The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) (28 page)

“Don’t ask the Abundant One for such a request!” scolded Ethan, “We must execute the sinner tomorrow morning, we can’t allow that vermin to continue living.”

I’m surprised they would mention Shadow, or in their language,
the vermin
. Everyone’s ear must be perked up like a rabbit. This is important news, but what does it all mean?

“Enough.” said the Abundant One. “There is no suspicious activity here, let us prepare for tomorrow’s cleaning.”

He assured Ethan, and Colin on how historical tomorrow will become. With everyone still holding their breaths, their voices slowly fades as the door screeched shut.

“Is the close clear?” mumbled Rat.

With no hesitation, we jumped off our pile of shit and scraped the slime off our feet.  Everyone rustled back to the bars, to breathe in the musky air. Terrance waves his hand around. Signaling that the close is clear, we can speak.  I looked at Rat and scowled.

“You almost got us killed, Rat. Quit goofing around.”

“Fucking Rat!” yelled Ryan. “Pull that move again and I’ll shove my fist down your throat!”

Rat stretched his arms through the bars, and told Ryan that his middle finger is for him.

“Let’s all get some sleep.” said Samuel. “I have a feeling tomorrow won’t be a good day.” His deep voice soothed my intent to choke Rat.

“Do they really mean to execute Shadow?” said Michael.

His voice is only a child compared to Samuel, the oldest of all. Although Michael is the newest prisoner, his constant torture from Colin should have killed him, but Samuel kept him alive. After all, that’s what the oldest do for the young.

“Oh well.” said Ryan. “He’s dead tomorrow. It was fun while it lasted guys.”

“He’ll find a way out!” yelped Rat. “I’m sure of it, right Matthews?”

“Ay Matthews, tell your damn mate to get real.” said Ryan.

I ignored Ryan and Rat who started arguing with the rest. I just want to sleep, and numb myself from this place. I don’t care about Rat defending Shadow or Ryan’s disappointment about Shadow’s execution. It seems like everyone forgot about our situation, they’re all too focused on Shadow. They no longer want to admit, or remember that we are trapped in this hell hole.

Since I’m the only one who actually cares about living, I decided to put my mind to work. According to the puritans, technology is not all bad, unless it’s a type of machinery. That kind of knowledge is a sin to them. In fact, anything that has to do with discovering the world is destructive to them. In my time here, I discovered that every prisoner holds no criminal record worthy of this place. This prison has computer engineers like Samuel, and business owners like Ryan. A dozen are scientists, ranging from fields like biology, chemistry, and physics. The rest, discriminately fall in categories titled as
sin
, whether it be the skin color or being interracially mixed. Nothing satisfies these puritans.

The weird one in the mix is Rat. Samuel says he remembers Rat before he
lost
his mind. Rat was actually the pastor for the small community above us. Then the Abundant One came, and changed everything. I’ve probed Rat with questions, but he wouldn’t share anything related to his past. Regardless of Rat being the insane prisoner, there must be a reason why the puritans want to keep him alive.

I tried to find a conclusive reason for this organized demonic cult, but everyone has their own hypothesis. Before Shadow came in the picture, we used to be an organized group. We analyzed every guard that stepped foot in this place. From their clothing, we can testify that these people, are not supporters of the modern fashion. They look like a medieval carnival pooped them out. Rat shared that the community above are puppets, following a false leader. He said the Abundant One is a man with evil intention because he uses the word of God to control his followers. I reminded Rat that God is the one who’s allowing us to suffer. Rat insisted that God’s plan are always beyond our ability to understand, the one who’s causing this trouble isn’t
Him
, but the Abundant One.

On my first week here, I believed everything Rat said, then I caught on to his uncomfortable behavior. Nobody takes Rat’s word for truth because he’s so mentally unstable. Some days he chatters senselessly to the wall, on some days, he sings gospel music. Rat’s a pain to be with, how I pity him.

“Matthews, you okay?” whispered Rat.

For the entire time, he’s been watching me think. It’s a routine he does when I don’t want to talk to him—when I want to disappear from this depressing hell hole.

“Hey Matthews, you think Shadow will get out?”

I ignored him, regretting the thought of feeling sorry for him.

“I don’t think they will kill Shadow.” he continued on his own. “I’m sure they were just saying that to scare us.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I said turning my back towards him. Rat can’t get a hint. I just want to go back to sleep, and forget this place!

“What if Shadow is here to save us—?” he added. “What do you think of Shadow?”

“Dammit Rat!” I yelled “Will you shut up already? Shadow doesn’t exist! He’s never going to exist, he’s just a figment of your imagination! Everyone here needs to get back to reality! There are puritans outside this prison who abducted us, and you’re hoping this man is going to just fly out, and escape? So what if he does—what’s going to happen to us when that happens? I’ll tell you what—we are still going to be right here, rotting until were executed! Soon we will be no different than rattlesnakes on a pike, drying out in the sun—we are all going to die! Oh, but nobody cares about that—everyone rather know what hand Shadow scratches his butt with!”

