End of the hall, don't stray, or you'll end up in trouble.
"Little...Little… Lady..."
Something grumbled far back from me. I stopped and felt nausea run through my limbs. Retching like I was about to vomit from all this stress, I booked it down the hall of floor 3. Not even wanting to give a snapback at whatever thing spoke to me. Where is it? Where? Where?! It's here! This has to be it! It's shrouded in black and is at the end of the hall.
"Elizabeth!" Lillian beams, cracking and opening the door. Well, at least she didn't ditch me. I tug at the door, swing it further open, and barricade myself in the pitch-black cell with Lillian. Reaching for the walls searching for a switch, my hands brush upon something. Flickering it on, I cower as the lights above blind me. In Lillian's room, on every wall, ceiling, and floor was a mattress. Disappointed to learn it wasn't as comfy as it looks. Throughout her room, junk was littered everywhere. Well, the recycling bin is more accurate for all the papers covering her floors. Did I just move from a dump to a recycling can? I'll have to talk to her about this later.
I contemplate to myself as I scan through all the papers on the floor. Most of them were newspapers, faxed documents, and magazine cutouts of women. Said cutouts were pin-up women too. In skimpy clothes, tight shirts, and bikinis. It's obvious that Lillian and I fancy the same sex in our own ways, but this is off-putting. Their heads were cut off and replaced with someone else. She'll have a reason for me why her room is like this. But what kind of reason could she give me anyway?
'Relax, relax. You just stumbled on her porn collection, nothing to shame her for.' I think to myself, Lillian looming around me.
"You can look if you'd like," Lillian said to my surprise. "I don't mind."
Moving onto the newspapers and documents, I check over what exactly she's been reading. A chill went down my spine. They're all documents on patients.
Rows of people, names, their sex, age, hometown, and reasons for coming- these were actual transcripts! What would a patient like herself need with all this personal information? And then I spot my name among the hundreds. It wasn't hard to miss, it's marked with a highlighter. At the end of each row was a description of the person.
'Elizabeth Danruther was 18 at the time of the event. She has grown up in many houses and has traveled across the country for family issues…... She turns 19 this October she'll be here on charges of-.' I couldn't read it any further. My mind refused to let me remember what terrifies me the most. I can't, I can't, I can't...
'I shouldn't be here.'
"Did you find something you like?" she inquires. Seeing her shadow tower over me, I whirl back with shaky teeth. Lillian no longer appeared welcoming to the eye. Her smile made me feel rotten. I was about to speak when a knock caught both of our tongues. No words passed between us as Lillian went to open the door. An uninvited guest? Or someone Lillian has kept a secret from me? The thing is, this guest wasn't human.
I step back further once I see the face. Sunken beady eyes and a permanent grimace plastered onto his cheeks. Yet it keeps staring down at us, waiting for our next move. Once my back hit the end of the room, did it emit a low gurgle? Lillian lifted her arm in front of me.
"I won't let you do as you please, Alexander." Lillian declares, having no fear whatsoever. For a moment, I was reminded of the quirky, kind Lillian from an hour ago. But when I see this Alexander's hand retracts a chord struck within me. I couldn't tell if it was entirely made of wood or flesh. Yet the next thing I knew, it punctured right through Lillian's chest.
Ribs break, intestines spill, and spinal cords snap out. It speared her neatly like a needle going through the fabric. For a moment, nobody made a sound. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Lillian takes her final gasp as this Alexander removes its hand. Unsewing her insides out through her front. As she collapses, Alexander discards the mess on his hand. Lillian's yellow eyes glimmer underneath the pooling blood coming from her mouth. Alexander looks at me now.
...
Dim lights from behind it illuminated the outline of the creature. As its shadow enveloped the corpse of Lillian. Her eyes were bugged as her death rattle consumed the air around us. Till, nothing.
"...You're pretty…."
