Brian’s eyes opened, and he stared up at the rough rock ceiling above him as he had done so many times before. She was nearby. He could feel her, hear her chant in his head. A smile stretched his lips; she’d come to kill him. None of the controllers were nearby. Normally he would be unable to take this opportunity, but they hadn’t chained him since they’d changed his medication. Of late they had begun to reduce the amount they dosed him with so he could feel the veil. However, they’d also commanded him to stay here, so he did. He was incapable of disobeying that order, he’d been their creature for too long. He wrestled within his own mind against the compulsions on him. He hoped that with the recent change he could break free, even for just a moment.
He felt power surge around him as he h
