Mad

Chapter 6

Soon, the whole prison was a riot. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, painting his face with the biggest smile it had in years. He was finally going to see Hailey. He just had to stay awake a bit longer. He sniffed the device again. He didn't know what to do when this one ran out. It wasn't like he had a spare. They couldn't keep running on pure thrill. His stomach growled in approval. He pushed his way forward, turning around different corridors and twisting to others to avoid soldiers. There used to be at least 7 soldiers in one group, but, now, the largest number you'd find was 4. Aven and his group often ran into other prisoners, but they mostly ran along their way. But when they did fight, well, let's just say they weren't dead yet. Aven quickly dropped his gaze to the gun in his hand. He had stolen a gun from one of the soldiers he found laying on the floor. If only he hadn't wasted a bullet ending him. Aven sprinted around the corner and into a room, checking to see if the rest of the squad was with him. As soon as they were all in that room,which seemed like the janitor's, he slammed the door shut and turned towards the others. They all raised their eyebrows at him. He sighed and pointed up towards the vents. Did he have to tell them everything. It wasn't like they went 15 days without sleep. Or even seen other people murder themselves. Aven felt his breath pick up speed and slapped himself. He couldn't panic. Not now, not ever. He jumped up a chair and into the vent, helping the shorter ones up. There were 5 other prisoners in his group, all of them wide-eyed and panting. He didn't know why they were following him, but it was better that going on alone. The air was choked with dust and the sickly sweet scent of blood. All around him, blood curdling screams pierced through the air, chilling any normal person to the bone. But Aven just crawled along, unwavered by the cries for help from both parties. He only wanted to get out. Soon, they stumbled upon some prisoners raiding the kitchen. Knowing his actions were cowardly, he shot both prisoners in the back and jumped down. Pain radiated through his legs but he only ground his teeth. Soon, when all his group was down and the doors locked and secured, they began to dig in. Aven had never been so excited to see food before. Real food not the dry edible powder.
'' So, you look young. Why you in here?''  Aven asked the teenager as soon as they finished eating. She sighed and placed her apple on the ground.
'' I-I um... I don't want to talk about it. " Her voice was hoarse and quiet, but she talked clearly. Volumes of pain held down her brown eyes. Aven hoped Hailey wouldn't grow up like that. Like him.
" What did they do to you in there?" Aven asked.
She opened her mouth as if to say something but immediately started sobbing, mumbling something about a button.
'' Zey told us we'd be 'ere for fifteen days. We could go sooner if we pressed button at exactly ze moment it lit. Some people had spikes in coffin, others didn't. Zey were testing human ability to work under threat." A man sitting on the wall opposite Aven stated. The girl sobbed harder and held her head between her limbs.
'' How did you know what they were testing?''
" I designed ze experiment. Zen ze b**stards locked me up for being a psychopath. Zey say zey do zis for science, but zis is just another form of torture or execution. I got it easy. Zey put me in two days ago. She vas zere thirteen days."
" Spikes?"
She shook her head and sniffled.
'' I pressed it the second it lit. I swear I pressed it. But it didn't open."
The man looked at his feet, unable to look into the girl's eyes.
'' What?!'' Aven yelled, his blood boiling. People were paid to torture them.
The man pretended not to listen and continued looking at his feet. Aven jumped to his feet, strode towards the man and tackled him before he could escape. The lizard squirmed violently, but Aven held on to his collar, lifting him off his feet.
'' What did you do?!" Aven bellowed, slamming the man's body into the wall.
'' Pressing ze button von't doanything. We just told zem zat to  get zem to keep pushing button," he sighed. Aven threw him to the ground, disgusted that he had even touched him. The man's screams faded away as Aven's mind became clouded with thoughts. Were they going to release him after the 30 days? Why didn't they tell them anything about the experiment they had to participate in before the chose behemoth? His daze popped from the sound of his daughter's name. The other prisoners were on top of the man, some pinning him to the ground, the rest clawing at his face, pulling his limbs and kicking him.
Aven beckoned them to stop and yanked him up by the collar.
'' How do you know about Hailey?" Aven spat out, his vision clouded by blood. The man smiled, a smile that signified that he had outsmarted them all.
'' She's here. You can't find her wizout me."
"WHY IS SHE HERE?!"
'' Her mozer...your wife... Zey killed her. Zen zey took her to work for zem."
" Where is she?"
Rage pumped through his vessels. He couldn't think of anything better than murdering the man in front of him.
" Who's Hailey?" The girl asked.