The Gray Institute_Rebels' Hell

by Leanne Pearson

  'I was one of the first,' She tells me, as we watch Alfons and an old Rebel fight in the middle of the floor. Fighting has become a thing amidst our boredom, mostly the men – but some of the women – having duels to see who is the strongest. It's pathetic and, at times, irritating, but it's the only entertainment we've got. 'Caruso commissioned the Institutes and gave Sir Alec his position as head of this one. It wasn't a surprise; Sir Alec has been close to the Auctoritas for generations, trying to crawl his way into office. I heard that he wanted to become an Auctorita Guard but wasn't good enough. He could have been a Law Officer or some kind of Regulator, but to govern an Institute was a much higher honour.'

  'If he's been close to them for so long,' I frown. 'Why do you think he's so willing to betray them?'

  Maristella smiles to herself. 'Because Vlad offered him the one thing that, at the moment, he can never have. Alec has no chance of sitting on The Board. Only Auctoritas sit on The Board, and that's something you can't buy or schmooze your way into. To have a say in the way our world is governed, in its laws and practices, that's a dream come true for Alec.'

  'But do you think – ' I hesitate, checking that Vlad isn't eavesdropping. He's in the corner talking quietly with Vanessa, which they do all too often. 'Do you really think that's wise? Having Sir Alec on The Board? I thought the whole idea of the overthrow was to get rid of types like Sirus? Sir Alec is cut from the same cloth.'

  'I don't think Sir Alec will ever sit on The Board, whether we win or not.' Maristella's mouth twists at the corner. I pause.

  'You think Vlad was bluffing?'

  'I don't know,' She shrugs. 'But Vlad isn't naive. He'll have thought of every possible outcome.'

  I pause for a moment to digest this information, idly watching as Alfons smashes the old Rebel's head into the ground. 'If Vlad can betray Sir Alec,' I muse, my eyes glazed and far-away. 'Then Sir Alec can also betray Vlad.'

  'Yes,' Maristella nods. 'But that's a risk we must take.'

  Later that evening, Vlad tries to talk to me for the first time since Sir Alec took Lorna. The days and nights blur into one down here and it's starting to make people crazy; three arguments have broken out today alone, and I could tell Vlad and Vanessa were having difficulty controlling the masses. Thankfully, Vanessa finally asked Sir Alec to provide us with some entertainment – besides fighting – and books from the library have been distributed along with another meal. The result is that the room is quieter than it has been since we arrived, and the old Rebels are devouring educational volumes about modern day life and technology. It will probably be beneficial for them – if we're not caught before they get the chance to live free.

  Vlad looks different today; we've all been provided with fresh clothing and given use of the dungeon bathroom – a small box room housing a cold shower which sprays mist from its rusting hose – though there are so many of us that some of the Rebels still haven't had a chance to get clean. Vlad has just returned from the shower, his long, black hair is shiny and still damp and he smells of soap. The scent sends a wave of nostalgia over me. It must be the same brand that my mother used as with it comes a barrage of old memories in my childhood home, each twisting my gut harder than the last. Vlad notices the look on my face and I watch him wince. 'Do you really despise me that much?' He asks, his dark eyes round and sorrowful.

  'Yes,' I reply, not entirely truthfully. 'You betrayed my trust. You betrayed Lorna.'

  'And I feel terrible about it.' He inches closer to me but I shift away.

  'Sure you do,' I reply dryly. 'But you got what you wanted, didn't you?'

  'Some things are worth sacrificing, Eve. It's for the – '

  'Greater good. Yes, you told me,' I interrupt. 'But d'you know what you didn't tell me? That ever since the first day you met us, when you promised you had Lorna's best interests at heart and that you would protect us, you were actually rubbing your hands with glee at the possibility of using us. You also didn't tell me about the plan to meet Malachy, or the part that I'd play in it. Or the plan for Lorna to return with Sir Alec. In fact, you won't tell any of us any of your plans. It makes you pretty fucking difficult to trust, Vlad.'

