For the most part, the Shade Organisation HQ is a cold and clinical building, all white panelled corridors occasionally broken by the glare of silver steel. An interior fit for the police force of the supernatural world. Criminals would find no respite from the harsh conditions of the Alaskan wilderness outside. It’s informally known as ‘Denali’.
Personally, now being one of those ‘criminals’, I think they’re trying too hard. Of course, I didn’t really arrive here the conventional way; this place is the Ritz compared to the Maiden. And once you’ve had to live next to 84 practicing his singing, or 39 crying her eyes out to a soapy drama, this place suddenly becomes a hell of a lot goofier.
10’s domain embodies the true terror of the job. Never before have I met a man who exemplifies the occupation of Jailor. Unsmiling, unyielding, he wields complete authority over his ‘Sunki-Me’, his ‘Kingdom’. He’s also a complete lunatic, so that helps.
10 is a wild animal lifted directly from the dark hours of the Achaemenid Empire. The first thing you notice about him is his thick black beard. He diligently combs and oils it everyday, preening over his mane, sharpening its teeth. Nestled within is a grimace that would stop a tiger in its tracks. His moustache curls at the corners. His dark eyes are fixed in a permanent glare, framed by long black matted hair. He spoke little, but when he did, the sound that escaped was guttural and broken. His robes are black, as Shades prefer, but furnished with the red and gold of an accomplished warrior.
Out of all the Shades, I see myself the strongest in him. But obscured, like staring in a dirty mirror. I’ve often thought that, if they’re hunting me as a rogue Shade, they should clean their own house first. That man is one popped aneurysm away from a rampage.
It was a long elevator ride down. 58 whistled a tune as we descended to the prison, and I could feel 10 bristling with anticipation to return to his home. Why is my sword down here? Shouldn’t it be in the armory? I could tell 58 was enjoying my silence, but I’ll concede that he had my curiosity. I clenched my jaw and waited for the elevator ride to end.
The door had hardly opened before 10 yanked my bonds and dragged me out. He was clearly excited to be back here. This place was a complete departure from upstairs. Where before was white, now a sourceless red light pervaded this place, malice seeping through the gaps in the tiles. Gold finery highlighted black shadows; a deep rhythm of distant machinery echoed through. Though, never let it be said 10 didn’t have an eye for interior design. The hallway we were in was well furnished and this continued the further in we walked; cushioned couches, stitched rugs with intricate patterns, grand paintings depicting grand landscapes.
But it still twisted your gut. It was wrong. As if to say that the horrors that awaited you around the corner weren’t random acts of cruelty, but a calculated evil, perfected into an art stolen from the clear thoughts of the insane.
I locked eyes with 10. His mood had improved; less I’ll-do-twisted-things-to-you, and more I’ll-do-twisted-things-to-you-but-I’m-happy. I fought through the primal revulsion sitting in my stomach and tried to grin at him, to show I wasn’t afraid, but all I could do was bear my teeth. Nearly imperceptibly, I saw the corners of his mouth move upwards.
-
When the gilded prison doors swing open, they revealed a huge lumbering beast. It had jagged, broken teeth and a prominent brow, orange fur all over its gigantic body. It swung its long arms around as it walked, sometimes using them to balance its body as it dragged itself along the ground. It was easily twice my size and its beady eyes honed in on me instantly. My stomach dropped.
It was a sasquatch! How did it get in? Did it escape from the prison? A thought came into my head. They’re not bringing me here to find my sword…they’re gonna kill me! I searched around frantically for a weapon, but my hands remain bound. Struggling against 10’s grip, I yelled at 58,
‘I see how it is! There was no audience with 0, was there? Well, I won’t go without a fight!’
The beast stomped over to us, drawing up to full height. It pounded its chest and roared, a great reverberating roar that shook the room. I recoiled. I won’t go like this. If it’s a trial of strength, there’s no way I’ll lose! I planted my foot and roared back.
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‘Come on you stupid animal! I’ll show you why your species is endangered!’
58 drew forward, ‘72, wait—’, but I ripped myself from 10’s grip and charged at the beast. The sasquatch threw his giant fists into the air like clubs.
A thin grating sound suddenly filled the air and morphed into a deep booming. I felt a shiver in my bones and stopped dead. The creature had the same idea. Behind me, 10 walked forward. He was doing something unfamiliar with his face; he was laughing! It drew a cold sweat from me. The sasquatch instantly cowered, its hands dropping to the ground. Is it…kneeling? I watched as 10 walked straight past the beast, not even giving it a second look. This was truly his kingdom. 58 grabbed my shackled hands.
