Children's Games: A Story of Modern Consequence

Chapter 56

~Florence~

Florence pushed the trolley as Yelena broke off and set up yet another Model to release TB84 to the unsuspecting population of Fimiston. She now saw these Australians as people she needed to protect, rather than her confusing enemy.

Next to her, Yelena's familiarity seemed so obvious. Her slicked back, black hair that haunted so many of her dreams- memories- had been the woman hunched over her, scribbling mean amounts of pain into her arm and sending shock waves through her skull. Somehow, seeing Yelena's name in that book made her face reveal itself from her memories, and Florence felt sick looking at it.

Yelena turned her back on her as she read a message appearing on her watch. "It's Dominik..."

Florence lunged, swinging her arm around Yelena's neck and choking her instantly. The second in command stayed on her knees as she struggled, but Florence never let go and she squeezed as hard as she could on the sides of her neck to make her faint. Sure enough, Yelena slumped down, and Florence slumped with her as she regained her anxious breath watching the other woman start to breathe again while remaining unconscious and vulnerable.

Florence laid down on her back and covered her face, never feeling so alive. I was so close! She rolled back over and knelt over Yelena. She pulled a knife from Yelena's wrist and held it over the woman responsible for so much... pain.

She stabbed the knife down into the concrete floor beside Yelena's face. She needed to stay focused and destroy the machines that they had already set up, or at least try on her way back to the spot where she would hopefully meet up with the others. But before she could start, she gave Yelena a well-deserved kick in the side, then ran off as fast as she could.

***

Matthew was waiting behind some forgotten pieces of construction on top of the building. He stepped out with his gun pointed straight at Florence, and a trigger finger ready to kill at any moment. But upon seeing her, he lowered it immediately.

He only needed to take one step to meet her for a hug. He was very skinny, which made it easier for her to wrap her arms around him, but he was also very tall which made him hunch down slightly to meet her. But none of it was awkward as they remained in their position, not uttering a single word to ruin their embrace.

Florence wasn't sure if he remembered, but Matthew was next to her while they were experimented on. He would hold her hand when they were alone, and he would tell her jokes when everything seemed too much. It was amazing just how glancing over her own file for just a few moments seemed to unlock all these hidden memories that she thought never existed. But she knew now that he was the closest and oldest friend she could remember, and as they hugged, she thought of repeating all the comforting things he would tell her through their lonely nights together. She couldn't remember every piece, but it was enough to know how important he was to her.

They held each other for a few silent minutes, only letting go when their shivering became rhythmic and in sync.

"Let's get out of here," Matthew whispered, turning away and making his way towards the emergency fire exit. His voice cracked like he was ready to sob. "I can't wait for anyone else."

"What? No, we can't go without them." Florence reached out for him, but he brushed past her, his moment of affection long passed.

"We can make it if we go now."

She didn't understand why he would think this way. The reason why they had mustered up the courage to get to this point was because of Joshua's plan and his trust in all of them. Emilia was close behind and had even been a reason for Florence to have doubts with how Emilia had acted this past week. Her reaction to every death reminded her just how wrong their mission objectives were, and just how desensitised to killing they had all become. They couldn't leave the two of them behind.