Chapter Three
The Devil Wears A Golden Collar
By Alius111
They don't think I know. Oh, but I know. I know what they want. Well she's no going to get it. No, not anymore. I won't let her. She thinks she can do this to me. Well not anymore...
I nervously glanced around the prison block, my eyes darting in every direction, trying to discern from what was there and what wasn't. I could see my fellow inmates leering at me from inside their prison cells. They made inappropriate gestures and crude comments as I passed. Some of them took the forms of horrible monsters with glowing green eyes. All of them scratching at their cells doors, trying to claw their way free. They wanted to get out. They wanted to kill me. Everyone did. I shot the warden a suspicious look as he and his guards led me down the prison block towards an elevator. What was he planning? Did he think I was stupid? Was I even really going to meet the Grand Council Women? I don't even think there is a Grand Council Women. I think there just trying to screw with my head! But I'm sharp. I can see right through them like a crystal wine glass. I have to be prepared for anything. Who knows what's running through his sick little mind.
I growled at the warden and he turned to me, looking sweaty. I kept glaring at him, never taking my sights from him. Nervously he looked away and quickened his stride. The guard nudged me in the ribs, forcing me to keep up. But still I stared at the warden. He told me to stop but I didn't. That's what he wanted me to do. Look away so when I have my back turned he can come up from behind and bash my head in. Well I'm not going to let that happen. It didn't even occur to me that my irrational thoughts might not be realistic. After that scene in the shower where the guard attacked me. I wasn't about to let that corporate sleez get the better of me again. He was trying to snuff me out. He wants me out of the picture. I can see it in his small beady little eyes. I don't know what he's planning. I'll just have to wait until he makes the first move.
The guard pushed me onto the elevator and the warden immediately fallowed after. Everyone was silent as the platform rose into the air, taking us to the higher levels. From where I was standing I could get a pretty good view of the prison block. My cell was on the very top level almost half a mile down. I hate it when I'm forced to leave my cell. I might loathe every agonizing minute I spend in there. But at least when I'm behind that impenetrable glass shield I'm completely safe. Out here I was in the open. Like a sitting duck I am. An easy target for whomever is hunting me -my eyes darted back to the warden- I wish I was back in my cell, sleeping on my nice rock hard bed with my fresh sheets. I'm sure by the time I get back (If I get back that is) the broken glass and stew will be cleaned up. Won't that be nice? Maybe Presley will be there. If he is then we send the rest of the day reminiscing over old memories of home and family-
I was suddenly wrenched from my thoughts when the elevator came to a stop. The guard began beckoning me though a doorway and down a long, brightly lit passageway. Where they taking me? I had no idea. I couldn't remember anymore. I decided just to roll with punches and see where I ended up. Apparently my destination was a long narrow door at the end of the hallway. That's when it hit me. She was there...waiting for me. I knew what she wanted. But she wasn't going to get it.
No, no longer...Keep away from me!
With a swipe of his key card, the warden opened the door and I was forced into a small, square shaped room with nothing but a hovering table and two large chairs furnishing it. The walls were made out of what appeared to be white steel, the light danced and shimmered of its reflective surface. Sending glassy bright lights in every direction, and already seated in one of the chairs was non other than the Grand Council Women. The person who condemned me to this damned existence. I shot her a look of pure loathing as I was seated in the opposite chair. She didn't change much from the last time I saw her. Her icy greens eyes penetrated me to my very soul; the distinctive markings on her forehead were creased and lined with anger, but still held an air of forced calm and tranquility; and held tightly in her bony fists were the blueprints I presented to the warden not two days ago.
She didn't seem too happy to see me. The feeling was mutual. I was dreading this meeting just as much as she was. Without saying anything she unrolled the blueprints, showing off my designs for a new military weapon. She coked an eyes ridge and gave me a look as if expecting me to elaborate on my designs, but when I didn't she cleared her throat and spoke:
"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded in her rough and commanding voice.
Clicking my tongue, I looked down at my designs. Scrawled across the scroll of blue paper was a series of unintelligible scribbles and jumbles of untidy doodles. A large portion of the document was dedicated to a collection of chicken scratch I couldn't even understand. But still I couldn't see the problem with my designs. They seemed just fine to me.
"What's the problem?" I asked.
