Into the Dawn - Chapter Eight
Miles stepped into the vacant room and let the heavy door swing shut of its own accord, sliding the card key back into his pocket and breathing a sigh. The walk back had been surprisingly difficult, as every step he took away from Phoenix made him feel more and more hopeless. His logic was at odds with his emotion, as was often the case with reason-minded people, but this situation was making it even harder to avoid acting on blind instinct.
So far, he had only formulated one plan of escape, and it was honestly much too obvious to possibly work. Nevertheless, he moved to the kitchen counter where his phone still lay and unlocked it. Though he had told himself this was futile, he still felt the weight of disappointment when he saw that he had no signal, nor was he able to detect any WiFi or satellite connections. The Imperialists would have been fools had they not planned a way to scramble such attempts to contact the outside world, really, but the prosecutor would have been a fool himself not to at least check the option.
The device had become useless, so Miles put it back down and turned away from it, staring around the room at a loss for what to do. The fatigue was really starting to catch up with him at such a late hour and after such a trying ordeal. His brain needed sleep, but whether he could or should sleep were different matters entirely. The more he attempted to reason out what the best course of action might be, the more scattered and disconnected his thoughts became. In the end, he moved to the bed to lie down for a while, resigning himself to just a few hours of rest.
He closed his eyes, somewhat expecting that his wildly racing thoughts would keep him awake no matter how tired he was - a common problem he had - but when he reopened them, the alarm clock on the nightstand told him it was ten in the morning. He didn't recall drifting off or even having a dream, nor did he know what had awakened him, but he quickly sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
It was daytime, which meant all of the vampires would be resting, even their captors. If there was a way out, daylight would be the best ally they had, but first Miles desperately needed to take some time to freshen up. It may have seemed trivial to some, but he always found he could focus and think much more clearly when he didn't feel disgusting. Besides, it was an opportunity to finally change without the constant worry of someone invading his privacy.
Miles filled the coffee maker with water and then put a teabag in the pot, a quick way to brew tea in lieu of the proper equipment. He turned the machine on and then went into the bathroom to strip off the tight leather outfit stained with blood and sweat, feeling a rush of relief once he stood under the spray of a hot shower. He decided to take his time washing and grooming, and by the time he was dressed and his hair was combed, he felt mostly awake. He stood for a few moments in front of the mirror, peering at himself in his court suit and letting the familiar sight draw his confidence out of hiding.
He was High Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, seeker of truth and bane of the corrupt! He would not die here, helpless and cowering like a frightened child!
After this brief self-affirmation ritual, he exited the bathroom and poured himself tea, the last thing he needed to get himself as ready as he possibly could be in his current situation. A meal would have been helpful, but he seriously doubted plans had been made to feed the captives during what little time they had left. He downed two mugs then faced the door. He still had absolutely no idea what he could possibly do to improve his and Phoenix's chances of survival, but his hope was that an opportunity would present itself; he just needed to ensure he was alert and ready to take advantage when and if it did.
Well, he wasn't going to find a way out while cooped up in this room, so he left it, striding down the hallway toward the people still gathered, pulling his shroud of confident self-assurance tightly around himself. Several of them looked up as he approached, giving him strange glances. He was aware how delusional - or perhaps even insane - he looked, but he didn't care. Quailing in Death's shadow was not going to help him escape it, and maybe if he could get some of these people to understand that, a group effort could bring them a better chance of success.
He stepped around the partially-dismembered corpse that still lay on a mat of dried blood near the bars and came to stand at the center of the group, drawing the eyes of everyone save the nearly catatonic woman. "Why is it none of you have returned to your rooms?" he asked, astonished at how clear and controlled his voice came out, as he'd not spoken since his emotional departure from Phoenix's side. He decided to pretend he was standing in court where he always felt most confident, and not even the bewildered stares he was getting managed to shake that steadiness.
A few people glanced around at one another, and he assumed they were trying to decide whether or not to even acknowledge this lunatic who had just strutted out here in a fancy suit like he owned the place. At last, it was the Italian woman he'd spoken with the previous night that took the initiative. "None of us have our room keys, and we cannot risk going down below to retrieve them."
