I opened my eyes and gazed through a grey film, I sighed, they had put the mask back on with its stupid restrictive sigils. I was chained up again, and sitting up on a bench in a military helicopter, Agent Sid sat across from me with his pistol aimed at my head “Gray, it’s nice of you to join us. Did you have a nice nap?” I stared in silence, there were soldiers filling all the free space in the helicopter, high powered rifles aimed at me. The little girl stood behind a wall of soldiers, she was struggling against them to get to me.
We landed and I was pulled out of my seat and into the facilities front gates, soldiers and scientists milled about rushing to different assignments and studies, many of them having to do with me.
This is my home, otherwise known as the Limbo project, the gates, the soldiers, the tanks, scientists and layers of security, all for me, to make sure they got the most out of their investment. I saw a soldier take the little girl away, kicking and screaming, they’d try to rehabilitate her, to save her mind.
In situations like this I was grateful for the mask, it blocked out the wave of emotion coming from the human staff. I hated to feel their suffering or happiness. Hated the way I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to solve all their problems, or from wanting to make them worse.
Agent Sid grabbed my arm and walked me down the dark hallways, flashing red lights, our only illumination as they announced the return of the prisoner. We stopped at a large steel door with a number pad, Agent Sid swiped his keycard through a scanner and pulled me through into a white room filled with more soldiers. One wall of the room was the glass wall of an aquarium, of course this glass was reinforced to be stronger than steel, and on the other side of the glass, a prison of near freezing water.
In the center of the room was a single wooden table, a tall middle aged man with salt and pepper hair sat at the table with his legs crossed, he wore a white lab coat over a tan collar shirt and white pants. He had an angular face and black eyes; he smiled at me “Gray! How was your thirteenth birthday?” He took my silence as an answer “I see, I really hoped it would go well.” He looked at me with disappointment and I hated myself for feeling shame, for feeling like I let him down. Dr.Cabrera may have done a better job of pretending to care than most,but it would always be an act.
Agent Sid smiled at Dr.Cabrera “Let’s get the little monster in containment, I’ve got a report to write. Diego.” Dr.Cabrera nodded and stood up, we followed him into a room set off to the side and up a stairway, that ended right above the giant aquarium. There was nothing in the tank, only freezing water and dim underwater lights, as always, my chains seemed to feel more constricting at this moment. I could break them easily, but the base as a whole was less on edge when I had them on. I mentally prepared myself, then I stepped into the tank, sinking like a rock.
I didn’t have the panic that I’ve heard most humans have in this situation, stronger supernatural beings can’t be killed by just average mundane means like drowning, it takes a special weakness, or spelled materials. So yeah, I can’t drown, but it’s still incredibly cold and uncomfortable, the helplessness, knowing that I can’t leave this tank without their permission, that they could just leave me here.
I hit the bottom and laid there, I could see into the room from earlier, see the soldiers with their weapons. I lay facing them, knowing how much it creeped them out.
I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep, I pushed away the cold, the cramps in my muscles and my situation and drifted.
I didn't go to a place of calm when I slept, I got to talk to myselves. Two different versions of me stared each other down, one represented an endless abyss of dark rage, despair, destruction, death, fire, and torment. The other was infinite beauty, calm and insurmountable peace, happiness, hope, of new life, and regrowth, of second chances.
They’re bodies shifted slightly when I entered, acknowledging my presence, but not letting their guards down. Whoever said opposites attract was completely out of their minds, unless they meant to get in stab range.
Usually the two sides were equal, but now my demon side was clearly a little bigger than my angel side. It wasn’t too much of a problem, my demon side is too shrewd to make a move without a much bigger advantage. I need to get my angel side bigger to make things even again, maybe I’ll get a chance to help some old ladies cross the street or something? The bright side of this is that if my demon side ever does win out, the lab coats will get the weapon they’ve always wanted and it will be coming for them. Starting with Agent Sid.
I opened my eyes to the sound of a high pitched ringing. I gripped one of the built-in handholds as the draining water threatened to suck me away. The water emptied and the pull weakened until I lay on the floor of an empty chamber.
A metal security door opened at the end of the room and Agent Sid walked in, he slid a plate across the floor to me. I rolled to my side and stopped the plate with my foot, it held a white gelatinous rectangle, the rectangle was shiny and wet. I grimaced “Mmm, nutrient mold again, my favorite.” Agent Sid smiled and said “I know, that's why I keep telling them to serve it to you. It's my job to look out for you, Gray. I've got today's schedule, physical exam, Mental health, Educational courses, then isolation.”
