Chapter Text
Wylan was always a coward.
Ever since he was a kid, Wylan was never one to stand up for himself or others. Instead, he hid. Or ran away. That was all he knew how to do. Never once did he stick up for himself, or try to defend himself from his father’s wrath. He broke under the pressure. Every. Single. Time.
Even when he arrived in the barrel years ago, He hid for days terrified someone would recognize him, and Wylan refused to do any jobs that would get people hurt, instead opting for a low-paying job that had him barely scraping by. Things were fine that was, that was until the winter that year hit the barrel hard, and he was on the brink of death from starvation, did he finally agree to an offer to make bombs for Kaz Brekker. He always had to run small errands for the man. Grabbing some ingredients, sending a message to someone. At first, Wylan didn’t think anything of it, just happy enough to get more kruge in. But now knowing the truth that Kaz had always known, horror had seeped into Wylan. Nothing was ever free. There was always a price to it.
Even after helping save Ravka from destruction, Wylan still saw himself as a coward. In Shu Han, he had berated Jesper for hiding who he really was, being a Grisha despite knowing he was hiding who he really was. It was a cowardly move and Wylan knew it, but still, he refused to speak the truth. Even after Jesper had apologized to him! Despite everything. All the love, and support, the patient Jesper had with him, Wylan still never told him the full truth. Of course, Jesper had his ideas of what Wylan went through. It was hard to hide the flinches and nightmares, and the self-deprecating talk on his “condition” But through it all, Jesper stood by him. And Wylan said nothing.
He should have seen it coming in the end, whenever Kaz told those remaining about a heist. “The most ludicrous job ever taken”. How his head turned to stare at Wylan dead on. He didn’t even defend himself after his true identity was revealed. and let everyone spew their hatred at him, even letting Jesper. He could have told him. Told everyone the truth right then and there. That his father tried to kill him. But he didn’t. Even after the ice-court after he finally, finally admitted the truth to Kaz who didn’t even bat an eye at it, his cowardness still stood.
For the plan to work, for everyone to see what type of father Van Eck really was, Wylan once again hid behind a lie and a facade.
Seeing his father for the first time again in years tore through Wylan immediately as he shrunk back to the kid he was before. Despite having a different face, He was still the same inside. Still the same child at the mercy of his father. Wylan was sure Jesper could see him trembling even from far away.
Wylan was always a coward. Until he wasn’t.
He thought hearing confirmation that his father always hated him would be the worst thing Wylan would ever hear. Saints, watching his father try to kill “him” again was horrifying. Even when he challenged his father again, trying once more to reclaim his voice, he thought there was nothing his father could say to make things worse.
But he was wrong.
“Leave the others. Get the girl.” He heard his father say after he had ordered everyone to take Kaz. Something must have happened that Wylan had missed because now his father was going after Inej.
Panic surged through Wylan in that instant. He looked behind him to see Kaz already darting over to Inej, but the tidemakers got to her first.
Wylan shot a glance at his father who was grinning madly down at Wylan before he took off running in Kaz’s direction. He wasn’t thinking. There was no plan. And he was sure that Kaz had no plan as well. All he seemed to care about was to get to Inej.
Inej was holding herself off pretty well, throwing knives at anything that got too close, but even she would miscalculate soon. Someone would get the upper hand. Jesper and Matthias were firing as many rounds as they could at Inej and the tidemakers, careful to not hit the girl but with the blazing sun that was a struggle in its entirety.
A squaller had come down to try to swoop her up, but Jesper was fast enough to shoot him down.
Wylan noticed the next squaller first. Swooping down again the others started to fire even more rounds at it.
Kaz must have seen him as well. But Inej didn’t.
Maybe it was stupid of Wylan. An impulsive decision. But he didn’t care. Something snapped in his mind that instant. He grabbed a flash bomb out from his bag and ran past Kaz, fainting hearing the man call out for him. Or was that Jesper’s voice? Wylan didn’t have time to think as the squaller got closer and closer to Inej and he was running out of time. “Get down!” He yelled out, praying to Ghezen that Inej would react fast enough. Wylan threw the bomb in their direction and shut his eyes in hopes the effect wouldn’t be as blinding. It went off with a loud boom immediately knocking everyone off their feet.
