"Would you get your hands OFF of me?!" Adalina's shout resonated all the way down the hallway, echoing back to her. She fought the tight grip of the two guards as they practically dragged her along. Her struggle seemed to have no effect on them. "You have no manners whatsoever." She grunted and gave up, making a pouty face. "You're a bunch of meanies." She looked up and tried to make eye contact wth one of them, be he kept his gaze on what lay ahead.

"We're taking the experiment right to him, right?" One of them looked at the other.

"Boss' orders." The other nodded.

"Experiment? Are you trying to insult me? 'Cause it's not working." Adalina tried to sound tough. Both men ignored her.

Finally they came to a stop. The men stood in front of a door, Adalina hanging by her arms between them. One guard reached out with his free hand and knocked on the door.

"If you knew what was best for you, you'd keep your mouth shut when you see him. Just a warning." The other guard looked at the door as he spoke.

Another girl entered the room, catching Lucys attention. Watching as the girl sat in an empty seat, Lucy wondered just how many more people had Vlad coerced into this hellhole.
The stand in teacher was speaking again, asking who in the room had ever negotiated. Two people answered, one being the girl who had just entered, the other had stepped into the classroom just minutes before. Both of their statements were correct, however they seemed to have different views on the subject.

Sighing, Lucy raised her hand and stated her answer, just loud enough to hear.
"We're people, I'm guessing that everyone in here has negotiated, crime wise or not. Just as that girl just said, by being in this room we have negotiated with Vlad. We give him our lives and bodies, and he gives us a new start, a chance to be freed from our crimes."

KatherinWinter said
"You can't always kill the person you are dealing with Sparks." Maxwell scolded sternly. He didn't like the way she was treating this as it was unimportant. It was his job to teach them. He would not be held responsible for them not learning the assign lessons. Sparks had the most to lose even if she didn't know it yet. She was the only one how had really chosen to be here. "If you keep that attitude you will lose your cigarettes and other privileges."

"My name..." She finally looked up at Maxwell. "... is Spark. There's only one of me, get it?." She really didn't like Maxwell but she could tell that he was that he was probably afraid of the 'Good Doctor' to have tried to threaten her like she was a child. "Before you get your little panties in a twist let me ask you this. What can a person possibly do to you if they're dead? Let me put this in a way a Uni* can understand. What tactical advantage do you gain from negotiations when you have the means and the manpower to eliminate the threat all together? It would be weakening your own position while giving your enemy room to maneuver. How's that for a tactical analysis G.I. Schmoe.?"

*(Uni in this case is shorthand for Uniform and is a reference to uniformed law enforcement officers)

Zmerr said
"Would you get your hands OFF of me?!" Adalina's shout resonated all the way down the hallway, echoing back to her. She fought the tight grip of the two guards as they practically dragged her along. Her struggle seemed to have no effect on them. "You have no manners whatsoever." She grunted and gave up, making a pouty face. "You're a bunch of meanies." She looked up and tried to make eye contact wth one of them, be he kept his gaze on what lay ahead."We're taking the experiment right to him, right?" One of them looked at the other."Boss' orders." The other nodded."Experiment? Are you trying to me? 'Cause it's not working." Adalina tried to sound tough. Both men ignored her. Finally they came to a stop. The men stood in front of a door, Adalina hanging by her arms between them. One guard reached out with his free hand and knocked on the door."If you knew what was best for you, you'd keep your mouth shut when you see him. Just a warning." The other guard looked at the door as he spoke.

Vlad was leaving the lab where he had been punishing Alastair. He smiled when he saw two guards carrying Adalina. "Well there you are my pretty. I wasn't expecting my morning to be so busy when I told the guards to bring you to me but this will work. You can watch while I teach Cassandra her place. Hopefully that will make things clearer." Vlad opened the door to another lab. "Bind her to the chair." He told the guards as he made his way to the bed where a white hair girl had been fastened down.

