Ashes Read Free Page A

his mind lulled. The feeling of suffocation set in deep in his lungs. Claustrophobia and fear and confusion. A nasty flavor lingered on his tongue, something he couldn’t shake. The air didn’t taste right, didn’t smell right. How long had it been?
    He tried to move, but he couldn’t; tried to scream, but his vocal cords burned cold. “Who-h-where-the-kill-Emer-y.” They were just small, simple words and half syllables bleeding out. He could feel his muscles fighting to do something, but a dark lullaby was fluently touring his veins. It didn’t want him to.    
    â€œWakey-wakey,” one of the shapes said, hot breath crawling down Arson’s neck. How many of them are there? Quiet voices came out like lost echoes, appearing and disappearing, but not enough to cancel the noise of machines and beeping panels. Wires twisted around every corner of the table, connected to metal creatures. They were wrapping him in their hybrid cocoon. They chirped and constantly blinked green.  
    Arson exhaled, the foggy shapes beginning to form vital parts for his mental image of them, like they were searching for true form. A gasp turned into several more ill words, too few for even him to know what he was trying to say.
    Swallow, breathe, repeat . The process was numbing.  
    â€œYou’re dreaming, aren’t you?” Arson recognized the slimy voice this time; it slithered out and cradled around his spine, which was now stuck to a cold bed.    
    â€œHe’s def-definitely dreaming,” another blur said. From the volume, Arson guessed he was in some far-off area or in an office he wasn’t able to perceive.
    Arson blinked again, noticing the brief flickers of light tracing the outlines of every phantom within this space.
    Â  “Whatever it is, it’s not friendly,” the far-off blur said.
    â€œThe dose seems to be wearin’ off, Krane. Somebody’s starting to come to.”
    A brief period of silence spread over the room.
    â€œHow many failed experiments, Doc? How many godforsaken times are we gonna do this? Maybe your theory’s whacked.”
    â€œYears of research and st-st-study are correct. The theory is sound.”
    â€œStubborn jackass. Maybe you lucked out with the other one, but this is…I just don’t see any point in searching for something that ain’t there.”
    â€œYou witnessed it with your o-own-own eyes.”
    â€œNot sure what I seen anymore. Maybe this fire thing’s not like we thought.”
    â€œAll brilliant men face consequence when they are on the cusp of something great. We’re going to do this until we get what we need.”
    â€œAnd what’s that?”
    â€œMore data. M-more-more…answers to how their minds work, so we can duplicate it perfectly.”
    â€œLeave it to a geek to get all excited over his toys.”
    Another gap of silence.
    Arson struggled to speak, but the syllables wouldn’t come out.
    â€œI’ve got orders, Lamont.” Krane started murmuring to himself. “Just do what you’re told.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, everybody’s lips are chapped from kissin’ somebody’s butt.”
    Lamont. That was the guy’s name. It was coming back, but only in part. Remember , just remember .
    â€œLittle punk’s got some fight in him, don’t he? Maybe we should get one of the loonies down here. Start ourselves a little circus.” Lamont swallowed a full, groggy laugh, his hot breath circling Arson’s nostrils. The smell pouring out from the row of crowded, unhinged teeth was familiar. Disgusting. “What dark secrets are crawling inside that messed-up mind?”
    Several other phantoms surrounded the table, all staring down at him. Looming, lidless eyes. Arson didn’t like it. Through the confusion, he perceived their coats, some white, some black, or shades of all colors. Some constricted by ties and long skirts. But