After Darkness II

by J. F. Johns

  Kalem nodded, taking her hand, pulling her forward, that smile still plastered across his face. They'd only made it a few steps when he stopped causing Terra to lose her step.

  'What...?'

  Kalem turned around.

  'Fuck it,' he growled.

  He took Terra's face between his robotic hands and kissed her. It was such a gentle kiss at first, almost as if he were asking permission to be doing what he was doing. Terra thought it was rather ridiculous -he had already gone and kissed her!- and the hunger she felt as his lips pressed against hers grew by the second as he kept the kiss soft and sweet. She wanted more.

  Grabbing his shirt, she pulled him closer, the intensity of the kiss growing. He wasn't being gentle anymore, instead he was pulling her against a wall, keeping her body locked underneath his own. He kissed her as if his life depended on it, and Terra could understand why. Maybe this kiss would bring back her memories of him.

  The tingles in her body spread throughout as his tongue brushed against her own, one robotic hand now placed behind her neck and the other on her back, making sure she couldn't escape his embrace. She wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to be parted. She needed more of this, of him... He was wearing too much, and she wanted the clothes off.

  A cough brought them jumping apart from each other.

  Morgana lifted her arms up. 'Sorry. Did not mean to interrupt this passionate moment of yours...' She looked guiltily towards the table to their left which held a huge platter full of nuts. 'Just coming to get food for the twins...' Morgana quickly hurried to shove the food on the plate and backed up, her eyes wide, her mouth tugging up into a grin. 'Keep at it. Have fun. Okay. Bye.' The Prototype turned on her heels and vanished into the crowd.

  Breathing hard, Terra looked up at Kalem and then laughed, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. Kalem chuckled, his face no longer pale. A bit of red splashed across his cheeks.

  'Do you...?' He grew suddenly serious, which made her own laugh abruptly cut off at what he was asking.

  She shook her head, feeling deflated. No. Her memories hadn't returned. The kiss hadn't worked. And yet... What she had felt kissing him had been awesome and great. She wanted to do it again. But she needed to find a way to get those memories back. Perhaps Scarlet could somehow help...

  'It's okay,' Kalem said, shrugging. 'We tried.'

  Terra nodded, mumbling a soft 'yes' under her breath. She was pretty sure he didn't feel as though it was okay at all, but she wasn't going to press the subject.

  'Let's go get some food,' she said, offering her hand to him. He took it. And maybe for now, that would be enough for both of them.

  Chapter thirty

  'Camille, you need to try this rice pudding!' Malcolm said, hurrying to her side as he juggled with a pile of plates in his hands. Camille was now sitting on a stool trying to get the twins to sit down calmly and eat something, though clearly it wasn't working. She let them run off to terrorise the crowd. Sighing, she grabbed one of Hooky's strange concoctions.

  Malcolm dropped into a chair next to her, gulping down more of the rice pudding. 'It's delicious!'

  'You did leave some for everyone else, right?' Camille frowned at the mess trailing down his shirt. Malcolm nodded, but she wasn't entirely sure whether to believe him or not. There was plenty of food, so it didn't really matter. It was nice to see Malcolm enjoying himself. A few girls had batted their eyes at him, giggling as he walked by, but he had pretended not to notice. Camille couldn't blame those girls for drooling over him. Malcolm looked smashingly handsome in a suit. It was hard for anyone to keep their eyes off of him. Camille had tried giving him some space so the nice looking girls didn't get the wrong idea about Malcolm and herself. However, Malcolm had spent the entire event playing with the twins or trying to sneak up on Camille.

  'You having fun?' he asked, grabbing one of the orange spiced potatoes and biting into it.

  Camille nodded as she took a sip from her red drink, almost choking. It was bittersweet; tasted like cinnamon and marshmallows and coffee. The strangest thing she had ever tasted.

  'Do your feet hurt?' Malcolm asked.

  'Why?'

  'Women usually complain about feet pain after spending a few hours in high heels.'

  Camille rolled her eyes. 'I'm not wearing high heels.'

  Malcolm gasped. 'You didn't!'

  'Sure did.'

  'Not the black military boots!'

