When Worlds Collide

Chapter Twenty-Two

Beware this chapter ; _ ; because I wrote it.

Oops.

Enjoy!

 His bouts of consciousness only lasted for minutes. Every day, Drago came and demanded the dragons; every day, he refused; every day, his condition got worse. Drago seemed determined to make him pay. But the problem was, if either Hiccup didn't give in soon or Drago didn't stop, Hiccup would likely -- he didn't want to think about it. The group had to find him soon.

There was something off about Drago. When Hiccup had met him for the first time, he seemed power-hungry and determined, of course, but it was as if they had amplified since they had last met. Sometimes, Hiccup saw something behind his eyes, something deeper, darker than he had ever seen before. It terrified him. How much had Drago changed? What had changed? How far would he go this time? He had been unafraid to kill the chief of Berk the last time they met, and Hiccup wasn't sure he wouldn't do it again.

Every time Drago left, Alvin yelled for Hiccup and Dagur burst out in curses. It was as if the chiefs were united under Hiccup's refusal, but how long would it last? Hiccup could never respond to Alvin, and he was getting to the point where he could barely talk to Drago. His struggles only seemed to irritate Drago. Every day, there were new wounds, and the old ones caused Hiccup to fall away almost instantly after Drago walked away. Rarely, he could hear Drago speaking softly to one of the other captive chiefs, but they spoke loudly, and they weren't afraid to voice their support for Hiccup. Even Dagur once yelled, "How could I have given up to you? I admit I never liked Hiccup -- and I still don't -- but --"

Then there was a loud yelp of pain, and Dagur didn't finish.

Finally, Drago walked into Hiccup's cell, and Hiccup could barely look up at him. The coldness in his eyes and his manner were things he wanted to avoid contact with, anyway. "So," Drago said harshly, "have you decided to surrender yet?"

Hiccup glanced up at him furiously. He tried to say "no," but instead coughed. He raised his hand to his mouth and saw flecks of red scatter across his white skin. He grimaced. Drago continued to stare at him, and again Hiccup saw a flash of that cruelty, that darkness. "No," he managed. "Nev --"

He began coughing again. Drago had gotten the point, though, and his face twisted in sheer fury. Hiccup recoiled slightly, which wasn't far. Drago raised his staff, and brought the point down, aiming for Hiccup's leg. Thankfully, his anger blinded his judgment, and he almost missed. However, he still hit flesh, and Hiccup yelled out. Alvin shouted in worry, and for once, Dagur was silent. Hiccup couldn't say anything more. Drago withdrew his staff and stormed from the cell.

Right before Drago left, though, he stopped and looked back. Hiccup almost didn't hear what he said, and the words were confusing in his tortured mind. "Your wait won't be long. Your friends are almost here." And he slammed the door and stomped away.

Another wound to add to the many that Hiccup already had. Every other visit, Drago made sure that his chest wounds stayed mostly fresh. There were dozens of minor scratches on his arms and face. There was a gash on his left arm, and a stab wound on his right. Hiccup counted himself lucky he could even move them. And now, with a stab in his leg, he considered his options.

He could continue to refuse. Drago would continue to torture him, and eventually it would become too much. Drago would get Berk's dragons.

He could give in to Drago's demands. His name would live on in infamy as the one who had given up. Drago would get Berk's dragons anyway.

He couldn't let his mother down. He couldn't let his father's sacrifice have been in vain. He couldn't allow his best friend to become a murderer. He would never give in to Drago.

He would fight until the end.