The Esoteric Design

by A. R. Crebs

  Aria eyed Troy. The man’s face fell into one of solemnity. Was that what was wrong? Troy blamed Dovian for Gavin’s death?

  “I didn’t say anything about that,” Troy muttered.

  “No, but I know you were thinking it,” Dovian said crossly.

  “What? You can read minds now?” Troy asked, tearing his eyes away.

  “You are not a hard one to read. Your feelings are quite evident even on the outside.” Dovian folded his arms, leaning against the wall.

  Now the room was awkwardly silent again.

  A loud slam alerted the three followed by the sound of a very irate woman. A Cherno soldier walked toward the giant cell; with him was Ivory, wriggling in his grasp.

  “I told you to let go of me!” she shrieked, elbowing him in the ribs.

  “Ivory!” Aria stood, making her way to the cell door. Dovian followed her, giving a concerned look at the blonde.

  “She says you know her, is this true?” the soldier asked in his deep accent.

  “Yes, yes, we know her!” Aria shouted. “What did you do to her?”

  Ivory looked a bit roughed up. Her mittens were torn, and the furry hat upon her head was sitting sideways. Her hair was in disarray, her eye shadow smudged, and her corset was twisted and unraveling in the back. Aria quickly looked over the woman’s clothing. Everything else seemed to be in place.

  “She resisted,” the soldier said in a seething tone. “She bit me.” Holding up a hand, he revealed a large bite mark on his skin, each individual tooth evident.

  “Ivory,” Aria said, looking at the angry woman.

  “He pulled my hair,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.

  The soldier opened the door to the cell and roughly shoved the girl inside. “In you go. Anymore struggle and I’ll have you arrested and put on trial, you hear? Throw you in with the men,” he growled, turning to leave. “Wait a few minutes, Lebedev wants to speak to you.”

  ‘Great,’ Aria thought.

  “They didn’t touch you, did they?” she immediately asked, putting her hands on Ivory’s face.

  Ivory quickly shook her head ‘no.’

  “Ivory? You sure?”

  “No, they didn’t touch me,” she said quietly.

  “She’s alright,” Dovian murmured.

  Aria trusted the man’s instincts and dropped the subject. “I was worried about you. I thought that maybe Euclid had gotten a hold of you.”

  “No. I was busy watching from the rooftop when the soldiers surrounded me. They thought that I was in on the attack. I tried to explain, but they wouldn’t listen!” Ivory said nearly sobbing.

  “It’s okay. What’s important is that you’re safe and that bastard didn’t get to you.” Aria ran her hands over the woman’s arms, making doubly sure that nothing more sinister happened to the poor girl.

  “Euclid…he was after me?” Ivory asked, her hands starting to shake.

  “Yes. Would you have any idea why he would want you?” Aria asked.

  “I, I don’t know,” she replied, her breaths beginning to get heavy.

  “Are you alright?”

  “No, I mean, yes, not really.” The blonde woman began trembling, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes were like saucers and staring blankly at the floor.

  “Ivory?” Aria grabbed the woman’s shoulders, giving her a look of concern. “What’s wrong?”

  Dovian neared the women, watching the hyperventilating Ivory. Troy approached the gate to the cell, calling out for help.

  “I don’t know,” she gasped. “I was on the rooftops, and there was an explosion. Then there were monsters, and I don’t remember the rest. Not until the soldiers showed up.”

  “You don’t remember shooting the monsters?” Aria asked.

  “I, what? I shot them? No, I didn’t.” Ivory dropped to her knees.

  “Ivory, calm down. You need to try and slow your breaths, okay?” Aria gave Dovian an alarmed look. The woman seemed to be shell-shocked.

  “And Euclid. He’s coming for me. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me like the rest,” she mumbled, her blue eyes glazing over.

  “What?” Dovian sputtered, quickly crouching beside the blonde.

  Ivory fainted, her limp body falling to the side.

  “Oh!” Aria reached for the girl but paused as Dovian caught her. “Is she going to be okay?”

