As the moon rose, the door was smashed open. Tatsumaki jerked back into consciousness, her sister stiffening as she felt Tatsumaki tense up against her. Turning to her side, Tatsumaki saw a dark shape enter the hut, tall and gaunt. From its body hung a bloodied white robe, and a fleshy, stretched-out mask adorned its face. It kicked the door closed as it approached, two gleaming beads for eyes staring out from behind the eyeholes on its mask.
"What the-" began Tatsumaki.
"You," said the mask-Soulless, one hand clutched over its stomach while it reached out towards her with another. "Your friend shot me."
"What?" asked Tatsumaki. Her eyes widened as the Soulless drew near, its hand clutching a clump of yellow bandages over its torso.
"Kill you," said the Soulless. "Hurt you."
Tatsumaki stood up, her body shaking with terror. Fubuki stood up in unison.
"Sis, get behind me," said Fubuki.
"No," whispered Tatsumaki. "I won't."
The Soulless approached Tatsumaki, its head scraping the ceiling as it looked down on her.
"Took me days," it said. "To recover. Will take you. Much longer. Never."
Tatsumaki's eyes watered at the sight of the creature above her, but she stood tall.
"Leave us alone," said Tatsumaki. "Just leave us alone…"
The mask-Soulless shifted its head forward, gazing upon Fubuki.
"A nice face," said the mask-Soulless. "Will remind you."
"No," said Tatsumaki. "It's me who you want! Not her! She's not who you want, you want me-"
"I know who she is," said the mask-Soulless. He slammed his arm against Tatsumaki's torso, sending her collapsing into the side of the hut. Tatsumaki's ribcage made a sickening crunching noise as she slammed against the metal, her head spinning as she recoiled away from the impact. Groaning, Tatsumaki stumbled forward as the mask-Soulless snatched her sister by the neck.
"Don't," said Tatsumaki. "Don't!" She grabbed the mask-Soulless around his waist, trying to pull him off of her sister. "Let her go!"
"Get off," said the mask-Soulless. "Watch her pain." He whipped around and punched Tatsumaki in the gut, his fist barreling into her and sending her stumbling back into the wall. Tatsumaki's stomach almost caved in at the impact, her cheeks puffing up as she felt a wave of vomit enter her mouth. She looked up at the attacker and for a moment, it almost looked as if he was wearing a mask of a different kind, cracked and dripping with strange bile…
Tatsumaki shook her head and the Soulless's fleshy visage returned. She couldn't let a Soulless ruin another family.
The mask-Soulless turned back to Fubuki and withdrew a gleaming knife from his pocket. Chuckling, he pushed Fubuki back to the edge of the hut as she slammed her fists into his chest. The mask-Soulless plunged the knife into Fubuki's leg and tore it downwards, ripping a large gash through her skin. Fubuki screamed.
"Stop!" yelled Tatsumaki. She leapt on the Soulless's back as he withdrew his knife and slid it across Fubuki's face, leaving a scarlet cut along her cheek as her skin parted. Clinging to the Soulless's back, Tatsumaki tore her bloodied nails into the Soulless's shoulders, grunting as her nails found no hold. It was as if she were trying to tear a paperclip through solid steel, and the mask-Soulless turned around and wrapped his hands around Tatsumaki's neck, his grip like that of a metal vice as he walked forward.
"Sis!" yelled Fubuki.
The mask-Soulless squeezed tighter and tighter, Tatsumaki's windpipe becoming strained and enclosed by the iron grip. She gasped and sputtered as she tried to take in the air around her, her face turning from red to purple as the mask-Soulless crushed the life out of her.
"Stop!" yelled Fubuki. "Leave her alone! Leave her alone!" She struggled to get to her feet, her leg stinging as she leveled herself against the wall. Blood poured from the gash in her leg, stretching all the way from the top of her waist down to her ankle. Gasping, Fubuki managed to bring herself to her feet as the mask-Soulless found his way near the door.
Tatsumaki's face had turned the color of an eggplant, her breaths becoming sharp and quick as she desperately gasped at the air around her. Slowly her vision became dark as the mask-Soulless squeezed.
"Agh," groaned Tatsumaki. "Stop…help…help..."
It was over. She was doomed.
Fubuki limped over as fast as she could, bashing on the mask-Soulless's back as hard as her fists would allow and screaming all the same. Her fingers snapped as they broke along the Soulless's back, and he chuckled at the impact. Letting Tatsumaki fall to the ground, the mask-Soulless turned back around to Fubuki, who winced at his gaze.
"I'm going to hurt you like no other," said the mask-Soulless. "I'll really enjoy this."
He ripped his knife forward, plunging it into Fubuki's stomach below her ribcage. Grinning under his mask, he slowly tore the knife downwards, chuckling as he heard skin and bones alike tear away from his moving blade. Fubuki grasped his arms, her eyes turning wide and pale as he moved.
"Ah," said Fubuki. Her voice was barely audible.
Tatsumaki struggled to catch her breath, her brain wracked with terror as she listened to her sister approach death's door.
"Stop," groaned Fubuki. "Stop."
The Soulless kept dragging the blade through her, tearing it all the way down to Fubuki's waist. She let out a yelp as she stumbled back, but the mask-Soulless clutched her by the spine, preventing her from getting away. Ripping his knife out from her body, the mask-Soulless laughed again as he witnessed an arc of blood spray forth from Fubuki.
"Your whole body," said the mask-Soulless. "Every piece of your skin. Will be mine. Will be mine."
"Fuck…off," said Tatsumaki. Her body felt as if it were about to collapse in on itself, but she stood all the same. Every breath came out twisted and sharp, as if the air around her were made of molasses. "Fuck off!"
At her last words, the door to the hut opened again, and Viskel smashed his way through, anger flaring in his eyes.
"What the fuck is going on!" he shouted. "We're trying to get some slee-" He paused when he saw the mask-Soulless, who proceeded to punch Fubuki in the face despite Viskel's sudden entrance. Viskel raised an eyeline as he looked over at a bloodied Fubuki and a desperate Tatsumaki.
