Chapter 11

Licking Your Wounds

For as long as Kyne could remember, his life had been filled with pain. It was a constant in his life, from the surgeries, experiments all the way to the battles he had to go through on a daily basis, his life was seemed to be almost nothing but painful experiences.

Luckily for him, he had a caretaker that seemed to offer him a bit more than just more ways to become a monster. Instead, she gave him something that he couldn’t quite describe. If he were to put it in a single word, he supposed it was humanity. While other people around him only saw him as a monster, an animal meant to give entertainment to those watching him, the caretaker had looked at him as an actual human being and had reached out to him in more ways than just barking orders.

Kyne had often wondered what his life could have been, if things hadn’t turned out the way they did? Could he have had a life where being treated like a human being was normal? Where the one constant thing in his life wasn’t how badly his body was hurting? In the end, he knew it was illogical and foolish to think such thoughts, but he couldn’t help it.

Right now, he was waking up after passing out from his battle against Hive Queen. Much like every other time he had been in a fight to the death, he felt pain all over his body. It was almost like his body was burning, with the worst of it being in his head. His head was throbbing constantly from what could only be the absolute worst migraine of all time.

This wasn’t a new experience for him at all. There were numerous times that he had been put through a battle that left him aching big time. However, what was new was the ceiling above him. Instead of the clean, white ceiling that his holding cell had, this one was dirty, gray and had cracks all over it.

There was a strange sound next to Kyne, causing him to turn to its direction. That’s when he saw Dana sitting on a chair next to the bed he was laying on, asleep and snoring lightly.

Before the telekinetic boy could say or do anything more, a door to the room opened up and a man walked in, wearing a dirty doctor’s jacket and smoking a cigarette.

“I see you’re finally awake. That’s good to know,” the man said before turning his attention to Dana. “HEY DANA! YOUR DAMN PARTNER’S AWAKE! GET YOUR ASSES OUT OF HERE, SO I CAN TAKE IN SOME NEW CUSTOMERS!”

The sudden yelling not only woke up the detective, but caused her to fall to the floor from the surprise. Dana quickly got up from the floor while rubbing her sore back and cursing under her breath.

“For fuck’s sake, Hank!” the detective yelled at the doctor. “Would you mind and wake up a lady more gently!? I could have broke a bone or two! Never mind losing my hearing!”

“First, I’ve seen male gorillas in a zoo that are more feminine than you. Second, our deal has always been that as long as I provide you with what you need, you don’t make any noise about my little business and get your ass out of here as fast as possible,” Hank explained. “And since your little friend over there seems to be fine, I think it’s about time you honor your side of the agreement.”

Hearing her partner get mentioned, Dana turned to look at Kyne with wide eyes. Upon seeing that the boy was awake, relief washed over her, as a smile spread across her lips.

“Glad to see you’re okay, kid,” the detective said as she gently patted Kyne’s back. “You have no idea how worried I was seeing you collapsed on the ground the way you were.”

“I apologize for the trouble I caused,” the telekinetic said politely. “However, there was no real need to worry about me. I was just tired from using my powers too much. A little rest and I would have been alright.”

“Alright, my ass!” Dana suddenly shouted, surprising Kyne. “You had a horrible fever and had lost a good amount of blood, so you were far from fine! Thankfully Dr. Frankenstein over there was able to give you transfusion and a place to rest.”

“Hey, I could have just left you on the street, jackass! I think you should show some damn gratitude!” Hank yelled angrily to which the detective responded by flipping him off.

“I see. So it was thanks to him that I’m better,” Kyne said as he got up from the bed and bowed to the doctor, who was a bit taken aback by the gesture. “I am grateful for the care and treatment you’ve given me, doctor.”

“...Well, holy shit. Dana has actually found herself a friend with some manners for once,” Hank said with a smile. “Anyways, no need to thank me in such a way, kid. I only did this because of a deal between me and Dana. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have received jack shit from me.”

“What kind of a deal is that?” the boy asked.

“Basically, he gets to do his shady dealings and I won’t report him, as long as he gives me information and treatments when I need them. And if he doesn’t go too far with his illegal activities,” Dana explained. “So yeah, he was basically just doing his job when he helped you, so no real need to thank him.”

“That might be so, but I was taught that one should always show gratitude when they are helped,” Kyne said before bowing to Hank again. “Like I said before, I am grateful for the help you’ve given me, no matter the real reason behind it.”

“Heh. I think I like you, kid. Tell you what, next time you get hurt and come here, I’ll give you a discount,” the doctor said with a smirk. “Just make sure you don’t bring that noisy ape with you, okay?”

