Chapter Twenty
The week goes by insanely fast. As I returned to combat training, I almost expected to be nervous… or hesitant. But for some reason, I feel more relaxed than before and can think more clearly.
And because of that, I picked up right where I had left off.
Ray drops into our training the afternoon before my duel, dismissing the guard.
“Even with camera surveillance, you guys are always tough to find.”
“That’s the point,” replies Joey.
“Mateo, I have some info about your opponent.”
“Wait, are you allowed to tell me this?" I ask. "Is this fair?"
“Is it fair for you to be here at all?” counters Ray, surprising me. “The quicker you win all your duels, the quicker you’ll be back with your family.”
Everyone’s eyes turn toward me, Ray having told them about my family while I was comatose.
“I’m willing to help all of you,” adds Ray, and people exchange glances.
“I’m alright on my own,” says Tori.
“Same here,” says Joey.
Ayden looks around dumbfounded, “Well, I’m all for the help!”
While Makani hesitates to answer, I say, “I don’t really care about his abilities. I just want to know… if my opponent was once a rebel.”
“From the Amlovos? No, he was convicted for drug possession.”
I cut him off, “Then it’s fine. I don’t want you to go around trying to dig up information about who I’m fighting. It can put you in danger and possibly even compromise you. It’s better to lay low.”
Ray shrugs his shoulders, “If you say so.”
“You never saw me fight before,” I say, flames fiercely burning. “Tonight, just sit back and watch.”
***
Standing across from my opponent with my wings and helmet ignited, I activate orasi.
He’s won twice like me, and even without iris, his body is extremely muscular. He’s a dual-wielder, Soma and Ano cores like Ayden. He’s emerged but is probably weak against Resu abilities.
The duel begins, and I quickly fly into the air, activating my compass ring. Igniting my arms with flames, I encircle the edge of my realm with heavenly flames, trapping him inside. Recognizing my early strategy, my opponent circulates iris into his arms, but I take advantage of his restlessness and use velocity pulse before he can activate his particle ability.
Landing an early strike to his torso, he stumbles back before regaining his bearings. Using his particle ability, he fabricates a double-headed glowing spear.
If his particle ability is anything like Ayden’s, that spear isn’t only for close range.
My pulse restoring, I fly back into the air, channeling iris into my palms. Preparing to launch a flamethrower attack at my opponent's position, he suddenly channels iris into his feet and jumps into the air after me. Using velocity pulse, I propel myself back down toward the ground, using flames to increase my speed. As I land, I circulate iris into my legs and leap back into the air, repositioning myself behind my opponent as velocity pulse slows back down.
I won’t risk finding out.
Firing a searing blast of flames into my opponent's back, his body fringes up, and he starts descending to the ground. Double-checking if he is really out, I activate orasi and discern that he is only unconscious. Flying down and catching him, I lay him down on the ground while Sorel announces my victory.
From one side of the viewing area, Ayden comments, “Now that he’s able to fly, he’s at a whole new level.”
Toriana smiles, and Joey, with his arms crossed, adds, “We better not slack off. Even with a fourteen-month head start…”
Watching me pump my fist in celebration, Joey smirks, “He’ll surpass us in no time.”
From the other end of the arena, Sorel stands behind another scientist typing away at a computer, speaking with them about the data. The warden watches me exit the arena before hastily leaving the skybox, catching Ray's attention.
***
With a knock on the door, Warden Conall shouts from the inside, “I already told you that you don’t have to knock, Ray.”
As Ray enters Conall’s office and locks the door behind him, Conall takes off his uniform coat and places it on the corner rack. Pacing his way into the lounge, Ray follows close behind. Plopping down on the couch, Conall slides his feet out of his shoes and gets comfortable with a long exhale.
“You alright?” asks Ray.
Putting his feet on the armrest and his hands behind his head, Conall closes his eyes and replies, “I don’t know, Ray. You tell me. We’ve already had a few drinks. Do you think I look alright?”
“Sir, drinking together was only part of the job application,” says Ray, walking to the bar. “If you need water, I can get you some and–”
“I don’t need any damn water,” groans Conall. “And stop calling me sir.”
Placing down the glass he picked up, Ray quiets as Conall opens his eyes, “Why do you think I require job applicants to get wasted with me?”
Unconvincingly shaking his head, Ray seats himself, a coffee table placed in between them.
“Intimidating potential employees by making them drink with their new boss would probably throw anybody off. Some might see it as a scare tactic, but that’s not it. To me, drinking is part of the application because what good is hiring an assistant if I’m not able to talk to ‘em like a damn human being.”
Meeting each other's gazes, Conall asks, “What do you think about the duels?”
“Uh, I don’t really know, but…”
“Just spit it out.”
