Judgement 8 (Subject Alpha #1) by D. H. Sidebottom Page A

my way down the dark corridor.
    “I want to show you something, but we have to be quiet.”
    She smiled at me through her tears, making my chest swell.
    Slowing down when I came to the hallway that led past Janice’s personal quarters, I lifted onto my tiptoes and crept along slowly. As we passed her suite, the main door was ajar, loud voices coming from behind it.
    “Jesus, Janice!” Ruben hissed. “You need to listen to me. They’re getting worse.”
    “They’re doing their job, Ruben. Like you should be! Just because you climb into my bed at night does not give you the option of light duties!”
    “Light duties?” He snorted. “Fuck! There’s nothing light about this job!”
    “If you have a problem with this job then maybe you should apply for something less demanding, a janitor maybe. The way you’re behaving lately, maybe we should make you into a counsellor for the subjects, let them unload all their little problems to you!”
    Ruben scoffed, the door opening more. “You really are a cold bitch!”
    I raced around the corner, leaning against the wall as I tried to process what I’d just heard.
    “I need to be cold!” she shouted after him before her door slammed shut.
    Lettie whimpered when Ruben’s shadow drew along the floor, alerting us to his approach. I pressed my hand over Lettie’s mouth when she gasped, shaking my head sternly at her as her huge wet eyes fixed on me in panic.
    Ruben’s silhouette paused, his long shadow reaching past us farther up the corridor. He was right around the corner. My heart beat fiercely and I’m sure he could hear it. If he’d been one of the eight we would be dead now. Suddenly it shrank back as he turned and walked the other way.
    “Holy—shit!” Lettie puffed out when I moved my hand.
    My mouth dropped and I glared at her. “Where did you learn that?”
    She shrugged. “I dunno, around.”
    “You never let me hear that from you again. You’re only six, there’ll be plenty of time for you to use that language when you’re older.”
    She sighed and looked up at me, “I’m not six anymore, El. My mind and emotions are in adulthood now. It’s only my body that’s six.”
    “You’re wrong,” I whispered as I swiped my thumb over a fresh tear falling down her cheek. “Whether your mind and your heart are older, you will one day enjoy childhood again. I promise.”
    She gave me a ‘whatever you say’ look and nodded. “Of course I will.”
    “Come on, grumpy knickers.”
    She giggled as I ran down to the end of the corridor. “Where did you learn that?” She gasped when I punched in a code and a door swung open.
    “A little bird told me,” I whispered as I carried us both up the metal stairway and through another door at the top.
    “Holy—shit!” she repeated as her mouth popped open. Her eyes were so wide I could see the reflection of the stars in her pure grey orbs.
    She stared upwards when I lowered her to her feet. She was mesmerised, her eyes taking it all in, her head turning left and right as her hair blew in the breeze. “It’s so beautiful.”
    I nodded, turning my face to look up at the night sky. “How long since you’ve seen the stars, Lettie?”
    She turned to me, her brow creased as huge fresh drops squeezed from her eyes. “I’ve never seen the sky, day or night.”
    My heart plummeted through my stomach and I stumbled when my knees gave way. “What?”
    She looked upwards again, the moon reflecting off her pale skin. “I was born in Judgement, El. This is my home.”

 
    I COULDN’T KEEP MY eyes off her as I swiftly walked through the maze of corridors, my eyes scanning for a way out. Her face was pale, but the smoke residue remained around her nose and mouth. She hadn’t even murmured when I’d pulled out her tubes and lifted her from the bed, scooping the bed sheet around her to hide the revealing gown.
    I couldn’t hide the ache in my chest. It was happening all over again. Déjà vu at its worst.
    “Keep