“Error, error, error,” the venom monitor began to say. The smell of burnt plastic filled the room before smoke exploded from the device. I started to scream. They all looked down at me.
“Run,” someone finally gasped. They turned and ran. I heard their bodies hit the glass walls with a thud in desperation.
“Let us out!” Someone yelled.
“Can’t risk it,” Damien’s voice spilled in the room.
I could almost hear their screams over mine.
18
BUBBLE BOY
BAZ
It was immediately obvious I was in a cell, not a bedroom. Bedrooms don’t have a toilet attached to the wall out in the open. Plus, it didn’t even have walls. Technically, they existed, but they were all glass. I was waking up in a fishbowl, cameras blinking hello in every corner just in case the see-through room wasn’t sufficient enough.
The bed was comfortable at least. I lifted my hands and touched the bare skin. I felt like myself. No burning, no weight of new power, no tail growing out of strange places. My split tongue slid across my gums, feeling where the fangs hid. Guess those were here to stay. I pulled the pillow from under my head and attempted to rip it to shreds. Sadly, I was no stronger than before. I sighed as I dropped the pillow. It plopped on my face.
Everyone knowsWake Upat Verfallen Asylum. Your first day there, you come into consciousness half-drugged and have no idea where you are. A creepy doctor is standing in the room, and you haven’t a clue if he’s been in there for hours, locked inside with you, just waiting for this moment. He welcomes you, stretching his face into what he thinks is a smile. Beingan Eldritch abomination who made himself a human suit, the expression is almost nauseating to look at.
Well, at least everyone else experienced that. In the entire long history of Verfallen Asylum for the Criminally Insane, I was the one and only voluntary admission. They simply sent a cab to pick me up, and I skipped through the front door, waving at gawking inmates. Just a sweet little 10-year-old mass murderer.
That first day, I’d been sat down by the inmate turned head doctor. Who just happened to also be my new guardian. Doctor Stein was what we called him back then, but his name was really Zero.
He’d stared at me without blinking for a long while—enough that I’d started to squirm in my chair—and the first thing he asked me now made a lot of sense.
“You have a sister?—”
“I don’t have any family,” I said quickly. The silence dragged on again until finally, he hummed in apathy.
“You will stay in the basement, away from the adult patients, until you’re older. They want you protected, even if that’s a ridiculous notion. Right, Basil?”
“Right,” I said blankly.
“Because you’re the most dangerous thing in here. For mortality, at least.” What’s worse than death, I wondered. “No one can touch you. But, I’ll do what they ask.”
“Who’s they?” I’d asked. I’d been under the impression that Zero was the one in charge. He’d opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He’d tried again to say something but failed. Finally, he had sighed, “The council.”
But now I knew he had a magical gag and that what he really meant to say was Damien D’Bolique.
Attached to my glass cage was an identical one, separated by a wall. From what I could tell, there was no way for me to get in there. Instead of an exposed toilet and makeshift bedroom,it was outfitted as a simple office. And in the other room was a man, standing there looking at me.
Fate was finally giving me the Verfallen hello I’d missed out on. Though this wasn’t Verfallen, and that wasn’t Zero.
“Hello,” he said, behind the thick glass wall. He had black hair that curled around his ears and warm hazel eyes. He had the faintest hint of an ancient French accent. He wore glasses, and his cheeks dimpled when he smiled at me.
My mask wasn’t in my pocket anymore. I scratched my neck and eyed the room, hoping it was somewhere around. But it was gone. Not even a mask to hide behind in my observation tank.
Around both rooms was a hallway encircling us. There was one way in and out of the hall—an elevator. No other doors.
“I’m Damien,” my observer said. “We talked on the phone.” I had assumed, but now I grimaced, trying to wrap my head around this. What do you say to the guy who locked you in a bubble?Hey, nice to finally meet.Or maybe a snappywhat the fuck?
It wasn’t just the bubble, although that felt like the most important right now. This man had been involved in my life since I was ten and went to Verfallen. Damien was the name Zero couldn’t get out of his mouth. How many times had Zero saidthe Councilwanted something or other for me, and really, it had been this person standing in front of me right now.
The Councilwants you protected.
The Councilwants blood samples from you.
