When Puzzle looked up, Ryan was staring down at him, arms crossed and face blank. Puzzle sank back, pressing himself into the wall behind him. He hated how he could never could escape. He hated how he could never tell what Ryan was feeling. Ryan was unpredictable sometimes and that only scared Puzzle more. He could never tell what he was going to do next. He at least knew that some form of punishment was going to be coming.

"I heard you caused trouble," Ryan stated, his eyes turning cold. Puzzle sighed, looking to the side. Of course Ryan wouldn't let that go. He felt Ryan's hand card through his hair before gripping tightly, yanking him up. Puzzle let out a grunt but refused to face him. Puzzle stumbled, trying to lessen the pain by standing up himself. His body burned in protest, excruciating pain running through him.

"Is there a reason for this, Puzzle?" Ryan growled, glaring at him. Puzzle stared off to the side, eyes burning with tears. It was the same reason as before, but Ryan didn't know that. Though it would likely be a matter of time before Ryan figured out the pattern.

"Look at me," Ryan demanded. Puzzle refused, following the cracks in the wall, something he did frequently. It was the only thing he could do to entertain himself that didn't hurt him emotionally.

"Look at me," Ryan hissed again angrily, losing patience quickly. Puzzle didn't want to, knowing he'd be looking into the eyes that had caused him so much suffering.

"Puzzle!" Ryan yelled, voice echoing off the walls. Puzzle flinched, closing his eyes. "If you don't look at me right fucking now, your punishment will be more severe."

Puzzle willed himself to turn his head towards Ryan but kept his eyes downcast. He couldn't look into this man's eyes. It terrified him. Ryan never seemed to mind that he preferred to avoid eye contact before, so he should be fine with it this time too.

"Why do you keep causing trouble?" Ryan demanded, his glare fierce. A tear finally escaped Puzzle's eye and he squeezed his eyes shut to avoid anymore falling. Hadn't he cried enough? "We are going to talk about this, Puzzle. Sooner or later. It's better for you if we do it now, while I'm still willing to listen."

Puzzle opened his eyes and willed himself to look into Ryan's eyes and despite the sudden calmness in them, Puzzle flinched and looked back down again. He really couldn’t do it. Even if there wasn’t malice in his eyes like there was with everyone else Puzzle ever saw, he just couldn’t look into his eyes. Ryan sighed and suddenly released him. Puzzle stumbled back in surprise, back hitting in the wall in his haste to find any footing. Puzzle immediately bit down on his lip to stop himself from screaming as tears burnt at his eyes from the pain it caused him. Both legs were broken and there was deep whip marks on his back, causing him extreme pain as he hit the wall.

Ryan watched him carefully as he slowly slid down the wall, eyes closed, face filled with pain as the rocky wall dug into him. Unintentionally, he let out a whimper as his blood painted the wall behind him. He shivered as he finally hit the ground, spasms of pain running through his body. Ryan watched him for a few more seconds before pulling him up, sighing.

“You’re bleeding,” was the only thing he said as he forcefully dragged him out. Puzzle stumbled, trying his best to keep up with Ryan with his injuries. Ryan had a iron grip on his forearm, the only thing that really kept Puzzle from falling. It wasn’t long before Puzzle’s leg completely gave out and Ryan had to drag him across the floor.

Puzzle just inwardly sighed, giving in. There was no point in even trying anymore. Eventually, they reached Ryan’s room and Puzzle was thoroughly confused. Didn’t Ryan say they were going to treat his injuries? Ryan threw him onto a nearby chair and locked and door, before walking off into the bathroom. Puzzle grunted, lifting himself up so he could sit on the chair properly. His nerves went up as his mind tried to figure out what was happening. Wasn’t he supposed to be punished? Or at least have some of his injuries treated so he stopped bleeding? It wasn’t unusual for Puzzle to be in Ryan’s room, but that was what scared him. The things that took place here terrified him. He looked to the locked door nervously, but knew if he even attempted to escape, he wouldn’t get far before Ryan caught him and his punishment would be so much worse than before.

That wasn’t something he was willing to risk, especially when he knew he couldn’t escape in his current condition.

Puzzle turned to Ryan as he walked back into the room, holding a medical kit. He blinked. Oh. Ryan placed the kit on the desk, next to Puzzle and opened it, grabbing a few things from inside. Puzzle watched him carefully, still expecting some type of twist or something.

“Sit forward,” Ryan ordered. Cautiously, Puzzle slowly sat forward and turned his back to Ryan. He flinched as Ryan began to disinfect the wounds first and his back began to burn. It didn’t help his back was probably dirty from having sliding down the wall earlier. Puzzle held in a hiss, biting his lip and drawing blood. God, it really hurt.

They lapsed into silence for a minute before Ryan spoke up. “So?” He asked. Puzzle turned his head around, about to say the ‘thank you’ that Ryan was likely waiting for, but Ryan continued. “Why do you keep causing trouble?” He asked instead and Puzzle blinked, temporarily taken back from the question. Puzzle turned his head around again, not wanting to answer. He hadn’t realised he had begun to shake.

