Season 01 - Episode 08

‘your own good’

“Please,” says Ny to the vidscreen. “I haven't eaten in days.”

“It says here you've got a second hatch,” says the man on the vidscreen who looks barely out of his teens. “Just use that.”

“I've been through this,” says Ny. “That hatch was sealed up years ago. I only have one now and I need someone to repair it, quickly, please.”

“Fine, I'll book you a repair but there's a minimum...” says the man.

“Look,” Ny interrupts. “It's really very simple. The hatch is an old 99-36, the one with the augmented heat resistant panelling. All it needs is...”

“What are you talking about?” the young man interrupts in turn, staring at Ny in disgust. “Look, I've booked you in but there's a minimum eight week wait for repairs, same for everyone. No special treatment. Goodbye.”

“No!” cries Ny. Frustration cracks his voice but the vidscreen is already black.

Ny closes his eyes to hold in the tears and waits for the trembling to pass. Eventually, he sags and blinks. He shuffles across the room to the cupboard and retrieves a small bundle from inside. He unwraps it to reveal a simple ring bearing a single gemstone.

He doesn't look to the always empty chair. He moves to the door instead. It has been years since he left the room. He doesn't even know who his neighbours are anymore. Maybe they'll be kind. Maybe they'll help him or at least be willing to trade.

Sometimes he hears people in the corridor. Sometimes he hears terrible sounds. Sometimes people knock, but he never opens the door. He feels the ring in his hand and his heart breaks a little. He takes a deep breath, unlocks the door and steps outside.

The first thing he notices is the gloom. The lighting panel above is dead. The corridor here is a short stretch of half light between distant pools of clarity. The second thing he notices are the men shaped shadows, four of them huddled together.

“Hey!” one of them calls as all four of them stand. Ny turns and fumbles desperately with his door. Before he can get it open they are all around him. A heavy hand grips his shoulder, turns him back to face them.

“Never seen you round here before,” says the largest man. His head is shaven clean and a long scar runs down the left side of his face, passing through where his eye used to be. Ny realises they all have the same scars, the same gnarled sockets.

“I've...” Ny begins but his voice is too small. He tries again, a bit harder. “I've lived here all my life.”

“Really?” says the man, leaning in. “Well then I've got good news for you, brother. GovCo have left everyone here in The Fourth to rot but the The Beast has come to save us. We are his disciples, we spread his word. Will you help us, brother? Will you help us save The Fourth?”

“I want to go back inside,” says Ny.

“Don't be so ungrateful, brother,” says the man as the rest press closer. “The Beast wants to help you, it's for your own good. We just need everyone to pitch in, that's all. Solidarity, brother. What can you give for the cause?”

“I have nothing,” croaks Ny. “My catering hatch is broken. I'm starving. I don't have anything to give you.”

“Really?” asks the man. “Then what's this?”

“No!” sobs Ny. He tries to resist the thick fingered hands as they peel his own frail digits apart. He is too weak. They take the ring.

“The Beast thanks you for your contribution to the cause, brother,” says the man. “You've helped make The Fourth a better place today, you'll see.”

The men move off into the darkness. Ny slides down the door and collapses onto the floor.

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