---Boy's Perspective---
'Lady Pandora, please save me.' He prayed, shutting his eyes as hard as he could.
The single, insignificant part of him that could think straight lamented at his misfortune.
'This chick isn't even that much older than me and she's fucking crazy!'
He had to admit; he'd been mesmerized by her the minute she arrived. Well, both of them, each for different reasons. They both seemed to wear similar uniforms, an onyx, button-up jacket with golden accents, trim, and an artistic depiction of a shattered halo.
The young woman had gorgeous wavy blond hair falling to her shoulders complimenting her purple eyes and fair skin. Visible through her uniform were small, golden ring bracelets and a multi-strand golden necklace.
She looked gorgeous, if a little silly given the setting. The chick practically screamed money with all the gold she was wearing. Who breaks into a den of demons decorated in jewelry!? If it was before this whole ordeal, he'd conclude she's a delusional girl deciding to play in a field she doesn't belong in.
Let's just say, he'd been given a lot to think about recently. He'd learned quickly during his long captivity that the way these bloodsuckers dress makes no damn sense. At least the woman's plus one had a little more sense.
He was tall, standing what must've been six and a half feet tall, almost a foot taller than the girl. He clearly worked out, having broad shoulders and a build that'd be respectable in any military organization. His décor was plainer, lacking the extravagance of his partner. But that wasn't what caught his attention for long.
No, it was something else. The way he carried himself, the confidence in dealing with those things. How he wished he could have even a fraction of that. Thankfully, the guy didn't look as crazy as this chick was.
What made it even cooler was what he caught from the ghoul's excited exclamations. This man was human. Just like him, this man that embodied everything he wanted to be right now was human. It wasn't unreachable. If this power were his…
BANG!!
The wall shook.
His eyes snapped open, tearing him out of his internal rant, and looked fearfully to the right of his head. His pupils dilated at the sight, shrinking to pinpricks in his horror.
He could see the moon, the very large, ivory moon whose massive outline shone through receding storm clouds. Though it was much larger in size than he remembered, it was the moon. Or was it? He wasn't completely sure.
Wait…
"T-t-he W-wa-ll" He unconsciously uttered through his torn, scratchy throat. He was so terrified, he didn't even feel the agony the wounds on his throat were causing him.
Suddenly, two hands clamped onto his head like a vice and –SNAP— His vision shifted, his horrified eyes looking into glowing eyes; though, unlike last time where they bore calculation and disinterest, now there was irritation, ire that was pointed toward—
Him?
"When I'm talking to you, I expect your undivided attention. There are more people that need to be saved, vile fiends that need to be silenced…" Her eyes narrowed. "…and I will not let your ungrateful cowardice delay me any longer than is needed. NOW-" The last word was emphasized. Terrified as the boy was, even he could tell, she was about to command him, and she cared very little of his emotional well-being.
"Do what I asked those two to do. Focus your thoughts on everything you know, the people who did this to you, the locations you're aware they've brought you too, the things they've done, everything." Her narrowed eyes relaxed as she noticed his still shivering state.
"You may take a moment to collect yourself if it'll help. Once you're done, look into my eyes. That'll be your means of communicating it to me."
Seeing the boy frantically doing as instructed, she turned to the other two.
"Were you paying attention?" she firmly asked with far less bite than earlier.
They nodded their heads frantically and quickly closed their eyes, likely trying to escape her merciless gaze.
---Perspective End---
She felt a hand settle on her shoulder from behind, causing her to sigh. She knew what was coming.
"Illya, this must be an awfully traumatizing experience for them. Can't you be a little lenient?" Michael asked.
"Michael, their mental state means very little right now. They're safe. We can pay for therapy after everything's over. For now, we need those answers." She answered firmly.
"We're already too late." She glared at him judgingly; he didn't flinch. "Even if we got the information, there'd be little we could do today. There're not enough benefits in rushing to outweigh all we can gain otherwise. We'd get more information if they were somewhat relaxed. If someone from the Carmilla family was here, we could probably get more, but they're not and both of us know, hypnosis isn't your strong suit."
