djtenku | [writing] Project Epsilon

Title: quell
Word Count: 2918
Summary: Restraint. Trust. Cryptic.

“…an…”

“…Rowan, wake up,” sang a soft voice. When he did open a bleary cobalt eye, he stared at temporary darkness, just as always after an attack, followed by the twinge of nausea. Rowan couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was out of place, and tried lifting his head off of the down-stuffed pillow. I can’t move… What was worst was he was lying face down; he had to convince himself he woke up far too early and his brain had yet to recognize that.

“Rowan…” Where was that coming from? Who was it? His eye focused on a lamp that sat on the lonely nightstand and the alarm clock. How did I get back here in my bed? I was in the living room… Rowan watched a shadow, a hand. He tried to say something, but it ended up as a loud sigh. The hand ran up his back, tracing his spine and feeling the warmth spreading from its fingers; but at the same time, he shivered. Rowan flinched, and then turned on his back. He tried to turn more, but the hand stopped him, pressing on his chest, and the paralysis returned.

He stared at an woman whose face was blank; she smiled back as she framed his head, fingers stopping at his temples. Rowan was too mesmerized to scream out. Where were her eyes? Nose? Who was she? “Wake up,” she said. “You have to wake up.” There was the sound of metal clinking together, and Rowan caught sight of hypodermic needles before they disappeared into his skin, through bone, through nerves and eventually-

Rowan screamed, thrashing and squirming until he fell out of the bed. The bedroom and the woman simply melted away to nothing, and he found himself staring up at two round light fixtures. It was another two minutes before he calmed his breathing, but couldn’t shake the feeling of those needles piercing his skull. He gazed about, seeing white everywhere else except a reflective, floating black rectangle, and that he was restrained in a straitjacket. Rowan rolled over and picked himself up, hearing rings clinking together. His ankles were bound by chains.

He glared at the rectangle for a short time, trying to make sense of what transpired, but felt the needles again. With wide eyes, Rowan turned to the sound of a door clicking open.

“Ah, you’re awake,” said Maximus Orion as he crossed over to the bound man with a sneer. He chose a smart distance away from Rowan; restraints or not, he was still dangerous. “We meet again, Rowan. How do you like your new home, hm? It’s peaceful and serene… Well, that’s probably a lie.”

Rowan stared at the man, vision still hazed. His stare turned into a scowl and his lips parted as the voice filtered through his ears, into his mind. This man… The distant memory was in fact real. But it can’t! It can’t be! Orion’s sneer deepened. “Don’t at me like that! It’s your father’s and that damned woman’s fault.”

Rowan bawled, “You son of a bitch!” as he lunged at Orion, but Orion stepped back to let him crash at his feet and laughed as he tried to wriggle out of the restraints. Rowan stopped a moment after, suddenly tensing up with a strangled cry.

“I was going to warn you about the electric shock,” the man said, “but sooner or later, you’d figure it out. I wouldn’t try again.” He decided that he was not in any danger at all and stooped, grabbing Rowan’s chin with a gloved hand. “Here,” he gestured with his other hand, “you play by my rules. I can’t imagine the consequences for a man like you – well, I can, but that’s not the point. I can make you so miserable, you’d wish you were never thought of. Or, I can make you just a simpleton, incapable of anything except breathing and eating with just… a few words.

“You’re mine, Rowan.” Orion stood up, smiling. Rowan was still scowling, but it waned as the reality of the words set in. “Now, if you excuse me, your little friend is upstairs waiting on dinner me. It’s bad manners for my negligence; after I entertain her, we are going to play.”

Shit, he got Shin too? Rowan gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, fighting off the twinge of sickness. He hoped that nothing happened to her, and that she would try to find him. That is, if she even knew he was there. He turned away from the mirror, and tensed again when he adjusted his arm.

Orion snorted as he looked on through the transparent one-way mirror. Maybe his mental state is more fragile than he lets on, he thought, staring at the small LED panel tucked in the lower right of the mirror. The alpha and beta waves of the EEG, or the electroencephalography, dominated; it showed that he was either having racing thoughts or reflecting on a past memory. It was no surprise that the EKG spiked several times; after all, the man did get shocked so of course his heart would be a little funny right now. Or, it could be from that injury of his? He would have to confirm that later.

As Orion turned away from the mirror, vertigo slipped in and he braced himself against the wall with his free hand, the other searching his pocket. He stared at the spring-loaded syringe; fifteen days passed since the last “treatment”; and he began to wonder, as he plunged it into his neck if he pushed his mind too far. He was surprised it didn’t happen earlier; normally, it happened four days in.

The vertigo ceased and he sighed as he exited the room. Orion ignored the howling voices of his subjects as he walked down the chrome and steel hallway. Every few doors, he peered into to see a pair of orderlies spying on the subject, writing down findings and results, conducting a few trials and experiments. As he entered the elevator, he wondered about the night’s dinner – perhaps snow crab or steak? Who knows, he thought with a shrug. I wonder what she’ll wear tonight… The doors slid open, the aroma of food filling his nostrils.

