Chapter 7: Blood Feast

It was dark…. but yet….it seemed so clear as day due to the lights in the room. Where was he? Who was he? For the briefest of moment honestly, he didn’t know the answer to overwhelming tirade of questions that swept over his mind.

Then it all came back to him as quickly as the overwhelming tirade of questions that swarmed him, he was E107 but where was he again he peered around him he was back in the room of Building E. The room was dark pre usual after sundown with the only source of light being the small window hang off high up upon the wall, where the dim moonlight shone through obviously not enough to illuminate the darkness around him.

Not that it really mattered to E107 he was too used to the darkness by now if he could see his way through the darkness for the first few moments he can still navigate through pretty well through the shroud. His whole body was on fire E107 didn’t even know when did he finally pass out from the pain, he was enduring just yesterday…. was it even yesterday? When did he even get back inside this place he had no recollection of it but the answer to that question wasn’t that hard to conceive.

When he had finally been granted the sweet release of darkness, he was then moved along with those around him back into this room. He tried to moved but the instant immense excruciating amount of pain shot through his body setting it aflame from within instantly. Then after another glance around the room E107 realized something this was not the same room that he knew this one was much larger than what he remembered it to be. Not only that there even seems to be more bodies sin here than what he normally would see but E-107 couldn’t quite make out just who these supposed new faces were, then he saw them these were not new faces per say but were other numbers held in different rooms before.

It would seem like he wasn’t the only one who has awaked as other figure within the darkness was shifting around and moving.

‘They must have pack us all into some larger room together then.’ E107 thought to himself as he fought through the agonizing pain shooting within his core as he shifted and tried rise. He finally managed after a few dozen times limbs trembling under an array of different correlating factors to his shaking. Fighting through it all he managed to stand gritting his teeth even as the pain magnified which each movement that he made but still he pushed on bearing it through.

He stood upon the balls of his feet and managed to hold it despite the shaking of his legs he turned his head around slowly, much too slow as the inferno magma within burned with greater intensity instead of becoming numb to the pain the pain only seemed to become more acute. Though he could now see clearer around him he couldn’t find the faces that he was looking for he then tried to speak he found himself unable to.

His throat was dry set aflame like the rest of his body for the slightest moment he though he could taste a familiar taste something wet and tasted of metal. He paid no mind to it as he simply swallowed forcing the taste back down his throat it was dark though he could somehow see despite the pitch darkness like it was still day. This fact however didn’t occur to E-107 as a shadow blanket of darkness hang ontop of his vision and suddenly he was hit with a sense of release as he fell back ontop his knee.

Thud~! Landing hard upon the hard cold metal surface floor below him that did little to cool off the burning sensation on his skin as the pain was far from lessening though thankfully it hasn’t risen any further than what he was already feeling, so it didn’t bother him as a matter of fact. He felt himself getting more tired his limbs no longer obeying him like something heavy was holding them down in place.

“Seven~.” A voice called out to him in the darkness around him as he felt a pair of hands grasped him holding him up from tipping over to his side. He knew this voice there was no way he could ever mistaken it for anything else.

“One~.” His voice came out weakly.

“Don’t speak just focus on staying awake E57 he’s here.” E-101’s voice came out much softer than what E-107 had ever heard his voice than he just barely managed what it was that he just said. He understood the words but he found it hard to even comply with his request he was just so tired he just wanted the darkness to take him at this point.

“Seven stay awake seven damn it we’re losing him.” E-101’s voice changed to one of worry and panic as another figure came in E-107’s view needless to say it was E57 who took E-101’s place in holding up E-107.

“Hey someone get one of the food bars E-107 needs to eat.” E57 cried out loud.

“They didn’t leave any for us the adults have forgotten to leaves us food bars for us.” One of the numbers around the area shouted out.

“Damn it they didn’t leave us any bars again what do we do then?” though E-101 hasn’t keep a prefect track of the time period the numbers of Building-E haven’t been feed for it exceed more than seven days since they have eaten anything.

