The Peregrines

Chapter 30

Hopefully, it will provide sufficient protection for us to search without any obstacles - at least for a short while. I doubt it will take more than a few minutes for the wights to fend off a couple of ambro addicts armed with catapults.

We looked around the courtyard. It was enclosed by short buildings on three sides, all looking very similar. No bright lights or signs were indicating the ymbrynes' location. We need to search as fast as we can and keep our fingers crossed for some luck. We randomly selected the building on the left and dashed to its door.

The room was filled to the brim with what seemed to be pre-owned clothes, overwhelming our senses with their sight and smell. We hurried through a pathway flanked by rows of garments from various eras and regions, each neatly categorized and labelled. It was as if each section represented a wardrobe for the spirits that had taken over.

Our friends and the ymbrynes were nowhere to be found, so we hurried through the aisles in search of an alternative route to the next building that didn't involve going back through the open courtyard. Unfortunately, we couldn't find one, so we had no choice but to take our chances and dash outside. 

We stood by the door and peeked through the opening, keeping an eye out as a latecomer hurried across the courtyard, hastily putting on his guard's uniform. When the coast was finally clear, we dashed out into the open.

Objects launched by Sharon's makeshift army were landing everywhere. Instead of excrement, they were now hurling bricks, garbage, and small dead animals. I even heard one projectile cursing as it hit the ground and saw a shrivelled bridge head rolling across the ground. If I wasn't so nervous, I would've found it funny.

We successfully crossed the courtyard and reached the building on the other side. The door appeared quite promising - solid and made of metal. It would have definitely been guarded if the guard hadn't left his post to check the wall. There must be something significant waiting for us inside.

As we entered, we found ourselves in a small white-tiled laboratory that reeked of chemicals. I couldn't help but notice a cabinet filled with daunting surgical tools, their shiny surfaces reflecting the light. Feeling a surge of fear, I tried to flee towards the door, but Bryce intervened, pulling me close in a protective hug.

"Kira, she's not here, she's not going to hurt you, I won't let that happen," he said. I could hear a low, steady vibration resonating from the walls, the rhythmic pulse of machinery, along with another mysterious sound.

"Do you hear that?" Emma said, tense, listening.

I did. It was continuous and lively, but definitely human. Someone was giggling. We traded a baffled look. "Kira... We need you, we can get through this, I know we can," said Emma giving me one of her pep talks. 

Looking back, we were completely unprepared for the terrifying house that awaited us. As we explored the rooms, I found it difficult to put into words the horrors I witnessed. Each room was more horrifying than the previous one. The initial room resembled a sinister operating theatre, complete with restraints and straps.

The walls were lined with porcelain tubs, all set to gather the drained fluids. Beyond that, there was a section for research, with small skulls and bones linked to electrical devices and gauges. Polaroids covering the walls showed experiments carried out on animals. At that point, we couldn't help but shudder and shield our eyes.

"No, I can't do this," As I attempted to turn around for the second time, Bryce blocked me again.

"Going back will get you captured, and you'll be hurt furthermore, don't do it, Kira," said Bryce.

I understood the argument he presented, however, I am certain that the most dreadful part was still ahead. In the adjacent room, there was a live experiment taking place. We caught two nurses and a doctor off guard as they were carrying out a horrifying procedure on a child.

The young boy was being held between two tables, with newspapers laid out underneath to collect any spills. One nurse was holding his feet while the doctor was firmly gripping his head and staring coldly into his eyes. Upon seeing us, they began to yell for help as soon as they laid eyes on me, but unfortunately, there was no one around to hear them. The doctor rushed for a table full of cutting tools, but Emma beat him to it, and after a brief struggle, he surrendered and raised his hands.

We cornered the adults and asked them to reveal the location of the prisoners. They stayed silent, so everyone agreed to let me hit them. Despite my sore and irritated hands, it became increasingly difficult to make progress. And when I finally did, it caused me even more pain. Did I care about that? Ppffttt, no.

The kid seemed disoriented but thankfully not injured. He could only manage a faint cry when we asked if he was alright and if there were others like him. We decided it was best to conceal him for the time being. We wrapped him in a blanket to keep him warm and hid him in a small closet, promising to come back soon, a promise I prayed we could fulfil.

The adjacent room was spacious and airy, resembling a hospital ward. There were twenty or more beds secured to the walls, with peculiars of all ages, both adults and children, fastened into them. None of them seemed to be awake. Needles and tubes extended from the soles of their feet to bags that were gradually filling with dark liquid.

"They're being drained," Emma said, her voice shaking. "Their souls drawn out."

I didn't want to look at their faces, but we had to. "Who's here, who's here, who are you," I whispered as we hurried from one bed to another, Bryce following closely, releasing the unfortunate souls from the needles.

I secretly wished that none of these unfortunate souls were people we knew. We could identify a few: the girl rumoured to have telekinetic abilities, Melina. The pale twin brothers kept apart. Their expressions were contorted, their bodies rigid, and their hands tightly clenched even in sleep, as if haunted by nightmares.

"My God," Emma said. "They're trying to fight it."

"Then let's help them," Jake said. He carefully removed the needle from the child's foot as he stood at the end of her bed. A small amount of black liquid oozed from the wound. Soon after, her face eased into a more relaxed expression

"Hello," said a voice from elsewhere in the room.

We turned around and saw a man sitting in the corner with his legs shackled. He was huddled up, rocking back and forth, and laughing without a smile, his eyes resembling pieces of black ice. It was his chilling laughter that had been reverberating through the rooms.

"Where are the others being held?" Emma said, dropping to her knees in front of him.

"Why, they're all right here!" the man said.

"No, the others," Jake said. "There have to be more."

He chuckled once more, a small cloud of breath escaping his lips, even though the room wasn't chilly at all. "You're standing on top of them," the man said.

"Make sense!" Jake shouted, losing his temper. "We don't have time for this!"