Motivational Rage

[Tape clicks on]

[Lazarus sighs heavily.]

Lazarus: The trip back was a bit of a blur for me. Feels more like a fever dream, really. Or… maybe that was the fever dream?

I don’t know. Oriana stitched the wound on my leg when I got back. It still hurts more than anything, and Oriana continues to pester me with things like not walking, or sitting still, or fresh air.

I keep having dreams about them. All of those dead scientists. I probably sound a little insane, but… but something about it just… felt… wrong. Maybe it was how it was all piled up. Maybe it was how Dorian Blackwood left them to die.

And I doubt it was the only facility he left to fend for themself. 

I doubt he’s ever been here.

Does he even know how horrible it can be?

[Lazarus takes a trembling breath as he leans forward in his chair.]

I noticed there were flowers sitting on the table here. There rather ordinary. Dark red, with splotches of black. Not roses, there are no thorns.

The strange thing about the flowers, is that there is no soil, no water. Their just… sitting there, in a blue and green glass. 

The flowers were here before, and they look the same.

How have they not died? I know flowers, all plants, need water, dirt, and sunlight— Oriana told me. So would a flower truly not die, even taken from the only place it can live?

If a flower won’t wilt like this, then… 

When was the last time I ate something?

I’m gonna go grab a flower and see how long it takes for it to wilt.

[Tape clicks off]

[Tape clicks on]

[Lazarus is breathing heavily, each breath strained and distressed. It’s clear he’s trying to be quite]

Lazarus: I had a nightmare. It was like all of the other nightmares, with the tomb, and the— all of the— they—

[Lazarus’ voice cracks and his breathing hitches. He takes a deep breath, collecting himself, before exhaling.]

Lazarus: I… I saw them again. The, er, the scientists… But— But I also saw—heard—a person. I’d been in that room again. The white room, with no doors, no windows, just that white light. The phone wasn’t there either.

But I could hear something. A person. It sounded as though they were just on the other side of the wall. They were tapping. Tapping the same thing. They… paused, occasionally.

Somehow I knew what they were trying to say, the person, who was tapping. They’d asked how are you…

[Lazarus takes a deep breath before sighing heavily.]

And I tapped on the wall. I don’t know how I knew what to tap, but I did, and I knew what it meant too. I’d tapped, I’m alright.

There was a long silence… I could hear something scratch, like metal on metal. And then… and then they were screaming—

[Lazarus’ voice cracks before he quietly sobs.]

[Tape clicks off]

[Tape clicks on]

Atlas: Lazarus? You okay? Eden says you’ve been up before the sun came up, and… Zarus, are you awake?

Lazarus: Mmm-hmm

[A chair scratches across the floor and Atlas sighs as he sat down beside Lazarus]

Atlas: What’s wrong? Oriana said you won’t say a word to anybody. Did something happen last night? Did… did you see something?

[There’s a long pause. The only sound is the faint breeze.]

Did you have another nightmare?

[Lazarus nods. He doesn’t look at Atlas, his head resting on his arms, of which are crossed on the table.] 

Do you want to talk about it?

[Lazarus takes a deep breath, that trembles at the end.]

Lazarus: I don’t know why he was screaming.

[His voice is no louder than a whisper, his voice hoarse and raspy. His eyes close tighter as he curls in on himself.]

[Atlas shifts his position uncomfortably.]

Atlas: Who?

Lazarus: I don’t know.

[His shoulders shake as a few quiet sobs escape him. His hands begin to tremble as he tries to get it to stop.]

Atlas: It’s okay, shh. I know how hard these nightmares can be.

[Atlas reaches out and gently places his hand on Lazarus’ back, tracing soothing circles there.]

Atlas: It’s always a hard at first, but, I promise, you will start to remember. And the nightmares go away after a while, okay?

Lazarus: I don’t know if I want to remember, Atlas.

[They sit in silence, with Atlas whispering words of comfort and Lazarus trying to get his breathing in check.]

[Tape clicks off]

[Tape clicks on]

Lazarus: What’re you doing, Cyrus? Turn it off.

Cyrus: Ignore it for a sec, alright?

[There’s the rustle of pages, followed by the scratching of a chair. Cyrus sat down beside’s Lazarus. Lazarus pays Cyrus no attention, resting his head on his folded arms and looking in the other direction.]

I know it’s hard, the nightmares. Especially when there of somebody you care about.

[Lazarus glances at Cyrus.]

I had a sister.

[There’s a long pause.]

Lazarus: Had?

[Cyrus nods.]

Cyrus: Had.

Lazarus: How old was she?

Cyrus: Eight…

[There’s a long pause.]

Lazarus: Doesn’t it make you mad? That they did this to us?

Cyrus: Yeah. It makes anybody mad for a bit. If you think about it too long, you’ll drown in fury. But here, where their nowhere in sight… the only people who’ll get hurt by that rage is the people who would fight tooth and nail for you.

[Lazarus sighs heavily.]

Lazarus: So you think I should let it go?

Cyrus: Not at all. You should always be a little mad, I know I am. Because if you’re never upset about what’s happening, you won’t have any motivation to keep going, to do everything in spite of them. Anger’s good in small quantities, just like fire. Too much and you can burn those who care about you.

[There’s a long pause.]

Lazarus: Did Atlas make you come? Or Oriana?

Cyrus: (Chuckling) Neither. I just know how it feels and wanted to check on you. Feel better now?

Lazarus: A little bit, yeah.

Cyrus: That’s good.

[Tape clicks off]

[Tape clicks on]

Cyrus: By not leaving. I got hurt. Bad. Couldn’t walk for a month. Still hurts when I run too much. But I think that’s the comforting thing about this place. Is when you do find people, could be one, could be four, it’s the closest thing you’ll ever get to a family.

Family isn’t about bloodlines, Lazarus. It’s about who stays to clean up the mess when the world leaves you bloody

[There’s a pause.]

Did… Did you record me saying that?

Lazarus: (Chuckling) Yeah. Sounded like something that’d help after nightmares.

Cyrus: Well in that case…

[They both laugh.]

[Tape clicks off]