This is a fictional novel provided for entertainment purposes only, please do not imitate any of the actions taken.

Lucas returned to his cell in a much more respectful manner than he'd been taken. The men didn't utter a word toward him. While one limped suspiciously and another clutched an arm, they didn't show any signs of hostility.

Once back, they scurried off as though they couldn't leave fast enough. Lucas climbed into his bunk, pulled the scratchy blanket up to his neck, and closed his eyes.

Two days, his own voice echoed in his mind. We'll leave then.

That's soon, Sylar had been unable to hide his surprise. Night time? He'd followed up with a question.

Broad daylight came the ECHO agent's reply. Nighttime security is doubled.

What do I need to do?

Nothing. Leave it to me. I'll come for you.

If Sylar had any objections, he didn't voice them. No doubt the old drug lord already had a backup plan for shifting the blame if the escape failed.

Lucas wasn't worried. However, he knew he had limited time to figure out their escape as well as track down information on Null. While he had considered asking for what he sought from Sylar, he decided to dig elsewhere.

Though the drug lord most likely had more information than the average person, Lucas wasn't sure if he was a man that wouldn't talk once out.

Four days total, Lucas remembered his time limit. A week for grace. His lips curved up. He didn't need grace. Two days down. Two to go.

His injured palm throbbed, and he shot it a glance. Though the darkness didn't reveal much, he could only assume he'd somehow opened the healing wound a bit. Tucking it under an arm, he turned over.

Sleep came as he lay, and with it the crushing nightmares.

Cold hands pulled him into darkness, voices screeched in accusation and lifeless eyes stared at him in question. A world of carnage and death made the teen unable to get the rest his body was beginning to crave as his mind woke him up constantly to escape the trauma.

The morning siren alerted him that morning had come. Lucas' eyes shot open, sweat trickling down the side of his face. His racing heartbeat was at once calmed as his senses fully awoke. Not showing even an ounce of the jumbled emotions racing through him, the young man sat up.

I'll take those sleeping meds when this is over, he told himself as he folded his blanket and got off the bunk. He took a moment to glance at the still throbbing cut only to see the area around it looking somewhat red and swollen. Can't be helped. Just got to keep it clean.

Harvey walked out from the open toilet, scratching his behind as he yawned.

David tucked the book he'd been reading under his tiny pillow, and Will got up from where he'd been doing press-ups on the cold floor. Jay simply rolled over, cocooned in his blanket as he squinted at the world with surprisingly clear eyes.

"Breakfast!" a voice bellowed as guards walked up and down cells, batons hitting against the bars.

Prisoners awoke and patiently stood in a row, waiting behind a white line for their cells to open. A loud buzz was followed by the cell doors sliding aside as one. Under the watchful gazes of the guards, the men filed out and shuffled to the mess hall for breakfast.

Though the day before Lucas had been a hot topic, today no one even gave him a second glance. He didn't think twice about it, knowing that the true king of the prison had already dealt with the hostility aimed toward his escape path.

Prisoners shuffled from breakfast to various activities. Some had showers, some went to woodwork or gardening, others went to recess and still, others were sent to kill time in their cells. Lucas used the morning to observe.

He had two days, the first of which he would use to see what information he could find, the other to plan an escape. Was he worried that one day wasn't enough to plan for a big breakout? The boy would scoff if asked. From experience, he knew the shorter his time spent on planning, the more likely he'd succeed. For it always gave him one of the biggest elements needed to reach success – surprise.

Throughout breakfast, Lucas watched, listened and took note of every detail. It took the young man almost no time to weed out the people who were useless vs those who would have what he sought.

Every informant used the same pattern of trying to avoid attention while asking a question here and there that would get them certain answers. In a prison, it was even easier to see who these people were. Others naturally gravitated toward them, eyes seeking them out when in doubt, wanting an opinion from someone who knew it all.

By the time Lucas went out to recess, he'd already successfully found the top three informants of the prison. He wasn't worried about attention from the wrong people if he approached them, for Sylar most likely had taken care to alert those under his control to give an answer for what Lucas needed. As far as the drug lord was concerned, Lucas was solely preparing for their escape.