The mask-Soulless grinned before slamming his fist into Fubuki's stomach.
A spray of blood and phlegm rushed from Fubuki's mouth from the impact and she turned limp. She looked near dead, a ghastly pallor over her expression and her body curled over.
Viskel blinked. He wasn't sure if he liked what he saw, with neither Fubuki or Tatsumaki able to fight back. Nonetheless, he pushed the thought out of his mind, remembering that surely, this had to play into Silan's plan somehow.
"Busy," said the mask-Soulless. "Leave."
"Just be quieter," snarled Viskel. "Trying to sleep. And don't kill her, Silan will be pissed if you do it without his say."
"I won't," said the mask-Soulless. "I promise."
"Make him stop…" said Fubuki, her mouth swimming with blood and turning her words into gurgled noises. "Please, help."
A voice echoed from behind Viskel, making him jump.
"Time to sleep, everyone," said Silan from the courtyard. "That means everyone…"
The mask-Soulless sighed. Dropping Fubuki to the ground, he turned around and kicked Tatsumaki in the face, his clawed feet tearing away at one of Tatsumaki's eyelids. Tatsumaki gasped as she fell back, clutching at the eye which went dark for a moment.
"Alright let's go," grumbled Viskel. "Gotta sleep, tired."
"Fine," said the mask-Soulless. "But I'll be back."
Viskel and the mask-Soulless left the hut, slamming the door behind them. Their footsteps grew distant as Tatsumaki crawled over to her sister.
"Sis!" said Tatsumaki, one hand pressing against Fubuki's bleeding leg. "Sis, talk to me!"
"Hurts…" said Fubuki. "Hurts…"
"Sis…" said Tatsumaki. "Don't go…I need you here, you're all I have…"
She pressed one of her hands to Fubuki's stomach wound while pushing the other onto her leg. Warm blood gushed between her fingers and Tatsumaki choked up as she failed to staunch the grisly flow. Grimacing, Tatsumaki tore off a shred of her dress with her teeth, ripping the black fabric away from her shoulder. She wrapped the makeshift bandage around her wheezing sister's leg as Fubuki's eyes grew heavy. Tatsumaki prayed in silence, her mind focused on nothing else but stopping the bleeding. She couldn't let her sister die, she couldn't!
"It's going to be ok sis," said Tatsumaki. "I've got this, I've helped Secter before, it's going to be ok…"
A thought pierced her mind: When the time comes, don't go expecting someone to come save you.
Tatsumaki groaned pitifully as she wrapped her sister's wounds in the dark.
. . .
Secter winced as he lurched over to the raging white fire of the burner, the arm of a stranger hanging over his shoulder. With a massive heave, Secter shoved the limp body over his back into the flames. Within seconds, a horrid stench rushed out from the gaping maw of the burner. Secter coughed, stumbling away from the burning corpse. Then he stiffened as he heard someone approach him from behind and turned to see Koros with three bodies slung over his back.
"Well there you are," said Koros, oddly nonchalant despite the grim atmosphere. "Been meaning to talk to you."
Secter watched with pallid eyes as Koros tossed his weights into the burner, limping as he moved. Grumbling, Koros walked away from the flames and leaned against a nearby pile, obstructing him from view of the other end of the room. Secter took a step forward behind the pile as well.
"You and your pal," said Koros. "Been lookin dead even before you got here. Where did you two come from?"
Secter glanced over at Koros, his shoulders hunched and his breathing heavier than the smell around him.
"Come from?" asked Secter. He gave a nervous look back over towards the other end of the room as the laughter from several guards echoed from a distance.
Koros waved him away.
"Ah, don't worry about them," said Koros. "Bastards aren't paying attention, they don't really care about the task. All they care about is a roof over their heads and having a little bit of power over people."
"We need to get the hell out of here," said Secter. "Find a way to beat them."
"They've got guns," said Koros. "And in case you hadn't noticed, are more than willing to use them. Case in point." He pointed to the hole in his leg, dried yellow stains surrounding it even as it continued to leak blood.
Secter blinked at the wound, rubbing at his shoulder where it had caved a little from the attack not long ago. Already the bones were reforming back into place, slowly melding themselves back with the others but causing an exhausting amount of pain as they did so.
"But as I was saying," said Koros. "I assume you two were in the war?"
"I was, Sycamore too," said Secter. "Then I got out. Sycamore wasn't so lucky."
"Yeah, he looks like a damned zombie over there," said Koros. "Got no life in his eyes, he must hate this place like no other."
"Can you blame him?" asked Secter.
"Yeah, yeah," said Koros. "But you two seem decent, hope you stick around with me. Been a while since I ran with a good group."
Secter raised an eyebrow.
"Well it's not like we're going anywhere," said Secter.
"I meant you have to survive," said Koros. "You're going to have to follow my lead if you want to do that."
"Your first plan already fell through."
"Yeah well, that was fuckin Silan's fault," said Koros. "But…we'll figure something else out, provided neither of you do anything stupid."
"For now, I'm just keeping my head down," said Secter. "Not like I have the energy to do much else."
"Yeah, get some damned sleep when they let us out of here," said Koros. "If they let us out of here."
"I'll try. Been thinking about a lot of things."
"Yeah? People back at home?"
"Yeah. Tatsu, and Fubuki, and everyone else."
"Tatsu's your lover?"
"She is, she's everything to me."
Koros shook his head.
"Alright," he said. "I won't tell you to forget her this time, but you should really start thinking about life in case she's go-"
"No," said Secter, his eyes narrowing. Hate poured from his vision and he straightened up to full height despite every muscle in his body straining from the effort. "I'll do anything to get the fuck out of here and get back to her. Anything."
"Well I can appreciate your spirit," said Koros. "Even still, you might want to keep that defiance down a notch, these people could kill you without so much as a second glance. I like that you want to fight though, been itching to do so myself. But now's just not the time…"
"Guys," said Sycamore, appearing from a pile of bodies near the burner. "I found something." He looked shriveled, despite his stay in the Nothing having been so short, it was as if he had been rotting there for years along with the bodies.
