18.

Where there is one there is the other. Gary Arnold had awoken to a bright hospital room, someone else is about to experience, or rather re-experience darkness. How did he get here, wherever here is? Why is he here? Hasn't he been through enough already?

Darkness, utter darkness, so dark that if something were right in front of you the only way to know of it would be if it were to make a sound. Keith Cross wakes to such a thing. He did not choose this, he did not agree to do this, he did not willingly put himself forward to whatever this so happens to be, still he is here ... wherever here so happens to be.

Should he call out or remain quiet? Will someone or something come to him? And if so, then with what intention? In his waking moment he is groggy. Had he been drugged in order to be brought to and placed into his current predicament? Sure, feels like it. Darkness is as dark as can be, still some sort of bearings can be ascertained.

First things first. Keith is laying down; he is on his back, and he cannot move whatsoever. It is more than the effects of some kind of drug, more that the aftereffects of such and more than just feeling groggy. He can wriggle his toes and fingers; he can move his eyes and after that there is nothing else. He is strapped down at nine points, both shins, both thighs, both forearms and both upper-arms and worst of all ... at the forehead.

Time to panic? What good would panic do for him? None at all ... still his heartbeat rises and his body itches to move despite the restrictions. Alright, if a good time to call out does exist then perhaps this maybe it ...

'Hello ...' his voice echoes out ... 'hello ...'

Alright, this tells him that he is in some sort of room, hell, is he back at the Flesh Factory? He could very well be. It's cold, so very cold. This room is refrigerated and every couple of moments cool air circulates all around. Keith's clothing, what he has on right now is certainly not what he had been wearing. The cool air hits his arms and legs so clearly, they are bare. What covers his torso is thin and flimsy, he is not going to survive like this a whole long time and that is for sure. He may not have to ...

There is a clonking sound, something the likes of a metal bolt being unbolted, a metal door being unlocked. That is exactly what it is. A door slowly creaks open and the light that shines in through that door is so white and so bright that it is almost blinding. It takes a moment or three for Keith's eyes to adjust and when they do, he has just enough movement to divert his eyes to that doorway. There is someone there ... standing in the doorway.

'Hey ... hello ... who are you? Why am I here? ... Where is here?'

His panic is very evident. There is no point in hiding the fact, and he hopes that if anything it may play into his favour. He is in trouble, if he can play to his humanity then he may be alright, but a horrible thought takes him. If he is back at The Flesh Factory, then is his grandfather doing this to him? Grandfather ... well ... he doesn't quite worry like any other average person.

The silhouette of a man in the open doorway may just be his grandfather and grandfather always thought his grandson to be strong, not weak and that was a major theme of the summer Keith spent at grandfather's cabin, train him, toughen him. Grandfather would not approve of a display of humanity.

Beyond the door there are screams of pain, multiple screams. There are pleas and moans. The door closes shut, and the room reverts to a complete darkness and a silence returns. That silence does not last very long for soon there is the sound of approaching footsteps which of course, eventually stop.

With a clicking sound a light comes on, a light not unlike that with which may be found in a pool or snooker hall. It reveals the presence of a bald-headed man dressed in a white lab coat, a white undershirt, and a full length dark brown leather apron. He is also wearing head gear, most likely some sort of infra-red lenses that allowed him to see in the dark.

'Grandfather ... w-wha-what is going on? Why am I here?'

No reply just yet. The bald man removes the head gear and places it on a workstation to his right which run back a little behind him. Glasses go on and an inspection begins.

'What? What are you looking for? Am I hurt?'

Still Keith does not get a reply. Grandfather turns back to the workstation, unties a beige satchel, and opens it out to reveal a number of tools, tools of a surgical nature. He takes one out and brings it around to the light to inspect. It is a surgical knife and Keith can surely see it clearly.

'What are you gonna do with that? Grandfather ... please ...'

Still the bald man remains quiet. He looks Keith in the eyes a moment or two then brings the knife towards his left arm. This is his grandfather, Keith's grandfather, is he really going to physically hurt his grandson? Keith winces, he wants to plead though he know pleading would probably bring him all the more pain. If there is anything he learned from that summer in the cabin, it is to not plead ... but to survive and move forwards.

His eyes are closed and scrunched, expecting what may come but something else comes instead ... a release of sorts. What? Keith certainly was not expecting this. One by one the restraints are cut through and grandfather does not take it easy in any way. With this done he simply turns his back and begins to walk towards the exit. The satchel is still open with each and every tool now within Keith's grasp.

Keith's eyes dart between the tool and his grandfather for a moment or two. Confused and at a loss for what he should do, he just waits. Grandfather stops, turns, and decides that it is finally time to speak. 'Well ... aren't you coming?'

What does Keith make of this? What is he supposed to make of this? He gets up and off what operating table he had been strapped too. His bare feet reaches the floor, a stone-cold floor, and his body almost collapses in doing this. Keith manages to catch himself and prevents the collapse from becoming complete.

Is this an effect of whatever drug that had been used upon him or has he been here so long and unconscious that it has had an effect upon his body? He does not know though he definitely feels unsteady.

'There are shoes to your right, put them on and follow me. There is a robe next to the door too. When you reach it, you can also put that on.'

It's Keith's turn to be silent. Until he knows more about his current predicament he may as well stay silent. It does take him a moment or two to steady himself though the more he is on his feet the more confident he becomes with his body's potential responses. And with all that is happening he may as well as his grandfather instructs.

'C'mon now ... we haven't got all day.