Janus leaned back against a tree. He ran one long fingered hand through his brown hair and scanned the people passing. This was the only tree in the city. It was huge and made him feel safe. He knew he wasn't though.

He had been running for his life for the last week and now, he found himself here. At least he had a bit of breathing room.

Just a short break... then keep going.

He kept his mismatched gold and silver eyes open despite his desire to sleep. He jumped at every little sound, and had a momentary jolt of panic every time he spotted a person with long black hair.

Must... keep moving.

Janus moved away from the tree. He stumbled a bit as he walked. He was so thirsty and even stronger than that, he was hungry. His vision was starting to get a bit fuzzy around the edges.

Have to get away. Have to keep moving. Must... keep... moving.

Janus' foot caught on a mound of dirt and he tumbled to the ground. He groaned and pushed himself up almost immediately.

You stop. You die. Death won't help you.

He got to his feet, and continued on. He couldn't afford to get food or water. Not here. Not yet. When he got to a place with fewer people then maybe he would take the chance.

I can keep going. I will keep going. I have to.

Janus ducked into a narrow street and moved down it as quickly as he dared. He emerged on an almost completely empty street. The change startled him. It shouldn't be this quiet so close to the center of the city. It was unnatural.

It's darker here. Oh no... it's darker...

Janus broke into a run, sprinting away down the street, toward a patch of sunlight. A wall of solid darkness appeared in front of him. He almost crashed directly into it, but stopped just in time. He turned slowly, panting.

A choice. She'll be making a choice here. That's my advantage.

Janus stepped back as the young woman approached. She seemed to be nearing her twenties. Her black hair shimmered around her shoulders. Black clothes and chocolate brown skin soaked up the light. Her eyes were like dark pits of ebony, no white to them at all. She smirked, holding a long, wickedly curved dagger in each hand.

Instinctively, Janus pressed his back to the wall of darkness. This turned out to be a terrible mistake. The shadow latched onto him, thin threads of it wrapped around his arms and legs, snaking up his chest. One larger tendril wrapped around his neck.

The woman stepped up so she stood directly in front of him. The tendril around Janus' neck tightened and he gasped. It didn't completely cut off his breath, but it came close.

The moment of the choice.

Janus grabbed his chance and the whole world froze. The girl blinked in shock.

"Think carefully... on your choice," Janus said, his voice strained and thin as he fought to breathe evenly. "I can't hold this long..."

His hold of the time was already slipping. He noted a cat prowling around a short distance away. Blasted creatures.

The young woman stared at him with an odd mixture of admiration and disappointment. "You're not using technology for this."

Janus didn't reply. He was too focused on keeping time held in place. He forgot to control his breathing and quickly grew lightheaded.

Janus' head dropped. His vision clouded. He felt his hold on the time slip away completely. He drew in a long, shaky breath.

He felt the thing around his neck withdraw. The other strands holding him up let him fall and he crumpled to the ground. He automatically tried to get up and move away, but the hard, cold tip of a boot slammed into the side of his skull.

-

Janus came to slowly. He was even thirstier and hungrier than before. His head pounded. His mouth had been taped shut and something was tied over his eyes. He groaned and tried to reach his hand up to feel the side of his head. His hand didn't move.

He pulled, finding quickly that his arms had been tied behind his back. A bit more shifting slowly revealed exactly how helpless he was. His legs were tied together in no less than three places and his arms were tied securely behind his back. He must have been like this for a long time because he was sore.

A shiver ran through him. He was laying on a cold, smooth floor. Somehow, he stayed calm.

Janus lay still for what seemed like an eternity, unable to do anything but listen. Eventually, a door opened nearby. A moment later, someone with ice cold hands grabbed the collar of his shirt and started dragging him across the floor.

Janus struggled against whoever was dragging him, making muffled protests through the tape. Whoever it was kneed him solidly in the gut. "Stop that!" The cold voice of the young woman who had been chasing him.

Janus wasn't about to let a knee to his stomach stop him. He'd been through worse. Much worse. He redoubled his efforts.

The woman sighed loudly. Her fingers snapped and a cold ring circled his neck, squeezing firmly. "The more you fight, the tighter this gets. So it's in your best interest to stop."

Janus fought a bit more, then realized she was right when he felt faintly light headed. He stopped, letting himself be pulled along. Even though he wasnt fighting anymore, the ring tightened until he couldn't breath at all.

Janus twisted himself hard, struggling to get breath through his nose. He was thrown down hard. He fought against his bindings, trying desperately to get a breath into his lungs. His mind was beginning to fog.

"That's enough, Nyx," a deep, calm voice said. "Stop toying with him. Take off his blindfold and the tape."

