by J. F. Johns
They were suddenly in an enormous room made of shiny walls and bright lights. Dozens of soldiers stood straightforward, their blonde heads up and their backs straight. No one spoke. No one moved. It took Scarlet a while to realise that these were not in fact soldiers. They were children.
A man at the front of the room lifted his arms up. 'Your final trial shall begin now.'
Scarlet found Petra a few rows ahead of where she stood. As soon as everyone began moving, Scarlet made her way towards Petra, who was eagerly searching the room with desperation in those blue eyes. 'Erin!' she whispered, grabbing hold of her sister. Scarlet froze at the sight of the person standing next to Erin. It was herself.
'Petra, we'll be late,' Erin said, her tone cold. The Scarlet from the memory turned to leave, which made Petra lean forward, snatching her sister's hand forcefully.
'Let's do the trial together. We have to choose a partner and-'
Erin's face twisted nastily. 'With you? You must be joking! I'd never do such a thing. I'll be taking the trial with Scarlet.' Erin lifted her chin up and marched off without looking back.
Petra deflated as she watched her sister walk away. Scarlet felt the need to shake Erin and slam some sense into the girl's head. Before she could get her emotions in check, they were no longer in the room but in a smaller one with a glass wall in front. Four people sat behind it, watching. Petra stood beside a girl Scarlet didn't recognise at all.
'Welcome to your final trial,' one of the men behind the glass said. 'To your right you will find all types of weapons. You are allowed to select one.' The stone wall to Petra's right was covered in different killing artefacts. Petra marched over, quickly selecting a sword. Returning to her spot, she squared her shoulders. Scarlet could tell Petra was trying hard not to cry.
'This trial as your last shall be the hardest yet. You have been trained to be the very best, the strongest and the wisest. But in this trial only those with the strongest and coldest hearts will be able to survive.' The man cleared his throat. Scarlet noticed the others drinking and whispering amongst each other. 'This may be the most difficult thing you've ever done. And probably the hardest thing you'll ever do. You have grown together but now... Now you must learn to be alone.'
Petra's hand shook slightly.
'Your final trial is simple. You have thirty minutes to kill each other. Only one of you will be granted victory. If neither of you is able to kill the other, you will both be put down and claimed unfit.'
The girl standing next to Petra moved away a few feet, shaking and crying. Petra remained quiet, still. Scarlet realised just then what was going on through her mind. Her sister Erin would be going through the same exact trial alongside Scarlet.
And Scarlet knew who would be victorious.
'You may begin,' the man said.
Before he could even finish, Petra made a quick movement with her arm and the sword slashed through the girl standing to one side. Blood spluttered everywhere. Petra's face was suddenly marked with red droplets forming shapes across her features. The people behind the glass stared in shock. Clearly no one had reacted in such a way before.
The girl standing next to Petra slumped to the ground with a groan. Scarlet crouched beside her, and even though she knew there wasn't anything she could do, she sat there waiting until the light left the girl's eyes.
Petra remained still as blood dripped from her hand, which held the sword steadily.
As soon as she was dismissed, she turned to leave. Scarlet saw how those blue eyes turned cold and hard, losing all innocence or sympathy. The old Petra was gone and the new one was made of ice.
The memory dissolved once again and Scarlet fell down a set of wooden stairs. She heard a door creaking open and she managed to stand up in time to see a fourteen year old Petra march into the house. Dropping the schoolbag from her back, she glanced up the stairs and said, 'Ma! I'm home. Shall I make you something to eat?' No response. Shrugging, Petra disappeared into the kitchen.
The sun began to set and after some time Petra reappeared, her eyes full of worry. Very slowly, she climbed the stairs, her hands never letting go of the walls on either side of her for support. The door creaked open and she stepped inside. 'Ma?' she whispered into the darkness of the room.
Scarlet positioned herself next to Petra, keeping her gaze on the young girl, trying as hard as possible to send her strength.
