Fionraella

The Two Sides

The Boss grips the boy's shoulders, helping to hold him up. "This is terrible. Just terrible. Ambrose, my boy, I had no idea that this is what those scientists, no monsters, had in mind for you. I just wanted a little blood. That's all." He gently ruffles Ambrose's hair. "Come with me. I'll take you some place safe. These people won't hurt you anymore." He urges Ambrose to leave through the door.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose flinches slightly at the man's touch. He resists the urge to duck away from his hand. It confused him, somehow it felt nice to be talked to like a person. He glances at the old man for a moment. "Are...are you sure that's okay?" He asks quietly, looking at Brianna worriedly. "I don't want to get punished sir..."

The Two Sides

Brianna was entirely surprised by the interruption of The Boss. He actually seemed quite mad to her. Hadn't he given her outright permission to do whatever they wanted? After all, Ambrose was nowhere near death. "Sir! I mean, Boss! I, um, you see..."

The Boss held up his hand to stop her talking. "I don't want to hear it Brianna. In fact, neither of you talk." He shoots an angry look at Hunter. "Let the boy come to me right now." He beckons Ambrose over with a shaking hand. "Let me look at you, Ambrose."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose hesitates, watching the Boss warily. He glances at Brianna, almost as though looking for permission. He hesitantly shifts, leaning on one foot. He then slowly limps to the man, hoping this wasn't some sort of horrible trap. He looks down at the ground, not wanting to meet the old man's gaze and risk some sort of punishment.

The Two Sides

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione looks out into the woods one last time before crossing into the clearing. She sighed. She knew she wouldn't have the energy to search for Ambrose all night, but every part of her body - at least, the parts that weren't aching - told her to do everything in her power to pull him back from whatever dark hole he had fallen in. She looked back at Sacha. "What are we going to do?"

Misha froze. "No." She unbuckled her seat belt and edged towards the door, body tensing in suspicion. "Nope, you can let me out here. I can walk back." She grabbed the door handle but it was child-locked; instead, she began unrolling the window.

@xiaomiau

"You are going to rest, and let the healers look you over. I'm going to send out various search parties to see if we can't pick up a scent or a sign of them." she says firmly. "We'll find him, I promise."

Mona quickly locks the window. "Hey, we just saved your sorry ass. And you still don't trust us?" She looks at the girl sadly. "We don't want to be associated with people who hurt children."

The Two Sides

"What would it matter, Ambrose? Anyone you knew before you will never see again." Brianna pushed her thumb against the burn. "You aren't ever going to escape here." She realised then how mad she was at the subject and how much she hated him. He'd made such a mockery of her. He couldn't die? Even better. His torture would be endless.

The Boss threw open the door with an impressive amount of force for such an old man. "Brianna! Hunter! What's going on here? What are you doing to my dear Ambrose?"

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose whimpers in pain. He shivers in slight fear at the idea of never escaping. "My friends will find me." He says defiantly. He then jumps in alarm at the door being thrown open. He felt a weird relief wash over him as he recognized the Boss. He glances warily at Brianna to get a reaction from her.

The Two Sides

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione nods gravely, lips pursed. "I know how you feel. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get him back - I'd do that for anyone!" She pauses for a moment, wrapping her arms around herself to bite off the chill of a sudden breeze. "I just don't want you to think you're in this alone."

Misha snorted, fingers falling to the van's dusty upholstery and entering an anxious scratching motion. "Fine, lady," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Be all righteous, be all sad." She shook her head, face turning to a scowl. "I'm a bad guy for being hurt and not knowing who you're talkin' about."

@xiaomiau

Sacha sets a hand on Dione's shoulder. "Likewise. If you need to talk, I'm always here for you, okay?" She smiles softly before looking up as they approach the Rabin camp. She sighs heavily, shaking her head.

Mona sighs heavily, shaking her head. "Stop scratching the van." She spots the town up ahead, to the north of the two groups. "Okay. So we're almost here. You'll have to show us where your...friends are located."

The Two Sides

"Ah, wonderful, the subject has some obedience." Brianna forcefully pulled out one of his wings. "Your friend, the freckled girl, could not shift on command." She gently touched the burn mark, the one that had been on his arms, which she could see faintly on the leathery wing. "The dear thing couldn't hold a watt of electricity either." she meant her words to insinuate that Misha had died, not escaped. She looks over at Hunter. "Come, look at these burns."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose winces as she pulls out his wing. He watches her and then gasps a bit. "No..." He whimpers. "You didn't...kill her did you?" His eyes well with tears. Much as he didn't like Misha, death wasn't something funny or even a casual subject of topic. He shakes his head weakly.

The Two Sides

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

As they approach the camp, Dione slows. She casts a concerned glance at Sacha before gently resting her hand on the other girl's arm. "Don't beat yourself up about it," she said, voice gentle but firm. "He's your friend, too. I know you care about him and want him safe just as much as I do."

Misha lets out a short huff and collapses back against the seat. "Are we there yet? I want to put this whoooooooole deal outta my head forever."

@xiaomiau

Sacha nods, smiling weakly at that. "Yeah, we go way back, before I was even leader." She exhales. "This group is my family. I love each and everyone of you and I'd hate to think of anything bad happening." she looks at the sky and sighs. "I just hope that he's okay..."

"Almost. I'm surprised you don't care about that boy." Mona comments with a shrug as she watches the scenary change to more of a forest-y one. She glances at Liwei. "Poor boy." She whispers.

The Two Sides

Hunter looks at Brianna expectanly. He wanted her to decide as Ambrose did have a point in regards to his wings. As she directs him he nods in response. He then moves to secure the doors and any other point of exit that Ambrose could exploit. After a moment he decides it's squared away and turns to help with the boy.

@wallaberry

Ambrose sighs as the door shuts. "Damn you figured me out." He says sarcastically. He rubs his wrists gingerly. He runs his hand over the burns on his face and arms, whimpering softly as he feels the burned flesh. He gives them an angry glare, before sighing and shifting.

The Two Sides

Brianna quickly took photos of the multiple spots where Ambrose had been burnt. "These will do for the measurements." she said curtly. "Bat form now, Ambrose."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose glares a bit at her. "I can't." He says calmly. "My wings won't work in these handcuffs." He wobbles a bit, managing to keep balanced on his un burned foot. He glances around briefly, before looking back at Brianna. "Go ahead and punish me for something I can;t help." He snaps, whimpering softly in pain.

The Two Sides

"I agree," Brianna puts the skewers back where they came from and switches off the bunsen burner. She then grabs Ambrose's chin in one hand and forces him to look up at her. "Now, Ambrose, If you're a good subject and shift for us, I promise we won't burn you again. Otherwise..." She let the sentence drop off with an implied threat.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose meets her gaze defiantly for a moment. He then drops his gaze and nods weakly, giving up. He whimpers softly at the threat, not even wanting to think of what other torture she could think of. "I'll shift.." He whispers. He was thoroughly exhausted and just wanted to sleep. His jaws hurt and he couldn't find the strength to do much of anything anymore.