"With that taken care of, Justin, tell me how you feel?"

"I feel, relaxed."

"That's good... What Jason, are you upset I hurt your friend? Family shouldn't hold grudges against each other."

"He's... still moving!"

"What?"

Liquid poured from my eyes as I dragged my face across the floor. My senses were so dulled I couldn't be sure if I was still on the floor. I tried to speak but my words were muffled by the blood pooling in my mouth.

"Jason, tell me, what is he trying to say?"

"No."

"No?"

"I don't want to go in his head again, it's..."

"Ah, I understand, it probably isn't very pleasant in there right now, is it? That's fine, I suppose I already know what he's thinking."

A voice appears so close to my ear it might as well have been in my head.

"The funny thing is I never intended to harm your mother. I actually liked her, she had quite a will. Do you realize you weren't the person I wanted to push? Why would I try to control you when I could have gone straight for your mother, she was already in control of you after all. The answer, I tried, but no matter how hard or subtle I manipulated her she wouldn't budge. In my time getting to know her I even grew to like her and then... well, you know the rest. So on that note, this one is for her."

I have to... I... Kill... Can't, stop... Kill... Kill

BAM!

My consciousness finding its way back I could hear people. Two, maybe three, they seemed to be talking a few feet away from me. Opening my eyes I saw Wayne, Carnie, and Veronica. I sat up and called to them, but what came out sounded strange.

"Tom, your awake!"

"I heard you got that tight ass handed to you on a plate?"

"What's wrong with him?"

I speak again, this time the sounds coming from my mouth sounded as though I was trying to speak without my tongue.

Wait, my tongue, where...

"Tom, what's wrong?"

"Holy shit! He's missing half his tongue! That's sick! They really did fuck you up, I can't wait to tell Red about this!"

"Oh, so you and her are back on speaking terms?"

"Of course, once you've had me you can't live without it!"

"So what I heard about you crying in front of her door wasn't true?"

"What! I, 'course not!"

While they are having their little banter I look at Wayne, a sense of panic running through me as I try to speak. Something I've been able to do all my life is now taken away from me. It feels as though I have been separated from the world, now unable to communicate with anyone.

"Oh look at him struggle, he's like a little baby! Alright tutts," A loud, sharp sound rings out from Carnie's hand connecting to Veronica's ass. "Go help the poor guy out."

Veronica's face is displaying complete and utter shock, "Don't you--"

But she was cut off before she had a chance to take in the situation and form her thoughts, "Are you not going to help him? Man, that's cold, and that's coming from someone who's eaten people."

"I never said I wasn't going to help him! I was getting ready to but you--"

"Alright then," Carnie spouts as she pushes Veronica towards me, "Right in his mouth, and Tommmmyyy, don't you forget to swallow!"

Veronica is clearly embarrassed by the statement but the last part catches me so off guard that I don't even realize what's happening. Not until something lands in my open mouth. Between the shock of not being able to talk, the pain in my right arm, the realization of my missing tongue, and the incredibly crass nature of Carnie, I didn't even think to dodge it.

My instinct is to spit it up and rinse my mouth out. No matter how hot the chick, if you're not expecting it and someone spits into your mouth, it feels disgusting. However, I realize what is happening and I, ironically, take Carnie's advice.

I then feel an even more disgusting sensation, the feeling of something growing and moving around in my mouth. It was so horrible I didn't even realize the pain in my arm was gone until I was holding my mouth shut, doing everything in my power not to vomit.

"All better boy?"

I lower my hands and speak, "I think... Yes." I was so relieved to hear my own voice I almost smiled, but as soon as I had a second to think I remembered why I had lost my tongue in the first place.

"Where is Jason?"

Veronica is the one to respond, the other two just look at her. "He's waiting in the arena, for some reason he had this idea in his head that you would want to fight him after you woke up."

I look at Wayne and put my hand on his shoulder. I stare only for a second but it's enough to get what I want across. I stand up and Wayne follows behind me. Moving Carnie out of the way I walk to the door of my cell and round the corner. Instantly something is there so I put my hands out, stopping myself from running into it. Looking up I see a beautiful woman with a shaved head and glimmering red lips. Her face begins to blend in with her lips as I pull my hands back, off her chest.

"I..."

Complete and utter silence. The world itself must have stopped spinning as not to make a sound, the moment lasting forever with my perception activated. I had instinctively activated it out of fear.

Is she going to attack? No, of course she is. What will it be? A front kick, a straight punch, maybe a grab and slam. If any of those I hope it's not that last, if she gets ahold of me there's nothing I can do. I might be able to get past her while she's still in shock? Although, my best bet might be to take the hit and use its force to put some distance between us, like I did in our match.

Before I decided on a course of action a voice comes from just behind me, "Red? What are you doing here, I thought you said you didn't want to co--why are you making that face?" Carnie maneuvers around me with inhuman speed until she is standing directly in front of Red, "Come on, let's hurry to the arena! He's about to fight Jason, don't ask me why, boys don't make any sense! But, If we stand by the entrance we will still be able to see them fight!"

Carnie grabs Red's arm and she turns away, getting pulled along by Carnie. She must still be in complete shock at what just happened. I don't breathe a sigh of relief until Red disappears around the corner.

Wayne walks up beside me and speaks, "How are you still alive?"

"I don't know..."