Page 15 of Corrupted Torment

I won’t lose Aiden too.

I’ve discussed it with Aiden at length. Neither of us can understand what is making them capable of the things they do. The nurses who care for me and my brothers pay Devon extra attention now. The doctor calls for him more often. He’s not the eldest here, but he has a quality, it seems, that has everyone bowing to his whims.

Devon, the leader of this band of deviants, laps up the devotion given to him by his sycophants, simpering at his feet. All of them are desperate for any scrap of his interest. That won't be me. I have no interest in his ways or being compliant to this place.

I’m over the moon to be away from all the prying eyes. I won’t lie, I don’t want that spotlight on me. It’s not a secret that I’m not exactly fond of anyone outside of Aiden, and I suspect the feeling is mutual. I’ve received many punishments for disagreeing with authority in this place. As well as the hatred of my brothers for my utter lack of respect for Devon.

What a place to call home.

Much to my dislike, this place is my home. I’ve known no other. I know it’s not normal. It’s not like in the books I’ve read. Once upon a time, I would’ve had a mother and father, a house to call my own. No doctors and nurses poking and prodding me and dorms full of snoring brothers you can only wish to trust. Well, that’s all I can remember.

As we reach our dorm, I sigh in relief. The bulbs of the room are much dimmer than the brightly lit corridors behind us, and the walls are a comforting dark shade of green. My eyes prefer the relief of this darker room, an ache I had barely noticed before beginning to ease away with instant relief.

Twelve beds, all neatly made up with a comforter and a pillow, line the walls with less than a metre between each. I walk past the other beds to my own, collapsing onto my bunk and stretching my arms back to the wall behind me.

We got back without a hitch. I look to my side and give Aiden a toothy grin at our success. Thankful that, for now, it’s just the two of us in the room and we might get some peace before tonight.

When there is nothing scheduled, no food, class, or game to be won, we are to amuse ourselves. Without disruption to the doctors above, of course. It is a rarely sanctioned time and I already know exactly what I’m going to do this afternoon as I pull out a book from under my pillow.

Aiden rolls his eyes at me, and I stick my tongue out at him. He goes to speak but wisely decides against it as I glare at him over the pages. I may know the words by heart, but it’s such a rare treat to spend time with this book. He knows better than to interrupt.

In my periphery, I notice Aiden clamber onto his bed beside mine. He has one of only two bunks who have the high set windows above them, right at the end of the room. As he goes up onto his tiptoes, I know he’s watching the closest form of entertainment we have. People watching.

Green with envy, we could watch as the doctors bring newcomers to the island. Young men and women who are free to roam the outside space where we are not. We observe as they got given individual homes that we are desperate for. Never once having that sense of privacy or home comfort for ourselves.

As time passes on, we realise the differences between us and them. They are disposable and it is, in fact, us who are the lucky ones. We get the longevity. It is all one big test of course. One, I suspect, we failed at when the doctor promised us our own rooms when we were old enough. A bribe. Something we could have done without and probably would have been given anyway. To keep us complacent and following the rules.

I’d prefer more time to hide in my books. That kind of bribery would be far more likely to sway my head. It’s a privilege to be allowed to read. We have rules, times, schedules, and uniforms. It would be unthinkable for me to escape inside a book for longer than the allotted time. There is too much power in knowledge and they can’t have that now, can they?

Today I will take this opportunity to read while I can. While Aiden keeps watch on those outside our walls.

* * *

AGE ELEVEN

Staying light on my feet, I follow Devon. Long past the medical wing of our home and out the other side to the lab above. He’d spoken of an appointment he had to keep, one I wanted to sneak into. The perfect opportunity to learn what was happening to him and my brothers.

I hadn’t expected to be led outside of our facility, and panic clenches my gut at the thought of leaving without permission. Despite the punishment's ineffectiveness on me, something deep inside has me worried that pushing this boundary may be a step too far.

I debate merely seconds as he inputs the code to leave. Watching his hand cover the panel, I realise I can only figure out a couple of the digits. This is my only chance. I decide to follow behind, quickly and quietly, getting through the door before it closes.

I instantly know I made a mistake.

The open corridor holds very few doors for me to hide behind, and no furnishings. The stark whiteness matching our own walls downstairs makes my black uniform glaringly obvious in the light. As Devon walks onwards, I know I am well and truly stuck until his return.

What is best? To linger here or move onwards. I can hope no one comes to this entrance, then pray Devon feels merciful upon his return to let me back in. I know it’s unlikely, but the alternative of following him could be even riskier.

I take the risk; that clawing need to know what is happening drags me onward. Making no sound, I follow Devon at a distance along the rabbit warren of hallways. We come across no others, and for once, luck may be on my side. I might actually get what I want from this task.

Devon stops at a door no different from any of the others. I look around for markings to signpost it as the correct room, but there is nothing. How did he know where to go?

It’s too late to move as he turns. His black eyes glint with predatory glee as he flashes me a dark smile over his shoulder. Did he know I was there all along? I don’t understand how it’s possible, I’m positive there’s no way he could have heard me. There’s nowhere to go, so I stand by the door, waiting for the inevitable. For the doctor to come and give out whatever punishment I am due.

Minutes pass.

I can’t believe Devon hasn’t said anything. I press my ear to the door and listen, but I can only hear silence. Cool to the touch, I realise something metal must soundproof the door. I huff a laugh; this entire mission has been a waste of time.

Learning anything this way is impossible. To get any information, I would've needed to be inside the room already. I lean against the opposite wall and slide down its length, sitting with my knees to my chest, completely deflated.

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