"Hope it's a damned gun," said Koros. "I spend any more time shoveling corpses I might just have to strangle one of those fuckers."
"So much for keeping a low profile," muttered Secter. "Can't even keep your own advice?"
"Yeah yeah," said Koros. "Can't help it. My advice still stands, it's just hard for me to follow. Get pissed easy."
"And yet somehow you've lived this long…" said Secter.
"Sometimes I surprise even myself," said Koros. "But get to it Sycamore, what is it."
"Follow me," said Sycamore.
Koros grunted as he lifted himself away from the pile, and Secter sagged his arms back down as he followed Sycamore over to a darkened section of wall across from the burner. Shadows played along the wall as the burner roared in the distance.
"Here," said Sycamore. Pointing to a body stretched out against the side of the wall, Sycamore grabbed the corpse and pulled it away. A thin ray of white light shone out from where the body uncovered the metal, several cracks snaking their way against the steel.
Koros's jaw hung low with shock as he spotted the web of cracks. Raising one hand to his mouth, he rubbed at his chin as he examined the damaged section of wall. Secter stood just as surprised.
"Found it while I was moving people," said Sycamore. He looked over at his companions with a glimmer of hope in his otherwise lifeless eyes. "What do you think?"
"This…" said Koros. "This is fuckin progress."
"Sycamore…" said Secter, taking a step towards the wall. "You…might've just saved us."
"Well, what can I say," said Sycamore, coughing as he stood up tall. "I do hero work in my spare time."
Secter wrapped his arms around Sycamore and hoisted him up as Koros peered back over at the guards at the end of the room. Swinging Sycamore to the side, Sycamore chuckled as Secter hugged him.
"Alright, alright," said Sycamore. "Cut it out. Hurts a bit."
"Sorry," said Secter, setting Sycamore down. Secter couldn't help but beam a little.
"Hmm," said Koros. Leaning down, he poked at the wall. Sticking his fingers through to the area outside, he nodded. "Yep, they left some structural damage, the lazy fucks. With time, we could find a way to break through this and crawl right on out. Just sidle right along the side of the outpost, don't you dare touch the Nothing or you'll lose a limb or more."
"How would we break the wall?" asked Secter.
"That's the thing," said Koros. "We've got no tools. Granted, the guards said they might have shovels somewhere, but if that doesn't end up working, we might have to try something more drastic…"
"You mean like fighting them?" asked Sycamore. "Secter and I can barely stand, plus it's four of them with guns. We'd have no chance."
"All depends…" said Koros. "You'd be surprised how many of those guards will give in once they think their odds aren't good. We might just have to watch em and see…"
"So," said Secter. "We act like everything is normal. Then day by day, we pick this wall apart until we climb out. Then…sneak away, watch out for tower guards."
"Ain't no fence around the whole place," said Koros. "Just the Nothing. So we'd probably have to circle around to the front or back unfortunately, then make a goddamned run for it. It's not perfect, but it's all we got."
"We'll give it a shot," said Secter. "We're getting out."
"Then…then what?" asked Sycamore. "Where do we go from there?"
"Leave that to when we get there," said Koros. "For now, we stick to the plan."
A round of laughter burst from the other side of the room, making Koros jolt in place. The three of them scattered in silence, going back to lifting bodies from the various piles in the room. Many of the bodies were already starting to fade from existence, their shadowy forms turning transparent against the others.
"Hey!" came a voice from the end of the room. "The three of you!"
Koros looked up from his work, as did Secter. Sycamore groaned as he halted in place, a sad and pathetic sound.
"Get over here!" yelled the voice. It was the chief.
The trio made their way back over to the guards, stepping over outstretched arms and legs jutting out from the piles. Secter felt like puking as he moved, the stench constantly burning his nostrils and filling his head with a noxious fume. The chief smirked at the three of them as they limped their way over to him and his guards.
"Well well, look what we have here…" said the chief. He turned to Koros. "A monster." Then to Secter. "A failure." Finally to Sycamore. "And a dead man. Though, I suppose these could be interchangeable."
Secter's eyes widened.
"What did you say?" asked Secter.
The chief laughed at him.
"Oh I can tell," said the chief. "That guy, the one who's in here for attacking us?" He jerked a finger at Koros. "That man's a real bloody monster, killed countless. And you?" He glared at Secter. "You sure failed to protect your little friends, now didn't you? And suit bastard?" The chief didn't even bother to look at Sycamore. "I can tell, you were born to die, your story here has ended before it even began. I can see it in your eyes you've already given up."
"You call us over for something important?" said Koros. "Or just to stand there and insult us?"
"You'd be wise to keep your fucking mouth shut," said the chief. "And I'm sending you back for now, but after that comment, I expect you'll be back on corpse duty within a few hours anyways."
Koros muttered to himself, glancing down at the ground.
"Send em all back up," said the chief. "Tired of looking at these wastes of space."
One of the guards nodded and motioned at the trio to follow along.
"Back to their old cell?" asked one of the guards.
"Don't care," said the chief. "Might as well so you don't forget where they are. And until we can figure out the space situation."
The guard led the trio to the center of the armed group, and eventually Secter and his companions were brought back to their cell. Snarling, one of the guards shoved Secter inside just as Koros and Sycamore received the same treatment. The trio stumbled forward, with Koros nearly tripping over his wounded leg. Behind them, the bars snapped upwards and the energy between them hummed to life while the guards departed.
Secter sighed and sat back down, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Koros sat across from him, while Sycamore sat closest to the tiny window, his gaze affixed on the light above.
We've got a shot, thought Secter. Just got to get my head back in the game, can't fall to misery just yet, have to keep going, do it for Tatsu…
"Well," said Koros, stretching out against the wall. "Least we got something."
"Yeah," said Sycamore. "Ugh, but honestly. How are those guards not sick of all this yet? All this death and violence and pain, constantly! God knows I am…" His voice trailed off into despair.