‘That’s the Warden. Things work a little differently down here.’ I looked at the beast as we walked past, head in supplication to 10’s authority.
‘You better watch yourself 58. 10’ll be running things before long!’ I taunted him. 58 sighed.
‘Yes, we have you to thank for that, you little rascal. You ruffled a lot of feathers when you left a year ago, and the worst of us have been getting more and more favours from 0. I had to fight to be the one to hunt you down.’
‘I’m flattered,’ I said bluntly.
‘Trust me, it wasn’t for you. It was either me or someone like him, and I thought it would be better if we didn’t give ourselves over to insanity just yet.’ His eyes were locked on 10’s back. I snorted,
‘What’s wrong 58? Starting to see why I left?’ 58 gave a thin laugh.
‘Not in a million years. You’re part of the problem, 72. But in many ways you’re blind to see, you’re just a symptom of the way the Shades have been going for a while now.’
I scowled at him and spat, ‘I’m not the problem or a symptom, I’m the bloody cure mate. Now take your damn medicine!’
58 frowned and looked down at me. ‘You like your soundbites, don’t you? Oh well. Here, you’ll find this interesting. You’ve never seen the prison, have you?’
-
I had never visited the prison before. Truth be told, I didn’t see the need. The enemies I’d sent here were defeated and I don’t concern myself with has-beens. I’d also sent a lot of criminals here. Actually, that was part of the reason I left. My current approach to justice is a lot more…Old Testament.
The lucky occupants were spiritual beings of all sorts. Fallen Angels. Risen Devils. People eating monsters. People eating people. Your standard run of the mill ne’er-do-wells. Don’t ask me to recount the criminal justice system of the Other World; clearly I disagree. The prison has two functions. To keep the uncontrollable isolated, and to hold hostages to keep the various factions in check.
Our presence was clearly noted. The prisoners roused from their punishment, muttering curses in our direction until there was an uproar.
‘You will live to regret this, Shades!’
‘Release me, and I may yet spare you!’
‘— rip your heads off and suck your guts out—’
‘DIE! DIE! DIE!’
I gazed upon the rows and rows of cells stretching into the bloodstained darkness. The din was deafening. 58 gripped my chains tighter; 10 was unfazed. Of course he was! This was his fanfare, his triumph! This was the truth of the Shade Organisation. ‘Denali’ above. ‘Sunki-Me’ below.
‘Tarkub is not pleased, Shade,’ came a voice from a cell. I snapped my head around. A grotesque face I didn’t recognise stared back at me. ‘His standing among the Diablo Decens has decreased, and he requires retribution.’
I tutted and turned away. Oh great, I forgot about Tarkub. He can even talk here? I guess that’s why he’s a good information broker. Tarkub went on the backburner.
10 stopped in front of a cell suddenly. He looked back at us expectantly, then pointed at the wretch inside. Unlike the others, it wasn’t clamouring or shouting at us. In fact, it seemed paralysed, stuck in a state of utter terror. The atmosphere here must be too much.. Wonder what it did to end up here. Normally, if the entity is sufficiently weak, Shades will just give them a hiding, then send them scurrying. If one of those weaklings ends up here, the oppressive aura of 10 and the combined aura from all the evil stored here would quickly make a fine paste of its higher functions.
‘Ah, this one,’ said 58. ‘We captured him with you.’ Confused, I focused on the creature inside. The two wide-eyes, the tiny round mask peeking back at me suddenly seemed familiar.
‘Balul?’ I whispered.
‘Someone you know?’
I paused. ‘Maybe. He looks too weak to be here.’
‘He was there when we captured you. Poor guy tried to skedaddle but he didn’t want to step on the angel’s blood around. He also bore Tarkub’s mark, so we arrested him.’ explained 58. I looked at Balul’s frozen body. It was odd seeing him completely motionless. He was normally always fluttering about like he couldn’t sit still.
‘So, familiar?’
His hollow eyes stared at me, as if imploring me to intercede on his behalf, to release him from his anguish. I told him to leave me alone. This is what he gets for hanging around me.
‘Not really. Probably just one of Tarkub’s lackeys. Take me to my sword.’ I turned away from those two dark circles.
Balul’s cell disappeared into the distance behind me. Not a sound was made.