Saving Calen

18.

Calen's POV

Consciousness rolls over me like the tide, in one minute, out the next.

My mind drifts to her. To seeing her being drug away, her screams echo through my mind.

I'm snapped back to reality with a searing pain in my side. I groan. With every breath it feels as though my skin is ripping.

I finally open my eyes to see a dark, cold room. I take in my surroundings as quickly as I can. There are bars lining the entrance of the room, every other wall is concrete.

Sound proof.

I'm so consumed with my thoughts I don't even realize that I'm strapped down to a chair. My wrists are secured to the arms of the chair and my ankles to the legs. There's also a thick strap that encases my torso. A small bandage is secured to my ribs to stop the bleeding, but the strap digs into my skin painfully nonetheless.

My clothes have been removed and my whole body shakes. The concentration that it's taking me to stay conscious is fading quickly as my eyes start to flutter shut.

...

A cold substance shocks my senses as it's slammed into my face.

I wake up covered in ice water. The room is made to be so cold that it chills me to my bones.

"Riot, Riot, Riot. You done stepped in it now."

I force the pain out of my mind and look at whoever is speaking to me in the eye.

Daniel Galantes. Dorian's cousin. He was a few years older than all of us kids, but he was still well known for us for having an affinity for cruelty.

"Danny, right? Yeah I remember you. I also remember that story about the time you were fucking that girl and you came to fa-"

My head snaps back as he punches me square in the jaw. I laugh and spit out the blood.

"I see you're still touchy about that one. Noted."

He steps towards a small tray with shiny objects lining it, none of which I'm too curious to find out about.

"I know you Riots are raised to handle pain," he says grabbing a rather nasty looking knife. He walks towards me, bends down, and grabs the top of my ear. "I can't wait to see how far I can push one." He whispers.

"You know, it's a bit fruity to whisper in another man's ear like that. If you're into that that's all good, I'm progressive, but I just don't swing that way." I sneer. "I actually have a friend who's gay, I can totally set you guys up!"

He laughs as he takes the knife and cleanly cuts the top of my ear off.

I wince, but the burning sensation isn't something that will break me.

"You're going to have to do better than that, Danny."

The childhood nickname gets under his skin.

"By the time I'm done with you, Calen, you'll be begging to tell me where your little band of idiots took her and be eager to write Dorian a very heartfelt apology." My eyes widen as I realize she escaped.

If she's who with who I think she's with, then I know exactly where she is. And I'll gladly die before I give it up.

"You may as well kill me now." I say.

"But Calen," he stabs the knife straight into my thigh. I lurch forward as far as I can and clench my teeth, "then we wouldn't have any fun."

...

Aylah's POV

"Fuck, Caden! That hurts you asshole!" I yell as the brute knocks me on my ass.

"I don't care. Get up."

I roll my eyes and stand back up.

"You're throwing this kick wrong. That's why it's so easy to knock you over."

He shows me how to do it correctly and I try again, but miss his entire body.

"This is hopeless." I huff.

"Stop being a fucking girl, again." He snaps. Anger rolls through my body.

I take my stance and throw everything I have at him. He dodges with ease which just makes my anger soar.

My hands shake as I toss of my gloves and walk off the training mat.

"I didn't say you were done, Ayalah. Try again."

"Why?" I snap, tears in my eyes, "it's obvious I can't help him so you fucking do it!! Why the fuck are you still standing here in the first place?"

He jumps off the mat and angrily stalks towards me.

"I'm not the one who got him into this. You didn't understand boundaries and let your emotions cloud your judgement. You should have never told him what Dorian did. Now, we'll be lucky to get to him before he's wrecked beyond recognition. You didn't grow up with the Galantes'. Whatever you think they're doing to him, make it 10 times worse." He snarls. Tears fall as I lower my head. "Stop making everything about your fucking self and train harder so you may be of some use."

My shoulders shake as I start to cry, sinking to my haunches.

"Stop—"

Cole runs into the room, breathless and holding up his phone.

"Caden." Is all he says. Caden moves past me and straight to Cole.

He peers down at the phone and goes white as a sheet.

"What?" I ask. Both men just ignore me and keep staring. I walk over to them and ask again.

"What is it?" I demand. Still nothing. I finally lower Cole's arm so I can see.

I instantly regret it.

Calen sits strapped to a chair, face bloody and bruised, ribs black and blue, and a knife jutting out of his thigh.

"Oh my god." I whisper, breaking the silence.

Cadens jaw is as tense as I've ever seen it and Cole has tears in his eyes.

"He'll be fine. I trained him. He'll be fine." Caden says, but I feel like he's just assuring himself.

"Why the fuck do you care?" Cole snaps. "You've always been nothing but cruel to him."

Caden faces his younger brother. "I did that to protect him. Tell me, do you know anyone stronger than Calen?" Everyone stays silent. "Exactly."

An eery clarity comes over me as every atom in my body sets on the same goal.

I stare up at Caden. The look on his face tells me he has the same goal. "Come on, Caden. Let's go."

I lead the way back to the training mat.