Alpha shifted uncomfortably with a snarl, the least they could do was set the table she was on horizontal for the night. They'd done it when they'd operated on her and she wanted to sleep damn it! With her arms spread and bound, most of her body weight wound up on her shoulders. If she ever fell asleep she quickly became dead weight and her shoulders objected to that situation…painfully. Huffing under her breath she shifted again, trying, fruitlessly, to find a comfortable position.
At her wits end, Alpha began to thrash against her restraints. Snarling and straining as much as she could. A sudden click from the table's base was the only warning she had. Her struggling having popped the locking mechanism, the table flipped. She was unable to suppress a pained groan as her head smacked into the concrete floor. Blearily taking in her surroundings, she was irritated to find she was still bound as tightly as before. The only difference was that she was hanging upside down and facing away from the door. Her blood rushed to her head causing the bruise she had just received to throb painfully.
Unable to do anything else with her fuming temper, she screamed in rage. The sound physically hurt her ears, reverberating around the small room in which she was confined. A sudden noise stopped her mid scream; someone was opening the door to her cell. Growling in frustration, she tried, and failed, to get a line of sight to the door. The man who had entered sidled up to the table. She heard him fumble with some latch on the base. There was a metallic click. The man grabbed the table by her feet and pushed her back into an upright position with a soft groan.
He turned and walked back out into lab proper, leaving the door to her cell open. She could hear him doing something out of her line of sight, glass or ceramic objects clinking together. As he walked back into her cell, two things occurred to Alpha simultaneously. This was Mathew Stone, the man who had taken her blood earlier, and he had something that smelled delicious with him.
The nervous human set the tray he was holding on a small counter built into the wall of her cell. "I know you aren't eating." Alpha growled softly, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You only hurt yourself by doing that." Her lips pulled back revealing her teeth. She was not his concern!
The man sighed, taking the cover off of the food he gestured to it. Despite herself, Alpha's mouth watered. Things she had never seen sat on a whitish plate, a large slab of brownish meat, green tubes that appeared to be some sort of plant, an off white paste. The man rubbed his eyes tiredly and pointed to each object in turn. "Steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes. This was supposed to be my dinner last night but…I didn't eat." He laughed to himself softly. "My wife would be livid if she knew I was giving you the meal she made me." Alpha raised an eyebrow, the word wife was familiar but she couldn't place the meaning.
"Alright, I'll share this with you on one condition." Alpha narrowed her eyes; she would not let some pathetic idiot take advantage of her. The man yawned, pawing at the bags under his eyes before continuing. "No biting the hand that feeds you." Alpha's head tilted to the side; did the human just make a joke?
The man stabbed several green beans with his fork and moved cautiously towards Alpha. She watched him, brow furrowed in confusion. Why was the human being kind? The man got within arms reach. Still unsure what to do, she stared uncertainly at the food on his fork. After several seconds the man seemed to deflate, with a sigh he turned away. He was halted when Alpha loosed a plaintive whine. Glancing over his shoulder, he was shocked to see dangerous experiment looking at him expectantly.
Cautious for sign of a trap, he approached again. The fork approached Alpha slowly almost fearfully. It stopped, inches from her mouth waiting for her to make the next move. Alpha's mouth opened and, with surprising tentativeness, she took a bite.
()
"I do apologize for my guard dogs, they are quite…overeager. What can you expect though; loosing your family can do that to a man." Ignoring what he was sure was a subtle verbal barb; Tony gritted his teeth and grabbed his rifle with renewed vigor. He didn't know how this bastard knew about Cynthia and he didn't care. When he found the fucking pansy artist, he'd fill him with holes.
Next to Tony, Sandy shivered unconsciously. Despite the situation, Tony felt a stab of pity for the girl. She was not trained for something like this, none of them were but that wasn't the point. She was little more then a child, thrown headfirst into a sea of madness and cruelty and expected to swim. He could clearly see the tears that threatened to fall, stubbornly lingering in her eyes. Despite her attempts to hide it, he could see how close she was to snapping. Idly he wondered if it was as obvious he was about to snap.