“Use me.” A low voice grunted out with forced effort as the voice of the one who spoke struggled to even speak. A lone figure slowly strode towards E-101 and E57.

“E-8945 are you sure about this?” E-101 addressed the number who came up to them.

“Yes~.” E-8945 said slowly drawing out his voice his posture was unsteady his eyes were glazing over but still he stood firm on his feet facing E-101 not breaking eye contact with him.

“I’m already lost I’m not going to last much longer I can go on ahead but everyone still needs him we can’t lose him.”

E-101keep his eye locked with E-8945 as if judging him. “It’s alright we are expendable we are nothing he is our light if I can give my life to fuel the light to keep it burning longer I will gladly do it we’re all dead already.”

“Not dead…...we never truly die.” E-101 said firmly as he then walked toward E-8945. “Head on ahead for us E-8945 we will meet again on the other side.”

“For the light-” E-8945 spoke with firm resolve in his eye as he began to recite the mantra that those of Building-E have begun to say E-107 in all honest if he was his functional state of mind, he would have question them what was meaning of such a saying but such inquisitive thinking was beyond him at this point.

“So that it may show us the path.” E-101 finished off where E-8945 had started before his hand reached for his head placing the palm of his hand to both side of E-8945, he then hesitant for the briefest of seconds before with one swift motion a sickening crack can be heard echoing with the walls of the room.

Without losing the momentum he pulled adding the sickening muses of tearing flesh and the breaking of more bone as E-101 pulled ripping E-8945 head from his neck dragging along his spinal cord from his body which turned limp then slowly dropped to its knees on the ground with a hard thud. With a slight gesture of his head other number cam forth to hold up the now headless body of E-8945 from tipping over stopping any further overflow spilling of the rich crimson fluid the hot scent of it filled the isolated air.

Then E-101 turned to face E-107 holding the decapitated head in his hand and began walking back towards E-107 and E57.

“No…. no.” E-107 whimpered a weird sensation creep up within him, he wanted to run he didn’t understand it but he wanted to run but his limbs didn’t obey him and E57 held him down as E-101 approached him ever closer. As he walked closer, he gripped on to the top portion of the severed head of E-8945 and the lower part of the top section of the spinal core before yanking them apart with a loud pop. Tossing the spine aside to nearby numbers to hold as he placed his palms on the head again and squeezed the crack of bones echoed again, then E-101 ripped the head in half exposing the contents within.

“No…” E-107 once again tried to move but couldn’t seeing E-101 inch closer and closer by the second holding each half of E-8945’s head in each hand.

“You must eat you must live for us all.” He then hands one half to give to another number took into their hands and stood aside. E-101 held the other half crimson fluid still hot and rich filling E-107 nose as he looked pasted the strands of hair and shred flesh still clinging onto the severed half of the head. He then reached for the pink mass expose when the skull was spilt into two the space left hollow now was filled crimson E-101 held it carefully not trying to spill it any further as he kneeled before E-107 holding it out like a sacrificial offering ritual to some higher power.

“Why…why must we send him away like that?” E-107 squirmed as loose traces of tears flowed down his cheek. The sensation he felt before intensive becoming a creature of pure primal instinct, he needed to stop this he needs to run but where and why?

“We didn’t send him away without purpose he will live on within us, within you forever take him within yourself so that he may always be with you.”

“Why?” E107 repeated seemingly not knowing what other word to say unable to comprehend the situation happening before him.

“For you to live………you were our light E-107 you always were without we are nothing and we cannot find our way or our end so……we need you.” E-101 spoke with untold gentleness in his voice his expression unreadable to E-107. ‘Who was this’ the question pooped inside of his head who was the being before him that wore E-101’s face? Who was this being that acted not like E-101 who always stood tall and strong the one who was always the first to meet the pain that E-107 himself feared? Why does it look it he was in pain? Why does it look like he was so weak?

“He doesn’t have the strength to eat that give it to me.” The voice that broke E107 out of his though came from beside him it was E57 who reached out his hand to E-101.

