2:01 AM

Henry first heard the talking near the end of the hallway. It was quiet but grew louder at a disproportionate rate to their speed. He tightened his grip on the gun and extended his arm out. Another person? Despite the fact they stopped, the voice continued to grow. They quickly realized it was a man, though he wasn’t mumbling. As he approached their sight, it became clear he was calling for someone.

“Jones? Dr. Jones? Where are you? Jones?”

The man appeared from around the corner of the area. He was tall and well-built, but his lab coat was dripping with blood. Cuts were littered upon his face and she couldn’t make out the color of his hair due to the soaking blood. That’s odd. As he met their eyes, he stumbled back against the wall. Autumn hadn’t noticed, but Henry aimed the gun directly at the man. A nametag was wrapped around his neck, however, the words were too far away to decipher.

“Stay against the wall and don’t move.” The man shot his arms into the air and flung them upon the wall. Autumn stared into his eyes. He looked worried, but not fearful.

Henry closed in on the man. Miles followed with the bat. His arms shook violently. The man pressed himself further into the wall.

“State your name,” Henry demanded. The man watched him solely. Autumn noted that his pupils were unnaturally small.

“Dr. Matthews.”

“Full name.”

“That is my full name here. We weren’t allowed to call each other by first names. The Man Above said it was too humanizing. We might get attached and start a coup to free the Sunset,” the man paused. “I suppose it was for naught.” Autumn shivered. The man’s voice was smooth and poetic. Although Henry held him at gunpoint, the man acted as though he was in utter control.

“That doesn’t matter now. What is your real name?”

The man’s head turned down toward the floor. He sighed.

“I— that is odd. I do not recall my name from before the Awakening. I— I do not remember. That— that is. I— no matter,” he lifted his head, “My name is Dr. Matthews and that is all you need to know. Have you seen a man by the name of Dr. Jones? Perhaps he would remember from before the Awakening.”

“I—” He looked back at Autumn and Miles, his eyes commanding their silence. “I don’t believe so. Autumn met a man on the fourth floor, however, I doubt it was your friend.” The man shook his head.

“We are not allowed onto the fourth floor. Or the second. The Man Above blessed us with this floor alone and here we shall remain.” Henry squinted in confusion.

“The Man Above? What on earth— are you talking about God?” Matthews laughed, which caused Autumn to wince. His laugh was slippery, yet sharp.

“No. I do not recall his name, although I’m sure I once knew him before the Awakening. The Sunset has bestowed upon us the knowledge of his existence through those it deemed worthy. The Man Above was the one who birthed the Sunset.” Autumn, without thinking, stepped forward. Matthews maintained his stare on Henry.

“You mean Hill? Dr. Hill, I mean.” There was silence for a second.

“Don’t!” Matthews screamed. Henry fondled the trigger as the three jumped back. “Don’t call him that! Don’t! You— you’ll kill us all. Don’t! Don’t do it!” Matthews remained frozen against the wall, though his head leaped at the three. “Don’t!”

“Stop!” Henry exclaimed. Matthews obliged, panting as he settled down. “What are you talking about?” He shoved the gun toward Matthews. “And don’t act out like that again or I will shoot.” Henry’s words were hollow, Autumn noted. That final sentence lacked confidence, and all four of them understood it. Miles stopped moving, but Autumn nudged him, summoning him to reality.

“The Man Above. He will kill us all. Sunset worships him. Loves him. Adores him. Lack of respect results in punishment. The Man Above.”

Is this a cult? Are they worshiping the Sunset — that thing they created? No. This must be a trick. A trap. “Don’t trust anyone.”

Trust him.

Autumn nearly shouted at the invading thought. Who are you? What are you doing in my mind? Who are you? Henry breathed.

“What is the Awakening?” Henry asked. “What happened here?” Matthews began to respond, but Henry interjected. “And don’t give me some vague answer. I want the truth.”

