Kai couldn't believe what this maniac was saying. Plans for him? What was he intending to do? Why did he sound so sinister? What was his plan? Why did he decide to enter a stranger's house then kill the mother? What was the purpose in that? 

Tears still rolling down Kai's face, he jabbed his fists into the man's chest. 

"Uh-uh," the man scolded at Kai. "We won't be doing that." He held Kai's hands back, then told his men: "Get rid of the body. I don't care where you put it." 

This made Kai scream in anger and sadness once more. The man who had held him back at first flinched and looked down. 

"How could you!" Kai screamed at the man holding him. "Why- Why would you kill her?!"

"So I could get to you," the man replied as though it was as simple as ever. "You see, I didn't need your mom. She was much too old. I needed a younger soul, who was capable of training at a young age. Someone to get the methods stuck in their heads. Someone capable of even fighting. Someone with a fighting spirit. Your mother obviously didn't have that. You, however, you have a lot of it." His mouth turned up into a sly smirk. "Come, then, let's get you to your new home." 

~ 

The transportation to Kai's "new home" was very startling. Kai didn't know how the man did it, but he'd snapped his fingers and they were suddenly in a totally different place. The men were left behind, still at Kai's house. He and the strange man were now standing in a small room with a bed in the corner, a dresser in the other, then a pedestal in the middle. It was holding a floating gem in the middle, with glass wrapped around it, protecting it from greedy hands. Kai only could wonder what it was for a split second, before the man threw him onto the floor beside the bed. 

"I will have blankets for you shortly," he retorted. "You will sleep there, under my watch. Be prepared for the strangest days of your life, boy. This is how you live now." He turned toward the closed door. "Stay there. Don't move, or there will be consequences." He opened the door, and Kai got a small glimpse of what was outside of the room. 

There were cells among cells, all holding someone inside. The few people that he could see were bruised, beat, or bloody. They all looked either sad or angry when the tall man stepped out. Lots of screaming in anger was heard, but Kai couldn't see who they belonged to. It was all one person, Kai knew that. In the center of the cells, which were all placed in one long, circular row, was an empty space. There was dirt and sand there, and it was clumped with something dark here and there. There were a few men in the armor picking up weapons that were covered in blood. Another few men were stationed here and there by the cells, occasionally sharing a few words before going back to their guard-like stature. 

Then the door was closed, and the screaming lowered down a notch. Kai shivered and rubbed his arms, then the reality of what was going on closed in like a wall. 

He was a prisoner, just like the rest of the people out there. He was going to endure what they had to. He was going to be tortured, from what it looked like. All of it without a mother or father to help him through. 

~

Kai woke up to a blanket being thrown on his face. "Wake up, boy," an impatient voice said, and someone grabbed his arm. Kai mumbled, unmoved. He didn't want to get up yet. "Get up!" The hand holding his arm pulled him up, and the past day's events came flooding back to Kai as he stared into the man's face. 

"What do you want?" growled Kai grumpily. He was still upset over his mother, and on top of that he liked to wake up on his own. He swatted the man's hands away and was surprised to get a slap in the face.

"Do not talk to me like that, boy," the man said once Kai looked back at him, tears of pain in his eyes. "From now on, you will address me as Master or Thorn, or you get a harsh beating." He snapped his other hand away, wrenching it at the same time, painfully twisting Kai's shoulder. 

The boy bit back a yowl of pain and kept staring defiantly in Thorn's eyes. "I'll do Thorn, since you're not my master -" Another painful slap, this time making Kai stumble back. He reached up and touched his face, which was quickly bruising from the other slap already. He was sure his face was pink now. 

"Stubborn, are we?" Thorn laughed smugly. "As long as I own you, Pet, I am your master." 

Did he just call me Pet? Kai thought, anger twisting inside him. He resisted the urge to slap Thorn right back. What is this guy's problem? Why does he treat people like this? 

Thorn nodded in approval. "Come, then." He took Kai's arm again and led him towards the door. Kai took a deep breath, trying to get ready to face whatever was out there. 