Midori said
"My name..." She finally looked up at Maxwell. "... is Spark. There's only one of me, get it?." She really didn't like Maxwell but she could tell that he was that he was probably afraid of the 'Good Doctor' to have tried to threaten her like she was a child. "Before you get your little panties in a twist let me ask you this. What can a person possibly do to you if they're dead? Let me put this in a way a Uni* can understand. What tactical advantage do you gain from negotiations when you have the means and the manpower to eliminate the threat all together?"*(Uni in this case is shorthand for Uniform and is a reference to uniformed police officers)

"It depends on the situation. Sometimes eliminating the person will cause more damage to the situation." Maxwell explained. "Sometimes you need the person to live. For example if you have a hostage situation if you kill the guy you might injure innocents. Negotiating can be a useful tool. Like I said you probably won't use it often so let's just get through this section alright?"

KatherinWinter said
Vlad was leaving the lab where he had been punishing Alastair. He smiled when he saw two guards carrying Adalina. "Well there you are my pretty. I wasn't expecting my morning to be so busy when I told the guards to bring you to me but this will work. You can watch while I teach Cassandra her place. Hopefully that will make things clearer." Vlad opened the door to another lab. "Bind her to the chair." He told the guards as he made his way to the bed where a white hair girl had been fastened down.

"Wait! Tie me up?! Are you crazy?!" Adalina resumed her struggling. The guards took her to a chair and tied her tightly into a chair. She stopped fighting it and just went limp. she knew there was no point. She hung her head so that her chin touched her chest. "What did Cassandra do?" She almost whispered without looking up.

Zmerr said
"Wait! Tie me up?! Are you " Adalina resumed her struggling. The guards took her to a chair and tied her tightly into a chair. She stopped fighting it and just went limp. she knew there was no point. She hung her head so that her chin touched her chest. "What did Cassandra do?" She almost whispered without looking up.

"She interfered in Alastair's punishment." Vlad told her. He caressed Cassandra's arms as he talked. "She wanted to stand up for someone else. I want you all to work as a team but that doesn't mean that I want you to interfering with punishments. You all need to learn that I am God here and what I say goes. I will not tolerate you not following orders. You all will learn the consequences of angering me."

KatherinWinter said
"She interfered in Alastair's punishment." Vlad told her. He caressed Cassandra's arms as he talked. "She wanted to stand up for someone else. I want you all to work as a team but that doesn't mean that I want you to interfering with punishments. You all need to learn that I am God here and what I say goes. I will not tolerate you not following orders. You all will learn the consequences of angering me."

Adalina picked her head up and watched as the "boss" touched Cassandra's arms. "And what did Alastair do?" She was finding some confidence in her voice, but avoiding defiance. She didn't want to be next. She didn't remember much of her past life, but she knew that punishment was never pleasant. "And what are you doing to her?" she gestured to the girl with her chin.

Zmerr said
Adalina picked her head up and watched as the "boss" touched Cassandra's arms. "And what did Alastair do?" She was finding some confidence in her voice, but avoiding defiance. She didn't want to be next. She didn't remember much of her past life, but she knew that punishment was never pleasant. "And what are you doing to her?" she gestured to the girl with her chin.

"Alastair put himself between me and my pet. He questioned my authority. Two things he knows are against the rules here." Vlad explained. He caressed Cassandra's arm as he rummaged through his cupboard. "She will be given her choice of punishment just like Alastiar was. I don't want to inflicted too much damage. We have to stay on the training schedule. But I want her to feel the pain long enough that she will think twice about interfering."

KatherinWinter said
"Alastair put himself between me and my pet. He questioned my authority. Two things he knows are against the rules here." Vlad explained. He caressed Cassandra's arm as he rummaged through his cupboard. "She will be given her choice of punishment just like Alastiar was. I don't want to inflicted too much damage. We have to stay on the training schedule. But I want her to feel the pain long enough that she will think twice about interfering."

