The Split Sun and The Mechanical Moon

Chapter Forty: Decagonal Directives, Forged Fortunately.

Incomprehensible.

The past 4 hours have been spent in complete darkness.

Gagged, blinded, exhausted.

The clangs of metal doors, the constant switching of transport trucks, elevators, and the rusting smell of underground gears and cogs. 

Eventually through, I was sat down in a chair and tied down to it with ropes. The bag over my head was removed, I shook out my head as my hair was the blinding bag now. Footsteps approached me, and a mysterious figure now fixed my hair so I could see. They stepped back, hands folded behind them. It was Aethernick, standing in front of me. Behind him, Luka and Lilserm guarded the door. We were a large box, devoid of anything it was white and grey with a viewing platform on the same wall as the door, only far up toward the ceiling. It was dark, the lights dimmed. Aethernick spoke.

"I apologize for the rough trip, we expected to house you here within a few hours however we didn't except it to take a day or two."

"D-day or two? It's only been a few hours."

"Hm, you were only conscious for a few hours."

"What is this place?"

"The Dead End, I assumed you'd realize by now. We've already fitted you with a mana dampener, so you're ready to go. Now for your sentence."

I looked at him, itching to break out of this chair and bring him to the ground.

"Multiple counts of battery on a police officer, fleeing and alluding, vandalism, breaking and entering, driving without a license, traffic violations... hm. Dove these kinds of charges would land you life in this place, however because you assisted us in capturing Promise I'm willing to cut multiple charges off of your record. So, you're now only being charged for traffic violations and... littering."

"Do your worst!"

"If you say so."

We walked up, a knife in his hand. He kneeled down, holding it to my face.

"Are you ready?"

I closed my eyes, and braced. But nothing happened, I opened my eyes to find myself freed from my restraints. He put his knife away, and now allowed me to stand.

"You should follow me, Dove."

I did so, passing by Luka and Lilly we entered a chamber. We all stood inside, the door closed and the platform raised up. We entered a floor that was level to the viewing window of my box, and as I looked around I could see multiple of these boxes now arranged in a decagonal pattern. 10 boxes, with a center building with tables and chairs all around it. It was a bit loud, maintenance officers and armored guards were swarming this place fixing it up and guarding a big iron gate that was one of the ten sides to this floor. 

"What have you done with my friends?"

"If you're referring to Hawkins Kimura, Valentine Bushido, and Brandon Smith, then again follow me."

I did so, and we walked to the right to another one of these boxes. Lilserm and Luka walked off, as we now looked down into the box. Brandon was inside, his box was decorated with workbenches, toolboxes, sofas, a freakin' TV, my box was empty! He was working on something, out of view. The platform lowered us to the box, with a buzzer the door opened with a hiss of air. Brandon was facing away from us, he sighed and began to turn around.

"What do you wa-..."

He saw me, his lip snarled a bit. Almost like he was disgusted to see me, he ditched his coat, standing ground.