"Tell me about it," said Koros. "You'd think after the war, constant fighting and shit, everyone'd be done with all this, but apparently not. Honestly surprised I'm still going, guess the healing factors into that."
"Yeah, it doesn't really help, does it?" asked Secter, one hand on his chin. "Allows us to take more pain than most others, then recover quicker…"
"Then you get sent right back out to fight," said Koros. "Just like in the war." Sighing, he banged his head back on the wall behind him, grunting as he did so. "Maybe we were just made for pain, maybe this is just what life is for us."
"I don't believe that," said Secter. "We can get past this."
"We all liked to think that, yet here we are," said Koros. "That's just how it is."
Sycamore shifted, uncomfortable in his position. He grabbed at the clump of bandages attached to his stomach and started pulling them off one by one. Every slice of gauze made a sickening slimy noise at it was pulled off of his body, and Sycamore grimaced as he set several of the bloodied bandages aside. Koros raised an eyebrow at him as he did so.
"You both still look like wrecks, no offense," said Koros. "Especially you, Sycamore."
"Thanks," muttered Sycamore. "I feel less than great."
"Not feeling the best either," said Secter. "I never, ever wanted to go back here, and Tatsu…is stuck with a fucking psychopath back there. I…have no idea what he's doing with her."
Koros opened his mouth to speak, but shut it seconds later.
Secter rubbed at his eyes, tears threatening to break through. Shutting them tight, he rocketed to his feet, wincing at the pain echoing throughout his body.
"But I haven't given up," said Secter. Turning over to Sycamore with blurred vision, Secter pointed at him. "Sycamore, you've found us a way out. We don't need to get used to this, we'll find a way back. There's still hope."
"Wishful thinking, but I like it," said Koros. "Got no intention of staying in this hellhole."
"I don't know…" said Sycamore. "I just don't know…" He stared back down at the ground. "I also thought I was past this, why would anyone want to bring us back here, why…"
"Because these people are fucking losers," said Koros. "They've turned their inner hatred to outer hatred, because they don't know what else to do. Slimy bastards the lot of em."
"And we have something to fight for," said Secter. "Remember what you told me? We have something to fight for, while they have nothing."
Sycamore gave a small nod.
"I guess so," said Sycamore. "Sorry, just…out of it. Hate this place so much."
"We'll get out," said Secter, clasping his hands to his sides. "I've got faith."
"And I've got faith in the idea that you should fuckin sleep," said Koros. "I know you two have a lot going on through your heads, but sleep will help you from going crazy. Take it from me."
Secter slumped back down against the wall, letting out a sharp gasp as his back scraped along the metal.
"I can try," he breathed. "Got to try."
Secter sat in silence for a few moments, occasionally giving Sycamore a quick glance. After a while he closed his eyes, and fell into a light slumber, his mind plagued with flashing images of a bleeding esper on the ground.
. . .
She's not dead, thought Secter. She isn't. The quicker I do this, the quicker I can get back to her. That's all that matters.
He tossed another body into the burner, the flames roaring as it tumbled deep within the metal beast. Koros huffed as he tossed another couple into the fire.
Just have to keep myself alive, thought Secter. Keep going.
He walked back over to the pile and pulled out another body, tearing it away from the rest. Then he threw it into the fire. The cycle repeated.
"Still no damned shovels," mumbled Koros. "Asked those bastards for one and they asked me if I wanted to turn my other leg into a birdhouse…fucking assholes."
"I wouldn't expect one from them," said Secter. "We might just have to use our damned hands if nothing else."
"Fuck it, I'm game," said Koros. "Didn't plan to stay more than a week here anyways."
Secter glanced around after tossing another body into the burner.
"Where's Sycamore?" he asked.
"Probably by the cracks," said Koros. "I don't know, go check."
Secter sighed as he wandered away from the burner and back over to the damaged section of the wall. Sure enough, Sycamore was there, gazing down at the streaks of light.
"Been tearing at it a little bit," said Sycamore. "But that metal won't budge…"
"Well yeah," said Secter. "Soulless construction, won't move so easily."
"Secter," said Sycamore peering back up at him. "I don't think I have to tell you how badly I want to get out of here."
"You don't," said Secter. "I do too."
"I think…" said Sycamore, rubbing his chin. "The first thing I'll do when I get back is give Fubuki the biggest hug I can, then I'll be begging for forgiveness from everyone..."
"Trust me, if you stick with us, they'll have to forgive you. And… first we still have Silan to deal with."
"Right…" said Sycamore. Burying his face in his hands, Sycamore sniffled aloud. "Oh, this is all useless isn't it? We're going to die in here!"
"Sycamore," said Secter, reaching over to place a hand over Sycamore's shoulder. "Listen to me. We're going to be alright. We just have to keep our heads down, and keep working, we'll find our way back-"
Koros approached the two of them, a shard of metal in his hand.
"Broke it off from the burner," said Koros. "Move."
Secter's eyes widened and he stepped aside to allow Koros to move through. Sycamore gasped when Koros smashed the metal into one of the cracks and began twisting and tweaking the shard upwards.
"Go back to what you're doing," said Koros. "Gonna take a while."
"That…that's gonna work?" asked Sycamore.
"Yep," said Koros. "Or at least it will, if you give me some damned cover."
"Ah…right, right," said Sycamore.
"Alright, let's get back to it," said Secter. "Come on, Sycamore."
The two of them headed away from Koros, each one to their respective piles. Though the stench was overwhelming and the bodies heavy, Secter managed a smile as he lifted his next weight and dragged it away from the pile.
. . .
Time marched on as Secter worked, everything blurring into one long, stinking, exhausting task. The only thing bringing him any semblance of joy was the sound of Koros tinkering away at the wall, only stopping ever so often when a guard got bored enough to go check on the workers. On one occasion the guards taunted Sycamore for his outfit, and tried to rip it off of him. Rushing forward to intervene, Secter found himself beaten back as the guards bashed him with rifle butts and glowing clubs. Shouting, Sycamore tore off the remnants of his suit and tossed it to the ground, prompting laughter from the guards as they threw the garment in the burner and returned to their side of the room. Sycamore walked over and helped a bloodied Secter up as he limped back along to the burner.
