Yeah, this place was murder central, but they hadn't murdered her yet, and they'd been just fine doing it to Jericho at the tea shop. What were they planning? Some kind of ransom? That wouldn't tell out well for them. Maybe a ransom and then murder. Shay had seen their faces; that meant they didn't plan for her to live.
When grabbed, the girl yelped in surprise and mild pain. Shay bruised easy, but she was used to pain, so it shouldn't have surprised anyone when she kicked and squirmed and fought. She'd rather go down fighting than sit and let them do whatever they wanted to her.
Jericho was alive. That didn't surprise Eroshay, but it did relieve her. It was easier to fight for other people than it was yourself. She met Jeri's eyes, thinking nothing in particular. She felt empty. The fear in her gut only turned to sweltering wrath.
Yes, Shay understood there were things worse than death -- she didn't get to see those things in her visions most of the time, but she knew of them, they danced in her head constantly even without magic to force their way there.
Normally, being the bodyguard to someone's child was just an honorific way of calling someone a babysitter. You watched the kid; you made sure they didn't talk to certain people or get themselves into too much trouble. Shay wasn't an ordinary child, and in Jericho's case, this wasn't the typical babysitter gig.
Shay looked away as Jericho was shot and stared at the bald man instead. It wasn't that the violence or blood made her queasy. She was stoic -- wearing a neutral mask meant to hide the hatred and the need to cause violence. Those things showed in her eyes anyway, as they always did.
"I didn't know he was immortal before now," Shay said thoughtfully, voice icy. "If you wanted to pull that line on me, you should have waited to shoot him in the head." Shay's hands trembled. She wanted her gun. "So, what the fuck are you after? Do it already."
The anticipation was killing her. Shay wanted to tell them to hurt her and not one of the Rosales gang members. Most of the members were like family to Klaus, Vito, and the other Rosales'. Shay didn't always feel the same way, and right now she wasn't feeling much at all. Not in the conscious sort of way.
She wanted to kill. Tear things apart with her bare hands. She wanted them to be as afraid as she was before she'd shut down. She wanted to let their panic sink into her skin and make her feel alive.
♠♠♠
Jericho simply let them harm him. In the end it wouldn't matter anyway, the wounds would just close up. At this point he needed to figure out what they were trying to accomplish with this kidnapping. They obviously knew about his regenerative abilities, but how could they have figured that one out. Unless they had a very good intelligence network, he didn't think he had a reputation already. It would be nice, he thought, if he did.
After he'd been shot again they tore the cover from his face, presumably so Shay could see his face as he was in pain. When the most recent agony subsided he was able to meet Shay's eyes. He garnered a look of sympathy and relief from her. Jericho returned her look with a smirk, showing her that he hadn't lost control of the situation. Jericho had a plan and he wanted to show her that. The last thing that needed to happen was for one of them to panic. For now, he'd put on a show for these thugs.
"So, what the fuck are you after? Do it already," Shay said.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, girl," the leader said calmly. He motioned to the building. "Let's just call this, leverage."
Jericho rolled his eyes.
The thugs to the sides of Jericho dragged him from under his arms. Jericho let himself go limp, as if exhausted. He looked like hell now with caked blood around his face and holes in his clothes where the bullets penetrated his skin. The procession went inside the building where in the center of the warehouse was two chairs and a spotlight shining directly on them. Camera equipment was positioned in front of them. Near the chairs was a table that had various tools on it, presumably for torture. If there was one thing that Jericho didn't like, it was a cliche.
The leader snapped his fingers and pointed at the chair. Two of the thugs forcefully lead Shay to one. In the other they sat Jericho in. Jericho gave a tired look toward the camera. Now in a better position, Jericho began to take a good look at the people that kidnapped them. Upon closer inspection of the leader, Jericho then realized that they were a rival gang that the Rosales' had hit, and Jericho was a part of that raid. "Oh, you're that gang? What were you called? I can't remember." Jericho gave a cocky grin from under his brow at the leader.
