The Only Way Out

The Only Way Out

I’ve grown use to the under lit, confined storage room piled with barred enclosures. Each of these compacted cages imprison a set of small, petrified eyes gleaming out of the deep shadows. The possessors of these eyes are young children and adolescents. Each of the captives ranges in age from four years of age to eighteen. We are not captives of a war, not even close. We are captives of an internal battle, one that threatens our DNA. We are test subjects, experiments enclosed together to cry and weep for our mothers and fathers, if we have any. Most of us do not have parents or names, instead we have numbers chained to our wrists in the form of wristbands. I have a name. One of the guards gave this name to me when I was little. I am known as Lilith; the guard, Peter, told me it means ‘the night monster’ and ‘storm goddess’ so I guess it fits who I am.

My eyes shot open as the door creaked open and light evaded the darkness. The voices of distraught children elevated in volume to the point that it sounded like a wailing siren of despair. Fingers clawed out to the open air for even a slight touch of human contact. Some of these fingers were warped and twisted into inhuman shapes and sizes. Each step the man took inside the densely packed room was another level of volume placed in the children’s voices. As soon as the overhead light turned on, they all hissed in agony as the blinding light penetrated their retinas. They were all used to the darkness. I just blinked softly as my lock creaked open.

“How are you today, Lilith?” The man stood there holding out his hand. His golden blond hair waved like an ocean of wheat and his deep blue eyes could not even compare to the sea.

“I am well. How is my favorite torturer?” My snide comment left him flabbergasted as I took his hand, “Or would you rather me use the word oppressor, Peter?”

His smirk let me know he understood my mockery as he tugged me from my confinement. Peter placed a pair of shackles around my wrists and ankles right after my feet softly hit the floor.

“Sorry, Lilith, but it is protocol.” His saddened smile releases the irritation in me as he leads me out the door and down the twisting hallways. Every room we pass has a different sound to it. Room one fifty-nine is filled with a maniacal laughter that chills me to the bone. Room two seventy-five emits horrendous screams as we stride past. Peter turns to a door with the numbers five thirty-four and unlocked the shrieking bolt and pushed open the door. A small table sat in the middle of the cluttered room that reeked of death and blood. Linen wrappings, soaked in a substance that was a deep carmine color, were scattered across the floor and counters surrounding the table. Peter grimaced at the sight and rancid smell while unlocking my shackles.

“I’m sorry that I have to leave you here. I will make it up to you.” Peter waved goodbye and walked out with a smile.

“So, Lilith,” My head whipped around to face the human emerging from the darkness, “how is my favorite little experiment?” the man pinched my cheeks and sat down on a moth-eaten leather chair while motioning for me to sit. I continued standing despite his request.

“I’m doing just fine, Alexander,” I hissed and sneered as he chuckled at my expression, “and why are you here instead of my normal doctor?”

“I am here to warn you of something, sweet Lilith.” The malice in his voice raised the hairs of my neck, “Peter is not your friend and never will be. Stay away from him or else.”

I chuckled, “Or else what? You’ll put me in the Game?” the look he gave me sent a rod of fear straight through me. I kept my composure as I walked slowly to the vile man. Alexander's cold ice blue eyes followed mine as I inched closer.

“You will be put in the Game sooner or later. It all depends on how you take my offer.” Alexander pushed back his gray locks and smiled at me, “If you do not obey my rules and my ways, I will take pleasure in killing you myself as you run around in that maze. If you do obey me, you will spend your life here until we make you into a weapon to be used as a self-destruct button. So either way, you die. Your pick.” my body shuddered as he stood. His eyes never leaving mine. Those cold eyes I know too well. I know he will keep his promise.

A different guard, a recruit, walked me back to my enclosure. He was shaky and, if I really wanted to, I could rip out his throat and run. I didn't, instead I smiled and tried to start a light conversation to calm him down.

“Hello.” the man jumped and squeaked as I spoke to him. He must not be used to the experiments being intelligent enough to speak like an adult.

“H-hello.” his voice gave away how nervous he was, “ how was your...um…”

“Check-up?” I inquired.

“Yeah… that.” he chuckled at himself as he opened the door, ‘I am such an i***t! I can't even talk to her like a normal person!’

I giggled at his thoughts. He was so naive, “you're doing just fine to me.” I reassured through the cries of the children as I went back into my little cage. The fear on his face sent a thrill eloping in me. He shut and fumbled around while trying to lock the door to my enclosure. I grabbed his hand and smiled as his eyes were glued to mine. “You will not escape from me. You are now mine. Every time I need something, you will know and you will not be able to disobey.” the man's face softened into a completely blank expression. My abilities were working perfectly on this man. “Now, go tell Peter that the great night has risen. Oh! And get me some apple juice.” I released my prey, and he stumbled back and shook his head. He ran out the door in terror. He will be back with my apple juice soon. As well as another secret message from Peter.

The guard that I compelled came back with a small box of juice as well as Peter. I stuck the straw in the box just as Peter knelt down to be face to face with me. The slurping sound from the juice box made him laugh.

“So, the great night has risen, aye?” His face became grim as I nodded to him. The guard stood close by and stood straight.

“Yeah, but hold on.” I looked the guard in the eyes after Peter nodded, “You may leave, but you will forget everything you have heard from me and Peter.” with that the guard left and Peter and I sat together in the now quiet room.