“Right, sorry… Andrew. To be honest, I don’t know how I feel. They’re interesting to watch, but I don’t like how Sorel treats the inmates. They’re not these… disposable test subjects. They’re people. Sure, they might be criminals, but that doesn’t make it right. And with his research being kept under wraps by the Clover Trine… it all feels even more sinister.”
“See… this is why I gave you the job. You may hold a front, but you’re not afraid to speak your mind. I respect that,” says Conall, scratching his beard. “I also agree. I don’t doubt that you told me the truth… your tone was sincere. However, I wouldn’t fault you if you didn’t expose your true thoughts because you want to maintain an image. The image of yourself that you want me to see. All humans have a moral compass. It’s in our blood. For every person, there are things they consider right and wrong, and somewhere between, they have drawn a line. It's why laws exist. They’re fundamental to every society because they keep humans in check.”
Conall quickly clears his throat, “I don’t believe anybody is inherently good or evil, but society has evolved into a state where other people’s perspectives determine what you are. Are you good? Bad? There’s never a clear answer, is there?”
After a short pause, Ray says, “I agree with you, but I don’t think many people would. You’re the warden of Soulbell, the place where our country's worst criminals serve their time.”
“So what?” scowls Conall. “The only difference between me and the inmates is that I’m not convicted. Just because I’m not behind bars doesn’t make me any better than ‘em. We all make mistakes and carry sins we wish to cleanse ourselves from. You know… I strongly believe that every human is caged in a cell one way or another, always looking to break free.”
Conall loosens his tie, “We both disagree with Sorel’s research methods. I’ve never liked Sorel, but that’s just my opinion. Is Sorel a good person? A bad person? Who the hell knows? But Ray, I’m even more interested now. Think hypothetically. Let’s say a disease pops up in the future, spreading throughout the masses. Thousands of people are dying every day, but the research that Sorel conducted here at Soulbell holds the key to a cure. He’s able to make one, and humanity is more or less saved. Without Sorel’s research, a cure might have been created at some point, but humanity may have taken a devastating blow, maybe even been wiped out entirely. What then? Is Sorel a good person now because he sacrificed the few to benefit the many? Do his cruel experiments get pardoned? Or would you still disagree with his research?”
“I… I don’t think I’d be able to look past this…”
Conall swiftly sits up, “But he has just saved humanity! Think of the millions of innocent people he just saved from this awful epidemic! Good, innocent people, all rescued because of Sorel! These people never knew about how cruel these experiments were! They never saw what he did to these people! The convicts who have been judged as the worst of our species! And they never will! Sorel has helped this world countless times already! Sorel is a hero in their eyes! The world loves him! He’s a savior! And you’re telling me that you still won’t be able to look past his sins here? Even then?!”
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“No, I wouldn’t. If Sorel does that, my views of him may slightly change, but I can never forget what I’ve seen here. These experiments will always remain a part of who he is now,” Ray takes a deep breath. “I once respected him. I mean, you know how famous he is, and in truth, the world has become a better place because of his existence. I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to see him differently now that I know how he really does things.”
Conall cracks a smile, “Damn straight. And I guess that means for us, we’d be the shitty bad guys to the world. You okay with that?”
“Part of the reason I came here was to further develop my understanding of humanity. I thought that by throwing myself into an environment teeming with our nation's so-called best and worst people, I could further understand how the world worked a little better. But ever since I got here, it’s been the opposite. I’ve only gotten more confused... there are some guards who are complete assholes and inmates who seem like saints. It goes the other way around, too, but I think I’m starting to realize what you meant by all of us being caged in a cell.”
Conall leans forward, “You know Ray, it’s a shame I didn’t meet you sooner. Please, let me tell you about a friend I’d never thought I’d make.”
“A friend?”
“Yeah, we’re going to need some drinks.”
***
“Inmate 1682, Joey Beleck. You've been talking to him, so I’ll save the introduction. He was thrown in here after watching two of his friends die at a bar one night. Security caught a woman slipping something into his friend's drinks, and they died not long after. Autopsy revealed that it was a lethal amount of Herisin and arsenic laced together.”
“That’s… awful. I thought personal information like this wasn’t revealed to guys like us.”
“I like to know about the people I’m living with. Joey’s been here for a few decades and is one of the people I respect most. Anyway, his friends were just two of many victims that night. Joey grieved as any person would. A few weeks later, he was drinking at another bar when he recognized the same woman trying to slip something into somebody else’s drink. Rage consumed him, and he killed her right then and there in that bar. He was obviously arrested after, but things get complicated here.”
Conall sips his drink, “The woman had been arrested multiple times for protesting. She was docile and never laid a hand on anybody. Worked as a store clerk, got along with her neighbors, and even had a husband, but her death disclosed that she was a member of the Amlovos rebels. Joey’s friends were strong believers in Nevism, and the dots started to connect.”
“I understand Joey killed somebody, but wouldn’t the government be more lenient here usually?”