This clearly sparked some resentment within him and the leader glowered back at Jericho, "That raid cost us nearly eighteen months of planning! We are going to show that upstart Klaus that we aren't to be messed with." He shot a wicked look to Shay. "So we're going to take something precious from him. We were planning on kidnapping Shay but it was very fortunate that you were there too Jericho."
"Psh! I don't think you really understand what you're getting yourself into," Jericho said, "The Rosales gang is far more dangerous than you think. If you think a raid was bad, just wait until you harm something that Klaus has taken in as his own. Your suffering would be legendary."
After he'd been shot again they tore the cover from his face, presumably so Shay could see his face as he was in pain. When the most recent agony subsided he was able to meet Shay's eyes. He garnered a look of sympathy and relief from her. Jericho returned her look with a smirk, showing her that he hadn't lost control of the situation. Jericho had a plan and he wanted to show her that. The last thing that needed to happen was for one of them to panic. For now, he'd put on a show for these thugs.
"So, what the fuck are you after? Do it already," Shay said.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, girl," the leader said calmly. He motioned to the building. "Let's just call this, leverage."
Jericho rolled his eyes.
The thugs to the sides of Jericho dragged him from under his arms. Jericho let himself go limp, as if exhausted. He looked like hell now with caked blood around his face and holes in his clothes where the bullets penetrated his skin. The procession went inside the building where in the center of the warehouse was two chairs and a spotlight shining directly on them. Camera equipment was positioned in front of them. Near the chairs was a table that had various tools on it, presumably for torture. If there was one thing that Jericho didn't like, it was a cliche.
The leader snapped his fingers and pointed at the chair. Two of the thugs forcefully lead Shay to one. In the other they sat Jericho in. Jericho gave a tired look toward the camera. Now in a better position, Jericho began to take a good look at the people that kidnapped them. Upon closer inspection of the leader, Jericho then realized that they were a rival gang that the Rosales' had hit, and Jericho was a part of that raid. "Oh, you're that gang? What were you called? I can't remember." Jericho gave a cocky grin from under his brow at the leader.
This clearly sparked some resentment within him and the leader glowered back at Jericho, "That raid cost us nearly eighteen months of planning! We are going to show that upstart Klaus that we aren't to be messed with." He shot a wicked look to Shay. "So we're going to take something precious from him. We were planning on kidnapping Shay but it was very fortunate that you were there too Jericho."
"Psh! I don't think you really understand what you're getting yourself into," Jericho said, "The Rosales gang is far more dangerous than you think. If you think a raid was bad, just wait until you harm something that Klaus has taken in as his own. Your suffering would be legendary."
Eroshay felt weird. She was numb when she was led to the chair and forcefully sat down, staring into the camera. It was going to be one of those messages. Was it going to be a live message? Or just a tape? How -- They were going to kill her, but first they would do things to her that were worse than death. Cut off body parts? Worse than that? Shay didn't like thinking about those things.
The air inside was stale, creating a fetid scent that left Shay wrinkling her nose in disgust. Somewhere in one of the corners a machine whirled. Shay thought it must have been an air conditioner, but that should have made the air more tolerable than it was.
Shay was happy that the leader's attention was all on Jericho, it gave her.... it gave her something. She was listless, everything too sluggish and senses on overdrive. Her mind was running at two entirely different gears. In the back, there was speed and information she couldn't comprehend, and in the foreground was nothing but thick voices and a high ringing in her ears.
The blinking red light on the video camera signified when the Live feed began. They were going to do something terrible; Shay felt it. It was a powerful enough sensation in her bones that her heart sped and her body pumped with adrenaline in preparation.
Shay hadn't been tied up, but she was a thirteen-year-old girl, and the threat of something bad happening was thick in the air. A man stood behind her with his hands on the back of her chair, an ever-threatening presence. She wiggled uncomfortably and stared at her lap; her skirt was dirty now, and her left knee was a hint red from the earlier fall.
The man behind her wore a mask to further hide his identity, but that wouldn't have mattered because only his arms and below could be seen on the feed.
