The Hidden Lab

CJ never expected to be kidnapped for a second time. Especially with the same group of people that were like family to him. One of his good friends, Elizabeth, was cussing away, kicking at the doors of the van, along with Victor. Kieran sat next to his mother, a depressed expression on his face, as Sebastian was trying his best to comfort CJ's nephew. Dr. Rain was staring off into space, breaking CJ's heart. He knew what he was thinking. What they were all thinking. 

This had happened before. 

It was three days. 

Three days they had all suffered for, in different ways. 

None of them were ever going to forget it. 

Especially the torture of Dr. Rain, that was going to remain with him forever. He was just healing from what he gone through, and he was now finally happy, because he had a family now. A man that adored him, including four daughters. 

It was going to be taken away from him. 

This thought made CJ grab the collar around his neck, and he let out a massive scream, as he felt electricity from the collar shoot through his body, as he tried to rip off the collar. He collapsed, feeling hands on him, before he hit the ground. 

He awoke hours later, now in a different van. Fingers were in his hair, that felt familiar. 

"I think he's waking up," the voice whispered. 

"Oh shit. Is he alright?"

"I'm not sure."

"Guys, we're stopping again."

CJ could faintly see Victor and Kieran staring in both anger and fear as the doors were slowly opening. 

CJ's vision faded to black again, and he eventually woke up, this time for good. He opened his eyes to find himself in complete darkness. He could feel himself tied to a chair, and he slowly sat up, groaning from the pain in his back. A light flickered on. CJ blinked, and could see a tall figure in a brown hood, standing in front of the room. His other friends were also tied to chairs, as they were trying to adjust to the light. 

They were situated in a white room, with only a single black door, that appeared to be made out of metal. The tall figure had two other men flanking his sides, but they were only guards, holding machine guns. Probably only meant for him, since CJ was the only one that really posed a threat to them. 

The tall figure bowed his head. 

"It's wonderful to finally meet you all."

"Fuck you," Victor spat. 

The tall figure chuckled. 

"Ah, it's nice to know that none of you have lost your bravery. Victor, is it?"

"Did David set this up? As a final fuck you after we kicked his ass last time?"

"Perhaps."

Dr. Rain flinched upon hearing David's name, and CJ vowed that he was going to do whatever it took to get them out of there. The tall figure walked up to CJ, placing a finger underneath his chin. But it wasn't a finger, not really. It was made out of a familiar metal that CJ had gotten used to over the years. He once fought something like this almost six months ago. But it was much bigger, like the size of a building. 

The finger slid down his neck, in a way that CJ hoped wasn't sexual. 

"David was my favorite. He wasn't afraid to be himself, compared to that of his other siblings. He gave in to his desires, and did what he wanted. His father and the rest of his family wished to follow his orders, but David should have been the one in charge. It's nice to meet someone who was just like me. Who would rather inflict damage on people like you. But you're not a person, are you, CJ? Not anymore."

He applied a bit more pressure on his neck, now sliding his finger across his skin like a knife preparing to slit his throat. CJ remained stock still, projecting a neutral face. He did not want to show weakness to this thing, whatever it was. 

"And he liked one of you. And he tasted you."

CJ saw a tongue slide out of the mouth, flicking in a suggestive way towards him. He grimaced. He knew that Dr. Rain was feeling everything right now, remembering what David did to him. Elizabeth was tied up next to CJ, and he didn't have to look in her direction to know that there was nothing but malice in her eyes. 

CJ leaned closer to whatever this thing was, refusing to flinch from the pain, as the metal finger pressed deeper into his neck, drawing blood. 

"If you put a finger on any of my friends, I'm going to gut you," CJ whispered. 

The tall figure also leaned closer, exposing his metal teeth. He opened his mouth, and CJ could smell his breathe. It was like smelling a dead body up close. He tried not to gag, as this thing smiled. 

"I look forward to see you try, oh, how I adore creatures like you, CJ. I wonder, how will your screams sound like?"

CJ spit at him, landing on the metal teeth. That same tongue flicked out to lick up the spit. And then it lapped at CJ's face like a dog for a quick second. Kieran and Sebastian made sounds of disgust. Victor and Elizabeth both reacted badly, and Dr. Rain remained silent. 

The tall figure stood up straight. 

"I can't wait to play with you later. As for your friends, I shall see what plans I have will have for them. What a shame that David won't be here to see this. He would have been delighted. Isn't that right, doctor?"

The tall figure walked over to Dr. Rain, getting close to his face. Dr. Rain ignored him, his eyes focused on the wall in front of him. 

"Do you remember when he touched you, Dr. Rain? He told me that he had to be gentle. If he had applied just a bit more pressure, he would have killed you. Split you in two, he said."

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!," Elizabeth screeched, pulling at her restraints. One of the guards stepped forward, raising his gun, but the tall figure raised a hand, stopping him. 

"She's right. I should leave this poor thing alone. You've already been through enough. Or did you? Perhaps you enjoyed it, since you threw yourself in the arms of the other one, Red, is it?"

Dr. Rain bowed his head, hiding himself from everyone in the room. Everyone in the room started to yell or call the figure names, none of them no longer caring or wondering what their fates will be. All that mattered was protecting this kind soul, from going back to the torture that David had inflicted upon his body all those years ago. The tall figure eventually walked away. CJ saw the metal teeth now forming a smile again, as he made his way back to the guards. 

"It's lovely to meet you all."

The figure waved at the captors, and left with the two guards, slamming the metal door behind him. 

"What a fucking asshole," Victor mumbled. 

"Dr. Rain, are you alright?," Kieran said uncertainly. 

Sebastian shushed his nephew, and Kieran became quiet, sobbing. 

The doctor was silent. 

Elizabeth let out a small mix of a cry and a shout. She looked up at CJ, tears in her eyes. 

"We need to get out of here," she whispered. 

CJ stared at her, silently hoping that everything was going to be alright. 

Whatever this thing had in store for them, it wasn't going to be good. CJ thought he had seen something terrifying with its face. 

The eyes were human, but the face was not. If his hands were free, and he had pulled off his face, the eyes would remain, floating in the air. 

CJ didn't know if he could maintain his sanity anymore. 

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Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn