Strangers

I sat quietly in my cell picking at my nails with one of the screws I had pulled from the door hinges. I was surrounded by nothing but black, but I had been in solitary confinement for three months, so I was used to it. I heard soft footsteps in the hallway and watched as a shadow passed my door. The guards were making the nightly parole. Ten minutes later another shadow passed my door; the second guard. In another ten minutes another guard would pass by and that would be it for my level. I sprang to my feet and moved quietly to the door. I crouched down and pulled the last two remaining screws from the bottom hinge in the door. I put my hands up in defense expected the door to fall out. It didn’t…I took a closer look and noticed that the door was pretty much rusted in place. I heard footsteps in the hall…

Time to improvise…

I moved back against the wall adjacent the door and waited. This had to be timed right. When I was sure the footsteps were close enough, I charged the door. Hitting it full force, it came loose from its rusted position and tipped, falling out into the hallway. My head connected with the door when it hit the ground and I lay there atop it, willing myself to move. I opened my eyes and room spun. I closed my eyes again and fought a wave of nausea. I could faintly hear the alarm going off. That meant it was time to go. I peeled myself off the fallen door and supported myself against the wall, looking down I noticed the security guards hand leaking out from under my cell door. I moved slowly, listening out for any noise that could mean trouble for me.

'Where do you think you’re going, McKalyn?'

I turned around and around but didn’t see anyone.

'Are you afraid of the dark, McKalyn?'

I looked around again…and again no one. The lights suddenly went out and I froze. I slid down the line of the wall and hugged my knees. There were things in this darkness that were worse than your wildest dreams.

'No.' The voice said. 'Don’t be afraid. I’m trying to help you.'

I swallowed my panic. “Who are you?” I asked aloud.

'Just a fellow inmate…trying to help another inmate.'

I didn’t like the way he said that. “Why do you want to help me?”

'Because I believe that if you are set free…you might come back for me…'

“And I’m guessing you’re going to guide me out?”

'Yes.'

“But if you know they way out then why don’t make an escape by yourself?”

'Like you, I am a high risk…patient, but unlike you the terms of my containment are a bit more…complex.'

I stood up. I knew I was crazy to trust him. “So how do we get me outta here?”

There was a pause. 'Stay where you are.'

“What?!”

'Be quiet. There are three guards coming your way.'

“But if-”

'Learn how to talk in your head.'

I was quiet for a minute. 'But if I stay where I am they’ll see me!'

'Just don’t move…'

I remained still and help my breath as the three guards rounded the corner. They were talking amongst themselves, holding their guns the way they were supposed to, they way they were trained to: always at the ready. One of the guards stopped in front of me. I pressed myself as far back into the wall as I couldn’t, but I didn’t move. He stared at me and I couldn’t help but to stare back. The guard called him and snapped him out of trance, and they both moved on.

I let out the breath I was holding. 'Why didn’t they see me?'

'Because I didn’t want them to. McKalyn, you’re going to have to learn to trust me. I don’t wish you harm.'

'Do you want me to say I’m sorry?'

'McKalyn, I don’t think you realize the severity of your situation. Your life is in my hands.'

'Oh, so much for the ‘I don’t wish you any harm.’'

He was silent for a moment. 'I don’t appreciate sarcasm, and I don’t appreciate people being rude towards me. So please…try and keep that witty personality of yours in check.'

'Which way out, master?'

'You’re going to make a right and get on the elevator at the end of the next hallway.'

I moved slowly against the wall until I came to the next hallway. And just like was said, the elevator stood at the end of it. I went to move forward…but something felt wrong…it seemed too easy.

'So miss McKalyn isn’t as dumb as she looks.'

'I don’t think I look dumb at all…'

He laughed. 'Forgive me…'

'So what’s between me and the elevator?'

'Another inmate…'

'Who is he?'

'His name is Malick. He was born into this facility as a test tube baby, but he was special. His powers became erratic, jumping from ability to ability. The doctors did many experiments on him, trying to find the source of his ability to switch powers. They never found anything and eventually he went mad.'

'Ya know, you didn’t have to tell that whole story.'

'Well, now you know…should I find you another route?'

I thought about it. 'Yes. But first I have a question. How well did they train him to attack escapees?'

'Very well…'

'Well enough that he’ll chase me down if he’s released?'

'Oh yes…'

'Good.' I took a couple of steps forward.

'What are you doing, McKalyn?'

'I have a plan.' I took a couple more steps forward and a door in the right wall slid up. I froze as a tall, lithe man with shoulder length, shaggy, brown hair stepped out into the hallway. He was shirtless and looked like the devil himself. He laid eyes on me and I suddenly felt like I was standing naked in front of a crowd of doctors. He took a step forward and I instinctively took a step back.

