The Originals

Breaking Point

"How many days has it been?" Hiro mutters, his voice cracking like brittle parchment. His chapped, dry lips split as he speaks, the faint taste of blood mingling with the arid air. His skin clings to his cheekbones, taut and pale, while dark circles sink into his hollow eyes. Fresh bruises blossom across his arms and torso, angry purples and blues that ache with every shallow breath. Open wounds dot his wrists where the cold, unyielding chains have gnawed into his flesh, the dried blood forming jagged patterns on his skin. Each movement sends sharp stabs of pain through his body, his muscles quivering under the strain of days spent suspended in cruel captivity.

"Not enough." Lucius responds, his tone cold and emotionless. He sits in a wooden chair in front of the hanging Hiro.

"What is the end goal?"

"I want to break you, Hiro," Lucius responds, a wicked grin twisting his lips as he flicks his finger toward Hiro. An unseen force slams into Hiro's abdomen like a battering ram, driving the air from his lungs in a ragged gasp. The chains clink as his body jerks against them, the fresh agony compounding the torment already etched into his battered form.

"Fuck you," Hiro chuckles, his voice hoarse but steady, the sound defying the pain etched across his face. His eyes blaze with unyielding determination, a spark that refuses to be extinguished, even as his bruised and bloodied body hangs in the chains.

Lucius stands and laughs a little to himself.

"How you're still fighting is bizarre to me. Nobody knows you're here. You can't use your powers," as if on cue the chains pulse orange, "what is there to hope for?"

Somewhere in the haze of pain and exhaustion, Hiro clings to one thought, 'I can get out.'

"I'm gonna kill you once I'm free." Hiro's smile stretches ear to ear. Lucius sighs and rolls his eyes, beginning to walk out of the cell. His smile matches Hiro's.

"I'll be back bright and early in the morning to begin again. Sleep well, if you can. Tomorrow will be worse. Longer you remain like this, the better." The echoing of his metal boots fills the silence of the dungeon.

Meanwhile, two days earlier, high above the dungeon, another battle raged within the Citadel.


                                                                                 Two Days Prior.

"These guys seriously need some better training." Taka says as he opens the door on the roof that leads inside the Citadel. Bodies are scattered behind him, about an inch of water covers the floor. He opens the door and begins his decent down the stairs. Upon reaching another door, vines and plants cover it. He takes a moment to consider his options, then thinks of what they could be doing to Hiro down there. He forces open the door and quickly runs inside.

"Took you long enough to beat the decoys." Jayeon says sternly from across the hall. Taka's boots splash through the water as he enters the dimly lit hall. The air is thick with humidity, carrying an earthy tang mixed with something faintly metallic that prickles at his nose. Vines twist and crawl along the stone walls, their dark green surfaces glistening as though recently fed. Some of the tendrils pulse faintly, an almost imperceptible rhythm that makes the space feel alive in a way it shouldn't.

The deeper Taka moves, the more oppressive the atmosphere becomes. The plants here aren't ordinary; their leaves shimmer with a faint iridescence, catching the light in shades of green and violet. Blossoms with jagged petals dot the vines, oozing droplets of a thick, purple liquid that pools on the floor in scattered, viscous puddles. It clings to Taka's boots, staining the water beneath him a darker hue.

"You really made a mess up there," Jayeon says coolly, his voice cutting through the stillness. He stands at the far end of the hall, his silhouette framed by the mass of twisting greenery. The plants around him seem to respond to his presence, coiling and writhing as if alive. A vine slides up his arm, wrapping itself lazily around his wrist before retreating like a snake.

"Mess?" Taka smirks, trying to mask the unease creeping up his spine. His gaze flicks to the walls, where the vines seem to converge, almost like veins leading toward Jayeon. He can't shake the sensation that the plants are watching him. "Could've fooled me. Looks like you've got plenty of cleanup to do yourself."

Jayeon steps forward, his boots silent against the wet floor. The faint light catches on his expression—a mix of amusement and something darker. He gestures lazily, and the vines around him slither outward, weaving into a dense, shifting barricade that cuts off the rest of the hall behind him.

"You've made a mess of my Citadel for nothing." Jayeon says, his tone sharp, yet calm. "To save someone who's already broken?"

Taka's fists clench, his knuckles whitening. The vines at his feet seem to reach for him, teasing at the edges of his boots. "Get out of my way, Jayeon."

Jayeon tilts his head, studying him for a long moment. The iridescent fluid glistens on the vines around him, the faint purple glow giving his features an unnatural sharpness. "I could, but where's the fun in that?"

The hallway feels smaller, the air heavier. The plants respond to Jayeon's movements, their tendrils flexing and stretching toward Taka as if eager for a command. One vine lashes out suddenly, striking at the floor just inches from Taka's foot. The sharp slap echoes through the hall.

Taka exhales sharply, his body tense. "Fine," he mutters under his breath, his voice edged with grim determination. "I'll go through you if I have to."

Jayeon smirks, spreading his arms. "Oh, you'll have to."

Taka's body becomes engulfed in clear water that subtly moves with each step forward.

"Gotta try harder than that." Jayeon laughs as he sends six or so vines hurling towards Taka at a tremendous speed. They hit the water that surrounds Taka and slide right off him. Taka continues walking forward, a small splash occurring with every step.

"Cute." Taka says, still clenching his fists. Jayeon becomes engulfed in vines and he starts running at Taka, there are no splashes as he runs, nor sound at all. Just before reaching Taka, Jayeon lifts his fist for a punch and the vines wrap around his arm, making an almost mace shaped form. Right before impact, Taka creates a shield out of water and blocks the attack. He slides back a few feet. 

"Cute." Jayeon says, steadying himself after the attack. The vines go back to normal and Jayeon opens his palm towards Taka. The vines from all over the hallway shoot at Taka at rapid speeds again. The vines struck faster than Taka could react. They tore through his water armor, slicing into his side. Pain flared, sharp and blinding, as blood spilled into the pooling water below.

Taka staggered, clutching his side, the water armor flickering and wavering. Jayeon smirked. "Just give up," he taunted. "Save yourself the humiliation."

A low growl escaped Taka. The blood-tainted water coiled around him, forming a massive fist that surged forward with devastating force. The impact hurled Jayeon into the wall, vines snapping in protest.

Taka straightened, blood seeping between his fingers, his breathing ragged. "Hiro needs me," he muttered, his voice a steady promise. "And I won't stop."