The tape was ripped painfully from Janus' face as the pressure around his neck eased. He gasped, coughing violently from the sudden intake of air. Cold hands pulled him up so he was kneeling. His blindfold was removed.

Janus squinted as bright light hit his eyes. He was pulled upright so he was on his knees. His eyes slowly adjusted to the light. He was in a long room with no decorations in the middle of a large circle of chairs. Only one of the chairs was occupied. The shadowy woman stood behind him.

On the chair directly in front of Janus, sat a man. He looked older than Janus, though not by much. His hair was such a pale blond it almost looked white. His skin was tan and he looked at Janus with a piercing, electric blue gaze.

Janus stared right back, his eyes glinted in the bright light. Shadows fell on him harshly, giving a darkened impression of a second face. "What do you want with me?" He snapped.

The man tilted his head to the side. "Not scared?"

Janus just gave him a glare. His mismatched eyes gave the look an extra piercing effect. "I choose not to be. I've faced worse than you."

The cord around his neck grew tighter and he shot an annoyed glare at the woman behind him.

The man chuckled and waved a hand. "You're dismissed, Nyx."

The woman, Nyx, stood stiffly. The man gave her a look with one eyebrow raised and she quickly turned. She stalked between two chairs. The door slammed a moment later. The cord around Janus' neck vanished.

The man turned his attention back to Janus. "What's your name?"

Janus glared, but said nothing. Just another choice to make. He could stay quiet.

The man sighed and leaned back. "Alright then. I'll start. I'm Zeus. Zeus Clipston. And you are?"

Janus hesitated. He was the prisoner here, why should he tell the truth? "Bifrons."

Zeus grinned broadly. "Janus."

Janus curled his hands into fists. "No. Bifrons." He tried to hide the cautious fear in his eyes without success.

Zeus laughed. "Your name is Janus. Bifrons must be a nickname? Clever attempt, but I know about mythology. I won't push for your surname, dont worry." Zeus continued to ignore Janus' open hostility. "I understand you have some abilities?"

Janus didn't respond.

Zeus sighed. The pull of a choice, a very large one, caught Janus' attention. Zeus reached his right hand toward Janus. A lighting bolt was tattooed on his palm. The choice had something to do with Janus.

Clever...

Time stopped. Janus had more difficulty holding it. His hunger and thirst became more intense. "Think carefully about your next move. You may not wish to do... what are you doing exactly?"

Zeus leaned back. "I was about to kill you. I've decided not to."

Janus slowly released his hold on time. "Why are you all so intent on killing me?"

Zeus ignored the question. "Tell me about yourself, Janus. Your powers, your life, possibly your full name."

"No."

Zeus had the nerve to actually look surprised. It was as if he were unused to people denying him. "No?"

"No."

Zeus sighed. "How about this. You tell me about your life and powers, the name can wait, and I untie you."

Janus looked down at the floor. "What happens if I say no to that too?" He asked quietly.

Zeus shrugged. "I can kill you, keep you tied up, or I can have Hecate erase all of your memories and bring you to a hospital claiming you were hit over the head by a falling branch or something."

Janus scowled. He didn't like the idea of telling this total stranger about his powers and life, but he hated his other options more. He closed his eyes, contemplating his choice.

Zeus waited patiently. He wasn't going to force a decision. He could afford to wait.

Janus sighed at last and looked up. "Untie me. Take me somewhere smaller and completely private. Then we can talk."

Zeus smirked. "I'll untie your legs, but not your arms. Not until I know your powers. You understand."

Janus didn't meet Zeus' gaze. "Fine... I understand..." His shoulders slumped. He was in no position to argue.

Zeus gave a satisfied smile. "Good. Glad that's settled." He waved a hand.

The sharp smell of electricity filled the air. Janus felt the ropes behind him snap. He could tell his pants were charged with static, but his legs were free now.

Zeus stood and reached out to pull Janus up. Janus jerked back. "Don't touch me," he growled.

Zeus pulled back and watched. It took Janus several tries, but he eventually got his feet beneath him. He stood slowly. He noted with some satisfaction, that he was taller than Zeus. He held his head high, despite his arms being tied behind him, doing his best to not look as beaten as he felt.

Suddenly, black spots started to form in Janus' vision. How long had it been since he'd had water? He couldnt remember. He swayed on his feet, his head felt like it was suddenly made of cotton. "Zeus..." his voice sounded like little more than vibrations in his skull.

Zeus said something in response, tilting his head. Was that a question? A snarky comment? He couldn't hear.

Janus blinked slowly. His eyes rolled back into his skull. His legs collapsed. He was completely unconscious before his body hit the ground.