'You know, that second route would be great right about now.'

'What have you gotten yourself into, McKalyn?'

'Second route…' I repeated.

'The other end of this hallway leads to stairs…take them up to the fifth floor.'

I continued backing up and Malick followed like a rabid dog. I finally turned and ran and my blood ran cold at the sound of him running after me. I turned and looked back and I could of sworn that his eyes were burning blood red.

'So what’s your genius plan, McKalyn?'

'You’ll see… How much farther is it?'

'You’re almost there.'

He was right. I came up on the stairs faster than expected, and almost tripped over the first step. I took the stairs two at a time…but I didn’t hear Malick behind me.

'You said he’d follow me!'

'He’s still behind you.'

'Where are all the doctors?'

'They’re in a meeting on floor 10. Oh I see your plan…but do you think it will work?'

'Tenth floor it is!'

I felt a wind on my face…something soft brushing my hair forward. I rounded the corner coming up on the sixth floor and stopped in my tracks. Malick stood in the doorway. He came towards me, but this time I didn’t back away. I summoned all the strength I had in me and pulled fire from my gut. Flames erupted from my hands and I trust myself into him. He caught me by the shoulders and screamed as my hands burned his chest, leaving my hands prints on him permanently. He threw across the boardroom we had stumbled into, and I hit the wall with such a force that I saw stars for a moment. Malick was on the other side of the room cradling his chest.

'Tell me there’s a way off this floor other than those stairs!'

'Go out of the boardroom and hang a left. There’s an elevator there.'

I looked at Malick who was still mourning over the burns on his chest. “Wanna get me back?” I called.

He looked up at me with murder written in his eyes.

I moved over to the doors and opened them. “Follow me up to the tenth floor. We’ll finish it there.” I bolted from the room and hung left. The elevator was waiting with open doors. I ran inside and pushed the button that read ten. The doors closed immediately. I took this as my chance to catch my breath, and I slumped against the wall.

'Bravo…'

'Shut up…'

'So what’s your plan? To go waltzing into the board room with Malick in tow like a good puppy?'

'Actually, I’m just winging it.'

'Ah…'

The doors to the elevator swung open and I was at the end of a long hallway…the boardroom at the end of it.

'Where’s Malick?'

'He’s coming up on the ninth floor.'

'Is there anything between me and that room?'

'You’re all clear.'

My pace started as a walk, but the farther I got into the hallway the more I sped up.

'Malick’s coming up on the tenth floor.'

A door behind me flew off its hinges and Malick spilled into the hallway. He wasted no time coming after me and my sprinting turned into full-fledged running. I pushed the doors to boardroom open and all the doctors and scientists turned to me.

“McKalyn?” One of them called.

I didn’t stop. I didn’t even respond. I jumped on the table and reached up pulling the door to the ceiling vent open. I climbed up into it and shut it behind me, listening carefully. I didn’t have to wait long. The doors opened again, except this time it was quiet. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my head and then a blood chortling scream. They were all screaming. All the doctors and scientists, men who thought they could play God. They were all getting what they deserved, finally.

'You there?' I asked.

'Well…you’re plan worked, McKalyn. Bravo.'

I smiled to myself. 'Where are you? I’ll come and get you.'

He chuckled. 'I’m in the lower levels…the lowest level there is, actually.'

'Is there some way to get there from here? I don’t really want to chance bumping into Malick…'

'If you take the air conditioning shaft all the way down and make a left you’ll see a laundry shoot. It leads all the way down the bottom floor.'

'You expect me to slide down a nasty ass laundry that no doubt has shit and urine coating it?'

'That, or you can just go back the way you came…'

I thought about it…'Okay, the laundry shoot it is.'


Turned out I was right about the laundry shoot, and after puking about 5 times I had ended up in the lower levels, which basically consisted of a lot of operating rooms and tables, a morgue, and a lot of human sized test tubes, some of which contained unconscious people. I tiptoed through the rooms afraid that if I made too much noise I would wake the dead.

'Where are you?'

'There’s a door in the morgue-'

'No fuckin way am I going in the fuckin morgue! You are outta your mind!'

'McKalyn, there are nothing but dead people in the morgue. There’s nothing there that’s going to get you.'

I was silent for a moment. 'I don’t like dead things.'

'I’ll be with you every step of the way…'

I hesitantly headed toward the open door of the morgue and stopped right before entering. Cool dry air leaked from the room and smell of sterilization followed it. I rubbed my arms subconsciously.

'I don’t wanna do this…'

'What is there to be afraid of?'

I took a step in the room and just like He had told me, there was black door on the other side of the room.

'They’re dead McKalyn. It’s alright…I’m right through that door.'

I slowly moved through the room keeping on watch on every dead body on a table, so thankful that they were all covered my sheets. Before I knew it the door was in front of me and I slowly reached out to touch the knob.

