The Secrets we Reveal
Chapter Six (Aidan)
"Just relax, and don't do anything stupid. There are plenty of people here, who might not appreciate you trying to escape." I hear her say in my ear. It was barely above a whisper, and the fact she was licking my ear as well, made it even harder to hear what she said really.
I knew I could easily get free or just teleport away, but there was something in the way she said what she had said, that made me look around, and while I knew that there were a lot of people here, seeing them all gathered, made me realize that I had underestimated the number.
"I know you will be tempted, Hero. So let me make it easier for you. Look at what most of them are wearing, and I'm not talking about their clothes." I then hear her whisper, while again licking my ear. But I did as she said, and realized that she was referring to the insignia's, which were more than just a bit of clothing or something, they looked to be more like an actual badge, and I understood the implications.
"You wouldn't kill them." I then find myself saying. I knew they would, but I was hoping by some miracle, that I was wrong, but the sound of her obvious amusement, was enough to let me know they would have no hesitation. She was right, I couldn't leave, not until I figured out how to save everyone.
"Oh, how precious. However, we wouldn't be killing anyone, Hero. They only die if you resist. Their lives are in your hands, so don't try something you will spend the rest of your life, regretting." She then says as we make our way to the middle of the clearing. The followers had now formed a circle around the centre, and it starts to dawn on me, that they didn't appear to be that surprised, and as she made me kneel down, I could see two familiar faces standing in front of Poison and Wraith.
"This was a setup." I then say as the realization dawns on me. I'm not sure if it was from the start or something that happened after I came here, but there is no question about it, they knew I was here, and this gathering was for me. I fucked up somewhere, and it's becoming obvious that I should never have come here, I didn't take it seriously, and now I was in deep shit.
"Just do everything we tell you to do. You won't like it, and it will be humiliating, but if you do what we say, not only does everyone here get to live but so do you." I then hear her say, and while I guess it was good news, it wasn't exactly great news either. I mean, I had no doubt whatever happened, I wasn't exactly in danger, but I had no idea what to do about the followers.
"You expect me just to play along?" I decide to ask back in response. I knew it was risky to put on the tough guy act, but I needed time, and I needed to get as much information as possible because there had to be a way to save everyone. The insignia thing could be a complete bluff, I mean if it's not, it's not exactly the best way to build a following, even the most devote would question why large numbers of their own people, were suddenly blowing up.
Before she can respond though, my attention is quickly taken by some movement in the crowd in front of me. Which quickly makes my heart sink a little, as I realize what was being dragged towards me, and knew that it was going to be a lot worse than it initially looked. The fact she mentioned humiliation earlier, started to make me blush a little as well. I might be proud of my body, but I was still only fifteen, and there were a lot of people here.
"Steady down, Hero." I suddenly hear Siren then say, as I feel her grip tighten a little. "As I said, you will feel humiliated, and even with our powers, you will feel pain, a lot of it. it's the price you will pay, for their lives and your own." She then states with more than a hint of amusement. She was enjoying this, and even though I could escape easily, I couldn't. Not with all these people in potential danger.
"Why are you doing this?" I then ask as I look around at all the smiling and excited faces. It should make me not care, it should make it easy to escape on my own, but despite what they're doing, and what they want to be a part of, they were still people. The frame, however, kept drawing my attention, and from the restraints, I knew that I would be spread-eagled and Siren's mention of pain, left me in no doubt, that I would be whipped or something like that.
"So stupid, Hero. We're the bad guys, you're the good guy, it should be obvious." She quickly responds, and this time, she runs her hand down the side of my body until she is cupping my bum. "But to answer your real question. We're doing this to send a message, it's why we won't kill you. We need someone to send the message, and who better than their most powerful asset." She then adds in a seductive tone, before finally moving away from me. My relief though is short lived, as I see her take some kind of collar from one of the followers, and holds it in front of me.