Wylan hit the ground with his ears ringing as smoke clouded his vision. He groaned as he tried to regain his balance, pushing himself up from the ground. Through the ringing and blurriness of his vision, he saw the squaller stumble, clearly blinded and deaf for the time being as well.
He slowly looked around as he stood up. Even though his vision was still blurry, and the smoke had disappeared. Wylan couldn’t see Inej. She was gone. Maybe she left on her own, Maybe Kaz got to her on time. It didn’t matter though. He helped get her out of his father’s grasp. Now he just had to leave before-
“He’s good enough! Grab him you fools!”
Wylan barely had a chance to register what was happening, the wind was practically knocked out of him as something rammed into him before flying upwards, the ground getting smaller and smaller.
Panic filled Wylan as he thrashed in the Squaller's arms, but he held a firm grip on Wylan. As the world began to get smaller and smaller Wylan knew what was happening. A Squaller, especially on Parem would have the capacity to breathe at such high elevations. But as Wylan began to feel himself grow woozy, he knew the air would be limited. So, once again without a second thought he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beaker of power, slamming it against the Squaller's face. Grisha let a scream out as the chemical reaction started. The substance mixed with the air started to burn his face and eyes, and in the end, he let go of Wylan.
And this is where Wylan knew he should have thought things through as he fell through the air. Even if he hit water from this height, there would still be serious damage from the impact.
Another Squaller swooped underneath him just before he hit the ground. For one second Wylan was grateful, but that second lasted too long as he was still in their grasp. And now that Inej was gone his father had eyes on him now.
He would not go back easily.
Wylan quickly pulled whatever else was in his pockets to throw at the Grisha, but he gripped his wrist tightly, making Wylan cry out and ultimately making him drop the vial. And that’s when a blunt force struck him in his head, and the world turned dark immediately.
Waking up was painful. His head throbbed with pain as he slowly opened his eyes. There were hardly any lights, but he could still make out his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that he was in some cellar, not that his father owned, he knew the one under his house was filled with either wine or boxes. And of course, things can change over the years, but this one seemed to be bare, and a bit smaller. He groaned as his memory snapped back to his body, and the events that had just happened flashed through his mind.
They made it back from the ice court, Nina tailored him to look like Kuwei, and he faced his father, his father sent Grisha after Inej and…right. He saved her. But in doing so he was taken instead.
His father took him.
Wylan swallowed in fear as thoughts raced through his mind. He was back to where he was before. Back with his father. The same father who tried to kill him twice. Would he try for a third time?
But before he could be consumed with these thoughts, Wylan shook his head. There wasn’t any time for that.
You need to focus. You need to breathe. Breathe Wylan. Look around you. Find a way out. Escape.
“Okay, Wylan.” He breathed out. “You got this.” They didn’t tie him up, which was good, maybe they didn’t view him as a threat. But in doing so, Wylan was able to move freely around to see where he was. There were no windows, nor smells that could hint at where he was besides the faint smell of salt water. The room was pitch black beside a lantern near the door that illuminated only so much. There was a small table and two chairs next to one wall, and another larger table across the room.
A small part of Wylan only shuddered at what purpose it would hold.
Wylan pushed himself up, stumbling for a moment as dizziness overtook him. His ears still seemed to faintly ring, and even in the dark, it felt like he was spinning. Wylan reached to the back of his head and winced out, pulling his hand back to see a bit of blood. Great. You have a concussion. You’re fine. You’re bleeding but it’s not bad. You’re fine. Just breathe. Breathe Wylan.
What would Kaz do?
For one Kaz would kill everyone.
But Wylan couldn’t do that.
Kaz would make use of his surroundings. Familiarize himself with every nook and cranny. Learn how things work, and make a plan.
