filled with tantalising lies like the song of a siren. Why else would he leave you to a home where you were beaten everyday? Did he write home? Did he come for you ever?" His fingers strokes the 'ON' button. "Or is he only concerned with his own self-interest?"

The security guard throws open the door of The Dark Room for Ambrose to enter.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"What is speaking without meaning? Your words of hate will mean nothing if they're not true, Ptelea." The Boss shakes his head as he pulls out the large box to make operating it easier on him. "But you're wrong. I do not want you to hate him. I just want you to see that he's the one doing this to you. That, no Ptelea, he does not love you. His is a voice filled with tantalising lies like the song of a siren. Why else would he leave you to a home where you were beaten everyday? Did he write home? Did he come for you ever?" His fingers strokes the 'ON' button. "Or is he only concerned with his own self-interest?"

The security guard throws open the door of The Dark Room for Ambrose to enter.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea's face was wet with tears as she listened to the old man. She shivers slightly, whimpering. "M...maybe Rosey doesn't love me...he loves his friends more.." She squeezes her eyes shut, lip trembling. "He never came back for me....he never wrote me letters..." Another tear rolls down her cheeks as she exhales, giving up.

Ambrose rushes past the guard into the room. He pales. "Ptelea..." He whispers.

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ptelea's face was wet with tears as she listened to the old man. She shivers slightly, whimpering. "M...maybe Rosey doesn't love me...he loves his friends more.." She squeezes her eyes shut, lip trembling. "He never came back for me....he never wrote me letters..." Another tear rolls down her cheeks as she exhales, giving up.

Ambrose rushes past the guard into the room. He pales. "Ptelea..." He whispers.

@Fionraella

"Oh, look! Someone finally decided to show up!" The Boss removes his finger from the button and walks over to Ambrose. "Look, Ptelea! The guilt ended up getting to him after all! Shame it wasn't any earlier, hmm?" He stands so that he blocks Ptelea's view of her brother. "No talking to her now!" He begins to whisper harshly to him. "You best follow my every word, because right now dear Ptelly is hooked up and ready to be shocked to oblivion. If she doesn't transform, her tiny little heart will stop. If she shift, she'll never be the same again. Do you understand me?"

The guard waits outside, holding the door open. A little bit of light streams into the room.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Oh, look! Someone finally decided to show up!" The Boss removes his finger from the button and walks over to Ambrose. "Look, Ptelea! The guilt ended up getting to him after all! Shame it wasn't any earlier, hmm?" He stands so that he blocks Ptelea's view of her brother. "No talking to her now!" He begins to whisper harshly to him. "You best follow my every word, because right now dear Ptelly is hooked up and ready to be shocked to oblivion. If she doesn't transform, her tiny little heart will stop. If she shift, she'll never be the same again. Do you understand me?"

The guard waits outside, holding the door open. A little bit of light streams into the room.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose pales at the man's threats. He struggles against the urge to rush to his sister. He gulps nervously and nods, looking down at his feet. "Yes sir.." He whispers, closing his eyes tightly for a moment before raising his head to look at the old man. "You better not hurt her if I tell you what you want to know." He warns quietly.

Ptelea opens her eyes and looks up. She whimpers slightly. "Ambrose?" She whispers, then shakes her head. She was feeling a bit dizzy from all the pain. She sets her head against her shoulder. "No, Ambrose wouldn't come to save me.." She says softly to herself. She sighs softly. "Rosey gave up on me.."

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss's eyes shine with greed, although he knows the job is not yet done. He steps back so that Ambrose can see Ptelea in her pitiful state. "I want everything, Ambrose. I want the location. I want base locations for the Broms and your group. I want names. I want tactics, escape routes they take in case of emergencies. I want details. If you lie for even one of these, do not think that I won't know. In my time, I've taken to picking up on when a person is lying. So, give it all up."

[Fionraella]

The Boss's eyes shine with greed, although he knows the job is not yet done. He steps back so that Ambrose can see Ptelea in her pitiful state. "I want everything, Ambrose. I want the location. I want base locations for the Broms and your group. I want names. I want tactics, escape routes they take in case of emergencies. I want details. If you lie for even one of these, do not think that I won't know. In my time, I've taken to picking up on when a person is lying. So, give it all up."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose's face falls as he sees how Ptelea had been tortured. Tears begin falling from his face. "Ptel..." He whispers, trembling. He looks at the old man. He bites his lip hesitantly. "I..." He looks at his sister, then at the old man. "I...I don't know if I can do that..." He whispers, shaking his head. "That's too much...."

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss's face falls. "Oh, Ambrose!" He looks at Ptelea, "Oh, Ptelea! Your brother has dearly forsaken you! Forgive me!" He spins around and his hand falls strongly on the button. Electricity flies through the wires to its goal; a nine year old girl who waited four years for her brother to return to her, knowing in her heart that he must love her so. He never came.

