Project Twelve

Chapter Ten

   Atticus stood over the large tank filled with cords and monitors. He peered down into it, laughing. "Oh.. Wow. You thought this would be the end? No no, you're stuck here forever. You have a purpose now." "Ahem! Can you stop talking to the dead body? The living one needs to go to the bathroom." Atticus sighed. "Yes Malachi.." He took off his glasses and placed them on the table behind him. Malachi stretched, reaching a hand out with a groan. "Atticusss! Come on!" "Jesus fucking christ i'm coming!" He whined in annoyance and approached the table, offering his arm to the other man. Malachi took his arm and yanked himself off the table. He leaned against him and used him as a crutch to limp out of the room.

   The main area of the Sanctum was quiet. Salem looked to Eksusha, waiting for his directions. He gave Salem a nod of reassurance and opened the heavy door hatch, entering the underground building. The masked men looked at them, and someone stepped out from the crowd. "You must be Eksusha. I was told you'd be here." The blonde man spoke, running his fingers through his hair and exposing his dark eyes for a moment before his hair fell back to partially covering them. "And you are..?" Eksusha asked rudely. "Oh, how unprofessional of me. Sigma. Doctor, if you please." The man replied. "Eksusha?" Salem asked, pulling down his hood. "Not now. And keep that up." Eksusha replied, grabbing ahold of Salem's hood and putting it back over his head. "Listen.. Doctor. I'm only here to escort my friend." "Friend?" Salem asked again. Eksusha shot him a look. Sigma's gaze shifted to Salem. "Oh, who's this?" He asked. Eksusha sighed. "This is Agiel. Our lord of Calamity." "He is quite small. Why was this vessel chosen?" Sigma said. Eksusha removed Salem's hood and nudged him towards the doctor. "Tell him." "Uhm.." Salem mumbled, lifting up his hoodie enough to expose the metal plate in his stomach. "He's.. In there." "In there? Well, my my, if you really are Agiel, this entire establishment would belong to you." Sigma said, pinching his sides and then poking his abdomen, letting his finger trail up to the button engraved into the metal. Eksusha watched him with disgust. "I've never noticed that. Do you know what it does?" Salem asked, oblivious to his touch. "I know exactly what it does. It's a gateway to the real Agiel. Inside there." Sigma told him as he placed his finger over the button, causing Salem to flinch at the sensation. "And how exactly do you know all this?" Eksusha asked, annoyed. He didn't recognize this man yet he acted like he knew him. "I was there the day he fell. When he jumped into that machine? It was I who retrieved his body." "You were the other guy.. I remember you." Salem mumbled. Eksusha grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back towards himself. "Okay, nice to meet you, but can you take us to Atticus now? Agiel needs maintenance done." "Ah, right! This way please." Sigma said cheerfully as he led them into the back of the room and to a door. He unlocked it and pushed it open, shoving only Eksusha inside. Salem watched, reaching for the door. "Eksusha!?" "Shush little one." Sigma said. As Salem looked down to inspect the sharp pain in his neck, he blacked out.

   "Ugh.. Eksusha..?" Salem opened his eyes and looked around the room. It was filled with equipment and what appeared to be electrical cords. "Take it easy. You were out for a long time." Salem looked towards the sound of the voice. "Atticus, how are you alive?" He asked. "I'm alive because of you, Salem. That's why I want to reform the cult. Everyone should see what you can do.. You could help so many people!" He said. Atticus picked a syringe of the bright purple substance up off the table, and injected it into his forearm with a wince in discomfort. Salem watched, tilting his head to the side. "What did you do with Eksusha?" He demanded more than questioned. "Oh, don't worry. He's in good hands." Atticus replied with a smile.