Project Twelve

Chapter Three

   Basil woke up to her alarm. She got out of bed and got up, stepping onto the cold hardwood floor. "Basil? Where are you going?" A larger man called out to her from the bathroom. "Not anywhere my dear, just getting out of bed." Basil replied, getting herself dressed. The man appeared behind her, pulling her into a hug. "Want me to make breakfast?" "Sorry honey, I do have somewhere to be. I'll be back by lunch." Basil told him, grabbing her purse as she left the room.

   "Eksusha my dear, it's time to go. Up please." Basil said as she pulled the covers off of her son who was sleeping soundly. "Mom? Where are we going?" He sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "You'll see when we get there. It's a surprise for your birthday!"

   Eksusha watched out the window as the car pulled up into the facility's parking lot. He was still tired from being woken up so early. "Come on now." Basil said, opening the door for her son. He got out of the car and took her hand, letting her lead him into the large building.

  "Mom, where are we? This place looks really old." Eksusha asked his mother, looking around the dark hallway. "I said you'll see." Basil reminded him. "Alright I guess.." Eksusha replied, pulling his hand away from his mother's grasp. "Well hello! You must be Eksusha. Correct?" Russel appeared at the end of the hall, greeting them excitedly. Eksusha flinched, scared by the sudden remark. "Yeah, that's my name. Who are you?" "My name is Russel Federov. It's a pleasure to meet you." He stepped forward and shook Eksusha's hand. "Uh, you too. Why am I here? No one will tell me." Eksusha shook his hand briefly and then pulled away. "Enter the room down the hall, i'll be with you shortly." Russel told him. Eksusha blindly obeyed.

   Eksusha entered the dark room, finding Salem sitting on the mattress. "What the.. Who are you?" He asked. "My name is twelve. I'm an experiment." Salem replied. "What is this place? You said you're an experiment?" Eksusha asked him. "Its hell." Salem replied.

   "Come on Eksusha, follow me." Basil told him from outside the room. He obediently went over to his mother, following her down the long hallway.

They entered a large room with bright stained glass windows and an alter in the center of the room. Eksusha placed his hands on top of the alter, peering up above it to the large chandelier-like structure. "Woah.. It's beautiful.." Eksusha mumbled, stepping back towards his mother. Basil placed her hand on her sons shoulder, playing with a strand of his long white hair. Russel entered the room shortly after, his long dark hair tied back away from his face to reveal the deep scars across his nose and left eye. Eksusha watched him, staring at his marked up face. "What happened.." He asked softly. "Eksusha, sit on the alter. You can ask questions later." Basil told him firmly. Eksusha obeyed, lifting himself up onto the large platform. He could sense the serious tone in his mother's voice, and he was worried what she would do if he didn't obey. So his entire life, he followed her every order blindly.
  
   Russel approached him, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear. "You'll make a fine specimen, child." He told him. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?" Eksusha asked. "You're our god! You'll be a success, unlike that little brat. Do you understand, Eksusha?" Basil moved herself in front of Russel and peeled off her son's shirt. "Right there! Get me the knife." Russel placed the mask on his face, covering up the nasty scars. He handed Basil what appeared to be a scalpel. "This marks one of many." Basil said as she carved into his fair skin. Eksusha flinched as the scalpel punctured his skin. He cried out in pain and protest, but didn't pull away. He closed his eyes and waited patiently until it was over.

   Salem peered up, watching the boy sleep. He couldn't reach the alter, but he still made an attempt to get a good look at him. He wondered why he was in this room and what had happened to him. "Hello.. Are you alright?" Salem asked, not expecting a response. Eksusha mumbled, but Salem couldn't understand what he was saying. "Do you speak Russian? I can't understand you. "omnes enim peccaverunt et egent gloriam Dei." Eksusha yelled out, even though Salem was right in front of him. "What. I can't understand you, dumbass." Salem said in response. "I have sinned.. I have sinned. I'm guilty, i'm not going to live. I'm not-" He clenched his stomach and leaned his body off the alter to vomit. "Gross.. You're crazy." Salem backed away and ran.

   "Salem, have you been snooping around again? Poor Eksusha is in no condition for company. Please keep to yourself." Russel set down a tray of crackers on the dirty floor. "Eat up, twelve. You need energy for todays experiment." Russel told him. "My name is Salem. Mommy said that. Don't call me twelve anymore." Russel stared at the child with pure annoyance. He slapped across his small and already bruised face, sending him tumbling to the floor. "You're a disgrace. Your mother is dead because of you." Russel said sternly, using his black dress  shoe to kick the child's jawline. With a pop and a slight crack his jaw dislocated. He let out a small scream, quickly silencing himself to watch his father's expression. "What was that, your teeth? Let me see, now." Russel said, getting down on one knee to inspect the damage. He placed his hand on Salem's small face, using his thumb to part his lips. His teeth were smeared with blood, and his jaw was visibly crooked. "It's broken. Look what you made me do, child." Russel said, prying at his jaw. Salem attempted to gurgle a response, but was quickly shushed by Russel's hand. He pried at a loose tooth dangling by the nerve. Several of his baby teeth were knocked loose by the force and pressure of the kick. Russel tugged out the loose teeth, placing them into his pocket. "Good, you were very still. That's a first." Russel told him as his hand retreated from his face. Salem was left alone in the dark room once again.