'I don’t bite…' He whispered. I could feel his anticipation sail through my veins.

I turned the knob and pushed the door open. My mouth dropped at what I saw. A large test tank sat in the middle of the room, filled with green liquid…and his body. A large super computer sat to the left of him. I knew those things all too well. They monitored your heart rate, your intake of vitamins…it basically ran your body.

'You looked shocked.' He said.

It was strange to hear him talk to him with his eyes shut.

I gradually made my way to him. He was covered in wires and IV’s with a breathing tube down his throat. He looked so disfigured with all of the equipment on him. I laid my hands on the kepboard.

'How do I get you out without killing you?'

'Break the glass…'

'What?!'

'Break. The. Glass.'

'With what?!'

'Look around you McKalyn…'

I carefully picked up one of the monitors and weighed it carefully in my arms. I spun in a circle and upon coming back around I tossed it. It connected with the tank and cracked it. I watched as the crack creeped up and down and then spread over the tank like a virus. One piece of glass fell, then another, and another, and then the tank just shattered. I stepped back with my arms, trying to protect as much of me as possible from flying debris. I glanced back over…and there he lay on the floor, a shivering mass of genetic flesh and muscle, cartilage and tissue. I moved towards him and stopped when he raised his self up to his hands and knees. He reached forward with frail, bony, fingers and pulled the breathing tube out of his mouth. He coughed once, then twice, and then threw up. His muscles moved under back as he heaved and heaved, ridding himself of the remaining chemicals in his body. He slowly stood on wobbling legs and then he began to fall again. Before I knew what I was doing I had him in arms, slowly lowering both of us back to the floor. Brushing his blonde hair out of his face, I held him in my arms as he shivered and shook.

Finally he opened his eyes, they were sea green, something you could swim in. He smiled. “Hi…” He said hoarsely.

I smiled back. “Hey.”

He reached up and touched my hair. “I didn’t think you’d be this pretty.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I think that’s the drugs talking…and what’s your name?”

He closed his eyes again and nodded. “Maybe…”

I shifted and he opened his eyes again. “Maybe? That’s your name?”

He smiled softly. “My name…? My name is…um…Noah.”

“You sure?”

“No.” He said with a laugh.

“Well Noah, I think we should get outta here.”

“I agree.” He whispered closing his eyes.

I nodded and went to lift us off the floor but froze when I noticed another presence in the room. I looked up, and there was Malick standing in the doorway. He was covered in blood. He looked at me, and then down at Noah and slowly stalked in the room. He went down on all fours and crept towards us. I held Noah tighter and he looked up at me.

“What is it?” He asked.

I was too speechless to answer.

Malick came closer and closer, his eyes solely on me. His face was inches from mine and I shut my eyes preparing for the worst. He pressed his nose against mine and I whimpered. He put his face in my neck and snuggled there for a moment then took a deep breath and pulled back.

He cradled my face in his blood wetted hands. “Open your eyes.” He whispered. His voice was deep and rich like something dark that devour you if you let it.

I opened my eyes and my breath hitched as I looked into the wide, liquid amber eyes of Malick.

“Thank you.” He said slowly.

I was too shocked to say anything back to him.

He smiled at me, something of a crooked grin. “Thank you.” He said again.

“Y-you’re welcome…?” He let go of my face and looked down at Noah who had been watching the whole thing with a look of utter fear on his face. “Why, why are you thanking me?” I asked.

He looked up at me with a genuine look of overwhelmed. “Because you freed me, you freed us.”

It wasn’t until he said us that I began to notice more people in the room, more people coming into the room. They were all different, different shapes and sizes, different powers, different beings. Though, we were all linked by the fact that we were different. I looked at them all and they all looked at me with expectant eyes. I looked down at Noah who was smiling at me.

“Look what you’ve done.” He said. “Just look at what you’ve done.”

We were all standing in front of the building that we had been trapped in since we’d been born. The flames rose so high, and with it went my hopes for us. I didn’t know what the world had in store for our lives, but I knew anything was better than the torture we had endured for so long. I glanced over at Malick who was carrying Noah because he had yet to remember how to walk. They were both grinning at what was before them. It was their triumph and their freedom. A gift that I had apparently given them. Now they were all looking to me for guidance and leadership.

Everything swam through my head. I was so overwhelmed that my knees gave way and I fell into the dirt. Malick and Noah appeared behind me and they both cradled me in they’re arms. I welcomed the touch and sank back into them. Malick rested his head atop mine and Noah rested his head against my shoulder.

“We’re free…” Noah whispered.

“Yes.” Malick said. “But where do we go from here?”

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Hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter and introduction. Leave me reviews, i like them!
Thanks, Meganin.