Back at the castle, the whole clan was feeling stressed about losing Brooklyn and that no matter what they did to save him he would be killed. Goliath was sitting in the tv room, but the set wasn't on. He was just staring at nothing, Elisa rubbing his shoulders and hugging him.

Goliath moaned. "I wish I could've stopped that horrible human from hurting Brooklyn again, Elisa. But I failed him again!" He exclaimed, his face in his hand.

"No, Goliath, you didn't fail him. Brooklyn will be saved, we just need to figure out something, for his sake," she said softly, but deep down she felt at a loss of what to do without Anthony harming Brooklyn in the process. She just prayed the young gargoyle would be able to survive.

....

Back at Anthony's place, Brooklyn lay there in his cage, still bonded, restrained, and muzzled. He never wanted this muzzle again but here he was, leashed like an animal. More tears fell down his face at the thought of having just come back from his journey only to be yanked away from home again. And this time, he didn't think he could handle two trips from Montana to New York should he escape.

A small whimper escaped his throat despite the muzzle, wishing for anybody to save him from this. But Anthony promised more torture if that happened which made his anxiety all the worse. He tugged on his cuffs, wincing from the pressure, the cuff around his neck choking him too. What would Anthony want to do to him next? He felt queasy and shivery just thinking about it, ears flat from new PTSD from his capture, afraid for Anthony to come back, though he saw that this house seemed very familiar to Macbeth's home.

His throat eventually began to feel like it was losing air, and the shackle around it didn't help. Brooklyn struggled to breathe through his nose, feeling the walls of his cage closing in around him, sweat coming down his forehead while trying his best to breathe as normally as he could. Why did humans have to mistreat his kind so much?

Perhaps... Demona was right before; Elisa couldn't protect him from humans like this. A soft growl gurgled in the back of his throat, hating himself for siding with Demona. Xanatos had tried to save him too, from what he heard on the phone. It hurt Brook hearing the man say he was willing to buy him to save his life, but Brooklyn knew Anthony wouldn't give Xanatos much choice.

Brook made another weak moan, leaning his head on the cage wall behind him, hating being treated like a slave animal to be bought. But suddenly, he heard the door open, ears perking and his eyes dilating big, for Anthony came back in with Thailog behind him. This was it; it was over for him!

Anthony smiled inside and outside when seeing the petrified gaze on Diablo when coming in. It had satisfied him greatly to hear his 'family' pleading to release their only red devil, which he wouldn't do, of course. Why Goliath even picked this weakling to be the next leader was beyond Anthony's knowledge. Soon, he shall destroy the beast's purpose to live only but to serve him. He stalked up to the caged gargoyle, who shied away from his menacing stare.

"You comfortable, my little Diablo?" cooed Anthony, knocking his knife on the bars. Brook whimpered and shied back further, mostly from Thailog's constant staring, interested in seeing Brooklyn's mentality lowered in such a manner.

Anthony just smiled sadistically. "Well, you won't be here long when I package you up for the trip home to Montana, which is where you belong in my opinion. Your clan doesn't deserve you, Diablo, for only I do. It really was quite satisfying as well to hear that loser Xanatos willing to give his money to me to get you back, too. But before we leave, how about we have a little fun first? Been thinking of twisting that little stomach of yours again, which means... cutting you up." He gave an evil chuckle.

Brooklyn's face paled in fright, not wanting to experience it anymore! A deep chill instantly penetrated his belly. The red gargoyle never wanted to experience such pain again. If he didn't get away now, his life would be nothing again but pain until he died. Brooklyn was normally a tough young gargoyle, but after having experienced the abuse the first time, it had weakened his mentality down a lot more.

Thailog was also enjoying seeing the look of instant fear in the red one's eyes.

As Anthony gazed down at the red male, he said, "And Thailog here is going to have the pleasure of transporting you to the surgical room." Brooklyn began a struggle to try to get loose. "Get him."

