Cold Heart

Chapter 05

1521 AD
Tenochtitlan

"I thought Mahd Wy'ry was a myth." Sersi spoke gently, looking to my body that lay on display for everyone in the middle of the room. Ajak busied herself with healing Phastos wound, the others standing around processing everything. Druig however stood with his back leaned onto the wall closest to the exit, staring at the ground.

"There is no cure... so no one really talks about it." Phastos explained gloomily. I gasped awake, eyes opening to be a clear blue once again. Everyone stood back carefully with caution, ready for another fight. My breathing evened out as I stared up at the ceiling, afraid of the reality that I needed to face.

"What happened?" I asked suddenly, needing answers.

"Isla, you attacked everyone. Wounded Sersi, Phastos, Makkari. You nearly killed Druig." Ajak answered as my heart dropped. I slowly sat up, everyone watching me carefully aside from Druig whose eyes were set on the stone he stood on.

"I don't remember." I shook my head, tears quickly filling my eyes as I looked to Ajak, unable to face the others.

"You have Mahd Wy'ry. Your mind is fracturing under the weight of your memories." She explains, Druig finally glancing up to see the hurt expression on my face as I listened to Ajaks words. "And all I can do is erase them so that you can start over. I will have to inform Arishem and take you back to the ship where we have the technology to help you." Ajak further explained as I listened close, the others realizing the harsh reality as well.

"But she won't be Isla anymore." Makkari pointed out with a frown.

"What if it happens again? She could've killed you. She could have killed all of us." Kingo pointed out as my frown deepened, prominent on my face.

"Please. Please, I... I want to remember. I want to remember my life." I pleaded softly to Ajak, nobody ever seeing me this vulnerable. Druig looked down again, unable to watch anymore as I showed my emotions on full display for my family.

"Isla, I love you. But listen to me. It's not important if you remember or not. Your spirit will remain." She pressed a warm gentle hand to my chest above my heart. "You will always be Isla deep inside. Trust me."

"Why should she trust you?" Druig finally spoke up, looking up as my eyes caught his for a moment. "You're asking her to let you erase who she is." He stepped forward, Ajak turning to face him now.

"Druig, I know you're upset, but—" Ajak started trying to ease the tension.

"Upset?" He snapped back, anger bubbling over. "We've trusted you for 7,000 years, and look where you've gotten us. I've watched humans destroy each other when I could stop it all in a heartbeat." He stated, a single tear trailing down his face as i
I watching him sympathetically.

"Do you know what that does to someone after centuries? Could our mission have been a mistake? Are we really helping these people build a better world, huh? Now youre just gonna take away the one person who makes it all better?" He asked, turning away and stepping towards the entrance, looking down over the chaos of the city leaving the rest of us in shock at his outburst.

"We're just like the soldiers down there. Pawns to their leaders." He watched the burning fires below with intensity. "Blinded by loyalty. It ends now." He stated, eyes glowing their golden colour, taking control of the humans one by one. The fighting stopped, silence taking over as Druig had a hold of them all. Aclatter was heard, weapons dropping to the ground until Ikaris harshly pulled Druig back, shoving him into the wall, forcing down Druig's hold on the humans.

"Let them go." Ikaris orders, standing chest to chest with him.

"Ikaris" I spoke up sternly in a warning tone. "Back off"