MCSM oneshots (Discontinued)

Never free, Chapter 1

Jesse's eyes blinked open, fragments of lights obstructing his vision. Confused, he bolted upright, a sharp, searing pain in his abdomen arising. He groaned, hands clutching his stomach as he craned his neck, looking around. A small, cramped cell. His reflexes kicked in as he forced himself to his feet, trying to understand where he was, or why. He inched forward, and felt something tug on his wrist. Confused, his eyes darted to it, and he saw a mental cuff enclosed around it; chained to the wall. He moved his wrist slightly, seeing the skin underneath the cuff a shade of red, blood staining his hands when he probed his arm. The panic had settled in, the only thing he could hear was his own ragged breathing and his heart rate accelerate.

"Hello?" His raspy voice reverberated throughout the building, the only answer he got was a murky version of his own voice, repeating his words.

"Anyone? Please!" His free hand wrapped around the cold, metal bars enclosed around him, the bars slightly rattling.

He held his breath when he heard a distant, rythmic sound - perhaps footsteps? Sure enough, it got increasingly louder, and there were two figures right outside of his cell.

"Greetings, prisoner." One of them spoke, and he frowned - their voice was unrecognizable.

"Who are you? Where the hell am I?" Jesse snapped, his tone having a harsh ring to it.

"Being rude is going to get you no where." The other guard sneered, continuing to speak. "-If you cooperate, you will make things much, much easier. If you fail to do so, then you will see for yourself what will happen." The guard reached for the keyhole on the cell, maneuvering a key inside it. The bars clicked as they opened, and one of the guards unchained him from the wall. Jesse's muscles were rigid as he leapt forward, attacking the closest guard. The side of his knuckles barely grazed against the guards face before he felt someone wrap their fingers around his arm, twisting it in a way that caused a cry of distress escape his mouth as he elbowed one of them in the stomach, flattening his palms out against the other's shoulders as he forced him against the wall, hands wrapping around his neck.

There was the sound of something colliding against Jesse's skull, and at once he let go, his vision strobing in and out of focus as he balance faltered. Both guards pinned him against the wall, as one of them began to spoke, breaking the silence. "Master did warn us he was a good fighter."

"And stubborn." The other added.

"Well, he'll see where that gets him." They began to half lead, half drag Jesse along the long corridor, shoving him into a tiny room - perhaps even smaller than the one he was in earlier.

"Answer the questions correctly and you will be rewarded. If you fail to do so, then you'll get to see what's in store for you." Jesse shrunk against the wall, the tone of voice the guard used, so familiar.

"What is your name?" The guard said in a demanding tone.

Visible confusion was written all over Jesse's face. "Why are you asking this? What is the purpose-"

One of the guards stepped forward, and in one swift motion, he had swiped something across his shoulder - a small blade. He hissed in pain, his hands reaching up to his arm, blood seeping out of the wound.

"Where do you live?"

Jesse shuddered as he spoke, "Beacon town."

The guards continued to ask him basic questions, until one caught him off guard.

"What is the passcode to the order hall?" Jesse almost spoke it, before stopping himself, everything starting to make sense. "I see what this is about. You want to get into the order hall." He spat. "If that is the case, then I will never give up that information."

Before he could object, he felt a sharp pain arise in his lower leg, seeing the blade skid across his calf, his blood coating the floors. He slumped against the wall as his body commenced a chorus of complaints, one of the guards tugging at his arms, leading him out of the room. Searing fiery bursts pulsated around the wound, intensifying with each dragging step, jarring and brutal. Each step only amplified the pain, his consciousness ebbed. One of them harshly shoved him into the cell, slamming the bars shut. He caught one sentence before the pain pulled him under.

"Welcome to hell."