Malakai

Kai's skin tasted the sun as the light shined on him.

His body hadn't seen the sun for three years, and it reacted oddly to the warm sensation. The sun peeked through white laced curtains, the light coming onto half the bed. Kai opened his eyes and stared at the white ceiling, and he skin felt like fire, from the inside and outside, from pain and satisfaction. He didn't know what to think of the feeling.

He lifted his arms and realized he was freed from cuffs again. His body laid on a soft mattress, and Kai hadn't felt this comfortable since before he was captured. He pulled himself up onto his elbows, and he shouted out in pain. A piercing ache surged through his veins, and memories came back of him pressing his hands and taking the pain away from Isaac Bonavich.

All pain seemed to cease as he looked out the window. Kai swung his legs over the bed and limped over, his fingers pulling the window open but failing short after. It was locked, but Kai pulled the curtains aside and stared at what he hadn't seen in years.

He wasn't able to take in the feeling when he was outside before saving Bonavich, but there was no time to. Now, he was looking at blue skies painted with clouds, and an enormous garden below him. It was remarkably beautiful. Flowers and greenery were styled and sorted through the garden, and the colors were bright, full of yellows and blues and pinks. Kai had never seen anything like this in so long. It looked foreign to his eyes.

He lifted his arms in front of him as he watched the sun glow on his skin. Scars and bruises faded in Kai's mind as he grinned at the warm feeling. The sun. Sometimes he feared he'd never see again.

He was a few stories up, and he tried to look past the garden, but he could only see the gates and trees covering the area. He was still in the Capitol, he assumed, but why was he here? And where was Seb and Hyemi?

Kai slowly turned to observe his surroundings. It seemed like a hotel room; a single bed with a dresser and nightstand, and a small bathroom and shower. Kai immediately went into the bathroom, and washed his hands, wincing from the raw scrapes that wrapped around his wrists. The rug-burn and scrapes were horrific, and his wrists were swelled. He looked away as his throat pestered at him. He cupped his hands and lowered his head, taking gulps of water. The feeling burned his throat, but he continued to drink. He was dehydrated and exhausted, and with no food his body had been growing weak.

He walked out of the bathroom and nearly jumped at the sight of two soldiers guarding his door.

"Oh!" Kai blurted. He stepped back as his heart buzzed in his chest. The sight of the soldiers shocked him, and he closed his hands to make sure they knew he wasn't trying to hurt them.

He was stupid if he didn't think he was being watched, but he did not expect soldiers inside. He took a few steps back and stared at the soldiers, waiting for an order, but they only stood by the door, unmoving.

"Do you knew where Sebastian and Hyemi are?" he asked. There was no reply. The soldiers were here to keep watch on Subject Zero, not talk with him.

Kai backed himself up until he was at the window again, and he looked out once more. Seeing outside, seeing how close it was, gave him hope of going home. He was no longer trapped by four walls. He was captive here, yes, but somehow the sun and sky gave him a chance of seeing home again. He was far away, but as he looked at the horizon, he knew it was there, somewhere.

There was a knock at the door, and Kai froze as a soldier opened it.

Isaac Bonavich walked in, and behind him, his daughter. Vivienne is what he heard her name was, but he couldn't quite remember. Kai clutched his hands on the windowsill, pushing himself back at the sight of Benedict Lee's replacement. Kai had a new monster to fear.

"Keep your palms hidden and come with us, son."

Don't call me son, Kai thought, but he nodded as he clenched his fists and slowly walked to the door. He looked at Vivienne, and he remembered her frantic composure, and how violently she had the gun pressed to his temple. He remembered Isaac Bonavich, about near death, and now he stood tall and confident, as if Kai didn't risk his life to save his monster.

He followed them out the door, and the soldiers walked on Kai's heels. He tried to look at his surroundings, but all he could see were navy walls with gold accents. He followed the Bonavich's into an elevator, and he pushed himself to the side as the doors closed, tugging his hands behind his back. Kai looked down the entire time, trying to distract himself from the lingering pain in his body. It was a silent ride down.

The bell rang as the elevator doors opened, and Kai followed behind. They stopped at double doors, large and white, with two soldiers guarding it.

Kai hesitated as the doors opened, and fear spiked as he walked inside.