“SCREW YOU!” Dana yelled before grabbing Kyne’s hand and pulling him with her. “Come on, kid. Let’s get going already. I don’t want to stay here any longer. The service sucks.”

“I do think we should leave quickly. I don’t want to give this place anymore trouble,” the telekinetic said. “The others might come here looking for me.”

“Others? What others?” Hank asked after hearing what the boy had said. “Dana, who the hell have you pissed off now!?”

“NO TIME! LEAVING!” the detective yelled while quickening her pace.

The two of them were soon outside the illegal clinic, where Dana’s car was waiting for them. Both the detective and the telekinetic boy entered the vehicle, getting ready to continue their search for the other Bio-Gladiators.

“You know, you don’t need to be so polite with everybody, okay?” Dana said as she started the car. “Especially when it comes to guys like Hank. They might seem nice at a first glance, but they’re actually very shitty people once you know them.”

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“I apologize. It’s just that I was taught to always be polite with others. Apparently, it will bring you good things in the future,” Kyne explained. “Also, I forgot to thank you, Dana.”

“Huh? Me? What for?” the detective asked.

“Had it not been for you, I would have been left defenseless and open to attack from any of the remaining Bio-Gladiators,” the telekinetic explained. “For that, you have my gratitude.”

“Ah geeze! You trying to make me blush or something?” Dana said with a slight tint of red on her cheeks. “Look, we’re partners, aren’t we? I wasn’t about to leave you to die or anything. Besides, there are just some things you should do, no matter what. Helping those in need is one of them.”

“That doctor didn’t seem to have such thoughts.”

“Well, you shouldn’t worry about him. He’s an asshole. Not helping others, unless there is some way he can profit from it, is kind of in his nature,” the detective explained. “You shouldn’t think of people like him as any kind of a standard.”

“...I feel like most people would leave me to die, though.”

“Wha-!?”

“Back in the facility where I was made into… this, pretty much all the people around me would only look at me in disgust. Whether people doing their experiments on me, the other staff members or those who watched my battles for their enjoyment. None had pleasant stares or words directed towards me,” Kyne explained. “Whether I like it or not, I have to admit that my looks aren’t exactly pleasing. While I do want to win my freedom and everything, I can’t help but wonder what I will do then, as I doubt I can really fit in with the rest of society.”

Dana was honestly taken aback by what her partner had just said. All this time, she had been too focused on stopping the madness that was going on in the city that she hadn’t even thought about what would happen with Kyne. To be perfectly honest, she had no idea what to do with him. Could he go to school? Make friends? Live a normal life?

No matter how much she wanted to deny it, the detective had to admit that the boy was in for a rough life after all of this had been settled.

“Kyne, listen to me. I’m not going to lie to you, even when we do get through this, things are… not going to be easy for you,” Dana began to say in calm and collected tone that was completely serious. “Even if you are a great kid and a better person than most people could ever hope to be, you won’t be looked at with kind and accepting eyes. No matter how I want to deny it, your looks aren’t exactly what people would call “nice”, which is going to bring a lot of shit on you.”

“...So what you’re saying is that what I’m doing is pointless then?” Kyne asked with a hint of sadness in his voice, almost causing the detective to slam on the brakes out of shock.

“WHAT!? NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Dana yelled at the boy. “The ones that the other Bio-Gladiators are attacking are good and honest people that are just trying to live their lives in peace! No one has a right to take that away from them, whether it’s those bloodthirsty freaks or the ones that dumped them here for shits and giggles! What you’re doing is preventing any further tragedies, like the one with the kids Hive Queen took, from happening! That is the furthest thing from pointless!”

“But… even if it is a good thing that I’m doing, does it matter, when all I will get in the end is scorn and disgust directed at me?” Kyne asked. “When I won’t even be allowed to live among the rest of the people in peace, is there any meaning to what I’m doing?”

“Listen, there are just some things that are important enough to do, even when you don’t get a reward, okay? You shouldn’t think along the lines of what you can get for yourself, but what your actions have done overall,” the detective explained in a soft tone, before a small smile spread over her lips. “Besides, not all people are going to look at you badly. I don’t do that, right? And there was also that other person you mentioned that didn’t do that either. I’m sure there will be more people like us, who will see you for who you truly are.”

Silence fell over the car, as the two continued their journey. Kyne was considering Dana’s words and while he could see her point, he also couldn’t help but have doubts. After all, his whole life he had lived as a freakish outcast, so it was no surprise.

Suddenly, the car came to a stop and Dana stepped out.

“Wait a moment, okay? I’ve got to do something first,” the detective said before leaving.

The place Dana was heading to was a large house, clearly belonging to a wealthy family. While most people would have some level of excitement in them when going to such a place, the detective felt like she was heading towards her own execution.