Steak!

The red haired woman looked up at him as he entered the dining hall, her hooped earrings glinting under the chandelier’s light. Her hair was in a tight bun, with a few stray strands, and she wore a black and white cocktail dress. “Good evening, Orion.”

“Good evening, Ms. Shina,” he said, taking his seat across from her. He spotted the three-diamonded ring on her left hand and smiled. Her bethrothed must really love her, he thought. Surely he is still thousands of miles away, still looking for her… “What do you think of the mansion? Beautiful, is it not?”

“Oh, it’s very lovely,” she answered, taking a sizable amount of grapes from the fruit bowl. “I just wish it’s a bit smaller. It felt like I walked a few miles. What’s for dinner, if I can ask?”

“Steak,” he drawled, imagining the taste of numerous herbs and spices. He cleared his throat when he noticed a peculiar look on Shin’s face. “Ah, yes, steak. You’ll love it. Here, I can assure you that any food served here will far exceed anything that you have eaten in the past. Only the best of herbs and spices, of fruits and sweets.”

Shin sat back in her chair. “Sweets?” she chirped. “And if I’m not mistaken, you said I can have it any time of day or night – literally three in the morning?”

Orion nodded. If there was one thing he has learned, women had expensive tastes in food. “That is correct. There is a dumbwaiter in your suite linked right to the kitchen.” This is your home after all, he neglected to say.

“It sounds like you’re trying to spoil me rotten,” Shin said, toying with the last piece of grape. “Making it seem like you’re trying to make me forgive you. I’m not stupid.”

Maximus Orion leaned towards her, his hands locked in front of him. “I know you’re not expecting anyone to come after you. I’ve sent a message.”

Shin laughed, amused. “Clearly, you don’t know my husband; that’s all I’ll say on that. And you’re lucky I’m pregnant.” She toyed with the salad fork, sapphire eyes locked on him. Her eyes shifted when she felt a shadow walk into the room. Orion sneered at her horror.

“I doubt you’ll try to do anything rash, Shina,” he said. Shin’s eyes followed the monstrosity of a man, reminding her of the shaman Atmajyoti – but this man looked more beastly and unaware. Grey eyes simply stared back at her. “Kuang Xue wouldn’t like that at all. He would have to consider you and your child prey… we wouldn’t want that at all.”

“Prey?” Shin whispered. She noticed the giant’s hands were stained crimson. Before she could get another word out, Vivika burst from the far door in the dining hall, carrying plates on her forearms and balancing it out with her hands. She scolded the giant as he wandered over to her, “No, Kuang Xue, don’t touch this, your hands are dirty.Go clean them!”

Shin barely noticed her food placed in front of her, a well-done steak with a side of cauliflower and mashed potatoes with gravy, and the drink of cranberry juice served in a flute glass. “Ah, marvellous,” she heard Orion say, cutting into his steak. It was pink on the inside. “Does not get any better than this,” he said between chews.

“Right,” Shin said elsewhere. She wondered where Rowan could be, and if that silver door had to do with anything. Surely, he has a plan made up now. That is, if he’s here… or even alive. No, no, no, you mustn’t think like that, she reminded herself. Positive thoughts… Shin’s gaze drifted back to the man’s gloved hands; not a speck of sauce or spice landed on them as he cut in a precise, even surgically –

“Shina, is there something wrong?” Vivika asked, concern painting her pale face. “You haven’t touched anything.”

“This plate is so… prepared! I feel like I should take a picture of it!” She laughed at her pathetic excuse, hoping that it didn’t sound false before cutting into it herself.

Orion raised a thin eyebrow, but continued cutting. Perhaps Kuang Xue had scared her, but only for a moment. She’s obviously intelligent, but there was more to learn about her. He would have to ask Audra later on. He glanced at Vivika. Or, her too, but she was taking on the signs of enthrallment. “You know,” he started, “I shall give you the proper tour tomorrow morning, after breakfast. I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

“Got that right,” she said too loudly. She shrugged as an apology and settled her utensils down.

“Speaking of,” said Vivika, “where’s Audra? She’s late.”

“She’s probably not hungry,” Orion said plainly, stabbing a square piece of meat. “You know how she gets; I’m not going to force her to eat if she’s not.” Vivika made a face before exiting the dining hall along with Kuang Xue. Orion scoffed.

Shin sipped on the cranberry juice. “What’s the deal with the girl, Maximus?”

“Oh, Audra? She is a… how do you say, a clairvoyant – psychic.” As an afterthought, he added, “But, the only things she’s gotten right is the weather, the meals… most of the time when things do happen, she says it in a cryptic riddle. Like for instance, earlier she told me that ‘the scarred lion is in search of his pride’ or something similar to that.” He sat back in his chair, hands folded. “I don’t have time for such a thing. As I said before, it’s best that you don’t pay mind to it.”