“So what is going on. What did Andrew say now?” Peter knows that when I send him someone to say the great night has risen it means that Andrew threatened me again, “Did he threaten to kill you?”

“Pretty much,” I smiled sadly and looked at him and his gorgeous blue eyes, “He told me that I would be put in the Game this week if I don’t stay away from you.”

Peter bowed his head and shook it, “I will talk to him. Maybe he will-”

“No, Peter. This is what I want. I want to escape and this is the only way I can.” I grabbed his chin to make him look at me “I want you to come with me. So we can leave and be free from this place.” I smiled as I looked deep in his eyes.

“OK. Just sleep on it. We will plan tomorrow.” he stood up and exited the dark room. Soon after I decided to take his advice and sleep on it.

I awoke when a noise vibrated through my cranium. The vibration of the cage made me jump with a start. Clammy hands grabbed my waist and pulled me out forcefully. The floor they pushed me into was cold and moist on my face. When I looked up I saw a face I grew to despise every day. Alexander stood above me with a wicked smile on.

“Now is the time, sweet Lilith,” he spat out with venom dripping from his words, “it is time for you to choose to run or die.”

I smiled and stood up straight, “I will run and beat your Game. Then you will release me and Peter from this wretched place!”

“Then go, my Lilith. Go.” he steps aside and gestures to the open door.

I run at full speed out the door and don't look back as the sound of heavy boots slap on the ground. My legs fly through each corridor as I bypass room after room. My heart racing and pounding in my ears. It is time to finally escape.

Reaching a fork in a dark corridor, my first instinct is to move right and take that path, but I hear a pair of footsteps rushing towards me. I wait, calmly in the darkness of the left branch until the footsteps are so close that I can feel them in the ground. I could see the owner’s shoe as they stop.

“I swear she was here just a minute ago.” he seemed puzzled as I heard him shuffle. When I checked the right tunnel he was facing away from me. I took this opportunity to grab him and twirl him around and pin him to the floor.

“Do not scream.” my eyes bored into his as his face went emotionless, “Now listen very carefully. You will show me the way through this labyrinth you call a military base otherwise I will rip out your throat. Give me your weapons” the man nodded as we both stood up. I took his gun as well as his knife that he gave me. We both set off at a sprint through the right tunnel. The sounds of the other guards were way too close for comfort.

We continued down the paths in a full sprint as the guard I just compelled lead the way. Almost every corridor we turned on had a guard running towards us. We would bypass them either by me shooting the gun or running up and stabbing them. The sound each guard made fueled something inside of me that wanted more. More blood, more pain, and much more suffering. Without consent, laughter erupted through my chest as the sickening crunch of a guard’s skull being split open caressed my ears. The gooey trails of blood painted the grey walls in a gorgeous red.

It wasn't long before the guard, who was under my control, and I skidded to a stop in an open room filled with many more armed guards. The man who stood in front was none other than Alexander.

“You've had your fun, Lilith. Now let me have mine.” He began walking up to me slowly while pulling out a pistol. The barrel was a brilliant golden color as he pointed it at me. Before I knew it, the trigger was being pulled and my eyes closed. I heard a wrenching sound and smiled. I killed Andrew. I had finally destroyed the man who killed my childhood and made me into the monster I am today.

“L-Lilith… why.” that voice. That sweet melody of his voice made my eyes open. Kneeling down in front of Alexander was Peter. A hole in his chest was pulsating a jury red liquid. It flowed endlessly on the floor. His gorgeous blue eyes looked up a me. I pleaded on my knees in front of him. I clutched onto his strong torso as he lost consciousness. Warm tears erupted from my eyes as I released the corpse of my best friend. The way his beautiful body fell motionless made the tears fall harder.

“How! How did I miss you! How did I hit Peter and not you!” I ran at Alexander and unsheathed my knife. Before I reached him, Alexander c****d his pistol and pulled his trigger. Pain radiated from my leg as the bullet pierced my flesh. Ignoring the bullet embedded In my leg, I continued my sprint towards him. Unsheathing the lovely blade around d my waist I pushed the silver blade in his pulsating neck. The harder I pushed the knife in his neck the darker the crimson liquid pulsed across my hands. The blood sprayed on my face as the guards ran in opposite directions. My smile a chaotic smirk as I limped forward; killing everyone in reach. He was mine. Peter was mine and they all are to blame. So they will all die.

The slaughter ended when I noticed a brilliant bright light emitted from an ajar door. I gripped the metal door and swung it open. The breeze of fresh air hit me like a sack of bricks. The trees were a brilliant bright green. I ran out onto the soft plush grass and collapsed down on a cool slab of stone and closed my eyes. I was free. Finally free.

An odd noise found its way to my ear. It sounded like the c*****g of a gun, but I am pretty sure no one followed me. Another sound, footsteps, continued getting closer. I lay perfectly still, waiting for the person to get close enough to grab them. A deep creaking sound emitted from wherever the person was. The shocking discovery pushed me upwards to a sitting position. My eyes fluttered open to stare at the oppressor. Darkness enveloped me. The screams and cries of children were back. The only light radiated from the open door with Alexander standing in it.

“You thought you could escape me, little Lilith?” his laugh chilled me to the bone, “you've never been so wrong in your entire life.”