Corruption

My worst fear is beyond mental comprehension

Chapter 8

It was horrifying.

Not in the way that Hitler or Mao Zedong, or even Josef Mendel was for that matter. No, it was horrifying in the way Auschwitz or an insane asylum was horrifying. You could practically feel all of the death that has ever happened here. All the chaos.

Where is here?

Here is hell. Hell on earth. Here is Syndicate prison.

Ryker was tense from the twenty hour ride to Platinum sector, the stronghold of the Syndicate. The whole ride, Ryker couldn't sleep, only watch his family cry and try to drown out the world around them. Each face, full of pain, broke him a little more. Withering away any hope of letting any of the Syndicate survive.

Chessie was no better. She was holding all of the kids, the younger ones closest to her. A lot of them would spontaneously cry at odd intervals, making Syndicate growl in annoyance. Chessie would quickly hush them and hold their small bodies against hers. Some of the older men would talk about what they would do to her. She would try and make sure none of the kids listened to their foul words. All she wanted and needed desperately was West.

"Come along sweetheart. Time to go and motivate your family." Sonders voice flitted through the bus. Suddenly a big hand grabbed her arm and she was half carried half dragged out. A cool barrel was placed to her temple, making sure that she couldn't get away.

West saw Chessie with a gun to her head. It physically hurt to not be able to help her or even be near her. Keet nudged his shoulder, trying to convey that everything would be alright.

"Move along, no funny business or she gets it." Sonders ordered, digging the barrel of the gun into her smooth skin.

The Damnation was forced to walk to the entrance of the prison. People were standing on either side of the fenced walkway, trying to see The Damnation's people. They shouted and booed them, cheering for their end. Ryker walked proudly, though it looked more like a lion. His prowl and gaze struck fear into the hearts of men, women, and children. As he walked behind his people, all went silent. They saw his increased restraints and security measures, all for one eighteen year old boy.

As the children walked down, people would sneer at them. Small children, the youngest being five and the oldest fourteen years of age, were being treated like murderers. One person threw a rock at Penelope, hitting her head, knocking her out.

Ryker freaked out, he charged at the person who was dumb enough to harm his little baby sister. His collar, one that reads how much power they are trying to use and how much they have, was going ballistic. Normally, people reach blue or green, sometimes yellow but that's rare. Ryker's was all the way to red, not wavering between red or orange, just fully red.

His power was trying to break free of their containment. His mind was focused on killing this one man.

Ryker never got that far.

Chessie's scream broke through the air, one full of pain. Tarrant was above her, his foot kicking her stomach over and over again. He stopped once he saw Ryker pause. Chessie attempted to crawl away, blood dripping from her mouth as she coughed. West was screaming against his muzzle, desperately trying to save her.

Tarrant pulled out a knife with a serrated edge and stabbed it into her thigh. This caused another scream to come from Chessie. One that made your hair stand on end and blood curdle.