Studying the Unloved and this one are about to get a little more related…
Thank yous to the following kind linklies, who all deserve hand-made heart-shaped cookies: Miss Mandy, Jaks-Girl, Miss Yunie, Hellmouth2, Light-Eco-Sage, Red Hawk K'sani, Krazy Jimbo, Skerrieseses, dOMITUPSYK, my Lovepuff, Lenipez sideshow, horaquan hybrid aaaaaaaaand Luna-Kitsune-Blu.
I have changed this to an R rating, due to the filthy mouths of Müssala's victims. Enjoy the next chapter! It's short, but it's been sitting in my computer for a long time and I haven't added anything new, so I guess it's ripe enough.
"You will climb the sheer vertical cliffs of the Northern Shore without rope. You will touch your skin to the burning metal-rock of the Chromic Beach. You will go into the Underworld without light. You will wander the Midlands without water. You will cross the boiling pits of the Southern Shore without shoes..."
Number 75 stank of fear and sweat. His frantic eyes were underscored with deep purple. Müssala sang her Taetran prayers, frowning at the ECF screen. Number 75's E Factor had to be determined.
"Well, now, boy-o," she looked down at him. He had scrunched his shoulders, trying to cover his ears. "Don't like my singing? This is only the first day! There's so much to do to you." She turned and picked up a gun. "I have a fun activity planned, and then we'll get to your E Factor."
Number 75 groaned, eyebrows creasing. He grit his teeth and made strange sounds.
"Hmm?" Müssala saw that he was squeezing his legs together. Number 75 blushed; he was still unclothed from the examination the night before. "Ah. Yes, a bathroom break, after we make one thing clear." She leaned over him. "I own you."
He shook his head, glaring.
"Yes, I do. And to ensure that you don't ever forget it, I'm going to give you a little demonstration." Müssala tossed a towel over the boy's waist and snatched her comm. "Slitter!"
"Yo sexy momma, that's my name, don't wear it-"
"Shut up. Bring Number 62 in here."
"Sheesh, your Holy Darkness. We're right outside the door."
Müssala snapped the comm shut. "Number 75," she said, walking around his bed. She found the pneumatic pump and elevated his mattress. "Everyone is nothing but a number. But you... You will be given a name. Soon. You are very important to me, 75. If there's one thing you should be happy about, it is that I cannot let you die. None of the others have this comfort. However, you are still mine. I cannot control you through lethal means, but I will control you nonetheless. It would be best if you cooperated of your own will. Number 62 is going to show you what happens when you do not."
Slitter entered the room backwards, dragging a young man by his arm shackles. "C'mon!"
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," the man's knees scraped along the floor. His eyes were red and yellow.
"Get up, you idiot," Slitter pulled his chains and kicked him.
The young man saw Müssala's gun. "Fuck," he covered his face. Tears ran between his fingers. "Oh shit."
Number 75 stared at him. He had tucked his knees under his chin. Huge needle scars punctured his burned arms.
"Number 62!" Müssala marched over and pulled his head back. "Get up, now."
He blinked and slowly stood, shaking. Müssala tossed a fistful of hair aside. "Why you gotta do this?" whispered 62.
"Oooh," mocked Slitter, making a stupid face, "why you gotta do this?" He laughed. "They're so funny when they're about to be horribly tortured."
Number 75 shivered.
"75, you belong to me," Müssala shouted, not looking back at him. She tilted the gun and aimed for 62's chest. "You will obey. I do not ask for much, just simple cooperation. If you do not comply, you will suffer."
With a gentle click, a searing beam of light enveloped 62. He staggered back and fell. His screams filled the room. Number 75 gasped. Each of 62's limbs jerked in a different direction. His facial features twisted and his eyes throbbed. Red saliva leaked between his broken teeth. His screams broke into staccato cries as spasms wracked his lungs. Another sound crept in and drowned them out.
Slitter was laughing.
Müssala watched, her face devoid of expression. A true skáhgadah. He may not understand how important 75 is. I must always be present when he tests this new boy-o. Number 75 panicked behind her.
Number 62 collapsed into an eerie stillness. His skin split, each new rip hissing a foul vapor. Slitter stooped and grabbed his shackles. "Oh man," he said, wiping his eyes. "That made my day. C'mon crispy, back to your cell. I'll return in a minute to help with the E Fac- Ha ha! Look at that! 75 pissed his towel!" Slitter bent over laughing. "And he's crying, too!"
Müssala turned to Number 75. The boy was horrified, tears running down his white cheeks.
"Go, Slitter. I'll do it myself."
Slitter's cackling stopped short. "But… I love doin' E Factor-"
"Get out!"
Slitter scoffed, "yeah, sure, whatever." He "accidentally" swung 62's skull into the metal door as they left.
"Now, boy-o," Müssala touched the tip of the gun between 75's eyes. His breaths came in shuddering gasps. "62 isn't dead. He wishes he was, but he isn't. Do you understand what will happen if you do not obey?"
Number 75 bit his upper lip and looked away.
"You're filthy. See that door on the side?" She jutted her head. "Leads to a shower cubical. I'm going to loosen these restraints. This gun isn't leavin' your third eye for a second. You go in there and you clean yourself up. Come back out here and I'll give you some clothes. You want to do these things. You understand?"
The boy made a squeaking noise. He rubbed his wrists and stood uncertainly.
"Walk slow."
He nodded, then lunged, "yahh!"
Müssala grabbed his fist and slammed him against the door. "I saw that!" She twisted the gun barrel. "I saw it in your eyes." He tried to push the taller woman away. "Best let that light die, that inside light. Best if you just let it die." She gripped his forearm. "Now get in there."
She shoved him into the cubical, a red circle imprinted on his forehead. The shower's motion sensors turned the water on. Müssala slammed the door shut and kicked the stained towel into a floor receptacle. If that didn't teach the boy-o to obey, Sesslurak save me.