I weakly lifted my head and looked through my unswollen eye at Mori, who was in even worse shape. "Mori... You okay?"

He grunted. "Yeah... You?"

"I'm so sorry," I said guiltily, staring down at the floor. Blood dripped from my nose onto the stone. "It's all my fault you're here."

"Don't blame yourself, Yuki," Mori said hoarsely. "Please, don't..."

"But if it weren't for me-"

"Yuki!" He said, making me stop. "Don't, don't blame yourself," he added with a softer tone.

I set my head against the cool rock as tears filled my eyes. "I'm sorry...."

He sighed. "Yuki......"

I sniffed, and looked over at him.

"How much damage?" He asked, changing the subject.

I gave a weak smile. "Might have taken a chunk of her arm and broken her big toe."

His bruised eyes sent me comfort and assurance. "I broke mine's nose and clavicle."

I nodded. "I'll get us out of here Mori... I swear..."

"Not alone."

"I know," I nodded at him.

I dislocated my right hand and fingers, a trick I've always had, and slid my hand out of its shackle. I set the bones right again.

The shackles hit the floor with a horrifying clang and I screamed as electricity fried me from the inside out.

"YUKI!" Mori yelled, desperately trying to get to me.

The voltage stopped and the door opened. Nathaniel entered. "Tut, tut, Yuki," he said. "You think I didn't think about that talent?"

He crouched in front of me, and replaced my shackle.

I grabbed his collar with my free hand. "You bastard, I trusted you!" I spat. "All those years, and you've been nothing but evil!"

Smack!

My head whipped to the side and Mori struggled twice as hard.

"It's your own fault for being so gullible, idiot," Nathaniel said coldly, pulling from my grasp. My hand fell to the floor, fist still closed. "I wouldn't try escaping again, I've got a camera watching. Always watching." He grinned and waved at a camera in the center of the ceiling.

He stood and kicked my stomach roughly. Making me cry out.

"Go... To hell..." I gasped through clenched teeth. He smirked.

"Where do you think I came from?"

I spat a mixture of saliva and blood at his feet. "The nearest Barbie store, in my opinion."

Another kick, and Mori yelled for me. "YUKI!"

"I'd watch what you say around me, brat," Nathaniel growled, turning his back on me.

"Bastard! I'll kill you for hurting her!" Mori yelled, angrier than I've ever seen him as I gasped in pain, trying to curl up through the pain in my stomach.

Thwack!

"MORI!" I cried as he fell back, lip busted from the punch.

"I'll visit later, brats," Nathaniel said coolly. "Play nice, and maybe you'll get food tonight."

He left and I tried my hardest against the shackles. "MORI! ARE YOU OKAY?! MORI ANSWER ME!"

"I'm fine..." He grunted, looking at me. His lip was bleeding terribly. "Are you okay?"

I put my hands over my mouth in relief, and flashed him the key I'd swiped from Nathan while my hands covered it from the camera.

His eyes widened for only a millisecond before going back to concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, a bit sore, but fine," I said, moving my hands to cradle my stomach and stowing the key away in my pockets.

"When are you going to learn to keep your big mouth shut?" He asked for the sake of the camera.

But I caught the emphasis on 'when'.

I shook my head. "Not now, maybe later."

"Why not?" He asked.

"Too early," I replied. "I'll be an idiot for a while longer."

He nodded ever so slightly, understanding.

If we tried it now, Nathaniel would have everyone here to beat the hell out of us, or worse.

Just hold on a bit longer Mori. I'll get us out of this soon.

We did not, in fact, get food that night. Only water and a beating. But we were alive, and I'd make sure we stayed that way.

I refuse to lose Mori.