//------------------------------// // Chapter Two - Pins and Needles // Story: Experiment 76 // by Foxes33 //------------------------------// When number 88 left, he didn't come back. A few of his friends waited by the cell door, anxious for his return, but I knew he wasn't coming back. I knew it was terrible, but I stayed by the few ponies I met, I was safer here. Yet I knew when my number was called, I would be discovered. The scientist came in, only to gather the dead bodies. Guards stood at the door, armored from head to hoof. They watched as the scientist gathered the limp bodies. Most looked red and other looked beaten to a pulp. I could tell that this place was a lot worst then my dark little world. I favored eternal darkness then this living hell that was before me. I could smell the metallic odor and the small of death. Sickness and blood mixed together to make a putrid odor that I couldn't stand. I already knew it would take some time to get use to it. My stomach couldn't stop twisting in terrible knots, but as Shade had said, mercy was more important. I had saved a life and if I end up dead for it, so be it. Remembering the nod of thanks I received from the tiny colt was enough to keep me feeling warm. In this cold cage of death, I felt warm. Someponies say that ponies go crazy knowing their life might be over. Yet I found myself calm, even in the cluster of injury and sickness. I found myself smiling, and when I finally looked around I found Shade staring at me like I was crazy. Then again not many smiled here. "You okay?" Shade asked concerned way. I looked at him and then down at my hooves. I wanted to put my sentence in a way that was easy to understand. I knew either way he would understand, but I couldn't thread the words together. "I am fine," I assured briefly. "Then why were you smiling?" Shade asked, taken back by my answer. "Because I showed mercy and saved that colt. To stop his suffering. If I die, then at least he will live longer." I answered, my tone serious. He just looked at me and nodded. Then he looked at the other ponies in the cage. "Too bad he has to grow up in hell." Shade sighed. That was when a frown appeared on my face. He would have to suffer anyways. If he talked, he would be dead, that was how it worked here. I wanted to let the tears come, but I was tougher then that. I just did what I normally did when I was disappointed. I breathed in and then out. This was how I calmed myself down. "Yeah, too bad," I sighed. I gazed around the room as well and saw ponies actually freaking out. They knew this could be their last moments, and they were scared. In this place we weren't sure if there was even God. Most believed it, but it was just hard to believe in a hell like this. Then again it couldn't get worst, but I knew I could just be fooling myself. "What happens in there?" I asked Shade. He looked back at me, his eyes grim. He already knew what I was talking about and anypony could tell by his face. My stomach was already beginning to twist into knots. Just by his gaze he had made some of it clear. "Its a hell zone. I haven't gotten the worst. They blind some. Not to the extent of Clay, but for a while. They jab things into us and you don't even know what. Pins and needles touch our skin and sometimes they torture us. Even here is a living hell. This cell may seem safe, but your wrong. Here we kill some out of mercy, those who can't take it anymore." Shade explained, his voice grim. I could only look at my hooves, my mind thought of the sins that were here. However my thoughts turned to the door where number 88 was taken. What was it like beyond those doors? I somehow knew that it was the true hell in this place. This was simply a hellish waiting room. It made me terrified. "Now you understand how bad it is." Shade whispered grimly. All I could do was nod. It was terrible here, what about inside? My heart began to beat faster, I hoped not to enter those doors. I could just imagine villainous guards around the room and a darkness that struck fear. I could imagine icy needles penetrating my skin as I may lay helplessly on a cold examination table. Scientist on all angles, but you wouldn't know where they were. The blind state their cover as they poke and prod you, in hopes of pain. The malicious chanting of guards as they hoot and holler with excitement for your death or suffering. Well the victim lays helplessly in the middle of it. Fear stricken, face hot, and trying to hold back the hot tears. Feeling droplets of there blood fall from their soaked skin and onto the floor. Unable to see, only able to hear, feel, smell and taste the terrible monstrosity that was behind those doors. It made me shiver just to look at them. I feared being behind those doors and being helpless to save myself or any other pony. "That does sound like hell. I can't even imagine it all." I whisper back, my voice stills serious. I looked away from the doors and back at Shade. I no longer wanted to think of what happened behind those doors. All I knew was that it was terrible, and pure hell. "Be happy you haven't been called yet." Shade said, his voice trailing off. I could only look at him as his head hung low and he stared at his hooves. I already knew that he must be traumatized. Then again, it was hard not to be in a place like this, it was hell after all. Then I looked around at everypony else and I could see the pain and all their eyes. Every last one of them was different and it just hurt to know. I could only wonder if the princesses know, or