by A. M. White
I had no way to know how much time passed. The medics kept me sedated for what seemed like an eternity. Drugs were administered regularly, to make sure I wouldn’t become violent again.
It was like they could read my mind. As soon as I had an aggressive thought, another round was pushed through an IV. The port had been placed under the supervision of soldiers. I was so weak from sedation the soldiers were unnecessary.
The medics explained to me that I provided a rare opportunity to study a mole that had lived above ground. I was forced to be some sort of a research specimen.
They drew blood from me regularly. My muscle mass and strength was compared to others bred from the same stock. I blew into tubes, to test my lung capacity. The skin that remained on my body received UV application. That would reveal how my skin had adapted to the sun over the years.
In a fog, I often asked about the others. I was consistently given the same response. “You will be told when the time comes; only after you give us what we want.”
That should have made me angry, but the meds refused to let me feel anger. I complied with the omniscient hope that eventually, I would give them enough.
I conducted stress tests. I ran faster than the treadmill allowed, even under the strong medicines. My heart remained steady, until they questioned me about the final moments of our attempted escape. Then my heart accelerated and they allowed me to stop to regain my composure.
They hooked me up to wires to record my brain waves. The machine caught fire when they asked me about my relationship with Alex. I told them they needed a stronger machine if they wanted to ask me about my love life. Even the medics, upset about the destruction of their device laughed.
As I became more compliant, the need for soldiers waned. They didn’t return after two sleep periods.
In my terminal state of grogginess, I became aware of shift changes. That was the only way to mark the passage of time. Normally, I was administered two tests and then the scientists would leave to review their data.
The medics stayed for longer periods of time. One set came to wake me and carried on during the day. After dinner, another group replaced them and watched me through the hours of sleep.
It was hard to sleep with others in the room. They cleaned, wrote notes, and restocked the cabinets. All the while, they watched me and the monitors that relayed information.
One sleep crew brought interns with them. They must have felt safe enough. I was aware of one young man, he appeared to look at me differently than the others. I couldn’t tell if he was empathetic or scared of me, but he never took his eyes off me. I resolved to try and talk to him if given the chance. Maybe he could relate to me in some way.
The worry I had for Alex, Cara and Jason picked at the back of my brain. Hopefully, I could get him to answer some questions.
The next wake crew burst into the room with a newly found sense of urgency. Their focus was entirely on me. They pulled wires and bandages that clothing didn’t cover.
“What’s going on?” I asked the medic that tended to my face.
She paused and cocked her head. “You have been summoned by the Superiors.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “When? When will I go?”
“As soon as we get you all cleaned up.” She tugged at the stitches on my cheek. “We don’t want you to look like some kind of monster, do we?”
“I don’t know, do you?” I made eye contact with her. I recognized her eyes. She had been one of the regular day medics.
“Personally, no.” She whispered. She didn’t skip a beat. “You are going to get to have a shower and even get to shave! Won’t that be nice?”
That did sound amazing. I nodded.
I wasn’t sure how to interpret the exchange. The fact that she whispered her response eluded that her opinion wasn’t a popular one. Her tone had been meaningful. I wondered if I had just stumbled upon my first ally.
Jason
Pain came in waves. Initially, I welcomed it, because I knew that with pain, I was alive. The problem was that I couldn’t decipher where it came from. When it came, it crashed down upon my body with such force that I wanted to grip something, to bite down, and to scream all at once.
I made theories about what inflicted the pain. My body may have been set on fire. Chemicals could have been injected into my heart. The most reasonable answer was electricity. I knew that the moles had the means and curiosity to experiment on humans with it.
My eyes did seem to focus slightly. I began to make out movement in the shadows of my mind. Darkness on a white canvas that shifted.
My hearing didn’t improve. Only muffled pulsations were discernable. I decided that I could live without hearing, if I could see and feel again.
Along with the sensation of pain, other feeling returned. I could determine pressure on my legs at times. Once I felt hands on my face.
It scared me to death that there were people around me that I couldn’t see or fully feel. This wasn’t all that was meant to be. In silence, I hoped that the moles would bring me back into the light.
Timothy
The flimsy curtain on the shower stuck to my leg. Aside from that, the warm water was exhilarating. Dirt and blood ran off my feet, into the drain on the floor. I took my time. I just stood under the faucet for a few minutes before I washed.
The burns left behind scar tissue. The ointments had done the best they could. My fingers spread soap over my bumpy skin. My legs looked like melted wax in some places. I cringed at their appearance.
When I was done, a guard waited outside the shower. He handed me a towel, and clothes. The tunic and draw string pants were yellow, the color designated for prisoners. They were made of a scratchy material. Prisoners weren’t meant to feel comfortable.
There were no shoes issued to me. This was done, so that if I escaped, I wouldn’t get far above ground, before they could track me. I smiled. They thought highly of me, if they believed I would figure a way out of this.