Her hands tightened into fists. "Don't play games with me Trog,"
I shrugged. "I'm not. I just don't see what the problem is." Without warning she slammed her fists down on the table.
"This, this is the problem," The Grand Council Women said in a tone that didn't reflect her anger. "I will not tolerate disrespect from the likes of you Trog. This chicken scratch you have presented me with is ludicrous and a complete and utter waste of my time. It is clear to me that this sabotage was deliberate and that you feel no remorse for squandering my time. I believe, the terms of our agreement were: you will provide me with whatever I may ask of you, and in return in an act of supreme generosity on my part, I agreed to make your living situation more comfortable." By now she had ripped the blueprints to pieces and was leaning over the table, her icy green stare glaring daggers at me. I shied away from her gaze and lowered my head. "You will prepare new plans," She continued. "They will be ready by tomorrow and will of course be written with exquisite detail; and I expect them to meet all of my expectations and-"
"No," I said flatly.
The guards gasped and the warden looked horrified. The look of shock on the Grand Council Women's face turned to anger.
"How dare you contradict me," She said in a dangerous tone. If I didn't know better I thought she was going to leap across the table and begin wringing my neck. "You disgusting waste of flesh. You are not even worthy to stand in my presence. Now you have the gall to say no to me. When I have so generously allowed you to keep your life-"
"You can say whatever you want," I cut across. "The deal is off. You can't take your "privileges" and I'm sure you know where you can stick them."
"... Are you quite sure?" She asked, her face stretching into a thin smile. "I can make your life very unpleasant."
I laughed. It was an insane cackling sound, a noise I wouldn't have made before. "What more can you do to me? Look where I am."
The smile from her face faded and turned into a frown. Without saying anything she stood and turned her back on me. "Gentlemen," She said calmly. "Teach this Trog some respect."
Since my hands were cuffed there was nothing I could do to defend myself. In an instant the guards were upon me. I yelled as I was pulled from my chair and slammed roughly against the floor. The Grand Council Women only stood there and watched with an emotionless expression on her face as the guards beat me to a pulp. I swiped my claws through the air, slashing a guard across the leg. He swore loudly and kicked me hard in the stomach, sending me sliding along the floor and into the wall. I tried to get up but a crack to the back of the head knocked me back down. Still swearing, the guard I scratched kicked me across the face, causing blood to spray from my mouth. Just when I thought they had stopped. I cried out as the guard stomped on my back-
"Enough!" The Grand Council Women ordered. The guards immediately stopped their assault and backed away as she silently approached me. Blood trickled down the corner of my mouth, I wanted to wipe it but I couldn't moved. My whole body throbbed painfully. My left eye was so swollen I could barely see the Grand Council Women as she walked towards me, leaning on her polished black cane.
"It's a shame that such a brilliant mind was gifted to such a disgusting creature," She moved the end of her cane under my chin and forced me to look at her. "I regret it," She said coldly. The smallest trace of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Take this abomination back to his cell, lets see if he changes his mind after he's had time to think it over." After giving me one last kick to the stomach, the guards lifted me off the floor and carried me out of the room. The last thing I remember before I fell unconscious was the icy stare of the Grand Council Women's steely green eyes.
XXXX
I awoke in my cell to a bad headache and a swollen jaw. My first thought was that someone sneaked into my cell and had beaten the hell out of me. But I soon remembered what had transpired during my so called 'meeting.' I should have expected something liked that. Being beaten until I bled really brought back memories. It was almost like being back at home. In fact I thought it was kind of funny. You'd think my body would be used to severe beatings by now. I'm surprised it hurt as much as it did. I guess I'm not used to it anymore.
I was in so much pain. Any move I made was pure agony. Every muscle in my body felt bruised. Blood was caked up on my face like dried up mask. In my weakened state I just couldn't handle injury's like I used to. I tried to get up only to fall back down whimpering like a wounded dog. A sharp pain suddenly spiked through my right arm when I tried to move it. I cried out and grabbed it with my other hand. It was my arthritis. It was acting up again. I gritted my teeth as the feeling of inflammation increased deep within my skin, causing my claws to dig into my skin.