  'Oh, yes, baby.' She lifted her dress up and slammed her feet on the nearest table. She smiled proudly at the black boots, which made Malcolm grunt. 'One must always wear comfortable and reliable footwear. Just in case.' She winked, laughing at his horrified face.

  Malcolm's expression morphed into curiosity. 'Do you think something will happen?'

  Camille glanced around. 'I don't know... It wouldn't surprise me when it comes to Petra. But she hasn't shown up yet, so maybe we're lucky.'

  The plate full of rice pudding was quickly emptied and Malcolm stretched out, his stomach expanding. Camille patted it teasingly.

  'Shall we dance?' he asked, standing.

  Camille couldn't help but glance towards the eager girls across the dance floor, waiting for Malcolm to pay them some attention. 'Wouldn't you rather...?'

  'I have plenty of time for that.' Malcolm waved the suggestion away. 'You come first.'

  Camille smiled as she dropped her hand into his. Even though she wanted to give him some space it was nice having his attention. As he had said; he had plenty of time to meet those girls. She wouldn't feel guilty over who he spent his time with.

  Rushing towards the dance floor, laughing and teasing Malcolm along the way, Camille sneakily winked at the open mouthed girls, gaping at her with envy.

  Sometimes it was nice being Malcolm's number one.

  ...

  'You've done an amazing job,' Scarlet congratulated Eric as they moved away from the dance floor, heading towards one of the many tables covered in plates full of delicious looking food. She helped Eric choose different options, even though she wouldn't be eating any of it herself.

  'Didn't do anything myself,' Eric said, then puffed his chest out. 'Though, it was all thanks to my great leadership.'

  'Of course it was.' She patted his arm, then pointed at the plate covered in hot spicy shrimp. Eric pulled a face at the suggestion.

  'That's going to make me fart,' he said.

  'Thorn, keep those comments to the bedroom.' Morgana appeared at their side, her arms crossed against her chest.

  'Well, hello there my favourite X-Prototype of all times,' Eric said, grinning from ear to ear.

  'I thought I was your favourite,' Scarlet complained teasingly.

  'You were, but now you're my favourite wife.'

  'You only have one.'

  'And you're still my favourite.' His head tilted back as he laughed.

  'I still don't get why you married him,' Morgana muttered under her breath loud enough for both of them to hear.

  'I'm adorable,' Eric said.

  Scarlet nodded.

  'And handsome.'

  Scarlet nodded again.

  'Charming.'

  Scarlet nodded vigorously.

  'And terribly sexy.'

  'Stop. I'm going to barf,' Morgana said as she grabbed a small silver tray and filled it with drinks. 'Come on, I think Malcolm wants to give a speech.' She didn't give them time to argue before turning around and handing drinks out to everyone, even the Prototypes who couldn't actually drink.

  Everyone huddled as closely as possible while Malcolm cleared his throat, stepping onto one of the tables, making Camille yell at him to get down because he was drunk and was going to break his neck.

  Scarlet was by Eric's side, his arm around her waist as they held their drinks.

  'I would like to make a toast!' Malcolm cried out, trying to silence the crowd. 'I've known these two for a very long time.' He pointed at Scarlet
and Eric. 'You are two of the bravest and kindest people I know. We have been through so much together. We have lost and won. Today, today we celebrate something that should've happened a long time ago.' Everyone smiled and laughed, making Eric shrug as if to say 'hey, I know I took my time in asking her.' Malcolm waved his hands to get everyone to settle down. 'I love you, Eric. You are my brother. And Scarlet, you're my sister.'

  Scarlet could tell that Malcolm was slightly drunk, but she rose her glass to cheer alongside everyone else as Camille grabbed Malcolm's leg, tugging to get him to climb back down.

  'My turn!' Someone else stood up to make a speech, but as soon as they began to speak, something loud rattled the space. Scarlet gasped at the sight of the enormous crow flying over their heads. Before it could land, its body transformed and Petra materialised on a table, her eyes cold and bored. She wore a long white dress and no shoes.

  'Oh, I'm sorry, was I interrupting?' She placed her hands across her chest, feigning surprise. 'I think my invitation got lost in the mail.' Cackling, she bent forward, her eyes wild and dangerous. 'Don't go looking upset. I've only come to make a toast to congratulate the newly weds!'

