To Be at Peace with Yourself

Chapter 16: Found (Family)

This chapter might be hard for some people, mind the warnings.

Chapter Warnings: Physical abuse, Torture  

The featured song is 'Dapper Cadaver' from Team Fortress 2

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Goth trembled as his coat and scarf were ripped off and thrown onto a table alongside Palette's bag. He felt exposed without the comforting weight the clothes provided... a tank top and khakis could only do so much.

He whined softly but held his tongue as a scientist strapped him into a chair while another stuck little circular pads attached to wires to his skull and ribs. 

The cold touches made him want to squirm... but he knew full well what would happen if he resisted. With the collar around his neck, he was completely under their control, unable to fight back at all.

One button press was all it would take to put him in his place.

The scientists activated their machines, humming with whispered discussions of the numbers they were receiving. A man stepped forward, a flashlight in hand as he tilted Goth's head upward, "Subject G01H, activate your eye lights." 

Goth let out a shaky breath but complied.

"Hmm," the man's eyes narrowed, flashing the light directly into the skeleton's right socket. Goth flinched but forced himself not to close it, "Subject G01H seems to be missing its right eye light, but appears to still maintain vision in both eyes." 

Another scientist pipped up from behind a console, "Magic levels are reading at a lower elevation than previous tests indicated."

"Hand me a scalpel, we'll need to collect a bone sample," the man directed, holding his hand out as the sharp instrument was placed in it. 

The small skeleton bit back a cry as a deep incision was made into his left radius until a quarter-sized chunk of bone was removed.

Goth gasped for breath through gritted teeth. The nerves around the bone were lit on fire, mixing with an itching sensation as his magic attempted to repair the damage despite the collar's interference. 

"Healing seems to be progressing slower than normal, a possible connection to its missing eye light?" one scientist observed, receiving murmurs for and against the theory.

"We need to test this further," another scientist commented, stepping forward alongside the man, "Subject G01H, bring out your soul." 

Goth jolted at the command.

I don't want to! But I have to...

It'll hurt! But they'll hurt me anyway if I don't...

"Subject G01H, now."

Goth couldn't stop the stuttered, "N... no...," that slipped from his mouth. He clamped his mouth shut, body rigid... but the proverbial damage was done. 

A sour expression crossed the man's face as he turned away from Goth and nodded to his associates, "Do it."

Electricity coursed through his bones as he wailed in agony, writhing in his restraints in a vain attempt to escape the pain. Once the sensation petered out, Goth dipped forward as far as the restraints allowed, choking in his sobs.

"Hey, go easy! You're going to damage the machinery with that kind of voltage running through the wires!" a woman shouted.

"A necessary risk," the man countered, turning to Goth once more, "Now, your soul."