Chapter VI:
I Get By With A Little Help
The latest hideout was taken on a whimsy chance, resulting in an overhead trip through the dusty vermin-infested vents of Mount Massive Asylum. She would gladly run through hot coal if it meant Big Guy couldn't get to her. Carefully and quietly, Chloe slid on her belly peering through slit openings for an empty room, another plot of safety where she could continue working on a game plan. Many of the rooms were dark so it became difficult to tell and after a while, she relied on the sense of sound perception.
Finally. Chloe removed her shirt, wrapping it around her fist and delivered several one inch punches to the vent door; turned out, being the child of a Bruce Lee fan had its perks. "Thanks, Dad." Chloe giggled, her shirt immediately over her head once the room was secured. In another reality, Chloe recalled another time in her life: six years old, imitating Bruce Lee movies with her father, moves included. A small sadness washed over her as she reflected at the memory and tears ripened in her sienna eyes. You're on your own. No one's coming for rescue. Clearing her throat, she took a deep breath and reassembled her emotional priorities. Breaking down in a place such as this and at a time like this could lead to her end and Chloe had no intention in facing that; it was her or them.
The room looked surprisingly familiar with an overwhelmingly thick odor that sunk into her skin, making Chloe aware of her situation now more than ever. By now, administration was aware of the catastrophe and exits were sure to be sealed. Leaving her locked in an asylum running rampant with the criminally insane, in all shapes and sizes of men with different afflictions, some more disturbing than others. The disgusting part of it all was the sight enveloped her, arousing and reminding her of her own sick sin but now wasn't the time to rub one out. Investigation of the room began with the desk, where she found a name plate to identify the owner and her stomach knotted: she was in the room of her own dear Dr. Carl. She imagined a patient violently attacking him upon inspection of his blood-battered chair and hesitated, examining assorted filing as she considered alternative seating. Initially, Clo looked for her own file and came across another patient's; the file was stamped CONFIDENTIAL and labeled "Hope, W." in bold black lettering. She became curious, wondering how Hope's therapy was progressing compared to hers. Clo skimmed through interview notes, ceasing search upon finding an old consultation with her program in capitalized letters.
"Patient claims to have progressed to self-directed lucid dream states. MORPHOGENIC ENGINE activity observed at unprecedented scale. Continuing stage 4 hormone schedule."
Billy asked about the status of his mother's lawsuit against Murkoff and the asylum. This represents a catastrophic breach in security, despite Billy's claims that he discovered the truth 'in the blood dreams of Doctor Trager.' (Note: the only Trager on company records, one Richard Trager, is an executive from M.R.D.) All orderlies and security personnel must be questioned and video security improved to include analytical biometrics."
Clo read over the paper several times in an attempt to understand exactly what Murkoff's intentions were, but the more she thought, the more confusing it became. "Murkoff can fuck off." She huffed throwing Billy's interview away carelessly in frustration. The entire operation bothered her; something had been done to Billy's psyche, to Eddie's, to hers and these doctors kept it cleverly professional in documents and interviews. Yet, patients were abused, tortured and Murkoff could look away in the name of science? She needed answers and after she acquired her weapon, Chloe intended to play along in this game of perverted survival, to find her assaulter. I'm sure he knows what's going on. And I know he won't be hard to find. Fuck being afraid.
Without harm, Chloe found the kitchen partially intact, a variety of kitchenware scattered over the countertops. Pots, pans, even silverware was found but naturally, anything sharp was absent. Desperation had hit an all-time high and picking up a fork to serve as protection for the moment, Chloe stuffed it into her pocket and ventured on to find a more suitable form of defense. The threat of fear tempted her conscious, her feet moving cautious yet swiftly back towards the male ward and abruptly as she navigated, she contemplated most of these men hadn't encountered a woman in years. "Male Ward" labeled on a nearby wall with an arrow pointing to the left which eventually led her to a room full of cells. Her hope begged for the cells to be empty with the entire room free at her disposal; reality was, the provocative men of Mount Massive's B Ward were still confined to padded rooms. Wall lights were spread out along the walls, allowing Clo to see sparse faces pressed against the crevice of their doors. They were horribly disfigured and not just one: she could spot them all, their faces mangled with stitches, leaving some with one eye.
"Merciful God, I knew you'd continue to spread the gospel through a conception." A voice uttered in a whisper behind her and instinctively, Chloe equipped her fork turning to introduce the tip to her visitor's neck. An elderly bald man about her height dressed in black attire covered with a cross stood behind her and genuinely startled by her reaction, he grabbed her arms gently. "I'm not here to hurt you, my girl. Not if our Lord has chosen you to bear." Chloe pushed his arms away, increasing space between them using her arm length and fork to measure. "The fuck are you talking about?" The man shook his head, the same headshake she would get from her father, her brother. The headshake of disappointment, a slow nod from left to right, eyes closed as if Chloe had let this man down in some way to a point where he couldn't look at her.
