otto

Hy was marched into the Court, pushed onto the floor, for all to see. Hy’s heart beat fast. The two Exterminators next to hym stood stock still, spears readied incase hy was deemed ‘rebellious’.

‘ ‘Defendant,’ ‘ A booming voice echoed around the Court. Hy looked up.

‘Yes–’

‘ ‘You may not speak. Head down.’ ‘

Hy bowed hys head, heart thumping like a rabbit’s. Hy felt like one, too; head bowed, vulnerable, obediently on hys knees in front of a Court of Judges, who cared not if hy was truly guilty. Guilty until proven innocent, was usually the code they followed.

The heavy tread of armoured boots. Spiral attempted to lift hys head but was quickly quashed by the point of an Exterminator’s spear digging into hys neck; a blue drop of blood welling from hys skin. Then as quickly as it came, the pressure went. The boot-tread stopped, too, a couple paces behind Spiral hymself.

“Spiral.”

The voice was acknowledging, yet full of disdain. Malice. Fury. A voice that only promised hurt; a voice that ensured Spiral - if hy was to walk out of here alive - would not be the same Spiral that walked in.

‘ ‘We are gathered here today to conclude the discussion on whether the death of Khrysen of the 3rd was foul play, or mere accident. Our fellow Judges have been given evidence, testimonies, and statements…’ ‘

Spiral’s brain raced. Testimonies? Witnesses? This death had only happened .. what, two days ago, and hy hadn’t been summoned to Court before this, so, what could they have possibly found out that he wasn’t allowed to be privy to? No, stay calm. It can’t be that bad. It must be a mistake. They must’ve forgotten to summon me here, that’s all. They’ll understand. I didn’t even want to fight, I didn’t want to train. They’ve had many Angels like that before; I’m not the only one. Khrysen is my best friend. I didn’t murder him. Maybe I was in the way? Maybe they mistook my hesitancy for—

‘ ‘Guilty.’ ‘

What?

‘ ‘ As of this morning, the Jury has found Spiral guilty of causing the death of Khrysen. Hys punishment has been specifically requested to be administered by Sergius; and so it shall.’ ‘

What?

What? Oh, this is a joke. Surely! They must be wrong. I’ve heard of Court Judges being wrong many a time. This is probably one of them!

‘Excuse me? Excuse me, Graceful Judges, but–’

‘ ‘Silence, murderer. You are not permitted to speak.’ ‘

‘But I–’

“Quiet!”

That same boot-tread started again, however– much slower. Much more predatory. As if the very ground knew that Spiral would be forever changed after this moment. The two Exterminator guards retreated to the sides, however whether out of fear or respect; it wasn’t obvious.

“You’re a waste of the Gracious Father’s time, you know that? Murdering Khrysen? You should be-”

A swift kick to Spiral’s ribs, leaving hym gasping- “-grateful an Angel such as themself would deign to spend time with you, a low-life, failed Zeroth, Angel!” Punctuated by a sickening crack of Spiral’s left leg. Broken, no doubt.

Spiral, gasping, clutching hys ribs, was speechless. What? Hy didn’t murder Khrysen. Hy’s eyes watered at the stark pain in hys lungs– and hy hadn’t even registered the pain in hys leg yet.

‘Sergius, why are you– I didn’t kill Khrysen, why- why would I have reason t–’ Spiral breathed. Sergius advanced. Oh no, oh, no. Oh no. Not now. Please. Not in front of Them.

Spiral dragged hymself by hys free arm across the floor– a vain attempt at trying to escape, to no avail. Sergius grabbed hy’s right wing by the bone. Spiral tensed, trying to simultaneously free hys wing, crawl away.

‘Sergius, please, you don’t have to do this, I’ve seen- I’ve s, seen, other Angels end up better w, with only small punishmen–ts–’

“Shut the fuck up, disgusting piece of scum. You should know better than to beg. Angels do not beg.”

Sergius pulled with all her might. Spiral could feel hys wing loosening, the bone–

Crack– spliiiinter– break-

Spiral scraped hys fingers against the floor, leaving tracks of blood– trying to anchor hymself, unable to suppress a wail of agony– hys vision slowly turning grey and spotted. Hot tears tracked down hys face. Hy turned hys head and caught sight of hys mangled, torn wing–

Oh, God, my Father, this is where I die. It is, isn’t it? For my sins. For my crimes. It’s all my fault, and I know it. If I hadn’t

“Stand up.”

