“Thud, thud……thud, thud”
The noise echoed the hallways.
“Thud, thud……thud, thud”
The fist stopped. Its owner knew there was no sense in trying. The glass was unbreakable.
“That’s it Mr. Brent. Just give up. We’re sorry but you know as well as i do that there’s no sense in fighting. You knew the risks.”
‘Just what i needed’ he thought, ‘the obvious being pointed out’
“Arthur, you know me as well as anyone does. If we could have found a way in time to stop it we would have told you.”
‘Arthur, my name, i had forgotten. Funny the things you forget when survival becomes your top priority. But the voice on the speaker was right. The “thing” had already taken hold of most of me. My breath was shallow, becomming weaker by the second. Dammit.’
“Victor!” I called, my voice barely a whisper, harsh and throaty. “Victor! I…I think….”
“its okay Art, I have already informed your family that you were burnt alive. They will be sent your cremated remains once we deem it safe.” Victor’s voice calm and soothing, pushing my body further into dreamland.
“No…y…you dont….understand…ugh…*cough cough*…..i think….i think….th-….there’s…” my mind was already slipping in and out of reality.
“There’s what Art? Stay with me. What is it?” He sounded desperate.
‘I’m running out of time. One last shot at this. I can already feel it churning inside me. Darn. So many regrets, no time at all.’
I mustered everything i could into my last breath. The ‘thing’ was already through my lungs.
“Br…eeaccch…”
Blood spattered the glass in front of him.
“Art! Arthur! Arthur say something!!” Victor’s voice can rushed but even over the loudspeaker it was being drowned out by the sounds of heavy machinery at work.
“Darn it. Please don’t tell me i heard what he said.” Victor fell into a chair, head in hands.
“Yes he did Mr. Malone.” The voice came from the shadows, in the corner. “His voice was faint but not that faint. You do know what this means don’t you?”
The voice seems too calm for this, Victor thought. “Yes, i will inform the authorities. There is nothing else we can do except pray.” his voice shaky and soft, still trying to comprehend the magnitude of the problem.
“You do that Mr. Victor. We will be in contact soon.” There was a dull thud as the voice left the room.
‘What now Victor? What now?’
The man looked up at the blood stained window, the only thing left of his long time friend. Behind the crimson veil, terrifying sounds of metal on metal shook his very bones.
One word left his mouth, “Breach…”
20 miles away, Raymond Gerald woke with a cough.
