Author's Note:
This one was a monster to write (having exams didn't help either). Amazingly, they weren't that bad and I don't think I failed anything (eleven pages in History…wasn't even pushed for time…yeah…). No updates for definitely the next three weeks because of a language course. …Wonderful. No English for three weeks.
At this stage, plot elements fromAftershockhave been shamelessly used. They are quite noticeable (but if you haven't read the book never fear because I won't actually tell you which are my originals or Mr. Waldens).
And I'm also leaving this chapter on a cliffhanger lash HUGE shocker. Hehehe….
Hey," said Shelby.
"Vat is being up," seconded Franz.
"'Afternoon," murmured Wing.
"Hello," spoke Laura, quietly.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to turn up," seethed Otto. "And you seem to have lost someone."
The recipient of this somewhat unwanted attention scowled. "Yeah well," said Nigel. "It looks as though you did as well. And G.L.O.V.E. clearly did some shoddy background checks."
Arthur and Adeline, tellingly, said nothing. The American boy was huddled in the corner, clearly not coping as well as the others. The timid Chinese girl was shivering by his side.
Otto matched Nigel's expression. "I suppose you ran into difficulties as well? Hm. Not surprised."
The Darkdoom boy raised an eyebrow, peeved. Laura surmised that he recognised Otto was angry. But would he know it was because of me?
Franz mimed scratching the air like a cat behind Otto. Nigel fought to conceal a smile. He crossed the cell and slumped down against the wall beside his friend. "No-one has any serious injury, I hope?"
"Nar."
"Well no one really..."
"Nope."
"...been hurt that bad but Laura..."
"Thankfully not."
"...has been hit on the head...how many times?"
Laura's heart jumped when she saw the look Otto was giving her. He had been caught between curiosity and horror when Stephen - if that was even his name - had eluded to her involvement in this debacle.
Over the hours since these emotions had blossomed into seething anger. Hence his catty remark to Nigel, his scathing response to the new students' fear and his overall livid demeanour.
Laura herself had felt vulnerable and now just wanted to get out. She wanted time. Time to explain why she had helped these people and how they had coerced her.
But what would she say? Hey Otto. Turns out I've liked you just as long as you've liked me! Allow me to express my feelings with a smooch! *Smooch* Oh and I also caused all of this destruction! Lol.
Nope. Why would she ever break it like that?
And of course the tension had only got worse following Nancy and Stephen's relentless taunts.
"It was so unbelievably easy!"
"I expected some resistance! Hawhawhaw!"
The pair had gone on to hint at the *gulp* dead and wounded, causing Wing to hit the wall in frustration.
What sounded like the crazy evil lady reprimanded them. They left with her.
"Laura?"
Otto was clearly expecting a reply.
She stuttered, hoping desperately that someone would rescue.
Today's knight in shining armour was Franz. "Ah, that may have been my fault. I may have accidently caused her grievous harm..." His voice trailed off as a result of Otto's glare. Laura didn't know whether to be pleased or annoyed.
"...We're not going to get out, are we," murmured Shelby. She was sitting by Wing's side, her boyfriend's arm around her. Wing's face darkened and he resumed stroking her hair.
Laura looked furtively at Otto, the others echoing her movement. He bit his lip and frowned.
A bang from down the corridor heralded the return of the terrible twosome.
Along with company.
Stephen smirked through the bars of the cell. "Ladies and gentlemen, you're all to be moved. One lucky participant will play my uncle's favourite game."
The bored and bone-weary students cheered sarcastically. "Ja. I is super duper excited," murmured Franz.
Stephen's face fell and Nancy rolled her eyes behind him. "What this idiot means is that we'll throw you in a pit and watch you die."
"Whoop-de-doo," said Nigel. "Sounds delightfully exciting."
The faux-Alphas shared mocking smiles.
"That's what you think," sneered Stephen. "Now out you come."
The Alphas obediently filed out. Maybe because of the red dots blinking on their chests.
A crowd of guards waited to escort them to wherever the crazy evil lady wished. Speaking of, she was waiting there, Vivienne by her side. The Alphas gave her dirty looks and Franz cursed under his breath.
A shiver ran down Laura's spine as the black robed and veiled woman looked at her. She hissed a command "You know where to put them. I wish to speak to this one."
Despite his misgivings, Otto looked worriedly at Laura. His guard pushed him down the corridor, causing him to stumble.
The rest of them filed out, leaving Laura with the Madame and her silent shadow.
"Do you know I am, Laura Brand?"