Adalina swallowed hard. "I see." she nodded once and dropped her head back onto her chest. She didn't want to know what he was going to do to Cassandra. "Am I to receive
punishment as well?" She looked up again, fear visibly flitting across her face. She looked at the guards. She could understand why she might be in trouble. She'd resisted. Then she had questioned the man's authority when he had told the guards to tie her up. "I'm sorry if I have misbehaved or have offended someone." She had a hint of an Italian accent

Dark Angel said
Another girl entered the room, catching Lucys attention. Watching as the girl sat in an empty seat, Lucy wondered just how many more people had Vlad coerced into this hellhole.The stand in teacher was speaking again, asking who in the room had ever negotiated. Two people answered, one being the girl who had just entered, the other had stepped into the classroom just minutes before. Both of their statements were correct, however they seemed to have different views on the subject.Sighing, Lucy raised her hand and stated her answer, just loud enough to hear."We're people, I'm guessing that everyone in here has negotiated, crime wise or not. Just as that girl just said, by being in this room we have negotiated with Vlad. We give him our lives and bodies, and he gives us a new start, a chance to be freed from our crimes."

Flippy shot a look at Lucy before speaking "You call this a new start? Well I say its just like an asylum and I know what i'm talking about when I say it." He pushed out from he was sitting, and stood up. "Oh and Mr. Maxwell I'm going back to my room this is stupid." Flippy said as he started to leave the room.

gamer5910 said
Flippy shot a look at Lucy before speaking "You call this a new start? Well I say its just like an asylum and I know what i'm talking about when I say it." He pushed out from he was sitting, and stood up. "Oh and Mr. Maxwell I'm going back to my room this is stupid." Flippy said as he started to leave the room.

Of course. Of course he had taken her words the wrong way. Lucy looked at the ground, clenching her fists. It didn't matter, he could run off and get himself tortured if that's what he felt like, but she was done with that. She had experienced enough pain for today and the day after that. Lucy shook her head, trying to get his words out of her thoughts.

' When I said that it didn't mean Vlad meant it. Does he think I enjoy this? Whatever, it's not like I care. I didn't come here to make friends, I came here to get away from my past. Doubt that'll happen anytime soon.' She ranted in her head, angry at herself for falling for Vlads tricks.

Zmerr said
Adalina swallowed hard. "I see." she nodded once and dropped her head back onto her chest. She didn't want to know what he was going to do to Cassandra. "Am I to receive punishment as well?" She looked up again, fear visibly flitting across her face. She looked at the guards. She could understand why she might be in trouble. She'd resisted. Then she had questioned the man's authority when he had told the guards to tie her up. "I'm sorry if I have misbehaved or have offended someone." She had a hint of an Italian accent

"Your punishment is to watch Cassandra's punishment. You are new to the program. I am willing to give you a second chance." Vlad told her. "But if you look away or close your eyes you will receive her punishment or worse." He told her.

gamer5910 said
Flippy shot a look at Lucy before speaking "You call this a new start? Well I say its just like an asylum and I know what i'm talking about when I say it." He pushed out from he was sitting, and stood up. "Oh and Mr. Maxwell I'm going back to my room this is stupid." Flippy said as he started to leave the room.

A guard steps in front of the door. Maxwell sighs. "Haven't you children learned anything. You aren't allowed to refuse anything. You will sit and you will learn or you will suffer. You VOLUNTEERED to be here." He emphasized the word volunteered. He wanted them to understand that as far as the guards were concerned they had asked for what was happening to them.

KatherinWinter said
"Your punishment is to watch Cassandra's punishment. You are new to the program. I am willing to give you a second chance." Vlad told her. "But if you look away or close your eyes you will receive her punishment or worse." He told her.

Adalina gulped again and nodded. She knew she was no stranger to suffering so watching someone else's punishment should be manageable, but it would still be unpleasant. however, it would be a lot more pleasant than being physically punished herself. She decided to stop asking question and to just let things be. There was no reason to make him change his mind.

Cassandra could here the conversation, but refused to open her eyes. She flinched at class touch, wanting to kick, scratch, or bite, anything to do damage to him. "You are not God. You do not understand the meaning of a team. If you aren't willing to put your life on the line for your team, then you are just a group of people being idiots. Punish me all you like. It will not stop me. I haven't tried to escape, and I won't until you are dead, or until I can get everyone out. You cannot break me, my spirit" she said this strongly, and passionately, and almost felt like she could break free, but every time she reached for her power it slipped out her grasp

KatherinWinter said
A guard steps in front of the door. Maxwell sighs. "Haven't you children learned anything. You aren't allowed to refuse anything. You will sit and you will learn or you will suffer. You VOLUNTEERED to be here." He emphasized the word volunteered. He wanted them to understand that as far as the guards were concerned they had asked for what was happening to them.

