Making It

"Enjoy yourselves?" Nine looked evil, standing with his back to the light. Neither one said anything. “Are you ready for something else?

“Why don’t you try some of the other guys from the squad?” Aadan asked with fear in his voice. Jonah threw a worried glance at Aadan and shook his head. Jonah hadn’t put up with Nine’s crap for this long just so his friend will rat out someone else. “Pavo will talk." Aadan ignored Jonah's protests. "You know the tall, skinny one. He’s always been a real weakling. Just leave us alone and ask him.” Aadan sounded terrified, like he was hoping against hope that Nine would, in fact, leave them alone. Realization hit Jonah like a truck, everything was going to be alright; Aadan was smarter, and stronger, than he thought.

“Yes, I know the one,” Nine said, his face smiling. “He already told us everything. I just want to hear it from you two.”

Jonah couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. “Oh really?” He asked. “That’s interesting that Pavo would tell you anything, considering he isn’t even a part of our unit.” Jonah and Aadan snickered at the look on Nine’s face. That was priceless.

“Oh, you two think you’re funny?” Nine pounded on the door and two other men came in. “Meet the twins. At least that’s what I call them; I don’t know their names. They don’t speak much, but you don’t need to be fluent to do what they do, and they do it well I promise you.” The men resembled rejects from a Schwarzenegger look-a-like contest. “You boys obviously know each other very well. That’s wonderful, probably good friends, care about each other don’t you?”

Jonah began to realize exactly what Nine had planned for him and Aadan, and it made him want crawl into a hole. Toughing out his own pain was one thing, but being forced to watch Aadan suffer? That was completely different.

“Who wants to go first?” The look of sick happiness on Nine’s face made Jonah want to scalp him. The creep was enjoying this!

Aadan, with obviously no idea about what was going on, looked over at Jonah. All Jonah could think of to do was reach out and grab his hand, squeezing it hard. This was going to be horrible. The twins grabbed Jonah and lifted him to his feet as Nine approached the younger of the two. Jonah struggled but knew it was no use. Their hands were going to leave purple rings on his arms.

“This one first, I guess.” Nine flipped the boys’ chains, and he was now facing the wall. His hands were above his head and pulled so tight that he was on his tiptoes just to touch the ground. Aadan gritted his teeth in anger.

“We’re playing it a little different this time. Aadan, even if you break, I won’t stop.” Aadan eyes widened and glanced at Jonah. He finally understood. “I will only stop when Jonah here tells me all I want to know.”

“Crap,” Jonah muttered, knowing this would be far worse then going through it himself. Just seeing the look on his friends face almost made him give in right then.

“Any questions? Right then, we’ll begin. Unless Jonah would like to say something?” Nine turned to Jonah with a grin on his face, knowing this was the worst torture. Jonah was silent, busy preparing himself for what was coming up. What tricks did they learn for this? No gentle floating on a river was going to block out the sight of Aadan in pain.

“Okay, but remember Jonah, you're the one doing this to him,” Nine was standing behind Jonah’s best friend, a sinister bull whip in his hand.

Jonah didn’t reply, but he did look at Aadan hoping his friend knew how much he did not want to watch this. Nine spaced his feet apart and brought the leather down across the helpless boy’s back. Aadan didn’t scream; he inhaled sharply and felt the tears spring to the sides of his eyes. The first strike left an angry red welt across his flesh. The next broke the welt open, causing blood to seep down the inward curve of his back and pool into the waistband of his pants.

Jonah yelled “stop” as another blow landed right above the others, causing Aadan to moan. “Please Nine, stop this.” Nine stopped for a moment and looked at Jonah.

“Are you saying you want to tell me what I want to know?” Nine’s voice was full of mock surprise.

“I can’t,” Jonah stared a hole in the floor, hating that he couldn’t help Aadan.

The next fell hard, licking across Aadan’s lower back. Jonah forced himself to look at his friend. Aadan’s eyes were closed, but that didn’t stop the torrent of tears pouring out of them.

“Oh God please help us,” Jonah begged silently as Aadan sagged in his chains when the seventh and eighth landed alongside each other. Nine was counting aloud with each strike, and the twins were laughing as Jonah struggled in vain against their arms.

When eleven fell, Aadan screamed. The pain was too much; he couldn’t hold it in. The sound made Jonah want to throw up. This isn’t fair! He thought as he fought harder. He’s just a kid.

“Nine stop!" Jonah yelled. His breath was stolen as one of his restraints drove a fist into his broken rib. "Please stop!" He begged breathlessly. "You're killing him."

Aadan was shaking, his back a maze of deep red, contrasting with the paleness of his skin.

"Do you want me to stop?" Nine leaned in close to the boy in front of him.

"Yes,” Aadan replied, softly.

"I can't hear you." Nine put a hand on the small of his back, touching the raw flesh.

"Yes!" Aadan screamed and wrapped his fists around the chains, clenching furiously.

"What did I tell you Jonah? Doesn't he scream beautifully?"

"Please, just stop." Jonah begged.

"I'm sorry Jonah. I can't stop until you tell me what I want to know. You have the choice, do I leave him alone, or do I continue? Are you going to keep silent or are you going to tell me? It’s all up to you."

"Please don't, you'll kill him,” Jonah begged.

"No, you'll be the one killing him. Tell me! And maybe I’ll put this away." Nine cracked the whip against the floor. Jonah shifted his gaze to his friend. Aadan's eyes were open and staring at him, wet trails down both cheeks. "Tell me Jonah,” Nine’s voice shot through his mind. Jonah continued staring at Aadan who finally shook his head.

"Don't tell him Jonah,” Aadan’s voice was weak, but determined. "Don't tell that dick anything." Without warning Nine brought the whip down on Aadan's back again, and again. Soon Aadan stopped screaming, his head rolled, and he went unconscious.

"Please,” Jonah whispered. "Please no. He's dying." Nine realizing Jonah was right, stopped. Dropping the whip, he walked out of the room. As he passed the twins he murmured something in French. One of the men unlocked Aadan and picking him up, carried him to another room. Jonah was dragged to the same cell and was by Aadan's side in a heartbeat.

"I'm so sorry,” was all he could say over and over. His apology, however, fell on deaf ears. Aadan was fast into sleep, somewhere far away where the pain couldn’t reach him and at the moment, his body would not let him return. Jonah fell asleep that way, grasping Aadan's hand and crying.