So that was what Wylan did. He’s always had an amazing memory, even from a young age. Despite struggling to read all types of books, if someone read it to him, even one time Wylan was able to memorize it word for word. But even then his father didn’t care and only scoffed at all the attempts little Wylan made to try to make him proud.
Ignoring how much his head ached he went straight to the door, knowing full well his attempts would be futile, but it didn’t hurt to try. As he ran his hand over the frame he noticed how it was a simple door, but had no locks on the inside. Everything was on the outside of it. He couldn’t even try to pick a lock if he wanted. That was fine though. He could look around more, or feel around. And that's what he did, moving his hands along the wall in hopes for something, and that's when his feet hit against something metal. Wylan quickly crouched down, reaching a hand forward to feel cool air rush through.
There was a vent. Wylan pulled on it without a second thought. Dammit, it was sealed shut. It didn’t matter though. He could find his way out of this still. Wylan patted his pockets and dread seeped through once more. Everything was gone, well. Almost everything. But it would be too risky to use that right now. Of course, they would take all his bombs and chemicals already. How naive could he be? They wouldn’t risk Wylan blowing anything else up or burning a hole through the metal.
Okay. Okay. Think. You have to think Wylan.
If he could find a way to unscrew the vent, he could crawl in there and find a way out. If he would fit. Maybe he could break a peace of brick off and pry it open? No. That wouldn’t work, it would be too loud as well. Sighing as his options were limited and he didn’t know when someone would check on him, he slowly pushed himself up again and continued to trace hands over the walls for something. Anything, But nothing came.
Wylan continued to force his panic down as he crouched on the ground, scooping up some of the dust and rock sediments. It wouldn’t help him escape, but it could help buy him time. Dust and rocks were always a good source of material if needed. Wylan proceeded to place the handful of dust into his pocket and was about to stand up, but that’s when he noticed it.
A brick jutting out of the wall.
He would have barely seen it in this light. Maybe Ghezen was on his side after all.
Wylan crouched down to grab it and pulled it out easily, being right next to the floor Wylan reached his hand through the wall to feel around, it wasn’t that big of an era at all. But it was big enough for his idea. Wylan pulled open his jacket and reached inside it for a hidden pocket. It was concealed by a “Clasp Locker” some invitation a tailor in the barrel had made, and Wylan thought it was brilliant. It used two jagged metal pieces, connecting them together formed a tight seal on his clothes. Perfect for a hidden pocket. He used whatever kruge he had on him to tailor his jacket to add that for a time when it could be handy. That time being now. Carefully reaching inside he pulled out a metal ball, it would be too risky to use here, as he could easily be captured still. And for all he knew he could be on an island, or a prison, Saints- he may not even be on Kerch anymore. Once he figured out where "here" was, he would use it. This was a last-minute plan if he needed it. His own code black.
He placed the item in the space behind the wall, being careful not to drop it or trigger it.
Suddenly he heard the door open, and Wylan quickly moved to place the brick back, leaving just enough jutting out so he could grab it if needed before scrabbling away from his spot. No one could know anything about Wylan’s plan. If it really was a plan. Right now, it was an idea. An idea to get out of here as soon as possible.
“I see you’re awake. We have so much catching up, don’t we Wylan?” A cold dark voice rang out.
Dread filled Wylan. His blood ran cold as the voice echoed through the cellar. Maybe it was the fact that he had been by his friends before facing his father. But now? Seeing his father alone for the first time in years brought Wylan back to when he was a scared kid. He staggered back after each step Jan Van Eck took, not wanting to close the distance between the two.
It wasn’t until Wylan’s back hit the other wall, did he finally feel trapped.
"That was some heroic act out there,” Van Eck said as he brought the lantern closer. Illuminating only their faces. “I didn't think you had it in you Wylan.” He said as he placed it down on the ground.
Wylan swallowed, his body trembling at every word his father said as his eyes didn’t leave the cold gaze of his father.