"Connecting... Three, two, one," the man behind the camcorder pointed to indicate that the feed was up.
"Look at the camera, doll," the man behind Shay said, and when she didn't he took a cue from the leader to forcefully grab her hair and yank her head back so she'd look into the camera.
♠♠♠
I'm thinking, after you make the leader speak with the feed on, and do whatever you want him to do, tag Pop and Tom.
((OOC: Sorry this came really late. School started up. 
))
IC:
They placed Jericho not to gently in the chair and he let out a grunt. Once seated, they put his arms behind him and place additional ties on his wrists to the supports of the chair. They also restrained him by tying his ankles to the legs of the chair. "Man, your boss must really want you dead," Jericho said to the nearest thug. Jericho was struck in his side as his reward. He let out a grunt and coughed a little after the blow and looked forward toward the camera. Lights shined on his face so he couldn't see anything pas them. Figures were only blurred silhouettes in front. Looking to his side Jericho could see other thugs with firearms either strapped to their shoulder or in hand.
The leader moved to stand behind Jericho and a thug with a mask was behind Shay. They didn't restrain her, probably because they knew she wouldn't try to run again. A man behind the camera signaled that they were live. Jericho shook his head and sighed. "You really don't know what kind of shit you're getting into with this. I'm just sayin'." He got no response.
"Klaus Rosales," the leader spoke to the camera, "I am the leader of Sanctum, the organization you had raided recently. You may feel that you're untouchable and that you can do whatever you please in these islands. You may feel that the entirety of the Underground is in the palm of your hand. This perceived monopoly you hold is a prideful delusion. You need to understand your hubris." He looked down at Shay, "You recall the tale of Icarus? He and his master crafted wings to fly like the birds do. Icarus thought he could fly and reach the sun. In the end, the wings he helped to build were shattered and he fell to the earth."
As he talked another masked man came from the table of torture devices and brought a power drill with a flat wood bit and gave it to the thug behind Shay. Jericho watched with wide eyes as they were now skipping him and going for her. The man with the drill flashed it in front of Shay's vision and gave it a whir.
"Remember Klaus, you brought this upon yourself," the leader snapped his fingers and the drill was pointed to Shay's knees and began to inch closer.
Suddenly, Jericho barked hearty laughter. Everyone stopped and went silent as he laughed almost like a madman. "Do you men even know who you're dealing with?" Jericho belched out more laughs, "When you die, not even Hell will keep you from Klaus's wrath." Jericho looked at the camera, "Sorry it went this far Klaus, and Vito if you're there. I had to figure out who these guys were."
"So eager to die?" the leader said.
"Are you?" Jericho said.
The leader moved from Jericho's seat and non-verbally cued the man with the drill to switch his torture to Jericho. Jericho only had a toothy grin on his face. The man moved behind Jericho and plunged the drill into Jericho's knee in full view of the camera. Jericho let out a yell of pain.
The leader put his hands on Shay's shoulders after straightening himself up. "Your own minions show simply how undeserving you are of the prestige you've gained. This ends now."
"Uh, boss?" the thug with Jericho said. The leader looked over to Jericho. The drill bit had wrecked his leg, but the wound was closing over. Jericho's eyes were wide and his teeth now bared visible fangs. His body tensed as he growled through his teeth. Jericho spasmed and arched his back, his shoes burst and monstrously clawed feet revealed themselves. Soon his body bulked up intensely with muscle and his clothes tore as his stature grew. Black fur grew from his exposed skin and the ropes burst sending him forward. A tail grew and Jericho's face contorted and twisted into the muzzle of a wolf. The shifting stopped and Jericho threw back his head and let out a loud howl.
"Shoot him!" the leader yelled.