Through his gritted teeth, he spoke, never blinking or twitching. Under these dim lights, it looked like Alexander had no face. But when I see it, his face appeared as though it was sunken, shrouding the malice in his eyes. I shut my own eyes, unable to accept that Lillian was dead. Yet when I opened my eyes there she was. Drowning in her strange blood as it cakes her mouth, abdomen, and the backside of her white dress. Alexander was unfazed by the horrible sight in the middle of us. In fact, he only stared blankly at her corpse as if he expected her to magically pop up again.
Emaciated to an unreal degree. Below his ribcage, he had no organs, just a swelled-up spine. All of his 4 limbs were stretched and ghastly. Both of his hands are massive, and his right drips with warm blood staining the floor. Meeting Alexander's gaze with my petrified one, he seethes a warm sigh through his disfigured nose.
"P-please I uh-" I pipe up, finding the courage to stand up. Freaking out in front of this murderer won't help me, yet I struggle to suppress my fear. Then again, does it matter how I react?
No response to me speaking out loud, the stranger only took another step. Shuffling my way towards the exit hoping to sprint past him, I repeatedly apologized,
"I-I'm sorry I-" his bloody right hand cut me off from sneaking around him. Being up closer to this man-thing, I notice indentions in his flesh. Creases and dark circles highlighted each bone, joint, muscle, and so forth. It wasn't as if he drew them on his body himself, as if they were his skin. A devilish stare strikes me down as he raises his right hand towards me. Her suspicious papers were soaked in her fluids as I looked between him and Lillian's unmoving body.
'Why am I not dead yet?'
I thought to myself as I spotted an opening on his left side.
"Come with me instead, Eli..." Alexander asks me, cocking his head to the side. Now, he's not waiting for me to comply anymore. And I wasn't going to wait around to end up like Lillian. He attacks to his right, and I bolt to my left. Narrowly avoiding his one hand, I barrel through the gap on the left side of the door. And back out into the hallway I raced down minutes ago. Only now I was running away from something real.
'I'm sorry Lillian!' If I could shout those words, I would. Looking back at her body was a mistake. Witnessing Alexander chase me with that never changing face was enough to make me stumble. And he took full advantage of my fear. Jumping ahead, he pounces at my legs. Latching onto my ankle, time stops as I'm seized. His death grip trips me up and onto my side. Alexander isn't that graceful; he tumbles with me.
The strange man landed face-first onto my legs. He locks onto my calves pulling himself towards me. Writhing on the floor, I raised hell as best as I could. He was going to pin me at this rate. I couldn't let such a humiliating thing happen!
"...Stop it!" his shouting was labored as he pulled me closer and closer to his head. There's no way I can match up to his strength no matter how hard I fight.
"Come with me instead, Eli..." Alexander tells me. Reached further up my legs and aimed to grab one of my arms. Seeing his bewildered beady black eyes, it dawned upon me that I have to play dirty if I want to win. With my hands still free, I shriek as I dig my unkempt nails into his bizarre face. Clawing at anything I could find till I hooked onto one of his eyes.
Pressing up. SQUISH!
Alexander releases this otherworldly howl as he recoils back. My arms. Blood from his eye streams out and cascades on me. Now hunched over, he holds his face, likely trying to keep his eye from falling out. With this fleeting chance, I got up and booked it down the hall. The strange man refused to let me go.
I could hear Alexander's thunderous footsteps as he chased me down. Rugged breath through grinding teeth hissing at me. Hollering out for help- Gods, just somebody to come and save me! Reaching the end of the hall, smashing through the exit I crash into more disturbing faces. A woman with a melting face, and at her side a small lad with his insides exposed like a thinly veiled curtain. It seemed like they were both out on a nightly stroll. If I wasn't running from one monster already I surely would have fainted or cried.
Both stared down at me in disinterest yet grew worried at the thing behind me. A raging bull was coming straight toward us. Not wanting to wait around, I shove the man out of my way, shouting an apology as I bounded past them. Skipping steps as I rushed my way down the staircases, I didn't dare to turn around in fear he'd just be right behind me. I learned my mistake last time. Even though I couldn't see him, by the gods, I could hear his bodily rage. Like a can stuck in machinery, rattling incessantly for it to be listened to. Once more, another obstacle at the bottom of the stairs awaits me.
