The grin turns serious and she grabs my arms. “Aaron, you are not allowed to die before me. Do you understand? You are not allowed.”
I squeeze my eyes shut to hold back tears. I don’t want to think about how little time she’s got left. I don’t want to think about the world without her in it. That’s just wrong.
“You’re not dying,” I hiss.
“Yes, Aaron, I am,” she says. “And that’s okay. You running away and trying to get yourself killed first is not.”
I rock back as if slapped. Is that what I’d done? I guess in a way it is. I’d been watching Mom die little by little for months. And I’d been willing, eager even, to throw myself into a maelstrom of kaiju rather than face it. I’m the worst sort of coward.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes.
Her hand on my cheek lifts my face and our eyes meet despite my efforts. My vision is watery with unshed tears.
“I am so, so proud of you and what you did,” she says. “I’m mad at you for running off to do it, but I am beyond proud. Aaron, you’re a hero.”
That pulls a sick laugh from me and I blink away tears as I shake my head. “That I so am not.”
“Aaron Moretti, I saw you on television. I know which monster you turn into. You kept those people safe.” She made a choking sound and I realize I’m not the only one resisting the urge to cry. “And now you’re going to save more. I know…I know it’s not ideal.” She glances at my ankle monitor.
I haven’t been charged with anything. There’s no law against turning into a kaiju. But with my history and the coercive nature of my new “job,” the US Government isn’t taking any chances. They still haven’t actually told me which branch of the government I’m working for. Maybe they never will.
“But I know that you’ve been given an opportunity,” she continues. “And you grab it. Grab it, Aaron and don’t let go. This…this will be a good thing…Please, Aaron. Please promise me you’ll give it everything you have to give. Be the hero I know you are.”
How the hell do you say no to that? Mom’s wrong about me. Hands down. Also wrong about this shadowy government recruitment program being a good thing. There’s no way this ends well. But how can I tell her I’ll do anything less than my best when there’s a very real chance that Senator Church’s and Agent Solomon’s Freak Squad can actually do some real good.
The aliens are still out there. More players are showing up with kaiju across the globe. And there was that thing I woke up to complete my quest and get the cure for Plague Doctor’s disease. If that thing ever makes it to earth I don’t know that the planet as a whole could survive it.
We need people who can respond with the best weapons we have to combat these threats. Fuck, I already sound like a soldier. That is a weird and terrifying thought. I wonder how the soldier shadowing me feels about me and the other Freak Squad members and the “service” we are providing for our country? Somehow, I doubt he thinks of us as fellow soldiers.
“Okay, Mom,” I say, standing up. “I promise.”
Isabella is standing next to me.
Mom gives a little start in her chair. Isabella’s approach was silent and stealthy. I don’t jump. I couldn’t say how, I just knew that she was there. I sensed her I guess.
“I am very sorry for your loss,” she says to both of us. “Aaron…may I have a word alone?”
Mom flashes me a grin. “You’ve crossed the country for her twice. I guess I can spare you a few moments.”
She leaves me with my ears burning and Isabella cocking an eyebrow at me.
“You’ve got it bad for me, you know,” Isabella says.
“Yup.” No point in hiding it.
“I really am sorry about your dad,” she says. “That was a…complicated relationship.”
“Yup.”
“I don’t think I properly thanked you for saving my life. With the blood transfusion.”
I blink at her. “No. Guess you didn’t.” I hadn’t expected a thank you, either. What I’d done was risky and stupid. It was a desperate gamble with her life that shouldn’t have worked under any other circumstances.
“I’m…I don’t know what’s going on with me, right now,” she says, and hugs her arms around her. It’s hard to say, but I think she might actually be looking a little buffer. Has she been pushing her workouts? Or is this a side effect?
“Have you seen a doctor?”
She shakes her head. “I’m trying to find someone…trustworthy. I…I don’t want to be snatched up by the government like you and Lusitania.” This last she says in a rush, like she’s confessing something terrible.
“I can’t say I blame you.” Where is she going with this? “I don’t think Lusitania will either. You’ve done a ton for us and…and you’ve got something really complicated on your plate right now.”
She throws back her head and lets out a peal of laughter that draws scandalized and skeptical looks from just about everyone around us. “Complicated. Yeah, that’s the word for it.” She wipes away a tear from her eye.
“I’m leaving, Aaron. I don’t know where I’m going. I just…I’m changing. And it scares me.”
“Have you…changed again?” I ask. “Since we got out of Vegas?”
She shakes her head. “No but…but there are other things. Little things. And I don’t think it’s good for me to be near you right now.”
Ouch. I close my eyes and count to three. It’s the first time in a long, long time that I’ve used that trick for something other than managing my anger. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Be safe, Isabella.”
“You too,” she says.
I don’t know who moves first. Our lips meet and we press against each other, locked in a slow, passionate kiss. It doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d like, funeral or no.
“You take care of yourself, Aaron,” she says. “Don’t die.”
“You’re the second person to tell me that today,” I reply.
“Good, then maybe you’ll listen for once.” She gives me a cheeky grin and leaves.
I watch her go, then make my way over to Mom, my soldier shadow trailing me. There’s supposed to be a wake to endure after this. And then? Then, I guess, it’s time to go monster hunting.
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PLAGUE DOCTOR
Kaiju for Dummies Page 22