Cut the Red Cord
Chapter 3
Kaleb took all the used dishes and placed them in the sink, but he involuntarily froze before he could start washing the dishes.
“Sit, you can get back to that after we talk.” Cables tugged at the base of Kaleb’s neck until he walked back to his seat. The creature grinned as it looked them both over. “To start off, Kaleb, you don’t have a job anymore. As far as IRIS is aware, you’re dead just like the others on that floor. They won’t look for your body or report anything, because they were willing to throw you away as their pawn.”
“...How does that benefit them? How can you be so certain?” Kaleb asked dubiously.
“Kaleb, you know how replacable you are to them. They know you have plenty of things to hide that will hurt them, and it’s far easier to tell you to walk into the lions den than to set loose the lions onto you. It also saves them a paycheck.” They sit on the granite cross legged and continued. “But while they think you’re dead, you should still get another job, another identity. Something to keep both of my inmates fed.”
“You say that like it’s easy.” Chase scoffed. “And what makes them think that Kaleb is hiding anything?”
It looked at Kaleb with a knowing smirk. “How about you say it then? What are you hiding, if you even remember what that is.”
Kaleb despised that question, but something in him wasn’t surprised at Anti’s omnicience. “Whatever it is, it won’t hurt them now.” They shrugged.
It leaned back and looked down at Kaleb, glowing silver piercing through the darkness to target whoever they shall decide. “I’m sure it’ll come to you eventually. But for now, get yourself a new identity and continue working. A reminder that you will not tell anyone about us, understand?”
“I understand.” Kaleb stated. “Did you really decide to stay here because…I dunno, you were tired of killing your wittnesses or somethi-” Kaleb froze when it was suddenly far closer than before, something cold and sharp grazed their neck.
“I spared you because I see a use in you. You’ll join your peers when that use dissapears. You having a place to stay at is merely a bonus.” He didn’t say, but his words silenced all thoughts in Kaleb’s head so his voice could be heard. They resumed their prior position and pulled the knife away from Kaleb’s neck. “And for now, while you’re still useful, you will not defy me. I’d threaten the lives of your family, but they don’t seem to exist, so I’ll just resort to torturing you for any further insolance.”
It dissapeared within a blink, causing Kaleb to look around before turning to Chase. “...That…that happens often, right?”
Chase sighed and hummed affirmatively. “It means he’s said what he needed to. You’ll learn to love the seconds of silence.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Kaleb stood up from the barstool, walked back to the sink and started to wash the dishes. “Was I the only one who heard that?”
“Whatever he said when he got really close to you? Yeah, which means I don’t need to know what it was.”
After placing the newly cleaned silver ware and plates in the rack, Kaleb felt something draw closer. Chase had seemingly decided to join Kaleb’s side and dry some of the dishes with a nearby towel.
“Why did you work there? At IRIS?” He asked with clear distaste for the decision.
“...Didn’t have a lot of options.” Kaleb eventually answered. “I won’t go further into it.”
“Okay…how long have you been working there?”
“A little over five years now.” He grimaced. “Really thought I’d have done something better by now.” Kaleb placed the skillet on the rack.
“Yeah, like what?”
“I dunno…just something closer to my creating passions than being a janitor.”
“You mean creative?” Chase asked with a raised brow.
“I’m in no ways creative, I just do a lot in a lot of different art forms. I draw, I write, I crochet, I cook, and I won’t stop there. But nothing I make is new in the creative way.”
Chase nodded in understanding. “I get that. I used to make videos, do trickshots, and play guitar, but none of it really worked out.”
“I’m sorry.” They replied sympathetically.
“Don’t be, you aren’t in charge of whether I succeed or not, and vice versa. Maybe this new identity will be a chance for you to try again and not be stuck mopping up blood.”
“Indeed, although the more common messes include more spilled food than blood, anticlimatic enough.” Kaleb paused when they realized that they were still washing up a well clean mixing bowl during their conversation. He lends that to Chase and takes the dried dishes.
“Still a mess to clean up.” Chase paused and looked at Kaleb. “Was that what you meant when you said ‘Same but different’?”
Kaleb looked back after closing the silverware drawer. “...No, no I was just muttering things, I think.” He took the dried mixing bowl off of Chase’s hands. “I was rather overwhelmed by a lot of what I had to see there, and it kinda reminded me of this scene in this one horror movie I’d watched as a teen, so I kinda muttered the phrase from there.” They explained while putting the bowl away.
“Really? Which one?” He inquired.
“I don’t really remember, I never really got the chance to rewatch it, so I naturally forgot.” Chase doesn’t seem to believe Kaleb, judging by the lingering stare, but he moves on, and so do they. “Anyway, thank you for the help, I’ll…well, I’ll be in my office. If you need anything, feel free to knock the door just before the bathroom.” Kaleb concluded and did exactly that.
