Hey everyone! So this chapter is somewhat shorter than most of the ones I write. However it introduces a new villain character to our story. Of course with a new villain means I have to show just how "evil" this character is. I hope you guys enjoy.
III
Onyx awoke to the sound of his chamber door opening. The loud creaking of the gears that kept the heavy steel door in place to his small cell echoed in his ears. The sound grew more and more irritating as the gears screeched before finally coming to a stop. He slowly blinked his large black eyes before calmly walking out of his cell into a larger pitch black room. He could hear breathing and could taste fear in the air as he gathered his senses and took in his surroundings. He slowly scratched at the shock collar around his neck as he looked around slowly.
Onyx's eyes were unable to cut through the darkness on their own. He could only see about fifteen feet ahead of him and even then everything was in a dark blue hue. To be able to see better he clicked his large tongue a few times and suddenly the room came to life as the sound waves became visible to him. As the waves spread out in front of him three figures glowed as the waves bounced off of them and came speeding back to him. His hyper sensitive ears twitched as the sonar filled them. The figures were crowded together and were trembling from fear. He could tell from their size that it was a man, woman, and young child.
Curious about the figures that had invaded his living space Onyx spread his massive wings that were attached to his back between his shoulder blades, expanding them to their full sixteen foot wingspan, before flapping them a few times to gain lift. He drove himself upwards to the ceiling of the room and flipped himself so he could grab onto a steel support beam. He clicked his tongue again to find the three figures, curiously tilting his head as he investigated them from afar. As he looked on a loud voice came booming across the intercom system in the room. This voice had been his only friend for the past four years of his life. In fact, Onyx could only just remember what he guessed was six years of his life. Everything before was just a haze and fragments of long forgotten dreams.
"I'll ask one more time. What is the location of the VLA headquarters? What is their next move? Tell me names and locations and I promise you that you and your family are free to go." Echoed the loud voice from the speaker.
Onyx's stomach started to ache as he looked on from his perch above the figures. He couldn't remember the last time he had fed and as he waited the stronger his hunger grew. His body trembled as he silently awaited the command from his speaker friend to feed. He was patient though. Onyx remembered all too well the amount of pain that striking without permission would grant him. He clicked his tongue again to continue to see his potential prey.
"Damnit, I've told you everything I know! Please, just let my family go! They have nothing to do with what I've done!" The larger figure yelled out in the dark, his shape glowing brighter from his yelling and as fear seeped through his pores.
"Your family became a part of this when you joined the VLA. You have committed crimes against Atlas and her people. And for that you must be punished." The voice replied with anger.
"Atlas and her people? What about Vale? We were in a time of peace with Atlas! You invaded us for no reason and killed the very people that swore to protect all life!" The man yelled again.
Onyx grew restless as he looked on. He thought about how the man would taste bitter due to his fear and anger releasing chemicals into his blood and meat. Although the man would yield the most substance to Onyx, he would not be a good feeding. He would simply get rid of the loud, angry man.
"Enough! I've grown tired of these games. You've made your decision. Onyx, kill." The voice said with a cold emotion in its voice.
Onyx's ears perked at the command and he acted instantly. He quickly let go of the steel beam and fell downward towards his prey. He folded his wings backward to increase his speed before lowering his large clawed feet downward. Onyx crashed into the man, crushing his bones and spraying blood and debris in all directions. The woman figure ran as fast as she could across the room to get away from him. However it would do her no good as he loved to chase his prey.
Onyx darted towards the woman with his wings flapping powerfully before slamming her into a wall. He opened his mouth widely, exposing his sharp fangs, before chomping onto her shoulder. Blood gushed into his mouth as he drank selfishly. The warm liquid pleased him greatly as it satisfied his hunger and he felt his body becoming more powerful with each second of feeding.
As Onyx fed on the woman, he heard the scream of the young child across the room. Her screech filled his ears and irritated him greatly. He dropped the still twitching woman and licked his chin with his long tongue before darting towards the sound of the scream. Within seconds he was on top of the child, her face covered in tears as his massive body loomed above her. He grinned sinisterly as he reached out a clawed hand towards the child's neck. The child soiled herself as his hand clasped her neck and pulled her into the air. The smell of the child's fear overpowered the strong stench of her waste and this drove Onyx's bloodlust even further as he thrust a claw from his other hand into the stomach of the child. He grinned wider as he disemboweled the girl, letting her blood pour onto his face.
Seconds later he threw the dead child's body to the side, lifted his head upwards, and let out a loud screech that echoed throughout the room. It had only taken a matter of moments for him to complete the task he was ordered to do. He waited for his friend's voice to come across the speakers to praise him, but it never came. Onyx looked around confused as he had always been praised for his kills. He let out a low pitched chirp to fill the entire room with sound waves and instantly saw a window high above him built into one of the walls. He flew to the window and grabbed ahold of the wall above it so that he may see inside. He could hear his friend talking inside and could see what looked like a television on the wall inside the room with a figure on it.
"Yes sir, General Ironwood. Onyx, or codename Gargoyle, has been ready for field operations for some time now." His friend said as he stepped in front of the screen.
"That is well and good, Doctor Taupe. However Nevermore has been more successful than any of your experiments to date. Roland has become the best solider we could ever hope for. I'm sorry but Gargoyle will have to wait for some time before seeing any action in the field." Ironwood replied before looking over Doctor Taupe's shoulder at Onyx. "Uh…doctor." He said softly.
Taupe spun around and smiled at Onyx who tilted his head as he looked at the only friend he ever had for the first time in his life.
"Son…you've found the window. I'm sure you are curious but we will have to talk later. Go to your cell, that's an order." Taupe said with a stern voice.
Onyx looked at the man behind the glass as his mind raced. Suddenly he started to remember the dreams he had been having for the past several years were starting to make sense. The man before him was his creator. He was his father.
"Ta-Taupe. S-son. Onyx." Onyx said in a deep voice. It had been the first time he spoke to another living thing in years. His mind raced even harder due to this.
"Yes, you're Onyx. Now go back to your cell. We will talk later. Onyx, return to your cell." Taupe commanded louder as he walked over to the window.
Onyx felt a sudden urge to return to his cell. He knew that tone of voice would only bring pain to him if he disobeyed. The last time he disobeyed when that tone of voice had issued a command, the collar around his neck sent a shock into him. He let go of the window and fell backwards towards the ground before spreading his wings and gliding to his cell where he quickly ducked inside it. As he entered his cell the gears to the heavy door started to creak once more to lock him inside. As the door closed Onyx thought about the things he had heard Taupe and Ironwood discussing when a name came to his thoughts.
"N-Nevermore. Roland." Onyx said as he watched the door seal itself in place.