The oval room was bare except for a large conference table. Almost every chair was occupied, and everyone had their stare on Kai. He could not move as the soldiers gestured for him to sit in the end chair. He glanced at each person; soldiers, doctors, and the other daughter, Rosalyn Bonavich—the girl who painted the picture in his old room.

Everyone settled down, and Isaac Bonavich sat on the other head of the table. One of the soldiers slightly shoved Kai, and he finally retreated and sat on the rolling chair, his body tensed as he sat on the edge of the seat.

"Make yourself comfortable, Subject Zero," Issac Bonavich said. "We need to talk."

"Where is Sebastian and Hyemi," Kai asked. His voice cracked, and he realized that in this moment, he was utterly terrified. He was trapped in a room with all his enemies, and he knew they wanted to know more about his powers.

"They'll have their own nice rooms later today," Bonavich said. Kai nodded. He was content with that answer. Seb and Hyemi deserved their own beds and comfortable rooms. He wondered if they knew that he was alright. The last time they saw him was when Vivienne dragged him away.

"We trust that you will not pull any sudden tricks on us, are we correct?"

Kai looked at Bonavich as he felt two soldiers statued behind him. He was not tied up, but he was clearly outnumbered. Fighting back would be a stupid thing to do, anyway. Kai tried to lean back in his chair, but his body tingled and ached, so he stayed forward. He nodded, making it clear that he wasn't going to do anything.

"Perfect. So, we all have witnessed the—act, you did yesterday."

Yesterday? Kai was shocked. He was out for that long?

"As bringing you out of the room was against the rules," Bonavich glanced at his daughters, "you managed to obeyed and save my life."

Kai looked at the two girls. It was them who brought Kai out of the room, and it was clear they weren't supposed to. He remembered how desperate they were, though, and he understood that they would do anything to save their father.

Kai realized he wouldn't receive a thank you. He expected nothing of the sort, but Bonavich acted as if Kai hadn't risked his own life to save his own. He acted as if Kai didn't take a bullet, literally, for his enemy.

"Let's talk about your healing powers first, yeah?" Bonavich shifted in his seat as he leaned forward. "How do you do it?"

"I put my palms on the person and—heal them." Kai realized how easy that sounded, and they were most likely looking for detailed answers. He was too nervous to explain much more, plus trust was still running thin.

Bonavich clicked his tongue. "And can you control this, or is anyone you touch either healed or hurt?"

"I can control it." A sound of urgency coursed through his tone. He didn't want them to think he was as dangerous as people made him out to be. He could control it, at least.

"Then why are you hiding your hands?"

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Because you told me to, sir?"

Bonavich paused, and Kai glanced over to Rosalyn, who sat next to him. He swore he caught a quick smile on her lips before she raised her pen and began to take notes.

A doctor cleared his throat before leaning forward. "Can you describe the, uh, process of when you heal? Where it travels to, what part of your body takes the pain, things like that?"

Kai nodded, but his face grew red as he felt every pair of eyes on him. He took a deep breath and tried to think of an elaborate answer, but he was afraid only Benedict Lee could do so.

"It almost feels like it's traveling into my veins. I feel the pain everywhere in my body; it spreads out."

The doctor nodded. "So the worse the persons pain, the more it hurts you?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever brought someone back from the dead?"

"I've never tried it."

"Can you heal yourself when you're hurt?"

"No."

Everyone took notes, and Kai couldn't figure out how they could all possibly be writing different things. He sat still, his hands aching at the tight pressure of his fists.

"How are you feeling after taking away Mr. Bonavich's bullet wound?"

I almost died for that man. "My body is sore."

"How sore?"

I could have died. "Just a small aching feeling, I guess."

The doctor nodded. "You were on and off of consciousness for hours. Is that normal for you?"

Kai shrugged. "If I don't use my power consistently, it'll hurt more. But I haven't healed a bullet wound before, so that might be normal. I don't know."

More pens scribbled on paper. He looked at Rosalyn, who looked way calmer now than yesterday. Her skin was sun-bronzed and clear, and her eyes were light brown and wide. Both Rosalyn and Vivienne were darker skinned, while Isaac Bonavich was almost paler than Kai was.

"Let's move on to the other side of your power," Bonavich said, a lace of evil in his voice. "You can physically hurt someone with your hands without even touching them."