Thus, the young operative openly approached the first of his three picks.

The man sat near a large group of prisoners who stood in a circle yelling and cheering.

A quick glance showered the source of entertainment to be two large beetles battling it out. Bets flew, and cigarettes were handed around as currency. Though it was against prison rules to have these, the guards chose to turn a blind eye for whatever reason.

Lucas slid alongside the prisoner with buzzed hair. For a moment, he didn't make a move, pretending to watch the ongoing battle. When one beetle pushed the other a good distance, a loud roar erupted from the men who'd bet on it.

It was in the moment of this roar that Lucas leaned in closer to the silent man.

"I need some information," he spoke while staying relaxed.

The informant didn't so much bat an eyelash.

"Payment?" he asked after a moment.

Lucas watched the excited gestures die down as the other beetle pushed back. Roars erupted from the opposing side.

"Consider it an honor," Lucas replied, refusing to even pretend he would deliver something he didn't have.

The informant turned his cold eyes on him. However, the moment they landed on his face, something flickered through them. He nodded for Lucas to go on.

"Someone who looks like he should be at the top of the food chain but is terrified for his life," Lucas revealed. "Someone who constantly seeks confinement rather than be amongst others."

The informant raised his eyebrows as another fresh roar of cheers erupted. "There's many of those."

Lucas' lips curved. "Someone who's been like that since day one. Petrified not of something in here," he nodded to the fence and wall, "but out there. Scared enough that it seems he thinks it can reach him here."

The informant turned his eyes back to the fight. "You're very specific," he spoke.

"Know where I could find someone like that?" Lucas simply threw another question. He already knew what kind of person his final target would need to be. Someone who had offended someone very powerful outside. Whether it was an organization like ECHO, or even better, someone like Null. That person would most likely know something he shouldn't.

The informant chewed his cheek in thought. "There is one," he finally revealed. "but he's not going to do you much good."

Lucas waited for the answer he knew would follow.

"They call him Crazy Loui. The guy would never cease screaming that someone was coming to kill him. He was thrown in the hole more than anyone, but when they realized he was doing it on purpose, they refused to put him back." The informant shrugged. "The guy had a death wish or something. He went around offending every high name he could. In the end, even, the beatings weren't enough for him. Ultimately, they found him in his cell bleeding out." He took a moment to spit into the dirt.

"Guy had smashed his own head against the bars enough times to put himself into a coma." The informant tapped his forehead. "A real piece of work, if you know what I mean."

Lucas' face didn't move a muscle. "So, he's no longer here," he murmured, assuming he'd been taken to a hospital.

"Oh, he's still here, physically at least," the informant surprised the ECHO operative. "Apparently, he was too high profile of an offender to take outside, even if he's a vegetable. Last I heard he was in the sickbay. They brought in outside equipment."

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "Vegetable?" A man who would never wake up was as good as dead.

"Pretty much." The informant paused, eyeing the beetle which overturned the other.

Cheers and groans mingled as prizes were handed to those who'd won and taken from those who'd been unlucky.

"Though, I heard a rumor that he woke up briefly."

Lucas' interest perked.

"Apparently he threatened the doctor before going right back to dreamy land. But who knows," the man shrugged, "just rumors flying around."

A foot descended on the two beetles. With the entertainment crushed, the crowd dispersed.

The informant went with them. Lucas walked in search of the next one, mind working.

The following man he found told a similar story to the first. Though he mentioned another man in confinement, it brought Lucas little help. He didn't have the time to get himself thrown in the hole, for who knew how long he'd be stuck there.

By the time he began the search for the final informant, break time was already over.

The prisoners lined up and shuffled back to their cells. Lucas took a detour, going for his shower time along with several other prisoners.

A prisoner in a coma, he noted. Though they say he's woken up before, could he be woken up again? He considered it. It's a chance, but is it worth it?

Lucas stripped along with the other prisoners and marched to the showers.

Yes, he answered his own question. If it helps to get information.

Cold water gushed from the showerhead, drenching him in moments. The teen let his hands work robotically in rubbing soap all over. It took only a moment for the shooting pain in his palm to remind him of the annoying injury. Lucas simply shoved the pain into a box and continued what he was doing.