"You can't always be doing that here Secter," said Sycamore. "You're going to get yourself hurt."
"Too late for that," said Secter. "But if I don't stand up, who will?"
Sycamore had no answer to the question.
Secter continued his thankless shift of moving bodies and tossing them into the burner, each one holding a frozen face for him to soon forget. He frowned at the layers of corpses, wondering where each person had come from, why they were here, and if they had a name. The corpses would hold no answers for him as he dragged them over to the fire to lay them to eternal rest.
A clunking sound erupted from the other side of a ceiling-high pile Secter was working on, and he froze in place. Blood still ran down from the side of his head from earlier and he walked around the pile to see Koros standing triumphantly over a small hole in the wall while Sycamore stood off to the side in awe.
"And there it is boys," said Koros. "Just wide enough for us to get through."
"We…we're out," said Sycamore. He clapped his hands together, a big smile tearing through his face. "We're out!"
"Keep it down asshole," said Koros. "And Sycamore, you go first since you're the slimmest. Might have to do some work if I don't fit…and remember, no powers! You try to make yourself thinner or something, the guards'll know and will be on us in a second."
"Go Sycamore," said Secter, his sprits rising at the white gap of freedom which lay before him. "Hurry."
Sycamore nodded and dashed towards the gap, snaking and grunting as he wiggled his way through. Koros kept a lookout, peering out from one of the piles and scanning the room for the guards.
"Almost…through," said Sycamore, his voice muffled from the other side of the wall. He was halfway there, his legs scrambling like snakes caught in the talons of a hawk. "Not…a lot…of ground to stand on out here…"
"Keep going," said Secter. "See anything out there?"
"Nothing but white," said Sycamore. "Wait…almost…"
Sycamore kicked forward, squirming as he did so. Within a few seconds, only his legs jutted out from the gap as he struggled his way outside.
"Where's that suit-boy?" came a voice from the end of the room. "I wanna talk to him."
"Shit," muttered Koros. "Sycamore, get the hell out! Secter, you next!"
Secter turned down over to the gap in a panic, just in time to witness Sycamore's feet disappear from the gap. He kneeled down to go next, and just as he started to push himself through the jagged edges of the hole, he heard a commotion next to him.
"They're getting out!" yelled a voice. "Over here, they're-"
Secter heard a grunting sound. In the near distance, someone started hacking as if their lungs were collapsing.
"Go you idiot!" yelled Koros. "Go-"
Something stabbed its way through Secter's leg, pinning his ankle to the ground. Sharp pain raged forth from his leg all the way up to his heart. He gasped as he clawed his way forth, little but a white void and a small patch of ground before him. Snarling, Secter ripped his arm through the hole just as several hands snatched him around his waist. His eyes growing wide, Secter realized that the Nothing was getting further away even as he tried to pull himself forward, further and further until…
He was yanked back. The stench rushed into his nostrils again.
Secter blinked, unsure of what happened for a second. A glowing club came smashing down onto his face, eviscerating his right cheek and tearing it open. Groaning, Secter was lifted to his feet as he was dragged along with a bloodied Koros all the way back through the burner room, up the stairs, through the hallway, and back to his cell. Secter fell to the ground as he was shoved through along with Koros, the both of them having their worlds spin as the guards yelled at them.
"Bloody bastards!" said one of the guards. "Think you can escape! We'll kill you both if you try anything like that again!"
"Report it," said another. "Chief'll kill em for sure."
"Yeah, let's go," said the guard. "Fuckin hell, gonna have to report another escapee."
"Ugh," said the first guard. "Let's go."
They left Koros and Secter alone in their cell, the bars humming with energy. Secter rose from his place on the ground, his head still spinning. Stumbling over to the excuse for a window, Secter peered outside, the white light still beckoning just as it had before. Koros walked up next to him, red pouring out from his mouth.
"Too slow," muttered Koros. "Now we're both gonna die."
"No," said Secter. "No…"
Pain flared up from Secter's leg, his abdomen, his chest and shoulder. Everywhere hurt, and yet Secter could find no solace even as he sat down. Every movement was hell, every second was torture. He had almost been out, but not quite.
"Hang on…" said Koros, his eyes narrowing as he stared out the window. "Sycamore? Sycamore! Hey! Get over here!"
"What?" asked Secter. "He circled around?"
Secter got up and limped over to the window, his body a tortured mass of pain and torn skin. He smeared blood across his face as he spotted a panicked and hyperventilating Soulless standing not far from their window, his eyes wide as he darted his head in every which direction.
"Sycamore!" said Koros. "Listen to me!"
Sycamore gave Koros a panicked glance. His entire body shook as they met eyes.
"Get back to the wall, and-" said Koros.
Sycamore twitched, and turned around. He sprinted away from the window, running as fast as he could. Within seconds, Sycamore had vanished into the distance, spotlights shining down from the towers of the outpost as his form faded against the void.
"You…" muttered Koros. "You sick bastard…"
"He ran…" said Secter. "He's gone."
Koros stumbled back from the window, his expression grave. Slumping against the wall, he spat out a hunk of blood onto the floor.
Secter followed suit, slowly sliding against the wall as it tore against his backside. His eyes remained grey and still within his face, almost as if he had just witnessed the death of another loved one.
"Well, he's gone," said Koros. "Can't say I blame the bastard, but even still, fucking betraying us like that-"
"He was getting spotted," said Secter. "You aren't giving him enough credit."
"He's gone you idiot," said Koros. "We're going to die in here, and he's gone. Honestly, he's probably gonna die too."
"He'll find a way back," said Secter. "He'll help."
"Yeah fuckin right. He wanted to get the hell out no matter what the first day he came here. That fucker would do anything to get out, just like everyone else…"
"He's not the same. He'll be back."
"You're naïve, Secter. He's not coming back."