“What do you suggested or rather what are you planning E57.” E101 voices turned dark at this as his turned to glare at taking back the pink mass towards himself as if protecting it.

“Don’t give me that look I know what I’m doing give it to me he needs to eat are you going to deny him it?”

“It was always his but what are you planning E57?”

“What needs to be done give it to me.” E57 still holding out his hand to E-101 his tone now becoming dark as well as the two stared off at each other for what felt like hours but couldn’t have been more than a few micro seconds. Not breaking eye contact E101 handed the items in his hands to E57 he took it his hand. The smell was already strong enough just a few feet away from E107 but now the smell engulfed his senses it smelled horrid he didn’t know how to express what he was feeling just smelling that pink gooey mass.

E57 then shifted his posture resulting in E107 leaning into his chest he held the pink mass in one hand and the half skull of E-8945 half filled with rich bright crimson blood in the other. Then he brought the pink mass to his lip opened his jaws wide teeth shown and bit down into the pink blob.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Outburst of cries and rage echoed out in the room instantly at this with E101’s voice overlapping all.

“Hey-!”

Not stopping E57 tore off a massive chuck of the pink meat his mouth already moving before he then brought the half skull and pour a mouth of blood into his mouth in a waterfall motion. By then E101 was upon E57 hands out but what he gripped was the half skull with the pink mass put back into the skull drenching in blood shoved into his hands by E57. E57 hand now free pulled E107 into posture before his finger at his cheeks his mouth never stopped chewing before he brought his face towards E107 till their lips touched then he pinched opening E107 mouth. At this E57 also opened his lips releasing the contents he withheld into E107, at this moment E107 thrashed around trying to pull himself away from E57 but to no avail. He tried to fight back against the raw taste unfamiliar taste that the familiar taste of blood failed to overtake, he pushed and shoved, punched and kicked at E57 but still he wouldn’t let go he fought to hold the contents tight within his mouth.

However even that seemed to have failed him as the gateway to the dam was opened and like a roaring tide came flowing in down his throat. At that moment E107 spasmed in E57’s grasp eyes unknowingly glazing over untold sensation rippled through his every fiber of being along with a flood of…. visions…. images…...he didn’t know what he was seeing. It all flew by in a blur before he truly was even aware what was happening to him, it was only when E57 felt the last drop has gone down E107’s throat did he released his lips a slight trail of blood dripping down his lips.

“Better?”

E107 didn’t reply but simply just nodded to E57 as he nestled his head against his chest, E101 at this time hovered over the prone forms of the duo handing back the skull to E57 as he then said softly “Forgive me E57 I misunderstood you……you……really are a ‘mom’ aren’t you?”

“I guess I am.” E57 took the item from his hand and processed to repeated the process again this time E107 resisted against to E57’s feeding. “Feast-!” at E101’s command the rest of the number gathered around the headless body of what used to be a former brother. Flesh was ripped and tore, bones were broken and consumed as the smacking of lips and slurping nothing was left untouched, E107 still haven’t gain enough strength to eat so E57 chewed and grind down not only the meat but bones before mouth feeding it down E107’s throat like a bird feeding its young in the wild.

One mouthful at a time E57 feed the rest of meal in his hands to E107 after the third to fourth time E107 had offered near to none resistant to E57’s feeding. It was as if his resistant in the beginning was a farce as he accepted each soften mouthful letting the weird sensation overwhelm his senses but held it in from letting it shown on his face or body motion. During this time in mere moments not a single trace except for the small patches of blood stains on the floor hinting at the existence of a lost brother as every single inch of his flesh was distributed among them all regardless of how small piece each of them got. After the deed was done the rest just sat within the darkness into the hint of sunlight piercing through the miniscule form of a window not long after the light disappeared engulfing the room in darkness once again. During that time period of waiting several other numbers grew weak as they felt their strength leave them.

