Chapt. 13. Tornado Plays

The tornado was fierce as it ripped through the land. Trees were torn from their roots and thrown like nothing. Vehicles were lifted high into the air and thrown about fifty feet or more. The plank boards making up the dock were ripped apart and thrown in every direction. One board went right through the side of Mia’s house.

Down in the basement everyone was kneeling forward against the back wall, away from whatever could endanger them. Their heads were covered by their hands, and their chests were pressed against their knees. They could hear the ferocious wind howling as glass, metal, wood, and everything else was torn apart of them.

White Blaze growled softly. He wanted this storm to be done and over with. How much longer would it last. He could sense his charges’ fear and nervousness. Would they die this very night? Without ever seeing Cye again? The tiger hoped not. Without them, the world would be forever lost to Talpa.

A loud crashing sound was heard somewhere upstairs, and Mia moaned. She felt Anubis’ hand squeeze hers, and she returned the favor. More wind howling and crashing. Rowen was thinking fast. Okay, a tornado is made of high winds, formed when low pressure and high pressure come together, resulting when there is too much of both. But still it is made of winds, and the winds are part of the air. Maybe, if I can concentrate, I can stop this twister.

With his mind made up, he began to concentrate, his kanji flashing upon his brow. It caused the other four’s kanjis to appear, and all of them knew what Rowen was doing. Sweat appeared upon the archer’s brow and he began to glow his armor’s color. The wind was beginning to get stronger as if it was closer to them. Their lives were beginning to flash before their eyes, and then just when they thought all hell would break loose, it began to get calm, the winds were dying down. They heard a small shrill whistle, and then it was all quiet.

Ryo, Sage, Rowen, Kento, Mia, Anubis, and White Blaze all stepped out from the basement and surveyed the damage done to their home. The entire living room was thrashed and there was a gigantic hole in the side of the wall, leading to the outside. Sage found a single plank board that was stuck in the wall before the stairs. He looked wide-eyed at the others.

"My house," Mia moaned, looking around and biting her lip. She was ready to cry. Anubis placed a hand on her shoulder. "I’m sorry, Mia," he apologized. "But at least you and we are all alive."

Mia nodded, and let her tears stream down her face. Ryo was worried though. He picked up the phone but it was just as he suspected. The line was dead. He hung up. "Damn," he muttered.

"Worried about Yulie, Ryo?" Kento asked softly. Ryo nodded hanging his head. There was a moment of silence, and each one wondered what would happen now.

Finally Ryo made up his mind. He was going to see if Yulie was alright, and then he was going after Cye, and Talpa was going to pay. "White Blaze, let’s go. I need to see if Yulie is safe." The tiger came obediently and just as they were about to take off, Anubis stepped forward. "I am coming too."

Ryo regarded him and nodded his head.

"We’ll clean things up here, Ryo," Sage said. Ryo nodded and left with Anubis and White Blaze.

"Mia, find some place safe and stay there," Rowen told her firmly. Mia nodded and did as she was told. She watched as the three Ronins began to clean things up.

Delia was awake now and very confused. She was resting on her bed in her and Kania’s room, wondering what would happen. Kania was watching her, and if she didn’t know any better she could have sworn that she was mad at her.

Kania was mad at her. How could Delia do that to the boy? It wasn’t right. He was only a child really. Of all the things done to him in the Dynasty, that was by far the worst anyone had ever done to him.

Delia let out an impatient sigh. "What?" she demanded. Kania’s answer was a cold dead glare as she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. And Delia cursed.

Cye was bored. He paced back and forth through the empty cell, remembering to stay away from the door. He ran a hand through his hand and let out a frustrated sigh. Of course he would rather be bored than be tortured. For a moment he stood there, thinking, and then his friends came to his mind as he sat down. I wonder how they’re doing? he thought. I hope they’re okay. I’m trusting them to get me out of here. He looked down and stared at the two inches thick dirt that covered the floor of his cell. He began to draw in it, having nothing else to do.

Talpa looked at his viewing screen, as his Warlords and Badamon watched. Cale raised an eyebrow. "What is Torrent doing?"

"Drawing, what else?" Dais replied, making Cale feel stupid.

"I know that!" Cale snapped. "I want to know what he is drawing."

