Chapter 3
Accompanied by small talk, Alice and Colonel Cullen lead Edward around the lobby. They explain the iron memorial by the elevator, dedicated to Lilim Division personnel killed in service, and the large image at the front of lobby, the Latin translation of, "IN TENEBRAS, AC TENEBRAS." "In Darkness, From Darkness."
The hallway behind the mystifying fractal wall is dingy and grey, out of place compared to the futuristic compound and beautiful lobby.
"The hallways tend to get messy," Alice says to Edward's unspoken question.
After a brief walk, Edward finds himself in a lusciously decorated conference room. Crimson upholstery accents the textured, bluish-gray walls. An oblong, cherry-oak conference table commands the center of the room. Two large monitors hang along the wall.
"Impressive," Edward says.
Colonel Cullen flashes a quick smile at the compliment. He motions for Edward to sit. Alice retrieves a thick binder from a cabinet in the corner before joining the men at the table. The three of them congregate towards the side farthest from the screens, the Colonel sitting between Alice and Edward.
"Well," Colonel Cullen awkwardly begins, "we are glad you made it out here, Captain. We know it's late, so I'll let Adele take over."
"Captain Masen," Alice begins, "you have been selected to serve with the Lilim Division. However," she pauses, "your acceptance carries with it a massive life change."
A little heavy, Edward thinks. Every new assignment is a huge adjustment. New location, new people.
Alice continues. "The Lilim Division is a covert organization that answers directly to the Secretary of Defense. It came into existence after World War II and serves to maintain national defense from specified enemies." It sounds rehearsed.
"Aliens?" Edward guesses with a straight face. There is no reaction. With an awkward shift in his seat, Edward apologizes.
"Your selection," Alice says, "was the culmination of a specialized search for a new team leader." She removes a tablet from the inside cover of the binder and begins to review it. "You have been investigated and approved for Top Secret clearance of an unacknowledged, special access program. We have completed a full psychological assessment through direct observation and interviewing your previous commanders, co-workers, friends, etc." She slides the tablet across the table.
Edward says nothing. He takes the tablet in his hand and stares at it. Childhood photos. Official photos. Blood type. Political affiliation. Single. No dependents. Immediate family—deceased. Elementary school grades. Middle school grades. High school. College. He clenches his jaw. Sliding one finger along the smooth glass reveals more of his life. Professors. Ex-girlfriends. Soldiers he led. All of them. Their names. Their statements. He sets the tablet down and stares at it.
The Colonel reaches over and passes the tablet to Alice. "Your acceptance, Captain Masen, will change the way you view the world. What we do, what you can do, it keeps not just America safe, but the whole of humanity." He speaks clearly, blue eyes trained sympathetically on the young Captain. "I have a few questions."
Biting the inside of his lip, his eyes narrow at Colonel Cullen. A rage turns in his chest, waiting to crack. This Lilim Division thinks very highly of itself. The amount of information they have on him feels impossibly intrusive. He wants to scream.
"Go ahead, sir."
"Why did you get a C in Calculus your sophomore year of college?" The Colonel's questions are frustratingly mundane with no linearity as he flips back and forth between the information on the tablet. He doesn't look up as Edward's answers. College, to girlfriends, to military, to college, to military, to high school. It's rote. Simplistic. Pointless.
Stop wasting my time, Edward thinks as he explains what happened to his first car.
The Colonel looks up, suddenly serious with a look that pierces.
"Tell me about your parents."
The growing fury within Edward grazes the back of his throat. His entire body warms.
"What about my parents?
"Your father passed when you were twelve." The statement hangs, looking for details.
"In a car crash," Edward says, fighting to keep his composure. "Hit by a drunk."
"And your mother?" Colonel Cullen returns his attention to the tablet.
"Died the following year."
The Colonel says nothing. Waiting.
Edward rolls his tongue against the inside of his cheek.
"Suicide. Then I went to live with my grandmother who died when I was seventeen." He speaks quickly.
"And?"
Edward's entire body clenches. Fuck this. Fuck him. Closing his eyes, he exhales. His head tilts up. Professional.
"My mom left me for him," he says, resignation in his voice. He looks at the ceiling. "That's all I want to say."
The Colonel continues flipping through the tablet as if Edward isn't there. After several silent, festering moments he slides the tablet away from him.
"Do you have any questions?" he asks, casually.
Edward drops his head, boring his eyes straight at Alice. "Who are you?"
