9.
In the hours since she had been tarred, all Eve could do was wail and cry from the raw, excruciating pain of her still-sizzling blackened flesh. She could not sleep, she could not eat, she could not even sing. There was nothing that could comfort her now. Every one of the other captives in the Institution could hear her screams. They all both feared and pitied her because of them. It was when a hooded guard delivered her meal to her that everything changed.
As it pushed the tray of food under her door, it peered in through the slot to observe her condition. In the moment their eyes met, Eve roared like a wild beast, spit frothing from her lips, then began to throw her body against the wall, punching, kicking, bashing her head into the concrete in a frenzy. As her head beat against the wall, the horns of her mask pierced through the cracks in the concrete, causing large pieces to break loose.
The door was unlocked and the guard entered to put a stop to Eve's madness. As it came closer, Eve took up one of the largest chunks of rock and with it clutched in her fist, she pounced on top of the guard, tackling it to the floor, and before it had the chance to stop her, she struck the stone against its skull again and again, not stopping until the head was a pulpy mess and its body laid still.
The stone fell from her hand as the realization of the act began to sink in. It also gave her a feeling of déjà vu, but just as quickly forgot it when she saw that the door to her cell was left wide open, giving her an opportunity too perfect to pass. Eve picked her chain up from the floor, and ran for it.
Using her memory of the original Fairfax building, Eve raced through the halls and dashed down the stairwell. Even though there were no agents or guards in sight, she did not pause for a single moment, not even when she saw the light in the open entrance ahead, but ran forward all the quicker. Once she made it through, she collapsed to the earth, her joy overwhelming her. At last, she was free.
"The girl has escaped."
"End her."
"But it is not our law to kill. And she is more useful alive."
"She will be of even greater use in death. They will crawl out of hiding to claim her corpse. She will lead us directly to them."
"Understood. Your will be done."