The only way into the sickbay is to show real symptoms. The guards are too accustomed to pretending convicts to fall for anything fake. He considered his options. Obtaining an injury? His eyes traveled to his palm that had a generous amount of soap disinfect it.

The thought was immediately squashed. Any more and it could get in the way of the escape. He lathered soap into his hair which was already growing back. Faked temperature? He considered it. Closing his eyes, he washed his face. Not serious enough.

He placed his uninjured hand on the tiled wall, letting the water rinse the soap from his body. Then it hit him.

Lucas' eye shots open. Jay, the name was the reason for the light bulb now brightly burning. It didn't even take a moment for Lucas to recall that the man looked exceptionally ok today. He'd been talking with others and hadn't been clinging to Lucas. There was only one reason that a person going through withdrawal would suddenly function again.

Armed with this knowledge, as soon as Lucas was back in his cell, he went to Jay's bed.

"Move," Lucas ordered the young man lying there.

David, the only other convict in the cell, looked up from where he was reading.

Jay blinked at the teenager, the smile on the corner of his lips never falling.

Not bothering to repeat what he said, Lucas grabbed the man and jerked him off the mattress.

Jay crashed to the floor with a yell. David calmly watched.

Lucas didn't lose a moment. He tore the sheets from the uncomfortable mattress, making sure to search under it and the pillow too.

"What are you–" Jay attempted to stop him, but Lucas easily shook him off.

Finding nothing, he paused. He turned to Jay.

"Where are they?"

David's eyebrows rose. He was ignored.

Jay didn't answer, but his actions betrayed him. His eyes flickered ever so briefly to the corner of his bunk. Lucas moved in a flash. He felt around the edges, specifically in the area the eyes landed on.

Despite Jay's protests he continued to search. A moment later, the feeling of plastic rewarded him.

Lucas pulled out the small bag, taking in the pills stuffed inside. He identified them in a second. They weren't ideal for his plan, but they would do the trick. Take a few and hallucinations would start, taking too many and without immediate care, he would be done for.

"Give those," Jay hissed as he tried to snatch the packet to hide it again.

Lucas smoothly evaded his grasp. Without another moment of hesitation, he tore the packet open and poured all the pills into his palm. Then, he tipped his head back and threw the whole bunch in.

"No!" Jay wailed.

His hands latched on to Lucas' throat as he shook him.

"Give them back!"

The pills were already swallowed.

David snapped his book shut. "Hey, boy." He got to his feet. "What did you just eat?"

Lucas didn't pay him any attention, a soft ringing picking up in his ears. He immediately realized that the effects were a lot faster than he expected.

Colorful dots danced before his eyes.

"Hey!" David marched over, pulling Jay from Lucas. "What did you do?"

Lucas couldn't have replied if he wanted to. The boy lifted a hand to try and shade his eyes from the light that was suddenly too bright. The room was spinning and he could swear that there was laughter coming from somewhere. His head felt lighter than it had in a long time, and the teen got the sudden silly urge to laugh.

The boy didn't even realize when he crashed to the floor.

"Over here!" a voice yelled, mixed in with the laughter.

Giggles rose, voices whispered, and colors continued to dance before Lucas' eyes. Hands took a hold of him, and he suddenly felt like he was floating on a cloud.

Lucas, a gentle voice whispered as a hand reached for him. A smiling woman stood above him. Let's go, a warm voice joined as a handsome man appeared on the other. A giggling toddler totted around.

All three turned into bubbles, popping as they floated away. Colors turned to blood red. The hallucinations came fast and hard. Screams echoed and deformed faces terrifying enough to make a grown man wet his pants floated in the air.

Lucas found himself in the middle, unable to escape.

The boy was unaware of the guards that rushed over. Unaware when he was lifted and hurried away. Unaware when the man in a white coat looked him over before immediately ordering his stomach to be pumped.

For Lucas, everything ceased to exist except a terrifying world made of nightmares.

"Why?" A woman whispered, blood seeping from a hole in her chest.

