Release Me From Hell

Chapter 4: (Firadae: Number 732/Viania) No Harm Done

     I had no time to ask as an announcement came from the ominous factory ahead of us.
     "Calling all System 13s. The Factory is now open."
      The System 13s that had all been full of such emotion moments ago had suddenly gone cold. All of them had started... marching to the Factory without so much as a glimpse at me but the System 13 that led me here. Under his breath I could hear him curse a few times before holding a hand out to me. I grabbed it, and he yanked me close so his plastic lips would lay hot on my ear.
     "It's Artomit. Remember it when you're in trouble."
     He continued to pull on me until I had learned to stomp with the crowds on my own, and then he disappeared into all of the same faces before I could even remember which way he'd gone. I attempted to keep my head low in the group, but I heard a siren. Two bulky machines restrained me by my upper arms, their red eyes beaming with hatred. THey were Obsors, the second most violent creations of all machine right behind the Motagahtis. Flinching, I prepared myself for absolute annihilation.
     "Firadae, Number 732?"
     I opened my eyes, trying so hard not to show that I was a Reacted. "That's my name."
    The Obsor holding me by bolts had dropped me on the concrete ground. No sense in hoping for a sorry from that. Picking myself up, I started to dust myself off from the dirt that landed across my frame.
     You are needed by System 46, Number 568," the Obsor told me.
     I snapped a little, still hiding behind my monotone voice. "Was throwing me on the ground necessary?"
     "No, it was not, but you are not a System 13. We did have word of a Firadae coming to work here today, but you do not have a Factory ID."
      "I never received one."
     "That is why System 46, Number 568 needs you."
     Oh. With a disgruntled wave, I left the conversation at that and pushed through the crowds of System 13s. There was an inner part of me that wanted to be the last one to show up, but I continued to jump through until I heard the clanging metal at the front door. You could see the large gears illuminated by a burning flame. You could hear the sound of something large crush something with a huge bang. Every time it did, I jumped as I imagined a System 13 getting stuck inside and losing their precious life, and a tear started to fall.
     The moment I entered, I saw the System 46 that was mentioned. It was in the foyer of the building, red eye glowing as it focused onto me. Oh god. I didn't like that attention. I took in a breath to hid the anxiousness crawling up my gears, and I approached the System 46 with a few long strides.
     "Firadae," it had said. There wasn't even a sign of her showing any emotion. "I welcome you to the Factory."
     I could see glimpses of a raging fire every time a System 13 opened the doors, and it took every single wire in my body not to shudder.
     "The System 13s are welcoming," I commented.
     She had nodded with her wire making that twinge sound as it moved. "They're the most enthusiastic to be here despite the dangers. I'm sure you're aware of those, hm?"
     "I'm a Firadae, ma'am. We were all made from the Factory, and I'd hate to forget my birthplace."
     Actually, I'd like to be far enough away to where I could never even have a glimpse of it. I wouldn't tell her that, though.
     "You are to meet the second in command here to grab your ID and start training with him," she had commanded me. "He's on the balcony to your immediate left."
     "Thank you for the guidance." My lips quivered a bit as the fear continued to rise. Only a few System 13s were left hanging around, some giving me a few glances that all had some disgust in them. I had never felt sorry for being a Firadae, but there were so many rushing thought now that told me to be.
     My first few steps were rushed by someone behind me as I was pushed through the door. The inside... was massive. One rapid moving conveyor belt was rolling faster than I could keep up with, and hundreds of System 13s had all surrounded it while messing with scrap metal rolling to a flame large enough to devour the entire black building. System 13s not surrounding the conveyor belt were there, tending to the flame as it glowed upon their rusting faces. Only one System 13 had been somewhere else, and they stood on a balcony, the balcony, with their eyes full of yellow staring at the others.
     I took my next steps carefully as I walked up the soot-covered staircase to meet the System 13. He had to be the second in command. When my feet hit the platform, his neck twisted with such intensity that I flinched in fear. His lips were made out to be a frown, and his brow was furrowed. He was taller and clunkier than I was, and his steps were fueled by some ambition that was now lost.
     "Firadae?" he asked me with repulsion in his voice.
     I gulped. "Yes."
     "They call me Brother around here, so you will do the same." Brother? He had such menacing eyes. I could never imagine him as one. "What's the name you have?"
     "V-Viania."
     "Interesting." He raised an eyebrow as if to question me. "Well, you will accompany me here for the day to watch how the System 13s work. It is to my understanding that Firadaes are to be graceful, so you need to go against your bodily functions."
     Grace wasn't built into me. I wanted to show him some kind of emotion, but I was also looking my confidence every second his eyes were somewhere else but on me. Before I could open my mouth again, my arm panel started flashing colors. A message. I turned my body away to read what it had said. It was Ititian.
     'Where are you? Doesn't matter. The man you're looking for is called Siddim, but the System 13s call him Brother'.
     My eyes turned their was to him as he seemed to ignore everything but what was below. I wasn't cut out for this. It wasn't the Factory anymore or the hiding of my emotions. It was existing in general at the moment, and I had a hard time doing it all. My metal hands coiled around the railing right next to him as I watched the large gears spin and turn.
     "Siddim."
     He turned his head, the metal screeching together. "So, you're the one Arsokis told me about."
     "You already knew," I sighed. The element of intimidation was gone now.
      "Of course I did. Arsokis is an ally I have, as should most Reacted in this damned city. I recognized your name immediately, you know."
      Even if he wasn't reacted or he hadn't known me through Arsokis, anyone could recognize me as the first willing machine to choose the Factory as their line of work. I wasn't willing, but I wasn't about to tell anyone like the media that. What would I say? 'Hi, my name is Viania, and all of you can die. I'm a Reacted.' I shook my head. I'd leave the unveiling to the time after Bavarn's demise. Hopefully.
      "We can talk about Iskil when work is over," Siddim had said, leaning against the railing. "I can't trust the Witch to say anything too low under my breath."
      I nodded, falling forward onto the railing to watch the flames lick up the sides of the devilish building. The Pit of Hell... It was real, and it was damn scary.