Whumptober+ Short Stories - Volume 2

Prompt 1 - Shaky Hands

How did we get this far?

What happened to us?

Why...

"Keon."

Hearing the scientist's voice from behind him, Keon glanced up. "Mr. Evander..." He began, his voice trembling as he spoke. The scientist laid a hand on his shoulder; not as a comforting gesture, but as a command. "Stop holding back. You have a job; do it."

The 14-year-old turned his head away, looking back across the room at the shuddering form of his half-brother lying on the floor. The miscalculations made were becoming more and more evident with every second; he could tell just by looking. Still, though, he couldn't force his gun hand to comply with Mr. Evander's instructions. He didn't even want to think about it.

"Now, Keon."

I have no other choice... he'll die either way...

"Kill him."

It's my job...

Making his way to Liberty's side, he raised the gun. If he could just bring himself to do this, then it would all be over in an instant. He wouldn't have to think about it anymore.

"Are you... gonna shoot me now?"

The deep, raspy voice was completely wrong coming from someone so young. It wasn't even Liberty's voice. Still, he glanced over at his brother before he could stop himself, and froze. The other boy's face (or what was left of the original) was twisted in pain and fear, tinged with a hopelessness Keon could only imagine. When he said nothing, Liberty grew pale. "So... I'm a failure."

"No you're..." Keon started. His brother looked at him then, a singular expression on his misshapen features. "Yes, I am. I can feel it." He paused and took a deep breath. "So just... hurry up and get it over with."

"But..."

"Please." Liberty interrupted, gazing up at him. "I want to die... while I'm still human."

Keon stood looking at his brother for a moment through tear-filled eyes. Then finally, wordlessly, he raised the gun once more with shaking hands. As he did so, the scientist standing behind him gestured to his associates.

~

A few minutes later, Evander came forward to stand next to Keon's motionless form, his assistant beside him as he looked down at the body for a moment. "Weakness is not tolerated, Keon." He said, fully aware that the boy could no longer hear him. Then, retrieving the gun from the corpse's lifeless hand and putting it in his pocket, the scientist approached the other form standing nearby. "I see we have succeeded at last. That was an excellent first kill, Liberty. You did well." He said, then glanced over at his assistant. "Switch him to Mindset 3."

"And get someone to take care of the body."