“So there is a reason, isn’t there? It’s not just out of disobedience. Just tell me the reason, Puzzle. It’ll be easier for you. I might even consider not selling you to people for your reason,” Ryan offered and Puzzle perked up, surprised. He turned around again, ignoring the pain of doing so. Ryan stared back at him seriously, hands hovering over his back. “I’m serious,” He stated and Puzzle searched for any sign of a lie. Not that he’d ever be able to tell when Ryan was lying, but it still helped him to open up, even if it was fake. He stared at him for a few more seconds before he spoke, eyes dropping to the medical kit, not daring to look at Ryan's face.

“They ask… About the council,” Puzzle started, turning around. There was no way he could even look in Ryan's direction when he explained this. Ryan hummed behind him and began cleaning his wounds again. Puzzle flinched at the return of the burning pain.

“They’re pretty much your family, aren’t they? I know one of them is your dad, so that’s fair. I’m guessing you don’t want to betray your family then?” Ryan asked and Puzzle nodded in confirmation.

“I refuse to betray them,” Puzzle stated and he meant every word. “No matter how much you torture me, I will not betray my family.” He isn’t sure where he found the confidence to speak like that, but he felt proud of himself for doing so. He expected an impact to come flying his way, but instead, Ryan remained quiet and just continued cleaning his wounds.

“Alright,” Ryan finally spoke. “I won’t sell you to anyone who wants to know about the council then.”

Puzzle immediately spun around, shocked. “Really?” He asked, voice filled with disbelief. Ryan nodded before pushing Puzzle’s head so he was facing forward.

“Yes. Now stop turning around. I can’t do your back if you keep turning,” Ryan ordered. Puzzle stared forward, resisting the urge to turn back around to stare at him in disbelief.

“What about the other two? I’ve noticed there are two more you refuse to talk about. Queen Pari and General Glitch,” Ryan continued and Puzzle froze.

“I met Pari when I was… Younger,” Puzzle chose his words carefully, not daring to say the words he longed to say instead. When he was free. When he wasn’t here, trapped with Ryan. When his life wasn’t something filled with nothing but agony. When he was actually happy. When he could actually go outside. When he could actually live. When he could do what he wanted. When he didn’t have to live in fear. When he didn’t have to fear being tortured every day. When he was loved and surrounded by people who cared about him. When he wasn’t in hell. When everything was alright. A time long ago.

“She visited the council frequently, right? And brought her son, Glitch, with her. That’s how you know them,” Ryan explained for him. Puzzle froze, stiffening and tensing up.

“How do you…?” He trailed off, honestly not even sure if he wanted to know the answer. Ryan shrugged.

“I found out about your Trait someway, kid. Pretty sure you don’t want to know about how I do these things,” Ryan warned. “So I’d drop it if I were you. Save you another nightmare,” He shrugged again, recalling the many times Puzzle had woken him up due to nightmares. Puzzle shuddered. So he had never been safe from Ryan to begin with? Ryan had always been there, but he never had a reason to interact with him until his Trait manifested. He  really wasn't ever safe, was he? Ryan was always going to fucking be there, one way or another. That was just the power of Ryan’s influence.

A powerful man Puzzle had no chance of ever escaping.

“Anyways. You knew Pari and Glitch, that much I’m aware of. You shouldn’t be that protective of them, they’re not even your family,” Ryan stated, but didn’t dare mention that Glitch was the one leading the search for Puzzle and the one who had refused to give up the most. Damn kid didn’t know when to stop, he was becoming a pain in the ass. But Ryan could deal with him easily, he had several spies keeping an eye on Glitch so if he ever discovered something important, Ryan would know about it and get rid of it. If he got too far, then Ryan would get rid of him too. The only reason Ryan hadn’t got rid of him so far was because believe or not, but Ryan had respect for the kid for getting so far at his age.

Puzzle slowly turned around, his eyes turning back to their brilliant green. However, they were filled with an uncontained rage, burning brightly in anger. “I will n e v e r betray Glitch, not even when you throw my dead body in whatever ditch you find suitable,” Puzzle hissed, voice low with venom as he glared at Ryan with angry, dead eyes, even going as far as to actually meet his eyes - something Puzzle rarely ever did. “I do not give a single s h i t  to how much you torture me. I refuse to e v e r betray Glitch and there is n o t h i n g you can do to change that.”

Ryan blinked, taken back at the sudden hostility. Puzzle had never actually been hostile to anyone before, usually keeping quiet and glaring at the ground. He was probably hostile inward, but outward, he couldn’t even look into someone’s eye without flinching, much less like this. The only time he was hostile was when he told someone to fuck off and glare at them when he refused them. That was the most hostile Puzzle had ever gotten before, until now. Ryan took a few seconds to regain himself, narrowing his eyes at Puzzle once he did so.

“Is that so?” He asked casually, challenging him to dare speak up against him again.

