by Leon Logos
“Yeah, but you still don’t believe me,” said Serenity.
“Not really,” said Kyler quietly, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
She looked up out of curiosity, clarifying what got him so intrigued. Of course, she saw nothing. It wasn’t abnormal of him to stare at nothing for a prolonged period of time. Kyler turned his head to Cackle, finally shifting his gaze.
“What are your plans here?” he said.
“Considering you’re too weak to even contribute, I don’t think I need to tell you,” said Cackle, with a smirk.
Kyler didn’t respond; he simply stared with his ordinary, expressionless countenance. Despite the lack of emotion in his face, his gaze was subtly reproachful for her. Like he was daring Cackle not to divulge.
“I can give you the gist of it,” said Cackle, possibly affected by Kyler’s dry glower. “We came to save your guys. Not only that, we’re here to butcher these Aurelian clowns.”
“With who…?” Kyler said doubtfully.
“Garen and Agno are here,” said Cackle.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” said Kyler flatly. “I already know Father didn’t come with you. So you betrayed his trust like we did.”
“Forget about that,” Cackle said, gritting his teeth. “We recruited a couple of goons for this mission. They’ll be here soon.”
“The Aurelians have firepower,” Kyler noted. “You really think you’re capable of launching an assault on this place? It’s like a fortress.”
“We’ve got firepower, too,” Cackle said dismissively. “And the element of surprise. They won’t see us coming at all.”
Kyler didn’t question it any further. It was unclear what his stance was on this “plan.” Whether he had his reservations, doubts, or qualms wasn’t significant. Kyler couldn’t help, as much as she knew he would’ve liked to. She also knew that he’d be on board, registering that the goal was to kill Aurelians. It was certain that he didn’t have any complaints with this. Though, he clearly had his doubts on whether the brothers would succeed. Kyler wasn’t stupid; he was fully aware of the Aurelians’ power.
There was a minute of silence between them. Kyler readjusted the hay mattresses, lying down on his back. He noticed the chickens clucking in their coop and commented on possibly eating them, something Serenity had considered. Since his arrival, Cackle hadn’t moved from his spot by the door, leaning against the wall. He was looking out, giving cursory glances outside every few moments. It was him that broke the silence.
“How did you manage to get that key?” Cackle asked.
“I took it from Bastion, the guy I was talking about,” she said.
“You stole it, I know that. But how did you know to steal it?”
Serenity turned to Kyler, completely forgetting about the conditions regarding acquiring the key. The prisoner, Kyler’s cellmate, had told her of the key’s existence and essentially enabled a breakout to be possible. She recalled the scene arriving at the cells just hours earlier, straining to remember if she had seen him. If her memory wasn’t deceiving her, his cell had been empty. Along with the cell of the old, sleeping man.
“They took him and the other guy out yesterday,” Kyler answered, before she could even ask, demonstrating his inexplicable ability to sometimes read her mind.
It was as if mind-reading was what he was doing while being reticent and taciturn all the time.
“What? Why?” she frowned. “I promised him I’d free him as well.”
“That you did,” said Kyler. “But who cares? He’s probably dead.”
“You think so?”
“Probably. Why else would they take him out?”
“Maybe they moved him, like they did to Desmos?” she suggested.
“Why are you so obsessed with this guy?” Kyler asked inquiringly.
“I’m not!” she refuted. “I just—I feel bad we couldn’t save him…”
“Who the hell are you two talking about?” Cackle asked, bewildered, gawking at them as if they were a pair of purple monkeys.
“It’s not important,” said Kyler. “Just some guy that was with me in the cells. Definitely a war prisoner or something.”
“War prisoner? If he was a war prisoner, you’d be one too,” Cackle deducted. “So would Desmos. Which means, maybe they did move him like Desmos? I need to find this new location.”
“We’re not war prisoners,” Kyler denied. “We’re just pains in their asses. Bugs they couldn’t squash for years, until now.”
