Eyera (The Eyera Series Book 1) Page 19

  I’m thankful Raiya is alive. We sit in a long silence thinking about what we’ve been through, we don’t exchange stories on what they’ve done to us, I don’t think we can bring ourselves to even mention it. We mainly play with the food.

  “I saw Parrish, he’s alive,” I say.

  Raiya touches her heart and lets out a breath.

  “Where is Orin?” I ask not looking forward to the answer.

  Cyren clenches his fist and rage rests inside his eyes; he stabs his fork into the meat angry, glaring and eyebrows scrunch heavily.

  “He came back with us this morning, but then took him this afternoon.” Raiya answers quickly noticing Cyren getting agitated. Cyren and Orin are close friends, they have been here the longest and I knew how much Orin meant to Cyren.

  “What about Avra?” I ask.

  “I don’t know,” Raiya says.

  I fall into silence, guilt consuming me. I should have left her to sleep.

  “It’s not your fault,” Raiya says.

  “Yes, it is! I promised that she’d be safe,” I indulge into sorrow.

  Raiya gives me a rueful look. If she is hurt, or dead, I will never, ever forgive myself.

  The doors open and Haston walks in, his faces is bruised and he has few minor cuts compared to ours. Haston looks apologetically, Cyren takes one look at him and he is out of his seat stomping over. Haston doesn’t look at him which infuriates Cyren.

  “Ya not going ta look at me now?” he shouts.

  Cyren grabs Haston by the collar and pushes him against the wall.

  “I bet ya knew this whole time,” he says.

  Haston squirms but Cyren holds tighter.

  “No, I didn’t,” Haston says.

  “Liar! Ya galfriend grassed on us, she is the reason why Orin is missing, look at ya, barely a cut, lemme guess, she made sure they go easy on ya,” Cyren shouts.

  “I’m sorry,” Haston says.

  Cyren lets out a twisted chuckle and licks his bottom lip.

  “Oh, ya don’t get ta be sorry.”

  Cyren launches a punch at Haston’s face, he repeats again and again making him bleed. He knees Haston in the groin and leaves him on the floor. Haston staggers, holding his stomach, lips busted and nose broken and walks out. Cyren grabs his tray and throws it across the room. Cyren catches everyone’s attention, especially the guards as they come through the doors.

  “Is this what ya want huh? Beat us black and blue ta the point of us not being able to breathe, ta make you look strong,” he shouts. He picks up Raiya’s tray and bashes it off the table. I’ve never seen him lose his temper like this, Eyera finally snapped him. Raiya grabs his arm trying to calm him down, but he yanks it away.

  “Ya can do whatever the hell ya like, beat me, torture me, take my God damn body if ya wish. But there’s one thing ya can’t do, and that is break me. Ya can never strip who I am because I will come back better,” Cyren squalls.

  The guards have enough of him and charge at Cyren knocking him to the floor; Cyren jumps on his feet eyes growing darker.

  “Is that all ya got? Ha, pathetic. Come on, ya gotta do better than that,” he chuckles coldly.

  The guard throws a punch in his gut making him grunt and punches his face undoing the stitches. Cyren stands with blood dripping down his face and shirt.

  “There is nothing ya can do, there is nothing left for me, so do ya fucking worse,” Cyren spits with loathe

  The guards pull out their clubs and beat him to the a pulp. Cyren laughs at every hit, white teeth shimmering with blood. The guards can’t get through to him and get so angry that one of them pulls out a gun and cocks it to his head. Everyone ducks behind the tables and screams. I am on my feet running at the guard knocking the gun from his hand, and take him down, my foot presses on his throat making him cough loudly, he gasps for air as I apply pressure. Hands latch onto my shoulder, and I’m flung into the air and slammed on the floor, struggling to breathe. The guard raises his club above my head and I wait for the blow, but nothing happens. I open my eyes to see Raiya jumping on his back biting his ear. I look at Cyren’s dismantled face and he smiles at the sight of us fighting back, the doors open and more guards run in.