"Why not?" Miles prompted, folding his arms across his chest and absently tapping an index finger against his bicep.
The woman looked at him incredulously. "Surely those being held prisoner are being guarded! You went down there last night; were there not Imperialists about?"
Miles gave her a curt nod. "There were indeed, and that was before sunrise. However, here I stand, unharmed."
An older-looking man off to his left laughed derisively. "Arrogant, aren't you, kid? Just 'cause you walked in and out of there once don't make you or anyone else here untouchable. It was a fluke!"
Miles turned his upper body slightly to fix the speaker with a cool gaze. "Very astute, sir, but might I inquire as to what exactly you believe will happen to us should we merely sit here idly and wait?" His words had the desired effect, causing the man's eyes to widen a little and his mouth to stay shut. in addition, everyone else was watching him with a little more interest and a little less condescension. He straightened up and swept his gaze over the gathered group, meeting the eyes of each individual before he spoke. "We are all on death row, and given the secretive nature of this entire affair, it is likely that no one is coming to rescue us. Therefore, I pose this question to each of you: what do any of us have to lose by fighting back?"
A heavy silence fell over the group for several long seconds during which Miles only waited for the sake of making a point. However, one young man who probably had not even reached the age of twenty did eventually speak up. "How do you know they're going to kill all of us? I mean... they could've easily already done it, right? They're keeping us alive for a reason." A few people murmured tentative agreement, but they fell silent when Miles spoke.
"I cannot say for certain their specific intentions for each of you, but I was told quite plainly what they intend to do to me. Their plan is to torture and eventually kill me while filming the event, a recording which they will make available for the world to see. I am, of course, not the only person they will do this to; their scheme is - in fact - quite grandiose. The logical conclusion is that many of you face the same fate, and those who do not are most likely here as a convenient food source. If you believe these savages intend to release any of us, you are hopelessly naive."
Another silence followed, but this time it went unbroken. The atmosphere of hopeless dread was almost tangible, but Miles now knew they would take him seriously.
"Each of you accompanied a vampire here Friday night, a vampire you apparently trust. Regardless of the nature of that relationship, it has made you feel weak and insignificant by comparison. The same is true for myself. We have fallen into the trap of considering ourselves to be 'merely' human, as they instinctively view us. However, I ask each of you to remember yourselves, remember the spirit and iron will that has allowed our species to survive against all odds for tens of thousands of years. Yes, the odds are heavily stacked against us and we may all die here, but what chance do we have of beating those odds if we sit around wallowing in terror and despair?"
All eyes were fixed on him by this point, looking to the one person who had found the courage to take charge. He knew now that many of these people were likely several centuries old, but they were now being drawn out of their meek surrender by the strength of this one twenty-eight-year-old who had only become aware of this hidden world six months prior.
"Those of you who intend to survive this, find your courage and do so posthaste, for the remainder of this day could very well be the only chance we have."
As he looked to each of the gathered people, many of them began to stand up. Miles was glad to see that his words had reached them, that he would not be alone in his attempt at resistance. Not all decided to pick themselves up off the floor, but he disregarded them. If they wished to sit and wait for Death to claim them, they were free to do so. Miles met the gaze of each man and woman who had stood and spoke to them all. "I arrived here with a weapon," he informed them. "It was given to me by my companion as a means of self-defense against his kind. Unfortunately, it is now out of my reach, but I wonder if I was not the only one who arrived armed."
There was a pause, and then three people stepped forward: two women and a man. None of them had quite found their voices yet, but Miles understood their signal and nodded. "I assume your weapons are currently back in your rooms. In that case, each of you will need to retrieve your card key. If your companion is a Humanist held captive as mine is, you will need to venture below and locate them. Do this one at a time, and while you are down there, make no sudden sounds or movements. You know that I cannot guarantee your survival, but you are also aware of what is at stake."
None of the three looked particularly thrilled, but each nodded. "I'll go first," one of the women volunteered, her voice shaking but her expression one of determination.