Unlike the Carmilla Family who specialize in mind domination magics, Illya was always especially gifted with blood magic, particularly the ability to strengthen herself physically. That didn't render her incapable of doing mind-based magic. She just wasn't any good.
In this case, she needed the thought to be at the top of their minds and for their active consent. Luckily, they were weak. If they were anywhere near her level, she'd have to take a much different approach. Then again, if someone like that was kidnapped like these people were, a Carmilla would've definitely been part of the raid team. An opponent capable of capturing someone on her level, not to mention multiple, would be a catastrophic threat to the Kingdom of Palahaem.
"Whatever. Let me get our answers. You just focus on your part. Afterward, you can coddle them to your heart's content… at least until Jared's squad gets here to deal with them. Then, we're out of here."
Michael shook his head at Illya's dismissiveness. Missions would be so much easier if she'd just stop being so standoffish. Sure, from a purely logic perspective, her arguments held merit. However, they were dealing with people, traumatized people. The definition of a logical approach shifted drastically in scenarios like these.
He turned around to return to freeing the prisoners. He'd already helped a few who were currently collapsed on the ground. The tendons in their legs were severed, likely to prevent anyone from running away. Unfortunately, this work was most definitely NOT elegantly done. It was brutal, crass, and viscous. It was a miracle they were still alive.
His eyes flashed with silent fury.
These people were tortured for sport. These miserable wastes of space that now decorated the ground as paper weights took pleasure in these people's suffering, and he was absolutely sure there were others. Hell, those others may have done most of this to them prior to their being chained here. It frustrated him immensely that the masterminds hadn't been here when they arrived; they still walked the streets, fat and happy.
Unacceptable.
"..Urg… Urg…" A pained grunting broke him out of his thoughts, revealing a terrified older man.
Stunned, he raised his hand to his face and realized it wasn't as calm or welcoming as he needed. His dangerous thoughts had manifested on his face, which was terrifying the prisoners he was trying to help. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, all the while maintaining his pace in breaking the shackles.
While that was happening, Illya was back before the boy, who had finally met her eyes.
"Good. Focus your thoughts on what you need me to see. Very soon, you'll fall into a hazy, dream-like state. Whatever you do, don't lose focus. The faster I get this, the faster Michael and I can be about our business and you can get some help."
The boy gave a shaky nod. Thankfully, it was much less erratic. Clearly, he'd had a chance to calm down a bit. Illya's newfound restraint probably helped in the situation.
Like that, their eyes met.
Almost immediately, a 'heavy blanket' fell over his consciousness, making him feel like he was in a nebulous space between consciousness and oblivion. Intangible memories manifested in ways he didn't think possible. They began to play. He felt distant, like a pilot watching an airplane's controls grow further and further away.
He was trapped, a prisoner in his own body! It was just like…
As his panic rose, a warm feeling permeated his body. It came from his veins and permeated his body like a newly unblocked stream. As he felt it, his mind shifted, now able to focus on the task at hand.
(Flashback)
The scene flashed as the boy walked along the city streets of Sxx Frxxcixxo. He had a week off from school for the holidays. Not content to lay idle, he'd been hunting for a job, one that'd take 15-year-olds. It didn't need to be long term, merely the length of the break. He needed the money for a field trip his class was taking. His parents couldn't afford it, but he still wanted to go. Unfortunately, it wasn't going well. He couldn't find anybody that would take him.
He was looking down, focusing on an article displayed on his smartphone.
"Excuse me. Are you Leon Brown?" a deep, suave voice asked, causing him to look up. He didn't recognize the voice, but they clearly knew him.
The man's face was…
His long, black hair was tied into an elegant ponytail. Everything about that man screamed money, poise, and intelligence. He was wearing….
He must be a doctor; there's no way a scientist could get paid enough to wear a… like that.
"…Yeah, what's it to you…" he voiced with… confusion?
The scene faded to black.
The scene brightened to a very large lab. It went on as far as the eye could see. He couldn't remember why he took this job. Was it the promised wage, his mother's debt the man promised to pay off, or the cool stuff he was almost promised to do and witness.
He didn't know. He couldn't even remember how they got here. Did he remember to text his mom that he wouldn't be home for a while?