This time a ragged doctor or nurse is there. Unfortunately just following his shift. We exchanged confused looks as I stopped in place.
"What are you doing out here?! Get back to your cell immediately!" he called out, ready to detain me like my attacker. Speaking of him, Alexander was gaining way on my trail, bellowing out absurdities as he stomped his way down the stairs above me. This was the last flight before the ground floor. Sucking my breath in, I shut my eyes as I make a brash decision. Taking a leap of faith, missing all the steps as I practically crashed into the poor guy.
He broke my fall, stumbling back as I sprinted away. All while calling out my apologies to the unlucky bystander. Alexander was furious, screaming out my nickname and echoing his own name back to me. He refused to stop even for a second. Rounding around the corners, I recall that I'll have to move to the right to reach the exits. That means navigating around the lounge or possibly the cafeteria of the ward. If it is an exact replica of Normalties that is. But I can't bet my luck on that.
So I start hobbling my way down the hall. Till I realized I'm wasting time. If I tried to go back to the exit with no clear plan, I fear I would get lost wandering around. Or even worse, caught by whatever more nightmares this place has in store for me. Lillian never gave back the keys, but I'm certain they have more than one set of them. And the guards are aware of that missing set. Meaning, I'm locked in Extremities until I have another ring of keys. I can't turn back and pick them off of Lillian, I'd run into Alexander surely. So grabbing them off someone or in a staff room to unlock the exit is my best option.
How I'm going to do that is beyond me. Alexander's grunts boomed down the hall far beyond me. I can't cost myself to overthink this or else I lose. Limping away with speed I beat Alexander into the darkest area of Extremities thus far. In other words, to attempt to shake him off me. Like the cafeteria over in my ward, it's connected over into various rooms. As expected, it's almost empty with a few folded tables. Possibly for the staff. By now it seems as though I lost my predator. I've reached the dusty rec room of Extremities.
"What do I do... what do I do... what do I do..." I kept mumbling to myself as stop running looking for something. Slowing my rapid breath, I then lay back on an old couch. Needing a breather anyways, I plotted over in my head where I could look. But the thumping of Alexander's feet echoed off the walls. Sending me in a panic I scramble onto the floor and crawl away like a rat. Searching for a less obvious hiding spot I find a wooden table near the wall. If I place my bets, he'll be far too tall to notice me. It's risky but I've had tall people almost or have tripped over me. The mannequin man's silhouette made its entrance as it stood in the middle of the room.
Scanning for a little lady like me to gobble up for breakfast.
"Eee...eee.." It groaned, stumbling in place. Alexander continued to moan out in obvious distraught. I could register his hands sticking at the sides of his face. Much like what Seth does when he falls into a rage. His grunts grew in volume as the sounds of something peeling filled the rec room.
Lumps of skin began plummeting onto the floor.
"I….I…..IIIIIIII...II .. …..IIII...III EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…"
It began to howl as insistent scratching grew into a frenzy. Skin piling onto the floor in hoards. What the hell is he? I covered my ears and curled the ball. Wishing I could cut them off just to block out this dreaded noise. Alexander kept on going.
Ripping away at each layer of his skin further and further back. Before he was more than a foot taller than me, now, after mutilating his own body, he managed to adjust his height. I don't understand how that's possible. Extending both drenched arms, he begins crying out to the ceiling in an agonized pose.
"How much longer?!" Alexander groaned out.
Does he know I'm here? He's ready to continue his pursuit. It dawned upon me that now that he's shorter, his perception will be more accurate. Which means it won't take him long to capture me. My heart reaching rates to near death, I pump myself up to flee.
The moment he turns his back, I need to run and fast. But no that's too easy. Instead, Alexander keeps his direction on the path right towards me. Taking his sweet ass time strolling forward. A welt in my throat built up realizing I'm likely going to die now. Shutting my eyes, I curl up in a ball as I brace myself for the unknown. But just then, a light shines, and a door booms open to the adjacent end of the room.