"Very well. I wish each of you luck." Miles watched the three of them move off toward the door that led into the sub-basement, then turned to look at those who remained: five people, to be exact. "I need scouts." They all gave him a strange look. "As in, those who can investigate the area available to us in search of anything useful, be it impromptu weapons or even potential escape routes. Two of you will be sufficient, one to go in either direction down this hallway. Any more and we are more likely to attract attention."
The older man who had challenged him briefly stepped forward. "I was once a prospector. I'd like to think I'm observant."
The next to step forward was a woman who Miles was sure could physically overpower him without too much effort. She had been one of the few that hadn't lost their composure at the sight of that man's gruesome death the night before. "Ex-military. I spent a total of eight years in the Middle East. If we've got makeshift weapons here, I'll find them."
Miles nodded. "Good. If you believe yourselves capable, then go. Be cautious but thorough, and report back anything you find. I don't suggest attempting to take any potential escape routes alone, as they could very well be guarded."
When he finished speaking, the two designated as scouts parted to head in opposite directions. The three people that were left standing watched him, wondering if he had anymore assignments to hand out. "We must wait for the time being," he informed them. "Once we have a better handle on our situation and the tools at our disposal, we can begin formulating a plan." Upon hearing this, two of the remaining people went to sit down, and the one that did not was the Italian woman. Instead, she approached him.
"I am impressed," she told him, combing her fingers through thick black curls as she spoke. "For one so young, you show great strength."
Miles bowed his head in a graceful acceptance of the compliment. "I have come to realize that it is easier to find the strength to fight when you know what it is you are fighting for and it is important enough. This is not the first time I had to realize that weakness on my part would mean death."
The woman studied him through eyes that had surely seen many more years than her appearance would suggest. "Ah, but I can see that it is not only yourself for whom you fight, as evidenced by your heedless rush to get downstairs last night. Tell me... what did you find down there?"
Miles let his arms drop to his sides. "A storeroom that is being used as a prison. There are several vampires, including my companion, who are being held with silver chains. I attempted to remove them, but I was unable."
She gave a slow nod. "And... by any chance... did you happen to see Chief Councilor Anaija among the captives?" The hopeful look in her eyes told Miles that this was the identity of the Mistress she had mentioned during their first conversation.
He shook his head. "I apologize, but I did not investigate thoroughly. I only looked closely enough to recognize my companion."
She cocked her head, a curious expression coming over her. "I find it strange that you do not refer to this man as your Master."
Miles folded his arms again and shut his eyes, tilting his chin down slightly. "Phoenix Wright is my friend and... recently... he has... become my lover, but he does not claim to own me and I do not think of myself as his possession. Thus, I consider the term 'Master' inappropriate when describing his relation to me."
"Hmm..." she hummed contemplatively, taking a pause before speaking. "So, then, I presume you do not intend to bond with him?"
Miles opened his eyes to meet her gaze. "I know very little about this 'bond' I keep hearing mentioned. Until that changes, I can make no decisions about that." He hesitated then, inwardly debating whether or not to ask. There was still time to kill, so he chose to go for it. "If I might be so bold, would you perhaps care to enlighten me?"
She smiled at him and then motioned to a nearby wall. "Come sit, if you are not too concerned about dirtying your suit," she invited.
He felt a wry half-smirk curve his lips. "I... expect this suit will be drenched in somebody's blood before the day is done. I can't be too concerned with a little dirt." He walked with her and the two of them sat down to face one another, both folding their legs before themselves.
"The bond can be simple or complex, depending on how much you wish to think about it," she began, pushing her unkempt hair behind her shoulders. "It is a bond of blood, but in truth, it binds you in mind, body, and soul."
The traditional concept of a 'soul' was not something Miles believed in, but he did not interrupt her explanation of this phenomenon.
"For the bond to work, a human must, of their own free will, submit themselves to it. For instance, if false feelings of love or trust are created through hypnosis, the bond will fail. You must understand and completely accept that you are giving yourself entirely to your Master. The bonding ritual itself involves specific words and the exchange of blood, but it is so much more than either. No human relationship, no matter how deep or strong, can rival the connection that is formed. Even the words are only a representation and must be backed by true intention to have any effect."
Her words and her tone of voice conveyed well the weight of the topic about which she was informing him. "I see... And... what is the consequence of this bond?" He folded his hands in his lap, leaning forward ever so slightly in an attentive posture.