  'You're not welcomed here,' Morgana said, stepping forward, her hands slightly raised, ready to fight.

  'Well, that's rather rude...' Petra cocked her head, pretending to be upset.

  Scarlet moved away from Eric's embrace to stand next to her sister Morgana. 'Say what you need to say and then leave, Petra.'

  Petra pulled a face. 'Gosh, Scarlet always being so mature.' She stuck her tongue out and then waved her away in irritation. 'Hand me a glass then!' She gestured at the nearest cyborg to cede his champagne glass. At first the man hesitated, his attention drifting towards Scarlet for permission. She gave it to him. No point in dragging the situation out and making Petra more angry.

  Petra raised the glass up high, a little too high, smiling nastily. 'To my wonderful sister Scarlet and her husband! May your happiness last for eternity!' She threw the glass towards the floor where it crashed, the sound echoing across the UnderMarket as the entire place had fallen silent.

  'Thank you for your kind words,' Scarlet said through gritted teeth. 'Now, I ask you kindly to leave and-'

  Petra kicked a bottle of wine across the table, snarling. 'Leave? Oh, come on. I just got here! What fun would that be?' She tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully. 'Besides, Viktor didn't get to congratulate you!' At that very moment, Viktor appeared through the parted crowd, everyone moving away from him as if he carried some contagious disease.

  He made his way towards the table and climbed on it to stand next to his sister, who hugged him tightly to her side. 'He was so excited to be able to come and play with you all!'

  Scarlet grabbed Morgana's arm, unable to help herself. She didn't like where this was headed. They needed to get everyone out. Who knew what Petra would do.

  'Viktor, darling.' Petra kissed her brother's cheek, those cold blue eyes never moving away from Scarlet. Petra's lips whispered secret commands into Viktor's ears, his eyes turning white. Scarlet spun on her heels, searching with desperation for the person Viktor had taken control over. Where? Where? WHERE?

  Charlotte made her way forward, her body stiff. Her katana, which had been strapped to her back was now in her hand, unsheathed.

  'Petra,' Scarlet said, stepping closer. 'Don't do this.'

  Petra ignored her, those thick bushy eyebrows drawing together. Charlotte turned towards everyone, her arm slowly lifting theatrically.

  'She's already blind,' Petra snarled. 'We could always make her a mute, too.'

  Charlotte pulled her tongue out, the katana inches away from slicing it off. Scarlet could tell that Charlotte was trying to fight Viktor's mind control by the way her legs were shaking.

  The katana inched closer and closer until blood was drawn.

  Tristan stepped forward. 'Leave her alone.'

  'Oh?' Petra's eyes glistened with enthusiasm. 'Is my dear Tristan in love? Could it be?' Petra clapped, her eyes hungry with the new information. 'Our dear Tristan who was always such a thick skinned soldier...' Licking her lips, she wiggled closer to Viktor and whispered something in his ear.

  'Let her go,' Tristan commanded.

  'Would you be willing to do anything to save her?' Petra asked.

  Scarlet calculated the disaster that they could cause by attacking Petra right there and then. It was just too risky. There were too many cyborgs as well as humans spread out across the UnderMarket. Attacking Petra would be unwise. Viktor could take control of everyone and have them fight against each other. It could turn into a bloodbath. They needed to play along just a little longer.

  And then what?

  Out of the corner of her eye, Scarlet noticed Terra rushing forward with a party knife from one of the tables gripped tightly in one hand. She broke through the crowd, stepped forward and threw the knife. Her aim wasn't directed at Petra as Scarlet suspected. It went directly towards Viktor.

  Petra moved in front, slamming the knife out of her brother's way, but it had caused Viktor to lose concentration, and as soon as that happened, Charlotte dropped the katana, blood spluttered across her chest and chin. She fell into Tristan's arms as if the strings of a puppeteer had been suddenly cut. Tristan quickly removed Charlotte from view.

  Petra's long straight hair fell across her face as she leaned forward, those dangerous eyes glaring at Terra with so much hate it was almost tangible.