"Another non-believer, my Lord…"
"Look, I don't know who you're speaking to as I'm the only one here." Matching brown eyes connected with hers as the man broke his conversation to address hers. "Have you not met our God, the reason for our mere existence?" A simple head nod sufficed but Chloe was never one to be simple and given the current situation, there was no time for a religion debate. But she knew how eager society was when it came to enlightening others on the subject of faith; crazy or not, this man was no exception. "I can't answer that right now. But I have questions. Can we go somewhere more private?" Her bald companion grinned enthusiastically and clasped his hands together gratefully. "Follow me, my daughter."
Chloe blindly followed her humming elder, holding her questions internally until the pair arrived at their destination. The night air blew a chill breeze and in an attempt to keep warm, she picked up the pace past her companion until a large building came into focus with a large cross standing boldly in the cloudy moonlight. A church? This place has a church? Her small hand shook as she grabbed onto its handle and swung the large door open, exposing the barren room to the harsh fall wind. Once the two were inside, Chloe immediately performed her routine inspection turning up with jack shit. "You can't even find a decent fu…" She ceased speaking upon dark wearied eyes meeting hers and she looked away to the large cross traditionally hung behind the pulpit. "I didn't say it." Chloe remarked sarcastically leaning against a nearby pew.
"My dear girl, I believe you're confused."
"Are you just now getting that?" Chloe's voice became dry, almost dead. The guy was crazy but he wasn't stupid. "And, in regards to your 'God,' I'm pretty sure you're referring to Immaculate Conception."
"Wrong, dear girl. I assume you were once a patient of the Engine, though I'm shocked to see a woman still among us. You must be here for a reason."
Chloe huffed. "Wrong. I was supposed to be transferred soon. Doctor informed me tonight before this…happened. Do you know what happened?"
"You must accept the Gospel to understand, my child. You were put in the Engine to connect with our Lord, the Walrider. He only appears to those who believe and those who don't, well, you've seen the result. You're covered in it."
A silence grew, Chloe examining her clothing in acknowledgement to the latter statement and her companion watched her awaiting another violent fork reaction. Instead, she looked back to him in quiet defeat and she wanted to hear more. With a soft sigh, she nodded. "Go on."
"Do you believe?"
"Yes." She lied, mentally seeking forgiveness within herself for doing so.
"Do you know what happened to the other women here?"
"Yes. Some died in result of the Engine. They took women out of the program and changed our therapy. Why aren't you telling me something I don't know yet?"
"A woman."
"She's truculent. Father, who is this?"
A pair of voices this time; both deep, one more than the other. By this time, Chloe had grown irritated with being interrupted and she fiercely scanned the room again to find the well-spoken culprits of such ill-manners. Literally uncovered, the sight of two naked men in a place of worship astounded her and Chloe cleared her throat, her back now facing the elder. "Father? Now the cross on his robe makes sense. But a criminally insane priest doesn't."
"Who are you and why the hell do you want to know who I am?"
If naked men were allowed to stand in the presence of a priest who appeared unamused, then nothing should shock him. Including foul language.
"I would watch that tongue, sweetheart." The one speaking came forward, a bald one wielding a machete-like object. Chloe's eyes grew, a stone of fear lodged in her throat as her arms crossed defensively. During her walk with the elder earlier, she thought up the idea to keep her fork hidden along her wrist secured by her ponytail holder, for hand-to-hand combat. But it was obviously no threat compared to his weapon of choice.
"Not now, brother. At least not in front of the priest." His ironically crew cut sporting partner spoke, stepping forward machete in hand as well to join his brother's side, the four of them now standing around the church alter. "I admire your brother's premise, the…equipment as well." She was teasing them now, her eyebrows raised provactively and her eyes glanced them over in an attempt to loosen the tense disposition that entered the air. The pair seemed to catch on throwing her rotten, toothless grins and Chloe could sense a psychopathic thrill of hunt about them. She had forgotten to consider the reactions she would receive in the event she encountered the male population but she figured most of them would convey the same elements: lust, blood, shock.
"Trust me, brother. This beautiful creature is safe."
"For now."
"I'm sorry. Please excuse their enthusiasm. It's been a while since they've been out, let alone seen a woman." The priest began but Chloe put her hand up to stop him. "No explanation necessary for that, Father." If she wanted to get the information she sought, she would play along by any means. "Nevertheless, I want to know who or what this Walrider is and what it has to do with me."
