Honor the Dead
by BinaryTroll
Pre-read/Edited by Honored Service
Chapter 36: “I don't need your life story.”
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It all began on my fifteenth birthday. It was a school day, so I wasn't feeling great about it. As always, I didn't feel any older, or more mature. As far as I was concerned it was just another day at school, just more of the daily grind. So I borrowed a new book from the library, to stave off boredom during the rest of the day. Happy birthday indeed. Unfortunately, it was an excellent book, and I found myself absorbed in reading it. So absorbed in it that I missed my stop on the way home, sticking me out in an unfamiliar neighborhood with no map, mode of transport or any idea of what to do. So I looked around and started asking people for directions to my home suburb, Tarragindi. Nobody seemed to want to talk to me, until a tall woman in a black coat asked me if I was lost.
I'm not an idiot, I knew I shouldn't have trusted her, but I told her anyway.
“I missed my stop on the bus, and now I don't know where I am.”
She smiled disarmingly down at me. “Don't worry, I'm sure I can help. Where do you live?”
“Percy st, Tarragindi.”
She whistled. “Wow, you must of missed it by a long way.”
“I was reading.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Getting wrapped up in a good book can just make you zone out.”
“Do you have a map I could use please? Or a phone? I don't want my parents getting worried.”
“Sorry kid, my phone's out of charge. I do have a map in my car though.”
I felt like I was saved. “Can I use it please?”
“Of course you can.” She smiled. “My car is over here.”
She led me to a fairly average looking white car, nothing to be suspicious of. She unlocked it and told me the map was in the glove box. I took it out and found my street. It was several kilometers away, and a very long walk.
I groaned. “My parents are going to be furious. This could take hours.”
The lady got in the car and took the map off me. She studied for a few seconds. “I think I know where to go, so if you want a lift, hop in.”
I was tired, and the lady had been rather kind to me, so I threw caution to the wind and sat down in the passenger seat.
“You know, as a general rule I really don't think I should trust you, but it's getting late and I really don't want my parents to worry. No offense by the way.”
She laughed. “None taken. My parents always told me not to trust strangers, but in the end, most people are okay.”
I laughed too. “Yeah, besides, you're coat is cool.”
“Thank you. Most people say it makes me look emo.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then people should stop judging a book by it's cover. Just 'cause you like black, doesn't mean you're some social reject. Black's a nice color, and highly practical too. Fucking assholes.”
She gasped. “Language!”
“Sorry.”
She laughed and started the ignition. “Nah, I'm just fucking with ya. People are way too uptight about that sort of thing.”
“I know, right? It's just a word.”
She was friendly, and I liked her, so I let my guard down. I started reading again, and stopped paying attention to what was happening outside. So I hardly noticed when we pulled up outside a house that was definitely not my own.
She nudged me and I looked up. “You recognize here?”
I looked around. “Nope.”
“Shit. Me neither.” She got out of the car and started walking around, checking mailbox numbers and other things.
Not wanting to be left behind, I got out and followed her. “What are you looking for?”
“A street name. I must have taken a wrong turn.”
“Can I help?”
She shrugged. “Sure, just look for some sort of intersection. Street names are usually around there.”
So I started walking down the street, looking at houses and trying to find something that looked familiar. I didn't notice when the lady sneaked up behind me.
She clamped a hand over my mouth and put her arm around my neck. “Sorry kiddo. And I was just starting to like you too.”
There was a sharp pain in my neck, probably from a needle, and then everything went black.
---
"So yeah, I got kidnapped. Because I was an idiot. A complete and total imbecile. I trusted someone that I shouldn't have trusted, and it came back to bite me in the ass. So I trust very few people nowadays." I looked up. "That's why I asked you if you trusted me. Because if you did, this counts as a warning. People are almost never what they seem, and should never be trusted, unless you've know them inside out."
"But you aren't going to kidnap us, are you?" Vi asked. "I mean, that'd be silly."
I sighed. "Not right now, but the more I use bloodrage, the more irrational I get. That's why I'm telling you this, so you understand the nature of my condition, and why I'm so fucked up in the head right now."
---
Anyway, I woke up in the trunk of a car, bound and gagged with duct tape. I wasn't sure how long I had been out for but I assumed it had been several hours, since I felt rather thirsty. I could hear voices outside, but I couldn't understand them. I didn't struggle, I didn't scream. It was weird, I scared as all fuck, but I couldn't do anything.
I waited for a few minutes and the eventually someone opened the trunk. It was the woman from earlier.
“Hi kiddo.” She looked almost sad. “Welcome to hell.”
I raised an eyebrow. That was basically all I could do.
She picked me up and slung me over her shoulder. We were in a garage of a sort. There were a pair of men in mismatched clothing standing guard, one holding an AK-47, the other an AK-74u. I was surprised I could tell the difference. The woman opened a door and started walking downstairs. A long way downstairs.
Eventually I found myself being dumped in a tiny cell, after passing through several corridors full of guards. All the guards had varying clothing, weapons and stances. Some looked highly disciplined, while others looked almost casual.
As I said, the cell was small, but surprisingly clean. Everything so far had been highly sterile and gleaming white, and my cell was no exception. Which was nice.
