Drip... drip... drip...

Tiny drops of water splashed into the middle of Janus' forehead. He had his eyes closed. He was strapped to the table so tightly he couldn't move. His fingers and toes tingled.

One of the scientists had heard that this would make him insane. They had decided to give it a shot. They'd had him for thirty years already. He had been on this table for two months.

Drip.

Beginnings.

Drip.

Endings.

Drip.

Choices.

Drip.

I am Janus.

My name is Janus.

I am not crazy.

Janus twisted suddenly, trying to move even an inch. He wrenched his arms up, earning a quiet creak of protest from the wood. It did nothing to increase his mobility.

The door opened and a young woman bounced in. Annie. She was the daughter of one of the scientists, and about as smart as a pile of manure. She squealed when she saw Janus, he knew she found him attractive and hated the fact. 

"Hello!" Annie screeched, bounding to Janus' table prison. "What's this?" She cupped one hand over the water, giving Janus a bit of relief.

"It's torture," Janus said, surprised to find his voice little more than a whisper. He thrashed against the bonds with so much force, one of them bit into his wrist and began to bleed.

Annie moved her hand and the relentless dripping continued once more. Janus made a quiet noise of complaint, closing his eyes again.

"Are you here to save me?" Janus asked hopefully.

Annie crossed her arms and looked at him. "Are you going to tell me your name?"

Janus went cold. "I already have... remember? Henry?"

Drip.

Make it stop.

Drip.

Anything to make it stop.

Annie shook her head. "You aren't Henry. You lied when you said that. Tell me your name, and I'll set you free. After it is verified."

Janus cursed mentally. They had likely figured out that the symbol he had tattooed in the palm of his right hand was symbolic of something. The symbol was the old Greek symbol of his namesake. If the scientists were able to figure out how to do an internet search for it, they would find his name in the blink of an eye. He couldn't have that.

"I can't do that."

"Then you won't go free!"

Drip.

If they figure out mind reading technology I'm as good as dead.

Drip.

This is worse than the fire. Can we go back to that? At least then my name wasn't in jeopardy.

Drip.

Annie was staring at him. Janus could feel her gaze.

"Horus?"

By Olympus... she was going to start guessing. Based on that guess, it was going to be mythology based. As long as she stayed with the Egyptians he would be fine. He stayed silent.

"Hmm... no reaction... I thought maybe the eyes, sun and moon... but no. Of course that wouldnt be it. The symbols don't match."

Janus felt himself grow cold again. Annie wasn't the innocent, stupid girl he had thought she was. She had tied his tattoo to myths. That was a very, very bad sign.

"Dionysus? No reaction from that either." Her tone was almost playful. He could hear the smirk on her lips as she leaned in and whispered, "Could it possibly be... Janus?"

Janus couldn't control his surprise. His eyes snapped open and he looked up into Annie's triumphant face with an expression of pure dread.

Annie's face dared him to object. To say that she was wrong. Daring him to make up another lie.

Janus didn't object. He didn't make up another lie. He didn't claim she was wrong. He simply growled three words, "Go to Tartarus."

"My my my, someone's embraced his name a little too far. Tartarus doesn't exist, love," Annie said with a smirk as she stood up straight.

Janus gave no reply. He growled quietly like an angry trapped dog. The dripping stopped as Annie pushed the contraption away. Maybe she had been serious about freeing him.

She began to sing in Greek. Janus' blood ran even colder. This was not good. He recognized the song, of course. As a member of Olympus, he was trained to recognize it. It was an old song, generally used in ancient times to get gods to do what you wanted.

Unfortunately, immortal people named after gods also qualified.

Pain worse than fire blossomed in his chest, and he grit his teeth. It would kill him if he could resist long enough. He didn't know how long, only that Iris had done it.

He kept his mouth firmly shut and bore the pain in silence as it grew stronger. It began to spread slowly through him. Breathing became painfully difficult. He felt his heart rate increase.

After several minutes, the pain tripled in intensity.

Janus screamed. He couldn't do it. He wasn't like Iris. "ENOUGH! I'LL DO WHAT YOU WANT!"

The pain faded as Annie stopped singing, but didnt go away completely. Janus panted, closing his eyes. What had he done? He was betraying Olympus. A different part of him stayed calm.

Beginnings. Endings. Choices. Janus. Best friend and worst enemy. It was only to be expected.

He was Janus.

Annie undid the straps holding him down, but Janus didnt move. He stayed on the table. Annie stepped back and crossed her arms. She regarded him with one raised eyebrow, perhaps confused why he didn't get up.

When Janus had remained motionless for several minutes, Annie sighed. "Get up."

Janus moved slowly as he stood up. He refused to look at her. His silver and gold eyes gleamed with hatred and barely contained rage. His anger was directed more at himself than Annie.

Sweet and loving Iris had put up with the song until she died. Yet he, determined and harsh Janus, had been too weak to withstand for five minutes.

"Tell me where the other Olympians are."

