A Heart Between Us

Chapter 15: In Tuned

A Heart Between Us

Chapter 15

In tuned

Fear, lots and lots of fear drown him in his mind as they cut into him. Pushed out his emotions until he could no longer feel fear, of hatred, or love...emotions were just a memory. One like all the others that were pushed aside and as quickly dismissed.

Echo stood in front of a mirror wearing leather clothing. His optics were a sparkling red color. On the table sat a biker type helmet.

"Go into the maze. Your revenge is almost complete." An uncontrollable desire to destroy Zane filled him up like a tidal wave. He walked from the room.

"E...Echo?" Who was this...thing. It wasn't his brother so he didn't care. She touched his hand and he looked down at the bright eyes of the young red head before him. He slapped her hand away from his. He didn't need her.

"He's no longer Echo. Hum...he needs a better name. How about...Mr...E." His master smiled, looking him in the eyes. His previous designation deleted itself and the new name Mr. E took its place.

"What did you do to him?" The girl yelled.

"Given him a purpose, to me." His master said. The expression on his face changed however when the girl charged at him. Mr. E grabbed her by the hair and threw her into the corner.

She looked dazed and confused by E's actions. Her pupils told him she was about to become unconscious.

"Please..." She whispered before setting her head down on the floor. Her eyes filled with despair. She was losing hope. Something I lost...long ago.

(0)

Zane opened his eye's looking around to see that Kai was laying next to him curled into his usual position. He reached out placing the back of his hand to Kai's forehead. A sensor popped up in the side of his vision. He felt l just how hot Kai's forehead was.

"That is not good, brother. We really must get out of here. I fear you got a bad concussion." He said reaching down to pick up Kai clutching him to his chest. Warnings popped up all over his vision as he spotted a man standing at the end of the walkway. Who was this person, was he a friend of another challenge?

"Who are you?" Zane called. He waited a moment for the man to answer. An answer, however, wasn't forthcoming. The man didn't even move a little. He didn't like this. "My...aren't you the quiet one." He whispered setting Kai back down placing him a little more under the treds for fear of him being hurt if a brawl broke out. He walked toward the man. He hadn't moved. Just what was he waiting for and what was he doing?

"Are you lost?" Zane called out. "We were placed in here. Might you be able to tell me how to get out? I have a wounded man here." The man leaned his head to the left then right allowing his neck to pop before charging at Zane. Zane gasped with surprise as he was punched. He hit the ground hard. His bow broke under the force of it. He quickly got to his feet getting into a fighting stance. It wasn't fast enough.

"Shi..." He was punched in the jaw. He felt his teeth click together as he slammed to the ground. Zane knew this guy was powerful. He wasn't sure what to do. Zane jumped up, and charged at him grabbing his outstretched arm. Punching upwards connecting with his arm causing it to pop out of alignment. His arm fell to the floor sparking and sputtering. The strange man picked up his arm and fitted it back into place.

"Your a nindroid..." Zane was surprised. "Please...you don't have to do this." Zane said walked backwards. The nindroid charged him once more. Punching him in the chest. His chest plate bowed inwards and the door hung open. Zane fell to his knees panting.

"Who are you?" Zane whispered he looked behind him at the same tiger pit they got the machine to fall into. He wasn't sure how he was going to get out of this one. He closed his eyes, his chest spitting and sputtering from the feel of what had been done. He felt like someone took a spike to his inner workings. He felt a rush of wind.

Someone's arm wrapped around him. He knew that scent, it was relaxing. He opened his eyes to see the nindroid against the wall. His head at an odd angle probably from slamming into the side of the wall. Zane looked around at Lloyd who leaned against Nya.

"C-C-ole?" Zane's voice was skipping.

"Shhh stay quiet."

"K-Kai is b-b-behin-d-d-d the machine." He sounded like a skipping cd. Cole picked him up.

"What happened to him?" Nya asked.

"A-A-Another mach-ch-ch-chine." Zane answered laying his head down on Cole's shoulder.

"Hush now, Zane." Cole whispered "Save your strength." Zane nodded letting Cole run his fingers through his hair. Zane fell limp in his arms. Cole nearly panicked until he saw the white button in the corner of his eyes.

"Stand by mode. He's fixing himself." Nya said. Cole sighed.

"Good..." Cole continued to run his fingers through Zane's hair. "Get some rest, love. I'll be waiting."