Frank staggered through the desert, his breathing slow, his vision swimming as he looked upon the horizon, his eyes searching for Battery City. He knew that he had made a mistake leaving the Killjoys, but he wanted to protect them, he wanted to stop his friends getting hurt. Frank couldn't stand to watch anyone else die, especially not people he loved.

Frank stumbled slightly, his legs collapsing underneath him as he travelled towards the floor, his head colliding with the compacted sand. He grunted, his voice echoing around the desert as he lay there, his cheek pressed into the scalding hot sand. In the distance, the gentle rumble of a car forced Frank back to his feet, his body aching as he pushed himself further into the desert, further away from Gerard and Mikey. It was his third day without water and it was starting to take its toll, hallucinations frequenting his days and nightmares filling the nights. "I wanna die." Frank whispered to no-one, stumbling over Route Guano and coming to a stop, the click of a gun's safety freezing him in his steps.
"Hands up." Growled the Draculoid behind him. Frank complied, raising his burnt arms above his head, groaning as the peeling skin on his shoulders stretched. "Turn around slowly." The voice ordered, the barrel of the gun stopping millimetres away from his nose. "Okay, on your knees or I shoot." Without thinking, Frank dropped, his knees colliding with the pavement with a resounding crack. The Drac walked behind him, his gun poised and ready as he handcuffed Frank, tugging his arms into an unnatural. "Korse will enjoy you Killjoy." He cackled as he dragged Frank into the back of the car.

---

Gerard paced the diner, his footsteps keeping anyone who attempted to sleep in the land of the living. "Where the fuck is he?!?" He shouted, slamming his fists down onto the table in front of Damon. "Where the hell is Frank?"
"We're trying to find him Gerard but there isn't much hope. If he didn't get captured, he will have passed out from dehydration and will probably be dead before the day is out, and that is the best way to go. If Korse and his minions got him? Frank will be tortured until he is holding onto life by a thread, then he will be either sent into the desert or slaughtered. Either way Gerard, he's dead. There isn't any way around it.”
“There has to be!” Shouted Gerard, his hands in fists beside his legs.
“Calm down Gee.” Mikey whispered as he placed his hand on his brothers shoulder. Gerard sighed, shrugged Mikey’s hand off and walked from the diner, dropping onto the trunk of eight legs. His eyes scanned the horizon, his pulse pounding in his temples as he thought over what Damon had said.

“Gerard.” Beth muttered as she walked up, a can of food in her hand. His head shot up, the dried tears on his cheeks making his skin ache.
“Hmm?” He asked, his voice hoarse from crying.
“You need to eat something.” She said, sitting on the trunk next to him. Gerard accepted the offered can and spooned some into his mouth, swallowing the foul food before placing the can on the hot metal and sliding off the car, stepping away from Beth as the tears began to fall again. “Gerard?” She asked, walking up behind him and wrapping a hand around his arm.
“What Beth?” He snapped, spinning around and looking down at her. “What do you want? Are you here to tell me that I should forget him? That I should forget one of the most valuable members of the team?” She shook her head, her hands still on his arms.
“Gerard…” Beth whispered, her voice hoarse. “I…uh…” She began, unsure of how to say what was on her mind. She shook her head imperceptibly, the movement causing her hair to shift slightly. Without thinking, she stepped closer, standing on her tiptoes as she pressed her lips to his. Her arms snaked around his neck, Gerard’s hands immobile beside him, his lips unresponsive. Beth noticed that he wasn’t responding and pulled back, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry Gerard. I thought you wanted it too.” She muttered, the tears evident in her voice.
“Don’t apologise.” He whispered as he turned and walked away, calling back over his shoulder, “My heart belongs to someone else Beth.” She watched him walk away, her breath getting caught in her throat as he disappeared around the corner.

---

“Sir, we have someone for you.” Said a Draculoid, his posture straight as he stood behind Korse.
“If it isn’t a Killjoy I don’t want to know.” Korse growled as he stood in front of his computer, his fingers flying over the keys.
“It is a killjoy sir.” The soldier spoke, his voice wavering slightly towards the end, fear evident on his face.
“Take me to him.” Korse snapped as he turned around, his face set like stone as he was led from the room. They walked down sterile white corridors, the only color was the splashes of red on the exterminate posters. After coming to the end of the corridor, Korse placed his keycard in a small slot in the wall, unlocking a door to the prisoners wing. Walking past the cells caused a sense of pride to fill Korse, his heart swelling as he listened to his handy work, the humans pleading for release, or death. “Well?” Korse asked as the soldier opened a door, motioning inside before stepping out and leaving Korse alone with the prisoner.

