Project Genesis

Chapter 7

The strength of my soul
was born on the backs
of moments
that brought me
to my knees.

†††††

Nyx's screams echoed in the vast building despite the uproar of the noises as everyone went about their business. Her screams were audible all the way from the infirmary on the other side of the building to the meeting hall, where Markus, Ezra, Issac and Aiden were sitting including others of Issac's group.

Ezra and Markus were talking between themselves while the ones in Issac's group chit-chatted to each other every now and then. But Issac's eyes were dead focused on the cross in his hands and on Nyx's screams which had been subdued now but were audible nonetheless.

"The kids are gonna be fine, right?" Aiden asked looking at Ezra.

"For the last time, the kids are gonna be fine Aiden." Ezra replied with a fake smile and continued, "Shouldn't you be a little, just a little bit worried about someone else?" She asked sarcastically flashing her million dollars fake smile again, making Aiden divert his eyes.

"She is going to be fine Issac.", Markus said, making Issac look up from the locket and at him. Issac was about to nod in consent when they heard an ear splitting shriek coming from the infirmary. Issac closed his eyes for a second and then looked away.

"Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. You didn't know there were going to be growlers there." Ezra said in an upbeat tone.

"She got injured trying to save me." Issac said sombrely.

"Then that's her fault." Markus said in a calmly blatant manner, putting a frown on Issac's face.

"Trying to save me was her fault?" Issac asked confused, getting up from his seat and taking a few short steps towards Markus.

"Not briefing you was her fault."

"She didn't know those things were going to be there. She was just as shocked."

"Well she should have known. That was her job. That's why I sent her. Because she was supposed to know. And why are you defending her?"

"I am not defending her. I am just saying, she is a human bei-- whatever we are now, she is just like us too. Not knowing, those things were gonna be there wasn't her fault."

"Okay. Well how about this then? She didn't tell you what you were up against even after you came across growlers. Tell me how many of you did she let fight?"

"She was busy planning her next move. And briefing us meant making noise. It would have alerted those things. And that's not what she intended to do. And it was a dark place, they couldn't see, so only I fought." Issac replied in a low voice, pointing towards his group.

"You fought! Did she ask you to? Did she allow you to fight?"

"What does that matter? She didn't stop me. And who is she to allow me to fight? I wanted to fight, so I fought!"

"It matters. She didn't ask you to fight because she knew you couldn't." Markus stated looking in Issac's eyes, "I am pretty sure she told you to stand down. I accept that her not telling you what you were up against was wrong. But you not listening to her was even more wrong. There is a reason why I sent her with you all. Because you all are not yet ready to fight everything that's out there and she knows that too. I know your relationship with her isn't very ideal but I also know that when it comes to survival, her judgements are the best and you have witnessed that firsthand." Markus kept his voice low and calm like always.