I looked at him in surprise as he came to lift up my mask. “Isolation? What for?.” He chuckled “You thought that little rebellion yesterday wouldn’t go in my report? I’m kind of disappointed really, Diego got put in charge of your isolation period. Eat your slop and let's go.” That was good, Dr.Cabrera wasn’t known for his cruel and inhumane punishments, I’d probably just be forced to sit in the corner for a while. I looked back at the glass wall to make sure the soldiers in the other room had already left, then I leaned forward and Agent Sid uncovered my mouth. I had to lay against the floor to get the nutrient mold into my mouth with the chains on, it tasted as good as it sounded.
After my meal I was taken to the physical research room, a state of the art gym. There were instruments, scales, numbers and keypads that would help the group of white lab-coated researchers standing off to the side with their clipboards get the most accurate results.
Agent Sid stood against the wall with his hand on his holster while a blonde woman named Dr.Sarah got me situated. I laid down flat on a cold metal table, and stared at the ceiling while she stood behind a sleek control pad and pressed buttons, she looked at the other researchers and said “We will now begin with the first test of physical strength.” Dr.Sarah looked at me “Gray, raise your hands above you and spread your fingers as though you were holding up a great weight.” I did as she said and the moment my hands were in position, a huge metal box fell from the ceiling! I caught it and held it above me.
I heard Dr.Sarah’s voice “I have started the test at a single ton of force as the subject has proven to be capable of handling such exertions, I will now increase the force.” The box grew significantly heavier and I gritted my teeth “I have now increased the force to two tons, the subject shows very little signs of strain even though the exerted force has doubled in pressure so quickly. I will increase the force once more.” The box got heavier and my arms started to shake, my muscles felt like they were on fire, my breathing grew heavy, and I could feel my strength starting to wane as the box got closer and closer to my face “It seems we have more or less reached the peak of the subjects strength at an impressive three tons, but there is room for improvement, rest assured.”
The box suddenly rose and disappeared back into the ceiling with a sound of whirring gears. My arms fell to my sides like two rolls of gelatinous nutrient mold, I was allowed a couple of seconds of rest before the next test.
I stood on a treadmill and Dr. Sarah prompted me to run and I started at a slow jog, the number on the speedometer started to rise and I matched it. I started to struggle at around the seventy miles per hour mark, but I held on for almost eight hours while the lab geeks watched me like robots.
The rest of the day went on pretty much the same way, pushing me to my limits in different areas before moving on to the next test. Dodging machine gun fire in a room that echoed and amplified sounds, climbing a superheated rockwall with instant relocating handholds, and fighting my way through state-of-the-art battle drones was all par for the course. I jumped out of the turbine powered pool’s thirty mile per hour currents and sprawled to the cold metal floor, Dr.Sarah stood over me with a clipboard “That will be all today, take it away Agent Sid.”
Mental health was Dr.Cabrera’s idea, I just sat in a room and watched TV, unfortunately it was all family shows, the kind that constantly reminded me of the life I should have had. A mom and a dad, kids, a crazy uncle and crazier grandparents, friends, school. I’d watch for hours and wonder if any of it was real, if there were people who really lived like this? It occurred to me that the little girl from yesterday had probably lived like this, well maybe she still could if she got better. Right now she was part of the Grey Love Club, other people who had seen my face and paid the price, but probably the only people who cared about me at all.
Agent Sid sat nearby, staring with that permanent smile of his, his eyes never seemed to roam, never seemed to wander. Sometimes it was easier to be with Agent Sid than with anyone else in the facility. I knew where I stood with him, Dr.Cabrera’s kindness was out of concern for his job, he just wanted to make sure I was stable enough to complete my missions, it wasn’t real and it made it hurt so much more. Agent Sid truly hated me, he cared enough to hate me to my core, nothing fake about it, he just wanted to make sure my life was hell. I could survive in hell, suffering was nothing new, but false hope would kill me.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
After a couple of hours, the radio on Agent Sid’s chest beeped, he put it to his ear and listened, then impossibly, his smile seemed to get wider. He put his radio back to his chest “Well Grey, it seems Dr.Cabrera has had something come up and can’t handle your isolation period, I will be taking over.” I felt my heart drop, no way was I going into an isolation with Agent Sid. He must have seen the look in my eyes “Don’t worry kiddo, that’s not until after your fun in class, now let’s get moving.” I clenched my fist and walked with Agent Sid to class, it was important a kid my age get his education after all.
My classroom was actually pretty normal, normal classroom just like in the shows, except for the reinforced glass separating me from the teacher, and the subject: Supernatural beings, from the smallest pixie in Faerie to the highest demons in hell and even angels in heaven. Ms.Mackren had spent her entire life studying the supernatural and she was going to make sure I knew what she knew.