[Fionraella]

The Boss's face falls. "Oh, Ambrose!" He looks at Ptelea, "Oh, Ptelea! Your brother has dearly forsaken you! Forgive me!" He spins around and his hand falls strongly on the button. Electricity flies through the wires to its goal; a nine year old girl who waited four years for her brother to return to her, knowing in her heart that he must love her so. He never came.

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea's eyes open for a brief moment as he addresses her. Her eyes widen as he pushes the button. She lets out a loud scream of pain as the electricity pulses through her body, before her heart stops and she falls lifeless in her seat.

"NO!" Ambrose shouts, running towards his sister. He falls to his knees beside her, shaking. He frantically searches for a pulse and begins whimpering, not finding one. "Ptelea..." He sobs, taking in her injuries. He sets his head against hers, crying softly. "I am so sorry.." He whispers, his shoulders shaking.

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss tidies his sleeves a little bit. "Last chance, Ambrose. The guard who brought you here actually knows CPR. He can save your little sister." His hands grip the back of Ptelea's chair and he leans over her unconscious body to glare at Ambrose. "But we'll have no more of this indecisiveness, will we? Surely you've seen how delicate a little girl can be."

[Fionraella]

The Boss tidies his sleeves a little bit. "Last chance, Ambrose. The guard who brought you here actually knows CPR. He can save your little sister." His hands grip the back of Ptelea's chair and he leans over her unconscious body to glare at Ambrose. "But we'll have no more of this indecisiveness, will we? Surely you've seen how delicate a little girl can be."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose exhales, his shoulders slumping forward a bit. He closes his eyes and nods weakly. "I'll tell you everything..." He whispers softly, still having his head against his sister's. He opens his eyes slightly and runs a hand through Ptelea's hair. He then looks at the old man, a look of defeat on his face. "We live in a forest between two towns...I'm not sure how far from here, as I was unconscious...but my group is called the Rabins...there's a river crossing between the two groups that live in the forest.." His voice catches in his throat as his stomach knots in pain, feeling like he was betraying all the people he loved. "The...the north side of the river is the Rabin territory, and the south is the Brom territory. There are too many members to list...but Sacha is the leader of the Rabins, and Fabine's the leader of the Broms." He swallows thickly, looking down. "Our camps are easy to find, we have fires lit at all times for warmth and for cooking...the camps are surrounded by more dense trees for protection..." Tears roll down his cheeks. "Help Ptelea now please..."

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss snaps his fingers for the guard and then points to the girl. "Resuscitate her, then ensure that Ambrose is chained up." He takes Ambrose's hand and shakes it. "Pleasure doing business with you, my son." He leaves the room.

[Fionraella]

The Boss snaps his fingers for the guard and then points to the girl. "Resuscitate her, then ensure that Ambrose is chained up." He takes Ambrose's hand and shakes it. "Pleasure doing business with you, my son." He leaves the room.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose trembles, feeling disgusted at himself. When the Boss takes his hand, he feels like he's going to throw up. He looks away and whimpers quietly. He then looks at the guard sadly. "He may as well have just killed her...my friends are all dead now..." He whispers softly, thinking briefly about Dione and his other groupmates. He knew he cohld never go back t the forest, at least thats how it seemed. He just gave crucial information to an evil man...how could anyone, even himself, forgive this?? Shaking his head sadly, he turns his attention back to Ptelea. He begins gently unclipping the alligator clips from his sister's hands, kissing her forehead lightly. He winces, seeing the scalpel sticking out of her hand. He clenches his hand into a fist, before relaxing it. "I am so sorry baby sister.." He sets his hand gently on her cheek. "I missed you so much." He gently gives her a hug, the first one in four years, even if she wasn't conscious to realize it. His heart beats, beginning to panic a bit. "Chain me up...what does he think? That I'm going to run off and..." He shakes his head. "I'm never leaving my sister again..." He says softly, before beginning to unwrap the wire on her legs. That, at least would be something...even if he couldn't make her completely fine again, he could try to help a little. He looks at the guard. "Still think I did the right thing?" He asks, feeling defeated and lost.

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose trembles, feeling disgusted at himself. When the Boss takes his hand, he feels like he's going to throw up. He looks away and whimpers quietly. He then looks at the guard sadly. "He may as well have just killed her...my friends are all dead now..." He whispers softly, thinking briefly about Dione and his other groupmates. He knew he cohld never go back t the forest, at least thats how it seemed. He just gave crucial information to an evil man...how could anyone, even himself, forgive this?? Shaking his head sadly, he turns his attention back to Ptelea. He begins gently unclipping the alligator clips from his sister's hands, kissing her forehead lightly. He winces, seeing the scalpel sticking out of her hand. He clenches his hand into a fist, before relaxing it. "I am so sorry baby sister.." He sets his hand gently on her cheek. "I missed you so much." He gently gives her a hug, the first one in four years, even if she wasn't conscious to realize it. His heart beats, beginning to panic a bit. "Chain me up...what does he think? That I'm going to run off and..." He shakes his head. "I'm never leaving my sister again..." He says softly, before beginning to unwrap the wire on her legs. That, at least would be something...even if he couldn't make her completely fine again, he could try to help a little. He looks at the guard. "Still think I did the right thing?" He asks, feeling defeated and lost.