The surprised yells of two males catch us off guard. Alexander gets caught in the spotlight and snarls at the intruders. In a pool of his own body, he clenches his humongous hands. I immediately recognized those uniforms. Guards. Night watch guards it seems. They do exist in this ward after all.
"M-Mister ...uh Alexander!" the first man spoke. "My apologies sir, we weren't expecting anyone to be here."
"..why…?" Alexander grumbled, without a doubt annoyed the best he could sound.
"Well, it's our shift tonight. We will leave you alone to uh..uh..do what you are doing." the older man talks as if everything was completely normal. How are you able to talk like that with him? Don't know how- oh god he's lunging at the second guard now!
"HEY, cut it out!" the first man hollers. It's difficult to see from under the table, but the man tries to put himself in between them. Taking the blow for him as Alexander checks him out of the way. And sinks his hands onto the second man's arm. Attempts to shake him off were futile as the first man screamed who that second guard was.
"He's not a patient! HE'S NOT THEM!" he shouts at the mutant trying to break him off. "This is a guard, Britton Gallardo!"
'What- why is he here?!' I keep to myself as I continue to watch this play out. Alexander removes himself from the guard and steps away. Britton was reasonably startled, leaning onto the doorway and rubbing his arm.
"I'm so sorry, I should've explained sooner." The guard apologizes profusely, bowing his head. Not to Britt, but to the abomination in front of them. "Britton was just transferred here tonight."
"What for?" Alexander asks, moving his head up and down. Checking out the taller guard like he's meat on a rack.
"Well, I don't think it's appropriate to-" Alexander's glare was enough to cut him off. "Not doing his job right. Higher-ups thought this would suit him better."
"I disagree...to the doctors should have him..." Alexander remarks, leaning in closer to the two men. "I'll take him..."
"Ah anyway- yes- uh Britton, this is Alexander. He's a really old guest here." the first man said, patting the back of the second male. He's practically forced into the room, unsure what to even say. Britton shifted in place, holding his tongue.
"Little...lady...in a green dress... stabbed my eye" Alexander proclaimed, referring to me. Shit! If the guards start pursuing me, you might as well cremate me now. To my disappointment in humanity, the man agreed to what the mannequin was saying. Britt stood silent still.
"Goodness! That looks like it hurts" The guard exclaims getting a closer look at his injury.
"It does."
"Did you get her name, sir? What is she doing out here?"
"Eli… someone promised a piece in return."
"Eli, that's an odd name for a woman. W-we will look out for-oh." Alexander grabbed his hand. "You want us to come with you... okay, okay…"
"..don't...take..her...mine...first…" Alexander warned Britton. I don't even dare consider what Alexander means by "take".
In the light, I could see him nod back. The tiny mannequin then scampered off in the direction he came from. The elder one, short and plump, a cap may be concealing his frail hair, began to follow Alexander. When Britt stopped him.
"Do I have to do this, sir? " he started. "I-I know her-"
"YES!" The elder didn't even look back at him as he snapped at him. "You do Britt. Look at this place! Why did you even sign up for this Britton? Maybe Alexander has a point and I shouldn't have stood up for you."
"I-I'm sorry."
The guard sighed, likely regretting his words. But, still, he begs him to listen to Alexander.
"Don't apologize. For your safety and mine, please do this Britt." And with that, he was gone leaving me with him. Before he left, Britt says.
"Fine, I'll do it. Just bring her back to him, right?" my stomach sinks as I hear him declare that. Everything he did before became null immediately. Any hint that he might've been on our side didn't matter anymore. What a liar.
"Yes. If she's little like he says, it shouldn't be hard." his superior tells him. Then adds on as he leaves, "You can maybe move back to Normalties if you do this. W would be pleased."
Britt watches them leave with his back turned to me. Under his breath, I hear him mutter.
"I know she would."