I stepped from the stall. I couldn’t remember the last time I was so clean. The soldier jumped slightly. It made me self-conscious. To tell the truth, the dirt and crusted blood had been a veil that I hid behind. I was more intimidating with the layer of obstacles and freedom plastered on me. It had presented my story, without a need to tell it.
The soldier clamped cuffs over my wrists. He poked me in the back to direct me toward a door. His gun was aimed at my head. He scanned his badge to gain entry.
“Hunter 1, Bryce.” The door slid open.
I knew the name. I froze. The soldier pushed me.
“Wait, Bryce?” I slowly turned around to face him. “The Bryce I used to know?” The Bryce I used to patrol with, before I was demoted to the tunnels had been a good comrade. There were times when he showed moments of sympathy toward the humans.
He stood rigid, the gun still pointed at my head. “Yes.”
I couldn’t help myself, I grinned. “It has been a long time. You are now a 1? A leader?”
“Only recently. We have had a lot of promotions lately.” He said with a dark tone.
The door timed out. It slid shut behind me.
“I know. I am sorry if it was anyone close. Things were getting a little out of hand.” I stared at my cuffs.
“So it seems.” It was difficult to read his mood with the helmet. It covered his facial expressions.
“Did you know about the energy plans?” I bravely asked.
“It became pretty public knowledge. You know how they run propagandas. It was voted in favor by the Superiors.” He lowered his gun. “I don’t really need to be afraid of you, do I?”
“Of course not. Everything I did, was to stop the Roars. What our people did, what they were going to do, wasn’t right. I couldn’t allow it.” I shrugged. “In my time above, I was able to see the beauty in some people. There is still some good up there.”
He sighed. “I have to take you. They will wonder where you are.”
“Please, one last t
hing. Can you tell me anything about the others? My sister and two friends?” I pled with him.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Timothy, if they find out I tell you anything, I could be executed for treason.”
“Please. I am dying here.” I felt tears flood my eyes.
Bryce hung his head. “I have heard about your sister.” He laughed softly. “She is alright. She has been the little spit-fire she always was.”
I forgot that Bryce was one of the few people that had known Cara as my sister. A lifetime ago, I trusted him enough to tell him. Bryce was always careful. He truly feared our Superiors and their wrath of justice, but he was also loyal.
My heart swelled. “The others?”
“I heard they aren’t doing as well. I don’t have any details.” Bryce admitted.
A tear dripped from my eye. My heart squeezed tightly in my chest. “Is there any way you could please find out for me?”
“I will try. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.” He put his hand on my shoulder.
The door sprang open. Bryce spun me around and shoved me forward. I stumbled into another soldier.
“Watch out!” I was pushed aside. “What’s going on in here?” The other soldier questioned.
“Excuse me, private?” Bryce retorted.
The soldier regained his composure. “Pardon Sir. I didn’t know you were with him, Sir.”
“That’s a little better. Now, scurry along, before I think of a consequence for your outburst. I’ve got this under control.” Bryce poked me in the back with his gun and I walked through the doorway.
“Yes, Sir.” The private called. The door closed on him.
Outside, a medic waited for us. I knew who it was when she spoke. “This is the prisoner I told you about.” It was the same woman that told me that she didn’t believe I was a monster.
“We were briefly reacquainted.” Bryce told her.
“So, you know each other?” She questioned.
“Yes, from his time below.” Bryce shifted on his feet.
“I thought you might.” She took off her medical mask. “My name is Lori.” She held out her hand to my cuffed fists. I awkwardly shook her hand.
The medic was a middle-aged woman with light hair pulled back into a bun. The lines on her face created deep shadows around her mouth and eyes. Something about her expressed kindness and honesty.
“We don’t have much time. I need to prepare you for the meeting. The Superiors have decided to tell you that they will let you and the others live. Of course, there is a catch; you all will be treated as test subjects.”
“What does that mean? Isn’t that what they have already done?” I felt like my wits were more intact than they had been in a while.
Lori glanced over her shoulder to make sure we were still alone. “The Superiors want to use you and your sister as long term subjects, to research the effects of above the surface living and reinsertion into the tunnels. Your friends, on the other hand, will be studied to see if they can adapt to life underground. Health, both mental and physical, stamina, and healing will be the data points.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Does that mean that the others are alive?”
“Yes, well, both are still critical. They have around the clock teams working to make sure they survive.” Lori looked me in the eyes as she spoke.
“Critical? Is Alex going to be alright? Can you tell her I love her? Is there any way I can see her?” I trembled with worry.
Lori put her hands on my shoulders. “You need to understand this. You must comply with us. If any of you become too much of a burden, the Superiors will have you executed. There has been a lot of fighting amongst them about what to do with you. Right now, several of the Superiors are sympathetic to the humans. We need to keep it that way. I have been in contact with them. There are some plans that I can’t reveal yet, but I need you to trust me.” She allowed her hands to slide off my shoulders and down my arms.
I took a deep breath to steady myself. I nodded. “I understand. We are only of value, if we comply.” I clenched my fists tightly. “Please get word to Cara. If anyone is going to be a problem, it’s her.”
