After Darkness II

by J. F. Johns

  Scarlet grabbed the small glass box. 'We might as well get it over with.'

  Curtis grabbed a hammer that hung just above his head on the wall behind him. He hadn't spoken or intervened and Morgana knew why; Viktor being a Prototype meant this was something the other Prototypes needed to deal with. It was personal. A family matter.

  Curtis handed the hammer over to Scarlet who paused before grabbing it. It had only lasted two seconds perhaps, but it was enough.

  'You want me to do it?' Morgana asked, stepping closer towards where Scarlet had left the glass box and was now staring at it with fear in her eyes.

  'It's just...' Scarlet swallowed as if a lump had formed in her throat and she couldn't quite get it down. 'I never thought I'd actually do this.'

  Morgana nodded, understanding. They'd dreamt about the day they'd get to stop Viktor and Petra, but now that one part of their plan had finally come true it felt... Unreal. Not at all relieving. A part of Morgana felt sick to her stomach at the thought of destroying the microchip which basically allowed Viktor to wake up. They were murdering him. And even though none of them were truly brothers and sisters by blood -except for Petra and Viktor- it felt somehow wrong to do this to someone who had been created alongside them.

  'It's the only way,' Morgana said.

  'She's going to destroy everything.' Scarlet's hands shook as soon as she had spoken the words, and Morgana realised that Scarlet wasn't that worried over killing Viktor as she was of the consequences of such actions.

  Morgana's overprotective side took over. She snatched the hammer out of Scarlet's hands, yanking the lid off the glass box, grabbing the chip and settling it on the surface of the table. No one tried to stop her. She knew they wouldn't, because no matter how they felt, or how wrong this probably was, it had to be done for the good of everyone.

  Morgana slammed the hammer down.

  With each crack of the chip, her own heart broke.

  Chapter thirty-five

  Terra had searched for Kalem everywhere but couldn't find him. She stopped a cyborg down the hallway and asked whether he'd seen him. Apparently Kalem was in the training room.

  Terra hurried downstairs and stopped at the open door. Kalem was indeed inside training wearing only long grey trousers that matched those robotic steel-like eyes. Either he hadn't noticed her standing like a creep by the door or he was ignoring her.

  He moved like a dancer. It was incredibly beautiful and frightening to watch. Terra had always been a bit brutal when she fought, just kicking and punching, without giving her movements much thought. Kalem's fighting was different. It flowed like water, each movement carefully thought out. She could've stayed there all day watching him, but he twisted around in a beautiful arc, his arms high in the sky, and spotted her by the door, his body tensing upon seeing her.

  Stepping into the room quickly as to not look like a creep -at least not more so than she already did- she shut the door behind her. Kalem grabbed a discarded towel from the floor and wiped the back of his neck and forehead, which were drenched in sweat.

  Terra extended her hand towards him. Kalem glanced down at it, as if he didn't quite understand what was happening. After a few seconds, he placed his robotic hand within hers and shook.

  'Can we start over?' she asked. 'I don't think I'm going to remember...' Terra swore under her breath. There was no need to explain, to re-open such a wound. 'It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Terra Underwood.'

  Kalem's usual blank face creased slightly, but Terra was unsure what emotion he was feeling in that exact moment. She didn't allow him to speak, instead she said, 'I'm seventeen years old. I love rice cakes and sweet honey potatoes, even though no one seems to like them because they're super sweet. I love to draw. And I hate the dark because...' She couldn't help but struggle through this part. 'My mother was killed when I was young and I was shot in the face. When I woke up, I couldn't see for a long time. I was surrounded by darkness and shadows and it scared me almost to death. Especially because my mum wasn't there to comfort me.' Terra realised her hand was still in Kalem's, but neither had tried to move away. 'I have no family left. My father... I don't know where he is or if he's okay, and I'm too scared to go looking for him in case Petra tries hurting him. I'm a terrible friend. The only two friends I ever had suffered because of me. I'm big headed and never think before I do something, which leads to terrible consequences most of the time.'

  'Terra.'

