After Darkness II

by J. F. Johns

  'Ah, now that you mention it-'

  'Shut up, Thorn, and listen to me or Nation knows I will stick this wet cloth up your damn ass,' Camille snapped. 'I'm getting an army ready and we're going to storm into the Government's Headquarters and get Terra back.'

  'Jesus, woman. You really think that's the smartest of ideas?'

  'Do you have any better suggestions?'

  'In actual fact, I do.' Eric turned towards Morgana, winking. 'Go ahead. Tell her.'

  'I'm not your fucking secretary,' Morgana said.

  'Someone's in a bad mood,' Eric muttered, wiggling his eyebrows at them both. 'We're going to get Scarlet's brothers and sister back.'

  'I don't see how that is meant to help with my army.'

  'Okay, technically we're not going to fetch them for your army.'

  'I see.' Camille turned around to continue rinsing the dishes. 'You're basically going to get them so they can help with Scarlet.'

  'And you sound pissed.'

  Camille spun back, her eyes bulging. 'Of course I'm freaking pissed, Eric.'

  'I should probably go,' Morgana said, standing.

  'You. Stay.' Camille pointed her long slender finger at the X-Prototype. Even though Camille was just a cyborg and held no real power against someone like Morgana, at that precise moment she was the scariest person out of the three.

  Morgana sat back down.

  'Kalem is going to get himself killed trying to rescue Terra.' Camille sighed, her entire body suddenly drained of energy. Her piercing green eyes focused on Eric. 'Scarlet can wait.'

  Both cyborgs stared at each other for a few minutes. After a while, Eric pulled a cigarette out and Camille turned back towards the sink, huffing in frustration.

  'So where is this mighty awesome army you keep talking about?' Eric asked, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

  'Most of them went back home,' Camille replied, her back tense. 'Some are sleeping upstairs.'

  Eric glanced up at the ceiling, one eyebrow arched. Camille couldn't help but notice the worry and suspicion written across the cyborg's features. He clearly didn't trust having strangers in the house. 'If you wait until I get the other X-Prototypes, we can barge right into that damn building and-'

  Camille sighed in irritation. 'Eric, we both know it doesn't work like that. Besides, what makes you think they're going to help?' Camille glanced at Morgana, who looked away.

  After their failed attempt at defeating the government over a hundred years ago and their exile to No Man's Land, the X-Prototypes had returned to the capitals and vanished. Scarlet had kept in touch with the others, but would never really talk about them.

  'They'll come,' Eric said. 'For Scarlet.'

  Camille turned away from him, unable to look at him as she said, 'We're both fighting for people we love. But this time we're gonna have to do it our separate ways.'

  'You make it sound like we're breaking up.'

  'Do you really need to make everything a bloody joke?' She threw the wet cloth at his head, which he dodged, chuckling.

  Morgana cleared her throat. 'We'll get them back. All of them.' Those blue eyes met Camille's. 'Your son, too.'

  'Jesus, her son isn't missing.' Eric rolled his eyes. 'He's just horny.' He managed to climb out of the chair and run off before Camille could grab him, his laughter echoing down the hallway after him.

  Camille leaned against the counter, unable to control the smile that Eric had caused. No matter what happened in their world, he never lost faith. He was probably the strongest of them all. And she admired him for it.

  He was also a dickhead.

  Camille prepared hot tea with some slices of lemon and sat down in front of Morgana. She didn't offer anything to the X-Prototype. 'How is bringing the other Prototypes back going to help Scarlet?' Camille asked, grabbing one of the jars left on the wooden table, twisting it open and stealing two cookies. She placed them in her mouth as she closed the lid and put the jar back in its place.

  'We don't know if it'll do anything,' Morgana explained. 'But it's worth the try. Perhaps between the four of us we can somehow bring her back.'

  'Do you truly believe that?'

  Morgana licked her lips, those blue eyes focused on the crumbs left behind by Camille's munching. 'I don't know what to believe anymore, truth be told.'

  Wrapping her fingers around the warm cup of tea, Camille couldn't help but stare at the X-Prototype. She had freckles under her blue eyes and on her nose, which Camille had never noticed before. Her blonde locks bounced around her shoulders each time she moved, and one brown eyebrow was always arched in an irritated expression of exasperation.