Janus looked up at her, eyes blazing. "I swore and oath on the River Styx."

Annie scowled. "I don't care if you swore an oath on your dear mother's life. The River Styx is a legend. Oaths on it mean nothing."

The pain in his chest increased as he stood there in silence. This was where he would die. His oath of secrecy was unbreakable, no matter how much he would want to speak, he wouldnt be able to.

"If it means nothing, tell me why I won't be able to give you what you want." Janus could barely hear himself speak. His ears were ringing so loudly, he didnt hear whatever Annie said next.

The high pitched whine that filled his ears was deafening. He clamped his hands over his ears and fell to his knees as the pain flared. He was vaguely aware that he was screaming, but couldnt even feel the vibrations in his skull.

He caught a glimpse of Annie with a faintly horrified look on her face just before his vision went totally dark.

-

Janus woke.

Much to his disapproval.

He was so covered in chains he felt like he was trying to hold the weight of the sky. His knees and ankles hurt from kneeling for who knows how long. He could feel his heartbeat pounding painfully in his skull. A large chunk of fabric, clean thankfully, had been crammed into his mouth, then taped into place. He barely had the strength to raise his head with a quiet groan. The noise didn't make it past the gag.

A couple chains scraped quietly at the motion. The sound echoed around a huge space. It was completely dark. The only thing that met his eyes was solid blackness.

Janus tried to move, but couldn't. Between the chains, and the soreness he was rendered motionless. At least here, isolated as he was, Annie wouldnt be causing him pain. He managed to shift ever so slightly, and fiery pain flashed through him, making him whine a bit. He let his head hang again.

"Well you look a bit worse for wear, that's for certain." The shockingly familiar voice cut through the silence, then proceeded to echo around.

Janus' head snapped up again. His eyes wide with alarm. It was still completely dark. He couldn't see at all, but clearly the one who had spoken could.

"Wow, they really shook you up huh?"

There was the sharp click of someone snapping their fingers, and pinpricks of light appeared floating around him in the darkness. The giant room was little more than a concrete box with a steel door. Janus' chains had been fused into the floor, as if he would suddenly develop superhuman strength. He wasn't alone, however.

A short, willowy teenage girl stood six or so feet in front of him. Dark hair the color of glossy ebony cascaded around her shoulders. Her black clothes and deep, chocolate colored skin made her look like a living shadow. Even her eyes were solid black.

Nyx smirked down at Janus and walked over. "I never thought you'd kneel before me, pretty boy."

Janus' mismatched eyes flashed with halfhearted anger. He growled, but the gag blocked most of it, turning his growl into a low hum.

Nyx laughed and ran a finger along his chin. Janus shuddered at her touch. Her fingers were cold as ice. He glared up at her in sullen silence. He knew that any kind of objection would make her hold him longer than she was already likely planning to.

Nyx gave him a cruel smile. "Aw... what did they do to you little Bifrons?"

"Don't call me that," Janus snapped, but his voice didn't make it out. He jerked toward her, wanting desperately to attack her.

Nyx gave him a cruel grin. She set to work undoing only the chains that held him to the floor. The pins in her fingers moved around inside the lock easily. Janus didn't fight anymore. He let himself slump in the chains. His eyes slowly drifted shut.

Janus opened his eyes a moment later as Nyx ripped the tape off his face. Janus spat out the fabric and flexed his jaw. He growled at Nyx. "Was that really necesssry?"

Nyx smirked. "You want to be free don't you?"

Janus jerked toward her with another growl. "You'll never free me with your hands and you know it full well."

Nyx just cackled as the lock popped open. She pushed the chains holding him to the floor away. He was still wrapped in so many chains he couldn't move from his kneeling position.

"I'll tell you what," Nyx said. Her fingers clicked again and the tiny pinpricks of light vanished. "I'll free you as soon as we get away, IF you say I'm the best Olympian and you kneel to me while doing so."

"In your dreams," Janus snapped.

One of Nyx's ice cold hands slapped the side of his face. He recoiled with a hiss of pain, but said nothing. He felt Nyx's hands encircle his neck.

A cold feeling spread from her fingers like water across his skin. He began to shiver violently, closing his eyes. His fingers and toes went numb. The rushing sound of wind filled his ears. The same wind tore at his hair and clothes with icy fingers.

Just as suddenly as it had begun, the wind stopped. Janus was thrown to a hard marble floor. His head hit the floor with a loud crack that made his vision blur when he opened his eyes. He groaned loudly and felt hands considerably warmer than Nyx's brush against his neck as the blurry figure searched for the locks among the chains.

Janus was still shivering. His vision cleared just enough to vaguely make out the burly redhead in front of him. A weak smile reached his face. "Ah... g'day... Hephaestus..."

Hephaestus raised one large eyebrow at Janus. "What in Hades did they do to ya? I ain't never seen you lookin' this shook up."

Janus shook his head. "We all make choices, H... I choose to keep the last sixty years to myself."

Hephaestus paused at the words 'sixty years,' then he shrugged. "As ya like."