“Feed me…. feed me to the light.” Each one of them had said and so their bodies were fed upon each body ritualistically fed mainly the pink mass within their skulls the brain which they wouldn’t know what it was called, which was given to E107 first before anything else and only when he had finished eating did the rest eat leaving nothing remaining expect for the strips of cloth that were their clothes and the patches of faint blood stains that were not fully cleaned up where they had licked it off the floor.

After untold amounts of time since they have awaked the massive door began to shift and moved gears and mechanics shirked and gave off an eerie sound of long neglect care, clearly indicating the need for maintenance.

“Alright you shits get up I have some nice treats for you~!” a joking tone lased with mockery of a voice boomed through the now open doorway before several object all of the same size were flying through the air landing upon the colorless pavement floor. A man in typical uniform of the place the important areas on his body was covered and protect with additional armor plates, he stood before the doorway his expression hidden by the shadow cast from the light being project behind him holding his rifle leaned on his shoulder.

“Huh?” the man though his expression was visible for others to see it was clear form the tone of his voice his confusion at what’s in front of him. This was after all not the first time he has done this and usually whenever he or any other security personal have come to give the rats the low-quality food ration bars, they usually scurried over as quickly as they could. they would fight each other mortally wounding and even most times to the death to get a ration bar for themselves. He along with the other would even purposely not give them the proper amount throughout the times he been here reinforcing the fact to the rats that there are never enough food bars to go around causing them to fight over it.

He and his companions quite enjoyed this little game and since there was no repercussions even if they lost a few, so there was no one to stop their little game but to his disappoint and confusion that was not what was happening before him. Usually before the packages would even hit the floor, they wound have rushed at them tripping over one another for it but the rats have not moved one inch. Instead, they have stood fast where they are not looking at the packets of ration bars, he found them looking at him, not with just any gaze those gazes they directed him with sent a shiver down his spine that he instantly by reflex held his rifle out in front at the ready finger on the trigger. He knew this sensation how could he ever this was the sensation of danger he felt danger because of these rats.

What, how, why? Questions started popping up in his head he couldn’t make heads nor tails of the situation at hand they didn’t move he didn’t move, but those stares it chilled him those gazes it bored deep into his soul. What was happening? Were these the same rats that he was so familiar with?

Then familiar came the taping of footsteps deeper within the guard subconsciously took a step back and aimed down his rifle into the room, his heart beating loudly in his chest as he faced the one who was approaching him. Amongst the rat one lone figure moved the rest still standing still in place though those that stood in the path of the lone figure moved aside to let the one soul pass through. The guard recognized the figure like the rest of the rats a lone boy no older than eight years old of age or younger he didn’t know he didn’t have the heart to know or their faces but he knew this one. This one was the one who raised a ruckus during the opening stage of the last Deadpool match his number displayed in the tattered clothes hang over his small frame…yes…. E-101 that was who this rat was.

The rat E-101 strode towards him causally no fear no hesitation in his motions his eyes the same as the rest dead, hollow, soulless but something else existed within this one the guard knew the emotion he saw with those eyes’ fury. The closer the rat came the greater his fear became each footstep was like the clanking of shoes that a prisoner would hear within a cell, his palms grew sweaty his nerves stiffened. Then he made the choice if the rat step another twelve feet closer to the door he would shoot him however the rat stop just before twelve feet of the door in front of the pile of fallen food ration bars.

The rat turned its eyes away from the guard bending over and began picking up the food ration bars one by one as the pile in its arms grew. While the rat was doing so the guard keep his rifle and eyes on the rat sweat baked his face dripping down his checks his hands still gripping tightly on his rifle. As all of his attention was on E101 he didn’t notice until two extra figures were right beside E101 these souls being E107 and E57 who was escorting the former by the hand. E101 by then had retrieved the last bar balancing the stack on one arm as he turned and handed one bar to E107 but E57 was the one who received it.