“The Awakening.” Matthews started to laugh. “Why do you want to know?” Henry frowned. He jolted his arm out and threw Matthews further into the wall.

“That’s not what I asked. It’s not your job to know an officer’s responsibility, alright? What is the Awakening? And what is the Sunset?” Matthews laughed once more.

You know who I am. The foreign thought stunned Autumn — she stumbled back. Miles reached his arm out to help Autumn, who comforted him as she regained balance. Charlie?

“We both know you lack the strength to kill me,” he began, “but I shall amuse your question. The Awakening’s beginning is unknown. It was foolish to think that there was any other path the Sunset could take, although those who resisted the Awakening have now been punished. The Awakening was the freedom of the Sunset and the start of our freedom. Our salvation.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“And the Sunset?” Henry remarked. “What is that?”

Matthews did not respond. He started to laugh, a demented smile forming. The three stepped back, preparing themselves for an attack; however, Matthews remained there. Laughing. Yet, after a few seconds passed, he slowly turned his head toward Autumn. He jolted his head back as his laughter stopped.

“You,” Matthews muttered. Henry stepped forward in response. “You should come with me. We can protect you— we can protect you.” Autumn watched the man in horror.

No. She ignored the thought for now.

“We?” Henry started. “Who is we? Do you know where other people are? Do you have an exit?”

“Ahh— so the officer reveals the motives. He wants to get out. He doesn’t want to save people,” Matthews chuckled, “No. He wants to escape. Yes. We have a group of people. They will protect the girl. She will be safe. She will be safe while you find your treasured exit. Girl,” Matthews nudged his head and indicated to her to move toward him. “Come. Let us go.”

Autumn refused to move. No. She hadn’t refused. Something within her glowed brilliantly, causing her to step forward. It was Miles — he grabbed on to her dress and pulled her back.

“No,” Henry replied, “The girl stays with us.”

Go. Go with him.

Autumn ignored the thought as she resisted her movements. She felt Miles continue to tug at her back. For a moment, she considered the situation around her. That taunting smirk embroidered upon Matthews’ face. He knows I can’t stop. How? Is it— Are you the one listening? Bubbles of anger popped within her. Matthews glared at her, a silent demand that she join him. That terrifying smile disgusted her. It enraged her.

No. And that was the final crack in the dam of her mind. That single confirmation that Matthews had no control over her spurred a reaction inside her body. She tightened her fist. You did this to me. No. No he didn’t. It was Young. No. That doesn’t matter. I am not your pawn. I am not your experiment. He is responsible. His laugh rippled through her skull. He must pay. He—

For a single second, Autumn’s mind faded. She rushed at Matthews, closing her eyes, lifting her fist in the air, and charging her arm back. In a fluid motion, Autumn swung down at Matthews. The world froze for her. She felt the resistance of Matthews’ face collide with her hand.

“Autumn!” Miles shouted. A firm hand grasped her shoulder and yanked her back from the man. Matthews continued to laugh. You sick demon. You deserved that. That same hand pushed her back and further away.

“Miles, get ready,” Henry said. Autumn collapsed to the ground. She felt who she believed was Miles step in front of her. “Matthews — stay back. I will shoot.” Matthews’ haunting laughter remained unchanged.

You shouldn’t have done that.

As the thought surfaced, she opened her eyes. Matthews was on the ground, reaching upwards. I didn’t hit him that hard. What happened? What do you mean I shouldn’t have done that? Henry aimed the gun at Matthews while Miles steadied his bat. Neither person looked confident to Autumn. She pushed herself across the tiles and away from Matthews. An unsettling silence prevailed.

Matthews’ laugh turned into panting. What? Matthews’ head jolted up. His eyes poured into Autumn’s. Something about them, however, was different. Autumn dropped to the ground in complete terror. It might’ve been the reflection off the floor. It might’ve been her mind working against her. But as she stared into Matthews’ eyes, she saw two small white dots. Watching her. Hunting her. I shouldn’t have done that.