The space was very small with minimum decoration. The curtains by the windows were thick and full of dust. There was a lovely oak desk to one side full of perfumes and make-up. Scarlet wondered if the kids had played with such objects when their mother had been happier.
A noise escaped Petra as she glanced up at the body hanging beside the bed.
Scarlet wanted to cut the noose and bring Petra's mother down so Petra would stop looking, but she had no control over the situation. Instead, she remained quietly beside Petra until the memory faded and Scarlet returned to reality.
Chapter forty
The destruction Terra was creating made her heart swell with pride. One of the towers used for surveillance had fallen and now she burst through the main doors, transforming back into her human form and punching a Watcher through the helmet. Her knuckles tore and bled, but neither did she feel the pain nor care for it. Watcher after Watcher fell as she ran towards where the men were being kept. Slamming the door open with her boot, she stood breathing hard. The men inside were all huddled close together, clearly aware that something was happening outside.
'We need to get the women and children out,' Terra said. 'You need to help me.'
Every single head nodded. Turning on her heels, they ran out, making their way towards the opposite wing of the building. Terra couldn't stay, she needed to free the cyborgs and destroy the rest of the towers before getting back to Kalem. Time was ticking for him. What if it was too late by the time she returned to his side?
Shaking her head, Terra transformed back into dark mist and travelled along the hallways, crashing against guards and workers. Kalem was strong, he'd hold on for just a bit more.
Terra managed to make her way outside, crashing into one of the towers, the bricks bursting and coming apart. Cries and shots rang out as she flew back, debris pouring over her. Floating across the sky, she watched as chaos ensured. Men and women ran in all directions, fighting against Watchers in order to escape.
She needed to return to Kalem, and even though Terra wanted to stay and make sure everyone got out safely, she knew she couldn't wait any longer. She needed to make a decision, and fast. Help the others or get Kalem back to safety?
Terra didn't give it much thought as she returned to the boy lying beneath the burnt tree. His eyes were closed but he was breathing. Alive. Terra returned to her human form and crouched beside him, taking hold of his hands. 'Kalem?'
His eyelids fluttered but he did not respond. He had lost a lot of blood. There was no more time to waste. More screams sounded in the background, but Terra ignored the noise. She felt guilty for not taking Kalem back home sooner and for leaving the others behind now.
Terra's body disintegrated and transformed into black mist, carrying the cyborg along with her. They left the chaos and destruction behind, never looking back.
...
The infirmary came back into view and Scarlet shot up into a sitting position, yanking cables from her skin. The sting wasn't noticeable as she glanced around, gasping. Curtis and Charlotte rushed to her side.
'They weren't my memories,' she told them.
'What do you mean?' Curtis asked, helping Charlotte to remove the few cables Scarlet hadn't managed to pull off herself.
'They were Petra's.'
Silence unfolded in the small infirmary room as they each took in the new information. Scarlet rubbed her arms, feeling weak and strange at having lived through those memories. Why had Petra given her something so personal? Was it to make Scarlet feel guilty? Maybe she thought Scarlet would back off after seeing
what Petra had been through and forgive her.
That wouldn't happen though. Yes, Scarlet understood Petra a little better now, but that didn't mean she'd forgive her for everything she had done. Petra had murdered so many innocent people under her tyranny, and there was no excuse, no matter what a shitty life she had had to endure.
'I need to speak to Morgana,' Scarlet said, jumping off the bed.
She gave them no time to argue, rushing out of the infirmary in search of her sister. Who knew where Morgana was, but Scarlet rushed up to the rooftop knowing that that was probably the best place to start. She was correct. Morgana sat by the very edge of the roof, her gaze serious as she watched the city from afar.
'I take it you've recovered your memories,' Morgana said, her blue eyes still focused on the buildings with their neon lights, shiny surfaces and holographic advertisements.
Scarlet sat beside her sister. 'They weren't my memories.'