E57 tore open the wrappings holding up the colorless food bar up to E107’s lip who opened his mouth and took a bit out of the bar. All the while this was happening E101 was distributing the rest of the food bars amongst the rest of the numbers, once again the action of what they were doing shocked him when one rat unwrapped a bar the rat would break of a piece of the bar before handing it off to another and repeat. Even as the pieces were as tiny as they were spread along the lines it didn’t stop until every last one of the rats receiving all but a marble sized but none made any complaints. Not one soul had fought for a whole food bar for themselves not even the rat (E57) beside the smaller rat (E107) who though offered the slight older rat the bar it refused taking only but a nibble of the before giving the bar back. Even the other rat (E101) who walked back up to the front standing alongside the duo had but a small nibble in his hand.

After slowing regaining his breathing to which the guard didn’t know he was holding and calming his stiff nerves his face turned sour embarrassed and ashamed at himself by what had just transpired.

“Al-alright now that you got your treat hurried it up, we’re already running late thud! thud! (The sound the guard slamming the buttstock of his rifle against the walls) hurried it up-!”

He held out a tablet device as well as his rifle aiming the tip of the barrel at the rats but they showed no emotions to that act not one soul had moved before he could say another word the small rat at the front strode forward the two beside it followed after it then the rest slowly but surely all followed suit. The guard all the awhile observing each one that passed though the door and with the gesture of his rifle pointed them towards the direction they need to go.

“Huh…. what the-, once again the man’s features were now plastered with confusion…... aren’t I missing a few?” the guard broke out of his stupor as he checked his tablet again recounting the number as the device scanned each of the rats as they passed him. He thought the device was defective for a second before he checked once then rechecked again and the results was the same the numbers…. the count was off. He looked within the room but saw no other rats within the open empty space there was no place to hide so he had a full view of the room.

“Ha~, well whatever not like anyone would really care whatso ever if a couple of the rats were missing anyway.” Not paying any more mind to the problem the guard walked away not noticing the small barely noticeable patches of smear marks along the floor in certain spots of the room.

………

Boom~! Echoed the thundering sound of a heavy object slamming in to the ground a massive figure three times the two times the size of a full-sized adult fell backwards on its back. Its many limb arms each with a different killing tool one being a two-digit claw, another being a long short sword, another being the same weapon that spat fire and kills from a distance. These arms still flailing around for a while longer before it turned stiff and ceased its movement before falling down heavily to the side.

E107 watched as the metal thing had finally stopped twitching, he then causally walked up to it, to the massive thing’s head to be precise watching as the soulless eyes of the metal figure before him dimmed then faded away. He observed it a bit longer before throwing a kick to the part that were its eyes as the sound of shattering glass can be heard. A nice soothing sensation swept over him as he then turned away from the thing not paying any further attention to it. All around in in a massive field just like he was in before….no it was always the same floor the arena floor several other figures just like the one behind him littered the grounds each one surround by other numbers of other buildings.

Some of which still stood on its two legs but were no longer moving other, most if not all had visible damage done to it such as the loss of a limbs, broken weapons sticking out throughout its body. Spread out all around these tall metal figures were the bodies of the fallen numbers however not one was fully intact, head were sliced or blow off, arms and legs were missing mixed together admits the spilled-out gore that littered the grounds.

Bang~! “Alright you rats that’s enough! Back-back!” a voice high above commanded over the sound of the firearm going off.

Then came the familiar thundering cheers and cries echoing in his ears the sound of it all seemed so distant to him, the noise to E107 now was more than just an annoyance to him at this point, it felt like those bugs that constantly keep buzzing near his ear deeply souring his mood as he causally strode through the field of death and blood back to where the grownups wanted them to go.

E57 followed after him back to the cage but the rest of the other numbers of Building E lead by E-101 scattered about the battle ground much to the confusion of the other building numbers and the adults high above, seeing the numbers of Building E gathering the bodies of the dead and hurrying them back to their cage leaving not a single remain behind. The numbers of the Building E rushed around none could stop them even as they took the mortally wounded numbers of the other buildings and who intervened but were beaten back. The grownups high above said nothing neither to stop them rather they became intrigued, so they continued on looking what new entertainment the rats were going to give to them now.