"With pleasure." Thailog grinned evilly.

Brooklyn pushed himself into the back wall and with nowhere else to go, his breathing heavy, the black clone got to him, and he pulled him up by his arms and dragged him out of the cage.

Brooklyn tried hard to get his arms free from Thailog's grasp. He cried out even with the muzzle on his beak. But the big clone wasn't going to be dissuaded from getting the smaller male to the room. The red one tried with all his might to get loose, but it wasn't happening. He winced when Thailog held his scratched arm, making the dark gargoyle chuckle. "Aw, does your little scratch hurt?" He mocked, seeing Brooklyn's blood on his hands. It made the red gargoyle pant heavily in fear and felt tears in his eyes.

Thailog tugged him more then. "Get moving!" He ordered sharply, not even paying mind to Brooklyn's scratch, making Brooklyn continue to cringe and cry, still struggling to resist going anywhere.

In the end, Brook had to follow along behind Anthony and Thailog. That was until they got to the room, then Brooklyn started struggling again. No! NO! NO PLEASE! Don't do this! He screamed in his mind.

But no matter how Brook struggled, he soon found himself back on the table and tied down. His stomach felt really chilled in fear.

"I think it'll be fun for you to have that twisted stomach until we get you back home." Anthony sneered at him. "But this time, I don't think I'll be so merciful. You're going to feel every part of this."

Brooklyn peered up at him with sad eyes. The pain would likely either knock him unconscious or it would kill him at the thought of his belly being cut open with him being awake!

"I bet the stomach being twisted hurts, doesn't it?" Thailog mocked the red one.

"Brooklyn, huh? That's not a fitting name for you. Your real name is Diablo. It suits you far better than being named after the bridge." Anthony sneered. "And if you regained your stone sleep, I'll give you more of the serum to remove it, permanently!"

"And that will make your pain last all the more!" Thailog laughed evilly.

Brooklyn watched as Anthony went over to the tool table to get ready for the surgery. His eyes were wide with fear and his ears flattened. His breathing was fast. He gulped at the thought of a scalpel going over his soft belly flesh.

"I'm going to enjoy this too." Thailog smiled in glee.

Anthony was tired of the clone gargoyle. He was glad he used him for getting him captured and into this room, but his services were now over in Anthony's mind.

"I think me and my men can take it from here, Thailog." Anthony declared. "Your services are no longer needed."

Thailog then looked up at the man. His smile dropped, making him suspicious. "And what about my money?" He demanded.

"Oh, you'll get what's coming to you." Anthony smiled. His eyes were to the right behind the clone. He made a head signal.

Brooklyn watched what was going on. Was it possible the tide was turning in his favor? Thailog had always been a menace the moment he had been created.

Thailog had always been one to keep his wits about himself. He had watched Anthony's moves carefully. Behind him, one of his men was taking aim on him. He heard the cock of the gun and then he jumped out of the way as it was fired on him. It wasn't aimed towards Brook, but the red male was terrified of being shot.

The black clone was in the air and he roared in defiance and came down and attacked the men, destroying the gun in the process. He knocked the men into the wall and ripped one's throat with his talons. Then he went after Anthony.

"No one betrays me and gets away with it!" Thailog snarled.

Anthony tried running for the door, but Thailog caught him. He held him by the throat and one of his arms behind his back. Then he saw the surprised look on Brooklyn's face.

If this was going to go sour, he might as well let the victim go. Thailog moved them over to the release button and the bonds released Brooklyn from the table.

"If you want your revenge on him for harming you, now's your chance to get it." Thailog remarked.

Brooklyn instantly was glad for the reprieve, and he sat up, pulling the muzzle off his beak finally. The cuffs on his throat and wrists were also off too. He got up off the table and he looked Anthony straight in the eyes.