Badamon looked closely. Torrent’s eyes were unfocused, but he seemed to be in deep concentration. Finally, they were able to see what he had drawn. A cross in the middle of the floor.

"A cross?" Sekhmet wondered with an eyebrow raised.

Badamon nodded. "I’ve seen this type before. In some parts of the world, mostly the western country, mortals have embraced a religion called Christianity that centered on one god alone and his son who died to save them. He died on a cross and ever since then, the mortals who have embraced it, use the cross as their symbol."

Talpa watched Torrent as his eyes flashed red. The young Ronin was staring down at the cross he had drawn in the dirt with a look of confusion upon his face. "It doesn’t matter if Torrent has embraced this religion. It won’t save him from my grasp."

Chapt. 14. Finding Yulie

Ryo, Anubis, and White Blaze made their way through the city, surveying the damages done by the tornado. Trees had uprooted, vehicles had been overturned, glass, furniture, toys, and then some littered the streets. Telephone poles had been ripped out of the ground, and wires hung loose in the streets. Firetrucks were busy putting fires out, and road construction were working to clear the roads of debris, while several paramedics were taking care of the injured. It was busy no one even noticed that a large white tiger was walking down the middle of the street.

Ryo grimaced as he saw a little boy wheeled out on the stretcher. He was reminded of Yulie and could only think of getting to Yulie sooner rather than later.

Anubis watched the little boy also and frowned. It was shame to see the young and innocent injured in this way. He swallowed a lump in his throat and the three continued on, unnoticed by the people.

Ryo was beginning to get impatient though. The urge to see Yulie was just too strong. He took off, running down the street as fast as he could, his subarmor flashing for a moment, then appearing fully, giving him more speed. Anubis and White Blaze stared for one short moment, before they too ran after him.

Ryo ran for all he was worth. He could hear Anubis and White Blaze running behind him, but he was not slowing down. Finally he reached the small white house standing on the little lawn with the two trees. He frowned. The entire house looked as if it had been destroyed. The front half of it had been ripped apart, with a complete disaster area inside. There was a gaping hole in the living room floor, and the back of the house, looked to be buried within the ground.

"YULIE!!!!" Ryo cried and charged for the house. He ran into the house and stood looking around anxiously. White Blaze and Anubis appeared beside him, and White Blaze sniffed the air. He let a low growl.

Ryo looked toward the gaping hole in the floor. Underneath laid broken boards, bricks, a bathtub, a couch, a love seat, a broken television, a few intables, an entertainment center, and even more things.

Ryo didn’t hesitate. He leapt into the hole and let himself drop down into the basement. He landed on some broken boards with nails sticking out of them, but his subarmor protected him. Anubis stayed where he was while White Blaze leapt down. The tiger barely avoided landing on a nail.

"Yulie?!" Ryo cried as he started digging through the debris. White Blaze began to help, sniffing the air for Yulie’s sent. Ryo kept on digging, not even aware that Anubis had told him he was going to check elsewhere. Just then, he heard a tiny cough.

"YULIE?!"

More coughing. "Ryo!" ‘cough! cough! "Over here!" came a familiar voice.

Ryo turned his head toward the small room blocked by wood, the entertainment center, and a love seat. Ryo hurried over and with White Blaze’s help began digging his way through. Anubis had heard the small voice and stayed where he was, watching and smiling because they had found him at last. But still the ex-Warlord was a bit worried. What if Yulie was injured?

Ryo and White Blaze finally dug Yulie out. The small boy clung to Ryo shakily as tears ran down his cheeks. Ryo held onto him and carried him out of the mess. White Blaze leapt up through the hole and landed beside Anubis as Ryo soon joined him with Yulie. Ryo gently set the younger boy down and looked him over.

"Yulie, are you hurt anywhere?" Ryo asked.

The boy shook his head. "N. no. I’m okay! The Jewel of Life protected me. It leapt from my neck and traveled down to that room, where I stayed. I’m worried about Papa and Mama though!"

"Where are they?" Anubis asked.

Yulie shook his head. "I don’t know. They never came home from work."

Anubis and Ryo frowned at one another.

"We better go and look for them, then," Ryo said as he lifted Yulie and carried him out of the house. Yulie nodded, and laid his tired head on Ryo’s shoulder. Together, they set off in search of Yulie’s parents.