"You were always good with chemistry. But I would have never expected you to buy her more time to get away and waste my resources.” He scoffed. “She could have been so useful to me to get back at Brekker.” Van Eck shook his head. “I know Brekker likes to keep his investments close but- it was worth it to see fear on his face. To think, I was this close to having a trade I know I would win at.”
"Don't talk about her." Wylan breathed out suddenly.
Van Eck scoffed out. “I thought you were taught better than that boy. Come on speak u-“
"I said don't talk about her like she’s a thing." He spat out, louder this time. Clearly shocking Van Eck. "Inej is my friend." Wylan wasn’t even sure where this was coming from. His body coursed with fear every second but hearing his father mock and taunt Inej, talking about her like she was nothing but an extension of Kaz unlocked something new in him.
Van Eck’s shock quickly died as he laughed. “Oh. Your friend?” He said taking a step forward as Wylan flinched back, he instinctively moved to shield his face, but his father only reached out to grab Wylan’s arm and pulled him closer, making him whimper out as he stared down at Wylan. “You have no friends, if you did, you wouldn’t be here right now.” His father sneered before tossing Wylan to the side as he fell on the cold ground again.
Wylan winced out as he moved to push himself up, biting back the tears that were forming in his eyes. He knew where this was going. It always went like this even when he was a kid, but maybe those years spent in the barrel made him forget.
“Did your little vacation make you tough?" His father said, stepping towards him before kicking his stomach, making Wylan gasp and fall to his side again, trying to curl up on himself. But it didn’t work. It never worked. He was caged like an animal.
"Did your trip around the world make you strong all of a sudden?"
Another hit his chest, sending the air out of Wylan. He gasped out, trying to regain the lost air as he glared up at his father. "More-More stronger than you will ever be.” Wylan breathed out, wincing as there was another kick to his stomach.
Wylan knew he shouldn’t antagonize his father. He knew he should just take it like he always did. Like the coward he was.
But maybe saving Ravka from the Darkling changed him. Maybe breaking in and out of a Fjerdan prison created something new in him. His father has torn him down so many times and was willing to do the same thing to Kaz. To Inej.
But Wylan wouldn’t let him break anyone else.
"It’s ironic," Wylan muttered out as he finally pushed himself up, trying to ignore the ache in his ribs. They didn’t feel broken, but Wylan had a feeling that wouldn’t last long. "You and Kaz are more similar than I realized.” He said glaring up at his father.
Of course, Wylan wasn't surprised by the punch to his face that made him fall to the ground once more, but he still pushed himself up, biting back the pain as his body screamed at him to just stop. To just take it again.
But another part, a darker and sinister part that hadn’t existed in Wylan until he met Kaz Brekker wondered how far would his father go? He needed him alive did he not? The original plan was to take Inej to make Kaz want to trade in Kuwei to get her back.
And Wylan foiled that plan, forcing him to take him instead. He forced his father to keep him alive for now.
"And what does that mean?" Van Eck hissed out, moving to grab Wylan’s hair and forced him up.
Wylan cried out but continued to stare at his father dead in his eyes. He wouldn’t break under this again. He couldn’t. "Both of you are using me as a hostage for the other one." He laughed weakly. "They don't care for me besides the fact in the demo man. You don't care for me. Twice a trade failed using me." He said. "You really need to get better plans, father."
He still expected the third punch to his cheek again which made him cough out blood.
"They won't come for me." Wylan coughed out. "This...plan to get Kuwei won't work." He knew the crows would never trade in Kuwei. Not even if Inej was here. They would find another way. Make a plan. But his father didn’t need to know that. He still saw Wylan as a weak, pathetic child. Maybe Wylan was still that child at his core. But he was so much more now.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe they don’t care for you. How could anyone love someone like you?" Van Eck smiled, finally letting go of Wylan’s hair. "But business is business. And I can't stop a potential deal." He chuckled. "They have one week to bring me the real Kuwei. Until then, I will make sure you learn your place boy."
And there it was.
You have one week Wylan.
Maybe Kaz would be proud of him if he was here. His father revealed to Wylan the true plan without a second thought.