Today’s class was on the dangers of woodsprites, the lesson was boring, the room was warm, and Ms.Mackren had a piece of food stuck in her teeth the whole time. I never wanted it to end, I tried to stretch every second as long as possible but it wasn’t enough. Agent Sid walked in with real joy in his eyes “Isolation time!!!” He said it the way most people say “Who wants ice cream!” or “Congratulations, you’re innocent!” I wanted with everything in my heart to jump from my seat and lunge at him, but I knew it would do nothing. I could kill Agent Sid, but then what? I couldn’t fight my way out of this place, not without clearances. Besides, something about the way Agent Sid held himself around me said he thought he could take me. Maybe he wasn't human after all.
I left with my head slumped in dismay. Agent Sid placed me in a room that was completely dark, that was one similarity between him and Dr.Cabrera, and that was the last. I should be able to see in the dark perfectly but every time my eyes tried to adjust it was like they were covered by a black cloth. My head started to hurt and the more I tried to see, the worse it got.
I stood still in complete darkness, no noise but the sound of my breathing for a long time. There was a loud crack and then a line of fiery pain ran across my stomach, before I could react there was another crack and my back exploded in an eye watering sting. I moved, but the crack kept coming, faster and harder. Hands, feet, legs, arms, back, chest, neck, face, stomach; over and over until my entire body was a ball of raw torment, until every second was filled with the sound of it. I felt skin tear and blood run from the wounds, I felt my bruises all over my body, each one screaming for attention, but being overpowered by new hurts.
The wounds appeared faster than they healed, and each unbruised patch of skin became a battleground for more agony. I rolled on the floor, screaming until my throat was raw and could no longer make sound, and then I screamed again when my throat healed. I repeatedly bit my tongue in ragged spasms and got to feel it heal, I coughed up blood constantly as my throat tore and my tongue bled.
Finally I rolled into a ball, willing the world away, retreating in on myself as best as I could and did something I hadn’t done in years, not since I had learned how useless it was. I prayed to my father, I prayed that he would swoop down from the sky and save me from the bad people. I prayed and I hated myself for the weakness. I don’t know how many hours I lay curled up praying as the rain of horror beat away at me, as the sound of cracking whips became the only sound I knew. Nothing, nothing, nothing! No one was coming to save me, not now, not ever. No one will ever save me. For the first time in a long time, I cried, I cried until my tears ran out.
At some point the cracks stopped, the pain stopped coming and all that was left were my choking sobs. I lay there for a few minutes, trying desperately to regain my composure as I healed, the lights came on in the room and I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up, it was Dr.Cabrera. His face and shirt were flecked with blood. In one hand he held a 9mm and in the other, an armful of clothes. He looked nervous.
Dr.Cabrera dropped the clothes at my feet and said “Gray, I'm getting you out of here.” I looked at him in disbelief “Out? You mean like outside?” He nodded and I said “What about Agent Sid?” He smiled a wolfish grin and said “That bastard's dead. Now stay still, we don't have much time.” He put his hand over my face and whispered “Alteramentum.” His hand suddenly started glowing and I tried to pull away, but he grabbed my head and wouldn’t let go, his grip was like iron. My body suddenly seemed to stiffen up and I screamed as his fingers passed through my face like a ghost’s might, I felt my teeth rattle like they’d fall out. He was kneading my head like it was clay and I felt like my skull was going to explode as bone shifted subtly under my skin.
He finally stopped and I slumped against him, Dr.Cabrera snatched my mask off before I could stop him. “There, now you look human.” I stared at him, noting that he didn’t seem to be turning into a Gray worshipper. “What did you do to me?” He smiled and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder “I’m giving you a chance to be free, a new face. Now for the suit.” He held my shoulders and warmth spread through my body. Dr. Cabrera yelled “Scardandum!” I pulled away as my body caught fire. My flesh burned and the suit fell from my body in a heap of rags. My body was covered in scars that flashed yellow once and then the glow faded.
I looked at Dr.Cabrera and he saw the anger in my eyes. He held up his hands in defense and said “Woah there. I said I'd let you out, but I'm not just going to sick you on the masses. Those scars will bind your powers, but they'll heal over time and give you a chance to get used to your new abilities.” I grabbed the clothes he'd dropped on the ground and got dressed when an alarm started to blare “Guess they found Sid.” He turned and shot the keypad next to the door and said “That should keep them out for awhile. Let's get going.” I looked around the room, there were no other exits. Dr. Cabrera saw the panic on my face and said “Don't worry. I know what I'm doing.”
He lead me over to a far wall and scanned it with his hands. He nodded in approval and then bit into his hand like a starving man with a steak. Before I could ask if he was okay he began to smear the wall with blood and chant in a language not meant for a human mouth. It was hellion, the language of demons. The stone wall began to fold and bend against itself until we stood before a heavy door made of dead wood. Dr.Cabrera opened the door and said “Go through here it should take you to safety.” I looked down the long sloping tunnel behind the door with worry. “How can you use demon magic and what's this tunnel, where does it go?” There was angry shouting from behind us as the guards struggled with the broken keypad. Dr.Cabrera checked the clip of his pistol with his good hand and said “This is called the Sinner's Trail, a path to take you away from prying eyes.