The woman seemed to exude fear and power. A long black coat covered her frame, a dark veil shrouding her face.
Laura stuttered. "N-not-t r-re-really?"
The woman tilted her head, amused.
Didn't Nero teach you anything? Never answer an answer with a question." Her every word was a hiss, a husky rasp. Chain-smoker?
She motioned to Vivienne to pull her over a chair. The dark haired girl was determinedly not looking in Laura's direction.
The woman sat, her stance imperious and superior. "Ihavetrained the world's best assassins, child. Along with my brother. I believe you knew him?"
Laura swallowed nervously. Memories of a dying girl with black hair rose unbidden in her mind.
The woman laughed, a hacking, painful sound. She seemed to relax in her chair. "Pietor underestimated you and your friends' guile. But no matter. We can replace you all, can't we Vivienne?"
"Yes Madame," the girl murmured. She looked impassively past Laura, still not meeting her gaze.
Laura felt nothing but cold, dark rage. Traitor! she wanted to scream. We trusted you!
"...and needless to say, your family is alive. No need to dispose of them. Yet."
"My b-baby brother?"
"He'll live, don't fret. As long as you cooperate. But enough of that."
Vivienne finally looked at Laura, eyes full of pity.
"You have been worried about your payment? Education is the answer my dear."
Vivienne looked away from Laura and bit her lip.
Anastasia Furan stood up. ""You will have the honour of becoming a Glasshouse operative. The complete antithesis of H.I.V.E., my Glasshouse will weld you into the weapon you have every potential to be. And if you break, you die. A past pupil was Raven, if you wish to know the standard. But you'll be better than her, won't you dear?" The Renaissance Initiative commander gave a pained look in Vivienne's direction (which in her case was practically a hug and a beaming smile).
Laura was struck by a sudden realisation. It can't be...
"Nero will never know what hit him..."
*line break bruvvah*
The door closed quietly.
The small room's occupant scowled at his visitor. "Why are you here? Haven't you done enough?"
Vivienne leaned against the closed door, pensive and somewhat curious.
Nigel yanked viciously at the steel shackles binding him to the iron frame of the narrow bed. Congealed blood lined his wrist.
He frowned again at the Glasshouse operative. "If you're here to gloat, don't bother. Your friends were already here."
Vivienne looked at him impassively. "Your father's here."
Nigel's face showed no surprise. "The terrible twosome already told me. Blah blah blah they're going to kill him, blah blah blah."
The girl crossed her arms. "You don't seem worried."
I'm just not displaying it." He's survived these ordeals before. He'll think of something."
Vivienne just looked at him and he glared back. "Yet again, why are you here?"
A flicker of some indecipherable emotion crossed her face. "...I'm curious.
"You all seem so close."
Nigel rolled his eyes. "Yes. That's what friends do. What, you don't have any?"
The girl bristled in anger. "That's none of your business. I'm done here."
She turned to open the door and had her hand on the handle.
"...I know where I've seen you before."
She wheeled around. "I am done playing mind games with you people. And how can you possibly have seen me before all of this?"
Nigel smiled mockingly. "I knew something was off about you. And earlier, when your minions appeared, I finally understood."
At her snort of derision, he held up his free hand for silence. "Oh please. The only person they looked more terrified of was your leader."
Vivienne's eyes narrowed in distrust. "Those are Valentin Obolensky's men. Former G.L.O.V.E. men."
Nigel shrugged, a strangely Gallic-like gesture. "You know she only regards you all as tools. 'Weapons' was the word she used earlier."
"You know nothing about the Madame."
"And once you are all of no further use, she will dispose of you. And replace you."
"She won't replace me," said Vivienne confidently.
"At least in G.L.O.V.E. one has a certain level of autonomy. Oh and the pay is good and the tax (to the League) is relatively low."
The Glasshouse operative leaned against the door, amused. "If you're trying to convert me, you're doing a pathetic job. I have all I want."
Nigel laughed, a mocking sound. "How can you possibly know that? None of us know the extent of what we want." He gazed at her with curiosity. "Don't you have family?'
Vivienne's face darkened as the door opened.
"Well," sneered Stephen. "You'll never guess what we have in store for- Oh. What are you doing here, Viv?"
She ignored Nigel's smirk. "Madame Furan asked me to do a psych profile. Has she finalised everything yet?"
The faux-Alpha nodded. "They're prepping the maze now. She wants you."