One week to get out of here.
“And what happens after the week ends…And they’re not here?” Wylan breathed.
Van Eck paused at that, a sly grin spreading on his face. "You remember Miggson and Prior. Right, Wylan?"
And then his false charade shattered in an instant.
No.
No No NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Not again. Not ever again. He couldn’t do it again. His father could do whatever he wanted. Hit him, mock him, Wylan could take that. But this? To relive through the nightmare of that night all over again?
"Not that tough now Wylan? Come on. Where is your barrel charm you must have learned?” His father grinned as they emerged from the shadows like the monsters he had dreamed about as a kid and even now.
Wylan crawled back at that as everything from that night on the boat came rushing back. The cold hands wrapping around his neck, the smell of the ocean. The feeling as he fell headfirst into the water, scrambling for air.
He could parade his false confidence to his father, but not to them.
Miggson leaped towards him first and Wylan shot up to his feet, desperately trying something- anything to get away! But it was no use, Miggson pulled him back with his arm and slammed him on the wall. Hands once again wrapping around his neck. Wylan let a choked sob out as he tried to claw the hands away just like he did all those years ago.
Miggson was wearing some type of glove, Wylan couldn’t quite place what material it was, but Prior had been wearing them as well. He didn’t know why his mind went to that when he was being strangled. He should be focused on trying to escape, but then again maybe it was his mind's way of coping. That was something Wylan always did as a kid, he distracted himself with facts, with information he knew or wanted to know, and he was doing it all over again now.
"You know, last time Prior did this." He sneered. "Now it’s my turn,” Miggson said before leaning in closer to Wylan. “I would have enjoyed seeing the light fade in your eyes But guess daddy didn’t see you as that valuable this time.”
Wylan continued to claw at the hands, gasping out for air as he jerked in his grasp. He silently pleaded for Jesper- for someone anyone-. Wylan knew it was pointless, that they wouldn’t come. Not this soon anyway but he couldn’t help it. His vision started to grow spots as he felt his own hands become weaker and weaker.
“You can change your face, but we will always remember you. You can never hide from ghosts Wylan.”
He let another choked sob out as his mind raced-and that’s when he remembered what he had just grabbed. Still using one hand to claw at Miggson, Wylan used his other hand to dig in his pocket, grabbing the sediment, and without a second thought, he threw dust at Miggson's face.
Miggson let go as he grunted out, hands subconsciously moving to his own face as the feeling burned his eyes.
The moment he let go of Wylan, however, he knew things had to change now. He fought back the urge to crumble, to gasp in air he knew his body needed. He couldn’t stay here and wait for the crows to come. He had to leave. Now. Wylan just had to make it to the other side of the cellar and pull that brick out and he could make it.
Prior came running towards him as Wylan dogged the punch from the man, making a beeline to the wall. People were yelling around him but there was only one thing on his mind. Hands tried to pull his own back, but he slammed his head backward to whoever was holding, the person letting a yelp out and letting him go.
Maybe the barrel and surviving the shadow fold paid off.
Suddenly encased his whole body just as he reached the wall. No, not pain. It was worse than anything he had ever felt before in his life. Worse than in Shu Han when Sankta Neyar began to pull on the metals in their blood. At least with that, it went on for mere seconds. Seconds that he could count. This, however, was worse. So much worse. It felt like every atom in his body was being torn and shaken as his muscles tensed up. He fell helplessly to the ground as the torment continued. Even if he wanted to scream, it felt like he couldn’t. His whole body had locked up.
It felt like he was being set on fire like someone dropped a weight on him. Like he was drowning all over again.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, seconds, minutes, hours, he didn’t know, it stopped. His eyesight was blurry, his head was ringing and his limbs still jerked slightly.
"That was the work of a Squaller. Did you forget already how you ended up here boy? I must say- some aren’t too particularly happy with you or your friends. You killed one of their own and blinded the other.” He heard someone talk, but everything was fuzzy. Wylan tried to pull himself up, but another quick bolt shocked through his body as he cried out again, falling weakly to the ground.
