Runaways: The Journey Home

Chapter 8

The red gargoyle groggily opened his eyes the next day after having cried himself to sleep. He rubbed his shoulder and suddenly flinched from touching his brand mark. It still stung and could get infected since Shadow Man didn't do the humane way of branding him.

Brooklyn then rubbed the sleep out of his eyes weakly, forehead feverish after his overstress, still feeling the cuff around his neck. He couldn't figure how long they kept him for. It felt like a whole week so far. He really had tried to keep being a strong-willed gargoyle, but this human had constantly pushed him to his limits.

He shivered and curled up more, still seeing that hot sun, missing his stone sleep even further. The muzzle made Brook's jaws so stiff from their unuse, wanting this demonic thing to be gone.

Brook felt a leftover tear come but most of his crying had been spent last night, feeling numb of emotion now, hard to face the reality of being owned by a disgusting man such as Shadow Man.

They deserved to hurt me... but I'd wish they would stop now. I had enough... Brook thought sadly, hair slipping down his face in sorrow. He wondered how else this crazy human would enlist further harm and nightmares into his life now that he was branded.

With his eyes closed Brook suddenly saw Goliath's face flash in the darkness and opened his eyes again, breathing raspily, eyes rounded. The young male still now had doubts of his escape. And even if he did, it was still so far away for someone like Brooklyn to glide to. The hot wind blew roughly against his skin.

My family is so darned far away while I'm here, dunno if I can still make it... the world feels so big without my family by my side! He thought erratically, gazing everywhere at the big empty space beyond Shadow Man's property, wondering if there were even any other houses in the area he could get food from.

Another sudden reminder about his stolen loincloth struck Brooklyn like icy water, making him look down at his naked waist area. He recalled the jeering faces of those goons at his humiliation, feeling his face burn in anger, making an attempt to hide his private section too.

But then Shadow Man came to visit, twirling his knife, a twisted smile on his face under the hood when looking at his prize. It was such a treat for him to see a gargoyle without his loincloth at his mercy. He looked quite ashamed of himself and face emotionless, too, ears having fallen. He gave a little snicker, nudging Diablo with his boot.

Brook jumped a little, eyes and face still pale and fear still present; his Master towering above him. Shadow Man pulled his trusty spear out too, poking the belly and making the muzzled beast wince, closing his eyes tightly shut. He hoped his Master plan to use anything else horrific on his body now that he didn't have his coverage.

"So sad, my poor pet must be cold and violated without his loincloth, hm?" He crooned sadistically. Brooklyn gave a sad glare, still unable to say anything. Shadow Man knelt, eyeing his mark with satisfaction. It sent him pleasure to see it on his gargoyle slave. He reached with a hand, rubbing his thumb across the burn, causing Brooklyn to cringe further, baring his teeth, wanting this spawn of Satan to stop treating him in an abusive attitude.

Shadow Man took in his Diablo's wince of pain. "Aw, is my pet still in pain from his branding?"

Brooklyn glared at the evil man. He hated to be mocked in his worst moment of pain.

"Aw, are you hungry yet, my pet?" He mocked him.

Brooklyn was still not the least bit hungry after he had been forced to eat badly poisoned or rotten food. He shook his head.

Then one of the men came forward with a bottle. "Here, Boss."

"Of course. How about some water?"

Brooklyn's expression softened just enough. He nodded.