were they for this unspeakable madness? How could the Silencers do this? For us, talking was pain and silence was safety and not after you spoke, darkness became hell. The thing that used to comfort me turning to my hell. I felt betrayed by the darkness, but it wasn't its fault, was it? I no longer wanted to think about it, but I couldn't help it. I could no longer hear anything else. All I knew was that the darkness had forever betrayed me. The Silencer had turned it into one of my worst enemies. Darkness, once my only comrade, now my enemy. It made me feel terrible just to think about it. My stomach twisted into more knots and I couldn't help, but to feel alone. I already knew that I had to make allies, but was it that easy? I haven't talked for 2 years. For those 2 years, darkness was my only ally, and it was hard to let go, but it was time to say good bye. I needed to make new allies and I already knew who. The ponies I first met were my best bet. They were willing to keep my secret from the others, so perhaps they were my only hope. I breathed in then out, calming myself. As soon as I got out of my state of mind I heard yelling. "What was your idiot friend doing? Bumping into me!" A large stallion growled. My head turned and I could see Flora and Clay. I already knew what happened. Clay must have had to take the lead and bumped into the stallion by accident. I waited, I couldn't just assume. "I-I didn't mean to." Clay squeaked. Soon I noticed the attention shift to them. I began to move closer. This wasn't some petty act, this was real! I scrambled through the crowd and kept listening. "Please don't hurt us!" Flora pleaded. "Too bad," the stallion said, and I could see him about to buck them. That was when I felt my wings open and I jumped above the crowd and over them. I had never flown, so it just turned to a far jump. I landed on the stallion's back, knocking him off balance. I was thrown off shortly, but I got to my feet. I heard gasps from all around me. I could just hear a small murmur. "He tackled Beast." They all seem to say. The stallion known as beast got to his hooves and stared at me. He forgot about Clay and Flora who was running towards Shade. They only watched as I stood tall, looking at beast. "What was that for?" He growled. "That was for picking on the innocent." I retorted, also growling. Soon Beast was laughing very loudly. It seemed to fill the whole cage with laughter. "You little idiot, think you can beat me?" He boomed, "Just try!" Soon he was charging for me. I didn't know quite what to do, but I took and guess and waited. I knew his size would easily knock me off balance, but I waited. Just before he would have ran me over. I dodged and his momentum knocked him off his feet. I was near the other side of the crowd. I felt slight stabbing in my legs. I turned to see his friends poking me with broken needles and pins. I stepped back from them, but soon my right side was hit. I was on the floor in a matter of seconds. I large pain rippled down my flank and I looked to see that some of the pins and needles were still in my skin. I ignored them and got to my feet, but was hit before I could recover. The crowd gasped and my friends watched in horror as I hit the metal ground again. Scratches formed from the pins and needles that were left in my skin. I got up faster this time, but weaker. He was already charging, but I knew what to do. I dodged right as soon as he came, but he stopped soon. However before he could recover from his charge and headbutt him from the right side and he was thrown off balance. I charged up, using my wings, I flew up, kicking his right to the point where he fell. I waited and when he got up again, he charged at me. This time I didn't turn and stood my ground. I understood now, that to survive, pain might have to be caused. I bucked when he got into range and he fell. A big purple bruise on his face. I walked away and back to my friends, I stood at the edge of the crowd. "Hurting others isn't right unless it is more defense." I declared and walked away. I went back to the corner where I liked to be. Where I felt safest. My friends followed, they were all grinning. I looked up, my flanks burning from the cuts. "Thanks Blitzer!" Flora said sweetly. I was looking at my flank, taking out some of the pins and needles left in my skin. I looked up at her and smile. "No problem," I stated. "No, we all owe you big thanks. That guy has been picking fight with everypony, but you showed him." Shade praised. I couldn't help, but to smile. I took out a few more pins, it really hurt. Flora glances back at Beast's group and didn't look pleased. "They're so mean sticking pins in you. You could get sick." Flora growled. "I am fine. Besides, everyone makes enemies." I stated. "True," Shade admitted. I looked at my hooves for support. I wanted to ask them if maybe we could form a group. It would be the beast thing to do really. I breathed in, then out. I had to do this, I lost the darkness, not I needed real allies. "Hey, guys. I was thinking, maybe we could all work together?" I asked, trying to put on a nice smile. "Lets do it!" Flora exclaimed. Clay nodded, agreeing with her. Shade looked at his hooves, he seemed nervous, but soon looked up. His eyes were bright with hope and he also nodded. This felt great, I had new allies, but lost darkness. Never again could I trust it, never again would it comfort me. In seconds I got more terrified then ever, that was when I heard it. "Number 76 and 33, calling numbers 76 and 33."