For once, Brooklyn saw Anthony was afraid underneath that mask of his. His gaze instantly changed to one of anger. "You will never take me from my clan again. You are the one who is the true monster. My true name is Brooklyn and always will be. I was never Diablo, nor your pet. Now it's your turn to know pain like what you did to me." Brooklyn snarled.

Then, Brooklyn slammed his right fist into Anthony's stomach hard. The man cried out in pain and his energy was now gone.

When he didn't do anything else, Thailog said, "Is that all you got? Get out of here then. This betrayer is mine. This time isn't our time to fight now."

Brooklyn didn't have to be told twice. He immediately took off out of the room, ignoring his still stinging arm from Anthony's knife. He had to find a way out of here.

When he was gone, Thailog then grinned maliciously down at Anthony. He then grabbed Anthony's head in a vice-like grip and the man's hands went to try to get the clone's hands off his head and he began to cry out in a scared sound, but it didn't last as Thailog made a fast move and he broke Anthony's neck in one snap. Then he tossed his lifeless body to the floor in disgust.

Thailog would still get the money he was looking for. He would find it or else.

As for Brooklyn, he soon found some windows lining the garage and he broke his way out. He was falling for a moment before he spread his wings and they caught an updraft. He flapped his wings to help him gain momentum into the air. Now he had to get back to the Eyrie Building, hopefully before dawn.

Thailog found a whole suitcase full of money in Anthony's office. He closed it and took off with it. He didn't care if his men were alive or dead. He wasn't sticking around to see.

Sevarius had snuck out earlier. He didn't want to be part of Thailog's revenge party.

...

Brooklyn hoped his clan were all alright. Boy would his clan be happy to see him. After tonight, he still didn't know if he would be able to patrol again for some time yet. He hadn't even been on patrol when he had been taken this time.

But now, it was over. He would never have to see Anthony again. And if one thing was for sure, Brooklyn would never leave his clan again. But he still wanted to see his kid friends soon, eventually.

He soon arrived at home again. No one was around. It was getting close to sunrise. Brooklyn could breathe a sigh of relief that he was home, safe and sound. His stomach wasn't twisted, and he still had his stone sleep.

Brooklyn was still dazed and shocked that Thailog had actually set him free when he had been the one who had captured him for Anthony in the first place. He couldn't help but look down and give his belly a rub. He was glad it was all in one piece, but it was still shaken at having come so close to being sushi again. The thought made him shiver. He didn't even want to eat anything right now.

He sat down against the wall, knowing sooner or later his clan will soon come home, keeping his eyes open for any signs.

....

Goliath and Hudson had both returned, without having found any traces of Brooklyn, seeing it being nearly dawn. But they would be in for a big surprise.

Brooklyn had been curled up there near the wall, having resting himself for a bit until he heard the sound of wings. His eyes rounded but felt joy at the sight of his leader and elder; Goliath and Hudson. The lavender gargoyle had seen him too and was in total shock, seeing Brooklyn back home safe.

Hudson and Goliath landed, still mystified at how Brooklyn managed to escape. Brook stood up shakily on all fours, tears forming in his eyes. Hudson started to cry too, arms open wide. "H-Hudson!" Sobbed Brooklyn openly, rushing into the elder's embrace without hesitation. Hudson hugged the young gargoyle as hard as he could, Brooklyn hugging back and not wanting to let go, still crying at being able to escape his abuser again, as more wings were heard arriving.

Broadway and Lex were just as stunned at seeing Brooklyn back with them, wondering how he escaped, but that could wait until later, as they walked up to him with smiles. Brooklyn glanced back at his brothers in some fear but eventually allowed them to hug him, his heart feeling like it would overflow from his emotions.

Eventually weariness from the ordeal took its toll on Brooklyn, more than ready for turning to stone. Hudson rubbed his back. "I'll hold ye lad until the sun changes us." Brooklyn smiled tiredly as he saw the sunrise, and his body started to change for the day, still in Hudson's embrace while the others went to their perches and took their stances.