Everglow: Friend From Far Away

32 - Red Cold River

Wh-who's they?" Ko fretted, her cloak wrapped tightly around her body.

"I don't fucking know, some shit head organization looking for aliens. I don't care who the fuck they are, they've got Mira. We've gotta get her out of there somehow," Fischer fumed, almost throwing his phone on the ground in anger.

"How are we going to do that?"

He suddenly stopped, the anger that flowed through him began to turn into fear. But not fear of losing Mira. The fear of what he would have to give up to get her back. He gently twisted around to look at Ko.

She immediately recognized the look of desperation in his eyes.

He stood there for a few seconds more. It looked like he was contemplating if what Johannes said was true. If he had been telling the truth, and he actually would trade Mira for Ko. Ten minutes ago he would've given anything in the world for Ko. Now that the only other person he truly loved was in danger, he wasn't so sure.

"Fischer?" she whimpered, puzzled by his lost gaze towards her. He shook his head slightly and snapped back into reality.

"Uh, I. . . I don't know yet. But we'll figure something out."

He wiped a bead of sweat from his face and took a deep breath. He pondered his options. There weren't many.

They could maybe try and trick the USETRD. If they played their cards right, they could outsmart them. Get them to give Mira up first. Or maybe they could-

"They want me don't they?" Ko asked sheepishly. Fischer turned to look at her once again.

"Y-yea. They do."

She took a deep breath and gulped slightly.

"If you hand me over they'll give us back Mira. If that's what we need to do then-"

"Don't you even think about it, piss off," he exclaimed, biting his lower lip in frustration. But Ko didn't give up.

"Fischer, listen. If this is what's going to get Mira back, then I'm ok with that," she stated in that soft angelic voice of hers. But right now all Fischer had were demons, and lots of them.

"Ko, no. That's it, that's final. You are not going with them. It is not happening."

"I know you want the best for me. And for that I can't ever repay you. But if I can bring any happiness to you, it's the closest thing I can do to repayment. Mira doesn't deserve this, neither do you. It's ok Fischer," she whispered, resting her hands just below her neck.

He turned around at her with relative speed this time, thrusting a finger in her direction.

"Fuck off Ko. Fuck. Off. It's not happening. Don't you dare try this. You have been a fucking slave your entire goddammed life, you are not going to be a prisoner for the rest of it," he snapped, a wicked frown staining his face.

"Fischer please-"

"No, not Fischer please. You listen to me. I am not going to lose you again. I almost did once. That was the worst mistake I've ever made. Your life is not worth less than Mira's and it will be a cold fucking day in hell before I let you down like I did before."

"You never let me down. You've never ever let me down. Fischer you've done nothing but make my life infinitely better than it was before. What have I done for you? I've done nothing but get in your way. Please, let me make it up to you."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Ko, how many times have we been through this? You are not a burden, you are not an anchor and you haven't done anything wrong. Stop blaming yourself for things that you have no control over. You aren't being taken away and that's final. Period. End of conversation," he shot, throwing his face at her in a demeaning manner.