"You…" said Secter, his fists clenching. "You don't know him like I do! Have some damned faith for once!"
"I'm a realist, I know what's happening," said Koros. "Figure it out Secter, we're dead now."
"He'll be back."
"No. No he won't."
. . .
The schedule went on as usual, Koros remarking how strange it was for them to go back to work with little in the way of consequences. Secter and him went back to shoveling bodies only hours after Sycamore's disappearance, nothing different except the hole in the wall fixed, and a guard for each them as they lifted away.
Secter sighed as he dragged the next body away, an armed guard glaring down at him as he did so.
"Any second," said the guard. "I could end you. Just like that." He snapped his fingers, Secter's life in his hands. "Bet the chief's already got an execution date in mind for you two, he was none too pleased to hear about your friend…"
Secter kept going, his mind numb. At the sound of shuffling, he whipped around, a body still hung over his back.
To his side was a newcomer, a Soulless with a melting frown. He too had a body slumped over his back, shuffling along as if he shared the same feelings as the corpse above him.
"You…" said Secter. "You're new. Your name?"
The Soulless ignored him, tossing the body into the burner. Secter watched as he did so, yet eventually he continued his work. Time marched on.
The sessions went by, no real way to know if days were going by or hours. Secter was stuck in a giant cavern of corpses, no moon or sun outside and no solace to be found anywhere. Eventually Secter lost track of time, the number of bodies never seeming to shrink no matter how much work him, Koros, and the newcomer did. One day, the guard who watched him went to join his companions, and Secter turned to the newcomer as he watched the newest body burn.
"So," said Secter. "You don't talk much."
"Don't like to," said the newcomer. "Didn't want to be here."
"Me neither," said Secter. "But that doesn't mean we should lose hope."
The newcomer gave Secter a strange look.
"You must be new here," said the newcomer. "You talk like an idiot. You'll probably die soon."
"I made it this far," said Secter. "And I'm not going to stop."
"Sorry," said the newcomer. "Didn't mean it like that. Just…most people I knew who talked like that are probably in these piles…"
Secter grimaced, sweat adorning his forehead as he struggled forward with another corpse.
"So…" said Secter. "You never told me your name."
"Why do you want to know?"
"I…just do, ok? What harm is there in knowing?"
The newcomer gave Secter a sad glance, the look of a being with too many years under his belt.
"Not many ask me that…" he said. "Varo, my name is Varo."
"Varo," said Secter. "Nice name. Where are you from?"
"Here."
"I meant before here."
"Oh. Uh, was in the war, but before that, in Dreskur's brigades…"
"Wow," said Secter. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Was more of a Vrayskr man myself."
"Yeah…" said Varo. "Was a long time ago." He went back to shoveling corpses, sniffling as his hands dug into the fresh stinking hell below him.
"Well…" said Secter. "Things might not look good now, but surely we can-"
Varo paused, staring down into a pile of corpses. He scrunched his face up, pain enveloping his features. Every crevice, every wrinkle on his expression was an abyss of memories, all deepened with sadness.
"You ok?" asked Secter. "What is it?"
The newcomer said nothing, his eyes trained down below. Slowly he reached into the pile and pulled out a single body, grunting as he heaved it away from the rest. The foot of the corpse stuck itself within the rest of the pile, forcing Varo to tug it away before stumbling to his knees. Sniffling, Varo lifted the corpse, and with a great heave, tossed it into the burner.
"I'm sorry…" said Varo. "I'm so sorry…"
"Was he…" said Secter.
"Why did it have to be like this?" asked Varo. "I just…I just want to die, I'm tired of this, I just want to die…"
He collapsed to his knees in front of the burner, yellow fire outlining his already burning form. Secter walked over to him, his arms hanging heavy. Resting a hand on Varo's back, he stared into the flames as Varo stared at the ground.
It can't be like this, Secter thought. We…I can't be like this. I have to leave, I have to get out. I have to get back to Tatsu. I can't go back to how it was. Not ever.
. . .
Blood was caked on Tatsumaki's hands as she ran them down the side of the door, giving it one last little bash before slumping to her knees. The sun shone through the slits in the side of the hut, and several red marks adorned the door which Tatsumaki stared at. Her cheeks crusty with the remnants of tears, Tatsumaki turned to look back over at her sister and gave a pathetic groan at what she saw.
Fubuki lay flat on her back in the remnants of the sun shining through, the light illuminating her pale face as sweat poured down from her forehead. Her hair was glued over her face in sticky black streaks, and her hands, one normal and the other adorned with fingers bent at ninety-degree angles towards the tips, remained clamped over a clump of black fabric over her stomach, bloodied and sliding off onto the ground. Dark stains of scarlet covered most of Fubuki's face and her breathing was rattled and harsh.
Tatsumaki blinked away, glad that her vision had returned to her eye over the night but feeling sick at the sight of her sister bleeding before her. Groaning, she lifted herself back up, rubbing one hand over the missing slice of fabric over her shoulder before moving her hand down to her aching ribcage. She slammed on the door once again, turning her hand into a painful pincushion as her palm met metal.
"Let us out!" said Tatsumaki, her voice as dry as the desert sand. "My sister needs help, she's dying!"
The only response was a stuttered cough by Fubuki, who gasped as her body enveloped itself in pain in response. She reached her good hand down to her leg, which still leaked blood out from a tight wrapping of black fabric. Her skin had turned purple around the makeshift bandage, and a thick yellow ooze had encrusted itself around the edge of the fabric on her leg.
"Sis…" said Fubuki, her voice little but a whisper. "Sis…"
Tatsumaki turned around and shuffled over to her sister, clamping one hand around her torso as she did so. Her entire chest was stiff with pain, every movement sending a tremor through her body. Sinking to her knees, Tatsumaki reached down and wiped the hair away from Fubuki's face, her eyes turning wet as she turned her attention to smearing the blood off of her sister's cheeks.
"You're gonna be ok," said Tatsumaki. "Just take a deep breath, you're gonna be ok…"
"Sis…" said Fubuki. "I can barely hear you…"
Tatsumaki wiped at her eyes, tracing a reddened scar along the left.
