Chapter 8 - Behind Glass Doors
2344 Words
Days fade into night. Time becomes a strange concept. It’s just all the same to me. It becomes just a straight line. A flow I can’t keep up with anymore.
Days, maybe weeks ago they started to test my pain level. For some reason, they are convinced I will change if only they put me through enough.
By now I feel like my body can’t handle much more. Even if they were right -which they are not- and my body could transform into that of a wolf, I think it would kill me. Instantly.
I’m weak. I am in constant pain. I just want to sleep and dream of the snow. Of woods. Running through them freely. Sometimes I can even smell it. The woods, the snow, and a hint of almond.
I’m not sure where that comes from, but it’s there and it soothes me when I feel lost and it all becomes too much.
At least they are feeding me properly. It keeps me running, but it’s not enough. Not after all the blood, they drew from me and certainly not after their cruel experiments.
They tried drowning me. They tried to shock me with electricity. They tried all kinds of things. They even cut me to see if I heal quicker. I don’t. I still have the cuts on my arms. I think I’m healing even slower than usual. Everything is slower than normal.
I wince at the sound of the door to my room opening. My heartbeat picks up. Fear has its claws in me. I know what that sound means. I know they are coming to get me. Trying to force me to turn into a wolf.
“Mika?” I squeeze my eyes shut tighter at the sound of the voice. I haven’t heard his voice in a long time.
“Hey,” he says softly, but I slowly start shaking my head. A part of me wishes I am making this up. That I don’t have to face him.
The silence that follows finally makes me open my eyes to check if he’s still there. He sure is and he’s staring at me.
He looks tired. As if he hasn’t slept in days. There’s even stubble on his face. I have never seen him like this. Almost disheveled.
Cillian looks horrified and there’s something there in his eyes that tells me that looking at me right now breaks something within him. I’m not sure he deserves any better. “What did they do to you?” He whispers and takes a step closer.
“They?” I breathe, “you did this!”
“No,” he shakes his head, “Mika, I... I am off duty.”
“Are you? I am so sorry!” I spit, lacing my voice with sarcasm. “Why did you tell them?”
“I didn’t,” Cillian says, “I swear I didn’t. There were cameras in the cell. I forgot,” he says carefully.
“I don’t believe you,” I wrap my arm around my middle. Trying to hold myself upright. Not to break into a million pieces right in front of him.
“I didn’t think you would tell me... that,” he says hesitantly.
“What did you think I would say?”
“I don’t know,” he sighs, “but I am sorry.”
“Just go away, Cillian. I’m sure you’re not supposed to be here anyway.”
On cue the door opens again and the man who first questions me steps inside. By now I’ve learned that they only call him Colonel. “Nice of you to show up,” he says, his hands locked behind his back as he strolls into my little cell.
Cillian doesn’t answer with his usual respectful greeting when a superior enters the room. He stays still and glares at the man.
“Today is a truly special day,” he continues with a cruel smile on his thin lips. “Join me!” he says to Cillian.
“I’m not sure I want to,” Cillian says to my surprise.
“You will!” the man hisses, “Parker!” he calls out and my usual guard comes and grabs me roughly. I’m used to it by now.
I get the feeling that Cillian isn’t here to just say hi or comfort me. I can sense that something is going to happen. Something bad. And I know it will involve Cillian.
Even though I am mad at him and I don’t trust him right now. I don’t want them to hurt him too.
So, I take the last ounce of strength I have left in me and dig my heels into the ground. “What the hell,” Parker cusses.
“What is going on?” I ask before Parker pushes me and I land on my knees. They are already bruised and bloody. Every part of my body seems to be black and blue. “Why is he here?”
The Colonel leans down and digs his fingers into my already hurting jaw. Forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Motivation,” he breathes so only I can hear.
“No!” I struggle, but it’s no use. I’m not strong enough to defend myself. Not when he hits me again. I think he has taken some sort of pleasure in it.
“Yes!” he chuckles wickedly. “Take her!” he orders and stands up straight.
“What are you trying to gain from this?” Cillian asks, “she’s not the enemy.”
“No,” Colonel says, “but she has something we need to win this war.”
“They want to use me to make super soldiers,” I say, but I’m being shoved roughly forward, while Cillian stops walking.
“That’s insane,” he says shocked. Somehow, I think that his world has started to crumble. Just like mine did. Maybe he finally realizes he’s been serving a crazy purpose. Maybe he started questioning the whole thing. Maybe.
“Keep on walking, Hunter!” Colonel says, staring him down with his cold eyes. “You of all people should know how important it is to win this war. To slay the enemy and rid the world of such abominations. There is nothing natural about a man being able to shift into a beast. Violence is all they know-,”
“That’s a lie,” I whisper. Cillian heard it. The Colonel didn’t. Or he pretended not to.
“She carried the secret with her all along. Strength. Enhanced senses. Everything that makes the Lycanthrope superior to us. We have weapons. We have methods to fend them off, but if we’d go into direct battle, we would lose. You wouldn’t want that, would you, Cillian?”
“We only ever came across small groups of wolves. Mostly they wander the woods alone. I don’t think they are smart enough to build an army and attack.” Cillian says hesitantly, “it never happened before.”