  The Sorcēarian watched the unconscious woman in his arms, silent.

  “Dovian, what did she mean ‘he’s going to kill me like the rest?’” Aria asked.

  “I don’t know,” he murmured. The statement, however, sent chills down his spine. “She wouldn’t know anything about his plans unless she had been in contact with him before we met.”

  “You think she’s somehow related to him?”

  “I don’t know. Euclid’s up to no good and I–” He was interrupted as Ivory’s eyes popped open, her pupils dilated. Her hand gripped his forearm tightly, making him wince.

  “Dov…Dovian,” she gasped out. Her voice was foreign and unlike her own, the tone lower and stronger than her usual high, chipper pitch. “They are coming. He is coming. He is bringing the entire army, and he is going to kill us all. Do you understand?” She spoke firmly, mature in nature.

  “Im…impossible,” Dovian gasped, his eyes widening.

  Ivory pulled herself upward, gripping the man’s scarlet robes tightly. Gently, she placed one thin hand against his cheek. “Dovian, do you understand?” Her face wrinkled with worry. “You need to get out of here.”

  Shakily, he placed his hand over hers. “N-no. You…you don’t know what you are talking about.” He stuttered, his breath shaking. Closing his eyes, his brain sent a shockwave of memories over him.

  “What is she talking about, Dovian? Is there going to be another attack?” Aria asked.

  “What’s going on?” Troy watched with an anxious look on his face.

  “You have to leave. Go,” Ivory’s low voice broke, tears sliding down her face.

  Dovian took in another ragged breath, tears threatening to stain his cheeks as well. “You, you’re confused. You aren’t….” He shook his head, refusing to believe the words coming out of Ivory’s mouth.

  “Go. Please.” Ivory gave a harsh intake of breath and once again fell limply into Dovian’s arms.

  The Sorcēarian remained frozen. White shaking hands tightened their hold on Ivory’s body. His blue eyes stared at the corner of the room, wide. A low moan sounded from the man, and he curled up around the woman, rocking slowly back and forth.

  Rain. It was raining. It was cold. Her touch was soft. Her eyes were sad. He was locked in that cell and there was no way out, wasn’t any way to help her, to cure her of her fright.

  “The man has lost it.” Troy gaped at the scene.

  Aria watched as well, her mouth open with surprise. What the hell just happened?

  “This isn’t right. This doesn’t make any sense,” Dovian growled, shaking his head.

  “What is going on?” Aria asked with an edge to her voice. “Are we under attack?”

  “No,” Dovian grumbled. “At least, that’s not what that was.”

  “Then what was that?” the woman huffed, folding her arms. “If there’s something you’re not telling us....”

  “It’s nothing you would understand! It’s…nothing I can understand.” Dovian shook Ivory gently. “It doesn’t make any sense. None of this is making any sense.”

  “You’re telling me,” Troy grumbled.

  “Why would she tell you to go?” Aria asked.

  “It’s…it must be Euclid’s doing. He’s implanted some ideas into her head…or maybe my head. Whatever this is, it’s something evil.” Dovian quickly wiped at his face, his demeanor returning to one of cold and collective.

  “I still don’t really understand,” Aria said.

  “Those words,” Dovian began, “they are some of the last I heard….”He fell silent.

  Ari
a fidgeted uncomfortably as she watched the man, shivering under the severity of the expression on his face. “The last from someone you knew a long time ago?” she managed.

  “Yes,” he stated simply, “from someone very close to me.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, they were kind of vague words.” Troy shrugged. Aria fed him a fierce look. “What? I mean, maybe she’s just confused or something. PTSD?”

  “He is right, Dovian. She did say she didn’t remember shooting any of the monsters. She could have blacked out through the whole ordeal and was just now remembering it. She could have gone into shock. It is similar behavior for post-traumatic stress,” Aria offered. It still didn’t explain the strange voice coming from Ivory’s vocal chords.

  Dovian was silent for a very long time. His wrinkled brow suddenly lifted, and his face calmed, looking less angry and aged. “Perhaps you are right.” He sounded defeated.