This was the home of Jennifer Harris, the missing girl Dana had been hired to find by her parents. When she had taken the job, the detective had imagined herself walking towards the house with the girl by her side, eager to meet her parents after being rescued. Instead, she now had to go and tell the already heartbroken parents that their little girl was dead.

It was this part of her job that Dana had always hated the most. Having to go and tell the families of victims and fallen colleagues that their loved ones wouldn’t be coming home anymore. No matter how many times she had to do it, it never got any easier. The weight she felt on herself never got any lighter and the words she would have to say would always be tough to let out.

However, it didn’t matter how tough it was. She knew she had to do it and face the consequences, no matter what.

Dana took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. It took some time, until the front door of the house finally opened, revealing Jennifer’s father, Richard. The man immediately recognized the detective and called for his wife, before Dana could utter a single word.

“MARGARET, COME HERE! IT’S THE DETECTIVE!” Richard called out, which soon followed by the sound of hasty footsteps.

It didn’t take long for Jennifer’s mother, Margaret, to come to the door. At first, there was a hopeful glint in the woman’s eyes, before she noticed that Dana was not there with her daughter. Upon realizing this, Margaret’s expression turned into one of worry.

“Where is she? Where’s my little girl?” the woman asked as she struggled to keep herself composed.

“Now, Margaret, we can’t-”

“SHUT UP!” the woman yelled at her husband angrily, as she finally lost her calm. “I need to know where Jennifer is and I need to know it right now! SO WHERE IS SHE!?”

Dana took another deep breath. She knew this wasn’t going to be end up well.

“I… managed to find out where the person who took your daughter had gone to,” the detective began. “I went after them and was able to find your daughter.”

“That is great to hear!” Richard said with a hopeful smile on his face. “So where is she? Did you take her to a hospital to get checked?”

“...I’m sorry, but I was too late to save her,” Dana finally said while struggling to utter each word. “By the time I found her, it was already too late.”

The two parents stared at the detective in horrified shock as their faces turned completely pale. It was almost like their minds couldn’t process what they had just heard and they were waiting to hear that it was all a lie. That their little girl was still alive and well.

“...You’re lying,” Margaret finally said as anger began to take over her. “Is this some sort of a sick joke to you? Do you think it’s funny to make fun of grieving parents!? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!?”

Dana didn’t say anything in response. Instead, she took out the locket she had picked up from Jennifer’s body and gave it to the mother. Margaret’s eyes went wide upon recognizing the item the detective was holding. With trembling hands she took the locket and held it tightly as tears began to fall from her eyes.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Dana said in a quiet tone.

Hearing the detective’s apology caused Margaret to stare at her in pure fury. She then slapped Dana across the face, leaving the blonde woman’s left cheek red and stinging.

“How dare you!? You were supposed to find her before this happened, weren’t you!?” the distraught mother screamed. “HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A DETECTIVE, WHEN YOU CAN’T EVEN SAVE ONE LITTLE GIRL!?”

Margaret then turned around and ran away from the detective, wanting to get a chance to grieve alone. Richard wanted to run after his wife, but he still had some things to do before he could do so.

“I apologize for my wife’s behavior,” the father said in a broken tone, saddened over the loss of his daughter. “The grief over losing Jennifer is making her act irrationally.”

“It’s okay. I understand,” Dana said in response. “This isn’t my first time having to deal with something like this.”

“...What about Jennifer’s friends?”

The detective only shook her head in response, which was enough to tell Richard what had happened.

“I see… This is truly a tragedy,” the father said as he rubbed his forehead gently. “What about the person responsible? Are they still out there?”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Dana answered. “I saw it with my own eyes that they are gone for good.”

“At least there is that then,” Richard said before pulling out his wallet and taking a small stack of notes from it. He then handed them to the detective. “I suppose I should pay you. Even if we didn’t get our daughter back, you at least found out what happened to her and took down her killer. You deserve some form of compensation for your troubles.”

“Thank you,” Dana said as she took the money. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”

“I appreciate it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and see my wife. Goodbye.”

The detective said nothing as the door closed in front of her. As she began to slowly make her way back to the car, she took a cigarette out of her jacket and lit it up. Dana soon reached her car and entered it without saying a word.

“Are you alright, Dana?” Kyne asked.

“Huh? Yeah,” the detective answered. “Why do you ask?”

“Because your cheek looks like someone hit it and your eyes are watery.”

Dana used her hand to quickly wipe her eyes and felt the fresh tears on her fingers. Without even realizing it, she had cried.

“Don’t mind, kid,” the detective said as she turned on the engine and started to drive. “It’s just because of the smoke from my cigarette. That’s all.”