Joyride

The Scrambler

     "L/n, are you there?" I heard a voice over the PA. How long had it been since I heard someone other than Sebastian? "We've detected movement in the sector you're in, do you copy?" I stayed silent.

     Why hadn't I heard from anyone since I met Sebastian? I still didn't respond. I had my own fate settled, and I wasn't going to become a part of some experiment I didn't get a choice in.

     "Prisoner L/n labelled deceased," the voice trailed off. "Find a group to send down next time. We know what's down there, no solo missions again," the PA cut out after that, silence enveloping me once more.

     Of course they knew what was down here. . . we are expendable. They don't want us to return. They don't want us to be free.

     I sat on the cold floor of the room Sebastian had once occupied with me. What if the people who come down here next find me with him? Would they order for me to be filled with lead on sight too?

     I could hear the buzzing of the dim lights and it nearly drove me crazy. Should I have just chosen to finish my mission? What a stupid thought to have.

     Spending whatever I had with a stranger was better than being some plaything for a mad doctor. It made me wonder what Sebastian would be doing that he left the way he did.

     I must have drifted off at some point, but when I awoke, there was a makeshift blanket covering me. I curled further into it, pulling it closer to me to keep warm as I sat up.

     "Sebastian, you're back," I spoke through a small yawn. "When did you get back?" I murmured.

     "Quite a while ago, but I saw you sleeping. No matter how long I've been like this, I still know humans need to rest," the harnesses had been removed from his tail, the goodies placed neatly onto the table nearest to him.

     I stood up, making my way to the desk, one of the objects catching my eye. "What's this thing?"

     "Mm?" the mutant hummed out, peering down at the desk. "It's a scrambler. It basically puts any radios or CCTV out of commission depending how close you are to it," he replied simply.

     "That's why they think I'm dead," I mumbled. "They didn't have a way to communicate with me because of your scrambler," my hand traced over it. "I can't tell if that's a blessing or not," I chuckled dryly.

     "Wasn't it your plan to be stuck down here?" Sebastian sneered, pulling the scrambler away slightly. "You had a choice to leave, you had your promised 'freedom'," he continued.

     "You chose to stay here, human," their hand poked my head gently. "and I'm still debating if I'm grateful for your company," he looked away from me.

     "They're sending another team," I spoke quickly, catching Sebastian's attention. "They seem intent on getting this crystal."

     "And trust me, little human, I will do what I need to to keep them from getting it," he replied. "And I'll keep them from finding out that you're here with me."

     My stomach rumbled quietly and I realized where my plan fell through. How was I gonna eat anything? Or drink fresh water?

     "Hungry?" I gave Sebastian a sheepish nod. "I can find you something. I did work down here, after all. Stay put," I wouldn't have planned on going anywhere anyway.

     It didn't take long for the mutant to come back with snacks and a water bottle for me. I said a quick thanks and took the items from him. It wasn't a meal, but I don't think it would be possible to find real food in this facility anymore.

     Why else would they want this place shut down if it wasn't from it being unused? It was evacuated long ago leaving Sebastian on his own with the creatures he let loose.

     Taking away the power was probably a last ditch effort to trap Sebastian and the monsters down here, along with any poor soul that took on the mission of collecting the crystal.

     I don't believe freedom and money were ever going to be given for completing such a mission.

     "Do you want any?" I offered some of the little food I had to Sebastian and he shook his head.

     "I'm sure I can find something suitable for myself. Unless you know what something like me should eat," I almost forgot he saw my file and knew what I used to do.

     "You really do have a wide range: krill, any fish and/or shark smaller than you, other anglerfish, plankton, and, uh. . ." I cleared my throat nervously. "How would you say you. . . hunt?"

     They let out a snort. "However I want," the dangling orb in front of his face was a great reminder, a shit-eating grin on his face.

     "You have options," I said quickly, looking away from them.

     "Good to know," he drawled out. "You don't have to worry, my little human. I'm not quite hungry yet, so you don't have to be alone while I find something suitable for myself."

     "We should rest soon," I adjusted the makeshift blanket, pretending it wasn't the giant mutant's jacket made it easier to let it rest over my shoulders.