Mystic Academy: The Lie

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I had absolutely no idea how fast time was going. I could have been in the cell for two weeks or just a few days. I had no idea.
The only company I had was the man who came to me with food; my brother. Although he said he disobeyed Hector's orders, it seemed this was an exception. Because he came by every day with a bowl with a new meal in hand. His stopping and talking for a little while had also become a habit. Now that I knew who he was, his curiosity wasn't so strange. He probably wanted to get to know his little sister.

But when he came this time, I immediately noticed that he was empty-handed. I walked over to the grid and watched as he took a key out of his pants pocket. He struggled to actually unlock the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked. It seemed odd that he would help me when he didn't know a thing about who I was, other than the fact that we shared the same blood.

"Got orders to help you out. Father wants to talk to you." He inserted the rusty piece of metal in his hand into the keyhole. The door slid open. It squeaked so much that the headache—which had finally subsided—came right back.

I stood up, but quickly realized how unsteady I was. My so-called "brother" rushed forward to support me. I couldn't help giving him a weak smile in thanks.

He smiled back. "It's all right. I will help you. Just let me know."

"Thanks," I whispered.

We walked through the corridor. It didn't take long at all to get to the remaining cells. They were filled with people, just as I predicted. All were of different ages, and the only thing they had in common was that they were drenched in dirt. Elderly men and women, so old they knew they wouldn't make it out alive. Youngsters kidnapped from their families to be used in the experiment. Youngsters whose normal lives they would never get back. People sentenced to death.

And my brother didn't even care. His eyes did not show the slightest pity. But the prisoners probably didn't expect that from him. He was the scoundrel's child, after all. He wasn't meant to care.
But I couldn't help doing it myself. It was absurd. That no one at Mystic had even mentioned what had happened. Surely these lost souls should have a family waiting for them, missing them?

Once we were past the cells we came to a steep spiral staircase. My "brother" walked in front of me, while I followed him with careful steps. The stairs were narrow, so he had now let go of me, and I became more unsteady than before. But somehow I managed to climb the steep steps.

It was nice to leave the cells behind, although I suspected I would soon be back there again. The air was so much cleaner than down there that every new breath made me a little calmer about the situation.

The corridors we walked through were barely lit, but I had to half guess, half follow my "brother's" footsteps. The best idea was not to try to escape. I wouldn't make it far anyway. So I had to follow.

The stairs took more energy than I thought. My legs were so fragile that I just wanted to sink to the floor and stay there forever. It felt like walking on jelly. But the distance I had to walk now was nothing compared to the steep stairs, and I had managed to climb them. Also, my brother was quickly by my side again to support me.
I knew he was probably one of the "bad guys", but his behavior was anything but. At least that was the impression I had so far.

All of a sudden we were standing outside an open double door. My brother gestured for me to step in, which I did. He followed, but placed himself farther away.

My gaze was as if glued to the man who was sitting there in the throne-like chair. I recognized him immediately.

Hector.

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"So good that you came, Aline," said the man sitting in front of me. I couldn't bring myself to call him Dad. Not right in front of his eyes. Then I would admit that I wasn't so against the idea of ​​the change of father after all. And I didn't want to give Hector the satisfaction of knowing about my deepest feelings. But if he suspected anything, I had no doubt he could use his ability on me to find out the things he wanted to know.

"I didn't really have a choice," I muttered.

Hector didn't even bother to catch what I was saying. "I hope Aiden has treated you well. You are one of us now, Aline, and you must be treated as a Baluf." He nodded towards my "brother".

Aiden.

So that was his name. I had thought it felt a little disrespectful to just call him with the only "title" I had.

I tried to ignore the fact that the dogs were present. Even though I'd seen the horrors that had happened to the Leader Dog, the pity for him wasn't as strong as the fear that was still in my body after what happened to Liam. The dogs were ruthless and terrifying. They didn't care who they hurt. That they hurt.

One of the dogs took a few steps towards me, and I prepared myself for it to jump on me at any second.

Aiden saw my startled face. He gave Hector a look, but Dad just laughed.

"Father, I don't think...," he started.

Dad stopped him. "He won't hurt her," Hector said. "I knew she was there all the time inside Mystic. I saw everything. And if I had wanted to get rid of her I would have let my lackey here do it while ordering him to finish off Liam."

Just him mentioning Liam by name was enough to stir up the hatred within me. I had figured out a long time ago that Hector had been the reason the dogs went after Liam. But hearing it was another matter.
"How could you?!" I exclaimed. "How could you do that to me?! To him?"

"It was actually quite simple. He disobeyed orders. And he knew the consequences of this. It is his own fault that he is where he is now." Dad didn't even sound troubled.

Now the tears were running down my cheeks. "How could you?! How could you?!"

He didn't even answer my question. Instead he turned to Aiden. "Bring her back to the cells. I'm starting to realize my mistake in bringing her up already."

Aiden nodded and took a hold of my waist as he dragged my helpless body down the hall.

I couldn't fight anymore.