If I let him catch me, it's over for me. I have no chance against him, I know that as much. I was already paranoid of something like this, Britt betraying mine or Seth's trust. Now that it's actually happening it pains me. Then again, none of us are friends anyways. Coming out of hiding to talk to him doesn't even cross my mind when I'm conjuring up my next move.
Britt shook his head in the dark and began to strut around the room. I'd hoped he was going to leave but then I could hear the flicker of a switch. The lights above us groaned as they lit up. I swear my heart and lungs were going to burst. Britt turned my way.
I held my breath once more. He looked ahead, but his expression didn't change. Rather, he squinted his eyes, even after we adjusted to the lights. Britt had the higher ground and yet he couldn't see me. This opportunity won't last long, I can't abuse it.
The moment he began heading in the same direction the others went, I snuck out of the table and through the open door they came from. Surely there has to be a staff room like a break room nearby. And in a break room, there has to be a set of keys. Gambling on the wish that such a place exists I move forward. Passing by what seems to be check-in rooms. All closed and quiet. Searching ahead of me in the dim chamber, I could see a light nearby. I shield my eyes as I approach the open room. Taking a peek inside before entering it, I couldn't see any humans or monsters inside. Looks to be exactly what I was searching for.
Shutting the door partially behind me, I scan the area for anything or anyone. Even in the dirty closet at the end of the room. I rummaged through all the drawers, and the couch and scanned the table. I couldn't locate any extra sets of keys, nothing like what Lillian stole. Lillian, gods what a brutal way to go out and so soon. And before I could tell her how I felt. Even though I think it was pretty obvious to anyone. Still, there were questions I had for her outside of silly crushes. Alexander silenced her too soon. However, a sickening thought crossed my mind:
'What if she was still alive?'
I can't handle that burden right now, so I focus back on my search. All I could find in the first few minutes were documents, much like the ones in Lil's cell. Must be a collectibles item I joked to myself. I began to feel more vulnerable every time I came up empty. Then I found the refrigerator. I can't recall the last time I had decent food. Suddenly ravenous, I broke into the fridge and wolfed down anything I could get my hands on.
'Bless this beautiful food.' tears were welling up in my eyes as I ate a mediocre blueberry muffin. This lounge made me feel like a human being again. I was envious of Britt, and that old man. Being actual humans and enjoying their time. They don't realize how good they have it. And I didn't either till I ruined it. I'll eat what I can then go over to this lounge once more and travel further into the faculty offices. I have to run into something good soon, right?
A person can only take so much till they snap. And I am-
Britt cleared his throat behind me as I was swallowing the last of my muffin. Time slowed down for both of us as I turned toward him. Just standing at the door he quietly opened, watching me. How long has he been standing there? He says nothing, and neither do I. Nothing either of us could say really would change anything. You're here to take me, aren't you? You said as much!
Letting out a short but frantic shriek, I leaped from my spot and ran to the other side of the room. If I try to run for the door, he'll snatch me in an instant. I'm so much smaller than Britt, it'd be like picking up an oversized doll. He held little to no expression on his face. From the glances, I got off him. Yanking a pillow off the couch I chuck it at him. Britt only stood still, very puzzled as it bounced off him. Not even fazed by my pathetic "attack". Oh, it's all over, I'm dead like Lillian. Could he gore me like a kabob too?
"Wait Eli uh-" he stutters out. Don't reason with me! I knew I couldn't trust you!
His presence pressures me into backing up against the wall. Britt steps into the room, struggling to say something but nothing comes out. Nothing he said could calm me down anyway. I felt around for something I can use against him. Till my hand meets another door. It was a supply closet I cleared out early. I made eye contact with his brown ones for a split second and dashed into the closet. Slamming the door right into his blank face.
But it soon dawned upon me that this door doesn't lock from the inside. I cornered myself like a fool.
"N-no no NO NO!" I choked on my words. Tears came to my eyes for many reasons, not just at my stupidity. Still, I pushed up against the door, not giving up yet. On his side, he turned the handle down.