  “Dovian?” a small voice squeaked from the woman in his arms.

  “Are you alright?” he asked cautiously.

  “I guess so.” Ivory nervously looked from side to side. “Um, why are you holding me?”

  “You don’t remember anything that just happened?”

  “No. I mean, I just came into the cell and Aria was asking me if I was alright. I must’ve blacked out or something. Low blood sugar?” she asked hopefully.

  “Does this kind of thing happen to you a lot?” Aria asked. She wondered if that’s how the blonde ended up at Ives in the first place. If she had some sort of split personality, she could have easily wandered into a strange area unbeknownst to her. But it still didn’t explain her amnesia.

  “I don’t know. I don’t remember ever doing that. But then again, I don’t really remember anything more than the past week,” she said sadly.

  “What do you think, Dovian?” Aria asked.

  “I am unsure. We will just have to keep a close eye on her and make sure she always stays close by,” Dovian advised. Slowly, he brushed a strand of golden hair out of the woman’s face. “There’s something about you, Ivory. We’re going to figure it out.”

  “Okay,” Ivory squeaked. She looked about uncomfortably at her awkward position and struggled to sit up. Dovian, shaking from his dazed state, helped the woman. “I’m sorry if I’m causing trouble.” She poked her fingers together, shuffling in her boots.

  “Just try not to go into crazy mode again,” Troy said sarcastically.

  “Is there a stick up your ass, or are you really just that big of an asshole?” Aria ground out.

  “What?” he glared at her.

  “Are you on your rag?” she instigated.

  “Are you ever going to get off yours?” he snarled.

  Dovian pinched the bridge of his nose. He was surrounded by children. Apparently, being in the military these days was only considered a day job and never taken seriously. Things definitely weren’t like they used to be. The two soldiers continued their argument, insulting and name calling one another. Ivory pinned herself against the wall, cringing under their words. The two had obviously practiced their insults on one another many times before.

  “You’re a feeble-minded carpet-muncher,” Aria snarled.

  “Well, you’re a rabid, scrotum-chewing, bed wetter!” Troy returned.

  “Rancid ass clown!” she shouted back.

  “Snooty gutter-slut!” he yelled.

  “You’re a brain-dead abortion survivor!” she quarreled, pushing against his shoulder.

  Troy gave a cockeyed grin. Aria’s face distorted as she tried to keep a serious face.

  “Abortion survivor?” he snorted out a laugh.

  Dovian palmed his face, breathing in slowly, trying his hardest to remain on his best behavior and avoid ripping down the walls of the facility.

  “Ahem,” a male voice interrupted the four. It was Lebedev. He stood outside the gated cell; his expression was one lacking amusement. “You are the ones from the United Americas, correct?” he asked in his thick accent.

  “Yes, sir,” Aria confirmed. Straightening her posture, she gave a small salute.

  “Mind telling me what you were in my city for?”

  “We were sent here to investigate the recent attacks from the mysterious…military that’s been infiltrating bases and cities around the world. After previous investigation, the projected attack route revealed that the next assault would occur in Cherno,” she explained.

  “And why not call and warn us of this attack?”

  “Well, uh…you see….” Aria’s mouth twisted. “My company has tried communicating with yours, and, well, there were some doubts and speculation that the worldly attacks may have been caused by your militaries. And...seeing as Cherno was in a code red state of emergency, we figured you wouldn’t let us in even if we asked.”

  “And what is this company you work for?” Lebedev asked, straightening his tie.

  “Bio-Tech Military Corporation, sir,” Aria spoke quietly. She wanted to suddenly become invisible.

  “So you are from the same company that just pulled the rug out from under my feet. The same company that has harassed my men outside the city walls for months. The same company accusing me of wanting to dominate the world.”

  Aria cringed. “Yes, sir.”

  “To me, it sounds like your company is the dangerous one. Mr. Walten is a power-hungry man. He’s the one set to destroy this world, yet you come to me, thinking I am somehow related to this worldly evil surrounding us? If anyone’s being suspicious, it is you!” Lebedev pointed accusingly at the woman.

