48. Collette : Sanctuary

Waking up as the helicopter clanked on a landing pad we began to descend into the ground. Once the platform came to a halt alongside the other remaining helicopters soldiers quickly left the craft assisting paramedics in placing wounded onto stretchers. Quickly carting them away we were then escorted through the facility to holding cells. While small it contained a well made and comfortable bed, desk and complete bathroom.

Immediately I set out towards the shower. It had been years since I had a proper shower. I felt age old grim grind off my body after intense scrubbing worked it free. Spending what I thought to be an hour in the embrace of the warm running water and changing into the provided uniform I fell onto the bed as a meal was placed on the table. With a disgruntled groan helping myself up to eat the nutritious meal I found myself entering a coma as I fell onto the bed once more.

Waking up hours later to knocking on the secured door a voice came through asking for permission to enter. Responding two soldiers entered escorting me again this time to a debriefing room where everyone sat except for Bisso, Terra, Karte, Sparrow, Flux and Duke. Most of us had some form of cast or bandage as injuries were hastily treated by personal if not deemed threatening enough to require intensive care. Entering the room from a door next to a mirror a sergeant placed out a myriad of folders in front of him.

Sitting in silence as he skimmed through them one by one looking at photos to put names to our faces as he looked over us all wondering where to begin. Looking up to one of the privates in the room he nodded instructing him to take his place at a workstation turning on a microphone and began to type everything being said in the room as the sergeant spoke.

“I have no doubt you’re wondering who we are.” Silence held the room as he waited for a reply. Not receiving one he continued on anyway.

“This complex is run by task force shadow fall. We combat an individual known as the arbitrator and it's creations. Have any of you heard of either name?” Silence confirmed we hadn’t. Convinced we didn’t know anything noteworthy the sergeant cut to the chase.

“You have been brought to this facility because not only have you seen the things we’re trying to protect the world from but you have also proven yourself as capable operatives or specialists in the field. Being apart of the extraction it should be no surprise that we’re always looking for fresh recruits.” Placing his hands on the table he offered an ultimatum.

“So in this circumstance we offer a position in our forces. If you choose to join us you will be trained specifically to combat the threats you have dealt with in your exposure to the zone while also receiving advanced combat training and specialisation in your strengths. If you choose to fight alongside us you will be expected to dedicate your lives to the task force. Once you learn how dire the straits are we doubt you’ll have any issue with that.” Artur spoke up immediately in response.

“What if we refuse?” Folding his arms the sergeant sighed.

“You won’t be allowed to remember any of this. On top of that we’ll do you the favour of helping you forget everything you’ve seen these past years.” Artur immediately went into shock.

“What do… no… I have to leave but I can’t forget. Everything was for her! Look! Look at these!”

The private tensed up reaching for his rifle as Artur dived his hand into his jacket that he refused to change out of even forgoing a shower. Spilling out the contents of his jacket the table was covered in numerous letters and some small packages. Each with the same address written over and over again. Spreading them out over the table so the sheer quantity of letters could be realized the sergeant did his best to calm Artur.

“We can get you home son. You won’t be able to take anything from the zone with you but you can go to that address.” Panicked he locked eyes with the sergeant.

“At least let me take my memories then! Please!”

On the verge of begging the sergeant looked to him trying to find some ground to convince him otherwise but the crazed look in Artur’s eyes suggested there wasn’t any point. Signalling towards the mirror two more men came into the room with regret wrought over their faces moving towards the terrified boy. Grabbing as many letters as he could Artur fell back into the corner of the room.

“The letters! You must send the letters it can’t all be for nothing!”

With one of the soldiers trying to take hold of him he threw his arms about desperately trying to elude their grasp. Giving up with being gentle the two soldiers tackled him carrying him out of the room kicking and screaming. None of us stood to help him. I looked at him enviously. He would forget all the turmoil even if it felt so perturbing to him for the moment. The sergeant looked back to us with sorrow in his eyes.

“I’m sorry about your friend. It’s the only way. He’ll be given the chance to reconsider. The rest of you have two hours to decide. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.” Benedict immediately piped up.

“I have a son. Could he train here?” Surprised the sergeant looked round the room tossing the proposition around in his head.

“How old?”

“Ten years.” Rubbing his eyes with one hand the sergeant looked over to the private for moral guidance. Responding with a shrug the sergeant answered the question.

“We have a program for children from the age of twelve. Mostly orphans from either the zone or arbitrator. Your son won’t ever know a normal life. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Positive.” Nodding the sergeant noted something down on a spare piece of paper.

“Very well. If you change your mind you have two years. Once he’s in though, that’s it.”

After that the room went quiet as we murmured between ourselves while Strider handed the sergeant a flash drive claiming a prototype of some sort from the lab was on it. The usb quickly fell into the hands of the private in the room who ran off to deliver it to the right people. Eventually I sat with Benedict considering our options. As he went on in the back of my mind I felt like this would be the last time we would ever speak to each other.

“I can get my son here and teach him how to protect himself. The way the world is going I think it's the only way. At least we’ll be given the chance to learn how to fight properly. Strange silver lining huh.”

Sitting silently next to him with my arms wrapped around my knees the demons in my mind were already beginning to resurface. All the samples and creatures I cut open flashed through my mind with the same organ present in every single one of them. I’d seen all too much. Even leaving the zone the voices persisted regardless of the fact that they left the others. Looking down to me Benedict became solemn.

“We weren’t fast enough were we.” Looking back to him holding back terror I choked out a response.