He forced my two hands down, and I don't even think he was even trying. This boy is going to break me like a toothpick. Split me in half with those strong arms. I'm absolutely helpless.
"DON'T DO THIS!" I cried out pushing against his pull with all I had. "PLEASE, I AM BEGGING YOU!" The door stopped momentarily. Then the handle pulled down again, with more strength.
Britt wasn't going to take no for an answer. He's going to do as told, no matter if I scream and shout. I couldn't control my voice now. This is all too much to handle for one tiny lady. Letting all hope go I stopped fighting with him and collapsed into the center of the closet. Not before snapping completely. Screaming obscenities and throwing shit to the floor. I felt like a rabid frightened dog, wreaking havoc not because I wanted to but because I'm petrified out of my mind. On the floor now, I wrap myself tighter and tighter, hiding my cries and face from everything.
Why did I even try to begin with? I have been done from the start of this madness. Britt opened the supply door to find me. Broken by defeat and sniveling away. He didn't do anything for a minute though. Only stayed silent and stared. I lifted my stuffy face to look back at him. In his brown eyes, he seemed dumbfounded by tiny me. I likely reminded him of a dumb crying child. She lost her parents in the shopping mall and all she could do was scream for them. At least that's what I felt like. A weak sniveling child who cannot fend off for herself. It's an all too familiar thing for me. I grew confused about his expression over time. So, I gather the strength to ask:
"Are...are you going to take me?"
I croaked out my voice rugged from howling so much. What I just said struck a chord with him. So much that he stood still for a moment. Shook his head. And sat down with me. Closer to my eye level than ever.
"No. No no no I'm not going to do that to you." Britt says in a calm voice. I blinked in awe.
"Y-you're not?" I squeak out
"I can't- I just can't go through with it. Did that mutant hurt you?" he says slowly, eyeing the bruises on my knees, arms, and ankle.
"Yes." watching his every move I don't allow myself to relax so easily.
"Shit... I'm so so sorry for scaring you," he tells me, trying to maintain eye contact with me. Out of being nervous or lying? His face wanted to tell me it was the first.
"I should've said something or not approached you like that."
"I uh, um- no I'm sorry!" I stammered, struggling to comprehend what was happening.
"No need to apologize. What are you doing here by the way? This isn't your ward. Did something happen to you and Seth?" Britt asks a question I can't answer yet. "What does, um, that thing want with you?"
"It's a-" I paused to sniffle, covering up my tears "Long story. I don't really understand how this got out of hand."
"I get it. I've been an idiot from day 1. Doing things I normally would never do. So, if you're willing," Britt says expecting me to ask why, but my overwhelming shocks hold my tongue firmly. He shakes his head and sticks his hand out for me to grab. Still scared of him, I'm hesitant as I reach up.
"I want to fix that."
I stare between his palm and my own. Unlike his, mine is covered in blood from fighting off Alexander.
"How do I know you're not lying to me? O-or trying to trick me?" I proclaim quickly, retracting my hand. Then wincing on the inside at his hurt expression.
"W-well, that's fair," Britt mumbles, being put on the spot, trying to think of a way to earn my trust. It visibly clicked in him what to say next
"Are you hungry?"
I accepted his hand as I felt my stomach churn.
Back to rustling into the fridge, I try to process what just happened in that closet. Britt fell silent at my side. Likely uncomfortable from the melodrama I threw him into a few minutes ago. As I munched through the various snacks, processed or natural, I would glance up at him from time to time. He may say he's on my side, but I refuse to let my guard down for now. So even though he's gracious enough to let me empty their fridge, I'm still very vulnerable. Yet, unlike my paranoid self, Britt wasn't focused on anything. The ex-guard seemed off in a dream-like daze, clearly thinking about something. Parents, friends, boss, coworkers, girlfriend, himself? Or how he's going to get me out of this? Likely how he's going to get himself out of this.
