Percy was sure he didn't have long to live but he still held on. He had coughed up blood, he was sweating all over, and yet he felt cold. He was going to die, and he had a lot of regrets that he was so sure he'd come back as a ghost.
If he did, he'll definitely show himself to Iavan and scare her by telling her how much he loves her. But maybe she'll find it romantic after all she was weird as hell. He chuckled at the thought, and that earned another whip in his back that made him groan louder.
"Oh, you'll laugh but you won't scream at the pain"
Percy tried to pry his eyes open but only one did. His right eye was so bruised and beaten from the punches he received in the face that it had swollen up.
He saw Achlys leaning back on the table in front of him. He was still bound, arms stretched upward, tied to the ceiling as his feet were barely on the floor.
His back even though he couldn't see, he was sure was full of marks. He couldn't feel anything from it anymore aside from the pain. When he tried to flex his back muscles all he could feel was a numbing sensation. It was the same with his legs.
Achlys' torture had meant she gets to play with her whip and plant it in every inch of his body while she gets to hear him scream.
But Percy hadn't screamed.
Not when he was dragged half naked to this torture chamber. Not when soldiers punched him everywhere. And certainly not when Achlys had whipped him over and over again. He wouldn't scream for them. He wouldn't give any information they wanted. He was patient, and he was willing to welcome death if it meant the Pentagon was going to be safe.
Achlys let out a deep groan before she sat on the table right in front of him. Her legs crossing over the other as she boredly said.
"You're no fun. Hey Via, you said this was going to be enjoyable"
Percy glanced at the far corner and saw Via standing there, stiff as a board staring at him as if he was nothing more than an insect inside the room.
"He is indeed boring"
She muttered and Achlys only laughed at her. Their attention shifted towards the door when it opened and Achlys immediately straightened up as she saluted, the same with Via. And there Percy wanted to spit at the shiny black shoes that were going towards him.
On second thought, I want to spit on that face instead. Percy thought as the most despicable man stopped right in front of him.
"I saw your father once and dare I say, you look nothing like him"
"Chaos"
Percy spit out as Chaos stood in front of him, face serious as he stared at Percy from head to toe before his attention shifted towards Achlys.
"It seemed you had a lot of fun"
Achlys only gave him a shrug before her attention went back to Percy.
"It was worth a shot"
"And he still hasn't said any word about it?"
"No."
Chaos nodded at Achlys before the back of his hand found Percy's cheeks. Percy coughed up blood as he felt his teeth rattle. The backhand slap was full of force. He coughed once more before his glare found Chaos' sickening red eyes.
Red. But Chaos' eyes on the announcement video weren't red, they were black. Percy took a sharp breath as the realization that Chaos was a mutant too dawned on him. But aside from his red eyes, there wasn't anything notable that indicates him being a mutant.
"Well, the games are still underway. And now we have more of these rebel soldiers to put in. I guess it'll be a good message to let this one be the games' figurehead."
Percy's mind was turning hazy, but he felt the strange sense of dread burn into him the moment Chaos mentioned something about the rebel soldiers. His mind instantly thought about Lyn and Lancelot and if they had made it into safety. He had hoped they had reached The Pentagon by now to warn everyone of what Via had done.
"Well that is the only benefit for this capture. Other than that, this sack of meat is utterly useless"
Chaos let out a low snarl before his gaze whipped to Via who flinched when his ruby eyes met hers.
"Is she your spy?"
"Yes. Her name is Via"
Via stood tall and walked towards Chaos when he beckoned her to come near. Chaos then looked her up and down.
"How much do you value this one?"
The question equally surprised both Via and Percy but the answer Achlys gave was even more surprising, frightening even.
"Replaceable"
Was all Achlys said before Chaos struck his dagger across Via's throat, slicing her head off clean from her neck.
Percy's shouts lodged in his throat as Via's head rolled down his feet and his eyes stared at Via's wide unseeing ones. She didn't even get to scream and the loud thud of her body falling to the ground made Percy's eyes finally burst into tears as he realized what had happened.