Sandy's gaze met his, for a split second Tony could see all the vulnerability, all the pain, all the guilt she normally hid. Her grey eyes disappeared behind their lids; taking a deep breath she opened them again. The tears still lingered but determination was clearly visible. She sent him a half smile and a shaky thumbs up. His heart broke a little. Why did someone so young have to be so strong?
"Be careful, Cohen isn't known for his hospitality." Tony's gaze shifted to Thompson as the soft spoken man chimed in. Tony hated to admit it, but the doctor looked bad. Even from meeting the man a few days ago, he appeared to have aged years. The destruction of his home clearly weighed down on the man. Tony could sympathize; nothing can prepare you for your world being destroyed. The man would either rally and be stronger for it, or he'd end it all. No one can help when your enemy is yourself. Tony had to admit he had a grudging respect for the man. He always tried to find a non-lethal way to end things. Despite all that had happened, he still tried to uphold his Hippocratic Oath.
"Believe me Doc, that much is readily apparent." David was the only member of their group Tony truly didn't know what to think of. The young man appeared to simply be a well meaning innocent who had been caught in the middle of all this. Still…with the Adam in his blood Tony was hesitant to trust the man. There was no telling what it was doing to him. He'd only seen him sleep once since meeting him, and he'd had horrible nightmares. How the man was still functioning after all this was beyond him. Tony was barely holding it together and he was fairly well rested.
With a soft hum, the experiment brushed against David, its hand lingering briefly on his. When the man barely reacted it bumped him gently with its shoulder, crooning questioningly. "I'm fine Sam just…just thinking." The experiment's brow furrowed in concern, whimpering softly it bumped him again. "Sam I'm fine!" The experiment recoiled, surprised by David's tone. As it did its unnatural gaze found Tony's inquisitive one. After a moment's pause it bared its teeth. Receiving the message, Tony turned away. He wasn't looking for an unnecessary fight.
They entered the central atrium of Fort Frolic. "I see his Quadtych didn't entertain him for long." Tony glanced when Jack had indicated. Several plaster covered corpses appeared to have been torn limb from limb, their bodies in various states of decay.
"Up the stairs, I remember your help with that failure of a project little moth. I trust you will be as helpful with my latest endeavor." The group cautiously headed up the steps. Before they could get more then halfway a crazed yell echoed around the atrium. With speed no human could match a Splicer leapt off of the second story. It grappled onto the side of the staircase its head popping over the banister. It paused seemingly studying the new arrivals to its domain.
It was like no Splicer Tony had ever seen. Rags hung in tatters across its body. Its skin was thick, leathery, and a mottled brownish grey. Its fingers were long and dexterous ending in barbed talons. Its face was dominated by a huge gash that extended from its left temple diagonally across its face. The gash moved slightly as the Splicer hissed, revealing jagged teeth. Its face was devoid of any other features, just visibly twisted flesh. Despite not having eyes the creature appeared to have no trouble maneuvering. "Cohen." Responding to Jack's voice, the creature turned to him with a hiss. "What have you done?"
"I am striving for perfection! Anything that isn't up to par gets cast aside."
Seemingly fed up with the strange creature studying it, the experiment darted forward raising its arm to hit the beast. Before it could be struck, the abomination let go of the wall. It fell the entire distance to the ground. An instant before it landed on its back, its arms and legs bent backwards unnaturally catching it before it could be injured. Limbs still bent at a disturbing angle, the creature scuttled down a side passage with a gurgling growl.
"Did…did that m-madman create that th-thing?"
Before any in their group could respond the speakers lining the area exploded with noise. "FUCKING DOUBTER! You dare to judge my work before you see it in its entirety! Mr. Harper, you try my patience."
Staring at the floor, Harper was obviously barely containing his terror. "S-sorry."
"Hurry to the flame, little moth." A door opened; inside the sound of children crying was audible.
"Amanda!" Not waiting for the others, Tony and Sandy sprinted into the room. The door closed behind them with a hiss.
()
"We know where they are! Let's fucking kill them!"