The woman tore my gag off, tearing the beginnings of a mustache with it. She then cut off the tape binding my arms together, and finally my legs. I didn't really move.
She stood up and looked down at me. “Got nothing to say?”
I just said the first thing that came into my mind. “What's your name?”
She burst out laughing. “What, no crys for help? No senseless screaming?”
I shrugged. “I don't know what to think right now. If you've done your job properly, then there isn't much point is there? I mean, I could do it just to spite you, but that'll probably just end badly for me. So, I might as well ask your name, because I have nothing better to say.”
She smiled. “That's a first. Quite refreshing actually.”
“So, name?”
“You can call me Kathrine.”
I stood up. “I would say pleasure to meet you, but to be honest, I doubt it will be.”
“You are a very odd individual.”
“Can I have some water? Also food. I didn't have lunch today.”
“Why do you think I care.”
“Well, considering you went to so much trouble taking me alive, I doubt you want me to die of thirst.”
“Good analysis.” She smiled again. “I'll get you some water. I might even get you dinner if you're lucky.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I didn't really expect that. Thanks.”
She turned and left the cell, locking it with a key, and then with a swipe card. I watched her walk down the hall for a few moments before lying down on my new bed.
After an hour or so, she returned, now carrying a tray with a bottle of water, a bowl of stew and some toast. She entered once again, swipe card then key.
“Hello again.” I said, sitting up.
She set the tray down on the bedside table and sat down next to me. “Hello.”
I stared at the tray of food for a second, shrugged and picked up the bowl of stew. I dug in. It was actually rather nice. “Jesus Christ, I was expecting gruel. This is way better.”
Kathrine shrugged. “Gotta keep you healthy.”
I scarfed down some more of the stew before asking. “Why?”
“We need a healthy test subject or it could interfere with the experimentation.”
“Wait, what?”
She put a hand on my shoulder. “You are test subject seven, the youngest we've ever had.”
“That's ironic.”
“What is?”
“Seven's my favorite number.”
I finished off the stew and sighed. “I always imagined being kidnapped would involve more rape and torture. So far, it's been
quite pleasant.”
“Don't get used to it.” Kathrine muttered. “You got lucky.”
“How so?”
“You got me.”
I shrugged. “I haven't met any other kidnappers, but I reckon you do have a point.”
“I'm not a kidnapper.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then what are you?”
“I'm a therapist.”
“Who just so happens to kidnap people.” I deadpanned.
“Look, I don't have a choice. I'm as much a prisoner to this organization as you are.”
“Forgive me for not being sympathetic, but you aren't the one stuck in a cell.”
“True, but you don't have to worry about being shot if you put a toe out of line.”
“It's not like I can anyway.”
“Maybe so, but you don't have to worry about tripping either.”
“I guess this does explain why you are actually talking to me.”
“After the first three went insane, we figured out that human company generally helps.”
I groaned. “So what are you going to do to me?”
“Try to turn you into the perfect killing machine.”
“Because that always works out well in movies.”
“This isn't a movie.”
I sighed. “Yeah, which means that I'm probably screwed.”
“Just don't die, and we should be all good.”
“I don't know what to expect.”
Kathrine hugged me, which I seriously didn't expect.
I looked up at her. “That didn't make me feel much better.”
“I'll be back soon.”
She stood up and took the tray, leaving only the bottle of water behind.
I unscrewed the cap and took a drink. It was slightly chilled. Very satisfying. So far, this had been a really weird experience. I had no idea what to think. What was going to happen to me if I survived? I mean, being a perfect killing machine sounds cool, but what if I screwed up?
I looked up as Kathrine entered the room again. She was carrying a clipboard and a pen.
“What's that for?” I asked.
“I need to determine if you are suitable for experimentation. If you aren't, then you will have to be terminated.”
“So what's to stop me from lying?”
“The potential for a far longer and more painful death.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Alright then, lets get started.”
I fell back down on the bed. “Alright then. I'll answer to the best of my ability.”
“Thank you. Firstly, have you had any recent physical injuries?”
“Besides being choked to unconsciousness? No. In fact I've never broken any bones or had an serious injuries in my entire life.”
“Well, that answers question two. Three: Have you recently taken, or been taking any form of vitamin supplicants, or other medication?”
“I took some medication for depression two years ago, and I've been taking one fish oil capsule each day with breakfast.”
“Do you have any mental disorders that you know of?”
“Yes. I have a mild case of Asperger's syndrome, I used to have a mild case of depression and apparently I'm getting Stockholm syndrome.”
She raised an eyebrow at that. “Why do you think that?”
“Because I'm not hating you as much as I really should.”
“I'm technically not the one holding you captive.”
“Whatever.”
“Well then, you should be alright. I'll have to schedule a physical examination for tomorrow, but so far you appear to be fine.”
“Yay.” I muttered.
“You should get some sleep. Tomorrow is unlikely to be fun for you.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I kinda guessed.”
Kathrine exited the cell once more and flipped off the light. “Good night subject seven.”
“'Night Kathrine.”
So that was my first day in hell. It got a lot worse.