"Murderer!" A man with a gaping hole in his forehead screamed, blood dripping from his mouth and eyes.

"You'll pay," another man added before his whole body burst into flames and he began to scream.

"Justice will prevail," a voice whispered. "Death will come for you." It broke into psychopathic giggles.

"Let's go for practice!" Nathan and the football team appeared, motioning for Lucas to join.

As soon as he took a step toward the happier image, their faces suddenly morphed into various deformities.

"Murderer," Nathan accused, flesh hanging from wounds where bone flashed through.

Lucas couldn't move. Lucas couldn't speak. He could do nothing but watch as the team dissolved and was replaced but hundreds more disfigure faces.

The horrifying world seemed to last forever. It was no more than fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes in which the young man was taken to the prison sickbay, had a tube stuck down his throat, and his stomach pumped.

The images faded first and the screams slowly followed.

"Leave him a few hours for observation," the voice painfully pierced Lucas' skull. It had been spoken in a normal tone, but to him, it sounded like someone placed a megaphone right beside his ear.

His lids were closed, but the light continued to attack from behind.

While any other person would have woken up in confusion, the ECHO agent had been through enough torture for his mind to organize itself quicker than the average person. Thus, instead of sitting up the moment he became somewhat aware, Lucas stayed where he was, keeping his breathing the same. He let his mind clear even further as he gave the men around him the assumption that he was asleep.

Someone grabbed his wrist, slapped handcuffs on and cuffed one of his hands to the bed.

"We'll be back by lights out," someone gruffly spoke.

Footsteps sounded and several presences around Lucas disappeared. He continued to keep his eyes closed, letting his mind clear further. His mouth had a bitter aftertaste, one he associated with throwing up. Though he was more aware, it still felt like a heavy fog had wrapped around his head. Lucas knew it would get clearer in time, but it was time he didn't have. His mind was already counting down the minutes.

His hand was lifted, and something applied. Lucas felt a stab. Perhaps it was painful, perhaps not. His senses weren't alert enough to decipher it.

When his hand was dropped, and he felt the final presence disappear, his eyes flickered open. Squinting at the bright assault on his sight, he settled for looking through two slits, trying to ignore a piercing headache that hit him.

Still looking through slits, Lucas glanced around. He was the only prisoner in the room. When the boy tried to roll over, he felt the sudden restraint on an arm.

Handcuffs, perhaps it was the aftereffect of the meds, but Lucas wanted to giggle uncontrollably at the thought. He tugged the cuffed hand, testing the cuff. It had been clamped down tight.

Sobriety slowly returned as he realized his stomach must have been pumped.

Paperclip, the thought hit him. Though he hadn't stored it in his stomach (but in a lining in his throat), Lucas was pretty sure the pumping had caused it to exit with everything else. It was still worth a try.

The young operative worked his muscles, coughing as he tried to see if anything would appear. He didn't expect anything, and even if it wasn't there, he would still get out of the cuffs in a less convenient way. However, the boy felt a flicker of surprise when a paperclip popped from his throat into his mouth.

As always, he was lucky in every way.

Not giving it a second thought, Lucas reached for the paper clip with his non-cuffed hand. He paused when he realized it was freshly bandaged.

Well, well. Looks like this trip could have killed two birds with one stone.

He resumed his actions and in less than ten seconds his wrist was released. Lucas slipped out, bending the clip back into shape and swallowing the evidence just as fast.

Upon sitting up, he braced himself, the world spinning for a moment.

The boy waited for it to adjust.

Though the light still hurt his eyes, he fought back against the pain. He was on his feet as soon as he was somewhat steady. Straining his ears for the sound of anyone approaching, he began to immediately explore the room.

Now, where could he be? He pulled aside a curtain only to find an empty bed.

"Hmm."

The boy half walked, and half stumbled around the room, fighting through the fog in his mind. He searched the room only to find nothing. He stood still, trying to get his bearings as he coxed his mind to clear.

It was after a moment of controlling his breathing that he became aware of the steady beeping side. At first, he'd brushed it off as a side effect on his mind, but now that he listened, he realized it came from the room next door.