A loud smack echoed around Lamb's office as Leo backhanded Banes. The smaller man landed on his back his expression dazed. "No one asked your opinion cretin."
"Mr. Morrow, that is enough."
Leo's beady black eyes glared at Dr. Lamb. In response her icy blue ones narrowed, the only outward sign of her irritation, growling under his breath Leo relented. "As you wish…ma'am."
"Mr. Banes your obsession with vengeance is clouding your judgment. They are in the realm of Sander Cohen. Surely even a man of your…refinement has heard of him?"
With a low groan the Splicer stood to his feet, sending a glare towards the mountain of a man standing beside him. "So he's crazy? Everyone in this hellhole is!"
Leo raised his toaster sized fist to hit the Splicer again but halted when Lamb held up a hand. "Two years ago the Rapture Family attempted to bring Mr. Cohen into the fold. Unsurprisingly he didn't cooperate and so we resorted to using force. I sent over three hundred loyal members of the family into that man's lair, only Mr. Morrow returned."
Cracking his neck, Leo grimaced. "And barely at that."
"Chances are that Sander Cohen will kill them. The man is no threat to us unless roused to anger. I see no reason to start a war over this."
"He's one fucking guy! What the hell can he do?"
Leo glanced to Lamb for permission, when she nodded he spoke voice quiet. "That man has spent the years since the revolution…experimenting. There are things in that hellhole that scare even me. A rat like you wouldn't last five minutes."
()
The blood was warm as it dripped down her throat, the flesh that housed it giving way underneath her teeth. Pulling her head back she tore a chunk free. The feeling of it sliding down her throat was pleasant, the slight warmth soothing to her irritated esophagus. Smiling, Alpha licked her lips clean of the excess blood, savoring the metallic taste.
"I take it you've never had streak before?" Glowing eyes landing on the source of her food, Alpha shook her head. "Well at least we know you like it now." Already ignoring the human, Alpha hummed contentedly to herself, her belly pleasantly full.
"Can you talk? Do you just choose not to?" Meeting the human's watery blue eyes with her own, Alpha shook her head. Opening her mouth, she showed the inquisitive human. A dry rasping noise was the result.
"I'm sorry." Alpha was surprised, the man seemed genuinely sad about that fact.
"Alright…next question. Were you born like this?" Alpha shook her head. This human was confusing. He could have taken advantage of her, but he hadn't. He could have hurt her, but he didn't. She had never seen someone in a position of power not take advantage of it. He was being…kind.
The man opened his mouth to continue but stopped and glanced at his watch. He grimaced to himself before standing. "I'm sorry but the others will get here soon, I need to get the lab ready." He yawned expansively, a hand absently swiping across his receding hair line. "I'll bring more food for you tomorrow morning. We can continue our talk then."
Bemused, she watched the human go. As much as she hated to admit it, she was conflicted. The sounds of others in the main lab brought her out of her brief self analysis. Despite how tempted she was to eat food like that again, she was leaving. Eyes narrowed in concentration, she glared at the manacle restraining her right arm.
With a barely audible click, it popped open.
()
"Cohen! Let them go!"
Unnatural laughter echoed around the area. "They flew to close to the flame little moth. Now that I have leverage, allow me to make my demands." Jack opened his mouth to object. "Ah ah ah little moth, if I hear so much as a peep one of the children dies. He paused for several seconds, when Jack stayed silent he continued. "Good. The entire time I have stayed here I have been doing one thing, striving for perfection."
"That thing was your attempt at perfection?"
"I would refrain from interrupting me again Mr. Kristoff; your friends can ill afford it." Knowing the 'artist' could see him, David nodded his head. "Good, now…where was I? Ah yes…perfection. The entire time I have stayed here I have been doing one thing, striving for perfection. Imagine my surprise when I discover that perfection has already found its way into the Rapture mausoleum. You will find this perfection, and bring it here."
"What 'perfection'? What are you talking about?"
"You don't know it little moth? Your large oafish colleague flushed it out an airlock."