"I'll get you out," said Tatsumaki. "You just have to stay with me, stay with me sis…"
"I feel cold," said Fubuki. "It's so cold…"
Tatsumaki's shoulders tensed. Her whole world was crumbling. A layer of heavy bricks felt like it had been smashed on her back, building and building into a great mountain. Tatsumaki couldn't stand the strain, the constant rising of pressure along her body, she fell to her hands and knees and stared at the floor in despair. It was too much, it was too much…
"Stay…stay with me," said Tatsumaki. She slid her hand across the floor, the sun illuminating her pale fingers from up above. Finding her sister's hand, she grimaced at how cold it was. "You have to keep…just keep…"
The door opened behind Tatsumaki, prompting her to turn around. In the entrance stood Silan, grinning as usual and with a spark of glee flashing in his eyes.
"It seems there was an incident," said Silan. "Do you know why this was, Tatsumaki?"
Tatsumaki let go of her sister's hand and rose to her feet. Every muscle, every tendon in her face was strained and frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at Silan.
"My sister," said Tatsumaki. "She needs help. She's going to die in here, you have to help her-"
"When you tell me why what happened happened," said Silan. "Then your sister will receive the attention she needs."
"I don't know why it fucking happened!" said Tatsumaki. "That monster just came in here and started attacking me and my sis, I don't know-"
"You are in a hut with your sister."
"Well, yeah, but-"
"Were you supposed to be?" asked Silan.
A scuffling sound came from behind Silan and he stepped aside to let Viskel peer through. Viskel narrowed his eyes over at the pale woman laying on the ground.
"It…it was Vastal who allowed it!" said Tatsumaki. "We aren't…we weren't…"
"And yet you did not protest," said Silan. "You knew what I said, you should've known I was to be obeyed, and yet you let a transgression happen. Tsk tsk, Tatsumaki. That is why I pointed that dear friend to your hut."
Tatsumaki felt her eyes strain as hate began to build up behind them. She closed her hands into fists, one eye twitching as Silan chuckled.
"Well now you know," said Silan. "You should always listen, Tatsumaki, even if it is a superior telling you to do the wrong thing, my word always prevails. Now, were you in the wrong, when you decided to let Vastal have you stay in the same place as your sis? It's not fair to everyone else after all, they all sleep in their own huts. So, were you wrong?"
Tatsumaki gritted her teeth, grinding them against each other. From below, another wet and pained cough. Energy drained from Tatsumaki at the sound.
"Well?" asked Silan. "I see no action being taken unless you give me an answer."
"I…" said Tatsumaki. "Was in the wrong."
"Excellent," said Silan. "And you might not believe it now, but in time? You will."
He chuckled again and pointed at Fubuki. She vanished as Silan pulled his hand back.
"Where did you take her," said Tatsumaki. "Where did you take her?!"
"Citizens' infirmary," said Silan. "She will remain there for a while, right on the other end of our little society. Let her rest, won't you? She doesn't need to be disturbed right now…"
"Is she…with the other Soulless in there…" said Tatsumaki.
"Yes, yes she is," said Silan. "But have no fear Tatsumaki, no more harm will come to her. She's already on the verge of death, and I have no plans for letting her die."
"You promise," said Tatsumaki.
"I promise," said Silan. "Now come, get some food with everyone else. I'll see if I can't get you something nicer to wear. You shouldn't have to wear something so tattered in my society should you? Haha. You go outside, I will return. Come along, Viskel."
Silan turned to leave the hut with Viskel close behind. Bounding up to Silan as they strode outside, Viskel began to speak.
"So, how was that a part of the plan?" asked Viskel, his eyes wide with interest. His tone dripped with excitement as he spoke. "How is that breaking her down or whatever?"
"She is learning," said Silan. "Of course she knows that she and her sister and all her friends have their bodies at risk, but that is not enough for me. Oh no, if I want to drag her deep within the depths of where she once was, to bring her back to how she used to be and make it even worse, I must train her. Teach her that my way is the only way. Once she's used to it, she'll start to close things off…and that's when I go in for the kill. And then one day…ideally, ideally she will hurt her sister without any intervention of mine. And of course, if that doesn't work or I get bored with them? Eh, we can just end them, find new people."
"Way things were…" said Viskel. "Oh! You went inside her memories eh?"
"Oh yes, just made her more interesting to me," said Silan. "Of course, I couldn't see anything of her and that Volunteer friend of hers, memories like that were fuzzy as usual. But the things I did see…oh, the things I did see."
Silan chuckled, his voice blasting through the air in a loud guffaw.
"Oh, did you see her neck?" asked Silan. "All bruised and red…I'll bet our mask friend nearly choked her out…brings things back to such a long time ago…and her sister as a tool of fear! Yes, yes, it worked out even better than I imagined! Oh, what a great day!"
"So…" said Viskel, stroking his chin as his brows furrowed. "Used the sibling to get to the…the uh…the heart of the matter."
"Yes yes Viskel, very good," said Silan, his chuckling dying down and his voice turning flat. "Now run along."
"Alright!" said Viskel. He pounced his way back over to the dining table out in the middle of the courtyard, adorned with delicious-smelling foods whose scents wafted through the air. Genos sat strapped to the hut as usual, with Vastal leaning against the same building but a few feet away. Saitama groaned as he sniffed the air.
"Oh come on…" said Saitama. "Just let me have some damned food! I'm starving!"
"Very well," said Silan. "We've let you sit long enough. Viskel, untie Saitama and wake the rest for breakfast."
"Ok!" said Viskel.
Silan watched as Viskel bounded over to Saitama on all fours, the bald hero raising an eyebrow at Viskel as he ripped the metal bars away from Saitama and tossed them out from over the fence that surrounded the camp. Saitama narrowed his eyes as he stood up, stretching by leaning from side to side.
"Everyone!" yelled Viskel as he ran off from Saitama and over to the nearest set of huts. "Wake up, wake up right now or we'll kill you! Get out here!"
