A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 50: Love Sparks Submission

I'm wrapped in metal bonds, around the bust, waist, forehead, and ankles; I only feel that last one because it squeezes the scar—it hurts like I'm squeezing a pimple. I try to pull myself out like I did in WV, try to find the rage, the energy—anything—but nothing works.

It's empty in here, empty if you didn't account for the tinkering of beakers or test tubes or whatever the fuck it is. I know it's Setrákus Ra; I feel his presence. He's close. I lie in silence, my back straight, replaying his voice over and over in my head: Prepare for augmentation, Emily...

It's not that I want to prepare—I don't—but I need to centre myself, or else I'll go bat-shit crazy. I shut my eyes and count my breaths, one on the inhale and two on the exhale, and soon, he comes to me, saying nothing at first. He doesn't even look at me. He does nothing but ignore me and pinche a needle into my arm, a big needle; it stays in for a while. "You said you wouldn't do this," I spit. "You said you'd never imprison me or run your experiments on me again..."

"Yes," he says, barely meeting my gaze. "This was until I knew how unwilling you were to obey."

"But I will obey! I promise! I won't react the way I did again, just get me out of this."

He turns his back at that and scoffs. "I cannot risk our future on a mere promise or guarantee," he states blandly. "To call Mogadorian Progress complete, I need to ensure your support is with me, that your loyalty is unwavering." What? A tremor runs up my spine, and that tremor is enough to remind me of Adam, and like that, one thought leads to many: Adam, Malcolm, Sam, John, Marina, Ella, Crayton—failure. How many others did I kill? Are they all gone? Is it just me and Ella now? No—No, it can't be just us. There must be someone... Lexa, Pixie, someone!

"What happened to the Garde?" I mutter.

"Why does it matter?"

"Did—Did you kill them?"

"There were a few that slipped through the cracks, but they will cease to get in my way again." A few? That's all? How many?! How many did I kill?

"What about Five?" Last time I saw him, he fell. I couldn't feel a heartbeat. "Is he—?"

"He's alive." Relief floods through me. "For now."

"What do you mean?"

"I have plans for him at a later date."

"What plans?"

"We're almost on Earth," he says, ignoring me now, "and I need you composed."

"Composed?" I swallow. "What're you talking about? What are you doing?"

He brings me a serum holding a sickly yellow substance, brings it close to my arm, and I lean away as far as I can from it. "By the time you wake up, you and your Chimæra will obey me, and me alone." I feel the pinch before I can process what he means; that's when I see it: Across from me is a small silver cage. Inside the blue bubble is the bunny I've come to love, looking dirtier than ever, but she still meets my gaze the second mine meets hers.

"Pixie," I murmur in a sleepy slur. My cheeks sting with heavy tears as a deep sense of fatigue washes over me. My head weighs a thousand pounds; I relax as reality sets in: He had her. I thought she—I thought they—He had her all this time...

***

I wake to the sound of rhythmic beeping, like a heartrate monitor in activation.

Cables are attached to my forearms, temples, and chest; I don't need to move to know that much. No, that's not right. I can't move. It pumps in a black liquid, making my veins go dark like black liquorish, and the thought of the food makes me feel sick. I want to yank them off, but I can't bring myself to do it. Everything's tense, inside and out, like I've been underwater holding my breath for ages. It's like I'm drowning in my neighbour's pool all over again, but this time, I can't even thrash or call for help. I start to get scared, scared enough to shed tears. I wish I had someone, anyone really—mom, dad... anyone to tell me how much they love me, how much I'm okay, 'cause I don't feel okay. I want to be home. I miss home.

I miss my old life. Life without alien boy; I don't deserve him. I miss my old school, my old friends, old classes, mom, dad, little brother. I miss everything. I don't want this. I just want to go home. Please, I'll do anything...

A sharp pain stings my nerves right at the base of my temples. It hits my brain like a battering-ram, strong and head-on, and it stings afterwards like a headache on overkill. I shut my teeth closed, shut my eyes to block it out, but it doesn't stop.

I hear him, though who he is, I don't remember. "How are you doing, child? Better?" He's watching me, somewhere. I don't answer. My mouth, jaw, or lips won't adjust; it's like I've forgotten how to talk. "We have entered Earth's atmosphere and will be able to depart in a couple of hours. Your augmentation should be complete by then. In the meantime, try not to move. It will be easier for your body to adjust if it surrenders."

Surrenders? Augmentation? Atmosphere? What is he talking about? I keep my lips sealed and close my eyes, lie still, and wait in my big bed. Feels like hours pass, but they blend to make it seem like one long one; does that make sense? Maybe not. Then the doors whoosh; the sound scares me. I try not to move. A tall man enters with a purple mark around his throat. He's dressed in black and white holding a pretty staff. "What'd you do to her?" I hear—sounds like a girl. I like her voice; it's a lullaby.

"Nothing I did not need to." He removes the tubes—first arms, then temples, then chest—and helps me sit up. A ball of fur rests at the edge of the bed. It's glazed coffee in colour, and it moves when I move. Bunny. How cute. "Come," the man asks. "They are waiting."

"Who?" the girl wonders.

"You will see."

I latch hands with the small girl. Her hair is auburn, pretty, and the bunny turns into a pretty white bird! It flaps onto my shoulder, ruffling her wings against my jaw. It's heavy, but I like, and as we walk, I hear the girl's voice in my head! You okay? she says. What'd he do to you?

It hurts to do to think, talk, walk, or remember. I wish I could tell her that, but it's too hard. I try to shake my head. I don't know if she notices or understands, but without turning to check, I just try and let my mind reset, go blank, blank, blank...