Sage, Rowen, and Kento were exhausted and looked ready to fall asleep any moment.

Mia sat on the sofa with a forlorn look on her face. She knew they had been fortunate, and lucky that Rowen had been able to control the tornado. But still she felt sad. Some of her best things had been destroyed. Like her grandfather’s favorite vase, as well, as an ancient Japanese sword. Her computer was demolished as well, so she would have that replaced, unless Rowen could fix it by some miracle. She sighed and looked toward the three boys. Sage laid on the couch, with one arm over his eyes, Kento was curled up on the floor, just staring into space, thinking about Cye, obviously, and Rowen was draped on his back over the recliner, his face buried in the soft folds of the chair.

Mia gave a tiny smile. Rest up, you three. You deserve it. She let out a silent sigh and glanced out the hole in the wall, watching for any signs of Ryo, Anubis, White Blaze, and hopefully Yulie, or his parents. And then she thought of someone else. Cye, I hope you’re all right, and the Ronin Warriors will rescue you. And soon I hope. Mia stared outside. She continued to wait and watch.

The door slammed open, and Cye was grabbed by his hair. He cried out and swung his fist, but Sekhmet caught it and twisted his arm behind his back causing a sharp pain to come. Cye yelped, then stopped struggling. It would do him no good to have a broken arm. He tried to relax.

"Master Talpa wants to see you, Torrent. So don’t give a hard time about it!" Sekhmetwarned. Cye frowned. He did not want to see Talpa. For all he cared Talpa could go to hell. He felt Sekhmet yank his other arm behind his back, then felt the cold metal of cuffs binding his wrists together.

Sekhmet shoved him out the door and down the hall. Dynasty soldiers lined up along the walls, bowed in respect to Sekhmet, their eyes casting deadly, hateful glares at the prisoner. Cye glanced uneasily at them as he was forced along. He tried to ignore them, plus the fact that Sekhmet seemed to be enjoying shoving him along. It wasn’t long before they came to the doubles doors leading to the throne room.

Sekhmet held onto him as he opened the doors, then forced him inside and toward Talpa whose eyes flashed red when Torrent had been brought in. Sekhmet pushed the boy forward, then shoved him hard. Cye fell forward, right on his face. He gasped in surprise, and struggled to get back on his feet.

Dais and Cale wouldn’t let him do it so easily. They kept him on his knees with his head against the floor. Cale whipped his head back, so that he was looking directly at Talpa.

Talpa’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t know why I am wasting my time on you, Torrent. Your friends have not shown up, and I don’t think they will. In fact they might already be dead. According to Dais, a storm hit there. A tornado which you mortals call, struck there pretty bad. I could even show you if you don’t believe me."

Cye said nothing. He stared back firmly at the Dynasty master, showing no evidence that he believed or not. Talpa narrowed his eyes at him. He could tell the boy was not discouraged in the least. Well, that would change and soon.

"And it also seems that you gave Delia a very hard time, Torrent. I don’t know how you injured her, but you will know this. We will break you. Secure him to the wall!"

The two Warlords yanked Cye to his feet and dragged him over to the left wall and chained him tightly to it. Sekhmet ripped his shirt off, nearly choking the boy in the process.

Cye began to shake as he shut his eyes in fear. The pain was just about to start.

Chapt 15. Kania’s Sweetness.

Cye grunted and cried out in pain as the whip struck his back. He tried to block the pain, but it wouldn’t leave so easily. It remained with him, striking him with coldness and taunting him. He would have given anything to go unconscious at that moment. How long had they been whipping him? It seemed as if it had been forever, and there seemed to be no end. Already he could feel numerous wounds on his back, torn from the whip as it pierced his skin.

Nearby Talpa watched with a cruel smile to his face. His eyes flashed red everytime Torrent cried out with pain. So far the boy had been whipped twenty two times, but still there seemed to be no end to breaking his spirit. Well, that would change soon enough.

Sekhmet struck him again, and Cye’s cry filled the entire room. He jerked at his chains as he felt that whip strike again and again. Tears ran down his face, and images of his friends and good times flashed through his head.

"Enough!" Talpa’s voice rang out. Sekhmet lowered the whip and backed away, staring at the wounds he had created on Torrent’s back. The boy’s head was down, he was breathing hard, and trembling.