  I see Haston coming back in taking on two guards. ‘The delinquents’ stand and launch themselves at the guards and join the fight. I see them biting, kicking, punching and anything they can do to the guards. The ruckus of people set fire sending more guards in. A guard punches Cyren trying to end him once and for all. I slide towards the fallen gun, fingers stretching and I pull it closer to me, the feel of the gun is natural and brings back memories. I shoot the guard not thinking this time, the bullet flies and hits the guard sending him into a deep slumber. I fire again at another guard and he touches his neck and falls. Cyren looks up from his pool of blood and mouths a thank you. The gunshot echoed through the cafeteria, and everyone stares at me. The guards stop attacking, and so do the ‘delinquents.’ I drop the gun and face towards the ceiling having no energy whatsoever. I block out certain sounds, in the distance the doors smash open, and Lieutenant Larcival storms in. I look to see his face is red and snarling acrimoniously. Fits of laughter burst from my lips hammering against my rib cage painfully. Everyone stares in confusion, but as I continue to laugh harder, they eventually join in. Laughter is thrown around the room, and the guards try to silence by hitting them, but it only makes them laugh more. My laughter gets louder, and it brings Lieutenant Larcival over, and he kicks me on to my side. He kicks again in the head making my vision blurry.

  Faintly I see him ordering guards, getting everything under control. Four guards drag me up and put cuffs on my wrist tightening it. The room spins and a swarm of sickness sits in my stomach. They take me out of the cafeteria not sure where I’m going, but I know they are taking me to the elevator. Lieutenant Larcival enters saying something, but I cannot understand. The doors open and I’m dragged across the floor, doors automatically open and a chair is bolted in the middle, they throw me taking off the cuffs and strapping me tightly to the chair. Lieutenant Larcival leans closer and his breath etches hot against my skin.

  “Good luck.” he whispers

  My eyes roll to the back of my head, and I shut down completely.

  CHAPTER thirty-five

  A massive headache throbs. I open my eyes to be blinded by a light that hovers above, I blink rapidly, adjusting my vision, I’m fully aware of my surroundings. Metallic permeates around the room, lots of desks with computers beep, a giant monitor covers an entire wall space. Double doors stand proudly and walls whisper, I try to speak, but I get shut down not invited into their conversation. I lick my bottom cracked lip and swallow harshly. I pull my hands up but cannot move them, they are strapped to the armrest, I fight with the little energy. Nothing in this room is familiar. Time ticks by vigorously, how many minutes, hours and days have passed? I panic, the waiting is too long. My veins burn, and heart pounds heavy in my ears like a thousand drums. I cry desperately; breathing every molecule of oxygen. The doors hum open revealing two specialists and Miss Katherine Bennett. Oh, how I loathe her.

  They stand in their usual attires. Miss Katherine Bennett pulls out a black pen from her top pocket and writes on the clipboard; she dips her head at the specialists and they take their seats at the computer. Miss Katherine Bennett strides not looking happy.

  “You have been a pain ever since you stepped foot in here,” she snaps baleful not looking up from her clipboard. Finally, she puts her pen away and looks at me.

  “Where are my friends? What have you done to them?” I shout.

  “Oh, don’t you worry about them, Miss Shader, they will receive the same punishment.” she says.

  My throat swells and blood becomes thick with ice. I look away from her which seems to makers her furious.

  “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” she orders.

  But I can’t. I betray myself. I can’t look up even if I wanted too, it’s harder to concentrate. I feel
a hand slap across my face, little pinches sting my cheeks, and I feel a red mark growing. I watch her hand fall to her side, and I bite my gum hard giving her a death stare which she chuckles at.

  “I told you to look at me,” she says.

  The hungriness of my cursed words wants to be unleashed, but I hold them back dangerously.

  “Your eagerness put you here, Cyren Monroe was supposed to be next, but you … you couldn’t help yourself,” she says with a small hint of being impressed.

  “I should have put you in here right away, after what you did in the city. But I wanted to see how you’d cope and this what happens when I allow you to have freedom.”

  I cock my head and let out a humourless laugh, is she serious?

  “Freedom? This is not freedom, you gave me none of that,” I spit.

  “You’re quite something, Miss Shader,” she says.

  “You’ve hurt these people, physically and mentally abusing them, what you’re doing is sick,” I say.

  “Humph … what does that make you?” she questions sitting on a chair. I knit my eyebrows together, not following her, she sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.

  “You killed my people, to me that makes you like us,” she laughs.