Painstakingly, Lucas made his way over. He paused, hand on the handle of the door. For a moment, he listened. Deciding no one was moving about inside, he opened the door.

"Bingo." On the bed inside lay the lone figure of a man.

A heart rate monitor was responsible for the constant beeping, showing the man was still hanging on. An oxygen mask was placed over his mouth, gathering a layer of fog every time he breathed out.

"Hello." Lucas made his way over. He shook his head on the way, trying to keep his mind focused. He wasn't in ideal shape, but it couldn't be helped.

Reaching his target, Lucas reached out and poked the man hard.

No response, not even a flicker of the eyes.

For a moment, the teen simply gazed at the figure. He was a large person, who would most likely tower over Lucas if he stood. His shaggy hair showed a lack of upkeep in a while. A beard grew, unkept by the staff who most likely felt they already put in enough effort by keeping this prisoner alive.

As Lucas stood there, his mind momentarily blanked.

Wake up, the thought brought him back;

"Ah." Lucas shook the man again, observing his eyes. Nothing, not even a flicker to show if he was awake and faking it or not.

With a shrug, Lucas reached for the man's arm. He went for the inside of his forearm and pinched hard.

The heart rate monitor responded, speeding up ever so briefly. Lucas was also dimly aware that the man's eyelids twitched. However, he didn't open them.

Looks like he's somewhat aware, Lucas was pleased with the realization.

He turned away, eyes scanning for something to assist him in getting this man to come back to reality and answer some questions. Going to a drawer, Lucas threw it open, scanning the contents within. Finding nothing he moved on to the next. He'd only gone through a few when he had a sudden idea.

He rummaged around a bit more before finding what he was searching for. Grabbing his prize, he pulled the cap of the injection he held.

"This should give you a boost," his speech was slightly slurred as he approached the target.

When he was within reach, he didn't hesitate in stabbing the needle down. It plunged into the man's chest, releasing adrenaline.

The heart rate monitor sped up almost immediately.

Lucas didn't even withdraw the injection, simply leaving it sticking out of the man.

Two, one... he counted in his mind.

Eyes shot open, the man bolted upright.

So much for being in a coma, Lucas thought.

The prisoner panted, wide eyes going to the injection sticking out from his chest. He opened his mouth. Though Lucas wasn't at one hundred percent efficiency, his body was trained to perfection when it needed to respond.

Thus, before a word could escape from the man's lips, the ECHO operative beat him to it. He grabbed the needle, jerked it free, pinched the back of the other man's chest and pressed the needle threateningly against his throat.

"Shhh," Lucas encouraged.

Terrified eyes turned to him.

"They sent you, didn't they?" a voice rasped from a throat that had been deprived if liquid.

Lucas didn't know who they were, and he didn't care.

"I advise you to only speak when answering my questions, understand?" he responded.

No reply.

Lucas pushed the needle closer.

The man in the bed nodded.

"Good." Lucas eased up slightly to give the panting man more room to breathe. "I just need something simple and you can go back to sleep." His groggy mind took another step to clear, but there was an uncomfortable ringing in his ears. He didn't show even a hint on it on the outside. "I presume you've heard of a friend of mine."

The victim waited, heart rate monitor still beating abnormally fast as the adrenaline continued to work.

"Null," Lucas spoke the name.

The beeping sped up, giving the man away.

"Just kill me now," he spat.

"I can do you that favor after," Lucas calmly replied. He increased his pressure again, also squeezing the man's neck tighter. "Or I can make you live on in a very, very painful world."

The ringing in his ears turned dull.

Silence reigned in the room as the young operative stared down the older male.

"What is it you want?" the man finally asked.

Lucas rewarded him by releasing pressure once more. With a smile, he twirled the injection and stepped back. The man in the bed knew better than to make a move. For he was aware enough to know he was outpowered in every way.

"How do I make him come to me?" Lucas asked. Injection still in one hand, he leaned his weight on to one foot, grateful as the fog in his mind lifted even further.

"I thought you said he was your friend," came the response.

"Not yet," Lucas replied calmly.

The man chuckled only to break into a dry cough.