"Ah! That hurts," I cried, a small trail of tears running down my bruised face. Instinctively I raised my arm up my mouth- causing me even more pain- and began furiously licking my fur. I don't know why I was doing it. It was an involuntary reflex. Even though the unnecessary movements of my arm only made it worse, I still continued to lick my skin like a dog does a wound. Finally I stopped licking and managed to pull myself to my feet. Still whimpering, I limped over to my bed and climbed onto the familiar rock hard mattress. I didn't even bother going under the covers. I just laid there, cradling my arm and waited for the inflammation to pass. I tried to block out the pain by going to a happier place in my mind, but the agony was too much for me think straight. My head was still groggy from the fierce beating and the unbearable pain radiating from the core of my right arm only made it worse.
After what seemed like hours the crippling spasms in my limb finally ceased. The inflammation slowly faded away leaving a tingling sensation in it's wake. I never knew arthritis could get that bad. It practically crippled me. I guess it gets worse over time if it's not treated. As much as I wanted to blame it on the person who broke my arm, I couldn't. It's my fault that I'm here in this horrible situation. I killed all those people I- No! I refuse to think about that. My life is hard enough now without the guilt, but as much as I ignored it I couldn't forget it. My hands were stained with blood, and not just with mine but with others too. It was my fault...it's always my fault.
XXXX
Hugging my knees, I sat in my lonely little corner steadily rocking back and forth. Presley stood in the opposite corner, casually picking at the charred edges of his stomach hole. He slowly peeled off the burnt skin and flicked it across the room. The pieces of skin made a dull smacking noise when it hit the metal. He was just doing it to annoy me. I cringed as he flicked another speck of skin across the room. He must know how irritating that is. Why was he doing it? Finally when I couldn't take it any longer I growled-
"Will you stop picking at that!" I shouted.
"Hey!" He said defensively. "It's my hole and I'll do whatever the hell I want with it. When YOU get a hole blown in YOUR stomach, then YOU can do whatever YOU want with it."
I growled, but there was nothing I could do about it, so I just dropped my head and continued rocking back and forth, never taking my eyes off him. I knew I couldn't close my eyes. If I did then they would come and take me. I had to always watch and be on guard. They were everywhere, so I had to always watch and listen...always listening...always watching...
XXXX
I stood in front of the large cell wall, contemplating the various scratches and markings that were chiseled into it's dull surface. To any other person these seemingly random scratches meant nothing. The tally charts, the scratches, the gashes, and even the equations I had etched in myself meant nothing. But to a minds such as mine they were something. I'm not sure what yet, but theres something there. Frantically I ran back and forth along the wall, running my hand along the metal, taking note of it's smooth texture. I rubbed my face on the cold wall, trying to see what was there. Because there IS something there, I could tell. My calculating mind looked over every mark on that wall, trying to find what was there. I'm not crazy--there is something there.
"Hey look!" I shouted to Presley who was standing right behind me. "Do you see it? I pointed to a blank space of wall just below the roof.
"Huh, see what?" He pushed past me to get a look for himself. "...There's nothing there," He finally announced after scanning the wall.
"Yes there is. These scratches, they seem to make up a picture of some sort. I-I think this place used to be a studio."
"This prison?" Presley asked confused.
"No, just this cell." I said looking back to the wall. "Look, right there. D-do you see the picture? Do you see how it kind of looks like a bunch of people jumping of a bridge.
"Uh...no," Presley said slowly backing away from me.
"Yes! It's right there!" My finger jabbed through the air, frantically pointing to the picture that wasn't really there. "Oh look. It seems to fallow a pattern." My hand slowly traced along the wall. "It's crudely drawn. No wonder they hated it so much."
"Uh...they?" Presley asked warily.
"Yes!" I shouted madly. " THEY! They hated that picture so much much they scratched the hell out of it." By now my eyes had become wide and frantic. I don't care what he thinks. I know what I see. Turning back to the wall, I began running my hands along it. Carefully, Presley approached me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Simon, I think you've gone to a bad place," He said gently coaxing me towards my bed. "What you need now is a little shut eye.