Morgana arched an eyebrow. 'It's never easy, is it? She's always screwing with us. What did she do? Gave you the memories of some poor tortured soul?'
'She gave me her memories.'
Morgana remained still and silent for a very long time. Slowly, she turned to look at Scarlet, shock and surprise twisting across her features. 'What? What do you mean? Why would she do that?'
Scarlet shrugged. 'I don't know.'
'She's trying to mess with your head.'
Scarlet picked at the skin on her thumb. 'I'm not so sure if that's the reason.'
'Don't tell me you feel bad for the bitch.'
'I'm not saying that. It's just...'
'It's just what, Scarlet?'
Sighing, Scarlet glanced at the city. Building after shiny building rose higher than the next as if they were competing to be the largest, tallest and most luxurious. They probably were. Such a fake plastic world they lived in where no one really cared about anything but themselves. The city with its neon lights, fast sleek trains and floating gardens reflected to perfection how unreal everything was when deep within its belly lay a chaotic world of dirty streets, hunger and fearful citizens. How could two places so different exist within each other?
Maybe Capital One and Petra had more in common than Scarlet had wanted to realise.
'Maybe I could talk to her,' she said, her words floating away with the breeze.
'Don't be ridiculous.'
'I'm serious, Morgana. She wasn't always evil. No one is born evil, life makes them that way.'
'So we should just forgive her for everything she's done?'
'No, of course not. But maybe we can avoid a war.'
Morgana looked as though she wanted to say something but decided not to. Scarlet knew that the decisions they made could change everything forever, and she was terrified of making the wrong ones. But drawing blood and causing a war when there seemed to be a small ounce of hope at her disposal? She couldn't just give that away.
A scream broke out within the house. Scarlet and Morgana jumped up and rushed inside, making their way downstairs into the kitchen. What they found was shocking.
Terra was on the ground holding a body. There was so much blood over them, pouring out onto the tiled kitchen floor that Scarlet wasn't sure where it was coming from. 'He's been shot.' Terra's voice shook as she gestured at the wound, her hands trembling as she kept pressure over it. Crimson liquid pooled between her fingers like rivers.
'What happened?' Scarlet asked, inspecting Kalem's body for more injuries. 'Call for Curtis and Charlotte,' she told Morgana. As soon as her sister vanished from the room, Scarlet dropped to her knees. The wound was very deep and it seemed as though it had pierced an organ. Fearfully, she glanced over at Terra.
'Don't,' the human girl said. 'Don't look at me like that. He's going to be okay.'
'Terra...'
'Save him!'
Scarlet leaned away, hesitant.
'He's dying, Scarlet! You have to save him! You helped the twins and me before. You can do it again. He's clinging on to life! He doesn't deserve this! Scarlet, listen to me!'
Scarlet stared at the girl in front of her screaming and crying, huge tears crawling down her face. Her attention landed on the boy on the ground, his skin so pale and the light slowly draining from those silver eyes. She could almost see his soul pouring out, leaving his body behind.
'If you can't do it for me, do it for Camille! Please, I'm begging you, Scarlet. PLEASE.'
Scarlet knew what she had to do to save him, but she wasn't sure if it would work. Perhaps they were already too late and Kalem was too far gone to bring him back. What would happen to their world if he left? Another loved one taken from their grasp because of Petra... Because of Scarlet. How many more would die because of this stupid game between them?
'SCARLET!'
Placing her hand over the wound, she motioned at Terra to do the same. 'I'll save him, Terra. There's a way, but... There will be consequences.'
'I don't care.'
Scarlet nodded. 'Very well. Are you ready?'
Before Terra could respond, Scarlet felt the power of the Destroyer leap from her body, slowly making its way into Kalem. It drained and choked her, crushing her lungs as its power was sucked out of her and buried within the boy with hair made of darkness and eyes made of steel. Both girls held on as their powers were drained, as the black mist ripped their skin apart and tore at their soul.