"You will regret this." I then say defiantly. I might have messed up and let myself be captured like an idiot, but when it came to the moment we eventually do fight, whether it's today or months in the future, they wouldn't stand a chance. So they can do what they like, they will get what they deserve eventually.
"This is a collar that dampens Empowered abilities, it doesn't completely remove them, but you will soon be reminded what it is to be human, and how easy it is to inflict pain." Siren then announces loudly, as she slowly walks back towards me with a sadistic grin. The amusement she felt also showed in her expression, and her grin widened as she saw the look on my face.
It had been a long time since I was just human, and while I had felt pain since, I knew that whatever they had planned, would be a lot worse than I had predicted. If they were going to torture me without my powers, or at least with my powers severely dampened, then it was going to hurt, and I was starting to realize why they didn't want to kill me. They wanted to humiliate me and if they could break me or show me in that much pain. It would do more damage than simply just killing me.
"Now, now, Hero. This device at worst will give you a shock. Your powers will be unaffected." I then hear her whisper into my ear. Her words, making catching me off guard completely and confusing the hell out of me at the same time. "There isn't any technology that can repress us, Hero. They don't know that though, and if you value your life and theirs, then you will play your part. Don't disappoint us, Hero. We're expecting an Oscar-winning performance." She then softly adds, as she nibbles on my ear. Her words, again taking me by surprise, and I can't help but blush even more than I already was.
They wanted me to act like whatever they had planned for me, actually hurt me, and while it would, even with my powers, I knew it wasn't the same. It should have made me feel relieved, I mean, no one wants to feel pain, but having to act, and do it convincingly, was just another humiliation, it was me submitting to them, and them having and exerting control over me.
"How's our celebrity guest doing? Is he ready for his big performance?" I then hear Wraith asking, as he addresses everyone, and when I look up, I realize that he and Poison, had actually moved apart, and even Siren, had now moved away from me. Which I suddenly realize was on purpose. They knew how quick I was, but how far apart they had moved, would make it impossible for me to get to all three, before at least one of them had a chance to activate the Insignias.
"He's definitely ready. Aren't you, Hero." Siren then states almost mockingly. It was tempting not to respond, but I could see the look on her face, and the subtle nod towards a device she had in her hand. They had me exactly where they wanted me, and it was all my fault. I was so fucking stupid, how could I be these careless.
"Do your worst." I respond coldly, after deciding that I had no choice but to answer, and I figured that they wanted me to be defiant. They wanted, and show and they wanted everyone to think they could break me. The thought made me sick, and I didn't want this to happen, but while they did whatever they have planned, I will figure out, how to get out of this mess.
"Oh, you misunderstand, Hero. I'm not going to do anything, they are." Siren then says with an even wider grin, before turning to the young man and woman, that I had been talking to earlier in the day. "Kate, Chris. Restrain him." She then tells them, before giving me an expectant half glare. A glare that quickly reminded me of my place and what was expected of me.
The two followers slowly make their way towards me, and to my dismay, I saw no regret or shame in their expressions. If anything, they looked happy and excited. It was like they had proved… Fuck, I'm so fucking stupid. So fucking stupid. They knew who I was, they told the rogue Empowered. Fucking stupid. How can I make such a rookie and stupid mistake? Shit.
I just couldn't believe that I let myself get played like this. Every instinct was telling me just to leave, that these people were too far gone. They were cheering and chanting the word Invictus, over and over again, while the two followers methodically bound me to the frame. Thankfully still fully clothed. I had feared they would strip me to my underwear or worse, but I guess the humiliation Siren had mentioned, was just my submission to them. So I at least have something to be thankful for.
"Kate, Chris. Remove his clothes, but leave the underwear on. He is younger than people think." I then hear Wraith's voice command. My relief at remaining clothes was short-lived, but unless I wanted to risk the lives of all these people, I had to let it happen. At least I wasn't going to be completely naked. So it wasn't as bad as it could be.
