Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 68: Would You Join Me?

When I was knocking on the cellar's door that hot Saturday afternoon, Sigi was already opening it.

"Wow. That was fast," I said with my fist hanging stupidly in the air.

"I was waiting for you."

He was antsy. The intense golden light and the heat from the outside welcomed him as if they had punched him. Such was the power of the sun on those hot days, and it would get even worse the following month. It was only late May then.

He had been listening to the radio while he had been waiting for me. The music he had been listening to was smooth jazz. He went to it to turn the volume a bit down while I came in.

"Sorry, I'm late. Agape wanted to see me before coming here to practice meditation with you."

"About last night and the Black Masks, I guess," he said when the radio's volume was that of a soft hum, turning to me.

"Yeah, she's told me... a lot of things." My hesitation and uneasiness were obvious in my voice and on my face. I closed the door behind me. "I'd love to speak my mind right now -about torturing the Black Masks, killing Uriel, and all that- but it's not a good time for that."

"Why not?" Sigi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Agape's just had a breakdown," I replied softly, coming closer to him. "Don't worry. K8's taking care of her right now. She's given her some pills which she usually takes for such cases."

"A breakdown? But why?!" He couldn't believe it.

I hesitated, and I could tell he didn't like it.

"I can't tell you why," I answered carefully and feeling pity for Agape. "Look, you already know she's got rules. This is the newest. She's made me promise I wouldn't tell. Just don't mention to her what happened last night with Uriel ever again for as long as she lives."

"But..."

"I'm serious, Sigi," I insisted with concern.

He sighed with frustration.

"Will she be OK by tomorrow morning? Her check-up is precisely then." He was worried, as much as I was when he told me that.

I went pale. I didn't know whether she'd be fine by then, but I was hoping so with all my heart.

There was an awkward moment of silence between us, during which only the radio filled that void. There was a news flash being broadcast instead of the soft jazz at that moment.

"... as more tips are being given to the police forces. The government appreciates the goodwill of so many anonymous people from humble backgrounds," the male journalist said using a sweet yet trademark-like tone of voice. It felt like a monotone as if he didn't have any other feeling besides satisfaction. "So far, there have been over a dozen rebels caught and executed forthwith either during the course of rigorous questionings or the additional check-ups. In the meantime, more homes and shops from traitors have been burnt and destroyed last night by fellow traditional humans, also known as the Black Masks.

"Apollo has released a statement thanking their efforts to prove that they don't agree with these rebels' ways and defiance towards clone authorities, also conveying the meaning that the rebels don't deserve to represent their peers through their appalling acts of violence and murder. On behalf of this radio station, we are immensely thankful for the Black Masks' support."

Well, the civilian clones and most of the traditional humans didn't know half of the story, of course. The Black Masks' involvement with the police, their deal to create havoc and destruction in exchange for money, the police's eagerness to buy our properties after having scared the hell out of us traditional humans, and the threat we rebels issued to them were still a secret.