Those thoughts vanished as he unconsciously moved his hands behind his back, letting shackles bind his arms. His focus continued to wander, not noticing similar bindings finding their way around his legs. He didn't even flinch as a white-hot sensation found itself burning through his shirt and right over his heart.
He was just so impressed with this lab. His eyes lazily wandered taking in the… strange people. Were these people? Since when were people able to lift large objects like it was nothing, especially with their mind? Why didn't he know people could do that?
"Your designation will be Subject – Cerberus 003. You will renounce your old vermin designation at once." Words entered his ears.
Wow~ is that a person… being fed to a large pig-like thing? Were people food? Why didn't he know people were food? He didn't learn that at school.
"Put him under. We'll commence the ritual next week. Run the subject through the stress tests. I want him ready by the time we paxdxxa bxxak him. Inserting an axxma artificially has always broken the pixxos. We must set ourselves up for success."
The scene faded to black.
Pain.
Agony.
Despair.
Waves of unrelenting, unending torment. What the hell were they doing to him? He felt like fire scorched his insides. It was as if a molten, metal rod was being shoved up his blood vessels and dragged through every part of his body.
How long had he been through this? Was it days? Weeks? Years? No, probably weeks; definitely weeks.
"Another failure..." He heard, sending a boulder crashing into his delicate, eviscerated stomach. They were going to kill him, dispose of him. The further their experiments went, the more his mind returned to him, and it was obvious, even to his young mind, that these 'scientists' weren't the type to let their failures persist longer than needed.
"No~" The vile scientist somberly lamented. "Lord Lucifer won't abide another failure. If he finds out about this… No, he can't find out about this. It'll be like Lab Exodus all over again!"
Suddenly, Leon felt very focused, maddened eyes boring into him. He couldn't see it; his eyes were stapled shut, but… it was so very obvious.
"…Didn't I owe Countess Drusilla food for her ghouls. She was always interested in those eastern 'gu' rituals… If I take a few from the back, maybe include the other members of my staff… yes, maybe it's time that experiment be tried on ghouls… By the combining cannibalizing ghouls with the diverse nutrients these failures are sure to have built up in their worthless flesh…
Although Leon couldn't see it, it was unmistakable; the maddened smile on this man grew three sizes that day.
The scene fades.
When he next awoke, he was chained to a wall, battered and broken, trapped among a group of ghouls constantly trying to kill each other.
It was a cyclical process where the ghouls, seemingly randomly, shifted between eating prisoners and their fellow ghouls. As they did so, they grew wilder and larger. When one side ran low, others were brought in to take their places. For ghouls though, those few left at a cycle's end were taken and smaller, weaker ones would be brought in their place to restart the cycle.
How did he know this? Well, he had people around him now, ones he could communicate with, even if it not always verbally. For a few hours after he woke up, one of the prisoners was able to send him vague impressions of the situation. He didn't know how the elder had done it, especially in his inebriated condition, and he'd likely never find out. He was eaten quickly after. It was as if the act of using magic turned him into a beacon for the fiends, immediately turning him into that day's favored meal.
At least he could see again. He didn't know why they unstapled him or how they flawlessly restored his sight. He didn't even know what they did to him in that lab. All he knew was that every day here was a game of Russian Roulette for him. Every minute was a game of not standing out amongst the others, of keeping as quiet and still as he could, regardless of how painful it all was.
His time was coming; he was just one bad roll of the dice away.
Total Darkness.
---Flashback End---
Illya growled under her breath. She had to forcefully bite back her fury and prevent her mana from running amok.
"It was him." She spat out venomously. "He wasn't there, but those vile pieces of filth knew him." Her hardened eyes shifted to the boy who was still in somewhat of a daze.
She turned to her partner. "Michael. Keep track of this one. 'He's' involved with this."
Michael, who'd already been looking at her from when her emotions spiked, regarded her with a serious gaze.
"Is he now….?" He muttered.
"That's right." Suddenly, she heard a quick, rhythmic thumping from nearby. "I believe our reinforcements are here. Let's finish up so we can move on." Michael silently nodded and went back to work.
This just got a whole lot more complicated.