Amidst Our Broken World

Chapter 16 - The Massacre

I didn't turn back or go anywhere but upwards until I heard footsteps coming down from above me, so I left the stairwell through the first door I saw. I immediately recognized which floor I was on. It was the subjects' quarters.

Find somewhere to hide. I looked around and found a broom closet a few feet ahead of me. Clearing some of the cleaning supplies out of the way for some space to sit, I locked myself inside the cramped room.

After a few minutes, I noticed the overhead lights outside flicker. Soon, sounds of crashing ensued. Then came the screaming. Hurried footsteps echoed through the hallways only to end with loud crashing. At one point, blood began to seep through into the closet from under the door. These endless sounds of pandemonium went on for about twenty minutes. 

I was beyond petrified to even move. What if the subjects had finally gone on a rampage to escape from this hell once and for all? On one hand, I was glad for their newfound freedom, but on the other hand, I began to worry for Peter. Where was he right now? Why hadn't he come to find me yet?

Wait. I stiffened. What if the subjects got to him? I shook my head. No, he knows what he's doing. For all I knew, he might have been on their side this entire time as an ally. Surely they wouldn't turn on him, would they?

Then it occurred to me that perhaps he was looking for me right now. Maybe I should go out and find him so we can get the hell out of here. As soon as possible. Together.

Making sure there wasn't anyone dangerous lurking outside of the closet, I pressed my ear against the door. No sound. I was in the clear. A body lying near the door prevented me from opening the door all the way. I slipped out of the gap and began to wander the hallways.

Down the entire hall as far as I could see, bloodied bodies lay still with every few steps I took. Scientists, guards, orderlies... There was no discrimination between all the dead people in front of me. Despite being utterly mortified by what I was seeing, I still subconsciously tried to find the familiar blonde curls among the corpses.

At some point, I recognized the coffee brown hair that was now matted on the ground. Her head was turned away from me, but her body was faced towards me. When I got closer, I realized that her neck had been snapped at a whole one-eighty degree. Her beautiful face was twisted in horror, her eyes wide and glassy with fear and her mouth open in shock. The lovely dress she wore was drenched with blood that didn't seem to be hers, but nonetheless completely ruined the violet floral print.

That's when it happened. A flicker of lights. Then another. It didn't stop. The flickering just grew stronger. Electricity buzzed through the air. Whichever subject that did this was still here, on this very floor. 

I needed to find Peter, now. Not bothering to read the contents, I grabbed a syringe from the deceased Keira's lab coat pocket to at least somewhat arm myself.

Though I kept my eyes on the ceiling, my legs automatically followed in the direction of where the flickering was the most intense. They didn't stop until I reached the double doors of the Rainbow Room.

It all felt like a dream. Or rather, a nightmare in this case. I pushed the doors open. And there she was. That tiny, frail, little girl levitating in midair. Her joints twisted at unnatural angles, and blood streaming from the corners of her eyes. Scattered around what had once been a playroom of enjoyment for the subjects were the bloodied corpses of those very same children. And lastly, there was Peter. Standing in front of the floating Eleven. Covered in blood stains, his eyes red with exhaustion, and his arm stretching out as if he were holding the girl in that position.

Then I saw it. On that same arm, tattooed under his wrist, was the number "001".