The Smiles Family

Chapter 7

Smiley loosens the restraints, and practically drags AJ back into the adjacent room and onto the bed. He writes a few notes down on his clipboard, pen scratching on the thin paper, then he leaves. AJ is left in a daze with no strength left to even move his head; his body is still throbbing. The place under his chin, where the pain stimulator must be, burns. 239 echoes through his skull, forcing him to remember it. He wonders why he was so excited. He doesn't remember remembering anything. He closes his eyes, the fluorescent lights burning his retinas.

239. That's probably what he remembered. It is what he's supposed to be called, after all. 239, 239, I am called 239. He dozes off, still repeating the number in his head like an echo. 

---

Upon waking up, AJ feels the IV in his arm and a pounding in his head. When he opens his eyes, it's dark. He realizes it must be late at night, considering the lights are out. Or could this be a phycological trick to make it seem like it's night? It could be a complete different time of day. Just as the thought trickles into his mind, the lights turn back on. He pinches his eyes-- watering from the sudden burst of light-- shut. Once his eyes have gotten used to the brightness, AJ blinks and looks around. Smiley's hunched over his desk, scribbling down a couple notes. "Hello, 239. Are you ready to begin?" He says, swiveling his chair around to face the boy, legs crossed. 

Without waiting for an answer, Smiley takes AJ's IV out, and crosses to stand by the open door. "What about the medication?"

Smiley laughs coldly, "That was temporary." 

Reluctantly, AJ slides off the side of the bed and makes a beeline over to Smiley. The two enter at the same time, AJ's feet cold on the hard cement floor. "Get in the chair." AJ obliges, sitting down in the uncomfortable and unwelcoming chair, knowing all too well what's about to come next. He doesn't think he'll be able to bear it. The boy looks around, shivering. Smiley fumbles with the restraints and grabs the boy's arm tightly, forcing it to the thick, cold armrests. He finishes tightening them and lets go, his hand leaving an imprint on AJ's arm.

"We'll try this again. What are you called here?"

"239." AJ answers quickly, staring forward. Smiley pauses, his finger inches from a button. "Are you telling the truth?" He asks, not waiting for a reply before turning the stimulator on again. AJ tenses up, expecting to get hit with a wave of agony. However, the pain is more tolerable this time, only being an uncomfortable throbbing. AJ keeps staring forward as the pain escalates ever so slightly. He grits his teeth. "Yes, sir." The pain vanishes, and he relaxes, sinking into the chair.

Though AJ can't see through his yellow mask, he knows Smiley's face is contorted into a grin of triumph. "Excellent." The boy's anger rises as Smiley crouches to his level, untying the restraints, content with his victory. As soon as AJ's right wrist is freed, he puts all his power into a well-aimed punch at the side of Smiley's head. Smiley is knocked to the floor where he lies, unmoving. AJ sits in shock for a moment. Did I really just do that? His disbelief wanes as he realizes how much trouble he has just gotten himself in.

He hurries to untie his left arm, but forgets to untie his feet before attempting to run. He catches himself on his hands, his feet being shoved at uncomfortable angles. He manages to push himself back into the chair, his fingers fumbling over the thick leather straps on his ankles. AJ keeps glancing at Smiley, hoping that this escape attempt would not be in vain.

Once he's untied himself, AJ stumbles towards the door, and rattles the handle. It's locked from the outside. And Smiley has the key. The boy turns to face the crumpled figure. He decides to risk it, crouching low beside the unconscious man. AJ searches Smiley's pockets fretfully, feeling for the slightest touch of a key or key ring. 

He finds one and slips his finger through a thin, small loop, pulling it from Smiley's pocket slowly. Just before the glint of a silver key emerges, Smiley grabs AJ's arm. The boy yelps, trying to yank his arm away. Smiley reaches for the small remote. AJ kicks it away from him, watching it skid to the far corner of the room. Smiley kicks the boy hard in the gut, sending AJ skidding on the cold floor, wind knocked out of him.

AJ coughs, clutching his stomach. Smiley groans, favoring the side of his head that was hit, and starts to crawl towards the remote. Wheezing, AJ begins to limp over, trying to get to the remote before Smiley does. He reaches it first, snatching it away from Smiley's outstretched hand. Not realizing how hard he gripped it, AJ accidently presses one of the buttons. The explosion of pain that crashes down upon him was worse than anything he could comprehend. He screams, feeling his throat rip, and curls into a ball, writhing in agony as hysteria and pain overrun his brain.

He throws his hands out, trying to find the remote with his spazzing hands. He finally brushes it with one of his hands, and tries grabbing it. His hand is slick with sweat; AJ can't get ahold of it and instead pushes it further away. He can't reach it in his pitiful state. His body is shaking uncontrollably and the pain never wavers or dulls. Smiley's hand comes into focus, grabbing the remote away from the boy. Startled, AJ pushes himself up, scampering to a nearby wall, fearing Smiley may inflict something worse upon the boy.

Then, the agony vanishes, leaving a stinging feeling in AJ's nerves. He sumps onto the wall, gagging. He wretches and pukes, nothing but stomach acid coming up. It burns his throat and mouth as it drips from beneath his mask. AJ tries to pull it off, sputtering, but it's too tight, and does not budge as the boy claws at the yellow plastic, coughing to keep the stomach acid out of his mouth.

AJ is still shaking from adrenaline and his shuddering breaths. He looks over at Smiley, nausea coming in threatening waves, and watches the man stumble to the door, unlock it, and stumble through, closing it behind him. AJ is left in complete darkness, the only sound being the drip of vomit from AJ's mask. 239... AJ thinks slowly, his mind a puddle of molasses. 

AJ starts to shiver; either the floor has grown noticeably cold, or he has just begun to notice it. He draws his legs to his chest, remaining in the fetal position. He does not feel anything, nor does he have the mental capacity to.

After many hours, Smiley opens the door again. The light seems to blind AJ―he's been in the dark a long time. Smiley swiftly steps away of the doorframe, leaving way for two figures to enter. They approach the boy, each one grabbing him under the arm. They lift him and walk from the room. AJ does not help the men haul him back into the brightly lit room, and simply lets himself be dragged along like a ragdoll

He's simply thrown back on the bed, restraints pulled tightly. AJ barely notices, and makes no effort to resist― every ounce of his energy has been sapped from his being. Smiley motions for the people to leave, sitting down in his chair beside the bed. "Why did you hit me, 293?"

"I tried to run." AJ choke.

"Did you not stop to think about the consequences? Did you really think you could escape that easily? Did you plan this ahead of time? Why aren't you worried about what I can do to you? You know that I am able to break you, kill you even, yet you continue to fight me. Are you that determined, or just that stupid?"

The boy pauses, drawing in a breath before his reply. "If you wanted to kill me, you would've done so by now." He says, his voice a barely-audible whisper. He turns his head to look at Smiley, who does not reply. He just sits there, as if thinking. Then, without warning, the man stands and slowly exits, closing the door behind him just as the lights power off. AJ is left― again―in total darkness, wondering if his stupid attempt to run was worth it or not. Though, he knows, deep down, that he won. This time, at least.