Lucas grabbed a half empty bottle of water from a table nearby. He tossed it to the man who caught it. The contents were downed.

Screwing the cap back on, the man wiped a hand across his mouth. His bright eyes looked like anything other than a psychopath the informant mentioned before.

"Look at the two of us. Both on the road to death," the man spoke.

"Ah." Lucas wagged a finger at him. "Don't write my eulogy just yet. I plan to live to a very ripe, ripe old age. Retirement is quite fun I hear."

The man chuckled in response. His hand went to his bandaged forehead. He touched it tenderly before letting his arm drop. "If you want to see retirement, don't come asking for death. Even I will outlive you if you're seeking Null."

"Wanna bet on it?" Lucas retorted calmly.

Another moment of silence followed.

"Tell me, boy," the man finally spoke. "How did you even come across that name?"

Lucas twirled the inject again, not replying.

"Unless," the man furrowed his forehead, "you're a bit young to be in the business, aren't you?"

"Age doesn't exist in our world," Lucas replied calmly. "All that matters is that you're good at what you do."

The man shook his head. "No matter how good. If it comes to Null, you don't stand a chance."

Lucas tapped the injection against his bandaged hand. "How do I make him come to me?" he repeated his earlier question.

"Impossible. If he comes, you won't know until the moment you see light for the last time."

"And yet you're alive."

"Because he hasn't come for me...yet," was the response.

Yet? The choice of words made Lucas move. He stepped to the bedside and leaned forward. His eyes frosted over. "What do you know?" he demanded, nothing but deadly intent and warning radiated from his body.

For a moment, the man stared at him in pure terror. A moment later, it cleared somewhat. "That look." He began to laugh. "It's the same." The laughter grew. "It's just like–"

Lucas grabbed him by the collar. "Tell me or I'll make his job easier."

"Go ahead," the man replied. "If I'm to die anyway, I don't mind giving my life to a youngster such as you."

The ECHO operative's second hand dropped the injection and grabbed the man's throat and squeezed. There was no resistance, not even an attempt to stop him as he pushed the man's airway shut. It would be so easy to just end it. Lucas' grip tightened, his mind numb and heart cold.

Murderer, a voice from his nightmares screamed.

The killing intent slipped and his grip loosened. Something within him stirred.

With a growl, Lucas let go. He turned from the gasping man, fighting off the instinct to turn and simply kill the uncooperative convict.

The raging emotion rushing through him was not his usual controlled self. Lucas was sure it was the aftereffects of what he'd done to himself. He quickly pushed all emotions back deep down and picked up the injection.

"Then I'll simply let the word get out that you opened your mouth," he said coldly as he threw the injection in the wastebasket under a pile of trash. He turned, a cold smile on his face. 'I'm pretty sure your death won't be a peaceful one."

The man opened and closed his mouth.

"Your welcome," Lucas added. "I usually charge, but I'll let you off for the service of waking you up." He lifted a hand in farewell. "I wish you an interesting death." He turned for the door.

"Family," the man called after him.

Lucas turned back around to find the convict suddenly ready to share.

"Even Null has a family," he spoke more softly, defeated eyes rising to meet Lucas'. "Make even a move to touch a hair on their head and Null will come for your blood."

Family? Lucas absorbed the information. "Where?"

The man shook his head. "If I knew, Null would have ended me sooner rather than leaving me later."

It made sense. Lucas looked to find the man watching him, an eerie calmness in his eyes.

"This is the part where you shut me up, so I can't say anything, am I correct?" he asked.

Lucas stayed rooted to the spot, calmly meeting a fellow criminal's eyes.

It was true. From training, even the newest operative knew that anymore who knew even a fragment more than they should, needed to be terminated. For Lucas, he couldn't afford ECHO catching so much as a whiff of what he was investigating on the side. Yet, as he watched a man who seemed to almost be welcoming death, he couldn't help but feel something stir once again.

Options invalid as the next chapter has been posted.

a) Put the man back in a coma so he can't talk for the time being. Hope when/if he wakes up that he keeps his mouth shut.

b) Get rid of the evidence, cut off all traces.

c) Leave him be. Take the risk and trust he won't say anything.