Although as I feel my clothes being cut away, I suddenly realize what Wraith had just said. He knew I was young, he knew I was underage, and if they knew that… No, that's impossible. Unless… It can't be, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that they knew who I was. I may have been acting suspiciously somehow, but even if they suspected, I was some kind of reporter or something like that. There was no way they would know that I was an Empowered.
Fuck… Even if I somehow gave that away, how the hell would they guess that I was Hero. That's a hell of a guess, and something I should have questioned straight away. Fuck, fuck, fuck. They knew who I was by appearance, they know how old I am. The only way they could know that is if someone at the Facility told them. Which meant that we had a mole. Fuck!
It also meant that the others were in danger. I wasn't the only one on a surveillance mission right now, and if they knew who I was and set this trap up, what would stop them doing the same to them as well? Fuck… FUCK!!!! what the fuck was that? I ask myself as I feel a blinding pain across what felt like my entire back, and again, as I feel myself being hit or whipped repeatedly.
"That's enough for now." I then hear someone call out. However, the pain I was feeling was too much for me to work out who it was, just that it was a female voice. I had been in a lot of fights and taken a lot of hits, but whatever was happening now, left me in agony. The burning feeling I could feel wasn't just the pain, I could smell actual burning, and there was a faint buzzing noise that I was vaguely aware of.
It felt like something straight out of science fiction film or something, I didn't even know it was possible, but whatever they had been whipping me with, was definitely electrified, and it hurt like hell. What made it worse though, was that I was sagging in the restraints, I wasn't acting, I was in pain, and I'm not sure I could even stand up.
Something was definitely wrong, because even if it hurt, and my powers didn't make me indestructible. I shouldn't be feeling this weak, not if they were active. I then remember the collar that Siren had placed around my neck, and what it was supposed to do, and it dawned on me that she had lied or at the very least, undersold the effects that it would have on my powers.
Before I can make any kind of recovery or test any of my powers, I suddenly feel pain across my back again, as the whipping starts over. I'm not even sure how long it goes on for, but eventually, it stops again, and all I can do is whimper and hang in the frame, as the restraints stop me from falling to the ground. I had tried to break free, but I had no strength, no powers, nothing.
"That was quite the performance, Aidan." I then hear a female voice whispering into my ear. I can feel her nibbling it, and I think I can feel her hands rubbing my upper body, but I was exhausted, and the pain from my back was almost unbearable. "I hope you enjoyed the collar, it seems to work just fine, don't you agree?" She then says in obvious amusement. All I can do though is try and recover, I have no idea if they will start whipping me again, I could barely see.
"I want everyone to leave, we have matters to discuss with our guest." I then hear another voice call out. This time a male one, so it had to be Wraith, not that it mattered, I was in too much pain and the idea of the followers being told to leave sounded like a good idea to me. I didn't want anyone to see me like this, I was a mess, and I knew it.
"Don't worry, this won't take long, and you will have plenty of time to entertain our guest throughout the next couple of days." I then hear a female voice call out. I still had no idea if it was Siren or Poison, but it didn't matter, the announcement that I had to endure this for at least another day or two, sent a chill down my spine, which was made worse when the girl basically feeling my upper body up, giggled in amusement.
"Good." I then hear Wraith say with a hint of annoyance in his voice. I can only guess from the silence, that we're alone now or at the very least, any of the followers brave enough to stay, are out of sight. "Those whips are quite effective, that has to hurt." I then hear him say, before flinching and winching as I feel him running his fingers across my back. It was like he was using knives or something, and I could feel tears running down my cheeks.
"Wet himself as well. Not quite the Big Man, without his powers." I then hear a female voice state in amusement, and as I look up and my eyes refocus a bit more, I can see that it was Poison, which meant that the person with her hands still on me, was Siren after all. Poison's words, however, quickly made me blush in humiliation, I hadn't even realized that I had wet myself, but I could feel the wetness now, and as I look down in defeat, could see the wetness on the ground.
