Malakai

Every plant in Ingrid's garden was withered, dead.

Kai noticed it had not been tended to since Ingrid's disappearance, but maybe the flowers weren't anyone's main concern over the past week or so. However, he was glad Ingrid didn't have to see her garden like this.

After the short and silent plane ride in the early hours of the morning, Kai returned to the East Capitol, tugged indoors by two guards on either side of him. He didn't miss this place, but he was intrigued with the changed atmosphere. It all felt tense—it was odd and uncomfortable, as if Rosalyn and the Subjects' escape took a toll on everyone here. Perhaps it did.

The head wrap was removed, as well as the gloves, but his hands were still cuffed behind his back, his palms pressed together tightly. He struggled against the guards, half exhausted as they basically dragged him, and half angry that he was being dragged.

But his body soon stiffened and straightened as he saw Isaac Bonavich walking from the other end of the hallway, his face full of pride as their steps closed in. His smile did not falter as they were both now in arms reach, but when his fist raised suddenly, Kai was not ready for the punch.

Bonavich's fist connected with Kai's jaw, and he crumpled to the floor as the guards dropped him. Kai groaned as his vision blurred, but he could hear the man above him so clearly.

"That's for hurting my wife," he sneered, his voice a loud echo in Kai's mind. He tried to recall what his words meant, and his memories finally came back into view. The memory of him using his power against Serenity Bonavich in order to save Rosalyn.

The shadow of Bonavich appeared, and Kai could see his leg swinging back, and it soon connected with his ribs. His old ache from his earlier hit resurfaced, and Kai could only release a wheezy breath at the harsh impact. "And that's for stealing my daughter."

If he was able to muster up a laugh, he would have. But instead, he shifted his palms, using all his strength to slide one palm out to face the open. As he did, he angled himself, despite the pain, towards Bonavich and aimed.

Bonavich jumped back with a grunt, clearly shocked at the force that hit him, making him hold onto the wall for balance. The guards readjusted Kai's hands, now surrounding him.

Kai only sneered. "And that's for all your nonsense."

"Nonsense?" Bonavich blurted, pushing himself straight again, his movements slow. "Nonsense? You and your little friends trying to escape is nonsense, Subject Zero."

Kai avoided his gaze and laid still on the floor as he managed to spit words back. "You knew Rosalyn had a choice to come. Your wife tried to sedate her. You lied. You knew all of it—"

"Oh, but it was good propaganda, don't you think?" A distant voice grew along with footsteps, and soon enough President Veil was crouched down next to Kai, offering him a warm smile. Kai fell silent.

"Careful, Veil," Bonavich spoke. "Son of a bitch used his power on me."

Kai flinched as two fingers gently lifted his chin upwards, and his eyes met with Veil's. The man offered him a sad smile, and it made him feel uneasy. Veil only sighed, staring at him while talking to Bonavich. "That's because you provoked him, Isaac. It's like facing an animal who's been caged all it's life. Do you think it would remain defenseless? Do you think it would go against its natural instinct?"

Kai could only grit his teeth to hold back his words. He could handle Bonavich and his menacing words. But Veil? Kai was unable to read the man; was he really that caring and gentle, but also so horrid and mysterious? He reminded Kai of Benedict, though maybe a bit calm and nicer. None of it made sense to Kai, so he did not bother to respond.

Veil examined Kai's cheek, frowning at the mark it must have left behind. He soon patted Kai's shoulder and stood up, mumbling something to Bonavich. Kai wasn't able to listen in as the guards lifted him to his feet and began to drag him down the hallway.

It all looked familiar, like he had walked this hallway before, and soon enough he was led into a room, shoved in by the guards who remained at the door.

His eyes immediately fell on the elk painting, and then his eyes drifted to the open curtains, peeking through at the now-abandoned garden. It was his old room, and as horrible as the situation was, it was comforting being in a familiar space. With Rosalyn's painting and Ingrid's garden, he felt better.

The door slammed shut behind him, and Bonavich leaned against the doorframe, eyeing him with a massive glare. Kai could only return the favor.

One of the guards stayed, but the other slipped out of the room, walking quickly. Kai watched the fast movements, but Bonavich cleared his throat to gain attention.

"You've caused a lot of problems for me, Subject Zero."

He only shrugged. "Benedict dealt with me, and he's much older and weaker than you. If only you could get some tips."