Once within their cage as the gate locked behind the last few numbers of Building E each one dragging along a number from various different Buildings most if not all despite being disemboweled having their guts spilling out of their stomachs, forcing whatever strength they could muster to break free from their captors.

“Let go!” one such number choked out as he struggled within the hands of E8472 who held him by the throat punching him in the guts but E8472 didn’t so much as flinch as he strode along lining up alongside other numbers of building E whom each held a prisoner. Within the cage there were two distinct piles one being the fallen of their own building lined up perfectly side by side laid out in front of a E107 near the center of the cage. The rest was tossed aside in pile casually tossed together formed a mismatched pile of bodies whom the captive numbers of the other building were held together in front of.

The rest all stood together array in near prefect rows on the other side of the cage completing a somewhat sphere, with the connecting points being where E107 stood and across him being the massive pile of corpses.

E107 stood in front of the rows of the dead of his building overlooking each one solemnly before he then turned his head towards E57 behind him and nodded his head. As E107 walked back to h spot E57 gave out a hand gesture E101 saw that thus he began to move along with several other numbers each bearing a blade or axe in hand. One by one they each lined up till there was one number for each deceased body then in unison they each hefted their tools up as one then as one they came down.

Severing the heads of their deceased brother before cracking them opening like a melon retrieving brain from within the skull, then one by one each of them stood line up behind one another as the other in a single file line with E101 being the first offering the brain in his hands to E107.

“Take this brother take him.” E101 said bowing his head before E107

“He lives with me.” E107 softly said as he took the offering before biting down onto the brain gulping it down in a matter of a few bites.

“Brothers bring forth the offerings for the ‘sending’!” E57 commanded beside E107 as he continued to wolf down on the still pulsing brains of the dead offered to him. At the command the group that held the prisoners shifted dragging their now very active breathing captives whom upon seeing the horror they have just see and now know what fate had awaited them and so they yanked and pulled punched and kicked at their captors in futile effort to escape.

‘A5678~! F4279~! B23! Stop! Stop it!’ Outside came the anguished cries and screams of the other building numbers who took up arms began banging trying to break their bar cages to reach their captive fellow building numbers within Building E’s cage.

‘Let them go~! Let them go~!’

“Feast~!” E101 called out then the blades came down and head were rolled E101 grabbed at the nearest head that rolled next to his feet and processed to walked back to E107 who was finishing up the last of the brains of the fallen brothers of Building E. “Here seven drink you must be thirsty.” E101 held up the severed head whose blood dripped down from below E107 saw that and brought his lips to the base of the head. Once his lips were locked onto the meat, he began to suck taking in the familiar taste of crimson that tasted of iron within, on he drank like a newborn babe who was drinking the milk off of his mother breast suckling away. All the while the rest of the numbers of Building E moved towards the bodies, the head were taken and offered to E107 while the bodies remained. Soon flesh was ripped apart and the crunching of bones echoed around them. Outside their cage the noise stopped as the other building numbers turned away unwilling to see the disgusting event happening in front of them many backed away as if frightened that the bar walls that surround them would disappear and unleashed the monsters beyond their own cage upon them. But they could do little to block out the sounds of crunching bones echoing off the walls around them even if they turned their sight away.

The numbers all have seen far more gruesome tales in the short time they have lived in this world but this scene…...it horrified them they didn’t understand the emotion that swelled up within them. It deeply sickened them none of the horrors they have experienced or seen could repulse them as deeply as this.

Just like those below high above the pits in the audience seats there were no cheers nor outcries just eerie silence among the grownups no one made a sound some even forgot to breathe at the horrid scene happening before them, this was not the entertainment they were looking forwards to they were use to the violence and blood but not this abominable heresy. However so horrified to their core they were by this none spoke out as they just watched on their sights glued to the scene unable to remove themselves from it as the feast continued.