Shin returned a weak smile and averted her gaze elsewhere. She wanted to ask about the giant, but she already made up her mind about him; and there was something strange about her self-proclaimed ‘servant’ and her decision to wear a short scarf in such an odd place. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

“Any more questions?” Orion asked. “It’s still early.

“I’ll save for tomorrow.” She stood up and the chair legs scraped against the hardwood flooring. “Oh, one more actually. You don’t mind if I take this food upstairs?”

“But of course.” Orion watched as she gathered some of the untouched fruits and wrapped them in the gathered napkins, setting them aside on the covered plate along with another set of utensils. “Good night, Ms. Shina.”

He waited until she left and he exited the dining room, crossing over to the ballroom where Audra was seated at the grand piano. “I’m sure you’ve read?”

“Nothing substantial, just random, random thoughts,” the girl answered, glancing over her shoulder. “She’s constantly thinking about three people…and one of them happens to be Sage.”

“Sage?” cried Maximus Orion. His hands shook. “How? How come the detail didn’t pick up on that? How come you didn’t tell me earlier?”

“He has learned and mastered the art of stealth; it will be some time, if ever, when he is caught,” Audra answered again. “And besides, I didn’t want to interrupt dinner.”

“I just don’t get it!” he roared. “How can it be that hard to find a child on this island? Countless sweeps, Audra! Countless. Even with every tracking device known to mankind! I knew I should’ve branded him!”

“However,” Audra interrupted him, “that woman is planning on giving the food to Sage. That’s probably your best chance.”

Orion removed his glasses and massaged his tired eyes, muttering under his breath. “Alright,” he said after a moment. “Is there anything else?” He raised an eyebrow when Audra faced him, head tilting to the side.

“The scarred lion is on the hunt.”

“Again with the lion,” he scoffed. “There are no lions in the jungle or an island of any sort; you know that, dear.”

“He’s coming for you,” she persisted.

“Fine, whatever.” Orion walked out of the ballroom, fixing his glasses upon his face. “Kuang Xue?” he called out as he walked towards the clock. Even though he did not see the man, he felt the raw presence. “Be a good man and try to find Sage tonight. There might be something in it for you.” He added as the clock slid aside, “And please, don’t try to eat him.”

Before he stepped into the elevator, Orion heard the distant clack of dishes together, and glanced over his shoulder seeing just the slightest of red hair disappear out of view.

He knew he had to watch that woman.

* * *

It was two hours later that Shin decided to use the dumbwaiter, and up came the same food she had for dinner. She transferred the fruits onto the new plate and packaged them all in a single dark pillow sheet, tying it off with a solid knot. She was surprised that Vivika hadn’t burst in from whereever she came from, and she was grateful for that as she opened the balcony door.

Still, it was odd that she saw anything that remotely looke d like security, besides the giant. “I hope you’ll like this,” Shin whispered, placing the bundle on the edge of the railing, towards the trees. She sighed as she sat on the bed, feeling the thin sheets between her fingers as she arranged the spare pillows around her. Here I am in this strange place, with strange people… Shin pulled at the rope holding back the curtain, shutting herself away.

She grasped the pillow across from her tightly, tears welling in her eyes.

* * *

The EEG peaked again for the third time in two minutes and Orion glanced at the panel again; the vitals were only abnormal in that given time and quickly returned to normal. He was more amazed at the fact that Rowan had managed to stay still, catatonic even. Smart man, he thought. He was concerned though that the respiration rate hadn’t gone down. “Tachypnea,” he muttered. “Audra, you can stop now.”

The odd-eyed girl frowned, dropping her arm. “You’re no fun,” she said.

“So, what do you think? How long?”

“Three days at the most, maybe four. I have to be subtle about it; he has an eye for detail. I can’t work with that.”

Orion nodded and duly took note. “However,” she added, “you should put up more security. He is still dangerous and with that woman…”

“You know what they’re going to do?”

“No, that’s… it’s too…” Audra waved her hand in the air, swatting at it. “….foggy. But by that time, he’ll be at wit’s end. Desperation.”

“And of Ms. Shina?”

“Oh, the very opposite. Something soul-wrenching will have to happen before we even get to her.”

Orion nodded again, thinking about cleaning his glasses. “What about… this lion?” It warranted a listen considering how much she talked about it, especially as of late.

Her voice was quiet and monotone. “Rampage. He’ll go on a rampage; he’ll die shortly afterwards. The hunter will be standing over him. And… the neck will be cut.”

How cryptic of her, Orion thought with a sigh. First lions, a hunter, and a cut throat. “Thank you, Audra.” By the time he formed those words, she was already down the hall, picking her next victim.