  'No, just let me say it. I know you know all these things about me, but I just need to say them.'

  Kalem nodded, his robotic fingers now caressing her hand, encouraging her to keep going.

  'I'm scared all the time and I've hidden it behind a tough exterior. Then Petra took me and that barrier I'd created was destroyed. I don't know who I am anymore. I've always thought I was brave but now I think I was just plain stupid. I want to be a better person. When those memories were taken from me all I thought about was how it affected me. Now I realise that was selfish. I can't get them back... No matter how much I try, but...' Tears began to appear and just as she was about to rub them away with her free hand, Kalem leaned forward and did it for her.

  'It's a pleasure to meet you, Terra Underwood,' he said. 'Though most people don't give all their secrets away upon first meeting.'

  Terra couldn't help but scoff.

  Kalem remained silent, quietly thinking something. Of what? Terra couldn't be sure. Her body shook with uncertainty. After a while, she couldn't take it any longer and said, 'Please just say something.'

  Kalem's calm face shifted and those silver eyes smiled for him. 'Terra Underwood, it's nice to meet you, too. I'm Kalem. Kalem Akuma. Akuma means demon, by the way.'

  'Sounds fitting.'

  'Underwood...' Kalem mulled something over in his mind. 'Wood that is under. But under what?'

  Terra stared at him for a long time, then burst out laughing.

  'You're funny,' she replied, unable to stop laughing. His joke hadn't been that funny really, but she couldn't stop herself. It was probably the accumulation of nerves that was making her laugh so much.

  And then he began to laugh too, and Terra had never felt so at ease.

  ...

  Morgana sat in the kitchen with its bright lights that came in all shapes and sizes. Why they had so many hanging over the kitchen table was a mystery, but it did bring warmth to the space.

  A few cyborgs had come and gone as she had sat there, lost in thought. She hadn't wanted company. Her chest was tight with grief and it was hard to explain why. Viktor was gone and she should be happy. He and his damn sister had hurt so many innocent people throughout the years. They didn't deserve pity.

  No, it wasn't pity.

  Morgana realised that she felt upset. There were only seven of them; seven children created to be soldiers. They had learned how to walk together, how to fight together and how to feel together. And now one of them was gone by her own hands. Hands that had been created as weapons.

  'Stop it.'

  Morgana glanced up. Scarlet stood across the table, her expression hard.

  'They chose their path,' Scarlet added. 'It's not our fault.'

  Morgana shrugged, unsure. Perhaps if they had all just been better towards each other... Maybe Petra and Viktor wouldn't have turned out the way they did. If Scarlet hadn't been forced to murder Petra's sister, would she have been different?

  'I don't remember her,' Scarlet said, as if she had read Morgana's thoughts.

  'It's probably best that way.' Morgana gestured at the Prototype to sit down because it was making her nervous having Scarlet standing across from her.

  'I don't know...' Scarlet bit her lip. 'If I could remember what I did, I'd probably be more sympathetic towards Petra.'

  'Then I'm glad you don't remember.'

  'Says the Prototype sitting alone in the kitchen mourning over Viktor.'

  'I'm not mourning...' Morgana huffed, some of her blonde curl
y locks bouncing around like bungee-jumpers. 'I'm mourning the lives we could've had.'

  Scarlet finally sat down, grabbing Morgana's hands, rubbing them for comfort, though who it was supposed to comfort Morgana didn't really know.

  'How's Tristan?' Morgana asked, wanting to change the subject. 'Is he still fretting over the cyborg?'

  Scarlet's face brightened.

  'I don't...' Morgana was about to say she didn't quite understand it, but decided to shut up. It wasn't her place. Instead she said, 'Seems like out of us all, I'm the only single one.'

  Scarlet let go of Morgana's hands and tapped her fingers against the wooden surface. 'How is that?'

  'Well, you're a married woman now. Persephone and Vladimir... They're kids, but in some ways they're like an old couple. And now Tristan has Charlotte. Or whatever it is they've got going on.'

  Scarlet leaned forward. 'Ohhhhh, do I smell jealousy?'

