THE HIVE

Chapter 28

Once the wasphead lifts me up, I am escorted out of the facility and back the long straight path towards where I had awoken.

I don't ask him any questions anymore and I get a feeling that he's had enough of me as well, so I just shut up and lag behind.

But inside me, there's turmoil. It's a storm brewing, desperate to break free, wreak havoc, but somehow contained by my rationality fighting against it. My psyche is in bad shape, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do when I see the others.

I gnash my teeth and tighten my fists. I feel so... helpless.

I look at my left hand, now black and shiny, like that of a demon. With it I can summon powers unknown to science. But they aren't beyond science. This I know. They are just, beyond human comprehension. A relic of a higher reality.

But what good are powers when the wielder is incompetent? Heck, what good are they when there's nothing to fight for? What good is freedom when there's no home to go back to?

You know, you are learning. It's not like you haven't made progress.

But it's not enough! It's not enough, Space buddy.

He quietens in response.

What can I do? I have these powers, yet, I can't do anything. I don't know why I have them. All the good that's come out of it, is me getting out of that lab and getting in the freaking army. What cause do I even fight for? Is it really a singular cause? Was this war ever ours to fight?

The alien walking ahead of me stops. Then, with a curious look, he turns around. "Hey, didn't you say you'd go finding your buddy? How many of us do you need for your expedition?"

I pucker up my brows at first. Huh? What-

My brows shoot up.

Words freeze in the back of my throat. "I... "

I totally forgot.

...

Oh my God. Billy...

"H-how long has it been? How long was I out for?" I ask in haste.

"Work hours are over and everybody is back from the station. I'd say you woke up not long after our return."

So I was right. This is underground.

"Where am I? Where is this?"

"You don't have to know that," he says coldly.

I grit my teeth- this bastard!- then adjust my glasses. I seethe. "So, you're telling me, I was knocked unconscious for the entirety of this time and you didn't go to get him back?"

"Well, you didn't make it any easier, did you?" he counters.

I tch at that.

But, he's right. And, it's like I lost sight of what I was supposed to do after the stuff with Diana and that secret tunnel. It is me who is to blame! And, because of that... even if he were alive, we might have left him to die. We should have gone for him as soon as possible. But...

How could I have done this...? If he dies, nobody would cry for him in my immediate vicinity, that I know. But, nonetheless, I'd be the real murderer.

I thought the sticks of darkness were cool. I was so happy when I summoned one up, and caught the flaming projectile shooting at me from the sky. And what did I end up doing? I ended up sending a guy to God knows where! If he's dead, I'd be responsible-

No, you won't! Billy would have died even without your intervention, if it came to that. He was crashing! Jordan you aren't thinking straight. And, it's not like you could have acted rationally either. Your planet was destroyed. I tried to keep you from doing what you did. I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen. But, even I being one detached from human emotions, can feel what you did. So, I would say this again, don't blame yourself.