Making It

Sorry for the delay -- the holidays were crazy. Let me know what you think:)


When Jonah awoke he hoped against hope that it had all been a horrible dream. He snapped his eyes shut the moment they opened. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could will them both back to camp, back to the safety of bullets and bombs and away from this sadistic creep. He smelled the congealing blood weeping from Aadan’s back and shivered. Things weren’t alright, and they were still trapped.

He was so nervous about what Nine would do next. The prick wouldn't give up. Jonah sat up on his knees and tried to wake Aadan, fearing he was in a coma.


"Come on, wake up." Jonah gently opened the boy’s eyes. Nothing. Aadan was lying on his stomach, his cheek pressed against the tile, his bloody back an affront to the eyes. Jonah knew he had to wake him up soon. He wanted to talk with him before Nine came back, to warn him that this wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

"Aadan, Aadan wake up!" No response. Jonah had an idea. It would certainly wake the boy up but, dang, it would hurt.

“I'm serious, get up!" Again, no response. Jonah slowly placed his hand on one of the red ribbons wrapping around Aadan's back. He shuddered as Aadan gasped and cried out, awake finally.

"I'm sorry about that but, you have to get up."

"And you couldn’t think of a more painful way huh?" Aadan shook his head and placed his hands palm down on the stone.

"Yea, I tried, but you were gone. I was afraid you were in a coma."

"I wish I was.” Jonah helped him get to his knees, careful to avoid the blood streaked area.

"I can't move.” Aadan stayed motionless, on his hands and knees, breathing hard. “Just let me stay like this for a sec.” Jonah watched his best friends’ labored breathing and grew furious with himself. He should have been able to protect him. He should have figured a way to get them both out of here.

"I'm so sorry," Jonah said. "I just couldn't do it Aadan. I couldn't."

"I know." Aadan gritted his teeth as a wound broke open on his back. "I didn't want you to tell him." They heard voices in the hallway. Aadan’s breath caught in his throat, and he threw a terrified look in Jonah’s direction.

"Listen," Jonah said urgently. "They've tried me, now they'll try you. Nine, he won’t give up. Since I didn't give in, he'll switch sides. It'll be your choice now."

Aadan nodded his head. "Yea, I figured as much."

"Whatever I say when he's, when's he's doing whatever, don't listen to me." Jonah was talking but Aadan was staring at the door.

"I'm not screwing around Aadan," Jonah said, more forcefully. "I'm telling you right now, in advance, don't tell Nine anything. Promise me, no matter how much I beg, how much I scream. Promise you won't tell Nine where the camp is." Aadan turned his head to face Jonah.

"I promise," Aadan whispered. "I promise." The door opened.

Help me! Jonah thought.

"Get up." Nine sounded very angry. "I said get up, both of you." Jonah helped Aadan to his feet. The boy groaned as Jonah accidentally swiped a lash.

"Let's go." Nine led them to everyone’s favorite room at the end of the hall.

"Since yesterday wasn't as successful as I hoped, we'll try again." Nine nodded to the twins, and they seized Aadan's arms, playfully patting his back. They chuckled when he tried to twist away.

"Aadan, obviously Jonah doesn't mind seeing you in pain. Let's see if you return the favor." Nine forced Jonah on the counter. He chained him down on his stomach, his face too close to metal. His arms were stretched to the right and left.

"Jonah, same rules apply. I won't stop, even if you break. But Aadan, you on the other hand, can stop your friend from going through this. Do you want me to hurt him?"

"No," Aadan was looking at Jonah. "But I won't tell you anything either."

"Very well. I'll be right back." No one said anything. Jonah breathed harshly, clouding up the shiny metal. He was trying to prepare his mind for whatever Nine had planned. He’d been gone a good ten minutes, and Jonah figured that was not a good sign. All too soon, Nine reentered the room carrying a black spit. In the middle was a long piece of metal, glowing red with heat from the fire burning in its midst. Nine picked up the metal and spun it around in his hands a few moments.

"Aadan, would you like to tell me anything?" Nine moved a step closer to Jonah. Aadan, his eyes wide and fearful, shook his head no, and Nine sighed. "All right, but Jonah's not gonna like your decision in a few seconds." Nine placed the red hot brand above Jonah's skin, almost touching. Jonah squeezed his face shut, knowing this was going to be rough.

"Hey Jonah, keep your tongue away from your teeth." Nine chuckled and placed the blood red metal to Jonah's flesh, in between his shoulders. As much as he told himself he wouldn't, Jonah screamed, a natural reaction to being branded. It was a loud and guttural sound, going to the very center of Aadan's heart.


The smell of burning flesh rose to the ceiling, making everyone nauseous in its path. Jonah blanked out, not able to string a complete thought together. All he could think of was the pain in his back. He felt he would burst into flames any second. He could feel his body shake and his muscles spasm as they tried vainly to get away from the restraints.

Aadan was sobbing in the background. He felt a touch Jonah's pain as his own back was again ripped open by his frantic struggling.

"There now," Nine commented, removing the brand. "You look much better this way." Jonah had to remind himself to keep breathing. Just go for one breath at a time.

"Do you remember what you said to me when I asked your reason for not breaking?" Nine traced the throbbing burn on Jonah's back.

"Honor," Jonah replied, breathless.

"Would that still be your answer if I asked you that same question today?"

Jonah nodded his head.

"Good, because now you have a permanent reminder of why you're still here." Nine traced the letters on Jonah's back as he announced the word they created.