"Perhaps you will come to learn that nothing or no one can defy me, Torrent," Talpa said coldly. "You will never see your friends again, and you will die here."

Cye didn’t answer. Talpa glared down at him, then looked toward Sekhmet. "Take him back to his cell."

Sekhmet loosened the cuffs and caught Cye before he hit the floor. As he twisted the boy’s hands behind his back, he gave a sneer when Torrent yelped. Once his hands were fastened together he led the boy away.

They reached the cell, and Sekhmet unloosened Cye’s hands and shoved him inside, slamming the door shut and bolting it tightly before he marched away.

Cye laid on the floor, panting hard and feeling terrible pain. No thoughts ran through his head, except for that. He closed his eyes hoping it would go away, but knowing that it would not.

There was a clicking sound, and Cye winced. He heard the door to his cell opening and closing. He tightened with fear.

"Oh, you poor thing!"

Cye’s eyes opened with recognition. "K… Kania?" he called weakly. She came forward to him and knelt beside him. She gazed at the vicious lacerations that covered his back. She frowned. With a wave of her hand a bowl of water appeared along with a clean cloth and a towel. Gently she began bathing his back.

Cye’s eyes widened with surprise and pain, and he pressed his hands tightly over his mouth so his screams would not be heard.

Kania winced for him as she cleaned his wounds. Pity filled her heart and she wondered how she was going to get Torrent out of here. Abandoning Talpa had been on her mind a lot lately, and she was already making plans. And the sooner she got Torrent out the better it would be for him. She didn’t know how much longer it would be before Talpa killed the boy.

Kania rinsed out the bloody rag and gently pat the boy’s back dried. She waved her hand again and a bottle of herbal lotion appeared. She spread some on her hands and warmed it before applying it to Torrent’s back and spreading it over.

Cye sighed as he relaxed. He had no idea why Kania was helping him, but for some reason he trusted her, and his kanji never stirred him wrong. Already he could feel the pain leaving him, slowly though. He brushed his tears from his eyes and looked at her gratefully.

She smiled at him and with another wave of her hand a cup of fresh water appeared. She gave it to him. "Here, drink this."

Cye drank, his mouth and throat thanking him. After every last bit of water was gone, he noticed Kania was getting up.

"Get some rest, Torrent. I shall be back later."

Cye watched her go as everything she had brought vanished from sight. His door was secured firmly, and he was once again alone.

He yawned, suddenly feeling exhausted. He crawled over by the wall and laid beside it. He sighed again as the light went out, bathing him in darkness. I wish I wasn’t so alone, he thought. But I don’t want my friends to be here either.

You are not alone, Cye.

Cye blinked. "You again? You’ve returned."

Yes, I have. You are not alone.

Cye’s eyes narrowed angrily. "If you care so much, then where were you when I was being whipped?"

I was there, Cye. Feeling your every pain and wanting nothing more than to keep you from that. But for your spirit to grow you must go through periods of trials.

"Trials? Why must I suffer? Don’t you understand how much it hurts? And what does this have to do with my spirit?"

Your spirit is what has been given to you. It’s the essence of life God has given man to dwell upon the Earth. And just as your body needs food to have energy, your spirit must go through tests and temptations and suffering to grow. Without your spirit you are nothing. And without Christ you are dead.

"Who are you?" Cye demanded as he stared into the darkness. A pinpoint light beckoned him and he turned his head to view a silver white mist. The mist grew, shaping to appear as a human, and his cell was suddenly lit up from this brightness. As it took shape, Cye could see a young man, about the age of 19, with chin length brown hair, ice blue eyes, tanned skin, and a youthful face.

Cye recoiled in shock. It was the man from his dream!

"You…." he began. "What are you?"

The figure smiled at him, a beautiful smile that filled Cye with warmth and peace, unlike any he had ever experienced before. And then the figure spoke. There were no actual words formed, but Cye heard every word clearly. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

"An angel?" Cye questioned. "Is that what you are?" The figure held out his hands and smiled again, as the light bathed the young boy. Peace filled Cye’s entire being and he drifted off to sleep, leaving all questions behind. The figure disappeared from sight, and the cell was dark once again.