"Useless one"
"Yes. She did say this one was worthy and yet he's not one of the seven"
Percy wanted to scream at them. He wanted to thrash around and shout because they had killed Via. Via is dead and he couldn't even see any remorse from both of them. She was a spy that had been loyal to them for years and yet with one swift motion of a dagger, she had lost her life to the very people she dedicated her life to.
"Well, he's bait and he certainly can be the lesson. Killing him would be like sending a clear message"
He was bait and lesson. He was a lesson for the rebels and he was a bait for Maia and the others.
And right there and then, all Percy wanted to do was die. He wished it was his head rolling off his neck and not Via's. Because he would rather choose death than bring harm to his siblings and cousins.
***
"We're going with you"
Maia looked up and met Lyn's heavy gaze. They had entered the Fleur City's borders unknowingly where the city security found them and like with everyone who had entered the city, they took them in as prisoners when Maki had spotted them.
Lyn's eyes were bloodshot. She had cried as she recounted their plan to march towards Cujo Village before Via had betrayed them. Before Percy had used every means to get Lyn and Lancelot out of there to warn The Pentagon. Maia knew that Lyn and Lance both want to save Percy but she was hesitant.
"No you're not"
Magnus declared, earning every eye towards him. They were in Marvyll's office once more, trying to come up with a plan on how to rescue Percy and every rebel that had been captured.
"We can fight. We can't run away from this"
Lyn stood her ground and glared at Magnus.
"You're not in charge anyway who are you to tell me no"
Everyone's gaze went back and forth to Magnus and Lyn glaring at each other until Maia had spoken.
"His name is Magnus and he's our oldest brother, firstborn and he's in charge because everyone in here aside from you says so"
Lyn's deflated form sat back in her chair as she quietly said.
"It's Percy. We need to save him"
"And we will Ate Lyn, but you need to go back to the Pentagon and warn everyone"
Maki gently coaxed Lyn to which Magnus nodded.
"Percy ordered the two of you to specifically return to the Pentagon to warn them about the traitor and the possible leak of intel. So you'll do just that."
Lyn wanted to argue more but a hand on her shoulders made her stare at Lancelot.
"Maia won't let Kuya die. We should trust them"
Maia nodded at Lancelot when his gaze found hers. She certainly won't let Percy die and she certainly won't let Via go without a proper explanation. Via had also been her friend in some ways and she adored her like a sister, so her betrayal was something she can't overlook without a proper explanation.
"I'll send two of Fleur City's commanders with you to guide you out of the forest and help you reach H City."
Marvyll instructed, to which both Lyn and Lancelot nodded their thanks.
"So how do we approach Cujo Village?"
Maddin asked as she stared at the digital pad laid in the table alongside a map. Magnus stared at it then his gaze went to Marvyll.
"Marv, do you think you can dismantle these landmines and traps right here so we can approach a different path?"
Magnus asked Marvyll before pointing towards the red dots located on the Northwestern side of Cujo Village. Marvyll took a look at the dots and counted until twenty before she nodded.
"You want me to stay invisible so I can dismantle just enough for a path?"
Magnus nodded at his sister and Marvyll immediately stated.
"Yeah I can do that"
"But Kuya Northwest will bring us closer to the Capital"
Maddin inquired as she stared at the map but Magnus pointed at the spot between Cujo Village and the Capital.
"There's a tunnel located here"
All eyes then went to him but Magnus' gaze was on Marvyll who was grinning widely.
"Isn't that right Marv?"
Marvyll giggled before she said.
"You really are smart Kuya"
"The reason Fleur City has its resources and weapons is because they were stealing directly from the capital. One of the tunnels entrances is near the Lithuinia's northern forest"
"That's right"
Maki couldn't believe what he was hearing but more importantly he couldn't believe Magnus had figured that out.
"Wait so there's a way inside?"
Lyn inquired what nobody could ask. Marvyll stared at her cousin and grinned when she saw how Lyn flinched when her gaze met hers.
"There most certainly is"