Korse looked upon Frank, his eyes roaming the burnt and peeling skin, the empty eyes and the look of defeat crossing his features. A low chuckle emanated from Korse's chest, forcing Frank's head up. "Well, well, well." Laughed Korse. "Who do we have here?" Frank flinched as far back as his restraints would allow, growling as Korse reach out to touch him.
"Get away from me you ass!" He hissed, his teeth bared.
"Ooh, you are a feisty one aren't you? Now, tell me your name or we cut your fingers off one by one. Understand?" Korse growled, placing his fingertips on Frank's forehead to aggravate him further.
"Like I'll tell you." Frank hissed, his breathing heavy as he shrank away from Korse's hand.
"Well then." Korse cackled as he pulled Frank's hand towards him and grabbed a knife, holding out Frank's pinky.
"Fun Ghoul!" Shouted Frank as the blade bit into his skin, drawing droplets of blood.
"There we go." Korse laughed as he dropped Frank's hand and stepped back. "That wasn't so hard now was it? All you have to do is tell me where the rest of the Killjoys are hiding and I might not kill you."
"You're one twisted fucker." Frank muttered as Korse turned away, freezing as the words left Frank's mouth. He turned back, his hand coming to stop on Frank's chin.
"You do not ever back talk me Fun Ghoul, ever. I will make you pay!" Korse shouted, squeezing Frank's cheeks before letting him go. Frank spat at Korse's retreating figure, his eyes snapping shut as a Drac walked in the room. "Take care of him." Ordered Korse.

---

Mikey stood in the diner, watching his brother as he tossed and turned, his breathing ragged and small screams filling the room as he became plagued with nightmares. He felt powerless, completely unable to help as his brother sobbed, mumbling incoherent words into the blankets. Mikey's heart slowed as he looked around the diner, a sigh escaping him as he watched everyone sleep, Damon curled up in the corner, drool dripping onto the map on the table. His footsteps echoed as he walked towards the doors, stepping into the cool night air and sliding down the wall, his head in his hands as he dreamt of happier days. There were footsteps in the distance and a flash of colour as a killjoy ran towards them, arms waving in the air as they tried to catch his attention. "Whoa! Slow down dude!" Mikey called as the man came to a stop in front of him, breathing heavy as placed his hands on his knees. "What's wrong?"
"They... they have Ghoul..." He panted.
"Who? What? Hang on, wait, let’s go inside and you can tell everyone." Mikey muttered, walking through the door and slamming a pot against its lid.
“What the fuck?” Shouted Ray as he climbed to his feet, his afro a mess on top of his head.
“Get the fuck up!” Mikey yelled in Gerard’s ear, laughing when he rolled off of the bench. “Right, Josh here has some new, tell them.” Mikey stepped to the side, pushing Josh in front of him until everyone could see him.
“Korse has Ghoul. I was heading this way anyway but I saw a group of Drac’s so I hid. They tied him up and took him to Battery City. He looked like crap guys. What the hell happened?” Josh explained, his words rushed. Gerard’s head snapped up when he heard Frank’s nickname, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
“I’m going to get him.” Gerard whispered, standing up and grabbing his gun from the counter.
“Whoa. No, you can’t go. Not now and not alone.” Ray protested, stepping forwards and putting his hand on Gerard’s chest.
“You expect me to sit back and watch him die?” Gerard snapped, pushing against Ray’s restraining hand.
“No Gee, but we can’t go into this without a plan.” Ray tried to explain.
“No, you’re right. We can’t go into this alone, but I can. I’m going and nothing you can do or say will stop me.” He argued as he strapped on his holster.
“Think about Bandit Gerard.” Whispered Mikey. “Think about Lindsey and what happens when you rush into situations. Nothing good is going to come of running in there without help or a plan. If we want a chance at getting him back here alive, we need to organise ourselves, maybe even get in some back up.”
“Mikey…” Gerard began.
“Gerard, trust me, nothing good will come of this. I promise you that I will do anything in my power to help, but I can’t lose him, I can’t lose anyone else I care about.” Mikey stepped closer to his brother, wrapping his arms around his quivering form. “I promise Gerard, we will save him.”

