In The Jaws of the Maw (Six X Seven/Runaway Kid)

Human Vermin

  The next several days passed in a funny kind of bliss. Six and Seven were happier than they'd been at any point since waking up on The Maw, and were closer than ever. They often stayed up late into the night, discussing nothing in particular and making jokes, now on a new level of comfort with each other. Yes, they were still in a bad place, but at least they had each other.

  Still, it wasn't long before curiosity gripped them. They had the markers now, meaning they had a way home, so they began to wonder what could possibly be waiting for them in the world beyond the shaft and the nursery.

  "We need to know what's out there." Six was especially eager to go out and explore. Her reckless nature sparked a kind of hunger for adventure.

  "I know," Seven sighed, "but what if we get lost?"

  "That's what the markers are for, silly. How bad can it be? Besides, we can't rely on the Nomes forever. We need to start figuring things out around here."

  Six was right, and Seven knew it, but there was still a part of him that was afraid. On one hand, there was no other way of getting out. But on the other hand, part of him knew it would be dangerous. He sighed.

  "Fine. Just... be careful, okay? Don't rush into anything."

  "When have I ever rushed into anything?" Six smirked.

  Seven rolled his eyes. "I could make a list."

  Six laughed. "Come on. The world won't wait forever."

  The two chose one of the many vents to wander off into, and from there it was just a matter of marking where they'd been. Little markings on corners and split paths that were almost impossible to see in the darkness.

  It wasn't until they entered the vents that they realized just how massive the ship was. There was a seemingly endless labyrinth of twists and turns, and Seven felt uneasy about the whole thing. Every step felt like a step closer to the edge.

  Go too far, he thought, and something bad is sure to happen.

  Six had no such worries about this new adventure. In fact, she was excited. The Maw was a dark and confusing place, and it felt like a worthy endeavor to let her mind roam the dark corridors of the vents. Every new sight was a new piece of the puzzle. A puzzle that would eventually, hopefully, lead to their escape.

~

  "You still haven't found them?!" The woman's shrill voice rang through the room like an echo.

  "I just need time, ma'am. Between looking for them and making sure the others don't escape... well, I only have two hands." The janitor spoke in an almost apathic tone. There was no way those kids were going to survive long, and he knew it. Then again, none of them ever really survived long.

  The Lady huffed. "This has never happened before!"

  Roger nodded. It was true, he typically managed to catch troublemakers, and the smaller body bags in the kitchen were a testament to that, but he wasn't too concerned. Alive or dead, they'd turn up one way or another.

  "You don't understand. If The Maw dies, we all die with it! Those vermin could ruin everything!"

  "They aren't vermin. They're children. I remember you yourself being one once. Five years we've been doing this. They aren't the first escapees, and they won't be the last. What's the fuss for?"

  "I need the girl!" She cried. "You can't possibly understand! She's alive, and I need her!"

  "There's other girls in the nursery. Aren't they enough?"

  "No! It's taken me five years to find an heir, and of course it just happens to be the one who slips through your fat fingers! Get out there and find her!"

  Roger sighed as he left the room. 

  No use letting the ramblings of a madwoman get in the way of your work, he thought. What does any of that mean anyway? Heir? Surely any kid could be her successor, with enough training. Why is she so worried about those two?

  He shook his head, calmly returning to the nursery. Things still weren't perfect, but at least there hadn't been any more escapes. There hadn't been any more deaths either. He'd never liked the girl in yellow. Still, if one kid had to escape, he was glad it was Seven. In the brief time he'd known the boy, he'd liked him well enough.

  Stop that, he told himself angrily. Don't get attached. You know where they end up. Better to listen to The Lady, and act like they're vermin. Sheep to the slaughter, right? Guess that makes me a pretty lousy shepherd.

  It was interesting how the dynamic in the nursery had changed now. Since the death of Twelve, despite it being over a month ago, the children had all been a lot more serious and quiet. This wasn't surprising. Death, Roger knew, was an excellent motivator. Knowing this, it surprised him that no more escape attempts had been made. This was, in part, due to his more frequent checks on the kids and other minor security improvements.

  If any other kids escape, she'll have my head. She's never been this stuck up about it before.

  Roger sighed. It didn't really matter, did it? The Lady did what she wanted, and everyone else was simply here to make sure that would happen. He came to the decision that it was simply better not to argue. He'd just do his job, keeping the kids alive. The runaways were beyond his control now, and maybe it was better that way. It was better he didn't think about the deeper machinations of The Maw. Better not to remember the troublesome kids who had gone to The Lady and never returned. 

  Ignorance is bliss, he told himself. I have shelter and food, which is more than I had before I started working here. So what if kids disappear, and the meat tastes funny? Out of my hands. Not my problem.