He opened the door and slipped through. Vivienne followed and he slung an arm around her shoulders, nattering on about how fab his uncle's place was and there's this cool piranha tank in which he puts annoying people.
As the door into Nigel Darkdoom's holding cell closed, Vivienne looked back to catch a glimpse of his smirk.
Don't you have any family?
A shiver ran down her spine.
*line break bruvahh*
The Alphas filed into the command room, weary and too tired to notice that one of their own was missing.
Vivienne and her fellow Glasshouse Operatives sat in the north-west corner. A perfect view Stephen had said. We can see both of them at the same time.
"When they moved him, he was apparently nattering on about method acting," murmured Nancy into Vivienne's ear. "Strange, don't you think?"
She nodded absentmindedly, her mind drifting away to other matters. She just wanted this over and done with.
Obolensky did a very good impression of a peacock's swagger. Swag for life, yo. Anastasia Furan's entrance quickly stole his thunder. She nodded at her protegés and disappeared into the shadows of the opposite corner.
The Alphas were made to sit on a two tier bench. Guards flanked them. One of them looked around, failing to miss the absent member of their troupe.
An entire squadron escorted Raven and Diabolus Darkdoom into the room. Clearly the Renaissance Initiative were taking no chances with the notorious G.L.O.V.E. operatives. A row of operatives obstructed Darkdoom's view of the Alphas. The pair were subsequently offered seats. With lovely rusty manacles.
Darkdoom smirked arrogantly at the former G.L.O.V.E. commander.
"Fabulous décor, old man," he drawled. "Just a hint of desperation, insecurity and a dash of rotten luck. The mould in the corner is quite classy."
Obolensky unleashed an impressive sneer. "You just wait, old chap. That smirk will be wiped off your face soon."
"If you two are quite finished...," snarled Furan. Raven and Diabolus' faces drained of colour.
"You."
Furan smiled chillingly. "Hello Natalya. It has been a while. How's the arm Darkdoom?"
If looks could kill, the command room's occupants would be at the Russian's funeral.
Obolensky smirked. "Your standard is disappointing Diabolus. I would have thought family security would have been better."
A shiver ran down Darkdoom's spine but he masked it with a broad smile. "I assure you it's as high as ever."
The only response was a pair of chuckles.
"Good one, uncle," laughed Stephen. "So the perceived superiority among G.L.O.V.E. bigwigs is true."
Raven murmured at the side of her mouth. "Have you any idea what they're talking about?"
Darkdoom shook his head just enough for her to notice.
"Enough," barked Furan. "I have a pressing matter to deal with so commence the Maze."
One of the Alphas looked over the huge screen opposite them. A red light was blinking.
Obolensky walked over to Darkdoom. "I warned you," he said quietly. "I warned you when you took her from me."
His captive looked at him with pity. "You drove her away with your greed and selfishness."
"Oh please, you're practically describing yourself. You'll never see her again. At least in person." From behind his back he revealed his phone. He tapped it and the screen behind him whirred on, depicting two women. One had black hair.
At Darkdoom's look of shock, Obolensky smiled. "I assure you she hasn't been hurt. But once this is over, I'll make sure to tell her that it was your fault."
"She won't believe your word over mine," said Darkdoom confidently.
Obolensky smiled mockingly. "The only people who will know of my involvement in this charade are those in this room. And as far as Nero is concerned, I'm in St. Petersburg. Once you have all been dealt with, no one on the council will refute my claim to your seat. I'll be the Initiative's agent on the inside."
"G.L.O.V.E. and H.I.V.E. made you," said Darkdoom. "And this is how you repay them?"
"G.L.O.V.E. did not create me. I always had potential. Unfortunately you sneaked your way into Nero's good graces, leaving me out in the cold."
Raven looked at her fellow countryman coolly. "What did they offer you?"
Addressing her question, yet staring intently at her companions face, he replied, "Everything I had ever wanted. And the tools to break my nemesis." He moved out of Darkdoom's view of the screen.
And went in for the kill.
"You forgot one thing, Diabolus."
Darkdoom struggled to look behind to see the Alphas but the manacles constricted his movement.
Obolensky laughed. A laugh of triumph. A laugh of victory. A laugh of anticipation.
"No use looking there, old chap."
Diabolus turned slowly, feeling absolute terror for only the third time in his life. The first had been when he had first met Anastasia Furan. The second when he had faked his death.
Anastasia Furan chuckled. "May the boy die with honour."
*line break bruvvah*
He winced at the pain from his shoulder.