What?

‘-.. But I– can’t,’

“I won’t repeat myself.”

Spiral staggered to hys feet, hys left leg lancing with pain. Hy reluctantly looked at hys punisher. A mistake. Sergius’s armoured fist was the second thing Spiral saw before a blinding light exploded behind hys eyes.

Hy was knocked to the floor, on the verge of unconsciousness, but not completely out. Hy tried to shield hys battered and tear-streaked face with hys arms, however that was met with an iron grip forcing hys flimsy protection back to hys sides one-by-one.

“Open your eyes.”

Spiral tried. Tried hys hardest. The best hy could do was squint; the pain was so unbelievably unbearable. Hy didn’t dare make any sounds of pain to spare hymself the embarrassment of whimpering infront of the Heavenly Court.

Sergius crouched down, gathering Spiral’s hair into her fist, chopping it off unevenly, harshly, making sure it was painful- with the dagger he kept on her person.

Spiral didn’t even have the energy to cry. The cold floor was simultaneously a balm to hys wounds, and a torment. Hy lay on the floor motionless aside from the occasional twitch of hys fingers, the sensitive splinter of bone hys right wing used to stem from scraping against the floor; sending nauseating waves of pain through Spiral’s entire body. Hy fought the urge to vomit.

I’m going to die here, and none of you will help me. Khrysen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause your death. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry. I truly didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I want to go home. Please make the pain stop. Khrysen, if you can hear me, please help me. I can’t remember your face. Please forgive me. Please. Please, anybody. Father.

Sergius let Spiral’s head thud on the cold tile. She turned on her heel, leaving the Court, leaving a bloodied Angel in her wake, praying in vain.

The click of frantic heeled steps on tiled floors. Panicked breathing. What had she just found—?

Her co-worker. Well; not her co-worker. Or at the very least, something parading as him. She hadn’t even had time to process what she’d seen—

‘Vera?’

A voice rang out, distracting her from her thoughts.

“Harley.” She replied, voice slightly shaky, uncertain.

“I— Have you seen—?”

‘Seen what?’

“Just-.. Have you seen Dr Woods, recently?”

‘No, I can’t say I have. He always liked to hole himself up in his labs. Why? Is something wrong?’

A pause.

‘Vera?’

“Oh- right, yes. I-, … stumbled on.. something.”

Vera breathed, her thoughts racing, fragmented bits here and there.

“Out of- out of curiosity, what exactly did Ivan work on? Do you know?”

‘Oh, not particularly. I didn’t really pay attention. If something went wrong, spit it out — I don’t have all day.”

‘Yeah. Right. I, uh. Follow me.’

Once again, the click of heels on the tiled, pristine floor. But this time — it felt wrong. Uncanny. Harley could tell; he was always an observant man. He prided himself on it.

‘Vera? Did something happen to Ivan?’

“—“

A shaky inhale.

“I’m.. not sure.”

‘What do you mean, you aren’t sure?’

“I’m not sure, Harley. I don’t know.”

A sigh.

‘Alright. Fine.’

Hiss.

Access granted. Welcome, Doctor Harley Whitlock.

‘Ivan?’

A gurgle from the other side of the room. Harley stopped in his tracks— it felt as if his vision was giving up on him, not allowing him to see what had happened to his lover.

‘Ivan? Are you okay?’

“Don’t.. go any closer. I’m.. not sure what happened to him, but—“

A startled cry. Harley backed away, almost tripping over his own feet.

‘Ivan—! What happened to you? You told me your work was fine, was— completely.. I told you not to…’

The sentence remained unfinished, cut off in sheer disbelief, anger, yet most of all — devastation.

The one man Harley truly felt he could confide in, replaced by a monster’s façade, one of Ivan’s own making.

-

“… Harley?”

‘What, Vera?’

“I know it might be.. too early, but, I found something. Looks like Ivan meant to give it to you.”

-

“But that’s enough. What about we get coffee next week? :)”