“It’s there. It’s always there. Even if I wanted to fight I couldn’t. I just want to forget. I have to forget.”

Going to try argue Benedict quickly bit his tongue. He didn’t understand but he knew I was barely holding it together. This was the best chance I had at surviving. Feeling his arm wrap around my shoulders I rested my head against him. This would be the last time I’d ever see him. From fighting off neighbourhood bullies to conquering everest and escaping the zone. It would all end here after all.

The minutes ticked by as we were certain in our decisions. He would save his son from the horrors the world was yet to experience and I would be able to live happily if only for a few years. Slowly the clock ticked as we waited for the moment to be told it was time to lock in our decision. Listening to his heart beat I wasn’t distraught though. My friend would live on. He would survive. There was hope again. Hope for us both. Looking up towards him he must’ve felt the same thing as he smiled back.

As bittersweet as it was when the sergeant asked for our decision we parted ways without regret. The sergeant asked the others to wait in the room to be briefed on the situation of the world while I was escorted out so that I could forget. Stopping at the door to share one last look I left with it being shut behind me as the soldiers walked towards the medical section of the base.

Lying down in a bed a doctor and nurse approached setting up an IV. The doctor asked one last time to confirm this was exactly what I wanted and without hesitation I confirmed my wishes. With a nod the nurse penetrated my arm with a syringe and the amnesic solution was administered before the IV was connected as well. Explaining it would take around a day to take effect I let myself relax on the bed.

It would all be over soon. The dreaded memories would fade away as if they had never happened. I would experience such bliss in ignorance. I no longer wanted to discover the mysteries of the universe. I just wanted to live and this was my second chance. With so much time though I decided to reflect on what I was about to lose.

I was told I would remember Valentine and Benedict, just not our experiences in the zone. I could take comfort in that. The first day we entered was a mess to begin with. Ambushed by bandits and stuck in a scream. If it weren’t for Noah we would have all died there. We had to make our way in that place so I did what I did best and got to researching. It was so fascinating. The organs in all those creatures. Oh god the organs.

Lurching upward such disturbing pain ripped through my body. Screaming out the doctor immediately ran over trying to restrain my writhing. The nurse assisted the doctor as other doctors ran from the corners of the medical facility to pin me down. Something moved throughout my body deep within spreading further throughout it. A nurse provided another injection so I wouldn’t have to endure another moment of the pain.

Waking up later as if I had only blinked for a moment a secure window looked into my ward cell. To my side a machine monitored my state beeping slowly marking my heart rate. Seeing me awake doctors immediately entered with armed guards. All wore looks of concern. Eventually one of the doctors in charge of my case spoke to me after they ceased murmuring amongst themselves.

“How are you feeling?” Already breathing heavily I could feel something so perverse throughout my body.

“Something is moving inside me. It keeps writhing about. What’s happening?” Taking a deep breath the doctor went about his conclusions.

“After we sedated you we analysed your body with x-rays. What we found was… disturbing to say the least.” Impatient with the maddening writhing inside of me I demanded he hurry with his explanation.

“Looking at your body we found abnormalities. This x-ray is of your right arm.” Taking a moment to give me time to breathe the x-ray was placed against the lit up board. Instantly I could I identified the structures within. The bone the tissue the veins. All was well. The doctor continued on otherwise though.

“Did you ever feel something strange about that arm?” Quickly responding I held back a terrified cry as the writhing intensified.

“In the final days all the time.” Nodding solemnly the doctor prepared another X-ray photograph.

“That explains this then… this is what we found when exposing your arm to psionic excitation.”

The next x-ray looked the same as before but with one horrific discrepancy. The bone and blood vessels were hidden by a networking tissue. A mutagen tissue. Something unknown inside me. I wasn't sure what it was but I knew it would be the death of me.

“Then cut it off. Stop it before it takes hold.” Taking a stuttering breath the doctor proceeded to prepare another x-ray.

“If it was that simple you would’ve woken up without an arm. Before I show you this last x-ray I ask you prepare yourself and know that we can save you but the procedure will be… extreme. Before I try explain what we have to do, you have to see for yourself.”

Slowly he clipped up the second last x-ray photograph. A full body x-ray. Looking over everything my eyes keenly picked out all of the anatomical structures seeing them as normal. I didn’t feel any relief though and without words he slowly clipped up another x-ray no doubt one that was also psionically excited. Obscuring it with his body looking to me then the others who looked to be preparing for the worst he closed his eyes before moving to the side.

The organ. The organ ran throughout my entire body making a beeline for my brain. The strands seeked out my mind to assume control. My heart rate spiked exponentially with the revelation that I was right all along about the receptors as the beeping became erratic. Moving to throw myself from the bed mad with fear the doctor leaped forward holding me in the bed.

“Stay calm! Try to stay calm!”

My heart rate continued to rise as the machine tried to keep up. The soldiers assisted the doctor as I began manically laughing. This was the end. I was given hope just so the abyss could take it away. So much. So much torment just so this sick joke could be played out. Pinned down without any hope of moving as the writhing inside made it’s final growth towards my skull my maniacal laughter reached it’s peak as another syringe pierced my arm.

Quickly the world began to go dark again as soldiers hurried out of the room to bring in a mechanical body still steaming from a forge. Preparing surgical equipment the doctors almost began operating before I was properly unconscious. Even though I was dead to the world I could still feel that writhing presence assaulting my very being. It brought me closer and closer to the edge that I was so terrified to look over. As the abyss was about to force me to witness it’s secrets everything went black.