  'When will you be leaving?' Camille asked, wiping the crumbs away, watching as they fell on the floor.

  Morgana shrugged, leaning back in her chair as if she had no care in the world. Such a lie. Those shoulders carried far more than what Morgana could hide.

  'Perhaps tomorrow. As soon as possible.'

  'You'll get her back.'

  Morgana snorted. 'You really believe that?'

  'Yes.'

  Morgana looked away, pensive. 'I hope you're right. For Eric's sake, and mine. I can't have it end like this.'

  'It'll end with Petra's head stuck to a spear,' Camille said. 'I'll make sure of that.'

  'How are you planning any of this?'

  'Kalem's been keeping watch on the Government's Headquarters. He'll find an access point we can infiltrate. Then, we go in and get Terra the hell out.'

  'You think she's alive?'

  'Why would Petra kill her? What would be the point?'

  'What's the point in anything that damn girl does?' Morgana snarled in distaste.

  Camille turned to start preparing breakfast. Soon everyone would start getting up and their stomachs would complain. She didn't want to put up with hungry cyborgs. Least of all cyborgs that would be joining her army. She needed them well rested and fed.

  Morgana stood to leave. Camille couldn't help but watch the Prototype as she vacated the room. She really hoped they could get Scarlet back and that her idea of infiltrating the government would be a success. If not, Nation knew what would happen.

  ...

  There were exactly two things Malcolm Broddory enjoyed from life; wine and girls. His charm was impeccable, his laugh enchanting and his eyes mesmerising. They were the bluest eyes anyone had ever seen, and alongside his lovely dark brown hair and cute baby face, he was irresistible. No matter how much he aged, he did so well.

  'I knew you'd be up here.' Malcolm had made it to the attic where a small window could be opened, giving access to the roof of their old home. Kalem sat there, staring off at the city in the distance. He resembled a lone wolf, still and quiet, those grey eyes perfectly constructed to pry on their prey. To hunt. To kill. But wolves marched in packs and Kalem had never been good with company. 'What are you doing up here?'

  'The kitchen is crowded,' Kalem replied, his eyes still fixed on the city as Malcolm sat down beside him. 'I hate crowds.'

  'Yes, one of your many virtues.' Malcolm chuckled, bumping his shoulder against Kalem's. 'Your mum will want you downstairs soon.'

  Kalem nodded, but didn't speak. He kept perfectly still, watching everything around him. It had always fascinated Malcolm the way Kalem acted. So silent and harsh and stiff.

  Until Terra had come like a storm breaking down their door.

  Malcolm had noticed the change in Kalem the moment Terra came crashing into their lives. The way those silver eyes shone, the way he seemed more relaxed. The way he sometimes smiled.

  It killed Malcolm to see Kalem go back to his old ways now that Terra was no longer there. His son had returned to hiding in the shell he had always kept himself in.

  'You're just like your mother,' Malcolm said, smiling. 'Camille is one stubborn woman but the way she loves... I envy you both. That ability to love the way you both do...'

  Those silver almond eyes drifted away
slowly from the city to fall on Malcolm. They were magnetic and captivating. It was impossible to not feel Kalem's gaze. It was piercing and penetrating, drilling through the skull. It felt as though he could reach inside and see everything.

  'You love Camille and you love me, too.'

  'But you're my family.'

  Kalem's focus moved, finding something else to watch. 'I think family can sometimes be the hardest to love,' he whispered.

  They watched together in silence as the city yawned as it awoke from its sleep. Another day. Another battle. Malcolm had lived through countless of them, and wondered how many more he would get to see.

  'Come on, let's go,' Malcolm said, standing. 'Before your mother has a heart attack.'

  Kalem snorted.

  No matter what, Malcolm would keep his family safe. As he had always done. As he would always do.

  Chapter seven

  'So, where do we start?'

  Eric had wanted to change clothes, so he had made his way upstairs into the room he shared with Scarlet. He hadn't had time for a bath because Morgana had followed him, her blue eyes trailing over the furniture of the room as if by some miracle Scarlet might be hiding somewhere behind them.