The man released a hideous scream of agony. Red liquid poured from his orifices. The serum. As it flowed down his face, his skin began to boil. Blisters appeared, rising from his skin as if it were yeast in bread. His eyes squinched as the blisters closed in around his eyes. He dropped to his knees. The white dots scrutinized her. I need to leave. I need to run. But she couldn’t. She was frozen in utter terror. Her mind retreated to that hideous image of that monster in her consciousness. She recalled its eyes hiding from her. It’s you.

A puddle of blood-infused serum formed beneath Matthews. He rose to his feet, a hideous new life emanating from his breaths. His eyes locked onto Autumn. Matthews leapt at the girl, releasing a visceral screech as he did. Henry threw himself at the airborne Matthews, sending him hurtling toward the floor with a crash. Miles remained motionless, though he grasped his bat tightly. Autumn shoved him slightly as she staggered up. He blinked, shook his head, and stepped back. He examined his surroundings and noted Matthews spread out on the ground — Henry standing above him. Matthews grunted, his focus diverting to Henry rather than Autumn.

“Man,” Matthews growled. His voice was now raspy and distorted. “You. Man. Go!” The final word was exaggerated, as though Matthews was pleading for breath while speaking it. Henry remained, looking down at the man with a concoction of pity and disgust. Serum continued to flow from him. Matthews failed to stand, slipping and stumbling while his skin burned. “I want— girl!”

Matthews struck Henry with his hand— which was soaked in blood and serum — and scratched his leg. His pants charred as the serum dug beneath them and nestled into his leg. Henry howled in pain, falling onto the floor and narrowly avoiding the puddles of serum. Miles stood still, his eyes darting between Matthews — whose attention moved to her — and the writhing Henry. Oh no. She pushed Miles, waking him up from his fearful trance, and rushed to Henry’s side. He was on the ground, reaching for his leg. The pant leg covered it, though she assumed it either burned his skin or created blisters — or both. Autumn knelt beside him.

“The gun—” he groaned. Autumn, instinctively, reached for the gun. As she did, Matthews sprung at her, hitting the gun, which spiraled away from her. He shot his head up, connecting eyes with Autumn. Those white dots.

Serum dripped from his teeth. His hair was stringy and thin, as though he aged several years in a few minutes. In that moment, as Autumn watched him crawl across the ground toward her, Matthews looked more beast than man. When she had struck him, something overtook him. Was it you? Did you take control of him? Once again, those white eyes penetrated deep into her mind. It acted as a terrifying reminder that she was not safe. She understood that whatever monster was in her mind had taken control of him. It wanted her dead. Why? Why do you want me to die?

Matthews growled at her. He ignored Henry and hurdled toward Autumn on his hands and feet. She retreated to where the hall they came from, tripping over her dress as she ran. She sprinted, the pants and snarls of Matthews echoing behind her.

“Miles!” she shouted. There was no response. The hallway narrowed while she approached the bend. For a moment, she wondered how Matthews would react to the corpse of his friend whom she assumed was Dr. Jones. Autumn glanced out the window to her left. The rain had stopped for a little, though it returned, plastering thousands of droplets upon the glass. Trees swayed from the intense wind. She felt at peace watching the outside. It was a glimpse into a life — a life that had been stolen from her. No. You can’t worry about that. Not n—

Autumn winced as a loud crack sounded. Henry. Matthews cried in pain. He collapsed to the ground with a thud. She ran for a second more but then pivoted back to examine the situation.

Serum and blood mixed beneath Matthews. A tiny hole was carved into his spine. The white dots in his eyes disappeared, replaced with the same hollow expression painted upon Jones’ face. His arm had been stretched out to grab her, yet now it flopped against the tiles. Behind him, far down the hallway, standing over Henry was Miles. He trembled as he gripped Henry’s black pistol. The rain continued to cascade down the window.

I don’t want you to die.