  'Not jealous.' Morgana pouted. 'Loneliness, perhaps.'

  'I can always ask Eric to find you a nice young man.' Scarlet glanced away suddenly. 'Or woman.'

  Morgana leaned back. 'Or woman?'

  'Well, I always kinda thought that maybe...'

  Morgana laughed. 'You're so fierce for some things and so timid for others. You can just ask me, Scarlet. We're sisters, aren't we? You can just ask.'

  'It doesn't feel right to intrude.'

  Morgana couldn't help but sigh at Scarlet's attitude; always trying to be on everyone's good side. 'If you must know... I like both.' She knew Scarlet would be surprised, but the Prototype would never show it. And Morgana had never cared about sharing her preferences.

  Camille barged into the kitchen, interrupting both Prototypes. She slammed a small device on the table between them and Morgana recognised it as one of the holographic TVs they kept stored around the house.

  'We've got a problem,' Camille announced, turning the machine on. It was small and round with just one button in the centre. As soon as it was activated, a holographic screen appeared between them. It took Morgana five seconds to recognise Petra standing on a balcony in the mansion she had taken over after the Government's Headquarters had been damaged.

  There was one thing Petra had never done, and that was show her face to the public. All citizens believed that their government was ruled by the five humans that appeared on their TVs, giving speeches to the public. Petra and Viktor had always kept behind the curtain, commanding the five puppets Viktor controlled with his mind.

  To see Petra standing on that balcony made Morgana's body suddenly go numb. She looked beautiful, her blonde hair long and straight to one side and shaved off on the other. She wore a dark blue suit with the eagle across her chest.

  Those blue eyes of hers were wild.

  'My dear citizens,' Petra said to the cameras from the drones flying in front of her from where she stood. 'You have spent your entire lives believing the government was controlled by these five individuals.' The screen switched from Petra to photographs of the five humans that had always been on TV. It quickly returned to Petra as she continued to talk. 'But this is not true. I am the government. I am the Nation. I am an X-Prototype, an experiment created by the original government. My brother and I took over and have been controlling everything for more than one hundred years. We have been kind to you all but...' Her eyes sharpened. 'I'm afraid we have been too lenient. Things will be changing, for the good of everyone. Our Nation is under threat and I am now preparing to deal with such a problem. We must all be prepared for what is to come. Dark times are approaching.' She twisted on her heels and vanished inside the home, two workers shutting the doors behind her.

  'What did I just see?' Morgana asked.

  Camille sat down beside her. 'This was her proclamation of war. She ain't gonna go easy on us now.'

  'Let her,' Scarlet said. 'We will fight back ten times harder. She doesn't have Viktor to control anyone anymore.'

  'You think she's killed the five humans?' Camille asked.

  'If they were always under Viktor's control, probably,' Morgana said. 'She'll kill anyone that goes against her. Citizens either will die for the Nation or will die fighting it.'

  'What about the Watchers?' Scarlet asked.

  'The Watchers are paid workers that do their jobs. They'll continue to follow the government no matter who is behind it. Most of them get off on hurting innocent people so...' Morgana noticed the way Camille's lip curled upwards in a snarl before she snatched the device from the table and shoved it into the pocket of her jeans.

  'I have to go and show the others,' the cyborg said, tucking a strand of short blonde hair behind her pierced ear. Before Morgana or Scarlet could stop her, she was off.

  'That woman needs a holiday,' Morgana said.

  Scarlet grinned. 'You sound just like Eric.'

  'Oh, Nation, no. I'm starting to sound like Thorn? Great.' Morgana stood, trying to hide the smile appearing on her own face.

  'I better get going, too.' Scarlet also got up.

  'Hey, by the way,' Morgana said just as Scarlet was leaving. 'About what I said before... About being lonely... I didn't really mean it. I'm okay the way I am.'

  The smile that appeared on Scarlet's face brightened the entire room and Morgana was slightly taken aback by it. She hadn't seen the Prototype smile like that in a very long time, and it was just now that she was realising how much she had missed it. Scarlet had always been the light that shone among them all, but when the monster took over, her light was shut off, dimmed. She became quiet and reserved, always thoughtful, talking and whispering to the monster attached to her.

