Plant Boy

Chapter 7 - Fear

"Priceless", PH-19 seemed to chuckle. I couldn't really tell through his hoarse, hiss of a voice.
I stopped grinning when PH-19 inched his stinger closer.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I backed up slightly.
"You're clever. Figure out a way to bring that bastard to me and I will tell you everything you need to know", PH-19 ordered after he stopped chuckling.
"And if I don't?" I asked with a high pitch. I clenched my eyes so I wouldn't see my fate. Once again his singer rested itself on top of my head.
"You're on my good side Nine. That can easily change", Nineteen answered.
"Yes", I whimpered with deep breaths. "I understand."
"Good", PH-19 hissed as his stinger lifted off of my head. "The gate's open. I suggest you run."
"I thought I was on your good side", I commented.
"Not from me, the scientist", he warned. "You pissed him off."
I turned to the gateway and took a deep breath.
"Thanks", I whispered under my breath. I walked through the door waiting for a response. 

I blinked repeatedly while trying to focus on a blurry, gray world. I looked to my right to check for a blurry white lab coat. I then looked to my left upon seeing nothing but gray.
     I winced as I took a step. The feeling of pins and needles immobilized my legs.
     I gritted my teeth and gave a deep inhale as I took another step. The feeling struck harder.
     I growled as I took the next step. Rage boiled in my veins as I stomped on the ground multiple times. My feet seemed to get feeling back with each stomp. To my amazement the pins and needles stopped.
     "NINE!" Screamed a familiar voice.
     Fear spiked up my spine as I jumped. Panic struck my brain as my vision failed to clear quickly.
     Time slowed as I broke into a slow sprint. Heavy footsteps sounded from behind as I ran.
     My only instinct was to move forward with the power of adrenaline. However it wasn't long until I hit a wall.
     I stumbled back as my world started spin. Dark, red liquid trickled from my nose and onto my lips.
     I shook my head and turned frantically. The light showed more hallway to the left, so I went for it.
     "NINE!" The scientist screamed. "YOU BASTARD!"
     My breaths became quicker as my feet hit the floor at the highest speed I ever achieved. I occasionally had to spit to get the blood out of my mouth.
     A gradually clearer vision showed a dim light. The unclear beacon directed me to the distant end of the hallway.
     I let my legs move faster to get to it.
     "NINE!" The scientist called from a shorter distance than before. "COME HERE SO I CAN WRAP MY HANDS AROUND YOUR NECK!"
     Fear had no meaning as panic struck a quick beat in my chest. My stomach growled ravenously.
     It became clearer that a room was at the end of the tunnel. A black gateway became visible as I came closer.
     "NO!" The scientist screeched. The room's entrance flashed by as I leaped into the gateway.