"You can call me, Adele." Alice replies.
"No," Edward says, his voice rising. "I want to know who you are."
"At this moment, sir, I cannot tell you that."
"Sergeant."
"I understand your frustration—"
"This is bullshit," Edward says, cutting her off. "You have selected me by placing my entire life on a hard drive for some group that is so self-aware of how non-existent it is, it admits it. If it wasn't for the fancy elevator and lobby I would think this was all a prank. Now, I know your name isn't Adele, Sergeant. So tell me who you are or I will walk back out that fancy lobby and you can go back to square zero."
Alice's face is expressionless as Edward sits back in his chair.
"At this time, Captain Masen," she says, "You can call me, Adele."
Edward shoots out of his seat.
"Hold on, Captain," the Colonel says. "Stop."
The superior officer's calm tone catches Edward off guard. It's measured and practiced as though he has seen this identical situation play out numerous times before. Despite the overwhelming desire to storm out, Edward's responsibilities as a soldier force him to keep from leaving at the Colonel's statement.
"Agent Adele is a code name, required of the Sergeant by myself and the other leadership," Colonel Cullen says. "If you care to listen, and if she cares to share, she can tell you what she wants."
Wrestling with a mixture of dissipating rage, curiosity, and duty, Edward taps the table. Avoiding the gaze of the other two, he finds his attention drawn to the binder. The faded cover reads, "Initial Briefing – Book 1 of 35," with the "35" handwritten. Numerous lower numbers are scribbled out beside it, signifying its continual expansion. Below that reads, in bright red lettering, "Top Secret – To be opened by new Team Leaders upon acceptance." As curiosity wins out, he sits.
After a moment of Alice staring at him, Edward clears his throat. "Please, Sergeant, tell me about yourself."
Alice glances at the Colonel, who nods a final approval. "Captain Masen," she speaks deliberately, "My name is Alice Brandon. I am a sergeant with the United States Army. I serve with Gamma Team of the Lilim Division as their intelligence specialist."
"And," the Colonel quickly adds, "Adele is the individual who selected you for this assignment."
"Why Adele?" Edward asks the question, impulsively.
"A majority of Lilim Division members receive code names based on their… talents."
"Unfortunately," Colonel Cullen says, "That's as much information as you can receive at this moment."
"Sir," Alice says, leaning forward as empathy takes over, "We get it. It's kinda terrifying to realize how much we know about you. And your acceptance will lead to more terrifying things that you never knew about. Things you never believed."
"That binder," Colonel Cullen says, "Will be provided to you if you accept the position of Team Leader for Gamma Team."
"I don't get a sneak peek?" Edward feigns disappointment, his anger lingering.
Alice smiles. "We bring it out as a prop."
It works, he thinks. Edward addresses the Colonel. "How long do I have to decide?"
"Forty-eight hours from when you get back in the elevator." Colonel Cullen leans back in his seat. "But, this honor comes at a cost. Accepting this position means that you will no longer exist, just as we do not exist. If you return, all records of your existence will be wiped within twelve hours. Your current command will be informed of your transfer and it will end."
Edward nods at the explanation. With no family and few friends, he can disappear in a day and the world would be unlikely to remember him. The realization brings with it a pang of disappointment about his life.
"You may not exist, Captain Masen," Alice says, encouragement in her voice, "but you will be doing some impossible—"
A muffled thud, followed by a low rumble fills the room. The conversation stops as the three of them listen. Another thud.
Colonel Cullen looks at Alice. She shakes her head.
Thud. Louder now. An animalistic roar comes through the walls.
"Unbelievable," the Colonel says, standing. He swiftly moves into the hall.
"I don't know anything about this, sir." Alice says, following after him.
Edward watches them exit, leaving him alone with the binder. He gazes upon it a moment, the stained, white cover overstuffed with things they say he won't believe. It would be so easy.
Another, much louder thud.
He leaves the binder in the conference room and moves into the hall.
Alice and Colonel Cullen stand in the hallway, arms crossed, watching a double door at the other end. Edward moves in, stopping a step behind them.
"Sir," Alice says to the Colonel, her gaze never leaving the end of the hall, "They knew an entry brief was occurring tonight."
The Colonel says nothing. Edward steps between the two of them. Catching the Captain's movement at his periphery, Colonel Cullen leans forward to better see Alice.
"Adele. You're positive on him?"