“I’m getting there. Joey may have avenged his friends, but his anger wasn’t quelled. The Clovers might’ve been more forgiving if it wasn’t for the actions… or rather, the words he said afterward. When he learned the woman was a rebel, Joey’s anger shifted from the woman to Nevism. He questioned how a woman like her became so violent, and he arrived at the only answer that made sense."
Conall swirls his drink, “Because she must’ve felt like she needed to. For some reason, the government had punished her for protesting but swept her crimes under the rug. If the woman wanted to be listened to so badly that she thought becoming a murderer was the only solution extreme enough to have her voice heard, she was either batshit crazy or she knew something most don’t.”
“And of course…”
Conall nods, “Her husband disappeared a few weeks before she began poisoning people, and if you ask the neighbors about the couple, they have no idea who you’re talking about. In fact, hardly anyone knows about this woman or that any of this ever happened.”
“You once mentioned you’re a retired officer. I know the government doesn’t share everything with the public, but if what you’re telling me is true... you must’ve been involved with the case. Not only that… but the Mako also possess the ability to tamper with memories.”
“That’s right. Our religious nation may seem prosperous on the surface, but the Mako aren’t just any normal police force. To preserve the Clover's idea of peace, the Mako have bloodied their hands hundreds, no, thousands of times over to maintain a sense of order,” says Conall. “To some, Nevism is a faith genuinely worth worshiping because it can grant health, stability, and good fortune. To others, Nevism is a fabricated fantasy that isn’t worth the time or energy. And to the ‘washed’, Nevism is a belief system that will be obeyed ‘til the end of their days.”
Ray gulps, “I’m following, but what's the point of confirming my suspicions?”
“So you can understand both sides. As somebody who studied law, you know that a story isn’t complete until you know both sides. As for me, technically, I wasn’t the one responsible for what happened to that woman. I was aware of the Clover Trine’s order to stop her persistent protesting, but not much else. Shortly after the Mako received that order, though, some of my colleagues took on the liberty of killing the woman’s husband. As for whether they laid a finger on the woman, I’m not sure. She could’ve been washed, she could’ve been tortured, I ain’t got a clue. My cohorts did what they felt was necessary… that was the policy of the Mako, but no matter how you look at it, what they did was a mistake. The man they killed may have been completely innocent, and their actions only pushed the woman to murder nearly a dozen people afterward.”
“And at some point, after her death, the neighbors were… washed.”
“Yeah, and I was involved in that. I knew this story would make you see me differently. My past isn’t one I’m proud of. Along with brainwashing our people, I’ve lost count of how many I’ve killed in the name of justice. We were always told by the Clovers that our sins were for the greater good… what bullshit. Civil war may have never broken out, but it was at the cost of so many people’s humanity.”
Ray takes a sip, processing the warden’s words.
“With every sin of mine, I rose the ranks until I eventually became one of the Mako’s highest-ranked officers. I know I can never atone for my sins, but what makes it even worse is that I eventually ran away. I was over it. I wanted to get out of that hell. I wanted to stop hurting people because somebody said I had to, but there was a problem. Those who become highly-ranked officers like me become aware of the nation's secrets. Once you know them, you can’t easily escape the clutches of the Clovers; however, we were able to reach a compromise. I’d continue serving our government at Soulbell, with the promise that I’d never utter a word, and the Clovers let me go.”
“And now you’re here,” says Ray, setting down his drink.
“And now I’m here,” repeats Conall. “Twenty-seven years strong and still going. I may have run away from the Mako, but something about living out the rest of my pitiful life in prison felt right to me back then. It’s what I deserved... it’s what I still deserve. The years I’ve spent here are nothing compared to those I stripped away from others. Even now, I’m still too much of a coward to say something to stop these experiments. I’m no better than Sorel. He may be the guy conducting the experiments, but I’m the one watching and allowing them to continue happening. Honestly, I might even be worse.”
“I disagree. Sorel has the Clovers wrapped around his finger; you couldn’t stop his research even if you tried to step in.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’ve spent too long talking about myself. You can ask me all the questions you want later, but let’s get back to Joey. Joey claimed in court that the government was at fault for the handful of people who died that night, including his two friends. Of course, he had no knowledge of the Mako and the Clovers’ involvement, but he developed his own ideas of what happened. Joey asserted that the woman being silenced by the government for protesting was cruel. He then brought up the missing husband and that the woman lashing out in response was inevitable, given how far the government went. Joey wrapped things up by claiming that if the government wasn’t so adamant about forcing the public into believing in Nevism, this entire situation could’ve been avoided. It was all a grand hunch to him, but his accuracy was frightening, especially to the Clovers.”
