『 I Won't Run Anymore』

Part 28 - Believe

I glanced around the small room I was in, seeing a reflection of myself wherever I turned. Everything in this area was mirrored, making it appear as if thousands of me was present in identic, symmetrical form as my reflection bounced from every mirror the hexagon room had to offer.

"Lucifer... I don't understand..."

I twisted around 360 on the spot, knowing full well I won't be able to see the demon even if he were watching.

"Calm down Little Banshee, the effects of the room won't work unless you are relaxed."

"Right..."

I pressed my hands up to my chest, playing with the dead skin along the side of my index finger as I took in a few deep breaths. In... Out... In... Out... In...

"Good. Now, tell me your name."

I tilted my head a little, my name? But, he said it at my parents' house back in London. I know he knows my name.

"But, you al-"

"Tell me your name."

"Uh, okay... I'm Alice Renshaw."

"Tell me your age."

"I've just turned 27."

"Tell me your home town."

"Cromwell Mews."

"Tell me your race."

"Caucasian female; Human."

White entered my vision for a brief moment as a sharp and painful shock passed through my nervous system. It lasted no longer than a 5 seconds but the aftershock still reverberated through my body as I shook uncontrollably and dropped to my knees, hugging myself in attempt to calm my now stricken nerves; eyes blinking wildly to clear the fog they held. My mouth opened to ask what happened, but no words came from my tightened and dry vocals.

"I never told you, but this room is scientifically designed to react to your words. Kind of like a lie detector, but you get an electric shock as opposed to a fluctuating spindle."

I heaved a few breaths, my throat drying even more out as I calmed my heart rate. He did say this room wouldn't work unless I was calm. But still... he never told me this?! And...

"I... am... human."

A shock hit me once again, my body convulsed as my fingers and toes closed tightly; nails digging into my skin and breaking the flesh if only slightly... My tongue pulling back in an instinctive instant so I wouldn't bite it as my jaw clenched firmly to an almost grinding rate. It hurt...this was so painful! The shock stopped as I fell forwards vibrating hands, it lasting only a millisecond as I slid down onto my elbows in my weak state; unable to hold myself up. I was shaking violently from the electric current that was still running through my body. I twitched every once in a while, my eyes wide as I tried to unlatch my jaw from its sealed state to relieve my maws of the pain in its gums. I felt hot, dizzy... It's what I imagined what it would feel like to put a wet finger into an active plug socket.

"You're just going to hurt yourself more. Please state the truth, what race are you?"

My fingers clenched tight as I opened and closed my throat a few times, clacking my tongue to produce some moisture as it had all left my body. I was a human... a human body... No... that's not what this room wanted. It wanted me to... But, I've never said it myself; I've heard it, but never confirmed it in my own words...

"Tell me your race."

The voice of Lucifer asked once again as my head flopped to lean against my arm. I forced a cough to moisten my throat more as my previous tongue clacking failed, a small amount of spit gathering in my throat. This room was a lie detector... and... I had to confirm this with myself... I had to say it out loud...