Sleep? I couldn't sleep now. If I closed my eyes than they would get me. Plus I couldn't really sleep if I wanted to. The constant stink of rotting fish kept me awake. The odor seemed to radiate from the walls and seep into the cell from under the glass door. It was so foul it prevented me from getting rest of any kind. I asked Presley if he smelled anything funny. He said he didn't. That wasn't a surprise. After all, he was dead, and dead people can't smell things. It was maddening. It clung to everything. It was in my fur, it was in my sheets. Everything stunk of fish. I had no chance of locating the source, I didn't have the energy. Even thought I couldn't stand the smell, I climbed into bed just as Presley had instructed.
"There don't you feel better?" Presley asked as he pulled the blankets up to my chin--wait no...I pulled my blankets up, Presley just stood there. But when I looked to my right he was gone. I was alone again. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep...I couldn't close my eyes. If I did then they would come...they always came but only when the lights were turned off. Still, I didn't want to risk it. I was still very sore from the beating. If they came I wouldn't be able to defend myself. My hand slipped under my pillow and gripped the sharpened piece of bone. It would do me now good. I was too weak and needed sleep. Maybe if I just closed me eyes for a second--just to rest them of course. Sighing, I closed my eyes and slowly my body went lax. A second turned to a minute and a minute turned to hours. Soon enough I was unable to open my eyes. I let out a gentle sigh and let sleep take me...
Crazy? I'm not crazy...
XXXX
Breakfast was due to arrive any minute now. I could wait. I was feeling much better now, much calmer. I don't know what came over me...I haven't had these feelings of paranoia or disorganized and eccentric thinking since I returned to my cell. I was concerned...this was just how it started last time-- before I had my breakdown. It started with paranoid thoughts and eccentric behavior that steadily got worse over short periods of time. Eventually I just snapped and the warden had me committed. I spent a few months in solitary confinement with my jacket on backwards. After months of pills, drugs, and electro shock therapy (Which is a procedure not only practiced on Earth) They thought I was healthy enough to go back to my cell. The prestigious medical staff of Prison Asteroid K-37 thought I would get better on my own. Idiots, what the hell do they know. I obviously wasn't getting any better. The doctors said I had case of Psychosis brought on by sever psychological stress.
I don't need them. I could've diagnosed myself. I'm smarter than anyone on this rock.
The guard arrived with breakfast fifteen minutes later. It was the same disgusting gruel they served everyday. Today I couldn't even stomach it so I just threw the bowl across the room. I don't care that it shattered against the wall, spilling it's curdled grey contents all over the floor. They would have to clean it up not me.
I yawned loudly and tried to get more rest but sleep wouldn't come. My mind eventually wandered back to my meeting with the Grand Council Women. I wasn't hurting anymore and the swelling had gone down but my eyes were still blackened. I still can't believe I ended our agreement. I wonder what the consequences of that will be, I thought. I don't even know what brought it on. I guess I was sick of taking her orders and being treated like I was dirt. She seemed angered by my decision but she took it better than I expected. I could've thought it was all over and I would never have to stare at her face again, but something she said kept nagging at me...
"lets see if he changes his mind after he's had time to think it over."
What did that mean? It sounded like she was threatening me. I wasn't afraid of her. She can do whatever she wants. I'm not going to break. There's nothing she can do to make my life any worse than it already is. She can try...but I'm not going to let her use me. I've already turned over some of my brightest designs over to her...and for what? I disgust myself. I played right into her hands. The Grand Council Women only kept me alive so she could use me. Now that I'm no longer helping her, what's she gonna do? Kill me? Personally, I could care less. When your going to spend the rest of your life in a cell the size of a shoe box: you'd be surprised how little death matters. If anything it would be more of a release than a punishment. At least I would get to be with my Mother. The rest of my family would join me sooner or latter...It almost sounded nice. Too bad I'm not going to die anytime soon. Like I said: behind this impenetrable glass shield I'm completely safe--
"Hands on the wall!"
My head shot up to see two guards entering my cell, their plasma cannons pointed to were I was lying. The nest thing I know: I was forced against the wall with my left arm bent behind my back.
"What's going on?" I asked the guard who was subduing me.
"The prison block has become too crowded. Your getting a new cell mate."
Alius111: Well, there it is. The next chapter. Sorry about taking so long to update. I've been busy. This doesn't feel like my best work but I let you be the judge of that. Please Review.
Oh ya, there was a glitch in my computer that stopped any email from this site to be blocked but I've fixed it now.