Flippy looked at Maxwell then back at the guard. "Order this guard to move. Before I come over there and break both your arms!" Flippy yelled at Maxwell while facing the guard standing right before him.

Caits said
Cassandra could here the conversation, but refused to open her eyes. She flinched at class touch, wanting to kick, scratch, or bite, anything to do damage to him. "You are not God. You do not understand the meaning of a team. If you aren't willing to put your life on the line for your team, then you are just a group of people being idiots. Punish me all you like. It will not stop me. I haven't tried to escape, and I won't until you are dead, or until I can get everyone out. You cannot break me, my spirit" she said this strongly, and passionately, and almost felt like she could break free, but every time she reached for her power it slipped out her grasp

"I have bound your abilities. I gave you the power I can control how much access you have to it. I will give you the same choice I gave Alastair. Belt or knife?" Vlad asked as he caressed her arms. "You will learn your place Cassandra. I will find a way to bend you to my will. Everyone has a breaking point."

gamer5910 said
Flippy looked at Maxwell then back at the guard. "Order this guard to move. Before I come over there and break both your arms!" Flippy yelled at Maxwell while facing the guard standing right before him.

The guard stared at him unimpressed. The guards hands were on his taser and tranquilzer guns. "Sit down Flippy. We have to get through this. The faster we can get through this the faster we can move on. I don't see why you have a problem with this lesson. I assure you most soldiers are taught this skill. You agreed to be trained as soldiers."

Cassandra refused to flinch again. But she did laugh. "I'm already in my place. It's to cause you as much trouble as I can. If you're here "punishing me" then you aren't with anyone else. And if I'm the only one stickin up for my fellows, well, I'll just continue to do it, and do so so that maybe they'll think someone cares for them, someone is willing to step in for them. That someone will stop this" but she shuddered inwardly at the thought of the belt, her mind flashing back to before, to when her father beat her. "Knife"

KatherinWinter said
The guard stared at him unimpressed. The guards hands were on his taser and tranquilzer guns. "Sit down Flippy. We have to get through this. The faster we can get through this the faster we can move on. I don't see why you have a problem with this lesson. I assure you most soldiers are taught this skill. You agreed to be trained as soldiers."

Flippy slowly turned to Maxwell "I... did not volunteer for... THIS!" as he shouted that he lunged at Maxwell blood came out of his palm and formed a spike. Flippy had tackled Maxwell to the ground and was on top of him. Flippy had the spike clenched in both of his hands and is about to stab one of Maxwell's arms.

Caits said
Cassandra refused to flinch again. But she did laugh. "I'm already in my place. It's to cause you as much trouble as I can. If you're here "punishing me" then you aren't with anyone else. And if I'm the only one stickin up for my fellows, well, I'll just continue to do it, and do so so that maybe they'll think someone cares for them, someone is willing to step in for them. That someone will stop this" but she shuddered inwardly at the thought of the belt, her mind flashing back to before, to when her father beat her. "Knife"

"I want you to care about one another. I want you to protect each other and depend on each other." Vlad told her as he selected a knife. He started at Cassandra's shoulder and worked his way down to the tips of her fingers. The cuts were shallow and about an inch apart. Once he had cut both her arms he moved down to her feet. He started at her toes and slowly worked up to her thighs.

Cassandra refused to make one sound, not even a whimper. She instead focused on keeping her body relaxed, knowing if she tensed, she'd just make the wounds bleed more. Her blood was warm on her skin, but she didn't let that distract her as she breathed in and out slowly, relaxing every part of her body. She was Glad for all her meditative practice. She had her eyes closed and it could almost seem like she was asleep. "Then I will keep on defying you. To protect them" she whispered, her voice void of emotion