My throat ached from shouting, so I left it at that. I expected Ryan to give me a few hateful remarks, but no words came. I silenced them all. A sense of guilt got me for hurting everyone’s optimism. Rat who curled into a ball, and soundlessly hugged himself. Now he’s the one interested in sleep. I laid back down, and apologized to them in my mind, I’m too much of a proud man to apologize out loud.

To preserve my sanity, I did the usual routine, and recalled my own identity. My name is Matthews Nealson, I’m an archeologist, a missing professor to a University, a son to divorced parents, and a father of three. My wife is a faithful woman, and my friends have been in my life for decades. From this viewpoint, it doesn’t seem like a bad life to have. Before I became imprisoned, I thought I had an unfulfilled life. Now I see how very wrong I am. I’m beginning to wonder if my family is looking for me. If I ever leave this place, what will I say to them? If I die, what will they say about me?

Those—puritans, the bastards! They think they’re so clever. When Trent and his men abducted me, they covered my face to keep me from knowing my location. But they took me for a stupid man. I know where we are, and it’s not Utah. I’m an archeologist—I have studied environmental areas for years.

We are located in a hot dessert only the state of Arizona can give.

R
at shook me violently. I gasped for air thinking I had been drowning in water. It’s common to wake up like that since our oxygen is often recycled. Rat’s dirty hands covered my mouth, I was angry by the smell of his dirty fingers, but I sustained myself because his hands trembled. I moved his hand aside, and promised not to yell. He informed me that Ryan, and Terrance had passed on a strange message, there are strange noises coming out of the.

The light had been shut off, only a speckle of light seeped through the cracks of the door of death.

“Shadow’s going to be executed today Matthews, don’t ya remember?” he chuckled.

“So what?” I said yawning.

“You said he doesn’t exist, but he does!” exclaimed Rat.

“Your crazy friend is right.” called Ryan.

He informed me that Terrance heard Ethan command a working guard to get the vermin out of the nutshell.

“You know the only way that door can be open is by making a huge racket. Well, we heard it.” said Terrance. “Shadow is no rumor, he’s real.”

“You’re saying that on the emphasis that the nutshell opened.” I replied.

“Who do you think was there the whole time?” added Ryan. “When did you see any of us get transferred there?”

“It’s Shadow.” answered Rat, his hands clasped together.

After the harsh comment I gave them, I can see why they are focused to make me believe them. I often looked up to Terrance for putting up with Ryan as I put up with Rat, but even he believed in Shadow.

“You gone nuts.” I replied.

“Maybe it’s just a new comer.” chocked Michael.

His voice sounds frail, something doesn’t sound good with the kid. It could be another one of his fevers.

“Well look at the bright side.” I said. “At least none of us will be executed this month. Rather than killing the guards, let’s hope this Shadow has the brain to kill the Abundant One. Without their leader, maybe they’ll let us go or something.”

“You’re full of shit.” said Ryan “We’re dead anyways, if you guys want, I’ll volunteer for next month.”

I scowled. “At least I have hope for something more
real
than your imaginary friend, shithead.”

With no warning, the door creaked open. The surprise was so sudden, everyone instantaneously withdrew to the back of the wall like cockroaches exposed to light. I felt my stomach turn from the acid in my body, the scent of shit didn’t help. When the green lights blinked on, I shut my eyes and listened to the heavy footsteps of a single person. Heavy steps that only one person would make. Colin.

“Good morning my friends!” he sang.

He’s in a good mood, a mood worse than his bad one. Unlike the Abundant One, we can look at Colin, otherwise he will bully us for not giving him attention. I raised my head, and saw the glitter in his brown eyes, and his mustache smashed against each other by his beard. Colin, you bastard.

“I know, I know, you boys are disappointed aren’t you? The Abundant One said there will be no need for the purging at the end of this beautiful July. But do you actually think he would let you off the hook while I’m in charge? Wrong! The time for execution come, and one of you has to go—surprise!”

Colin reached for his glock 45 and fired. I don’t know who he aimed, my eyes shut themselves the moment I saw him pull out his gun. I kept my knees from falling to the ground. My urge to hide was like the time I broke my mom’s favorite mug all over again. Colin flipped his gun and aimed it at Michael.

“Oh I
know
you!” he exclaimed. “You’re Ralph’s stepson! My how you’ve grown!” he chuckled strolling closer to Michael.

From the sound of his weak voice, I can already see with my own eyes, that Michael has lost the will to live. He only looked at Colin with a pale face, and cracked dried lips.

“I am so disappointed in you Mick, you went on and tried to rape that poor girl!” said Colin, shooting Michael in the leg.

Michael wailed, a spark of life forcefully retuned from the penetrating pain. It appears that Colin fired the first shot as a way to scare us. We remained silent. We are a prison of shameful men, too afraid to defend a young boy. Michael curled on the ground, and pressed his palms against the wound, in hopes of keeping his blood from gushing.

Colin isn’t the kind of man who laughed at his evil deeds, his pleasure comes from his smile, and silent gaze. Michael began to cry, he begged Colin to just kill him.

“Now why would I end your life when I want you to feel what I done.” he smirked.

Again, Colin aimed his weapon at Michael, and fired at his other leg. My teeth were ready to shatter by how much I clenched them. I wanted to chop down my own tongue to get rid of this shame. If this young man was my son, I would have already lost it.