  Oh, that angered me. I am nothing like Eyera. I did what I had to do, to protect my brother and my friends. I never did it for some sick enjoyment.

  “I see it in your eyes, saying we are not alike,” she says.

  “You got that right,” I snap.

  Miss Katherine Bennett tsks, swaying her finger and leans closer.

  “I know who you really are Acelyn Shader, and soon you will no longer be that person, you will be my greatest weapon. Let’s begin shall we.” she says nonchalantly.

  I thrash feeling as if my heart is bursting from my chest. She stands to face the specialists and they wait for her order.

  “Subject 1444, Acelyn J. Shader,” Miss Katherine Bennett says, and the specialists type it on their keyboards, they press enter and something buzzes in the room. Miss Katherine Bennett wheels a machine and clicks it into place, the machine winds and moves. I see a needle sticking out of the machine and it comes closer, making sweat roll down my cheeks.

  “Wait, what is that?” I shake, moving my head avoiding the needle. Miss Katherine Bennett pulls down the headgear and locks it tightly, so I’m unable to move. Miss Katherine Bennett smiles menacingly, she stops the machine, so its eye levelled with me, she leans on the machine like a proud mother.

  “This is the drug known as Crixgen, which I know you’re familiar with. This drug will heighten your emotions, and you will face them. Then the Crixgen will destroy your emotions, every last one,” she says.

  The drug eliminates human emotions, that is impossible, she cannot do this, they cannot, they can’t. She observes carefully as I process the information, this is what they did to those children and teenagers, they took who they are.

  “How can you do that to people? What is wrong with you?” I say.

  “This is the beauty of the drug, and like I said before, Miss Shader, fear keeps order.” She laughs mercifully.

  “The Crixgen is in place, it’s ready Miss Katherine Bennett,” the specialist says.

  She nods with an eerie smile plastered and claps her hands. The Crixgen comes closer, and my pulse beats uncontrollably, and heart painfully beats.

  “No, no, no, no … please, please don’t do this,” I whimper.

  I beg harder and it brings satisfaction to Miss Katherine Bennett, something she’s wanted to see for a long time. The Crixgen stares at my right eye ready to pounce.

  “Stop this, please,” I say.

  “You stupid bitch.”

  My breathing is frantic and I cry harder, their cold eyes pan and they smile as I squirm. The needle stops inches away, looking at it blurry vision. I let out restless icy breaths, heart coming out of my mouth and I feel like I’m about to pass out. The needle moves and within seconds it pierces into my eye, black liquid travelling and a high pitched scream release. I dig my fingerless nails into the armrest gauging. I cry so loud, tears cascade and black forms over my eyes, all I see is darkness. The Crixgen flows through my body and causes me to lose movement, and I lie helplessly as my eyes shut in defeat.

  “The Crixgen has made its way to the brain, she is unconscious.”

  That’s what I hear the specialist say. Miss Katherine Bennett heels click closer.

  “Good, soon she awake emotionless,” Miss Katherine Bennett announces, and I can sense a smile creep on her face.

  CHAPTER thirty-six

  I fall into a black hole, arms and legs flying above as I fall into nothing. I struggle to have control over my body; every part is drained. A cold breeze blows my hair everywhere lifting my clothes. I manage to turn my head stretching my arms to touch the darkness, and it ripples. I touch again with my fingertips sliding down causing it to ripple into water. Suddenly, water explodes from the top and crashes down collecting my body.

  A whisper travels.

  ‘The drug eliminates emotions, don’t let them take yours, you are strong, way stronger than this drug, you are.’

  My body crashes and I awake in the chair, head stuck in the headgear. My breathing is quick, too quick. No matter how many times I breathe, it’s still not enough for my tight and painful lungs. A single light moves pleasantly, swaying side to side. It’s the only source of light in this overcast of daunting darkness. No sign of Miss Katherine Bennett or the specialists, nothing, I’m alone. I think.