I wonder the same. Chestnut-colored eyes were glued on the wall, rethinking everything he thought he knew and everything he got wrong. I couldn't crack his head open and see for myself, so what do I know? Sitting on the couch with Britt, I could view his face better under bright lights. No full beard, a scraggly stubble that he would itch once in a while.
Britt's eyes met my peeping ones. Deja vu flowed through me. A timid smile escaped from my lips. I probably looked silly to him. Still, he mirrors back the same awkward smile. It reaches me. Now I'm really not sure what to believe anymore. A reverie in the fake white sky shines down on us fools.
"Ready to go?" he asks after some time has passed. We didn't have much more to say to each other right now, what can be said? The only thing we both had our minds for certain was to escape from this dreaded place.
"Yes, I am. Where are you taking me?" I question brushing off crumbs and gulping down the last of my water.
"I'm going to try to get you at least out of this ward," Britt explains, holding the door open for me to walk out of. "It's not safe here for you."
"Why- wait then what will I do if you do get me out?"
"I don't know, you seem pretty clever to break in here unnoticed," he says, flickering on the flashlight. I shake my head with a smile, deny that was the case, and follow his light.
"Thanks? But what happens to you?" I question as we cross over through the. No sign of Alexander or any other guard to stop us.
"I'll figure it out," he claims with clear uncertainty reeking in his voice. I don't know how I feel about that. The staff rec room was near the entrance to Extremities. We passed by the medical cabinet I danced in with Lillian. I catch myself staring at Britt as he takes out his set of keys.
"It's almost dawn." He muttered, taking a glance at his watch while retrieving the right key to the doors. The long hallway and one more door separated us from the second hallway into the lobby. I couldn't have been any happier to return to my cell. Britt unlocked the first door out of Extremities and held it open for me. I waited for him to follow, but he didn't move. I looked back at him and figured out why. Alexander and the superior were heading this way.
"H-Hurry!" I gasped, scrambling close to it. He ambled past me and fiddled around with the key in the lock.
"Is...Is that…?"
Alexander's husky voice boomed over to us. Anxiety stabbed both of us as the yell of Britt's superior was overpowered by Alexander's stomping. Britt didn't hesitate to slam the door and lock it behind us. Still, we didn't wait around to find out if that guard had a set of keys too. Reaching the last door, he swiftly opens it for us. Alexander could be heard screaming nonsense from behind us. The older guard got the first door opened! Britt ushered me out of the second doorway the moment he could and once again shut and locked it up tight. The mutant could be heard on the other side knocking on the door. Gently knocking. Then another brittle explosion rained loose behind us. The steel door moaned out in agony.
Soon enough the whole frame was ripped apart from the inside out. If Alexander can peel away his form to match mine, who's to say he can't grow in size? By this point, we were bolting away from the scene when I halted. Britt wasn't in front of me or behind me. Whirling back, my heels burned by the glassy tiles, I saw Britt didn't move a muscle.
'What is he doing?!'
From the end of the hall, I could see him put an index finger up to his lips and point back to me. Then waved his hand toward me. I was about to run back to him, but Alexander has made his way out of the left wing. Sure enough, he was the same height I first met him with. He didn't notice me, only Britt, so I took the opportunity and fled from the scene. Britt in the end stayed back to buy me more time to escape. During this brief uncomfortable encounter, I feared that he was a liar. Like everyone else. Yet my throat coils as I tremble through doors, watching for faces, and solid gasps for air when I realize what I did again. Stopping in the center tile of this square crossroad between Normalities and Extremities, the lobby, I stare back at my previous steps moments before.
Is..is he going to die because of me? I don't know anything about him and neither does he about me, still he...did that. Didn't have to think that hard, just reacted as though he wasn't terrified. And did the right thing. Why couldn't I be like that?
Nobody was here this time. Not even the lobby lady. Except for a dry pool of blood where that sleeping guard was. Could I escape right now? I take a step toward the exit of the building when laughter from the entrance stops me. No, it sounded like a crowd was outside. Footsteps marching from all around this eternal tomb pushes me back into the Normalities ward once more.