---

Frank wrapped his arms around his knees, his breathing ragged as he fought off the nightmares. Tears raced down his cheeks as he was forced to recall the day Jamia died over and over again, the medication the were pumping him full of refusing to give him a moment of peace. In the left hand corner of his cell, a spectre stood. Death. Death was observing the person he would claim next, the normally soulless being pleading with the gods to let the helpless human live.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor as Korse marched towards the Killjoy’s cell. The door slammed into the wall and Korse stood in front of Frank, a smile filling his normally emotionless face as he observed the wreck Frank was becoming. “Take him to the chamber.” Korse ordered a Drac behind him. The Drac, his movements sluggish, grabbed Frank’s bound hands and dragged him down the corridor, laughing manically when his head bounced off the corners. Frank was pulled roughly to his feet and chained to the wall, suspended by his wrists. In a moment of terror, Frank screamed, spitting onto the Drac and twisting his body against the wall. The Drac raised his hand and struck Frank, the slap echoing through the chamber. “Leave.” Ordered Korse, his weedy form filling the door frame. The Draculoid complied, closing the door softly behind him. “You will tell me everything I need to know and you might live. If you fight back or do not comply, I will not hesitate to kill you. Understand?” Frank kept silent, his lips pressed into a thin line as Korse stood, his hands on his hips and his eyes trained on Frank. “I take that as a no.” Korse chuckled as he grabbed a short plank of wood from a rack, testing its weight before swinging it behind him and bringing it to meet Frank’s stomach with a crunch. The air expelled from Frank’s lungs in a whoosh of air, a quiet groan leaving his lips. “Where are your Killjoy friends?”
“I. Don’t. Know.” Frank snapped through gritted teeth.
“Really?
“Really. Even if I did I wouldn’t tell you!” Growled Frank.
“Ooh, someone is going to have fun.” Laughed Korse as he beat Frank repeatedly with the plank, stopping at some point to add a nail to the end. “Tell me!” He shouted.
“NEVER!” Frank shouted back, his teeth gritted as the nail imbedded itself in his stomach, grinding through muscle before it was pulled free, blood spraying to the floor as the wound was opened.
“You will tell me eventual Fun Ghoul, that or I murder you like I did the one you loved.” Korse growled before leaving the room, trailing blood behind him as he left.

Frank hung limply from the restraints, the blood dripping from his wounds as he tensed, pain travelling his body in waves. His heart hurt, the memories of Jamia brought to the forefront of his mind when Korse mentioned her, a look of delight crossing his face as he did so. Franks heart was pounding, his breathing slow as he hung, his arms groaning every time he tried to switch his position. It had been three hours since Korse had last been in to see him, injecting him with some form of drug, forcing his recovery to speed up, encouraging Korse to hurt him further. Every time footsteps walked past the door, Frank’s head snapped up, his body automatically on the defensive even though he couldn’t protect himself. Korse refrained from coming back, his absence staring Frank in the face as he passed yet another day without human contact, his body eating it’s final stores of energy as he waited for death to claim him.

---

Gerard closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of rain in the air. His shoulders relaxed as a cool wind blew through the desert, tumbleweeds flying over the roads as they ran from the oncoming storm. His breathing was heavy as his eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of his brother. Sand was kicked up in the distance, the gentle roar of an engine reaching Gerard's ears. He put his hand on the butt of his gun, his muscles tense until he saw the familiar paint streaking down the side of the trans-am. "What'd you get?" Gerard called, standing back as Mikey jumped from the car, a bag clasped in his arms.
"More ray guns and food. We should be good for a couple more days at least." He said, chucking the keys to Gerard.
"When are we going to save Frank?" He asked, holding the door open for Mikey to enter the diner.
"Tonight."

Notes

Heya killjoys, so I held off updating for a reason.... kinda wanted to see if any more people went up for the competition, but no-one did.....

anywhore, time to announce the winner......


drum roll please.....

@RubyToroIeroWayLeto you are the winner!! Congratulations hun, I will sort your character out for its first appearance in the next couple of chapters!