“That doesn’t mean it will never happen. I’d rather be prepared. So, what I need is her blood.”
“You already have it,” I sigh, struggling against Parker's hold on me.
“Your wolf blood. I need you to turn!”
“I can’t,” I almost cry out, “I can’t change. I’m not a wolf. I’m not what you think I am. Please,” I beg. I didn’t want to beg, but I can’t take any more pain.
“We’ve already had some success,” he continues without acknowledging my plea. “The subject survived. Yet, the results aren’t exactly what we hoped for.”
We walk down a new hallway. To the left are large glass doors. There’s something written on the glass. Notes from White-coat. I recognize his handwriting.
It all looks very technical. I don’t understand any of it. Except that they did something unbelievable cruel. They are experimenting with my blood. With what it could do.
What’s behind those glass doors knocks the breath right out of me. Even Cillian gasps at the sight of a badly deformed man.
I couldn’t even tell if that thing is human. Except that he seems to be standing on two legs. His skin is partially covered in thin fur. His face looks horribly broken. The jaw hanging open. His eyes are pleading for death and I can relate.
“What did you do?” I breathe, my hand covering my mouth in shock.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” From the opposite direction, White-coat strolls closer. He looks pleased with his work. “I admit, it isn’t quite what I wished for but it’s a start.” He smiles at me, “are we ready for today?”
“You did this with my blood?” I ask, close to tears.
“I experimented with it, yes. It’s not the sole component of this mixture. But explaining would probably be above your... well, you wouldn’t understand, precious.”
“You are animals,” I breathe disgusted with the men surrounding me.
“Shall we start?” White-coat says to the Colonel. He looks at Cillian, “a new face,” he notices. “Are you my new prospect?”
“No!” I say, “no, he is not!”
Cillian glances at the monster they created behind the glass door. I think he’s putting two and two together and he takes a cautious step back. “You can’t be serious!”
“Not yet,” the Colonel laughs, “we need you alive. For now.” He nods at someone, and they cuff Cillian. He doesn’t go down without a fight, but in the end, they have him and he’s on his knees on the floor.
“This is wrong,” he huffs out and spits on the floor. Leaving a bloody spot on the otherwise clean surface.
“You won’t think that when we win this war. We will be invincible. The world will bow to us!” Colonel says with a mad gleam in his eyes. “Take them to the cages!” he orders and steps into line with White-coat. They are leaving in a different direction. Probably to watch whatever cruel thing they have planned for today.
“I am so sorry,” I cry, but Cillian shakes his head. Saying nothing. He looks concentrated. Calm. How can he be so calm?
He must know that something bad is about to happen. He must know that this day won’t end well. It will end in pain and suffering. For both of us.
“Cillian,” I say and he finally looks at me. But it’s too late, we are being shoved into a very small cage-like construction. I sink down to the floor, still shocked by what I saw.
How could they do something like that to one of their own? Humans are the worst. They are violent, cruel and everything they say the wolves are.
Cillian can barely stand up straight in the cage, yet he inspects the walls before he crouches down in front of me. “Look at me,” he says.
“I... I can’t... can’t take anymore,” I sob. I’m done pretending I’m strong or void of emotions. I cannot keep it together. I don’t want to. I want to drown in my tears. Suffocate and finally get my freedom back.
“Mika,” he sighs, “it’s going to be fine.”
“Stop lying to me,” I say pushing against his shoulder, “stop lying!”
He hesitates a second before he pulls me into a tight, painful hug. I struggle against him, but he doesn’t let go until I finally give in and let him hold me.
Maybe he can fix this. Fix me. Or at least keep all the loose parts of me together for a few moments.
“I’m sorry,” he says softly, his hand carefully running through my hair. Holding the back of my head. Holding me close. “I’m going to get you out of here,” he promises.
“Lie,” I breathe into his neck. His hand slowly trails down my back, making me wince at the contact.
“How badly hurt are you?” he asks.
“I don’t know anymore,” I tell him and lean back against the metal wall. He stays crouched down, watching me carefully. Taking in the visible bruises on my skin.
“And this?” he takes my arm and exposes the skin of my forearm to the flickering light above, “what happened there?”
“Pain,” I whisper looking at the cuts as well, “they want me to change. But I can’t, Cillian. I’m not a wolf. I cannot change.”
“That’s okay,” he says softly caressing the back of my hand, “it’s going to be okay.”
“No. It won’t be okay. They are going to hurt you too.”
“I guess I had to learn the hard way,” he sighs and glances up, checking for any means of escape. I doubt there are any.
I jump at the sound of a loud siren going off. It’s ringing in my ears, making my head hurt.
A second later the wall behind me disappears. Cillian catches me before I tumble backward onto the sandy ground.
For the fraction of a second, I think we might be outside. But there are walls all around.
I can make out a window behind a metal grid. The sound echoes again and on the opposite side of the arena opens another door.
A growl, loud and angry resonates through the room, sending shivers down my spine.
They send us into a pit. With a wolf. Probably one they hurt and tortured for years. Driven into madness.
“Stay behind me,” Cillian says and pulls me deeper into our little cage.
- Writer