@Tom Marvolo Riddle @Poppy
))IC:
They placed Jericho not to gently in the chair and he let out a grunt. Once seated, they put his arms behind him and place additional ties on his wrists to the supports of the chair. They also restrained him by tying his ankles to the legs of the chair. "Man, your boss must really want you dead," Jericho said to the nearest thug. Jericho was struck in his side as his reward. He let out a grunt and coughed a little after the blow and looked forward toward the camera. Lights shined on his face so he couldn't see anything pas them. Figures were only blurred silhouettes in front. Looking to his side Jericho could see other thugs with firearms either strapped to their shoulder or in hand.
The leader moved to stand behind Jericho and a thug with a mask was behind Shay. They didn't restrain her, probably because they knew she wouldn't try to run again. A man behind the camera signaled that they were live. Jericho shook his head and sighed. "You really don't know what kind of shit you're getting into with this. I'm just sayin'." He got no response.
"Klaus Rosales," the leader spoke to the camera, "I am the leader of Sanctum, the organization you had raided recently. You may feel that you're untouchable and that you can do whatever you please in these islands. You may feel that the entirety of the Underground is in the palm of your hand. This perceived monopoly you hold is a prideful delusion. You need to understand your hubris." He looked down at Shay, "You recall the tale of Icarus? He and his master crafted wings to fly like the birds do. Icarus thought he could fly and reach the sun. In the end, the wings he helped to build were shattered and he fell to the earth."
As he talked another masked man came from the table of torture devices and brought a power drill with a flat wood bit and gave it to the thug behind Shay. Jericho watched with wide eyes as they were now skipping him and going for her. The man with the drill flashed it in front of Shay's vision and gave it a whir.
"Remember Klaus, you brought this upon yourself," the leader snapped his fingers and the drill was pointed to Shay's knees and began to inch closer.
Suddenly, Jericho barked hearty laughter. Everyone stopped and went silent as he laughed almost like a madman. "Do you men even know who you're dealing with?" Jericho belched out more laughs, "When you die, not even Hell will keep you from Klaus's wrath." Jericho looked at the camera, "Sorry it went this far Klaus, and Vito if you're there. I had to figure out who these guys were."
"So eager to die?" the leader said.
"Are you?" Jericho said.
The leader moved from Jericho's seat and non-verbally cued the man with the drill to switch his torture to Jericho. Jericho only had a toothy grin on his face. The man moved behind Jericho and plunged the drill into Jericho's knee in full view of the camera. Jericho let out a yell of pain.
The leader put his hands on Shay's shoulders after straightening himself up. "Your own minions show simply how undeserving you are of the prestige you've gained. This ends now."
"Uh, boss?" the thug with Jericho said. The leader looked over to Jericho. The drill bit had wrecked his leg, but the wound was closing over. Jericho's eyes were wide and his teeth now bared visible fangs. His body tensed as he growled through his teeth. Jericho spasmed and arched his back, his shoes burst and monstrously clawed feet revealed themselves. Soon his body bulked up intensely with muscle and his clothes tore as his stature grew. Black fur grew from his exposed skin and the ropes burst sending him forward. A tail grew and Jericho's face contorted and twisted into the muzzle of a wolf. The shifting stopped and Jericho threw back his head and let out a loud howl.
"Shoot him!" the leader yelled.
@Tom Marvolo Riddle @Poppy
Vito Rosales wasn't so easily one upped.
When the updates stopped coming, he texted Jericho and Shay, and gave it a full hour. Nothing. He sent his people out to track Shay because of course all of his children were bugged. A good parent, especially one with a particularly nosy child, should always learn how to bug his kids without them ever noticing. Privacy, they'd protest, but that didn't matter in the face of safety.
He sent some scouts out to trace Shay's location, but they were taken out save for one who burst into his office, red-faced with sweat on his face. Vito immediately updated Klaus on the situation, then circled his desk and went out to change into an outfit he could get dirty with.
He sent several people to surround the area, trickling in little by little to hide on rooftops and streets, behind trees and bushes. That was when the feedback started. Vito stood on top of a small apartment complex, a sniper on his side, ready to take out anyone inside the trailer. He signaled for the men to pause as he watched the video.