  'Terra,' Petra muttered, trying to regain her composure. Clearly she hadn't expected something like that to happen and was trying a little too hard to look menacing again in front of everyone. 'Last time I saw you you were a crumbling mess.'

  'I'm not scared of you.' Terra's voice broke just slightly, making it a little unreliable, but the human girl lifted her head up, even stepping forward towards Petra.

  'You should be.' Petra squeezed her brother's arm and his eyes turned white again. Cursing, Scarlet twisted around searching for whomever Viktor had control over. 'Let's see what it's like when two people you love try and kill each other.'

  Kalem, who had been right behind Terra the whole time, came rushing forward, crashing into another cyborg, who Scarlet recognised as Hooky. Both cyborgs' eyes were glazed over as they fought.

  'Get everyone to safety,' Scarlet whispered into Morgana's ear before rushing forward. She didn't wait to see if her sister followed her commands. In an instant, she was standing in the middle of both cyborgs. Their bodies collided. Grabbing Kalem's robotic arm, she hurled him back and away, his body falling onto a nearby table. Camille was by her son in an instance, trying to hold him back with Malcolm's help.

  Scarlet grabbed Hooky before he tried charging again, blasting their bodies into mist, their bones cracking, skin tearing into oblivion. Within seconds they had vanished from sight. They reappeared outside the UnderMarket, a few streets away. Viktor's power could reach great lengths, but surely he'd leave Hooky alone once he was no longer within the vicinity.

  She'd been right. Hooky's eyes were no longer milky white. 'Try and help the others by the exists!' she said, allowing her body to vanish once again, carrying herself back into the UnderMarket, where cyborgs and humans were running to get out through the different exit points.

  Persephone had created a protective barrier, shielding them from Petra and Viktor. Scarlet had no idea if it would be effective, but so far, everyone was managing to get away. Tristan had taken Charlotte and Curtis away to safety, along with the majority of cyborgs from their old battered home. Morgana was currently helping the vendors and other workers to get out and Vladimir was assisting her by turning as many of them as possible invisible.

  Kalem had recovered from his trance but hadn't run away, even though Camille looked terrified at seeing him within Petra's reach. Malcolm was holding her arm as though he was worried she might do something crazy.

  'Petra!' Scarlet yelled making her way back towards the Prototype.
'Let's get this over with. You and me. Everyone else gets to go home.'

  'What's the prize?'

  'The loser backs down. Forever.' Scarlet noticed her friends' reactions, but kept her attention on Petra. 'If I lose, I'll back off. I won't try and stop anything else you do from now on. But if you lose, you need to stop. Everything.'

  'And why would I accept such an offer?' Petra asked, her hands on her hips.

  'Because you wouldn't miss out on the opportunity to throw a punch at me, would you?' Scarlet couldn't help but smile at the hatred shining in those blue eyes. 'This is what it's all about at the end of the day. You said so yourself. It's always been about me. Then come and get me.'

  'Oh, I think I will.'

  Petra leapt off the table, her body turning into a crow. A crow the size of a horse. It grabbed Scarlet and flew as high as the roof to the UnderMarket would allow it to, and then it let her go.

  Scarlet didn't want to scream, but it came out anyway. The floor was getting closer and closer. Before she could crash into it, her body disappeared, expanding and contracting into the darkness that flew across the open space growing larger and larger by the second. Its attention landed on the crow. The darkness became a hole, a hole filled with feathers and monsters, nightmares and darkness. It moved towards the crow that tried escaping it. No such luck. The darkness swallowed it up whole.

  Chapter thirty-one

  The darkness that was Scarlet had wrapped its shadows around the crow, swallowing it like a black hole. Twisting and twirling, it had turned away and vanished.

  'We need to go,' Camille said.

  Terra shook her head, her attention landing on Viktor who hadn't moved from the table. She wouldn't be leaving without his head in her hand, even if that couldn't kill him. He needed to be captured one way or another.

  'He needs to be stopped,' she barked, pointing at Viktor before rushing towards him. She had no idea how she was going to stop him, but she wasn't going to give up without a fight. Those blue eyes began to turn white and Terra wondered if she'd make it in time, if she'd manage to throw him off the table before he took control over her mind.