“We’re ‘bugs’?” Cackle said disapprovingly, insulted at the comparison. “If anybody’s a bug, it’s you and her. Don’t call me that, Kylie.”
“In comparison to us, they’re giants,” said Kyler calmly. “They outnumber us and are superior to us in every aspect… I wonder why Father ever started beef with them.”
“After all these years? You finally do?” Serenity scoffed. “I’ve been asking the same question since childhood, and nobody would ever answer me! You’d ignore me or give me some bullshit reply. Every time!”
“You know how Father reacted when you asked those types of questions,” said Kyler reasonably. “Nothing good came out of it.”
“Exactly,” said Serenity contently, gladdened that this discussion had sparked after so long. “We never asked him because we were scared…”
“No, because he didn’t approve of us asking questions,” Cackle argued. “Especially from someone like you. We don’t disobey his orders. We follow.”
“Oh, please,” she scowled disdainfully. “You sound like Desmos.”
“The hell you trying to say?” Cackle glared balefully.
“I’m saying you’re just a sheep,” she responded aggravated, letting her emotions consume her. “A suck-up, and a coward!”
Her insults triggered his temper. He pulled his pistol out of his holster, cocking it, his eyes emanating rage. His face was contorted in hatred and profound agitation.
“You’re insane!” she recoiled, scrambling backwards.
“Put that down,” Kyler said collectedly, not visibly perturbed at the rapid escalation of the hostile situation. “Stop being childish.”
“I’ll put led in between your eyes too, if you want,” Cackle said viciously. “Nobody calls me a coward and walks out of it! Especially, somebody who’s been a coward their entire LIFE!”
“Sure, go and kill the people you came here to save,” Kyler said dully, not frightened in the slightest. “Idiot.”
Cackle threatening them with a weapon when pissed off wasn’t completely out-of-the-ordinary. He had held her at knifepoint once or twice in the past, and only once had pointed a firearm at her before. Impetuous and irascible, Cackle tended to act out aggressively when challenged, provoked, or angered. It was a severe issue of his. Of course, none of the brothers felt genuinely endangered when he did this. They knew Cackle at least had the restraint to stop himself from pulling the trigger. Cackle didn’t generally intimidate any of the brothers; to them, he was the wild, younger brother. Even to Kyler, who was younger than him.
“I saved your life,” Cackle snarled; but he put down the weapon, placing it back in the holster.
“I didn’t ask you to, that was Serenity’s job,” Kyler fired back.
“I would’ve done it myself, and with food too,” Serenity said, backing him up. “But the others forced Cackle to come with me.”
“Yeah, they did,” said Cackle. “Those pricks…”
“With Desmos gone, I guess Garen’s in charge now…” said Kyler.
Before Cackle could open his mouth to possibly repudiate, she attested.
“It looks like he is,” she said. “He feels a bit like Desmos, honestly.”
“That’s because he’s had to make a very Desmos-ish decision,” said Cackle cryptically, refusing to say any more.
“He should be happy, though,” said Kyler. “He’s always wanted his spot. Now that Desmos is probably dead, he’ll get it.”
“You think he’s dead?
” Cackle asked. “So we should disregard him.”
“He’s meant to be executed the same day as Kyler,” said Serenity. “He can’t be. And now that we’re actually here, I think we should investigate the rumor I’ve heard. That the well here is used for solitary confinement.”
“No, it’s not,” Cackle disproved.
“How would you know?” she questioned.
“Where do you think I got that water? It’s just a well.”
“You’ve been feeding him well water?” she said, appalled.
“What’s the issue?” Cackle said, aggrieved. “I brought water, didn’t I? It’s not like that water is contaminated. Ask him.”
“Tasted like water to me,” Kyler concurred, not complaining.
Serenity clicked her tongue in annoyance, unable to repel her misgivings. The possibility that the water was contaminated was likely.
“It was clean water,” Kyler reaffirmed, detecting her doubts.
“Yeah, you heard him,” Cackle interjected. “Now quit whining! What’s wrong? Well water too filthy for you, princess?”