Your mother gave me this spell to get you out of here and she's the only one who knows where it comes out.” at the look in my eyes he said “Yes, I know your mother. No, I won't tell you about her.” I walked through the door and looked back as I felt a sudden rush of fear escape him, he was afraid to die. “Come with me.” He shook his head “No, the door has to be sealed with my blood or else you'll be followed.” I heard gunshots as the guards started to break down the door and I said “Why are you doing this?” His eyes flashed red and he said “I made some bad deals and it's time to pay up.” He started to close the door himself when I didn't move. “Don't stop moving on the Sinner's Trail, you're not the only one using it. And if you see your mother, tell her Diego has paid his debts.” The door shut and I heard gunshots and bullets fly, there was a voice like rocks grinding together with Dr.Cabrera’s voice on it's edges “Come on friends, the train to hell has room for all of us.”
I ran down the trail. It smelled of rot and mold, of fresh murder and lies sweet enough to turn the stomach. I ran as fast as I could, my legs burned as I struggled on the too soft earth. The tunnel changed its slope at random intervals, from a steady decline to a steep rise and then vice versa. It was cold, as I ran the temperature started to drop without any warning. A bone deep chill that tried to hold my muscles in place and freeze my veins. I kept running as the fatigue built up and the cold ate away at me. Ice crystals formed on my eyelashes and my face felt like it was frozen solid. My arms and legs lost all feeling in the cold and it got hard to keep them moving without falling flat onto my face.
Soon I began to slow down as my strength gave out and I was about to stop for a moment despite the cold when I heard a rough growl behind me. I turned my head and caught a glimpse of hundreds of pale skinned creatures rushing along the walls of the tunnel after me. They were the size of wolves and crawled along the walls on all fours with their bellies close to the ground, their spindly legs propelled them after me. Milky white eyes gazed ahead unblinkingly, mindlessly. Wights. As I noticed them, the wights seemed to increase their pace and gain on me. I turned ahead and increased my speed with the comprehension that I had just become prey.
The same slopes and soft ground that hindered me didn't seem to affect the wights at all. The front runners of the horde began to catch up with me. A wight fell from the ceiling and landed lightly on my back. I felt claws tear through my skin before my fist shattered it's skull and it fell away. Another wight landed in my path and I stomped on it's chest, crushing it into the soft earth without losing too much speed. Claws and teeth nipped my heels and the back of my neck, long fingers tangled in my hair and only a quick reflexes saved me as I tore hands from wrists almost automatically. My breathing was ragged and I knew I wouldn't last much longer, after that beating I was nearing the end of my reserves. The horde would overtake me and devour me like piranhas. Then I smelled something, car exhaust and garbage, old food, and urine. I pushed for a final burst of strength and broke away from the horde as a light came into view. I rushed toward it as the wights screamed shrilly at their escaping meal. I burst out into a dirty alleyway and turned my head as the door I'd come through faded into a brick wall.
The alley walls were covered in graffiti, and the warm wind spread filth liberally. Some of the graffiti caught my eye and when I took a closer look at it, I saw that it was written in hellion. It read:
Welcome to Chicago,
Freedom isn't given so easily, Gray. You'll have to prove you're worth the trouble. Live on your own and master yourself. I've put a bounty on your head to make sure you get plenty of practice as the supernatural world comes to claim the prize. Don't shame your bloodline.
Love, Mom.
The message faded away after I'd finished reading. Figures, my mom's a psycho. There was a broken mirror leaning against the wall, I yelped at the face that looked back at me. My skin was tan instead of ghostly pale and my short, wild hair had always been a snowy white, now it was raven black. My eyes had changed from their normal whitish blue to a light hazel and my teeth were...human. I kind of liked my fangs. My face had lost its inhuman perfection, I had freckles, and my lips were a little too thin. I was still good looking by human standards, but compared to before, I was a troll. Nice!
I checked inside my shirt and took note of the hundreds of pale, scars all over my body. I grimaced, there weren't going to be many pool parties in my future. I pushed that out of my mind and looked down the alley, toward the Chicago streets. There was so much to do now, I walked out of the alley and onto the busy Chicago sidewalk. People passed by me with only a couple of glances as I emerged from the dark alley. The sun shined on my face and the sounds of people talking and cars honking filled my ears. The smells of the city and the buildings full of people were like a dream. A funny feeling bubbled up in my chest and tears filled my eyes as I fell to my knees and started to laugh uncontrollably. People walked around me and stared and I didn't care. I’m free, today I'm free.