Lori smiled sweetly. “I will.” She patted my arm. “Good luck. I will see you again, soon.”
We strode through the long corridors of dirt. The red lights seemed dim in comparison to the bright sterile lights of the medical room. I had to squint until my eyes adjusted.
Bryce only spoke to give me directions. That was fine by me. Thoughts swirled in my head.
I was relieved to know that Cara was doing well. Alex was alive. Jason was alive. The had both better stay that way or I was going to become a big “burden.”
Before I knew it, we stood in front of a very elaborate gate. I was here once before, when I came to appeal my job as a soldier. The day I had been sentenced to tunnel repair. It was the gate to the Superior Chamber.
Bryce leaned close to my ear. “Lori didn’t give you meds today, so you will be able to know what is going on and control yourself.” He quickly scanned his badge.
“Hunter 1, Bryce.” The gate clinked open.
Soldiers lined the foyer, guns at their sides. They were meant to intimidate, but also to provide safety for the Superiors. None of their heads moved, nor did any of them speak. The post outside the Superior Chamber was ritualistic, a tradition of sorts. It was considered an honor to be appointed there.
The soldier’s stares bore through me. I knew I would be watched intensely. By now, my actions had run through the rumor mill. People down here latched on to rumors as one of the few forms of entertainment.
Fragments of truth and imagination were more than likely thrown in to make me an infamous celebrity. For all I knew, people might think that I could shoot lasers out of my eyes and control them with my mind.
At the end of the foyer, marble pillars rose from floor to ceiling to remind those that entered about the power of these walls. The Superiors made and enforced the laws of the people. If you were summoned, your fate laid in their hands completely.
Anxiety taunted my stomach. I wasn’t sure if it was the fear of judgment or the withdrawal of medicine that made me shiver. I realized my dependence on it, because I craved a little of the tranquilizer to get through the meeting.
The pillars opened into a large room, lit by a large chandelier. Lights sparkled as they twisted through the hundreds of crystals that hung from it. It was as beautiful as I remembered.
My feet slapped against cold obsidian tiles on the floor. A large horseshoe-shaped table made of dark teakwood was the centerpiece of the room. In the middle of the U, a small simple chair was meant for me.
The Superiors sat in tall-backed chairs around the outside of the table. They were dressed in black robes; a sign of their nobility. I interrupted a debate. All eyes were on me.
Bryce pulled back the chair for me. I sat and folded my hands in my lap. Bryce retreated to the pillars. He still watched and would be ready if I created any issues.
I scanned the faces of the seven Superiors. I wondered which were my allies?
A few of them had been here my last visit. Most of them were elderly. The elderly, were usually sent to another community, to live out their last years. These few were considered the most intelligent; the wisest inhabitants, and were spared the mundane existence of geriatric treatment.
Three of the Superiors were much younger than the others. A woman and two men, were likely in their late thirties. Once assigned the duty of a Superior, they held the position for life.
“So, here we are again, Timothy.” One of the elderly men rubbed his forehead. “I hate to say it, but I knew that we would meet again.” He looked around the table. “You were a troubled youth and ungrateful of your assignment as a soldier. I moved for your execution last time and I will again, today.” His voice brought back memories. He had been one of two that called for my execution, due to my noncompliant nature.
I steadied myself. I was determine
d to stare straight ahead and not speak until they requested it of me.
“Arthur, we have much to discuss before we vote.” Another veteran reminded him smoothly. He wore a pair of spectacles that accentuated his wide and lumpy nose. A small number of wispy hairs remained on his otherwise bald head.
He took control of the proceedings. “Timothy, I suppose you already know that you are here on behalf of your comrades. You have been perceived as their leader and now hold their future in your hands.
We are aware of your time both below ground and after you surfaced. Our intelligence reports that you are responsible for some prisoner escapes. Is that true?” He picked up a sheet of paper and studied it.
“Yes, it is.” I admitted in a monotone voice.
“How many?” He asked over the top of his glasses.
“Five.” I stated honestly.
The Superiors mumbled to each other. It was impossible for me to make out what was said in their hushed voices.
“Was one of them the girl?” He directed his attention back to me.
“Yes.” I answered.
“You were commissioned by Doctor Jameson for her extraction?” He continued.
“Yes.” I repeated. My palms began to sweat.
There were more whispers exchanged.
“I guess the most imperative question is; did you know the upcoming plans for the machines?” He sat back in his chair.
“We all did.” I wiped my hands on the scratchy pants.
“How?” He propped his elbows on the table.
“If you are asking if there was a leak of information; no. Doctor Jameson confirmed our theory.” My eyes dropped to my lap. I hoped I gave the right answers. All I could think about was the condition of the others. I needed to do what was best for them.
“Terrance, may I ask a few questions?” The younger woman asked.
“I suppose.” Terrance held his hand out in my direction as an invitation.
The woman put her hands on the table. “Tell us why you shut down the machines? You had to have been aware of the danger you and your friends faced.”