  Morgana didn't know whether Scarlet could still communicate with that thing. One day she'd have to ask. But not today. She didn't want that smile to go. Scarlet finally had that light back, and it needed to shine as bright as her flames.

  'I'm okay,' Morgana repeated.

  'I know you are,' Scarlet replied, her smile never faltering. Only growing. 'I know.'

  Chapter thirty-six

  A few days passed in relative calm. Too calm. It was pretty clear to Terra that a storm was brewing. Wherever Petra was she was planning something terrible and they needed to be prepared for what was to come.

  'I say we go for her before she comes for us,' Malcolm suggested.

  Everyone was gathered in the kitchen. The warm glow of the lamps was making Terra sleepy. A cup of something steaming hot was placed in front of her and she couldn't help but smile up at Camille. The liquid slid down her throat, burning her. It felt good.

  'We're stronger than her now,' Camille said. 'Without Viktor, she's nothing compared to us.'

  'She has the entire Nation under her control.' Morgana sat with her arms crossed next to Vladimir and Persephone. 'She has Watchers who will do anything. Besides, there are so many citizens that back her up. People that would die for the Nation. Most of them have been brainwashed since birth to believe that they live and serve the Nation.'

  'Morgana's right,' Scarlet intervened, standing next to Eric. 'We must think of the people. I don't want this turning into a bloodbath. We need to capture Petra and Petra alone.'

  'She'll be hiding away in her mansion,' Eric said, leaning closer towards Scarlet. 'She'll have reinforcements. Probably dozens of Watchers and workers in there.'

  'I'm sorry, but after everything that bitch has done, if they're still on her side, they deserve to go down with her,' Camille spat.

  A sudden silence fell over them. Terra wrapped her hands around the cup she'd been drinking from, wondering what could be the best solution to this argument. They were all clearly divided between getting rid of Petra no matter what and trying to save as many lives as possible.

  Terra was definitely on Scarlet's side. She didn't want to see more death. They'd seen enough. Hopefully everyone else would feel the same way and no more blood would have to be shed.

  'We draw her out then,' Camille said. 'We set up a trap and capture her.'

&
nbsp; Eric scoffed. 'Easier said than done.'

  'You have a better suggestion?'

  Before Eric could respond, Scarlet said, 'We need to think about this properly. We should draw up a plan.'

  'We don't have time.' Camille gestured towards the outside. 'Nation knows what she's scheming. I say we gather as many people as we can, barge right into that mansion of hers and get it over with.'

  'She'll kill everyone,' Scarlet replied.

  'She's already killing everyone!' Camille's eyes bulged with anger. 'We should take her by surprise.'

  'Those crows of hers won't allow us to take her by surprise,' Morgana interjected. 'Whatever we do, she'll know.'

  The idea of facing Petra and the consequences it would have didn't scare Terra anymore. The realisation surprised her. Petra had turned her life into a living nightmare, and yet, she had reached her limit. The X-Prototype needed to be stopped, even if that meant dying in the process.

  Terra had never truly stopped to think about death before. Now she lived with it hanging over her shoulders on a daily basis, her stomach always twisted into a knot. The only thing she really feared right now was losing the people she had come to care about. Glancing around the room, she stared at each and every one of the cyborgs; Malcolm and Camille glaring at each other as if it were a competition, Scarlet and Eric squeezing each other's hands, Morgana and the other Prototypes, worry plastered across their perfect features.

  And Kalem, sitting next to her, his jaw tight. His robotic hand found hers beneath the table, and without thinking, she grabbed hold of it, never wanting to let go.

  She didn't dare think of her father and whether or not he was okay. And when the time was right, she'd check on Damien to make sure he was still okay.

  A sudden knock on the door made them all turn towards it in unison and shock. Eric vanished from the kitchen. Terra waited, listening to his footsteps up the stairs, down the hallway and then the door creaking open. She might only have one ear left to listen with, but the house was unstable and definitely not soundproof.