“Yes,” Puzzle hissed, not backing down. The anger, hatred and defiance in his eyes was clear. “I  w i l l  n e v e r  b e t r a y  G l i t c h,  y o u  p i e c e  o f  u s e l e s s  s h i t.”

~~~~

Puzzle opened his eyes, blinking. When he looked around, he realised he was still in his cell. His cell that Eldwyn had given him. How nice.

Oh, so. It had been a dream. A flashback of his time with Ryan. He chuckled bitterly. Weirdly enough, Ryan had actually been okay with him not wanting to betray Glitch. He had only been punished for calling Ryan a useless piece of shit, but everything else? Ryan was actually okay with everything else he had said, which confused the hell out of Puzzle. It was weird he was okay with everything else. It genuinely seemed like Ryan would have been okay with the entire situation, if not for the insult Puzzle had aimed at him. Granted, Puzzle wasn’t punished right away. He was punished a few days later, after his current injuries at the time had healed somewhat.

Ryan had decided to have some “fun” with him before he punished him. “Fun” consisted of being restrained to Ryan’s bed and quite frankly, being raped as much as Ryan pleased for several days. He hated it when Ryan used him as his sex toy.

Puzzle sighed. At least he didn’t have to worry about that part anymore. He wasn’t anyone’s sex toy anymore, but he sure as hell still got tortured daily. If anything, it was more frequent than when he was with Ryan. Eldwyn had more of a goal than Ryan did, meaning he needed Puzzle’s Trait more. Meanwhile, Ryan sold him off just for the profit. Occasionally, Ryan was nice to him and didn't sell him off for a while, but Puzzle was usually restrained to his bed in that time and those were the days Ryan raped him the most. Sometimes Ryan was genuinely nice and didn't do anything to him, but more often than not, Puzzle would be raped. It wasn't all rape though. While Puzzle had never said he officially gave consent, he had had sex with Ryan willingly before.

If Puzzle was desperate enough, there was a way he could avoid being sold off for an extra week or two. Ryan loved playing with him, but he loved it even more when Puzzle was willing. So, if Puzzle was willing and actually good enough in bed to satisfy Ryan, then he wouldn't be sold off for a while as a reward.

Ryan made more than enough on a daily basis and wasn't anywhere near desperate for money, so he didn't mind keeping Puzzle for a few weeks, granted he did as he was told.

Puzzle did whatever he could to lessen the pain he was constantly under. Even if that meant satisfying Ryan in whatever sick way Ryan desired and Ryan really did have some sick ways.

Puzzle sighed again, shaking the thoughts from his head. He wasn't with Ryan anymore, so that didn't matter. It didn't mean it could erase the things he had gone through or done, but it wasn't relevant enough right now. He almost wanted to go back to Ryan. Ryan could be genuinely bargained with, he could reasonable and believe it or not, but in Puzzle's later years with him, Ryan had actually let him go outside. Of course, Puzzle had to be really good and complete whatever task he was given quickly, but Puzzle had found himself to be a lot more willing to do things for Ryan with the rewards the man offered him.

When Glitch came and got him, would Puzzle be able to tell him about Ryan so he could be locked up? Immediately, he felt giddy, an excited feeling bubbling up within him.

Glitch was coming to get him.

He could be free soon! Even if that freedom would be taken away again - he had learnt not to hope too much - he'd still be able to see his family again! He'd see Glitch and Pari again! Vex too! A smile spread across his face, happy tears brimming his eyes. God, he was so thankful to Daniel. Really, he was. The man had already done so much for him.

Puzzle already knew that Glitch had became the Venova Army General. One of his buyers wanted to know how to take Glitch down - of course, Puzzle had told them to go royally fuck themselves - and Puzzle had been forced to use his Trait to get information. Puzzle was shocked when he found out the information, as his Trait informed him that the General Glitch he had found out about was indeed his childhood best friend. Unfortunately, Puzzle's Trait had failed to tell him that Glitch was searching relentlessly for him, as well as Glitch's weakness. He didn't know that Glitch's weakness was actually  himself.

Regardless of whether Puzzle knew Glitch's weakness or not, Puzzle downright refused to tell them anything. He'd die several times over and he'd still refuse to tell them shit.

But what Puzzle did know, was that Glitch was coming to get him and considering that Glitch worked for the military, he would have the power to do so. Puzzle took note of the fact that since Daniel and Lawzus came to speak to him, Puzzle was able to use his Trait by will more often. Of course, he kept that a secret because no fucking way was he letting anyone know that. Puzzle decided that when he had a little more control over his Trait, he'd see how Glitch had been doing all this time. It may end up hurting him more, but he wanted to risk it. He wanted to see how Glitch had been. He wanted to see how Glitch had been living all this time.

He wanted to know, and soon, he would.

~~~~~

Didn't go quite as expected, but I'm happy with it. ;")
I'm getting more used to writing things with Ryan, so this is actually really good practise for me for Voices That Go Unheard.

- Lilly out!