However, it wasn't just urine, it was blood too, and a lot more than I wanted to see. It made me realize just how badly I had been beaten because they were using some kind of electric whip, and the burning smell would mean that any cuts would have been cauterized, so to see so much blood, made me wonder just how badly I was hurt.
"The collar works just fine, he's healing already, so it doesn't completely block our powers." I then hear Wraith state. His words quickly make me look up, and I can see all three of them now smiling at me. But I didn't care about that, because if my powers were still working, then I had a chance. None of them were holding the devices, and none of the followers were within sight.
"Invictus promised as much." Poison then states matter of factly. Although as I look at her, I couldn't help but blush, and when I see Siren moving towards me and kneeling down, my embarrassment increased. The news that my powers were still active was massive, and hearing Invictus mentioned as an individual, should have had my full attention, but Siren's hands were moving over my chest, and knowing how exposed I was. It was too mortifying to ignore.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Aidan. You're here until we release you, and if you feel humiliated and in pain now, then the next day or two, are going to be the worst in your life probably." Poison then announces with no hint of amusement in her voice. I was still distracted by my injuries and the feeling of Siren's hands on me, but I could see her face, and it left me in no doubt, that I had no hope of escaping. Not on my own, anyway.
"For a fifteen-year-old, he's kind of built and impressive." I then hear Siren say with a big grin. A grin that sends a shiver down my spine, and the way she looks at me, I could tell that she felt the faint shudder as well. It was one thing to have to fight and get hurt, but this was new for me. This wasn't something I knew how to deal with, and even though I was gay, her touch was having a surprising effect on me, and I was trying all that I could, not to increase my humiliation.
"That's enough, Siren. He's just a kid, and Invictus was clear. So get up and stand behind us." Poison then suddenly states in an almost cold tone. I couldn't quite work her out, I had seen how she was the last few days, but a couple of the looks I had seen over the last few moments, just left me confused. I had my own problems to think about, but for some reason, I got the feeling that she wasn't enjoying this at all. Which didn't match up to the observations I had made about her before.
"Why?" I then find myself asking. I just didn't get any of this, not how it was unfolding and the way they were talking. It seemed pointless, and they had to know that no matter how much they humiliated and hurt me, that I would come for them eventually. They couldn't hide behind their followers forever, and I would make them pay. They had to know that.
"Because we can. You're a smart boy, Aidan. You would have already worked out that we know who you are, we knew you would be here, and why you would be here." Wraith quickly responds. He knew exactly what I had asked, and his answer was almost automatic like he knew exactly what I would ask and what I was thinking. Even if his actual response didn't exactly make anything clearer.
"We also know that you aren't the only person on this kind of mission, and right now, there are at least another three or four of you, thinking that they're going unnoticed." Poison then adds almost too casually for my liking. Her words should comfort me, she just basically told me that I was the only one that they had captured, but there was something in the way she was looking at me, that made me think about everything that they had said to me so far.
And the only conclusion that I could come up was, was that unless I did everything they said and didn't resist. They wouldn't take the others. In a way, I guess it's smart because it just adds another layer of control over me. I have no idea how they would let the others know that I had escaped, or how much time I would have to warn the other operatives. So escaping really wasn't an option, even if the risk to the followers wasn't a factor right now. I couldn't risk the safety of my friends and team.
"You know that I will come after you." I then say as confidently as I could manage. I may have been scared and at their mercy, but I was still me, and they had made it clear that I was going to be let go. So while the pain was going to push me to my limits, maybe beyond them, and the same with the humiliation. I wasn't some weak little kid who breaks easily, and even without my powers, they had made a mistake underestimating me.
"I like him. Are we sure we can't keep him, Wraith? They would never find us." Siren then states with a lustful expression, and while I had tried to sound confident before, her words genuinely scared me. I had seen what she had done to some of the followers, and as strong as I was, I wasn't stupid. I knew that given enough punishment and abuse, even the strongest person would break eventually, and I didn't want her to break me. I couldn't let that happen.