The monster caged within them found its new home, sealing the wound and healing organs. It settled in its new host with hunger. It wouldn't be entirely free, part of it was still caged in the twins, but it had found some kind of freedom, which was better than nothing.
The monster roared with glee.
Kalem opened his eyes, gasping.
Chapter forty-one
Soft sheets caressed Kalem as he woke up. Someone had changed his bedding and the smell of freshly washed blankets engulfed his senses. Whispers echoed across his small bedroom and at first he couldn't see who they belonged to because of the darkness. A light was switched on and Camille and Malcolm appeared in his line of sight.
'What...?'
'Shhh, it's okay.' Camille was sitting on his bed beside him. She leaned forward, stroking his hair with worried eyes. 'You're okay, Kalem.'
'What happened?' He wanted to sit up and assess the damage, but his mother forced him to lie back down. All he could remember was himself and Terra running across a rooftop and then a terrible pain piercing through his flesh. Everything was blank after that.
'You were shot,' Malcolm explained.
Kalem glanced down at the sheets covering him. Wiggling around in the bed, he felt no pain or stitches. Noticing the looks his parents exchanged, he pulled the blankets off of himself and was surprised to find no wound.
The door to the bedroom opened and Terra appeared. The sight of her brought his heart to beat faster. Terra looked much better in herself. She'd gained some weight in the last few weeks, her brown hair was healthier and growing longer in beautiful waves. And her eyes...
Kalem shook his head, confused.
After the monster had been separated from Scarlet and divided between her, the twins and Terra, all of them had acquired a black eye. But now Terra's eyes had returned to their usual mismatched beauty. Blue and white.
Malcolm coughed awkwardly and beckoned at Camille to follow him. 'We'll give you two some space.' Camille snarled, clearly not wanting to move from her son's side, but Malcolm grabbed her arm and with a teasing smile, hauled her away.
'How are you feeling?' Terra asked, hovering by the door.
Kalem wanted her to come closer, but his body wouldn't respond. He stayed put, just watching. There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but decided to start with the most obvious. 'Your eyes.'
Terra reached up to touch her face unconsciously. A small smile appeared across her lips, but it quickly vanished. Slowly, she made her way to his side.
'Kalem, I'm so sorry.'
; 'Why?'
'You almost died because of me. I left you to go back and... I didn't realise how bad your wound was and how much blood you'd lost. Anger took over and I didn't think and...'
'Hey, it's okay.'
'It's not, Kalem. You were almost gone.'
'But I'm still here.'
Terra bit her lower lip.
Kalem could tell there was something she wasn't telling him. 'Terra, why are your eyes...?'
She looked away from him. 'There was nothing anyone could've done for you by then... So I pleaded Scarlet to... We gave you...' She touched her face again and Kalem's breathing stopped as he realised what she was implying.
He felt it then, something inside of him, trapped. A voice screeched in his mind, fighting to set itself free. Pain soared through his head and he gasped.
'Kalem.' She reached for him, but he shoved her away.
'It's inside of me now, isn't it?'
She didn't reply.
'Terra, answer me.'
Shaking, she nodded.
'So now you and Scarlet...'
'We had to give it all up in order to save you. That part of the Destroyer now lives within you.'
It was inside of him? The notion made him feel suddenly sick. A monster was trapped in his body, gripping his soul and tightening it for release. They had saved him from death but... Had it been worth it?
Terra began sobbing. The sight of her sitting there so helplessly upset broke him. He took her hands within his robotic ones and caressed them. It had been such a long time since he'd been able to do such a thing.
'Don't cry, Terra. You saved me.'
'I condemned you.'
He couldn't help but smile at her words. 'Aren't we all condemned, though?'
'Kalem, this is different.'
'Perhaps you're jealous, is that it?' Her beautiful features twisted in confusion at his words. 'Now I'm stronger than you, Princess.' It had been a very long time since he'd used the nickname he'd given her.