500 - Part I - Distorted Shadows and Monsters

Chapter XV - Violence Versus Vengeance

"You could've killed me!"

That was the roar that filled a thousand ears. That was the roar of a man who almost died.

"I could've died!"

Brielle had tears filling in her eyes, spilling like the blood down Daniel's neck. Daniel hadn't tried to stop her. He stood there, eyes not trailing off Grayden at all. He couldn't believe it. The feeling wouldn't sink in. The memory wouldn't set in stone.

"I know you could've died," she whispered guiltily.
"Can you believe what you just did?" Grayden questioned.
"No."
"Me neither."

Grayden was nothing short of outraged. He pressed his tie back in place and rubbed his eyes, but not out of exhaustion nor weariness. "I can't believe after everything. You betrayed me. You tried to escape. You-You tried to kill me." Grayden didn't dare look at her, as he spoke. There was another man comforting him, but he merely batted his hand away. "My colleagues, go put the children where they belong. Await further instructions." The children were all stood. None of them sat down any longer. They watched closely, all attempting not to trigger any more breakouts of violence. They too awaited further instructions. "Nobody puts themselves above me," he grumped, waggling a finger at Brielle, who cowered back a little. "Unbelievable behaviour."
"I'm sorry."
"Not good enough, Brielle. Subjects are subjects. You're not superior."

Brielle was dragged away, arms flailing. Daniel ran after her and Grayden, but Thackby held him back. "I believe you know who I am," Thackby muttered. Daniel nodded. A giant industrial gate came crashing down like a portcullis. Metal bars and cogs sealed the entrance to Corridor H. The security on the door was extremely exaggerated. Two horizontal teal laser beams stretched across the gate, parallel to each-other. The children couldn't help but realise it was the symbol on Grayden's tie. There was black, acrylic lettering delicately painted on the structure. Letter S. Letter C. Letter R. Letter A. Letter T. Letter C. Letter H. "Thackby, why did—" Daniel began.
"I saved your life," Thackby stated.
"Th-Thank you."
"I can't protect Brielle though. Her survival is uncertain." Those words plunged Daniel under a sea of fear. It suffocated him. Drowned him in his own serving of melancholy. It was depressing. The feeling was oppressing. "Why did you stop me?" Daniel asked quickly, "I could've saved her."
"You, Daniel, would've been decapitated by the gate," he replied bitterly. Thackby explained, "Shadow has a remote that controls the gates of the whole facility. He has crushed—"
"I don't need to hear about what he's done. He's done enough already."

Waterwood coughed. Thackby faced her. "You," she grunted, "Need a word with me. Leave the boy here."
"No, but—"
"Do as you're told."

Waterwood and Thackby also departed. Seven men and seven women still remained, all with no clue what to do next. "You're Daniel."
"You're an idiot." Maybe the silence was driving him crazy. Insanity wasn't rare here. "Is it all getting to you? You tried to leave." It was a man. He had blonde, gelled hair all stuck up on top of his head. One eye was a milky shade of light blue. The other was entirely white, swirling like mist. It was memorising. Then a pool of cobalt melanin flooded the whiteness. Two blue lines appeared — a recurring symbol. Daniel didn't want to be caught staring, so blinked and shook his head. "You didn't leave?" he quizzed, raising one thin eyebrow.
"No, I mean yes. Yes I did try, but no, yes."
"Talk sense, boy," he stated, "My name is Sullivan."
"Well, Sullivan, I may be going mad, but I know you people aren't nice." Daniel was so done with the violence, the suffering, the whole not knowing business. He was so sick of it all. Maybe he did want to die. Again, the thought was dark. Maybe Blaze had gone to Heaven. He hoped so. It seemed even Thackby was now not standing up to Grayden anymore. He was weak, vulnerable, feeble. He seemed to do just about everything his "manager" asked for. Just so he wouldn't be next. He knew he was on his final chance. Thackby wouldn't push his luck.

"You're not nice for letting that subject attack Alistair like that. He's your god and you're defying him."
"He's not my neighbour. He's not my friend. He's not my family. He's not my dad. He's not a parental figure. He's not a manager. He's not a good man. He's not an inspiration. He's certainly not a god."
"Well he's your threatener and you listen to him."
"No I don't."
"We have guns."
"So?"
"We have guns."
"Where are they?"
"Not saying. I have my eye, though. It can cause some pain." He licked his lips in relish. "I'm going to enjoy this."