  'I know that,' He sighs, running a hand through his hair, something he does when he's stressed. Malachy does that, too. 'I can see your point of view, Eve. But I wish that you'd try to see mine. I didn't use you – '

  'You – ! '

  'Let me finish! I didn't use you. I'll admit that your connection to Malachy Beighley was useful, and yes, I used it, but I didn't use you. I mean, come on, Eve, you and I both know that you would never do or say something you didn't believe in yourself. I knew you wouldn't persuade Malachy to join us unless you truly felt that he should. You've got to admit, Eve, you did feel that he should.'

  'He felt that he should,' I fold my arms. 'I didn't have to persuade him to do anything. Your problem, Vlad, is that you think everybody needs to be coerced or manipulated into doing things. You don't realise that some people will choose what's right regardless.'

  'Maybe you're right,' Vlad nods. 'Maybe I'd gotten so used to planning and covering every possible angle that I didn't notice it wasn't necessary with Malachy. Maybe I'd... Maybe I'd been thinking too much about Sir Alec and how I was going to have to manipulate him. You do know, Eve, that without Lorna, Sir Alec would never have agreed to help us. The offer of a place in government wouldn't have been enough; he'd have been too fearful that we might betray him. Lorna was – '

  'A fail-safe.' I grit my teeth.

  'Yes, a fail-safe,' Vlad nods. 'And without Sir Alec, the Rebellion stops here. We need him for the next part.'

  'What exactly is the next part, Vlad?' I frown, irritation bubbling over. 'We're here now. We're locked in this room with you. We're not going to be captured or run off to tell the Auctoritas, so why don't you just tell us your plan instead of constantly expecting us to blindly follow orders, even when they get us captured, like Slav, or betrayed, like Lorna?'

  'Okay,' Vlad nods slowly, and I blanch; I can't hide my surprise. 'As soon as Asil and his group arrive, Sir Alec will head to the Auctoritas and tell them to leave Mount Kamen on April fourth. That's the date of the next break in.'

  'That's – ' I hesitate, doing the maths in my head. 'That's a month from now.'

  'Yes,' He nods solemnly. 'I realise it's not exactly practical having you all down here for a month, but things are going to change. We're going to set up camp here, make use of all the dungeon rooms, organise people. And we're going to train.'

  'Train?' I frown.

  'Yes, train. Most of the old Rebels are already experts at Immortal combat, but they've been trapped underground starving for two hundred years. They're probably a little rusty. And some of the new lot have never had a fight in their lives.'

  'We're going to have to fight?' I frown. 'Like actually brawl to get inside the Confine?'

  'The real Confine won't be as easy as the fake one. It's much more heavily guarded – and it's extremely close to the Auctoritas' home. That's why we need them to leave. The AG – that's the Auctoritas' personal guard – are a select few Immortals, and they go wherever the Auctoritas go. With them and the Auctoritas out of the way, we have a much stronger chance of breaking into the Confine. We'll outnumber the guards, but they are highly trained and highly skilled. We'll have to work hard to overpower them. And of course we'll need to go over strategy until we all know the plan by heart.'

  A moment ago, a month seemed like an age to stay down here in the dungeons, now it doesn't seem like long enough. 'How are we going to get there? To the Confine, I mean? The Institute is guarded by Auctorita guards, they're at every major airport, and I'm sure they'll be stationed outside the Confine as well as in it – '

  'Eve, calm down,' Vlad smiles, and I suddenly remember that I'm mad at him. 'We have Vanessa, don't forget. She knows the Confine and Mount Kamen inside out, plus she has an insight into how Sirus' mind works, as does Sir Alec. Everything will be planned meticulously, I ass
ure you. After all, we only get one shot at this.'

  'You should tell the others.' I say after a while. Vlad nods slowly.

  'I will. As soon as Asil arrives, I'll tell them all the plan. But for now I just wanted to... To apologise for – '

  'I don't want your apology,' I turn away from him. 'This doesn't change anything. I don't forgive you for what you did. Or for keeping me in the dark.'

  'But, Eve, I thought you said – '

  'No, Vlad. I didn't.' With that, I rise from the bench and head over to where Stacey sits, painting her toenails with borrowed nail varnish.

