231 First Glimpse at Darkness (1/2)
We slowly walked down the hallway, and our footsteps were muffled by the insane giggling and laughter that the ”patients” in the prison cells let out. I looked over to my right when we came across the first prison cell, and immediately, my eyes widened in shock. A hideously mutilated creature about a meter in height with short and skinny limbs was leaning against the concrete wall with its head buried in its twig-like arms, laughing in a creepy and insane manner. After laughing, the creature and pound against the concrete wall with its frail knuckles repeatedly and without any purpose. But yet, it continued in an insane manner.
I glanced over to my left to see what horrors awaited me there. In that cell was another humanoid creature, but this one seemed to be shorter than a meter in total height. It had short limbs and a small torso, but what's really disturbing was the size of its head. Its head was the same size as the entire torso with a deformed forehead and large eye sockets that could hardly contain the abnormally large bloodshot eyeballs that seemed to be almost popping out of the sockets as they trembled.
For the entirety of the hallway on either sides were prison cells containing these ”patients”. All of them were deformed in some way to the point that one could hardly call them human, and on their nude bodies, multiple surgical scars as well as wounds were blatantly visible. Based on their appearances and the possible treatment they were given, I could see why they went insane.
Looking at them made my stomach rather uncomfortable, causing me to have a strong desire to throw up. However, there was really nothing in there to be thrown up. Therefore, what I experienced was a type of torture in its own. Just the thought that the only creature in this world that knows about humanity could be so inhumane... it just makes me sick. But...I guess that is just how humanity works. Humans...we are the most civilized, and yet we are the most wild of all animals. Deeply ingrained in each of us is a dark savagery that is contained by society and order. If that restrainer is taken, then chaos is the absolute outcome.
I took a deep breath out of frustration but immediately regretted it. At that moment, I had forgotten about the horrendous stench of feces as well as rotten corpses that I had been filtering out just earlier by only breathing small dosages through my mouth. The stench burned down my throat, ripping apart my esophagus and made me gag and bend forward slightly at my waist. After spitting out the saliva in my mouth, I immediately pulled up the collar on my hoodie and brought it over my mouth and nose, breathing in the scarce normal air that was trapped in my clothes.
”Are you alright?” I felt Muria's hand gently rubbing on my back.
”Yeah,” I nodded as I rose to my full height.
I looked over at her and saw that she was covering her mouth and nose with the collar of her clothing as well since she has both hands free unlike me. Ever since I saw the first prison cell, I had brought the rifle into my hands, holding it in a standby position and ready to fire on anyone. For some reason, I feared that the ”patients” would break out of their prison cell and attack us. It is an unjustified worry as these ”patients” are in horrible condition. Besides, I highly doubt their bodies that suffer from severe cases of physical mutilation and other diseases would be able to prove to be much of a threat. One may not be a problem. Maybe even two, three, four, or five. But...what if they all break out and rush at us at once? There must be at least a hundred ”patients” on this floor alone judging on the approximate number of ”patients” in each cell and the number of cells on this floor. Fourteen bullets...it's just not enough. Besides, there's also that Warden roaming the hallways that I have to worry about. Is that man still walking on the first floor? Or is he on the second one and following after us?
”We've reached the radio room,” Alvelyn notified me in my mind.
”Alright. We'll meet you there,” I responded without taking my eyes off of the road ahead and my hands off of the rifle. ”How the hell did you guys even walk down this hallway...”
”It...took a long time. But...they don't seem to notice us and just stay in their cells...”
I digested what Alvelyn had said to me in our mental conversation and continued walking down. Then, when I looked over to the prison cell on my left, what I saw almost made me drop the rifle. The ”patients” in this cell, with their small physiques, were clawing on the bodies of two naked bodies of normal sized women, who seemed deathly thin. These women, badly beaten with numerous bruises on their battered bodies, seemed to be still alive as they laid lifelessly on the ground as they are being violated by those ”patients” who continued to thrust and **** the women while digging their long fingernails into the pale and lifeless flesh of the women.
”God damn it!” I cried out in anger and pointed the rifle in the prison cell. I aimed at the ”patient” that was raping the woman closest to the hallway and was just about to pull the trigger, but I hesitated. The rifle trembled in my hands as I suffered from my mental dilemma.
Should I pull the trigger and open fire on them? It is not their choice to be born or transformed into these hideous creatures, and...should I waste a bullet saving them? I risk notifying the Warden of my presence here as well as causing the other inmates to get riled up. If I do save these women, who are probably part of the group of missing hikers, what happens next? Would they live long enough until rescue arrives? How would I get them out of here?
Slowly, I lowered the rifle, feeling a sense of great hatred for the reality and for my weakness. There's no right answer in this. Both options are bad and would eat away at me.