Episode 5

John received the tray back from the head cook, wincing at the slop that was given to him. A thick scoop of rice pudding was the main course, with a side of sliced bread and an orange. Charles opted out of eating and trailed behind John as he sought for a place to sit and eat. They made their way to the back of the cafeteria where an empty table rested against the painted white brick walls. John stared a hole through Charles as he pounded the spork out of the plastic.

“You know I’m gonna need some answers by the time I finish this meal, right?” John used his spork to shovel up a portion of the rice pudding, taking it to his nose first to smell what he’d be tasting.

“That’s the worst thing you can do. Don’t smell it first, just eat it,” Charles advised.

“So you can give me advice but not acknowledge what I just said to you.”

“Well hell, you said nothing at all, son. Eat your meal, you’re gonna need it.”

John dropped his spork on top of the table and leaned forward.

“You, and this Margot lady, and all of this,” he said, gesturing towards the freaks and identical Suzuki’s surrounding them, “I need to know what the fuck is going on!”

“In due time, all will be revealed, John.”

“And that’s another thing! This whole “in due time” bullshit that you guys keep pushing, I’m not buying it! You’re gonna tell me what I need to know, god damnit.”

Charles smirked for a split second, but his mug turned to stone as he looked back at John, directly in the eyes. “Son, you’re way out of line. I said in due time, and that’s what I meant. I don’t have the answers you’re looking for anyways. Eat your food.”

“I’m not a fucking child.”

“Ah yes, but you’re acting like one.”

Just as John was about to peel his orange, the doors directly behind him swung open, and out walked a seven foot, three inch Cyclops in a dark blue jumpsuit, shackled and accompanied by four guards. Charles rose up from his chair and approached the giant, shaking his hand and pointing over to the table where John still sat.

Charles turned around and returned back to the table, chuckling to himself as he sat down across from John.

“Great guy, that one there. He owes me a favor, actually.”

“Yeah? And?” John began peeling away at his orange, the only thing that looked remotely appetizing on the brown lunch tray. Two of the four guards approached the table, telling Charles that the Cyclops could join them for lunch, as long as his security detail was welcome as well. Charles obliged their request and they stepped away to inform their colleagues.

“What is he, your muscle?” You’re not gonna intimidate me, Charles,” John shot back. As he peeled away the last quarter inch peel that remained on the orange, the sound of the Cyclops’ shackles clinging off of the linoleum floor increased.

“That’ll be the best orange you ever tasted, my boy. We grow them right here in the lab,” Charles remarked. The gargantuan one eyed monster approached the table surrounded by guards and pulled a chair out, placing his tray on the table right next to John.

“Seriously?” John gazed up at the beast, shaking his head in disgust.

As he lowered his wide frame down into the chair below him, his lone hazel eye stared John in both of his.

“My friend here says you don’t want to play by the rules,” said the Cyclops. His voice was deep and raspy, and gave off a tone of complete emptiness.

John looked back and snapped back, “I can’t play by the rules of a game I don’t know. I don’t mean any disrespect to you, him or anybody,” glaring at the guards encircling the table. “Is this really because I won’t eat this garbage?”

“Now it is,” said the Cyclops.

Charles sat back in his chair and kicked his feet up on the table, leisurely enjoying this all unfold.

The monster continued, “Look around you. You need to eat what they give you to be a fully functional part of this community. The sooner you accept that, the better.”

“I don’t want to be a part of this community!” John slammed his arms down on the table, causing the guards to step closer to the table, but being waved off by Charles almost immediately.

The Cyclops turned to Charles and tried to negotiate getting his hand shackles removed, which Charles was seriously considering at this point. He called the head guard over to him, and whispered in his ear.

John understood that he didn’t have much of a choice, and picked up the spork and stuck it inside of the rice pudding. Throwing his hands in the air, he conceded.

“Alright, alright, I’ll eat the food.”

John picked up the plastic spork and raised it up from the thick mess on his tray and swung it towards the Cyclops. Charles looked on in horror as John stabbed the Cyclops in the eye, causing him to tip backwards and fall out of his chair.