“No kidding…”
“The government didn’t exactly like that, and it got Joey thrown in here until he uh… dies. It’s ironic. Sentencing him to Soulbell proved his point, but it’s not like it matters. Joey’s been labeled a criminal, so that’s what he is, but in my eyes, I don’t think he’s a bad guy at all. He tragically lost two friends, and avenging them could be called justice. Some might even argue he had every right to do what he did. Nonetheless, his criticism of the government's twisted system got him thrown in here for life. It makes you wonder, was anybody in the right? Or are they all in the wrong? I guess it depends on who you ask, and that’s how it’s always been.”
With Ray staring at his drink, Conall adds, “To me, this conversation never happened. You’re safe, but I know this is a lot. If you want to quit, go ah–”
“I’m not quitting,” voices Ray. “Honestly, Andrew, I haven’t been completely transparent with you either. I also have an interesting story about one of the inmates here.”
“Which one?”
“It’s about one of the guys who fought tonight. We’ve been friends since we were kids. Inmate 2656, Mateo Hernandez.”
***
Patiently listening to Ray, Conall lacks any reaction; however, as Ray reveals his goal of helping Mateo earn his freedom back, Conall finally has something to say.
“So that’s why you’ve been scurrying around like a cockroach without my authority.”
“I don’t have any excuses. Fire me if you wish.”
Conall laughs, “Like hell I’m firing you. So far, not a single inmate has completed Sorel’s iris games. That route is Hernandez’s best shot, but honestly, I’ve been wondering if Sorel would be willing to so easily give up such a powerful test subject once they collect ten wins. Hernandez needs seven more now, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve stood by Sorel’s side since these duels started, and out of all the inmates, Sorel seems the most intrigued by Hernandez.”
“It’s because Mateo is a legacy wielder. He inherited the Halos Avian ability from Nevis. That’s why Sorel is so interested in him and inclined to schedule him faster than others.”
“I see… I only know the basics of iris, but Mateo’s flames have always caught my eye. His inheriting of the avian legacy means Mateo holds the power of one of the seventeen ancient warriors. And you said it was Nevis, right?”
“Mhm.”
Conall chuckles, “Perhaps the prophecy of Nevis making his grand return will actually happen. Damn, I wonder how the Clovers are going to twist this one if Mateo actually makes it out of Soulbell.”
Ray asks, “Are you going to try and stop him?”
“Hell no,” quickly replies Conall. “It’s no wonder Mateo is developing so fast… every time I see him, he’s five times stronger than before. The guy just got out of surgery and already kicked somebody’s ass... I can’t wait to see how the Clovers handle that monster once he’s free. Also, if what you say is true, I agree. The Amlovos are definitely behind Kavi’s murder, I’m sure of it… and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were responsible for the death of Mateo’s father, too.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I don’t get it, though; why do you not care about this?”
“It doesn’t concern me. Say whatever the hell you want to him. None of your words will matter if Mateo doesn't have the skill to back them up himself. I want Sorel out of my prison, and if Mateo winning his duels helps that cause, I’m all for it.”
***
Walking out of the arena with blood dripping off my fists, I power down my abilities.
Nothing. Once again, he knew f*cking nothing!
Gnashing my teeth, I slam my fist into the wall beside me.
These rebels are so f*cking useless! All of 'em know jack shit! Even with the knowledge that they're about to get beaten to a bloody pulp, they can't scrounge up anything worthwhile to save their sorry asses!
Retracting my fist from the wall, my crimson arm flops back to my side. I take a deep breath and then continue walking down the hallway.
I guess these duels aren't entirely a waste of time. With that victory, I now have eight wins, only two away from getting my freedom back. Tori has nine, and the others all have at least five. Most of my gemcores, as have most of my friends, have reached the evolution stage. It’s not just my iris that’s been developing, though… my body and mind have, too. I’m close to the advanced stage. I can feel it, just a little more… I have to be as powerful as I can be.
Stepping into the large training room, I eat the singular mango slice I saved for after the fight.
With two duels a night, these past eight months have flown by. But… none of these damn rebels have given me anything to work with. I hate them more every day. It’s like they’re toying with me, and even if I threaten their lives or take off an arm, they just spill useless shit like where they met other rebels or how they heard about the Amlovos. Tch, I shouldn't be too surprised. If they were dumb enough to be caught, the leaders wouldn’t have trusted ‘em with any valuable information either. The only worthwhile bit I’ve gotten is that some of the rebels operate through the tirikas, but what the hell am I supposed to do with that in here? Somebody in Soulbell has to know about Kavi and my father, an inmate, maybe a guard… I don’t f*cking know…. but how else would Paulie have heard about it? Could Sorel have told him? The warden? F*ck. At least Ray is here, I can trust him, and he says my family is still okay. But if there’s going to be a civil war soon… I have to get out of here as soon as possible. Kavi’s killer is still out there; I just know it. And between him, the looming war, and everything else, staying trapped within these walls is the last thing I need.