  Something scrapes causing my face to crinkle, the light moves faster flickering and buzzing. Little sparks fly from the bulb and falls on my skin. The light grows brighter and hums angrily; the solid walls rumble violently and the floor heats up. It begins to quiver like an eruption, my eyes in a nystagmus flicker; go out of control. I still can’t move. I take a deep breath sending energy into my muscles. I prise out of the headache and break it resulting in snapping into pieces. I run but am stopped as the straps from the chair sprouts high clasping at my naked wrists. I fight with mite as the straps wrap around, peeling parts of my flesh, and I get swallowed back into the chair. The straps wrap around four times on my bloodied wrists and ankles, and I am stuck once again. My mind is the only option of getting out of this; I shut my eyes and whisper to myself ‘I will be okay, this is not real, none of this, this is not real. I’m in control.’ Reopening my eyes slowly everything is still, the light stops flickering. A door glimpses and opens letting in a blinding light; I adjust but then darkness assimilates, and a loud slam makes me jump. I move upright darting everywhere, I know something is here. I can hear something running. Then I hear sinister whispers. I stop breathing, and my heart is the only thing that can be heard.

  “Hello, killer,” a disembodied voice sings.

  I turn to the direction of his diabolical voice but darkness greets instead. Anxiety rots inside my stomach, the voice makes itself visible, and blood drains dry and horror flares. A gaping bullet hole sizzled his forehead, dried blood emanate down his face, and panic hits me as I recognise him.

  “Did you miss us?” another gravelly voice says.

  I see he’s presented with a cavernous hole where his stomach should be, another hole is visible where his heart should be too. The two Eyera guards I killed when I tried to protect Hadrian.

  “You took our lives, why would you do that? We were following orders just like you,” the guard with no stomach says, leaning over breath hitting my nose.

  “You were hurting my brother,” I whimper as his perpetual blood drips.

  Both guards dance forward laughing manically.

  “Boo-hoo,” they sing.

  “Ha! I bet you enjoyed it little killer,” the guard chuckles as he holds is stomach into place.

  “No, of course, I—”

  They cut me off spitting in my face.

  “You loved every bit of it, as soon as the gun sat in your hand, they way it fitted perfectly. The cold remorseful gu
n, and you knew exactly what you were doing, finger on the trigger and you discharged.” He licks his lips.

  He takes a gun from his pocket putting it on his lips thinking.

  “Hmm, I know, let’s see how you like it.”

  They laugh hysterically, the other guard take out his gun and they both point it at me, one shot, two shot and three shots ascend through the air in slow motion. Gold bullets speed and the first makes contact on my left arm and blood exudates, before I can process the pain, the second bullet lacerates my stomach. I cry for help, but silence slips out. The third bullet comes at me with full speed and hits my neck and blood oozes out. I choke. The blood runs down my clothes and covers my hands.

  “Please stop,” I gasp.

  The guard’s roar with laughter and mock my pleads.

  “Acelyn the killer, Acelyn the killer loves to pull the gun’s trigger,” they sing.

  They continue to make low blows, pinching my skin and bruises forming, heat rinses in my veins and to my head. Anger builds and I cannot contain it much longer, everything turns red and my nostrils flare like a beast, I explode. Hands rip through the straps and the chair tips, kill repeats in my mind. I run catching them by surprise as I put my hands in his empty stomach stretching his side, intestines and organs hang out and blood squelches. He screams to his knees trying to put his body parts back in. I lust for his gun and put a bullet between his eyes. I turn to the other guard not thinking, and pull the trigger.

  I stand above them.

  “You both deserve it,” I say.

  Something flaps against my leg, and I look to see a red ribbing on my left leg. I ignore it. I drop the gun coming to my senses, piles and piles of guilt drag on my shoulders. I walk to the charcoal doors pushing them open with my shoulders; I step outside into the light and I wait for it to dim. A corridor remains for me to venture, I lean backwards hitting the wall, the door vanishes. I pursue; not wiping the thick blood that splatters across my face, hot sweat sticks with the odd part rolling down unevenly. Taking small steps, the corridor begins to spiral, making my head spin and nausea invades my stomach. ‘Come on Acelyn get it together, you are in control here.’ I close my eyes and shake, I open them again and the corridor is still. The corridor is never-ending, it feels like the end is growing further apart, I’m stuck on the same porcelain white floor. I string my fingers along the ivory wall and a strong smell of wood hits my scrunched up nose. Its pungent and bitter causing me to cough. I put my hand on the wall and it scalds making me jump back, my hand outlined with blisters.