  “I know, sir, but trust me; we had no idea of Mr. Walten’s plans of buying Elixis. In fact, he has no knowledge that we are here.”

  “A covert mission?” Lebedev’s eyes narrowed. “One that even Walten knows nothing about?”

  “We were ordered by the President to come investigate Cherno. Originally, we were going to warn your military once we arrived but at the last minute had to act as civilians in order to make it into the city. As suspicious as it sounds, we did not come here to sabotage the Stock Talks.”

  “I assumed you four were responsible for the attacks, but seeing as you helped remove the strange reactor core from the center of our city, it leaves me to question your actions. Either you are here to actually help put an end to these attacks, or you are part of a more sinister plan,” Lebedev explained. “Even though your actions saved Cherno, I cannot say the same for the people of Athenia.”

  “What do you mean? What happened to Athenia?” Aria asked. She and Troy traded worried glances.

  “Merely moments after the attack here in Cherno and supposedly seconds after you disposed of the reactor core, it was reported that Athenia was leveled by a nuclear strike.”

  “What?!” Aria yelled out in shock.

  “Athenia was nuked?” Troy asked.

  “There was a report of a nuclear meltdown at the facility. A reactor had gone offline. Operators of the reactor called in a report of a giant portal opening up and ‘eating’ the reactor core. In seconds, it was gone, only to return minutes later to detonate and send the whole city into nothing but ruins.” Lebedev shook his head slowly.

  “No! We didn’t know! We had no idea the reactor core was from Athenia. We only did what we thought was the simplest solution–put it back to where it came. It was either that or let it level Cherno,” Aria stammered.

  Lebedev held up a hand. “And we all know that the repercussions of that event would have been more devastating in the long run.”

  Aria sighed with relief. “I’m glad you realize that, sir.”

  “However, we still have an entire city-state that was destroyed, along with a very important business…Elixis. Now, I don’t think an employee of Bio-Tech would set themselves out on a mission to destroy the one corporation the employer wanted most.”

  Aria grimaced. He was right. She and the others had just managed to destroy Elixis, the company Walten just bought out. She saw a demotion in her near future or death by firing squad
.

  “So does that mean we can leave now?” Troy asked impatiently.

  “I want to know more about this technology you have in your weapons.” Lebedev was offering their freedom in exchange for their technology. “It seems you were able to deactivate those creatures’ shields with those rifles. I am guessing you have come into contact with these things previously.”

  “Yes, sir. We first came into contact with these things at a base near Jordania. There, every man was slaughtered. We were able to capture one of the beasts and perform an autopsy. I have a copy of the report on my DNAIS.” Aria clicked on her wrist, the data streaming from her DNAIS system to Lebedev’s. “It’s believed these creatures are capable of traveling through alternate dimensions of some sort through the use of their beryllium-based skeletal structure. They use Faze Shields to amplify the effects, which is currently under investigation as to how they received these mechanisms in the first place,” Aria said.

  “Sounds like your company is still involved somehow.”

  “It is possible the creatures received the items from bases scattered around the world. But that’s all speculation at the moment,” Aria murmured.

  “And disabling their shields?”

  “We use EMP technology. The EMPs wipe out the shields. Our weapons have been formulated to pierce and send out electrostatic frequencies simultaneously, allowing for disabling of shields and making body contact.”

  “I want one of the weapons,” Lebedev stated firmly. “We can backward engineer it.”

  “With all due respect, sir, you aren’t getting my weapon. I’ll allow you to keep one of the magazines of ammunition for study, but you can’t keep the gun. You would leave me defenseless, and as soon as we get out of here, we need to move to the next projected location of attack.”

  Lebedev frowned, debating with himself. “We have been looking at the weapons while you’ve been in here. We’ve run scans on the parts, and we should be able to piece together our own prototype from the information we have. I will allow your weapons back. However, yours,” he pointed at Dovian, “yours is quite an oddity. Even when pulled and pushed, we cannot get the item to break apart.”