When Ethan arrived, he covered his nose as usual. He saw what Colin had done, and shook his head.

“I told you to supervise them, not shoot them.” he announced. “The Abundant One is ready to expose the devil to the community. But you’re down here playing games. Let’s hurry back, it’s time.”

“Excellent. Anything is better than watching these dogs rot.” said Colin placing his 45 back in its holster.

Ethan looked at Michael, and his injuries. There was no sympathy, he just stared at him indifferently.

“Did you really have to do that to Michael? He’s still your brother. There’s no reason to pick on prisoners with personal intention. It’s against our belief.”

“He raped Charlene’s sister.” said Colin as he headed to the exit door casually.

“You know there’s no proof Michael ever touched her. She took her own life because you agreed that Michael should be sent here. You know it was your stepfather who raped her and you set him free.”

“And where is my stepfather?” teased Colin. “Dead by the hands of the vermin.”

Colin chuckled and teased Ethan’s sympathy women. Ethan shook his head, and followed Colin towards the exit, towards freedom. I mentally pushed them to hurry up, and leave. I want to breathe, and not see their faces again.

“Bastard.” said Rat.

I cocked my head at him speechless. Did I just imagine this? I’m not, Rat isn’t in the back wall with me—he’s leaning on the bars! I was too afraid to notice where, and what Rat was doing. I thought he was here with me! Colin and Ethan immediately turned their heads. I grabbed Rat by his dirty tank and pulled him back.

“What are you doing?” I whispered with silent rage.

Rat’s eyes expanded, his pupils look dilated. The Rat I know is no longer there.

“Oh, don’t you get it Matthews?” he squealed.  “I have been waiting for this ever since we heard of Shadow. I refuse to rot here any longer. I will see him with my very own eyes, then you’ll see Matthews—I am right, and you are wrong!”

Colin and Ethan paced around the prison cells, closing in on Rat and I. I hushed him, but he kept on mumbling about his dream—about Shadow. Rats is going to have me killed! I begged Rat to stop, I assured him he is right, to shut up, and apologize. Rat only laughed.

Now it’s too late, Colin and Ethan are standing in front of our cell, their eyes gleaming at us.

“Speaking is prohibited-“

“John 3:17!” interrupted Rat. “‘For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” You really believe the Lord will forgive you for the things you do to us? You’re nothing but pawns to a false preacher!”

“Guards!” rang Ethan. “We have a blasphemer!”

Colin smiled at Rat, our lost prisoner entertained him. Soon a dozen guards entered and helped secure the area as Colin opened the cell—our cell. I watched in horror as the skeleton key went in, and clanked open. The first one to pull out Rat was Colin, he punched Rat in the gut, and dragging him out. Ethan, and another guard yanked me by my neck as if I was a dead rabbit. I cried, yelled, and scraped my nails against the wall. I cursed every fowl word at Rat, but Rat looked at me with bliss.

For once he is no longer afraid, he’s actually content with dying. As long as he gets to see Shadow, he is ready to die. One of the guards kicked my jaw, and ordered me to shut up. My mouth immediately shut tight, our cell mates watched us silently with sorry in their eyes. The feel for me more than our foolish Rat. Michael, who was shot twice, is no longer making a commotion, he silently watched us leave. I thought they would look at me with glee, I thought they were happy I had to go and die first, but they didn’t. It doesn’t appear that way, somehow I feel like Michael wants to go with us. All of them look eager to join us in death. Maybe they agree with Rat’s actions, and found his motive as genius. Shadow is the only person they believed in whole heartedly in, who wouldn’t want to see him?

I have hated Rat’s imaginary figure ever since he came to this place, and now I will see him for myself. Maybe I was wrong, maybe he does exist. Before we completely left the prison, the guards handcuffed my wrists. A heavy chain wrapped around my belly and arms, the chain connected to Rat who enjoyed his bondage. When they pushed us forward, my heart raced as the door I nicknamed your screwed, is about to screw me over. This is some sad irony, the nickname is no longer funny.

Rat, and I stumbled over the chain connecting us together, he hurried to catch up with the guards, almost tripping me. Our sloppy pace angered Colin who pulled out his gun out.

“You two better stay real quite. One little peep, and I shoot you both.” he grumbled.

For once, Colin’s words isn’t intimidate me. I’m overwhelmed with thoughts about Shadow. I imagined a 7ft body builder with the hands of a bear. Maybe his eyes are small, and piercing with no fear in them. Now I have to see this man, it looks like Rat is right after all. Our fate in the underground prison is inevitable, it will eventually lead to our death. At least now I can die with the thought that there is someone who mocked and hurt these bastards. Someone who gave everyone below, a hope to live a day longer. The hall outside is longer than I imagined. Every wall had a guard, ready to kill any escapees. There, I found another hall, the hall leading to the nutshell. I wanted to look into that direction, but they pushed us upstairs. The guard ahead opened doors that casted a powerful light, the sun. I couldn’t hold my smile in, I have long awaited the sensation of warm sun! The cherry on top is Shadow, he will be here soon.