Deviants Fallen: A DBH Story

Chapter 47: Afterimage

///INITIATING REBOOT...

///3...

///2...

///1...

///REBOOT SUCCESSFUL...

///RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC...

///ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL...

Connor slowly slipped back into consciousness, pulled by the alerts flashing across his mind. He opened his eyes to find himself laying on the bed of the guest room that Clara had given him. Simon sat in the corner with his eyes closed, but he opened them when he heard Connor stir.

Connor sat up, then dropped his head into his hands, wishing he were still asleep. He didn't want to face reality, not after...

"Are you alright?" Simon had moved from the chair and was now kneeling at his side. "You worried us when you went into shut down like that."

Connor shook his head, then looked at Simon, eyes tearing up. "The other RK800, he has Clara. He...cut her heart out."

Simon's eyes grew wide, and he stumbled back, stunned. "What?"

"The heart." Connor's voice came out a hoarse groan. "It's Clara's. I tested the blood."

Simon shook his head. "That can't be right. I thought you said he'd protect her. Why would he do that?"

Connor shrugged. "I don't know."

"Oh." Simon fell silent, face twisting in despair, then he looked back up at Connor, exhausted. "Well, we should find Eli and North. They've been waiting for you to wake up too. So you can tell us what exactly happened at the Tower."

"Alright." Connor felt a deep exhaustion sink over him, numbing the the turbulent emotions. "I'll meet you guys in the dining room. I just..." He looked away, feeling a flood of shame. "I need a minute."

Simon's face softened. "Take all the time you need, Connor."

"Thank you." He whispered the words, then closed his eyes, listening as Simon's footsteps receded, leaving him alone in the dim room.

He stood and moved to the window, looking out into the yard. He'd been out for over 12 hours, precious time lost. Clara had been alone with that monster all that time.

The words of the other RK800's note shifted to the surface of his mind. And so the little goose forgot all about the cowardly knight who'd abandoned her, choosing instead to trust herself to the care of another.

Was it really true? Had she really forgotten him?

It couldn't be, right? There had to be more to it than that. Clara loved Zion. She loved her deviants. She gave up everything for them. She wouldn't just abandon them like that. Not if she had a choice. To do so would be so fundamentally against her nature, unthinkable.