Vito's panic was hidden, expression as neutral as always, but right then, visible anger appeared on his face. He took several precautions. He was careful. They were this close. Not enough, apparently. Fear sunk in his chest, for his daughter, for the pain this'll bring Klaus. He wished there was some sort of negotiation at the very least, some way to talk to them so he could control — Ah, it was too late now. He needed to... needed to act. Vito raised his walkie talkie to send a message to his people: "Ground team, surround the trailer, storm it by my signal. The priority is Shay. Do whatever it takes to get her out of there now."
When the updates stopped coming, he texted Jericho and Shay, and gave it a full hour. Nothing. He sent his people out to track Shay because of course all of his children were bugged. A good parent, especially one with a particularly nosy child, should always learn how to bug his kids without them ever noticing. Privacy, they'd protest, but that didn't matter in the face of safety.
He sent some scouts out to trace Shay's location, but they were taken out save for one who burst into his office, red-faced with sweat on his face. Vito immediately updated Klaus on the situation, then circled his desk and went out to change into an outfit he could get dirty with.
He sent several people to surround the area, trickling in little by little to hide on rooftops and streets, behind trees and bushes. That was when the feedback started. Vito stood on top of a small apartment complex, a sniper on his side, ready to take out anyone inside the trailer. He signaled for the men to pause as he watched the video.
Vito's panic was hidden, expression as neutral as always, but right then, visible anger appeared on his face. He took several precautions. He was careful. They were this close. Not enough, apparently. Fear sunk in his chest, for his daughter, for the pain this'll bring Klaus. He wished there was some sort of negotiation at the very least, some way to talk to them so he could control — Ah, it was too late now. He needed to... needed to act. Vito raised his walkie talkie to send a message to his people: "Ground team, surround the trailer, storm it by my signal. The priority is Shay. Do whatever it takes to get her out of there now."
(OOC: Gosh guys! Sorry this took almost a month to get to. 
)
IC:
Wind rushed behind Jericho as he reacted. Throwing himself over Shay, he made himself a living shield between her and any harm. Jericho cringed as the burning sting of multiple gunshot wounds penetrated his skin. The roar of gunfire subsided and Jericho's body relaxed while he exhaled slowly.
The leader smiled as he looked over the presumed corpse. "Get him off of the girl. She's likely still alive. A werewolf that large won't have bullets go completely through him." At his command, some men inched their way tensely over to Jericho's body. Blood stained the black fur and mottled its sheen. From where he was hit his back was ragged. They looked at one another before one reached out a hand and grabbed hold of Jericho's fur.
Like a wound up spring, Jericho instantly swung on the terrified gang member. A clawed hand raked the man across his chest as he screamed in pain. Jericho turned on the others and with lightning speed made short work of them. The gang leader's eyes widened and his jaw went slack seeing the terrifying blur. His sunglasses slid down the bridge of his nose, revealing his fear.
Another gang member went down in a heap after being shredded by Jericho's claws. He bit down on the man's neck, putting him out of his misery. He paused, growling loudly, before turning around to see the gang leader. The leader fell back and his hands and feet slid in a futile escape. Jericho approached slowly, claws nearly dragging on the ground from hunching forward.
"No, no! Wait!" the leader flailed a hand defensively, "I have high connections! Bigger than Manta Carlos, perhaps a deal?"
Jericho continued forward.
"They can give you anything! Wealth! Drugs! Women!"
Jericho was at the man's feet.
"There's gotta be something you want?"
Jericho was over the man's body and he brought his face down to the leader's eye level. Intense eyes glared at the man and the leader could hear the rumble of Jericho's breathing.
Whimpering the leader croaked, "Anything?" Jericho was sure he could smell urine.
With the same speed, Jericho snapped his powerful jaws around the man's neck, killing him instantly. Blood gushed from the wound around Jericho's maw and he turned to the sky and uttered a loud howl. Satisfied, Jericho looked around to see if there was any more competition. His vision was turning blurry and red, he knew that he didn't have much time before he was completely animal.