“What’re you implying?” she asked indignantly.
“Nothing much, rich girl,” Cackle said. “Except that now you’re living the royalty life, you somehow think you’re better than us.”
“Is that what you think?” she asked, in amazement. “That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s not as ludicrous as it sounds,” Kyler said. “It’s simple psychology.”
“I always had thought myself to be below you all,” she admitted. “And just for your information, this rich-kid life doesn’t suit me. I still can’t get accustomed to it.”
“Then why are you so bent on staying?” Kyler asked.
“Because I found family here!” she exclaimed. “Family that cares for me and doesn’t hate me, or treat me like garbage!”
“THEY’RE NOT YOUR FAMILY!” Cackle thundered. “What have they been telling you?! You don’t trust AURELIANS!”
“You idiots don’t know them!” she exclaimed, incensed. “You just think they’re enemies because Father told us they were! You haven’t even stopped to consider why, and haven’t even struck up a decent conversation with them. It’s just kill first, but don’t ask questions!”
“They want us dead, you damn duck!” Cackle said, his hands on his forehead as if he was mind-blown at her mentality and beliefs.
“But not her,” Kyler interposed. “We’re enemies because we’re Carlisles. She’s apparently one of them.”
“You do know, you’re not Carlisles either?” Serenity declared. “None of you haven’t even wondered who you really are. Your real families!”
“They haven’t been in the picture, only Father has,” Kyler said indifferently. “It doesn’t matter who they are.”
“Not even a thought? A single thought?” she pressed.
“I suppose you know what happened to them,” Cackle said derisively.
“Yeah, I do!” she said confidently. “Gunther killed them. Like he killed mine! It’s not like he stole you guys from an orphanage or adoption agency!”
“Father killed your real parents?” Kyler asked quizzically.
“Oh, you didn’t know?” she said bitterly. “Yeah; he killed my mom and dad, then literally kidnapped me. Like he did to all of you.”
“They told you this, didn’t they?” said Kyler. “Where’s the proof?”
“Am I the only one that finds it insane?!” Cackle asked. “Why would Father take you from the Aurelians! If you’re one of them, he would’ve killed you on the spot! It makes no sense!”
“They never told me the full story,” she confessed. “But I’m going to get the details. One day, I will.”
“Well, you’re too late,” said Cackle. “You won’t get the chance.”
“All I need to do is ask my uncle.”
“That’s the point. He’s not gonna be alive long.”
“You’re not killing my uncle.”
“Yes, we are. And your little cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.”
“One of my cousins is only ten,” Serenity said critically. “You’d kill a little girl? Even you’re not that heartless.”
“I’m not so sure about that…” said Kyler.
“That ‘little girl’ would kill me on sight,” said Cackle. “Therefore, it’s only fair that I kill her first. Don’t try to play that card on me.”
“She wouldn’t kill anyone,” she defended. “She’s innocent in every way! And she’s too young to understand any of this war crap.”
“I don’t care, she dies,” Cackle said unyieldingly. “And if I don’t kill her, somebody else will. Either by someone’s hand or she gets caught in the crossfire. Even if she locks herself up in the citadel, she’s a goner anyway.”
Serenity glowered acidly, sickened at Cackle’s odious disposition. He hadn’t even met Lily before, and here he was tarnishing her image and labeling her as some bloodthirsty child that was out to murder.
“Then how are Kyler and I supposed to be safe during this bloodbath?” she asked urgently, considering her own wellbeing for once.
“Realistically speaking, none of our safety is guaranteed,” Cackle grinned. “It’s gonna be chaos. But now that you ask, you can just stay here. The farm is pretty isolated from the estate. On the way back here from the chow hall kitchens, I ran into Garen and Agno. I told them that we were here. If they know, they’ll make sure to relay that info to our contractor.”
“What ‘contractor’?” Kyler asked.
“My mouth slipped, forget about it.”
“What are they doing now?” Serenity asked quickly. “Garen? Agno?”
