We are the Monsters

ting shot like a rabid animal and being shoved onto some damp, sme

men came in. They forced a bunch of pills down her throat before trying to drown her in a gl

the one to offer to take the two men out of their misery, cal

usand a handful of times in order to stay awake,

pite her efforts, dawns on her when two p

down her throat earlier that night, that a bemused squeak and a lazy stretch are the on

t cough. She only notices the taste of blood and the sting on her lip after a brief m

al notices that wherever that place is it isn't that filthy basement

nizes one of them. Jimenez. Her contact. The

e first time they spoke, and it had been through a video call. Of course, now she knows

r other mind still being silent under so many drugs, she's s

eefy men as goons, and probably the ones to almost kill h

pretty silver eyes - cold and clearly cal

ous man questions. And just like the rest o

ng an old poem she had once read. "What was it, again? Yo

ar eyes got her attention immediately. They really were like liquid

she finds the disgusted glare he'

s fi

furrowing her brows. "And I go by s

to act so casually, given the apparent difference in their power. It'

et. Mal doesn't bother trying to understand what the man is talking about, nor does she pretend to be bothered by how friendly he's behaving for

nez continues. She still feels dizzy and coul

er to get her to sleep, so it took a while to chip her before bringin

al takes his fine clothing into consideration. Curiously, however, both of his hands and his neck are wrapped in bandages. A single dark,

mall cocky smile that crosses his features when he catches her staring. The man crosses

e of files on top of the desk to her left o

I can't see you going through all this t

the new model. Now that it's almost done, we only need to confirm if it

s sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Mal can almos

fore turning back to Dr Jimenez. "One of them died even before I c

keeping a close eye on her. And besides, she's handcuffed, so even if she did pla

re distant. There was no city noise, and the laboratory equipment she w

ter covered in odd mechanisms and vials, a chair and a table in a corner with papers and books all over the place. But what really catche

ent without touching it; completely oblivious to the ongoin

er all," she says without l

none of them gives any sign

Unless you wish for her to break just like the others." Jimenez hands the blond man - who Mal now knows to be called Vern - an envelope. The ol

e watches him open the envelope and notices the familiar symbol of Guniverre Mental Hospital - the place where she had spent four years of her life; and possibly the worst ones too. Mal is well

ght of her sitting on his chair.

elf with old rotting blood and garbage - probably from the night she had fallen in that alley. So she moves away from the man's desk and everything else. From that

r decision to stop touching his things. But to his words, Mal just shrugs uninterested.

ing a little smug. Little do you know ab

for quite

ls like a decomposing body at that point. Even if he is involved in the whole sche

rly don't care what you plan to do with me here, but

to himself. He looks so tran

he thinks, as both stare

id you get to the locked ward? Only th

appreciating the

udies her nails for a brief moment. "It's also a story I don't plan to t

y from the counter he had been leaning on. He points at a

bout his stance felt familiar like maybe he was a predator too. For a moment i

pensive furniture and the comfortable bed. It's awfully luxurious

r Vern indicates the chiffonier by the bathroom door before moving to the exit. "I'll examine you tomorrow and r

ion. "Dr Jimenez might never have intended to kill you, but whatever you do, fr

he crystal chandelier hanging from it. She didn't reall

truly excels at. So, who could blame her for all the little fantasies playing in her head whenever she heard the name of th

ing of powerlessness. It's like a big crimson wave of pain and despair that reminds her too much

ly nasty scar from one of the first times someone had betrayed her. It's fascinating for her how the scar still stings after so many year

orgive Jimenez; not for

Mal says coolly. Her eyes ha

lly want to have a chance at ever leaving

omous grin plastered on her face - still bloodied from when she bit her lip e

fore the other

ce the crystals hanging from the chandelier. They really did look like glas

dark smile before he questions, "And whom might you be plotting against this time?" When Mal glances at hi

her smile widens just a little

o doesn't

ning," V steps out of the room.

t. All she does is keep looking at the crystal chandelier for a little

again. And now she's going to be blame