"As I mentioned before, it grants the human participant the eternal youth vampires possess, granted they continue to drink a sufficient amount of their Master's blood every four to six weeks. That blood will also grant the human some of the vampire's physical prowess and heightened senses, though not to as great a degree. The most notable of these are increased endurance and regenerative ability, which - as you can imagine - is also an advantage to the vampire, who no longer has to restrain themselves quite as much. These benefits are what make the bond attractive to many people, but you must also understand one very important fact: the bond is complete surrender."
Miles drew his lower lip in slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Once bonded to a vampire, you become theirs. Every part of your being and who you are becomes theirs as well. They will always know exactly where you are and how you are feeling, even what type of thoughts are going through your head in a vague sense. They can impose their will upon you without the use of hypnosis and even from a distance, making their desires your desires. You will find that defying the wishes of your Master is impossible, and should you try, even physically painful. The bond is also permanent. The only way out is death, and while a vampire can choose to kill their human at any time without consequence... Well, you can see what usually becomes of humans who lose their Master." She indicated the catatonic woman with a gesture. "Those who lose their Master after only a few years of being bonded can recover, but it is still a devastating experience, like having part of your soul ripped asunder, as I hear it told."
Miles let out a long breath and leaned back a little, staring up at the ceiling as he worked to process all she had told him, tried to figure out how such a thing could possibly exist. As a man of science, he knew that even something so powerful and romanticized as love could actually be explained in technical terms, a fact most people would vehemently deny and dispute no matter the evidence put before them. However, this... this was on another level entirely and had to go far beyond what they could currently understand and explain. He supposed trying to make logical sense of it was futile, as he still had not figured out how vampires were scientifically possible. That would have to be left to the experts. He'd read about it after they solved the mystery, if he lived that long.
"It is a lot to take in, I know." The woman sitting across from him drew him out of his thoughts and he returned his gaze to her face. "It is not an arrangement anyone should enter into lightly, even if you feel strongly enough for the bond to technically work. After all, it requires no specific intention on the vampire's part, only that he or she accepts. There are many cases of vampires earning the unconditional trust of a human, and then becoming cruel and abusive once the bond is complete. There are no laws in their society that forbid such a practice, as the laws of vampires have never been meant to protect humans. There are other drawbacks as well, the main one being one that those who are turned face as well: you become a part of their hidden society and must leave behind the life you once knew. After all, people would notice if you never aged."
Miles nodded to show his understanding, but a thought quickly came to him. "That particular drawback seems to be on the verge of becoming irrelevant, however. If vampires can soon step into the public view, so can those humans who share their trait of not aging."
It was her turn to nod. "True. However, that will create a new downside. A human who does not age but stays in contact with friends and family will have to watch everyone they have ever known and loved grow old and die, save their Master, of course. It is a trade-off, yes, but I'm sure the alternative has not escaped your notice. If you choose not to bond, you yourself will grow old and die while the one you love watches, forever young."
Miles slid the fingers of his right hand up his left arm to grip his elbow, turning his face away and down as he considered the true depth of the mire in which he now found himself. He saw exactly what she meant by the bond being either simple or complex depending on how much consideration it was given. On the surface, it was a way to spend eternity with someone you loved and trusted unconditionally in a relationship stronger than any human couple could possible attain. However, there was so much more to it, so many more things to consider and sacrifices to be weighed. Miles already knew that he cared enough about Phoenix that he would have to make that decision soon... if they survived this, of course.
"Let us focus on finding a way out of here first." Again, she brought him back to the here-and-now by speaking. "You have made yourself the unofficial commander of this little militia, so we need your attention here if we are to succeed."
Miles drew in a deep breath to fill his lungs entirely, then expelled it along with his musings over a decision that would be made in a future that was more uncertain than usual. "I thank you for telling me all of this, and if we make it out of here, I will consider all you have told me. However, you are correct. We are faced with a much more immediate problem and I must focus." With that said, he began to push himself back to his feet and look around to check the status of his 'militia.'
Forever would have to wait, as it all could end tonight.