Vices and Maces

Chapter 42: Black is Making Some Big Mistakes

CW: kidnapping, electrocution, blood, interrogation, torture, strangulation, mention of slight body horror

There was an annoying itch on Janus's neck. They tried to move a hand to scratch it, but something was holding their hand down. They opened their eyes as their senses came back to them. It felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to their head, did they hit it?

No. No, there were ropes tied around their wrists and legs, keeping them held to a chair.

Memories of the night before flooded back. They were about to go to bed when someone hit them from behind. They didn't pass out right away and were able to fight for a bit, though probably only for a few minutes.

But they were hit on the head, it made them dizzy and uncoordinated. So of course they ended up falling to the ground and passing out. They thought for sure they would be dead...

And they had pressed the button on their bracelet at some point. Virgil knows they're in danger. Janus knew he would try to do something stupid so they used the rest of their energy to turn the flashing off before passing out. Plus... they figured whoever attacked them would store their belongings nearby. The tracking device could lead someone to them. Either to save them or... find their dead body.

Janus shook their head. They'll get out, they have to. They won't put anyone in danger just to be saved. Especially Virgil. They're a shifter, they can get out. Their bracelet was taken off, and so were their shoes. Their pockets were probably empty too. But as long as they can shift...

Except the moment they tried shifting, trying to shrink and change into an animal, a painful electric shock hit them. They shouted in pain, but it only lasted two seconds. It came from their neck, where the now painful itch came from. They've seen it on others before, a small device that latches onto skin and electrocutes them when someone presses a button on a remote from nearby. That same remote is the only way to get the device to latch off, pulling would tear skin and is incredibly painful.

Janus looked around the room they were in. The place smelled like alcohol and cigarettes. The room was made with concrete though, the floor, walls, and ceiling. Except for one wall that had a mirror and speaker. A one way mirror, it had to be.

There was a door on the wall next to it, and it opened. For a moment Janus could hear muffled chatter and the clinks of glass, the sound of a party. That's... strange.

"I wouldn't try to shift if I were you. There will be someone behind that glass watching you at all times." Black. Of course he's here.

Janus just rolled their eyes. "Why am I here?"

"I think you know why." The water genie came closer. "But why don't you take a guess?"

Would it be stupid to lie? "I let the leader of Bleeding Rose go when he attacked the factory weeks ago?"

"Mister- or Miss Pike, we both know that's not the answer. We both know what you did."

"Then why do I have to guess?" Maybe if they're smart about this, they won't have to reveal too much information and only get a small beating. They'll keep all of the important information, but hang it out like bait, just to not get killed.

Black shrugged at their question. "I just want to see how cooperative you're going to be about this." He pulled out a water bottle and cracked the cap open. "How long have you been meeting up with- oh what's his name... Remus Hunt?"

Janus's blood ran cold. "How do you know his name?"

The water was pulled out of the bottle and Black discarded the plastic, focusing on creating shapes with the water. "I'm the one answering questions here."

"We've only met up a few times." It shouldn't hurt to say that.

"How often have you been in contact with him?"

Janus remained quiet. In total, if they count the fights and the times before they started dating, the truthful answer would only be eight times. But... would that be too much? Would it be too little? They need to make Black think they know more than they do.

The cold water jumped towards them and circled around their neck, jerking them back and pulling their head up. It constricted and pulled tighter, making it harder to breathe. Janus gasped for air, struggling to get enough as the water creeped up near their mouth and nose.

"With enough time, a river could turn a boulder into a pebble. Rain and hail can strip trees of their leaves. Ice can bruise and cut. And obviously, water can drown. But did you know I can still control water while it's in someone's lungs?" Janus held their breath, shutting their eyes tight. "I can freeze... or boil it." The water flashed from cold to hot against their skin. "It really would be in your best interest to answer as quickly and honestly as possible."

"Eight times," Janus gasped. "We've met up eight times."

The water loosened around their neck and they took a deep breath. The water slowly broke off, but a small ring remained around their neck. The rest separated into six equal parts and pulled to create small spikes, the tips frozen.

"There we go," Black said with a smile. "Now, what is your relationship with him?"

Oh no. If Black knew Remus cared about them, then they'll be used as a hostage. There's no way Remus, or anyone else from Bleeding Rose, could win a fight against Black. "We're only acquaintances."

Janus gasped in pain when one of the spikes plunged into their shoulder. They were still wearing the yellow shirt from the night before, and it was now being stained red.

"What did I say about honesty? You were seen kissing him."

"Okay okay fine, we were dating. We broke up last night- or whatever night I was taken. It didn't last long."

The water around their neck tightened. "You know, I'm having a hard time believing you broke up."

"It's true! I came to my senses," Janus argued. "I knew it was stupid to continue dating him, and I-" They were cut off as they ran out of air, the water too tight around their neck. "I..."

"I have things to do today. If you're not going to give me straight forward answers, I'll leave the rest of this interrogation to someone else." The water splashed against the ground and dripped down Janus's neck, the shifter coughing as air rushed back into their lungs. "I'll possibly be seeing you again tomorrow, if you're not killed."

~~~

Virgil's hands shook as he read the address on the paper again, looking up to the sign to make sure he was at the right place. The sign on the door said closed, but someone was still inside, cleaning the bakery. He was wearing his black hoodie, his hood pulled up to hide himself. Taking a step forward, he breathed in deep to calm his nerves, pulling the door open, not sure whether to be happy or upset that it was unlocked.

"We're closed," the person wiping down a table said. She seemed to be a satyr, dark hair falling down her back and dark fur peeking out from under her skirt.

"I-I know," Virgil said as she turned to him. "I'm not here to order anything."

She frowned as she watched him fidget, her hand going in a pocket where she kept pepper spray. "Then why are you here?"

Virgil took a deep breath. "I need help. I need to see Petals."