Kai was ignored as Bonavich sighed and crossed his arms. "You ran away; you turned against President Veil and I—"

"I was never on your side," Kai spat back. "Just because I saved you once doesn't mean I'll do it again."

Bonavich pointed a finger at him. "You ran away. You don't know the havoc that caused. You don't know how many people are terrified of Subject Zero now. You disobeyed, and now you must pay."

"Don't we deserve freedom?" Kai asked, borderline yelling. "Isn't this against the law?"

"Not if you're not normal," Bonavich stated. "And you are not normal; you are a science experiment who lost its creator. Freeing you would only cause more chaos. You know that."

Kai could only stare at the evil man, holding back every urge to lunge at him and use his power. "I will never be on your side. I will never work for you."

Bonavich only nodded as he leaned against the wall. "I know."

You know? Kai thought. Then what was going to happen? Both were at a standstill, until there was a sharp knock at the door. Bonavich only took a breath, but he did not open the door yet.

"I know you won't by choice. But you will by force." He paused, and a sliver of guilt passed through his eyes. "Do you know the pain I can cause? Haven't you seen it?"

Kai paused. He didn't know what he was trying to get at. He had seen Bonavich do great damage, but why was he admitting it?

"You seem to care about others deeply, which is why it gave you the greatest pain when you had to watch Sebastian be beaten up. Don't you know that was only a fraction of what I am capable of? Did you not learn? You ran away, you turned others against me, and you think you wouldn't have to face an even greater pain?"

Kai was left dumbfounded. His words rang true, but his tone was something he didn't know Bonavich could own—sorrow? Possibly. Or maybe he was just really done talking with Kai.

The door suddenly creaked open, and a bright light walked into the room, held by a threatening darkness.

Ingrid stepped in, followed by the same guard from earlier, and Kai could only tremble.

"Ingrid?" He said, his voice shaken. "I, I thought—" I thought I was the only one who was caught.

The guard let Ingrid go as she quickly wrapped her arms around Kai, his tied arms awkwardly behind him, unable to hug her back. She released him and smiled at him with light eyes. "Are you okay?" She paused, looking at the already forming bruise on his jawline. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay." He nodded eagerly, excited to see a friendly face. Although many more thoughts traveled through his head. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Please, Malakai. Know that I will be okay."

He furrowed his eyebrows together at her words. Ingrid looked—content, like being caught and possibly punished was something that didn't bother her. She looked at ease, but it only gave Kai an unsettling feeling.

"Ingrid, what's going on?"

Her bright eyes watered, and she gently pushed down on Kai's shoulders, lowering the both of them onto their knees. Ingrid leaned in close to him and offered him another smile.

"Do not stop fighting," she whispered quietly. "You still need to be rewarded. Your troubles will pass soon."

"Ingrid—"

"I am so sorry. I am so sorry that all of this happened to you," she said, and a lone tear slipped down her cheek, landing on the floor between their knees. "I'm sorry this happened to all of you."

"Tell me," Kai said, his tone sharp. "Tell me what's happening."

"Time is up, Mrs. Vos," Bonavich said quietly, and she nodded as she continued to smile at Kai, but now it seemed forced. Kai slowly realized what was happening.

"Wait," he paused as a guard slowly stepped forward. "Wait, no. No, stop, let her go—"

"Malakai," Ingrid spoke softly, her voice warm. "Take care of Rosalyn. She needs you. Also be there for Sebastian. He has such a gentle and light heart. Will you do that for me?"

Kai was nodding before he truly realized what was happening. Although he couldn't believe it—this wasn't about to happen, was it? Ingrid practically helped raised Rosalyn and Vivienne. Why was this happening?

A guard wrapped his hand around Ingrid's arm; a warning for her to stand, but she remained where she was. A few more tears fell from her eyes.

"W-where are you going?" Kai asked, his own throat closing as teared packed in his eyes. He knew the answer. He knew but also, this couldn't be true.

Ingrid cupped his cheek, wiping away one of his tears. She couldn't hold in her terror anymore as her body trembled. She took a deep breath. "I'm going to see my family. Malakai—I am okay. I want to see my family."

"No," he sputtered. Your husband and children are dead. What about your family here? Also, why was this happening? Why was this real?

"Not real," Kai tried to remind himself, but Ingrid only gripped his shoulders tight. He released a silent sob.