"Our Merciful God has been released to tear His gospel into the inhabitants of this asylum and spread its word. Many of those women died but did you know some of them actually achieved conception through the Morphogenic Engine? Yes…In His judgment, these women were deemed worthy to bear His offspring but unfortunately, they did not survive."
"Yet, here you are." Thing Two chimed in, waving his machete playfully. Thing One chuckled.
Chloe's eyes narrowed in their direction, a smug curve forming at the corner of her lips before she directed her attention to her first priority in conversation as he continued. "You, my girl, might be the key to unleashing our Creator."
"I only did that Engine shit once! I felt funny afterwards but nothing else happened. After that, they ceased the program so I can't be the 'key' to anything. Those women were probably exposed to the project much more…" Her voice trailing off, implying the explanation moot. "Regardless, who are you? A follower?"
"Much more, daughter. A prophet. It is my duty to inform the public."
"I see. And the naked Shining rejects here?" Chloe nodded in the Twins' direction.
"He let us out." Thing One replied, walking to Father's side. "Let's call it a sense of obligation. As he said, it has been a while."
Chloe's nod was apprehensive yet calm, her body angling to face the priest and one half of his sidekicks, the other standing adjacent to her with two pews providing a safety net between them. "Right. Well, thank you for answering my questions, Father. 'S been very informative but it is obvious this place has gone to shit, so why are you all still here?"
"As I said, my child, it is my duty to release the Walrider. Unleash Him upon a society in need of a new faith."
"And you plan to go about that in here, how?"
"So many questions, Father."
"Her lips demand attention."
"My sons, she asked a question. Don't be rude." Priest met her gaze with a reassuring simper. "In due time. There is still much work to be done. In the meantime, I urge you to seek His presence. Whether you want to believe it or not, you've been called. He's just waiting for you to answer."
The entire talk of an entity impregnating her coupled with the sight of ugly yet decently endowed gentleman left Chloe unbalanced and momentarily, her guard came down. She was sickened, disgusted, horny, enlightened by a killer motility. She received all the information she needed about the Walrider but the Priest never mentioned Billy Hope, something worth mentioning but not with the brothers around.
"So how do I answer?"
"You said you believed. He will find you, daughter."
With a final nod to the three gentleman, Chloe stepped out of the pew and prepared her way back to the entrance through which they came. "No, Father. I'll find him." There was silence again, the men watching her drift to the exit. Surprise struck them when she stopped at the door and faced them again. "By the way, handsome: every curve of my body demands attention. And by the look of that beautiful length of steel you possess, we share common interests."
Her male counterparts, piqued by her words but not yet committed, followed her trail up the aisle slowly stopping randomly in an effort to tease her back. She continued. "I'd greatly appreciate my own toy to play with, considering I believe I'm the last of my kind."
"She's right! My boys, there are mad men about. One of you, in the name of our Savior, sacrifice a weapon. That fork of hers won't do."
Both men laughed obnoxiously at her amateur stunt and Chloe began to feel like the runt attempting to keep up with the big dogs but it was important to keep a hardened image here; "Damsel in distress" wouldn't do. A soft and slow confident giggle escaped her lips before a hardened stare fell upon her person. "I wouldn't laugh. Your dear priest was damn near close to getting a four point jugular piercing." Their laughs fell silent at the fact, and an immediate tension rose.
Shut up, Clo. Stop talking, Clo.
"I'm sorry Father. You know you startled me."
The priest nodded imitating her hand movement from earlier. "It's alright, dear girl. Sons?"
Thing One and Thing Two obviously didn't appreciate her comment but their personal emotions didn't seem to affect their loyalty and after exchanging passing looks, Thing Two stepped forward handing her his machete. He said nothing, only turning to walk back to his brother. "Thanks. I'm sure you guys will find me again." With nothing left to say, Chloe grabbed the handle one last time and ran back towards the asylum, the door slamming behind her.
Father Martin closed his eyes, his face tilting to meet the ceiling of the church as the palms of his hands met. "All of my dedication is working. It's all for you, Merciful One…" He continued, his familiar hum heard faintly as he walked away slowly. The Twins stood patiently awaiting for the priest to completely leave before they spoke.
"Did you hear her, brother? Her body demands attention."
"You heard the priest. She must meet the Walrider before we kill her."
"But we can still give her a hard time."
"Yes. But first, I'm in need of a new blade."
Author's note:
Finally right? I'm actually proud of this chapter. Writer's block has been an issue.
We got Father Martin and Twins here now. ^.^ Looks like Chloe's making friends (pfftyeahright).
Hope to get another chapter up for you guys soon. And don't worry, I haven't forgotten Eddie and our favorite Jeremy Blaire. They are way overdue for an appearance.
As always, thank you for reading! 3
- FLCN