Chapter 8

Sci's P.O.V

I looked up at the great wall before me. The thing that has protected us for years has now become our prison. A prison with zombies and mutants controlled by King and his generals as the guards keeping us inside. Several attempts had been made to escape the survivor camp. All resulted in dead bodies to add to an already too big pile.

I took a deep breath and went through a door located in the wall. From the door, I went up a short flight of stairs to the third level of the wall. I then turned and walked down a long corridor. All the important buildings, like the armoury, the storage for food and fresh water and the big boss' room, were located within the wall itself. A recent addition to the wall was a level of cells for people caught trying to rebel against King's rule.

I had reason to believe Fell was one of those who had been caught. He went out of the lab three days ago and never came back. Over the years, Fell had become more careful with his actions. I knew he would've never done something to result in execution. But doing something to get himself thrown in a prison cell was more then expected.

I eventually came to a door guarded by two of King's soldiers. They recognised who I was and immediately stood to the side to let me in. I let myself in without bothering to knock. King sat at a desk, looking through some plans and blueprints and what looked like the results of some experiments.

"You wanted to see me." I said.

King placed the papers on his desk and turned to me. "Indeed I did. Take a seat."

He pointed at a seat that was beside me, but I didn't even look at it.

King huffed and sat down at his own seat. "I'm going to cut right to the chase, then. I know about your partnership with a young human who goes by the name FC."

"While it's true I used to work with her, all communications were severed nineteen years ago." I corrected.

"Yes, I am aware of that." King showed a toothy grin. "But you've done some pretty impressive things with her and those other four. Dream, Nightmare, Lust and Error, I believe."

"If you're trying to offer me a job, I don't want it."

"Oh, I'm not offering."

King snapped his fingers. Upon doing so, a door leading to a side room opened. From the room, King's water-wielding general walked out, and following her was two floating blocks of ice containing two very familiar skeletons. One had mismatched, crazy-looking eye lights and his teeth were sharp. It was Dust, Blueberry's partner. The other skeleton was Fell. They both looked very, very cold.

"This is no job offer, Sci." King continued. "This is an order."

I contained the urge to glare and yell. "What could you possibly what with us?"

"A very, very good question. Upon which, I shall answer."

"Don't listen to anything he says!" Dust yelled. "He's just some overgrown reptile!"

"I would shut your jaw if I were you." the water-wielding general snapped.

"My request is very simple." King stood up from his seat, taking a piece of paper off his desk. "They say those who have gone insane become blind. Their vision is clouded by hallucinations of things that aren't really there. However, this is not true. Quite the opposite. It allows them to see things nobody else can."

"And what does that have to do with the situation?" I asked.

King handed me the piece of paper. It was a profile for someone. A profile for none other then Dust. It told a past of someone who had lost everything, someone who's mind had been shattered. I looked at Dust, who was glaring at King's general.

"Dust hasn't gone insane. If anything, he's one of the most sane people I know. And I still don't see your point." I said, giving the profile back to King.

"He's called Dust for a reason, isn't he? It's because he's killed someone." King's grin grew wider and toothier. "Perhaps he's not insane now. But he definitely used to be. That's something I want to take advantage of. Sci, you will work with one of my scientists, conducting experiments and turning Dust into a warrior for our army."

I shook my head. "You're the insane one if you think I would ever do that to my friend. You can go back to the filthy hole you crawled out of."

King's grin faded into an angry frown. "General, show Sci what happens when someone refuses to obey me."

The ice holding Fell shattered and he was suddenly free. But the freedom was short. As Fell stood and turned to escape, the general grabbed his arm. Water consumed his lower left arm and then froze it. Then, the general slammed Fell's arm against her knee. A loud scream escaped Fell's mouth as his frozen arm shattered to pieces. He collapsed to the ground, clutching the slightly frozen stump of his upper arm. I stared in pure horror, having no words for what I had just witnessed.

"Now, I think it's time we get back to business." King said, his smile returning. "If you do not do what I say, then your lover over there will experience that again. However, it will not be his arm that shatters." King leaned to my eye level. "Have you ever heard the sound of a soul shattering before? I heard it's quite unpleasant, but I've never really been affected."

"Don't listen to him, Sci!" Fell yelled, only to be kicked onto his side by the general.

There was a long moment of thought that felt like it lasted forever. There had been one time years ago that Fell had come so close to death that a part of me had completely given up with life. I couldn't bare the thought of getting that close to losing Fell again.

I sadly looked at Dust. "I'm sorry...I can't lose him..."

Dust nodded sadly, understanding why I had to do what I was going to do.

"Good choice." King said. "My scientist will be delighted to know you'll be working with him."

I didn't acknowledge what King said. I simply turned and walked back through the door, taking the time to glance at Fell before running down the hallway with tears flowing down my cheekbones.