"Invictus gave us his instructions, and you have plenty of other toys, Siren." Wraith quickly responds firmly. Although where I was expecting to see him roll his eyes or give some kind of sign that she had disgusted him or something like that. There was nothing, which actually scared me even more. It also made me realize that he wasn't joking about her having other toys, and that sent another shiver down my spine.
But even with all that fear, and it was real fear. They also just let another piece of information slip, and while I wasn't sure if they were doing this on purpose, and it was somehow part of their plan, I had to hope that it wasn't, because I was learning quite a lot of information. It might take me a while to piece it all together, and even longer for it to lead anywhere, but it was still information.
I had found out that the leader of the rogue Empowered was a male, that his name was Invictus, and that we had a mole at the facility. These were big things, and while it could be some kind of setup or something like that, it was still going to be useful. The only problem was that I had no idea who the mole was, and I had to think about who I gave this information to really.
"By the way, just so that we're clear, Aidan. You will not resist, whatever they want to do, they will do it, and we will be watching. One false move and they start dying. One false move and your friends will start experiencing the same thing you are experiencing right now, but whereas you will be going home after we're done, they won't be." I then suddenly hear Wraith say. I had let myself get lost in my own thoughts for a few moments, and I must have given something away because all three of them were staring at me coldly.
My initial thoughts are to put on the tough guy act again, but there was something in the way that they were now looking at me, that made it completely pointless, and I didn't see the point in trying to act tough. I had no response to their threat. I had no way to stop them and more importantly, I had no doubt that they would do exactly what they had just said.
"Just get on with it." I decide to say then. It was hardly the toughest or wittiest of responses, but it was all I had. I was going to be in agony no matter what I said, and I would rather they just started, and somehow find a way to get through it, and not lose my mind or do something that puts my friends and the lives of the followers in danger.
"It's a shame that you're on the wrong side, Hero. I kind of like you." Wraith then surprises me by saying. I wasn't expecting it, and it was genuine. I mean it wasn't exactly comforting or reassuring, but it's better than him being some kind of psycho with a vendetta against me. So right now, I am taking whatever I can get, because, in a few minutes time, I knew I was going to go through hell.
"Let's just get on with it." Poison then says impatiently. She still confused me, and I couldn't work out what was bothering me about her, something wasn't adding up. However, the sound of the followers returning, and seeing the three rogue Empowered walking away, quickly took my full attention, and despite myself, I could feel myself shaking a little bit. This was going to be hell.
The Next Day…
"Don't try to speak." A voice says quietly to me. It's almost like a whisper, but I can't even tell if it's a male or female voice. I could barely understand the words. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore, there was just numbness and emptiness, I wasn't even aware that the beatings had stopped or how long for. Not that it mattered, they always stopped for a short time, and they always started again and again and again.
I think whoever was trying to talk to me, was getting angry or impatient, I'm not really sure which or if it was even real. I think I felt a slap or something, but it could have just been a breeze or a fly or something. I couldn't even open my eyes, and I'm pretty sure I bit my tongue. It's a strange feeling, but it's nicer than what had felt earlier, even the smell wasn't so bad now.
"You shouldn't be like this." I then think I hear the person say, but it's not clear, and it could have been something completely different. "Fucking hell, she turned it right up." I then hear her say, and this time I actually understood her almost completely clear. It was definitely a she, and it had to be either Poison or Siren, I just had no idea which one it was.
The next thing I know though is feeling myself hit the ground face first. Which meant that whoever she was, she had released me from the frame, but even if I had the ability to think of escaping, I had no energy, I couldn't even move, I just laid with my face planted on the ground, until I felt her rolling me on to my back.