"Honor, Jonah. That may be your downfall."

"And yours." Aadan interrupted from the side of the room. "We're not going to break and you know it. What will the DGSE say then? Their famous torturer not able to drag a location from a couple of new born SEALs." Jonah couldn’t help but grin. He knew Aadan was getting under Nine's skin, and he liked it.

"I really don't think I'll have to worry about that do you?" Nine unsnapped Jonah's hands from their bonds. "Turn over. He'll tell me where it is before this night's over. If not him, than you will." He nodded his head toward Aadan.

"Bull." Aadan piped up defiantly.

"I got you to scream easy enough," Nine commented. "I said turn over." Jonah, still fighting to control the pain from his back, refused to move. In one movement, Nine grabbed the boy's arm and flipped him over, causing his wrists to cross. The SEAL was now strapped on his back, the metal pushing against his shoulders sending more waves of pain up his spine. "I really don't think Jonah can take any more pain today. But if you insist on not telling me Aadan, I guess we'll have to go on?"

Aadan glanced quickly at Jonah.

"Remember what I said," Jonah told him quietly.

"I'm not telling you anything Nine," Aadan looked the older man square in the face.

Nine drew a long knife from the shelf to his right, and ran his thumb over the dull side.

It's almost beautiful. Jonah thought, as he admired the long gracefulness of the shiny blade and the worn polished look on the wooden handle.

"I just sharpened it today. Isn't it wonderful?" Jonah's eyes showed a small hint of fear, mirrored in Aadan's face from across the room. "Aadan, is there anything you would like to tell me before I test the sharpness of this delicious knife?" Aadan shook his head slowly.

Nine let out a disappointed sigh and ran his free hand over Jonah's chest, causing the boy to involuntarily squirm in his chains. "Hold on Jonah, this is gonna sting a little." Nine grinned and lowered the knife to his chest.

One, Two, Three Jonah began counting, his eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. He drew in a gasp as he felt the sharp tip penetrate his skin, right under his throat. His gasp turned into a moan as the knife slipped even farther into his chest, digging into him, the blood seeping out around the metal.

"Stop!" Aadan said from the other side of the room. "Please stop."

"You know how to make me stop.” Nine bent his head low, concentrating fully on the incision blossoming on Jonah's body. "How does it feel Jonah? Really, what does it feel like? I want to know."

"Screw you," Jonah managed to get the words out of his mouth before Nine started moving with the knife. He slowly made his was down Jonah's stomach, inching lower.

Please, something make him stop! Jonah didn't try to fight the tears when they fell down his cheeks. It continued progressing. The knife left a red trail from one side of the boy's chest to the other. Aadan watched as his best friends’ blood dripped off the metal table and slipped into the cracks of the stone floor.

"Please! Nine no, stop!" Aadan begged. He knew it was no use, but if he didn’t try to make him stop, Jonah was going to die right in front of him. "No, you're going too deep!" He tried again as his friends’ face turned ashen.

"Really, the knife isn't cutting that deep, it just feels like it’s tearing him apart." Nine chuckled. "But if you really want to, I'll try and go just a little farther inside you."

"No," Jonah begged. "Please don't." He couldn’t stop the plea from spilling off his lips. He just wanted all the pain to end.

"Remember what I told you," Nine said nodding his head toward Aadan. "He's the only one that can stop this. Aadan, do you want me to hurt him anymore? Do you want to see him shake? Huh? Do you want to hear him scream again? I know I do. Do you want me to kill him, because I promise you, that's what it will come to?" Aadan wiped vomit from his mouth and raised his eyes to Jonah.

"Don't," Jonah's voice was barely audible, a mere whisper. "Don't."

"I wasn't asking you the question." Nine hissed. He laid down the knife and, using two fingers, slowly spread one section of Jonah's cut open.

Jonah moaned, a sob escaping his throat.

"Aadan?" Nine asked, keeping Jonah's flesh spread.

Oh God please! Jonah screamed to no one, he knew he couldn't take much more. Please make him stop!

"You know I won't." Aadan hated himself for not doing something to help his friend. Nine inhaled a deep breath and blew in Jonah's open wound. The boy gave a wild lurch, trying frantically to get away. He let out a shriek, filled with pure pain. This was by far the worst amount of pain he had ever been in, and he was finding it exceedingly difficult to stay conscious. Aadan's insides twisted uncontrollably while the twins maintained their iron grip on his arms.

"Stop Agent! Please don't." Aadan was in tears at the sight before him. Nine ignored the pleas of one and the screams of the other. He picked up the knife again and began a new trail of pain down Jonah's young body. His face had turned pale, and he found he no longer had the energy to scream or fight Nine. He knew this was a battle for his life, and he was losing. Aadan could see the spirit slowly ebbing away from his friend. He couldn’t watch Jonah die, not like this.

"He's losing too much blood. You have to stop!” Aadan was crying, knowing for certain he was losing his best friend right in front of his eyes. With a sigh, Nine stopped ripping into Jonah's chest.

"I'm very upset but I won't give up." Nine placed the knife back on the shelf. "Which is why I’m not killing you. You are not any use to me dead." He nodded to the twins who dropped Aadan.

"He's gonna die." Aadan said over his shoulder as he heard something thrown at his feet.

"Only if you let him." Nine replied as the door closed. Jonah wasn't looking too good, his breathing was labored and his eyes were closed. Aadan picked up the package from behind.