()
Vigilant for signs of pursuit, Banes slunk into the Persephone Medical Facility. The Spliced up nurse at the reception desk didn't even spare him a glance as he walked past her. There was something here that the walking mountain didn't want him to see, and if he didn't want Banes to see it, it could be used against him. A deformed doctor stalked past him, rambling about how filthy everything was.
In a room down the hall, some unfortunate bastard screamed in agony. As he passed a darkened room something slammed into the window. Jumping in surprise, he spun around. He was greeted by a screaming man in a straitjacket, his lipless mouth spewing blood and puss as he bashed his head against that glass. A faint hissing noise was barely audible as some sort of gas was vented into the psycho's room, seconds later he collapsed to the ground unmoving.
Slightly unnerved, Banes continued deeper in to the complex. He'd always hated hospitals, the sterile white décor and generally emotionless staff always made him feel as if he was in a morgue. The light flickered in a room to his right, illuminating its blood drenched interior. Above the operating table a huge circular saw dripped a dark liquid.
Walking away from the blood drenched room; Banes did his best to act like he was supposed to be here. Rounding a corner his heart leapt into his throat. A familiar mammoth silhouette had its back to him, talking softly with what appeared to be a semi-sane doctor Splicer. Stifling a yelp, Banes ducked back around the corner…
…and found himself face to face with a Splicer wearing a surgical mask. A fresh red stain had formed where his mouth was, as Banes watched it spread slowly. "What are you doing out of your room?"
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
The Splicer narrowed its eyes. "You are supposed to be in your room! Patients aren't allowed to roam the halls!"
"I'm not a patient you brain dead fucker!"
The Splicer's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Nurse! Patient out of bed! Help me restrain him!" Growling behind his mask, the 'doctor' lunged at Banes. Before he could react to the sudden attack, a gun sounded inches from his ear. The doctor's head snapped backwards as his right eye became a bloody crater.
"Fucking hell!" Clasping a hand over his ringing ear, Banes spun around. He found himself staring into the chest of the man standing behind him.
"What, might I ask, are you doing here Banes? Did I not make myself clear the last time?" Despite the calm almost deadpan manner in which he spoke, Leo's eyes were nothing short of murderous.
"I-I wasn't doing anything."
Humming in the back of his throat Leo raised an eyebrow, calmly readying his magnum. "In that case I'll just execute you."
"N-no! I was…I was looking for Adam to steal!" Banes closed his eyes, holding his hands desperately in between himself and the potential bullet.
"Uh-huh…I'd recommend leaving if I were you. The Queen Bee doesn't take kindly to people stealing from the Family."
Nodding franticly, Banes backed away from the mountain of a man. Once he reached the nearest intersection, he spun and ran as fast as he could from the hospital. Finding himself a small alcove in which to hide, Banes took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself.
Hands still jittery from nerves, he thought back to what he had seen in the brief moment he had seen Leo and the doctor talking. The patient's name on the sign above the door had stood out…Martha Morrow. Despite himself, Banes smiled. It appeared he had found himself just what he had been looking for, leverage against the massive Mr. Morrow.
()
The soft-one screamed inside her suit as she was crushed under its larger bulk. Her blood was sweet and filled with kindness. Children looking up at her, laughing as she sang to them.
The metal-one struggled but was overwhelmed. Its blood was thick and filled with love. Metal arm spinning as it roared and protected the little-one.
The steel-bubble gave away under its assault. The blood of the ones inside was starved and filled with desperation. Squabbling amongst themselves as blades dug into flesh next to the body of the little-one.
The broken-one's screaming ended as its head was ripped from its shoulders. Its blood was diseased and filled with rage. Screaming as it saw its child-bond fall to the ground. Screaming as it tore her killers apart. Screaming as it ran through the city. Screaming because the only alternative was to cry.
The little-one stared uncomprehendingly at its face as it killed her. Her blood was rich and filled with energy. Daddy falling to the ground as she watched. Smiling as it lifted her. Blank yellow eyes meeting hers as it opened its mouth.
Sorry about that wait, I've had an increadibly busy month. Updates should be more regularly from now on.
As always please review.