"Can you talk?" I then hear her ask, after a few moments. It might have slowly gotten easier to hear her, but I couldn't see anything, it was just a complete blur, and when I tried to say something, I don't even think my mouth opened. I couldn't even breathe that well, and I just wanted to sleep.
"I guess one of us should have checked the collar." A male voice then suddenly says. It had to be Wraith, and his choice of words pretty much confirmed that the female voice belonged to Poison. I could be wrong, and I certainly couldn't see or hear well enough to tell myself. I just knew it couldn't be Siren, I had observed them for a few days, and she was the only one who would have done anything to increase my suffering. I think.
"He's tougher than he looks, but he can't take another beating like this, Wraith. You need to talk to her, because if he dies or we do any permanent damage, then he will punish all of us, not just her." I then hear Poison state with more than a hint of annoyance in her tone. My hearing was starting to get a lot better, but I couldn't even open my eyes, and talking was still out of the question.
"I will just clean him up enough, and then get him back on the frame. He's got another day to go before we send our message." I hear Wraith state in response. I knew I shouldn't think about it, and I'm ashamed of myself for thinking about it, but I knew, as soon as he said that I had another day left. If I had my powers, even the smallest amount, I would have escaped.
I might be completely numb right now, but it still hurt, and when the beatings started again, I would feel the pain, and I will smell the burning, and I don't care that I'm supposed to be the most powerful Empower. Right now, I was just a fifteen-year-old boy, and I can't go through that again. But as much as I willed myself, I couldn't do anything, and the most I managed to get out of my body, was a finger or two twitching.
"Just to be clear, Aidan. You're the enemy, if you died, I wouldn't care. You mean nothing to any of us, but luckily for you, someone wants you to survive this. I don't know why, but he does. So that means you will survive." I hear Poison say in what I assume is an attempt to reassure me. She must have sensed my distress, but her words weren't comforting at all, and to my shame, I could feel a fresh feeling of wetness between my legs.
"I'm supposed to clean you up a little, but to be honest, Aidan. You're a complete mess, and it's not worth it." I then hear her saying. I could hear the disgust and contempt in her voice, and I felt completely defeated. "The collar will be near enough turned off, don't make me regret this, just endure whatever little pain you will feel, and don't give them a reason to think that you aren't in agony." I then hear her whispering into my ear. It was so quiet and unexpected that I wasn't even sure it was real. Her voice was completely genuine, and there was a warmth to it.
Now, in the state that I'm in right now. It's possible that I am imagining this whole thing and just passed out. However, even though the pain is slowly coming back, it's actually cleared my head a little, and I think about her behavior and the little expressions, that she probably wasn't even aware that she was doing, and it gives me the faintest of hopes.
It could mean nothing, even if I'm not imagining it. I'm in too much pain to think completely clearly, but I needed something to cling to, and the thought that maybe these rogue Empowered and whoever Invictus was, weren't the only ones with a mole, was enough to give me some strength back. I still wasn't sure if I could take another day of the beating, but if she was being honest about the collar, then I was going to have to play my part. Which wasn't exactly going to take a lot of acting, I doubt I will ever forget how much it hurt.
"Just to make it clear, Hero. I'm not on your side, I'm just not a monster, and we need you alive, that's it. I also wanted to tell you that you're not going to win, this is bigger than any of you realize, and while it could take months or even years, we will win, and you will lose. It's inevitable." She then says matter of factly, as she was checking my restraints. I then felt her do something to the collar, before stepping away from me and while I couldn't be sure, I thought I heard her sigh.
I then think she walked away, I heard her footsteps getting quieter, but I still wasn't able to see anything. The sound of approaching footsteps though quickly caught my attention, and I could feel my heart beating faster. There were a lot of people approaching me, and I knew what that meant. I just had to hope that Poison wasn't lying about the collar. They had done it yesterday, and I wasn't sure I could take it if she were lying.
I can't believe I let myself get in this mess. I'm not the hero I thought I was.
To be continued...