The Tempest; Prologue 4

Prologue 4

"What manner of person is this?" The one who spoke was a nurse of the East Block who found the young kid on the ground next to the block. The child was feverish when she took him to see the doctors. They treated him and then placed him in the unit. They would not had done it but Mr Miller was there. He told them to take care of the child; he was like five years of age then.

"What is he to you, Mr Miller?" The doctor who was treating the child asked him.

"A life to be saved." Paul replied. "I want him taken care and placed here in his own room. If anyone asked, tell them I am the benefactor."

It was how the child came to be under the care of the Benefactor. The child soon recovered and was a burst of energy in the Block. He was like any kids then, but he also had his fear of the nurses who spank him. Due to his previous condition, he grew up malnourished and never truly recovered to his full self. He was short and had the emancipated looks despite all the medication given. They decided to name him Ariel; the 'lion of God' in Hebrew. He was fearless when confronted by the inmates and ran circles around them.

"We should used him as a test subject." A Doctor Hermann once told the Directors. "He is perfect'; no consent needed, and non-entity in the records."

The Directors agreed but on one condition; Paul Miller must not know. So it was that day Ariel became Subject A. He was subjected to many tests that was deemed non-violent or evasive to the body. It was a broad scope given that all the tests done was the above. But Ariel was started on the basic tests which made him happier to join in. He was given the card test, the memory test and also the game test with the rewards of a pat and sweets. Soon the test became more rigorous and as he grew on, it became more intense.

But Paul Miller found out.

"Who authorized those tests?" Paul asked. The doctors pointed to the Directors.

"It was needed, Mr Miller. With Ariel, we had made some progress in the clinical studies, but we never harmed him." Ariel was produced and he looked fine. He was quiet but he looked fine.

"No more." Paul Miller told them, but he was not there most times. The doctors stopped the tests but not the nurses; they on Ariel like a punching bag. He was subjected to many beatings which he kept quiet. Even Elaine punished him, and that was one thing that Timothy told Paul which triggered the incident on Elaine.

Soon after, Ariel was called to his benefactor.

"From now, when I am here, you are to be my personal servant. You would do my biddings." Paul told him. But it also earned him a lot of attention from the others. They beat him when Paul was not around. But there was some nurses who took kind to the lad. One of them later showed him the hidden corridors.

"Its where we checked on the patients." Ariel was told. He then used the corridors much to avoid the nurses, and found more on his own. He was amazed that the place had so many corridors. He asked the nurse that told him of the secret.

"I don't know, but it was there when they build this place."

Ariel soon became the King of the corridors and he was happy about that, until he met one other who also knew of the corridors. He was another smaller lad but he had a crooked back. The two stared at each other.

"Who are you?" Ariel asked but the other ran away. Ariel gave chase through the corridors and finally trapped the other in a small room near the dungeons. It was a place but it was filled with assorted items. Ariel recognised the items; they are items from the labs or the wards. There was also items of jewellery.

"You been stealing?" Ariel asked.

"No...No....Kabib never steal. It was given to Kabib." The other denied the accusations.

"I would report you to the benefactor." Ariel threatened the other. Kabib in turn rushed at Ariel. For a smaller person, he was strong. They both wrestle but Ariel was stronger and agile. He managed to push the other way and ran for the corridors. Kabib called put to him.

"Please don't go. Please don't tell. I did not steal. I only took what was not needed." Kabib pleaded with the other. Ariel stopped and looked at him. He turned back to approach the other and soon they were friends.

It was an unusual friendship; they hardly talk much even when they meet, but they never tell on the other.