Hounds of Orion

The intake process for the royal jail was an arduous and exhausting affair. It had taken nearly all night for Cameron to be processed, booked, and thrown into a small concrete cell. Gone were the elegant alabaster stone that ran the length of the palace that sat above him. Here, underneath a mountain of imported rock and beautiful blue gems, Cameron could only see an ocean of gray. He sighed and sniffed as he sat on a thin, uncomfortable cot, his soul feeling as muted and depressed as the color that surrounded him.

“And here I thought this was a regular experience for you,” A gruff, deep voice, that teased a hint of levity spoke out to him from the darkness beyond the bars.

Cameron looked up, gazing out into the pitch black void, squinting as he tried to make the figure standing just beyond his vision. A moment later, Logan stepped forward, coming to a stop underneath the glow of a dim, dying light. His hands were stuff inside his pockets and he stood with an air of nonchalance that left him looking more like he was trying to order a drink instead of conversing with a prisoner.

“Wh-What?” Cameron asked, sounding and looking much more like the boy he was, instead of the confident man Logan had met only a few days before.

“Being behind bars I mean,” Logan said, gesturing to the predicament Cameron presently found himself in. “Murder though? I didn’t really peg you for a killer.”

“That’s because I’m not.” Cameron said, wiping his eyes as he stood, approaching the bars. As he got closer, his ears picked up the distinct hum of an electrical current being passed through them. Just another reminder of how trapped he truly was.

“Well… I gotta say,” Logan began, leaning to the side to look past him. “You really should think about redecorating. Don’t you know gray is out of fashion this time of year?”

“What do you want Logan?” Cameron snapped. He was in no mood to play games, feeling a pang of anger bubble over inside of him. “If this is some sick joke, or taunt, then I promise to get out of this cell, find you, and I’ll actually become what they’re accusing me of.”

“Calm down.” Logan retorted in a more even tone raising his hand in a motion of appeasement. “I Just wanted to come see how you’re holding up. Figured if anyone would be able to find some humor in a situation like this it’d be you.”

Cameron scoffed, finding it hard to keep from rolling his eyes. “And what gave you that impression?”

“Well… you were still being a smarmy little asshole while I was beating the hell out of you.”

Cameron gave a short, soft chuckle as he walked away from the bars, and sat at the edge of the cot. He was quiet for a while, eyes locked on the floor.

“This is different though.”

“How?”

It was a simple question, but it still took Cameron a while before he could come up with an answer.

“Because it was only me suffering then.”

Logan nodded, letting out a sigh as he leaned against a supporting pillar. “I get that,” He said softly. “Though to be fair… it’s only Darwin. I don’t really think he’s going to be missed.”

“It’s not Darwin,” Cameron said, shaking his head. “It’s everyone else. You saw the looks on their faces. The fear… the disgust.”

The memories came rushing back to him, the smell of rust, Miranda’s screams, his father’s parting words. He ground his teeth and shut his eyes tight, hands gripping the side of the cot so hard the rusted metal let out a squeal of protest. He was trying to regain control of his emotions before they threatened to spill over a second time, but he couldn’t deny the words that had been running through his mind since the guards had ushered him away.

“They think I’m a monster.”

He could hear his voice break on the last word of that statement, as his eyes stung, tears blinding his vision. He couldn’t remember a time that he had felt so helpless in this world. So lonely and scared, so… small.

“Maybe they do. Maybe that opinion will never change” Logan’s words were as harsh as they were truthful, even though his tone was soft, and comforting. “But the question is, do you think that you’re a monster?”

Cameron shook his head, not quite ready to meet the man’s gaze yet. “No… I... I don't think so... I don't know.”

“Cameron. Look at me.” Logan’s voice calling his name broke him from his angry reflection, putting him back into the present. He did as he was told, his eyes slowly raising to meet Logan’s gaze.

Logan said nothing for a long time. He simply looked at Cameron, his eyes assessing the man, trying to detect the hint of a lie or attempt at subversion. After a minute slowly dragged on in silence, he appeared to be satisfied with what he saw.

“You really are innocent.” Logan finally broke his silence, his tone a soft finality. Cameron could only nod, feeling a sense of hope permeate through his body.

Cameron slumped back on his cot, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, calming him just enough to feel the sharp sting of fear well up inside of him. He swallowed hard, shaking his head.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. But if I know my father, and if Lendrick get’s his way, I think they're gonna want to make an example of me.”

“Meaning what exactly?”

It was Cameron’s turn to shrug, sighing in exasperation. “Life in prison, or worse. But I think they’ll probably lean towards the latter.”

“I see.”

“Yeah…” Cameron said, lowering his head in his hands. He wasn’t crying anymore. The tears wouldn’t fall even if he wanted them to. Instead, he was trying to convince himself to come to peace with his future.

Logan had other plans.

The heavy footfalls of his boots brought Cameron’s gaze up just in time to see Logan walking down the sparsely lit hallway. He felt like calling after him, Logan beat him to the punch.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” He called, waving a hand dismissively

“Where are you going?” Cameron called back.

It took until Logan reached the door, his hand grasping the handle before he answered.

“Getting you another option.”