Springing upward, Jericho moved quickly over to Shay and grabbed him into his arms. Taking one final look around, he sprang toward the exit and ran out into the moonlit night with Shay in arm. No doubt, tonight was going to be one for the record.
)IC:
Wind rushed behind Jericho as he reacted. Throwing himself over Shay, he made himself a living shield between her and any harm. Jericho cringed as the burning sting of multiple gunshot wounds penetrated his skin. The roar of gunfire subsided and Jericho's body relaxed while he exhaled slowly.
The leader smiled as he looked over the presumed corpse. "Get him off of the girl. She's likely still alive. A werewolf that large won't have bullets go completely through him." At his command, some men inched their way tensely over to Jericho's body. Blood stained the black fur and mottled its sheen. From where he was hit his back was ragged. They looked at one another before one reached out a hand and grabbed hold of Jericho's fur.
Like a wound up spring, Jericho instantly swung on the terrified gang member. A clawed hand raked the man across his chest as he screamed in pain. Jericho turned on the others and with lightning speed made short work of them. The gang leader's eyes widened and his jaw went slack seeing the terrifying blur. His sunglasses slid down the bridge of his nose, revealing his fear.
Another gang member went down in a heap after being shredded by Jericho's claws. He bit down on the man's neck, putting him out of his misery. He paused, growling loudly, before turning around to see the gang leader. The leader fell back and his hands and feet slid in a futile escape. Jericho approached slowly, claws nearly dragging on the ground from hunching forward.
"No, no! Wait!" the leader flailed a hand defensively, "I have high connections! Bigger than Manta Carlos, perhaps a deal?"
Jericho continued forward.
"They can give you anything! Wealth! Drugs! Women!"
Jericho was at the man's feet.
"There's gotta be something you want?"
Jericho was over the man's body and he brought his face down to the leader's eye level. Intense eyes glared at the man and the leader could hear the rumble of Jericho's breathing.
Whimpering the leader croaked, "Anything?" Jericho was sure he could smell urine.
With the same speed, Jericho snapped his powerful jaws around the man's neck, killing him instantly. Blood gushed from the wound around Jericho's maw and he turned to the sky and uttered a loud howl. Satisfied, Jericho looked around to see if there was any more competition. His vision was turning blurry and red, he knew that he didn't have much time before he was completely animal.
Springing upward, Jericho moved quickly over to Shay and grabbed him into his arms. Taking one final look around, he sprang toward the exit and ran out into the moonlit night with Shay in arm. No doubt, tonight was going to be one for the record.
Shay flinched at the sound of gunfire. A warm mass of muscle and fur trapped itself over her and even with her eyes closed, she knew it had to be Jericho. She could feel him jerk with each gunshot.
Blood, blood, blood. Blood and violence. It had always been Shay's life, but now more than ever. She looked up at the screaming and sounds of battle, watching with sickening fascination at the way Jericho's jaws and claws could tear through skin. The way bones broke so easily, or how red painted the floor.
Shay stood up to get a better view of Jericho biting into the leader's neck. She could feel spirits here now, touching her with cold, confused hands. She shrugged them off. People like this didn't deserve her mercy or kindness.
Jericho would find he didn't have to go far to get to Shay, by the time he turned around she was directly next to him. Her hand found the fur of his neck and dug into it, letting the texture of drying gore coat her glove. She smiled, just a little.
"No." She told him when he went to pick her up. "I can walk. I can walk out of here." Her face was set firm, fire having replaced the fear in her eyes.
Shay was afraid of many things -- mostly the abstract -- but with utmost certainty, she could say the creatures that went bump in the night were not among them. It never crossed her mind that Jericho might bite her. Attack her. Or, it did, but it didn't matter.
When they stepped out into the night, she gave a content sigh and rose her hand to anyone in the night. Shay was not as big or strong as some people. Not as smart. Not as clever. Not as skilled. Despite all of that, despite every single point against her, Shay was a fucking survivor.
Eat that, Manta Carlos.
♠♠♠
-End-