"Believe that I will be okay. Please believe. You know where I will go."

He could hardly breath now. Everything was falling on him, trampling him, and he cried out as Ingrid let him go. He stood up and tried to reach her, but his hands were tied. So instead, he awkwardly pressed his body into hers, digging his head into her chest.

"N-no," he whimpered. "Please don't—don't go. W-what is happening?"

Surprisingly, the guard let Ingrid pull Kai into an embrace, wrapping her arms around him tightly, securing him in place. She let out a sob this time, and it nearly broke Kai apart. She was acting brave, but inside, she was beyond terrified.

Ingrid whispered into his ear. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

It was a Bible verse, one he clung onto while in Benedict's custody. It was in case he was to sacrifice himself for the others. The thought of doing that act was scary, but that verse always gave him a sense of peace. It made him believe that he actually would. But he did not expect it to come from the receiving side, no, not one bit.

"No," Kai said. "There's another way. This—this isn't fair!"

He pulled away and shouted at Bonavich, but his face was void, emotionless. Kai wanted to scream, to kill the man with his power, but Ingrid's light prevented him, blinded him from the fantasy. As Bonavich gestured to the guard again, Ingrid quickly pulled in Kai once more, this time with force.

She pressed close to him as she spoke softly, barely a whisper so only he could hear. "Aurora, Colorado. Camp Roanoke. Get there."

Kai's lips parted as he memorized the words, trying to speak, but he could only cry out as the guard tugged Ingrid away. She was shoved past the door, and the last thing Kai could see were her light, shining eyes. The eyes that never ceased to calm the room, to bring a smile to someone's face.

The door closed, and Ingrid's light was taken over by the darkness.

He ran to the door but was only blocked by the guard. He tried to reach Bonavich but he was stopped by the guard again. Kai sobbed, frustrates and utterly confused, shrinking to the floor as his knees gave out.

"W-what are you doing to her," Kai managed to say. "Don't hurt her!"

Bonavich cleared his throat. "I told you the pain I can cause, Subject Zero. Even if it hurts me as well, sometimes it's what best."

No. "No, I'll do anything."

"If that was the case, you shouldn't have escaped."

"I'm here now. You have me, and I'll listen to you," Kai confessed. "I understand—"

"Sometimes threats do not work," Bonavich said simply. "If all I did was threaten you, you would think you were invincible. You are not invincible, Subject Zero."

Kai paused as a new scent slipped through the cracked window and into the room. The smell was first familiar, then foul.

Kai could not describe the smell even if he tried. There was a certain odor; it permeated the air, making his eyes water and throat close. Smoke swirled through the windows, the source of the smell, but it was not a regular burning smell, and that was when realization dawned on Kai.

Burning flesh. A burning body.

"No," he whispered, his stomach twisting. He wanted to throw up, so he dropped his head to the floor, dry heaving. Smoke circled him, though, never leaving him, and he covered his face to try to hide from this horrendous reality.

"Stop this," he mumbled against the floor. He dint know if he was talking to Bonavich or God at that point. "Please don't." His head raised a little as raw screams escaped involuntary. "Why—please. Please! Please!"

Bonavich cleared his throat, and even he was covering his mouth from the smell, trying to take in slow breaths to speak. Kai's mind was foggy; he still hovered over and gagged, and his entire body was shaking horribly. He felt like he was going to faint.

"Ingrid is a light, you see," Bonavich finally spoke, after minutes of him readying himself and Kai crying and heaving. "She was a flame who needed taming. While she went aflame, we watered it down."

Kai could not control his sobs. His cries were horrific; raw and real, desperate and devastated. The smell was so prevalent, so poignant and strong and unbearable. His mind was barely registering that this was real, and that this was all his fault.

"But you? You and your friends? You let her burn. And now, you must face the consequence."

•••

Chapter song: A Prayer // Kings Kaleidoscope

FIRST OFF PLEASE DON'T HATE ME I AM SO SORRY

Okay, you can hate me, but PLEASE keep reading!

I am,,, just as sad as you guys are, I'm sure. This chapter took FOREVER to write because I didn't want it to come, but, here it is.

Give a vote for Ingrid. The wonderful woman deserves it :,(

Also, a hint for book 2? Camp Roanoke? Keep that in mind !

Until Next Time, (also please accept my apology)
Grace