Vastal twitched at Viskel's voice, leaning away from the hut he was against. He stumbled towards the table before dropping his shoulders.
One by one the doors to the huts opened, and every other member of the camp stepped out. King gave a wary look to the Soulless before him but kept his composure as he neared the table. Metal Bat and Atomic Samurai both sneered at Viskel as they walked forward, Metal Bat's hair a nest of black scraggly strands. Blast stared at the ground as he walked. Bang looked almost as glum, but gave a small smile to Saitama as he saw him standing near the edge of the table.
"Well, at least you're up," said Bang.
"Yeah yeah," said Saitama. "Alright, resisting the urge to punch one of you assholes right now."
"Try it, and we'll restrain you to the pole for a month," said Silan. "Use any powers, and I'll punish everyone at the table. Do not push me."
Saitama glared at Silan, his eyes so full of hate that Viskel readied himself to pounce on the man should he make any sudden movements. Instead, Saitama's eyes turned to a newcomer at the table, widening as he spotted the pale and limping Tatsumaki near the food, her dress torn at her shoulder and along her side.
"You…you ok?" asked Saitama, his face creasing with worry as Tatsumaki sat down. "What…what did they do to you?"
"It's fine," said Tatsumaki. "It's not how it looks."
"What the hell did you do?!" asked Saitama to Silan, his fists crunching together in pure rage. "What did you do?!"
Silan only chuckled.
"You motherfucking bastard!" said Metal Bat. "You don't get to torture people like that, like they're your playthings! That's it, you're fucking dead!"
"Guys, calm down!" said Tatsumaki. "It's not what you think, it was just…that mask Soulless coming in and beating me…and my sis…"
"He's dead," said Metal Bat. "Him and all his monsters. I don't care if I don't have my bat, I'm beating him down!"
"Silan, he's insulting you!" said Viskel. "Can I do the punishment-plan thingy to him?"
"Why of course Viskel," said Silan, a smile on his face. "Being a student of my teachings, I would expect no less than a bit of practice."
"Nice!" said Viskel. Turning towards Metal Bat, Viskel's body vomited forward, a black streak against the air. Within seconds, he had reached Metal Bat and snagged the back of his neck, one hand gripping the man's throat from behind. Laughing, Viskel streamed towards the nearest hut against a struggling Metal Bat, and tossed him inside. Viskel stepped into the hut as Metal Bat slammed against the back wall as Viskel crept towards him.
Outside, Vastal let out a sigh before sidling over to the door of the hut Viskel and Metal Bat were in and slammed the door behind them. Grumbling, he withdrew his machete from his pouch and began to slide the blade across his arm, blood seeping out from where it melted through flesh and armor alike. Halfway through the cut, Vastal suddenly stopped and lifted the machete out, giving a small "hmph" to the weapon before drawing it back into its pouch.
"Eat," said Silan to the shocked heroes. "That's an order."
"Everyone, just sit down," said Tatsumaki. "There's nothing we can do, and if you try, it'll just make things worse."
The heroes exchanged worried glances all except for Blast, who sat at the table without hesitation.
That's it Tatsumaki… thought Silan. Now you're getting it…
"Excellent," said Silan. "You all know the rules. Now if you'll excuse me, there was a matter I had forgotten as of yesterday, and I would like to return to it…"
He chuckled as he swiveled his shadowy body away from the table and headed back to the main building. Disappearing as he closed the doors behind him, Silan walked over to the communications room.
Saitama and everyone but Blast and Tatsumaki still stood around the table, staring over at the hut in which Metal Bat had been taken.
"Sit," said Vastal, his expression hidden behind two dark holes in his helmet. "Or else."
"Everyone, just sit," said Tatsumaki. "Not doing it is just going to make things worse for Metal Bat and yourselves."
"We can't just sit," said Saitama. "It's just one of him versus all of us…"
"Don't," said Tatsumaki. "Saitama, I know you're used to winning, but this one you just can't win. You just can't. You have to sit, even if it's just for now…"
"You all are pissing me off," said Vastal. "Sit, before I make you disappear."
"Master…" said Genos from the side of the hut. His head was pointed at the ground, enveloping his forehead in shadow. "I don't think we can win…"
"Genos…" said Saitama. "Even you?"
"You couldn't beat their leader," said Genos. "And we're outnumbered here, the leader is still around, and there are others… Best to save our strength, even if we must leave others behind…"
"No!" said Saitama. "That's not what being a hero is about."
"Sit down Saitama," said Blast. "You're going to get someone killed."
"And that isn't what a hero is about either," said Bang. He sat at the table, his eyes distant. "We can't beat people like them, not like this."
Atomic Samurai shook his head in disgust.
"What the hell's the point," he sneered. "These people have ruined everything as is."
He sat.
"I'm sorry Saitama," said King. "But you know I'd be no help…I'd like to help, but I just…I can't…"
He sat.
"No…" said Saitama. "This isn't how it's supposed to be…"
He reared back, his eyes wide. Vastal stood resolute, waiting for him.
"Saitama, don't!" yelled Tatsumaki. "He'll kill you! He'll kill more of us if you try!"
Saitama glared at Vastal, his fist raised back ready to strike.
"You have to know when to fight and when to run," said Tatsumaki. "For the sake of everyone. Now's the time to run, Saitama, you can't win this one by fighting. We're in a different world now, it won't make sense at first, but you have to try to make sense of it. For us. For Metal Bat in there. If you sit, I think he'll turn out ok. You just have to do it. To stay down."
"I don't want to," said Saitama. "But…if it means…"
"I didn't want to either," said Tatsumaki. "But we have to, if just for now. We'll find another way Saitama. I promise."
Saitama's eyes grew watery at Tatsumaki's words. She was right, nothing did make sense anymore. Turning to the table, he squinted at the heroes before him with teary fury in his eyes. He sat.
"Finally," muttered Vastal. "A good lesson to learn."
Saitama watched Blast as he began to devour his food. Saitama didn't eat a morsel on his plate even as his stomach roared.