He reckoned Stephen had dislocated it earlier when the boy was 'prepping' him. Blood oozed from a cut under his eye. He took a quick glance around him and remembered the backs of his friends as he was lead one way and they the other. They all had straight backs but he noticed the trembling of some. Method acting didn't work all the time.
An intercom crackled into existence.
"Welcome young student! You are today's participant in the maze! Conceived in the late eighties by a G.L.O.V.E. think tank, the aim of this idea is simple. There are three levels of the maze. Should you ascend to level three (surviving all of the obstacles on the way), you will be free to leave."
That was a lie. Stephen had pretty much told him that no one ever breaks free. Instead the participant *coughdeathrowdudecough* was left in desperation to take one last look at freedom.
The grate in the wall above whirred menacingly and he dove under just before it blocked off the starting point. Stephen had told him about that too. Should one stay in one space for too long, they would be trapped and gassed. Lovely.
He gritted his teeth and stood up, eyes wary for any traps. Hearing another delightful whirring noise at his feet he quickly leapt over the increasingly wide crevasse.
He took a glance up the corridor. Stephen was lying. There had to be a way out. Figuring out mind games was not fun and he already had a piercing headache.
He had to stay focused. He knew his friends were up there, along with high ranking G.L.O.V.E members, watching through the eyes of the ever-present cameras.
We're watching you.
He rounded a corner and saw that the floor was covered in tiles. Stephen had given him marbles. A quick death would be terribly anti-climatic. He rolled out a few onto the floor. At once several tiles dropped away while others stayed clear. He scratched the back of his head. Oh look, there was blood all over his fingers.
His head felt dizzy. Could he carry on?
Silently praying to whatever gods that may/may not have taken an interest in him over the years he jumped onto the nearest stable tile and jumped from one to the other.
His feet landed one tile form the edge. It started to move.
In terror he made a superhuman effort to dive onto the edge. The tiles all dropped away, leaving him hanging on the edge of the precipice. His arms screamed in agony and he inwardly cursed his lack of attention to Colonel Francisco's wisdom.
He began to slip backwards…
Line break
The Alphas were spellbound.
Laura was in shock.
This can't be happening…
They all watched in silence as he eventually hauled himself up onto the ledge and made his way through the first stage and through the second. Now that he had reached the third, Laura allowed a glimmer of hope to seep through.
The stares from the north-west corner were unsettling. One smile implied that she knew more than anyone.
Anastasia Furan whispered something in Obolensky's ear, looking impatient. He reluctantly tapped something into his tablet…
LINE BREAK
The pain.
Dear God, the pain.
It hurt so much.
Someone make it stop!
A second blade whipped past his face. Glass fired everywhere. He could feel the blood trickling down his face.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He looked up.
The cameras around him documented his every move, constantly adjusting their positions to get the best angle.
He gritted his teeth.
No-one would see him beg for mercy. If he was to die, he would do so without humiliating himself or those watching by asking for help. Neither would he cry and whine the pain was too much.
Well it kind of was too much. But if he just concentrated on each second, on keeping his composure, on not breaking down in front of those cameras for everyone to see.
One Mississippi.
He just hoped his family wouldn't be too disappointed in him.
Two Mississippi.
That his friends would be alright.
Three Mississippi.
That they could adapt and move on.
A third and final blade came out of nowhere and buried itself high in his shoulder.
He staggered, and fell to his knees.
He knew there would be no more.
He knew death was imminent.
What are they thinking, those watching him from afar? Are they rejoicing in his death? Mourning him already? It didn't take a genius to know he was dying.
He always knew being part of G.L.O.V.E. would kill him. It had taken his father away from him, his mother, a grandfather and a grandmother.
He just didn't think it would be so soon.
The pain reached an all-time high and he bit his lip to avoid screaming out.
The blood was pooling around him – his own blood – it was almost like the shape of the lake above him. He bit back a maniacal laugh. To do so would expose a weakness, and if he knew anything about his days in H.I.V.E., it was not to show fear to your enemies.
His vision blurred.
He looked up into the nearest camera one last time, making the illusion he was making eye contact with everyone watching.
He fell on his side, thankfully not getting a blood facial.
His heart galloped towards its last beat.
Nigel Darkdoom closed his eyes.
And died.
Author's Note:
For those in the Northern Hemisphere – SUMMER! HOORAY! – & the other end of the world – WINTER! SNOW (in some places) WOO!
Only a few chapters left. Thank you for reading (maybe an itty bitty review? *bats eyelashes vaguely*)
Cairdiuil Paiste