     I coughed as I landed on my hands and knees. My arms could barely support my upper body weight as they rumbled. The the red flashlight now laid in front of me.
    The bridge of my nose endured an agonizing ache as coughing made it worse.
     "Nine!" A soft voice cried. I strained my neck to look up. A human figure with huge wings was already at my side.
     "Fourteen?" I managed.
     "Grab my hand", She ordered. I held her soft hand as tight as I could. My legs shook from under as I forced my feet to put up against the ground. She carefully let my arm settle on her shoulder for support.
     "Who did this?" She asked with a low tone.
     The scientist burst through the gateway before I had the chance to answer. He stopped to glare at us as soon as he entered the simulation.
    Sweat dripped down from the man's face and onto his lab coat. His clean, white shirt from before was now drenched around his neck and armpits. Veins popped out in his forehead as he gritted his faintly yellow teeth.
     "Him", I murmured. "It was him."
     "Sit", PH-14 ordered as she slowly lowered me down. Her glare remained locked with the scientist's as I finally sat down on the ground. I let the rest of my body collapse onto the dirt.
     As my cheek rested on the grass I watched as Fourteen's claws extended from her fingertips.
     "Let me punish him", the scientist spoke. "You barely even know him."
     "No", PH-14 growled. Her wings folded behind her back.
     "Excuse me?" The man asked. "Let me go to him!"
     "You made me to be a killer", PH-14 spoke. "We both know this."
     "I can punish you too", the scientist stated.
     "Give it up", Fourteen growled in a low tone. Her fingers flexed as they emitted a cracking sound.
"Fine", the scientist stated. He shook his head slowly as his breath rushed through gritted teeth. The scientist's feet pounded against the dirt as he walked through the gateway.
I closed my eyes as my breaths became deeper. My muscles finally relaxed as I rested on the soft grass.
"What did you do?" Fourteen asked quickly.
I stayed silent as I racked my brain for information.
"Nine", she said clearly. "What did you do?"
"Made him mad", I breathed.
"Why?!" She scolded. "You could have gotten yourself killed!"
My eyes opened upon hearing her scream. She was now standing next to me. My sight trailed to her face. Her right eyelid twitched as tears poured down her cheeks.
A knife seemed to go through my heart as she clenched her eyes.
PH-14 knelt to my side and her arms wrapped around my shoulders. I felt my back lift from the ground as her soft embrace pulled up.
"Don't ever do that again", She whispered. Sobs escaped her mouth as she continued to hold me.
My focus remained on that black doorway as tiredness immobilized my body.
"Nine", Fourteen whispered after a moment of silence.
"Yes?" I managed. My gaze stayed on the black rectangular door. My eyes widened when it suddenly disappeared.
"This may come out weird. I'm sorry", She explained shakily. Her wings encased me like a blanket as her arms held tight.
"Door", I interrupted.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"The gateway is gone", I explained. "Is it suppose to do that?"
"I think so", She assured. "It usually does that."
"Yes Fourteen", a voice called. I recognized it as the scientist's voice. "It's so you can't escape."
"Make up your mind", I blurted. "You want me to stay now?"
"Shut up", Fourteen growled in my ear.
My eyes widened even more as the sky suddenly darkened. Dim light from the artificial crescent moon hit the earth.
"What's going on?" Fourteen asked.
"I said you would be punished. I keep my word", the scientist growled.
Fourteen slowly put one arm under my knees.
"Hold on", she ordered. I let my arms wrap around her shoulders.
My body lifted from the ground as she held me up. I felt my feet dangle through the air as adrenaline arose in my gut.
"Close your eyes. Things are about to get ugly", she told me. I closed my eyes right away. A faint buzzing sounded in the distance.
     Pure fear erupted as I felt my body elevate further. The sound of flapping wings accompanied the acceleration.
     My embrace became tighter when I heard her yelp in pain. We went up even faster than before.
     A series of ups and downs followed. I didn't dare to open my eyes. Terror engulfed my body like forest fire on a tree.
     "Are you okay?" I cried as her breath became heavier.
     "Yeah", she growled. "Just splendid."
     "I like your enthusiasm Fourteen. You flatter me", the scientist chuckled.
     Fourteen growled something under her breath that I couldn't catch. All I heard was an f sound, followed by a k, then a faint y sound after a short pause.
     "I don't know what's going on", I managed. "But I know we're going to make it."
     Her only answer was deep breaths and some coughs. Less wind seemed to hit my side as we slowed slightly.
     Another painful yelp came from Fourteen as we continued to decelerate. 
     My heart skipped a beat when I heard the scientist's scream. The sound stopped as crunching noises took it's place.
      "The hell?" Fourteen whispered as the buzzing stopped.
     For a few moments we stayed still in the air. The only sound to be heard was now the flapping of wings.
     "Can I open my eyes now?" I asked.
     "Sure", She panted.

The starry night sky seemed to get farther away as we descended to the earth. As we went down I noticed a swarm of bees. There they were, just frozen in the air.
I embraced Fourteen as tight as I could once her feet touched the ground. I felt another jolt as she fell on her knees. A whelp escaped my mouth as I was dropped onto the ground. Fourteen then fell down next to me.
     For a while, all I heard was her deep breaths.
     A chill went up my spine when a burp boomed in the sky. It was then followed by distant screaming and hissing.
     "What was that all about?" Fourteen asked. "That was just disgusting!"
     "Huh?" Hissed a voice.
     My arms wrapped around Fourteen in fear. I knew that voice.
     "Nineteen?" PH-14 blurted.
     "It's you", PH-19 seemed to chuckle. "It's been a while."
     "What are you doing?!" She yelled shakily.
     "How bout we have a chat. Face to face you pretty girl", He hissed.
     A surge of rage bursted in my veins just by how he said "pretty girl."
     "Nineteen?" I screamed. "Hey buddy!"
     "Oh!" He shouted in surprise.
     "Shut up! Shut up!" Fourteen said through gritted teeth.
     "What happened?!" I shouted. "How did you get out?"
     "The bastard left the door open", Nineteen answered. "So I ate him."
     "YOU DID WHAT?!" Fourteen screamed. My arms and legs started to shiver.
     "I ate him and about three others", he explained. "How about you two come out, or should I go in there instead?"