@Fionraella

The guard knew that time was of the essence to save Ptelea's life but yet he still stands back and watches as Ambrose gently tends to his little sister. When the wire is removed from her ankles he checks the trolley to find a small portable defribillator. He supposed that The Boss had suspected this outcome. He hadn't even seemed surprised when Ambrose broke into the room. Had the lack of batteries in the radio been planned as well? Oh well. All was done now and it did not matter. He removes Ptelea from the chair and lies her on the floor as Ambrose asks his question and answers with a sigh. "What are you asking me for, mate? You already know my answer. I'd never even have let it get this far for a member of my family." He lifts up her shirt to stick the electrodes to her chest. "But you're not me, are you? You and I... we're very different people. I don't have friends outside my family but I've watched television shows where friends become family. That concept is alien to me, something out of a fairytale, but maybe not for you. Either way, you're the one who's going to have to live with the decisions you made today. Not me." He sends a jolt of electricity through the defribillator.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

The guard knew that time was of the essence to save Ptelea's life but yet he still stands back and watches as Ambrose gently tends to his little sister. When the wire is removed from her ankles he checks the trolley to find a small portable defribillator. He supposed that The Boss had suspected this outcome. He hadn't even seemed surprised when Ambrose broke into the room. Had the lack of batteries in the radio been planned as well? Oh well. All was done now and it did not matter. He removes Ptelea from the chair and lies her on the floor as Ambrose asks his question and answers with a sigh. "What are you asking me for, mate? You already know my answer. I'd never even have let it get this far for a member of my family." He lifts up her shirt to stick the electrodes to her chest. "But you're not me, are you? You and I... we're very different people. I don't have friends outside my family but I've watched television shows where friends become family. That concept is alien to me, something out of a fairytale, but maybe not for you. Either way, you're the one who's going to have to live with the decisions you made today. Not me." He sends a jolt of electricity through the defribillator.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose just listens to the guard and moves out of the way when he lays her on the ground. He sighs and sits on the ground nearby, watching sadly. He closes his eyes, hoping that everything would turn out okay. He opens his eyes at the jolt of electricity and waits to see if his sister would wake up.

She didn't.

[Hawksnest565]

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose just listens to the guard and moves out of the way when he lays her on the ground. He sighs and sits on the ground nearby, watching sadly. He closes his eyes, hoping that everything would turn out okay. He opens his eyes at the jolt of electricity and waits to see if his sister would wake up.

She didn't.

@Fionraella

The guard pales at the lack of reaction from Ptelea. Although he was trained in emergency aid, he was nothing close to a real doctor. If the typical tactics he knew would bring her back to life, he would be lost. No. He wouldn't panic. Not yet, anyway. He gives Ambrose a shaky smile. "Don't worry kid, sometimes it just takes a couple of tries, you know?" He sends another pulse of electricity through Ptelea.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

The guard pales at the lack of reaction from Ptelea. Although he was trained in emergency aid, he was nothing close to a real doctor. If the typical tactics he knew would bring her back to life, he would be lost. No. He wouldn't panic. Not yet, anyway. He gives Ambrose a shaky smile. "Don't worry kid, sometimes it just takes a couple of tries, you know?" He sends another pulse of electricity through Ptelea.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose bites his lip worriedly, then nods weakly. "Please Ptelly...please wake up.." He whispers softly.

Ptelea gasps as her heart begins beating again. Her eyes slowly open and she whimpers painfully. "Oww..." She sobs softly.

[Hawksnest565]

The guard relaxes, but is still visibly shaken. He'd remained focus to save the girl, but with the adrenaline leaving his system the reality that a life had been in his hands began to sink in. He remembers that the two of them would probably want some time together and decides to focus on that rather than the horror of what was happening. "Ah, alright. Hurry up and say hello you two. We're going to be off a real doctor, but both of you will be in cuffs. So, uh, hug now or whatever."

[Fionraella]

The guard relaxes, but is still visibly shaken. He'd remained focus to save the girl, but with the adrenaline leaving his system the reality that a life had been in his hands began to sink in. He remembers that the two of them would probably want some time together and decides to focus on that rather than the horror of what was happening. "Ah, alright. Hurry up and say hello you two. We're going to be off a real doctor, but both of you will be in cuffs. So, uh, hug now or whatever."

@Hawksnest565

Ptelea looks at her brother and whimpers fearfully. She remembers him not coming to her rescue. She looks at the guard and scrambles to her feet weakly and hides behind him, shaking. She doesn't feel any pain at the moment, her brain a little cloudy from her heart stopping. She buries her face in his side, crying weakly.

Ambrose blinks a bit at Ptelea's reaction. "Ptel..." He says gently, holding a hand out to her. "Hey, it;s okay. Sweetie, come here, it's okay now." He tries to reassure her. But to no avail. He bites his lip as she stays by the guard. He looks down guiltily. "I'm so sorry Ptelly..." He whispers, turning his head away as tears roll down his cheeks.