The Eden Projects (EDITING)

Chapter 51. Three Blind Mice.

I know he's breathing. Just beyond the wall.

Kasper stood with his head pressed to the doorframe of the storage room, listening. He hadn't left this exact spot in over a day. He felt heavy and maybe if he moved, the weight of it all would leave imprints in the cement where his shoes had settled. The key to the hardly jail-like door cut into his palm with its jagged teeth as he turned it over and over against his skin. He was listening. Every now and again there would be a rustle, a small cough, a sharp inhale, a murmur of cells birthing life, then silence. Silence, and he was sure that the boy was dead again. But a few moments later, another noise would change his mind.

"What do I do now..." He muttered. "If I go in there, I have to face it." The it being his past. How he wanted never to think of it again. He let out a soft chuckle. How could someone want to remember, and need to forget all at the same time. 

The sound of footsteps tugged him around.

"He should be awake right?" Kasper turned. He knew the cadence of those steps too well.

Zak slowed, put his head to the door, and closed his eyes. "I'd say so."

"Mh."

"Go slow, it's been years for him. Who knows what they did and don't scare him. You can be scary."

"I'm not scary." 

"HA. HA. Very funny."

Kasper nodded and held the key ever tighter. He had imagined how this would go, and none of the outcomes were any brighter than the others. 

Zak nodded and walked away. "I'll be back in a half hour. Gonna help with the load up for a scout." He shouted, leaving Kasper there alone again.

"Right."

Just open the door.

"Let's say hello." 

...hello...

His heart pattered in his chest and slowly he unlocked the door. 

It seemed for so long he had been closing doors, drawing curtains, and sealing gates. It felt unnatural unlocking one. 

A very important one. 

The sleeve of his over shirt tugged up, revealing his bite scarred forearm. Out of desperation he had fed on himself, and as punishment, those wounds left scars. Mottling in with the mess that Zak had created so long ago. He had grown from that scared sixteen year old boy he once was, sure... now he was older; had done egregious things that would have made Adam blush and yet he was still just as scared. 

He hid it better now. 

Kasper wondered if he would ever be free of that gnawing fear. "Breathe." With a shove the door creaked open and he braced for conflict. It swung with a gentle whine. When it hit the coarse wall behind it, he took the first step gingerly.

The room was dark, except for a steady stream of sunlight that filtered through the singular grated window at the rooms rear-center. The light coursing through the plated gaps filtered down to Zero, who sat just beneath it, his head tilting upward to the beam. Black veins covered his neck and face. Kasper's body fluttered to life, preparing for a fight. "You're awake." He said hoarsely, letting the door close behind himself. He stayed as calm as he could. "Zero." His heart softened. It's him. It's really him. He knew the curve of his brother's small shoulders. "You can talk. I know you can."