The broken gear

Experimental Revelations

Once the trio finally reached the floor the smell of bleach and mold hit their noses. Their surroundings were dim and humid. Nelle's light reflected from the broken and mud smudged tiles on the floor and wall, as well as a nearby medical cart.

"What is this place?" Nelle whispered.

"It looks like a hospital based on the tools over there," Thomas said as he pointed towards the cart.

"There seem to be a few stained scalpels, forceps, scissors, and, is that bone saw?" exclaimed Valeria.

"I think so," said Thomas.

"What are all of these tools for?" asked Nelle.

"To heal people from certain injuries or to perform surgical operations," replied Thomas.

"Huh, why don't they just use magic?" Nelle asked.

"Well, this works for people who are incapable of magic," he responded, "Unfortunately, they are becoming more common."

"Wait, what?" Nelle said as her heart skipped a beat.

"The industrial revolution was an event that took a toll on the number of people with magic," Valeria stated, "People did not need to rely on it as much as before, that caused a significant decrease in it's use."

Nelle stayed silent for a few moments. Her expression was still yet concerning. "Alright," she said, "Let's keep going."

The three came across a fork in the hallway. A straight unlit path ahead, a faintly lit path on the left, and a door on the right. Valeria looked through the door's blurry glass and could see a worn metal stairwell. She tried to pry the door open but instead ripped off the handle.

"This place must be really old if the handle just comes off like this," she said.

"I'm surprised that we have not seen more damage to this structure," Thomas observed. "Has it not rusted?"

"Not all metals rust. Though I do wonder about the architecture of this place."

"Regardless, next we could go towards the dimly lit path," Thomas stated.

"I have a light," Nelle said, "We can go straight ahead."

"I'm gonna agree, we could get spotted in the light," responded Valeria, who startled Nelle as she appeared behind her.

"And we won't get spotted in the dark?" Thomas said sarcastically.

"You know what? Let's split up."

"Valeria, no," Thomas said.

"Why not? Scared?" Valeria said in a taunting tone.

"Leave him alone," Nelle said. "But yeah, scared?"

"Alright, let's just split up," said a frustrated Thomas.

Thomas embarked on the hall with a dimly lit path as Nelle and Valeria became enveloped in the darkness.

"I should have taken my sword," Thomas regretted. He walked past several locked doors. He tried to see what was behind them but could not make a shape behind the frosted glass. Eventually he came across a dark room.

"Should have just gone with the others," he whispered to himself as he took the first step into the shadows.

-Nelle/Valeria-

As the two walked behind Nelle's light, they passed several doors and cracks on the walls with the occasional cart of supplies. They remained silent for the most part, giving each other periodic glances whenever they thought the other wasn't looking.

Valeria was the first to break the silence. "Why do you hate me?" she asked.

"Not just me, my kind."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know about the looks you've given my family."

"I just don't like how your kind traditionally feeds off of humans."

"I also don't like how your kind tends to treat them like slaves or toys."

"They don't do that!" she yelled in anger. Her voice echoed down the hall.

"Who are your parents?"

Nelle clenched her fist.

"That was a genuine question. We could start to remove the hatred between us."

"Natuna and Sonos," she reluctantly said. She started to prepare an attack in case Valeria made fun of her.

"I see. Must've been a difficult life with those two. Heard quite a bit from them. Do tell, how did they raise you?"

"They didn't. At least, not how you think. Father was always busy looking for something to sleep with, and Mother was similar spending time with those who devoted their lives to her. I stayed with my aunts and uncles frequently. Cryos is one of the more notable ones."

Valeria remained silent for a few moments. "My parents were relatively strict too. Obviously, they don't compare to yours, but they were more conservative growing up. They forced me to dress in formal dresses even in more casual occasions, when visiting family they used to lean towards the policy of 'Children are meant to be seen and not heard' and would get mad whenever we talked out of place. I'm surprised they even thought about being here, considering how anti-human they used to be."

"So, what changed? Your parents seem more positive. With the way your sisters behave you couldn't tell."

"Mary."

"What?"

"Mary was born. Something about her caused them to begin to soften up. They stopped having us be as formal as before, she wasn't punished when she interrupted the adults at gatherings, in fact, they seemed to stop what they were talking about to listen."

"What about your other sister?"

"Valerie adapted to the change better, she had a few decades to learn their perspective and softened up when they did. She doesn't hold grudges against them. For some reason."

They remained quiet for some time until they reached what seemed to be a lobby.

"Well, I guess it's time to see what awaits." Nelle said.