  Asil arrives the next day, with Kristoff and the rest of the old Rebels, and I'm surprised by how relieved I am to see him. I rush at him, standing on tip-toes to throw my arms around his neck. 'How are you, Eve?' He smiles at me, but the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. Since Lorna was taken away, the spark he always seemed to have – one I didn't even realise was there until it had gone – has petered out, replaced by a constant sorrowfulness.

  'I'm okay. We're all okay,' I nod. 'It's pretty dull down here but you get used to it. How was the trip?'

  'Difficult,' He pulls a face, and his eyes slide over my shoulder to focus on something behind me. 'We were travelling with Patrick and Katherine.'

  'Who?' I frown, vaguely recognising the names.

  'Over there,' Asil subtly jerks his head in the direction of two Immortals whose faces are familiar to me. Both dark haired and olive skinned, they wear constant scowls and stand away from the others. 'They never wanted to be part of all this. Trying to get them to swim for three days was a job and a half. Kristoff had to watch them like a hawk in case they tried to get lost.'

  I remember them now, the two old Rebels who refused to follow Vlad until Kristoff stepped in. They were the last to agree to the plan, and Lorna mentioned that they weren't very pleasant.

  'Still, you're all here now.' I smile, giving him another hug.

  'Have you seen Lorna? Do you know if she's all right?' He asks, the hope in his eyes heartbreaking.

  'I haven't seen her,' I shake my head sadly. 'I've barely seen Sir Alec, or anyone from up above.'

  'Well, if you hear anything – '

  'You will, too.' I nod firmly. Vlad slips between us, beckoning for us to follow him into an empty space.

  'Vanessa has sent for Sir Alec,' He whispers in urgent tones. 'We're going to tell him it's time to visit the Auctoritas.'

  'Isn't it a little early?' I frown, but Vlad shakes his head.

  'The more time he has to convince them, the better.'

  'I still don't understand what he's going to say that will make them leave Mount Kamen.' Asil cuts in.

  'He'll think of something. He knows Sirus better than any of us, he'll know what to say.'

  As Vlad moves off, my gaze settles on Zoe and I remember our conversation this morning with ill-ease. 'Who is Laura?' I ask Asil suddenly. He frowns, glancing around to make sure no one is listening.

  'Laura?'

  'Yes, Zoe mentioned someone called Laura. She was Confined?'

  'Laura was a Professor at The Percy Institute,' Asil explains patiently, though he doesn't appear comfortable with this conversation. 'She and Kristoff were... '

  'Oh,' I nod. 'I see.' So Kristoff also has someone he cares about locked away in the Confine.

  Vanessa disappears into the corridor, returning a few moments later to drag Vlad to the side. A few of the Rebels eye them distastefully; they're getting tired of all the secrets. Vlad nods a few times, asks a couple of questions, then returns to Asil and I. 'Sir Alec is getting ready to leave. He'll be with the Auctoritas by tomorrow.'

  'Good.' Asil nods curtly, stepping around Vlad to join the group. He still hasn't forgiven his brother for what happened to Lorna, either. Vlad stares after him sadly, lost in his thoughts for a moment. I move to step away, but he suddenly snaps back into focus.

  'Eve,' He takes hold of my arm, but drops it as though he’s been burned. 'Sir Alec has given permission for Malachy to visit you. Down here, in the dungeons.'

  'He has?' I frown. 'Why?'

  'Because I asked him.' Vlad shrugs, glancing away.

  'But that means Sir Alec knows that Malachy is involved in the Rebellion! What if he betrays us? What if he tells Sirus?!'

  'He won't,' Vlad shakes his head confidently. 'Alec knew the moment Malachy delivered my message about Lorna that he was involved with Rebels. And if he did tell Sirus, he'd be in just as much trouble as Malachy.'

