Chapter 2

He hadn’t asked for this. For her. For any of it.

Nails rocked with rage, back and forth. Again and again.

It was all their fault. They did this. They put her there, they took her away from me. And what, they think they can just keep on torturing us every fucking day, and then head home to their families every mother fucking night?! Nah, not any more. Not. Any…

“They’re the animals” a gentle voice interrupted, somehow reading his thoughts.

Nails stopped rocking and slowly turned his head upwards.

“The name’s Sunny.” 

Nails knew exactly who Sunny was. He was the psycho from tier 3. You’d hear him laugh and cry like a man possessed. Even the Handlers left him alone - not that you’d know it, with all the creepy voices that came out of his cage day and night. 

A chill passed through Nails. He’d heard the stories, the whispers. And now here he was, face to face with the seething, terrifying reality. 

Nails frantically tried to get a read on the vacant eyes looking back at him. But there was nothing. All he could tell was that the real Sunny had checked out a long time ago. Leaving behind this empty vessel of hatred.

There was something deeply unsettling about his whole demeanour. Far more unsettling than the gun he now had pointed at Nails’ head.

As he stepped closer, Nails fully understood why everyone lived in fear of him. He was a beast of bear. Strong and powerful. Strong and dangerous...

A switch suddenly flicked. 

This is your way out.

Nails unfurled his body and nervously extended his claw.

It didn’t take much to convince him to join forces. To take vengeance for what had happened. Bound by a dark rage, they agreed to wreak havoc and devastation. And should they meet any resistance, Sunny promised to do what he did ‘best’.

What had started as a rescue mission, was quickly becoming far more sinister. But Nails couldn’t see it - he was blinded by love and driven by hate. And Sunny only indulged it, thinking it was what Nails - his beloved Nails - wanted.

After years of isolation, of being judged, avoided, feared, Sunny had fast become fixated on Nails. He was a crushing reminder of what Sunny had been missing all these years. Conversation, companionship, comfort. Oh how he’d longed for this kind of acceptance. 

You don’t deserve acceptance after what you did, a voice interjected. 

You know it was those drugs!! I’d never have killed them, I’m not a cold-blooded murderer.

Oh, but Sunny boy, how can you be so sure? 

No no no. Shut UP!! He violently shook the tormenting voices from his head. 

He felt heat surge through him, a familiar anger surfacing. 

Breathe Sunny. You don’t want to scare Nails off. You need him too, remember.

There was only one thing more terrifying to Sunny than the thought of staying locked up for the rest of his life. And that was, staying locked up alone, with just his thoughts for company.

But he did wonder, even if they did escape, would he ever be truly free?