Farron needs to stay by Folly's side to protect her. He seems to understand this as with a tick in his jaw, the brown haired man retreats back into the crowd.
"Chain them to the post." Jack says, gesturing to the wooden stake they've propped up when they made camp.
"You're going to do it out here?" Maver scoffs out, his dark eyes scanning the crowd of people.
"We're setting an example right?" Jack grins from ear to ear, his Malice visible in the crease of his cheeks. "How can they see the example if we hide them away?" He turns towards the crowd and puts his hands on his hips. "Now. Chain. Them."
The silver coins in Rancid's pocket jingle as he's shoved to his knees, his arms bent against his back.
"Hold on." Jack says. He bends down and digs in Rancid's pocket. "You steal these too, boy?" He counts the silver with an arched eyebrow, "There's no way you just happened to get your hands on five silvers."
"No, I wor-" Rancid's head snaps to the side when Jack smacks him.
"Don't lie to me." The older man chuckles. He straightens and puts the coins in his coat's inner jacket. "These're mine now."
"R-Rancid-" Palik stutters from behind him. Rancid can't see him, but he can feel his brother's hands chained an inch above his. He can feel his thundering pulse beneath the thin skin of his wrists. He must be terrified.
"Quiet." Jack says, walking around to his side.
"I'm sorry." Palik whispers with a sniffle.
"I said quiet!"
Rancid wants to tell Palik that it's fine, he doesn't need to feel guilty, but he'd rather not piss the esper off anymore than he already is. He's the one with all the power here. The hero who isn't actually a hero.
"Maver, Warner. Hit them." Jack orders two of his men.
"What?!" The female guide shrieks and Rancid winces as his left ear pops. "No." Jari steps forward, intending to put a stop to her captains ridiculousness, but other members of the team block her. She glares at them, a heavy guilt eating away at her insides. She should've guided Jack before they arrived at Salacity, she knows that.
This is partially her fault for not doing it.
"You wanted to drag it this far, and you're not even going to do it yourself?" Maver glares at his leader, taking a stance with the red haired woman.
"This isn't just a lesson to them." Jack says, "This is a lesson to you, for defying me." He pokes a firm finger into Mavers' shoulder. The green haired esper scoffs, now Jack is making up excuses to go with his power trip.
"Defying?! We -" Maver begins but is cut off.
"Do it!" Jack snarls, his pale face turning red from anger. "Unless you want to join them on the post?"
Jari gasps, her blue eyes widening.
"Then chain me." Maver growls, stepping into Jack's personal space. They stand nose to nose, and Maver can see the red vines in Jack's scleras. How can he not see that he needs guiding?
"Maver, no!" Jari shouts.
"What did you say?" Jack's question sounds more like a threat than anything. As if he can't believe his subordinate would take the side of a street rat than his Captain.
"I said chain me!" Maver doesn't waver in the slightest.
The camp goes quiet, the other espers watching. The people in the crowd erupt into whispers, shocked by what the younger esper is saying. Why would he do all that for a nobody young punk?
"What, you think I won't?" Jack glares at him. "Jari." The guide's name leaves his lips in a snap, "Cuff and chain him with the gutter rats."
Jari's hands clench so tight, her nails draw blood from the heels of her palms. With stiff movements she does it.
Rancid watches as the esper named Maver glares at his leader. When Jack turns away to talk to Warner, Jari and Maver exchange a few words, their voices too low for him to hear.
Suddenly, Warner kicks Rancid's knees out from under him and he falls against the post, the chains around his wrists clinking together. His jaw grits at the pain the flares up his thighs, but he refuses to make a sound. He won't give Jack the satisfaction.
"Do it."
Rancid doesn't say anything as he glares up at the espee. He can't see his younger brother anymore but he can hear the thwacks of skin hitting skin, and Palik's quiet whimpers.
The esper, Maver, doesn't make a sound as his comrade beats him.
Rancid clenches his jaw tight as Warner punches him in the gut. He gags, his empty stomach threatening to spew acid. Maybe he should've eaten something, it would've been satisfying to throw up on the guy.
"Harder." Jack orders, taking in the crowd's reaction.
"But-"
SMACK!
Jack back hands Jari, her head whipping to the side, red hair sticking to her lips.
"Keep talking back!" He spits. "You damn sympathizer, I'm your leader, now stop questioning my orders and hit. Him. Harder."
Jari licks the blood from the inside of her cheek, but does as he says. "The kid passed out." Jari snaps at him when Palik goes limp.
Rancid flinches. He desperately wants to look behind him to see the damage done to his younger brother, but it's impossible to move.
"You knocked him out?" Jack growls.
"You're the one who told me to hit him harder." Jari hisses at him.
"Wake him up and unchain him." Jack waves a dismissive hand.
"Yes, sir." Jari mocks.
A bucket of cold water splashes on Palik, the liquid also catching on Rancid and Maver. When Jari unchains the young teen, he's dragged in front of Jack. Rancid can see him clearly now that he's in his line of sight. He takes in the blue and black discoloration around his jaw, the way his left eye is already swollen shut. Drool dribbles down his chin, red blood mixing with his spit.