  The window to the bedroom was open and a slight breeze filtered through, making the hairs on Eric's arms rise from the freshness. He wanted to shut the window, but he froze at the sight of Morgana sitting on the grey rug beneath, staring out as Scarlet had done so many times. The sight almost brought him to his knees. He wanted it to be Scarlet sitting there so badly. He missed her with such fierceness it hurt. The worst thing of all was at night when he crawled into their shared bed and searched for her among the sheets, her side of the bed cold and empty. It made his heart break every single time. He couldn't sleep anymore because of it.

  'How can you stand being in this room?' Morgana asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  Eric had thought the same thing so many times before. Being in the bedroom made him think of Scarlet. Everything in the room brought back a memory of her. And yet, not being there felt like giving her up. He wasn't ready to do that. He never would be.

  'I feel close to her when I'm here,' he said sitting down in front of the Prototype and leaning his back against the side of the bed.

  Morgana was about to answer when the door opened and the twins waltzed in, rushing to Morgana's side, climbing onto her lap. She must've seen Eric's look of annoyance because she quickly said, 'Let them stay.'

  The twins were magnetic to look at with their white blonde hair, green eyes and pale skin. There wasn't much skin though. Most of it had been burnt off after they had drunk toxic water which had ended their lives. Scarlet and Curtis had done something to them, something that even Eric didn't know. They had brought them back to life, but it had clearly cost them all something.

  'This is a serious conversation,' Eric said, turning to stare at the twins and their bodies made up of sheets of metal, mismatched screws, wires and circuits that trailed up and down the length of their small bodies. 'I don't want any interruptions.'

  'You're too hard on them,' Morgana muttered, stroking the boy's short curly blonde hair.

  'Don't let those angelic little faces fool you.' Eric pulled a cigarette out from his pocket and lit it, puffing out smoke. 'They're little demons.'

  The girl -Ten- stuck her tongue out.

  'Demons, the whole lot of you,' he growled. Morgana noticed the quick wink Eric gave the children, which made them giggle. 'Now then, what's the plan?'

  'My brother Vladimir and sister Persephone are in Capital Four,' Morgana explained as the little boy -Rife- settled down to sleep, resting his head on her lap. 'We should start there. They were working in one of the temples, so I expect they'll still be there.'

  'The train will be the quickest way,' Eric said. 'There's a direct one to Capital Four.' Even though he hated using public transport, using a car was out of the equation. Humans and cyborgs weren't allowed to mix, so Morgana and Eric wouldn't be allowed to travel in the same vehicle together.

  'We want to go,' Ten said, her small face twisting in delight at the thought of going on an adventure. It turned quickly sour as Eric began shaking his head. 'That's not fair. We never get to leave the house.'

  'Life ain't fair,' Eric said.

  'You're a secret, remember?' Morgana whispered into the child's robotic ear. 'Humanity isn't ready to see you yet.'

  Eric chuckled at the thought of anyone except the inhabitants of the house meeting the twins. Morgana was right; no one was ready for them yet.

  'When will they be ready?' Ten's green eyes shone with hope.

  Never, Eric thought.

  'When the government is destroyed, then you'll be free,' Morgana said, her blue sharp eyes meeting Eric's. 'We will all be free.' He didn't like her making the twins such promises, but kept his mouth shut about it.

  'Come on, time for breakfast,' Morgana said, taking Rife into her arms as she crossed the room, followed by Ten. 'You'll behave while Eric and I are gone, won't you? You'll do as Curtis says, right?'

  Eric smiled as their voices trailed off, silence taking over. He stared out the window at the empty streets, at the neon lights further ahead and the drones and their robotic voices blaring the rules every citizen already knew by heart.

  It wasn't long before Morgana returned. She didn't bother sitting down. Her fingers touched Eric's shoulder and he nodded. 'We better go then,' he said. They made their way to the main floor towards the exit. They would have to travel separately to Capital Four, always keeping each other in sight but never getting too close. It would be dangerous and risky, and for sure Petra would have her damn crows following them.