Edward avoids acknowledging the conversation he knows is about him. Another bang. Indecipherable screams. He realizes Adele, Alice, is watching him. Their eyes meet, hers bright, deep and searching. An assured smile crosses her face.
"Yessir."
The squeal of cracking metal fills the hall as the doors warp from another impact, recapturing the attention of the three. Colonel Cullen releases an annoyed sigh.
Finding himself emboldened by Alice's confidence, he steps away from the two of them towards the cacophony. Alice brings a hand to her mouth, biting her thumb with an eager smile. Colonel Cullen, bemused, slides his hands into his pockets.
Bang and crack.
Edward steps.
Roar and clangs.
Edward steps.
Silence.
Edward stops, the sudden aural stillness unnerving to him. His heart pounds in his chest. He fights to keep stoic.
The doors fling open, the metal frames cracking from the cinder walls, a deafening thunder of noise surrounding them. Edward instinctively lunges back, the sound and surprise shaking the breath from his body.
From the darkness revealed by the now shattered doors, a grizzly bear lumbers forward. It's thick, jet-black fur shines under the florescent lights above. Its massive jaws are clamped around the neck and shoulder of a shirtless Emmett. Thick, scarlet sheets of blood stream down his torso as his body drags under the beast. With a curved sword in his hand, Emmett strikes the bear's shoulders with the blade, unable to gain leverage.
Edward, watching the scene in awe, catches the bear's eyes. The animal stops its run feet from the Captain. A low, terrifying growl emanates from the beast, accompanied by Emmett's weak grunts of defense. With a sudden, vicious shake of its head, the bear flings the blood-covered man against the wall. Emmett's body distorts as splatters of blood cover the dirty paint before he crumples grotesquely on the floor.
The sword clangs away from the body, coming to a rest behind the bear. It roars at Edward and takes a step towards the visibly shaken Captain. Another step. Edward reacts by shifting away. The bear adjusts its weight and stands on its back legs, its eyes never leaving Edward. Another roar.
Edward unleashes a quick exhale and moves without thinking. Rushing to the animal, he delivers a stiff kick to the bear's exposed gut. As the animal falls forward, Edward turns his body from underneath it and lands backwards into the pool of blood filling the hallway. The momentum slides him toward to the blade, the thick red liquid covering his dress uniform. The bear turns. Edward takes the blade in hand and rolls along the tile. With all his strength, he flings the sword at the creature.
A quick whimper followed by a pain-filled roar. Edward breathes.
"Jacob!" Alice's shout fills the Captain's ears. Its echo is drowned out by the animal's cries. It jerks it head towards the sword planted deep in its side. It rolls, attempting to claw at the handle. The black fur shimmers as the bear's mass contorts and shifts.
Through the daze of adrenaline, Edward watches the creature. Its body throbs. Alice appears behind its mass and gingerly, methodically, pulls the blood-covered blade from the beast's side. She places a tender hand on its head. More contortions. The bear begins to shrink.
The hell? Edward thinks as the lifeless body next to him shifts.
Emmett lets out a deep groan as he crawls to his feet. His eyes are black coals with no visible whiteness. He wipes a hand across his chest, leaving a trail as he flings the blood off his skin. The gaping wound of the bear's bite is gone.
"Hold on," Emmett says.
No, Edward thinks, the word repeating in his head.
Emmett places both hands on the now small creature. Its legs have grown and claws disappear. Disbelief fills Edward's mind as the deep, black fur thins to reveal dark, human flesh. He shifts his body away from the scene, sliding against the bloody floor.
"You okay?" He hears Alice ask the naked Jacob sitting where the bear lay a moment before. Jacob nods. The wound in his side has disappeared, healed.
"Didn't think I would need to do that," Emmett says, to which the naked Jacob smiles.
Desperate awe covers Edward's face. No fucking way, he thinks.
Emmett, who Edward watched get mauled and bashed against a wall by a bear, who was now a fully-healed Jacob, stands above Edward with an outstretched hand. Edward looks into Emmett's face, thick blackness covering the entirety of the shirtless survivor's eyes, in disbelief.
"Impressive, Captain," Emmett says through a stern face, looking down at Edward.
A moment passes as Edward tries to gather some understanding of whatever just happened. Failing, his breathing accelerates as he takes Emmett's hand.
"Typically, new team lead—" Emmett doesn't get a chance to finish the statement. Edward cracks him with a right hook across the jaw as soon as he reaches his feet.