Project Twelve

Chapter Five

   Basil sat at the throne of her own cult. Millions of people gathered to see her son, and she took great pride in that. Eksusha sat on the alter for hours at a time. His entire body was covered in scars and fresh cuts. "Honey, I think he deserves a break." Atticus interrupted Basil's thoughts. "What are you doing back here? I thought you decided to join Alice's husband. "I can have both, can't I? He said, taking her hand and spinning her against his chest. "I suppose you can, as long as I get to play along too." Basil said, smiling. They danced to the tune of the old radio. The song was in a language Atticus couldn't understand, but he followed Basil's movements regardless. "He's sixteen now, isn't he? I really think you should take him back home. Even for a couple days." "Only if you join me, Atticus." Basil replied, taking his hand in hers with a smile. "Basil, you have a husband, I can't." Atticus gently pulled his hand away from hers. "You're coming with us. End of story." Basil demanded, grabbing him by the tie and pulling harshly. "Okay, okay. But listen, this is the last time we do anything together. You're married, Basil, and you have a son with him." "Oh Atticus, don't you know by now?" Basil tucked a strand of Atticus's dyed teal hair behind his ear. "I'm pregnant." "You're.. What..? Oh god, what am I gonna do?" Atticus said, panic filling his voice. "Stay with me. That's what you're going to do. Leave this all behind, and start a family with me." Basil, I can't. I can't do any of this, and i'm leaving." He said, walking away from her. "Atticus! Where are you going? Come on. You can't just leave me here!" Basil yelled, but he was already gone.

The next day Salem woke up to extreme pain. The drugs that Atticus had given him must've worn off by now. He missed his mother and the way she would comfort him after the brutal experiments. But she was gone and he had learned to accept that. He got out of bed and made his way down the hall and up the old staircase. He stood at the edge of the balcony, looking down into the grinding machine below. Salem decided that he couldn't take the pain anymore, and that he wanted it all to end. With that thought, he jumped off the balcony and down into the machine below.

   Salem slipped in and out of consciousness, his body a mangled mess of blood and bones. His skull was completely crushed and his ribcage could be seen from the outside of his body. Flesh was torn completely off in most of the places on his body and all that could be seen was deep crimson. Russel and Atticus were the first people he recognized, and then another. He slowly recalled a third man retrieving his body from the machine. His vision was blurry and he could only see a bit of their faces. He could tell that they were fixing his body with mechanical parts to keep him alive. He failed, and he wouldn't try it again.
   Salem sat up on the old mattress he called a bed. He felt along his face, touching the gashes and scrapes that hadn't healed yet. He was disappointed in himself for believing there was a way out.