Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 18: One Good Neighbor

The hallway went from burnt wood to dirt and steel, and suddenly I was back in the mine, tunnels twisting and turning in a never-ending spiral down into the earth and towards Ilya's cries. The ferals had followed me down into the dark, always one step behind as they chased me through corridor after corridor. At last, I found myself in a large dark room filled with mechanical debris and quickly shut the door behind me.

I stumbled along the walls as I searched for a way out, the horde bound to break through any second, when my hand landed upon the hard metal of a large switch. I quickly flipped the handle and a light flickered on above me, revealing a sleek metal door covered in strange scientific symbols that I couldn't quite make out. It looked odd in this place, hidden in the dark depths of an ancient tunnel. And yet... I almost felt like I knew this door, like it was something from my past that I desperately needed to remember. I didn't know what lay beyond it, or why it was so important, but all I knew is that it contained all the answers to everything I had ever wanted to know.

I frantically yanked on the handle, but the door didn't budge. I searched the walls for an access panel or a computer terminal, but there was nothing. Nothing but a cold slab of steel in the way of the only thing I'd ever wanted.

I pounded against the metal, screaming at the top of my lungs as I demanded to be let in, but the sound only echoed into the endless dark. Suddenly, a sound startled me from behind and I spun around on my heels, the room much larger than I had remembered. As I hit the switch again, more lights began to flicker on around me, only to see that it was not debris on the ground at all, but synths. Hundreds of them. Piled high in a massive broken heap... and every last one was wearing my face.

I stumbled back, horrified as the creatures began to move, lurching towards me with their skeletal hands outstretched. My breath caught in my throat as my own face bore down on me, cold lifeless eyes staring through great cracks in their broken masks. At last, my back hit the wall behind me, giving way into a vast nothingness where I tumbled forever into a dark and endless void.

Suddenly, I woke up on the floor in a sea of sweat, my blanket wrapped around my legs as I struggled to get to my feet. Before I knew it, there was a knock on the door and one of Hancock's ghoulish goons walked inside, glaring down at me with a hard look on his face.

"Time to get up, jackass. Boss says you've slept in long enough and everyone's waiting in the main hall, so hurry the fuck up!" He barked the order before slamming the door behind him, leaving me to gather my things and my dignity before I headed across the hall to knock on Ilya's door. To my surprise, it fell open at the slightest touch and in an instant I feared the worst, whipping it open only to find the room empty, Ilya nowhere to be found. At first, I thought Hancock must have snatched her up in the night, but there was no sign of forced entry, no sign of a struggle. It was then that I saw a quickly scrawled note sitting next to the bed.

Jacob~

I got up early this morning, but I didn't want to wake you. I've decided to help Mr. Hancock prepare for the journey ahead and will be back shortly. See you soon!

~Ilya

At the sight of those words, I felt a flash of fury rise in my chest.

Without another thought, I stormed out into the main hall, my heart hammering in my chest and my finger on the trigger as I scoured the room for any sign of the girl. The entire hall was bustling with activity as Hancock's men lugged supplies back and forth, building up a large pile around the altar. The men all glared daggers at me as I made my way across the room, the mood having soured significantly since last night, but I didn't care. If me keeping my head ruined your good time, then I was more than happy to disappoint. Besides, I had more important things on my mind right now.