By the time they reached the garage of the Rad Co. building, the air was tense again.

A group of men awaited their car. Some of which, Kirian thought, might have been at his capture. Two approached the car as the engine turned off and pulled the still-unresponsive target out of the backseat.

Sebastian and Kirian both got out silently. Sebastian moved away from the car, and the group followed. He spoke a rushed jumble of commands that Kirian couldn’t quite make out from behind the group.

As they reached the door, Kirian was stopped. Tobias was waiting for him, it seemed.

“Your mission is over,” said the older man.

“The guy’s not dead yet, I’m going with them."

He craned his neck to keep his eye on the fast departing group.

“Your mission is over,” Tobias insisted.

“But Se- Mr. Radashawn told me I would be the one to kill him!” Kirian said louder, getting the attention of the group.

Many, including Sebastian, stopped and turned to look at him. Kirian just stared back with blazing eyes.

When he made eye contact with Sebastian himself, he knew the answer, but waited to hear it anyway.

“Get some rest, assassin,” Sebastian said, before turning on his heel and continuing on his path.

Kirian stood planted to the spot, watching them go. He didn’t hear the first or second time Tobias addressed him. Only when the older man grabbed his shoulder, did he snap out of his reverie.

He twisted quickly, and bolted out of the still open door. He ran as fast as he could, down the path Sebastian always took with the car. This early in the morning, the garage was barren, dotted with only a few simple black vehicles here or there. His path to the exit looked clear, and he sprinted with all his might.

Tobias and the pair of door guards were on his heels, but not quite fast enough. They shouted at him, but he did not comprehend their words.

He couldn’t do it anymore. He couldn’t sit in that room like a caged animal, he couldn’t let himself be confused by the whims of a tragic billionaire. He wanted to be free again.

He could see the early morning light at the mouth of the garage opening. Could almost feel the air warming up.

But he didn’t get close enough. Not really.

Kirian was yards and yards away from escape when his body was hijacked by electricity.

He fell hard, but the barbs of the taser gun stayed embedded in his skin as it sent round after round of burning hot lightning bolts into his very bones.

He lay there, twitching and clenching until Tobias and two guards lifted his weak body.

And just as he and Sebastian had carried the target not an hour before, Kirian’s body was dragged away.

—-------------------------------------

When Kirian woke up in his bed, he was very silent.

He didn’t scream or curse everyone in the building. He didn’t even move. He drifted in and out of consciousness for hours. At least his nightmares were a break from the plain, beige ceiling above him.

He only vaguely registered the room growing brighter, then darker as the day passed him by.

He was conscious as the door opened, but he didn’t bother looking at the person entering.

“God, you're a brat,” came a raspy voice.

Tobias waited for a response that wasn’t coming.

“There’s worse fates than three meals a day and a nice room, y’know,” Tobias said.

Kirian heard footsteps, then a soft grunt as Tobias lowered himself onto the sofa. It was quiet for a moment.

“Look, kid. Just eat something so I can focus on my more important responsibilities.” Tobias said with a long sigh.

Kirian didn’t move.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” said Tobias before getting off the sofa and walking towards the bed.

Kirian felt his legs be pulled and soon they were off the bed. He remained limp as Tobias grabbed his torso and lifted him with a grunt. He didn’t protest as he was placed onto the sofa with little care and propped upright.

Tobias walked out of the room and came back with a sandwich and a protein shake.

He held the sandwich up to Kirian’s mouth.

“Not hungry,” Kirian said softly, his voice breaking slightly. His throat felt dry, burned almost.

“Well it’s either this or I drown you in Ensure,” retorted Tobias.

Silence.

“I’m not here to make you feel better, kid. I’m here to keep you alive. Boss wants your whiny ass functional and, as usual, I’m the one making it happen,” Tobias said in his usual gruff demeanor, “Eat.”

Kirian took the sandwich from Tobias, and took a small bite. He chewed slowly, barely tasting the chicken and chipotle mayo. He swallowed, and it fell into his stomach like rocks, but he took another bite anyway.

Satisfied, Tobias turned to a stack of papers he must have brought with him. They sat like that for the half hour it took for Kirian to finish his sandwich.

Tobias glanced at the empty plate, and handed Kirian the protein shake.

“But, I finished the sandwich,” Kirian protested weakly.

“Oh so now you can talk,” Tobias grunted, “You burned a lot of energy and you haven’t had anything in over a day.”

Kirian got to work on swallowing down the thick drink. It took another few minutes, but he got it down.

Tobias put down his paperwork and nodded once before getting up. He took the plate and the bottle with him as he made his way to the doorway.

“You little tantrum worked, by the way. Tomorrow, you get to kill the guy. I hope all this was worth it,” was all the older man said before shutting the door, leaving Kirian in isolation once more.