“Looking for Desmos and making final preparations I guess,” said Cackle. “They mentioned having a lead on his location.”
“What?! Really?!” she said fervently. “Where?!”
“I don’t know, they didn’t tell me,” he shrugged. “I didn’t have time to strike up a damn conversation. I told them what I was doing, where you guys were, and that we succeeded. Then I was basically gone.”
“If all else fails, just capture one of the Council guys and interrogate him,” said Kyler. “Make him scream until he spits it out.”
“I agree with you, for once,” said Cackle. “And it’ll probably come down to that method. Good old-fashioned torture.”
“I don’t think I can fight,” Kyler sighed. “I don’t know if I can even throw a punch strong enough to tickle a baby.”
“You’re not gonna fight,” Serenity asserted. “Forget about it.”
“Quit treating him like you’re his mother,” Cackle scowled.
“He doesn’t have one, maybe he needs one,” she fired back. “Maybe we all do. All we got was a shitty father!”
“If Desmos were here to hear you say that, he’d kill you,” Cackle spat.
“I don’t know anymore,” said Kyler thoughtfully. “Father was pretty confident in his decision to leave her be. He probably hesitated, but Desmos didn’t regret disobeying Father. Things have changed for us.”
Serenity stared at him, intrigued at Kyler’s shift in attitude. Before, he never used to question his existence or doubt the construction of the Carlisle family. To him, his role was to be the obedient son and perform well, just like Desmos. But it seemed, not anymore. She was used to the Kyler that never even entertained the thought of mutiny.
Things had irrefutably changed. All the brothers had mutinously disobeyed Gunther. Not a single one of them had stayed behind with him. To her, this testified that their bond and loyalty to Desmos was stronger than the connection with Gunther. And for Desmos—as much as she found it startling and almost inconceivable—to him, she was considered worth sacrificing everything for: Gunther’s trust and even his life. Serenity had detested Desmos for most of her lifetime, but that dislike had diminished now, given the circumstances. She sought to save him this time.
“If everything goes as planned, and you all make it out of here alive,” she be
gan pensively, “what happens next?”
It was a significant question, holding profound relevance. It regarded the brothers’ futures. Cackle didn’t respond. He redirected his attention outside, pretending to resume lookout duty. She didn’t repeat the question.
“He doesn’t know,” Kyler answered perspicaciously. “Something happened with Father. I know it. And we can’t go back to him.”
“No shit,” said Cackle. “There’s no turning back from what we did. He’ll never forgive us. And he’ll never be able to anyway.”
“Are—are you guys okay with that…?” Serenity asked softly.
Again, he didn’t respond. She exchanged looks with Kyler. Kyler shook his head, conveying to drop the subject. She did so reluctantly. Kyler shifted his body to his right side, grunting in discomfort. She frowned, irked that his wounds were still not tended to. Serenity turned back to Cackle.
“Cackle, you think you could get a first-aid-kit from the barracks?”
“You’re pushing your luck,” he scoffed. “He’s not dying, retard.”
“Some of those cuts might get infected; it’s bad leaving them be,” she noted. “Better to take care of it now than later.”
“Why? You a doctor?”
“Cleaning wounds and healing injuries was the only good thing I learned with you guys,” she said. “And the only thing I was slightly good at.”
“Go call the Aurelian nurse,” Cackle suggested jokingly. “She’ll help.”
“I don’t even know the nurse,” she groaned. “If you don’t go, I will.”
“Stand up and I’ll shoot your legs,” he threatened. “Try me.”
She turned to Kyler, seeking his opinion on the matter.
“I’ll live,” he said tersely. “Once this is all done, then I can get patched up. For now, the main priority is the mission.”
“See?” Cackle nodded approvingly.
“So you’re locking me in here?” she said. “You won’t let me leave?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing. And why I’m staying.”
“What if I have to use the bathroom?”
“There’s plenty of space in here.”
“If it comes down to that, I’m stepping outside,” she said forcefully.