The scene around him was just the same as the one that he had seen before, except it seemed bigger now that Kai was out of the room. Thorn stopped and smiled, as if taking in all of his proud creation. Kai, however, gasped and tried not to gag. It smelled like blood, and there were a ton of bleeding or unconscious people in cells. Men were stationed in two places - two on one side of the circle, two on the other. They all nodded at Thorn when he arrived. Now that Kai could see it more closely, the sand was clumped with blood. What was this place? 

Thorn turned to Kai and smiled wickedly. "This is your new home, Pet. Get used to it." He gestured to the place around him, and Kai noticed that there were even "bleachers", it looked like. People came and watched this place? 

Kai was hit by realization. This was an arena. People came and watched opponents fight. How cruel was this man? Kai shuddered and kept his eyes low. 

"Come with me, boy." Thorn pulled him harshly. "I have something I must do, and you are required." 

Kai looked up and saw that Thorn was leading him to another room, one that looked different. The door was open, and Kai saw literally nothing in there. It was completely empty, except for two men on their hands and knees with cloths. They were scrubbing something off the floor, and when the two got closer, Kai almost retched. It was pools of blood that they were cleaning up. There were even sprays of it on the walls. What was that room? 

Horror gripped him when Kai realized he was going in there. What would they do to him? Would he end up like the people in the cells? Would they beat him up for being stubborn, not wanting to obey some random stranger who thought he was in charge? 

Kai looked away from the room, putting his free hand over his mouth. His eyes caught someone else's, however, and he paused to study them. Thorn pulled him again, but Kai kept his eyes on the person. 

It was girl. She had beautiful blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with light and happiness, even though her outcome was horrible. She had long blonde hair that was tangled around her back, and her face was round. Her eyes were large, and she had a tiny mouth. Her hands, which were holding her leg, were tiny. Kai noticed with sorrow that blood was seeping through her small fingers. She only had a little expression of pain on, however. Her face was mostly curious as she assessed Kai as he walked by. She was wearing a plain white T-Shirt and jeans, though one of her pant legs was rolled up to reveal a long, bleeding scratch beneath her fingers. Finally, she looked away, and Kai did as well. 

I wonder who that is, he thought. I wonder who her parents were, or are. She looks about my age. She doesn't look confused, angry, or upset... Does she like it here?

Thorn suddenly put lots of force into his arm and threw Kai into the room. The boy collided with one of the men, and they both stumbled back. Excess blood from the rag and the floor stained Kai's shorts. His sneakers now were dappled with red splotches. 

Kai didn't know how he knew it, but the guard below him was the one from the house. He just had the same demeanor. Kai rolled off him quickly, then stood up just as fast. He didn't want any more blood on him. It was beginning to get to him, to terrify him. 

The guard stood as well, then paused as Kai stared him down. After a moment, he looked away and shook out the rag. Under the mask, Kai couldn't tell what he was thinking. He straightened and walked toward Thorn. Before he passed the tall man, he bowed, then he was off. 

The other guard scoffed under the mask and stood up, too. He cast one glance at Kai that he could tell wasn't friendly, bowed to Thorn, then left too. 

"They bow to you?" Kai tutted. "Really?" 

Thorn clenched his fists. "Yes, Pet, they do. They know it's the right thing to do. They don't want to end up like the poor woman that was in here before." He shook his head briefly. "She fought until the end, poor girl." 

Kai could tell it was fake sympathy. Either Thorn was trying to make him see that, or he was just really bad at faking things. Kai huffed and crossed his arms. "What am I doing in here?"

"Now, now," Thorn said, waggling a finger. "Don't be getting an attitude with me, unless you want to end up like that woman." He chuckled when Kai remained silent. "Good boy." 

Does he have to praise me like I'm some dog? 

(A/N: This is actually a slight joke. When I first came up with these story ideas, I was kind of young, and made these characters out of my stuffed animals. Kai is originally a dog, so that's what makes this funny.) 

"Uncross your arms, boy," Thorn said sharply, narrowing his eyes. "That's not a good example, now." He waggled a finger again, then walked up to Kai. "This won't hurt." He paused and gave Kai a wicked grin. "Much." 

~

Here ya go! Second chappy! I hope you all enjoy this! I'm getting to write much more, so hopefully this will be updated every few days. 

Thanks for reading!!! 

Peace!!~~~