"Don't think you're fleeing that easily." Van Eck said as Miggson and Prior pulled a limp Wylan up, twisting his arms behind his back.
"You're going to pay for that little stunt." Miggson sneered out, twisting Wylan’s arm even more. He let a yelp out and weakly tried to pull away, but he couldn’t.
"This time make sure he doesn't escape." Van Eck says, glaring over at the other two. "And make sure he doesn't have anything else up his sleeves.”
Too late for that.
He felt the two dig through his pockets as he held in his weak smile.
“Just dust from the sediment.” Prior said. “Probably from the walls and all on the ground. He must have grabbed a handful.”
Jan van Eck frowned and gripped his Wylan’s face, forcing him to look up. "You think you're so clever.”
“Clever enough to fool you,” Wylan muttered out, forcing his eyes open. His father stood in front of him, a Squaller stood a few feet behind him as well as two guards next to the door, who were holding their own lanterns illuminating more of the room. “You…you could have easily killed the real Kuwei. We got the upper hand.” Wylan had the upper hand as well. His father was so blinded with rage and pride that he didn’t bother to hide things around Wylan. Or reveal parts of his plan. Using whatever time he had left, Wylan darted his eyes around the more lit room to see if he had missed anything, but there was nothing else.
Jan Van Eck snarled and let go. "For once I'll have to agree with you. The plan to disguise yourself as that Shu boy was genius. Now I don't have to be reminded of what a failure my son is every time I look at you." He spat out.
“No- but I always did take after you. You’ll be reminded of me every time you look in the mirror.” He grinned weakly as his heart pounded. Truth be told Wylan was terrified at evey word he spoke to his father. He never talked back to him like this before, but if this was new for Wylan, it was new to his father as well. And he could use that to his own advantage. .
Van Eck took a step forward again, just like Wylan expected. “You little-“
Wylan, with all the strength he had left kicked his leg straight up, smiling as his father doubled over in pain.
On any other day, Wylan would have shut up and would have taken whatever his father brought on to him. Ghezen knows his body needed a rest already. He would cower in fear like the good little merch boy he is and would accept whatever fate was given to him. But he faced living saints. His father was merely a man. Just a man with power. And power could easily be taken away. Kaz Brekker had showed that with Pekka Rollins. Wylan wasn’t going to bend to his fathers pressure anymore, even if that meant getting hurt himself. To push himself far more then he could handle. But he would do it if it meant protecting his friends.
Jan Van Eck breathed out, regaining his poster as he ran a hand through his hair. "Do it." His father sneered out looking at the squaller, and that suddenly made Wylan realize why the two were wearing gloves. They must have been insulated with rubber.
Miggson and Prior only gripped him harder as the shocks coursed through his body. Even if it wanted to scream he couldn’t. Everything tensed up as he jerked and convulsed in their hold, Limbs stiff as the shocks continued even through the agony. Finally, after what seemed like ages, he felt their grip loosen and he fell limply to the ground, the body still twitching.
Wylan only whimpered as his hands were harshly pulled behind him and tied together, along with his feet. A blindfold was wrapped tightly around his face as another harsh kick to his stomach made him cough out.
Finally, though, he heard footsteps walking away, and the door closed. Wylan let a breath of relief out, resting his head on the cold concrete floor.
Wylan was always a coward.
Ever since he was a kid, Wylan was never one to stand up for himself or others. Instead, he hid. Or ran away. That was all he knew how to do. Never once did he stick up for himself, or try to defend himself from his father’s wrath. He broke under the pressure. Every. Single. Time.
But not this time.
He would survive this. Just like he did before. For Inej, Kaz, Matthias, Nina, Jesper and even Kuwei. He knew his fate could have been avoided, but a worse one could have waited. He knew they were after Inej, and he couldn't put her through this suffering. This was his father. He’s been through this before, he will do it again.
This was his fight.
His friends would make a plan before the week was over, they would find some way to find wherever his father was holding him and bring him back.
He would survive this.
Right?