  'I doubt that,' I snarl. 'You want me to manipulate Malachy again, don't you? Did you not listen to a word I said yesterday? Malachy doesn't need – '

  'I don't want you to manipulate him,' He sighs. 'I just thought seeing him might... might cheer you up a bit. He's on his way. Sir Alec didn't want anyone from the Institute coming down here, he's terrified of being caught hiding us. But as Malachy knows what's going on – '

  'You did this so that I'd forgive you, didn't you?' I fold my arms, raising an eyebrow and watching Vlad wilt a little.

  'I didn't... I just... I knew seeing Malachy would make you happy. After what happened with Lorna I figured you needed – '

  'After what happened with Lorna?'

  'Alright, after what I did to Lorna. Look, don't make a big deal out of it, okay? Just go and see Malachy. But be discreet about it, I don't want the others thinking they can just wander about as they please.'

  'Okay,' I frown, turning towards the door. I take two steps before turning back. 'Thank you.' I mumble, hurrying off before I have to see Vlad's sickeningly pleased face.

  *

  There are three Institute Officials guarding the dungeon corridor at any one time. I'm not entirely sure who they're guarding or what from, but I follow the one who beckons me towards a room at the end of the hall. He doesn't say anything as he pushes open the rickety wooden door, and he waits for me to step inside before slamming it behind me. There's nothing much inside the room besides an aged wooden table and two splintered chairs. It looks like an ancient interrogation room and as I take a seat on the chair facing the door, I realise with a start that it probably was. It might even still be. Did Sir Alec bring Tia, Diana and the others down here to question them about my escape? Did he torture them here?

  I shudder, pushing the thought to the back of my mind. I haven't seen Tia, Diana or Richard since my escape, and though I would love to, there's a small part of me that dreads it. What if they blame me for their punishments? What if they're not the same as they once were?

  But Malachy is the same. Malachy's feelings for me are still the same; I could sense it that night in the pub. Nothing has changed between us and I feel an immense relief with this knowledge. I'm also relieved to know that Malachy is back at the Institute and not still wandering around London at night. He's back at the Institute and he's coming to see me right now.

  As if he's heard my thoughts, the wooden door suddenly swings open to reveal Malachy himself, bathed in the flickering orange glow of the bracketed torches. He nods reservedly at the guard before stepping inside, his face a mask of indifference. It's only when the door slams closed that he takes the mask off, revealing the person underneath – though it's not what I expected.

  Instead of appearing elated at my presence, or relieved, or any of the feelings I would expect him to show, he looks... exhausted. As exhausted as it's possible for an Immortal to look. His shoulders sag but remain tense at the same time, his posture is awkward and distant, and though he gives me a half-smile that doesn't reach his eyes, the corners of his mouth remain turned down. I frown, standing up, and debate whether or not to cross the room to him. Normally I would throw myself at him – and he at me – but with the way he looks now, I feel suddenly anxious.

  'Hi.' I give an awkward, uncharacteristic waggle of my fingers. Malachy raises an eyebrow as I wince at myself and he breathes out through his nose, reminiscent of a laugh.

  'Hi.' He nods at me, almost the same way he did at the guard. It's a little over a w
eek since we last saw one another, what could have changed so drastically in such a short space of time?

  'Um – ' I shift uncomfortably on my feet, staring down at the table between us like it's an ocean and I've no way to cross it. 'Are you okay?'

  'Yes,' Malachy nods stiffly, holding my gaze for a moment with a coldness that creeps into my bones. I regard him, flummoxed. Finally, the piercing indifference with which he glares at me melts, replaced by something that looks like despair. He sighs, running a hand through his blond hair. 'No,' He admits. 'But it's nothing you should worry about.'

  'Well now I'm going to worry about it,' I frown, feeling a prickle of irritation. If he won't tell me what's wrong, why act so blatantly distracted in front of me? 'Is it me? Have I done something?'

  'Why must everything be about you, Eve? How could you possibly have done something when we haven't even seen each other?' His obvious annoyance physically knocks the breath out of me, but I try to hide it, placing an arm protectively over my stomach. A few moments of tense silence play out between us before he exhales loudly, rolling his blue eyes. 'I'm sorry,' He says without expression. 'I've – I've had a bad day.'