  Morgana left first, and Eric counted the seconds in his head before he too could leave. He felt someone behind him and turned, his eyebrow arched, surprise settling across his features at the sight of Kalem standing in the middle of the very narrow hallway. The cyborg's shoulders almost touched the walls.

  'Good luck,' Kalem growled.

  'You too, kid. Make sure you get Terra back.'

  'I will.'

  Eric nodded, believing him. If someone was capable of bringing Terra back, it was Kalem. Eric left the narrow home behind and disappeared down the lone gloomy streets of the capital.

  ...

  Terra's lunch had been cold broth that a guard had shoved down her throat nastily, cutting the edge of her mouth with the spoon. He'd been so vile and his force so brute that she had ended up puking the food all over herself. The smell was making her nauseated, but no one would come to clean her up.

  Terra drifted off back to sleep. The longer she spent in the chair, the harder it was to keep awake. Her head felt constantly heavy, her arms and legs had gone so numb sometimes she'd wake up screaming, frightened that she had no limbs left at all. She hadn't been allowed the use of a bathroom, and the smell of her own waste was sickening. The torture couldn't last much longer, could it? Surely a person couldn't live forever under such circumstances. But what if they could? The horror of such a realisation made the room spin out of control. They were feeding her, so maybe she could live like this for a long period of time.

  Terra puked again, this time not even bothering to try and move her head to one side so that the vomit didn't land over her. She didn't care anymore. Her mismatched eyes filled with tears as she cried out, desperate and angry. She couldn't deal with this much longer, she was going insane.

  How long had she been sitting in the damn chair?

  The door slammed open and Petra walked in, smiling. She wore a blue navy uniform with the eagle's eye stitched across her chest. She looked powerful and important. Like a queen in her kingdom, Terra thought.

  'Did you miss me?' Petra's cheerful tone echoed around the room. 'Oh, look at you. What a mess.' Her angelic face twisted in disgust. She didn't offer to get someone to clean it up, which for some reason made Terra want to cry. Tears kept on rolling down her cheeks and she didn't care any
more if Petra saw her cry. 'Oh, don't cry. I'm only a little late. Your friends were up to no good, so I'm afraid I was held up. But I'm here now.'

  A little hope rose inside of Terra's chest at those words. She tried keeping her expression blank, not daring to give her emotions away to Petra, even though she was doing a terrible job at it. Her chest kept tightening, the need to burst out sobbing almost winning.

  'They really should learn by now that my crows see everything,' the X-Prototype said. 'I must say, your dear Kalem really is going out of his way to get you back.'

  Terra frowned.

  Kalem? Who was Kalem?

  Petra cackled. 'Oh, Viktor did an excellent job.' She clapped her hands together like an excited child. 'It's a shame I won't get to see you cry over Kalem's dead body when I kill him.' She licked her lips eagerly. 'A real shame, indeed. I sure do love watching you cry.' Leaning forward, her fingertip brushed the now dry tears that had stuck to Terra's face. Licking the tip of her finger, she scowled. 'I must admit, I do prefer the taste of your blood. Let me see your ear.' She brushed back Terra's dirty hair to reveal the side of her head where her ear used to be before Petra bit it off. Terra struggled to remain still, fear seeping through every inch of her body. 'Maybe I ought to cut the other one off, that way you'd be spared listening to your annoying voice.'

  Terra hadn't realised that she'd been holding her breath, but as soon as Petra leaned back and away from her, her body relaxed and all the air and tension inside of her rushed out. It didn't last long. It never did when it came to Petra.

  'I wonder what they see in you,' Petra muttered, 'to go and risk their lives.'

  A sudden wave of anger took over, and for a moment, Terra completely forgot of being afraid, of the pain Petra had inflicted upon her body and mind. She didn't care about the consequences. She wanted Petra to suffer just as she had. And even though she couldn't harm her physically, she could do it with words.

  'Are you jealous?' Terra spat, her own voice surprising her. Her throat was so dry and destroyed, the sound that came out wasn't her own. She kept going, unable to stop herself. 'Is that why you hate me so much? Because someone is willing to risk their life for me and yet no one can even stand to look at you?'