As ruthless as that sounded, Kai nodded. He hated to be known as that.

"Can you do the same when you touch someone?" Bonavich asked.

"Yes," Kai replied dryly. He was growing tired of the questions, and his tensed body made him even more sore.

The doctor once again cleared his throat. "You had brought the soldiers to a state of unconsciousness. How badly can you hurt someone?"

Kai shifted in his seat. He did not want to answer this. He could lie, right? Possibly, but then again, they were going to pry everything out of him. There wasn't much he could hide anymore.

"Subject Zero?" the doctor said. Kai almost grew irritated at them calling him that, like he wasn't human enough for a real name. "How badly can you hurt someone?"

Kai sighed. "If I touch them, I can kill them."

"Holy—" Bonavich muttered under his breath, and Kai could see excitement behind his serious eyes. He almost couldn't believe he had saved such a sick man, and that his daughter could have created such an artistic and peaceful painting. He couldn't believe any of it.

"Do you only kill someone if you touch them?"

"No, I can control that too."

Everyone nodded, some taking notes and others staring at him with wide eyes. He suddenly felt guilty, like he had felt so many other times. Benedict had made him a killer, and he was almost embarrassed by it. Maybe that's why Benedict made him a healer, too.

"Are there any other powers that you have?" Bonavich asked. The man had a kid who could kill and heal, but he was still greedy for more.

"No," Kai said.

Bonavich nodded, keeping his ice blue eyes on him. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he glanced around him and paused. "That's enough for now. I only have one more question for the boy, but you all can be dismissed, save you two." He nodded at the soldiers behind Kai.

Everyone stood up except for the Bonavich family. Kai froze as doctors and soldiers walked past him, sharing one last stare before exiting. It was almost more nerve-racking with only the Bonavich's sitting across from him. He wished for the others to come back.

"I just had a chat with the President of the East, Arthur Veil."

Kai hadn't seen the President yet, but he assumed he didn't live here at the Capitol. Isaac Bonavich seemed to be the one who did his dirty work, while President Veil kept away in hiding, safe from any danger.

"He's impressed with you, Subject Zero."

Kai stared back, emotionless. He didn't care what the President thought of him. This is inhumane, is all he could think.

"I am planning to go on air again, from the comfort of the walls within the Capitol, but Veil suggested that you are also there, standing by me."

Kai finally pushed himself back into the chair. The words meshed together and didn't make sense. He waited for Bonavich to continue.

"You would be there for the public to see. And I would share that you saved my life, meaning that—"

"I cannot do that, sir."

Bonavich paused and leaned back. "And why not?"

"I—" Kai hesitated, but he would fight against this. He would do what's right in his mind. "This is not my home. I can't show myself turning against my home."

"But you will be anyway, Zero. You're going to be helping us," Vivienne spat, her narrow hazel eyes on him. Rosalyn looked opposite; her eyes wide and confused.

"This is not my home—"

"You don't have a home!"

A fist slammed to the table, and it made everyone in the room flinch. Bonavich kept his fist in sight as he stood up. Kai shrunk himself into his seat as he looked up at Bonavich, but he stood his ground, and for his beliefs.

"I cannot do that, sir."

He sighed as he gestured to the soldiers. They grabbed Kai's arms and lifted him off his seat. Kai was forcefully dragged out of the room, and he glanced back at the Bonavich's.

Vivienne had her arms crossed. She resembled her fathers actions; cold-stone face, daunting eyes, unwelcoming smirk. Rosalyn looked curious but cautious, with wandering eyes and plump lips. He wondered if she looked more like their mother. It was a quick and faded thought, though. He was tugged away and out the door, and for a moment, he wondered where they were bringing him. He would not stand by Isaac Bonavich and show his act of service. It would be going against what he believed in.

Kai scoffed at himself as the double-doors closed. Then why did you save him?

He couldn't fathom a reasonable answer.

•••

Chapter song: The Good In Me // Jon Bellion

Hello!!!

Y'all, I'm so exited for this story—I know we're eight chapters in, but there is so much...mOrE!!!! I'm dying. Also I'm COMIN' IN HOT with the updates ! Appreciate this while it lasts LOL.

What do you guys think of Kai? Rosalyn? Anyone? Honest opinions are welcome!

Thank you, you good pals

Until Next Time,
Grace