A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 51: LoRtNoC oReZ

It's bright and sunny. It makes my eyes hurt; it's brighter than any hall and I squint into the crowd. There're hundreds—thousands—of people on the ground, all of them looking up at us in wonder and awe. I wish I could tell them to run, but my body won't let me. I wish I could call them all idiots, but the words won't form. I barely recognize this scene at all; I think I've seen it in a nightmare somewhere, but I can't tell which one. It looks different. Yes, the people look the same: frightened and, for some reason, amazed? But there's something else...

Ella clutches my hand and that's when I see it: front and centre, in a grey sweater. I almost don't recognize him; it's like he's been wiped from my memory. I need to blink hard to remember.

Alien boy... standing next to the bold one and a girl—Sarah. I see them, feel them, like they're in a faraway room. I look down. I don't know what'll happen here, to me, us, or this city—wherever we are—but I'm scared. "Greetings!" the man bellows. "My name is Setrákus Ra! This here is my granddaughter and my associate! We have journeyed far to be in your presence! We have much to offer your kind! Advancements in technology and medicine! Research to fight the old age! All we ask is a safe place to stay, and all of it can be yours!" People light, and that's when a hint of rage resurfaces—it's familiar.

My hands ball into fists. My teeth click. My body shakes. Maybe... "He's—HE'S LYING!" I shout, and I'm surprised by my volume. He spins to face me with a scowl. I open my mouth to say more, but a storm overwhelms me like a thousand jolts of electricity intervene. I scream!! Like a sea of poison is in the pit of my stomach, rising into my throat. I try not to vomit or choke. I gasp, gurgle, retch... I bite my tongue to keep myself sane. Please, make it end, make it end, make it end. I can't take it anymore... bring me home—

"HEY!" New voice. Nine. He holds a golden rod to his scar. "Get away from them, old man!" Ella holds my shoulder, shakes me, talks—I can't make out what she's saying... something about—what's going on? I don't know. Moms. Dads. Kids. Elders. Hundreds. Thousands. More? Humans. Innocents. I saw what happens to them: all of them... dead. I'm not like them.

I'm human, but not human. I'm something else. I can do things that make me look insane. I do things no one else can. I'm different. I used to think different was bad, but it's not. Knowing I can do something but not doing it is worse than ignoring it. I've got to try, so I think to everyone and cover them with a thin sheet of mind-reading 'cause even though my body hurts with the pain of a thousand suns, my mind's okay. I talk to them... in my head:

Don't listen to him. He's a liar. He destroyed a planet before, killed before, and he'll do it again. I try to find the best words. My name's Emily. I'm like you, a human. This is my home as much as it is yours, and he wants to destroy it. He kidnapped me. He kept us up in space all alone. He expects me to obey him. I don't want to, I really don't. He hurt me. He's hurting me now, but I don't care what he does! I'll fight. I don't know how long I can, but... I bite my lip, not knowing how long I can keep this going. Will you help—?

From lightning to molten rock, everything is scorching hot. My blood boils like I'll burst into flames. My chest, belly, legs, everything... burns!!! Everything aches like I'll explode!! I scream...! I clasp my stomach, tense every muscle, and scream! I don't hear how loud I am, but my lungs erupt. Ahhh, make it stop—! "Stop..." I choke, barely glancing up. "Please...!"

Silence on the stage, not the crowd, not in my head. Nine keeps the rod aimed at the man's throat. I don't know what's happening, just know it's happening 'cause of him. "You will not ruin my plans." It's like I have no control!

"Shut up!" A new pain comes to my neck, a sharp stick trying to impale me.

His staff's eye swirls black like a magic crystal ball. He stands still. "I would not do that if I were you," he says. He's not afraid. I wish I was him. I close my eyes, choke on red.

Do it! Kill him! I almost scream it when the flesh of my throat tears... then it stops. Everything... and I fall back on my heels to find alien boy holding me with hard hands.

"Nine! Put the staff down!" he yells, scaring me, but the pushing, punishing pain in my throat disappears. I still taste blood. A warm tingling sensation washes over me, like a soothing aura from a hot tub in the winter cold. Something wet and fuzzy licks my hand—smells like dog. My breath is gone. I keep my eyes closed and lean into alien boy's touch—I missed it.

"He isn't who you think he is! He's a murderer!" someone shouts. I blink slow.

A curly, dark boy teleports and the warm fuzzies stop. "What are you going on about, girl?" he roars. "Don't lie to them!"

"I'm not lying! You're the one that's ever lied."

"Six..." I murmur, needing to tell them what I should've a long time ago. "Don't—Don't attack."

They look confused—all of them do. My stomach churns, and as if he knows, alien boy picks me up; I think I might throw up in his arms. "We need to get her out of here," he says as blondie comes under my other arm. I wish she wouldn't touch me.

"What did you do to her?!" They drag me off the stage.

"Nothing I did not need to." I think he's watching me.

"Bullshit! Why don't you show them who you really are, old man?!"

"I see that as a useless action, boy." My heels drag as I listen. I try to keep my eyes down, tune it all out, but a stifled cry catches my attention—sounds like my brother when he was very little, but it's not; this one's different. He's in front, standing behind a woman. Her hair is blonde, long, wavy... natural, like mom's. She's slim with big green eyes. Little boy cries and she picks him up; they both look terrified—terrified of me? Or terrified of what's happening?

It's everywhere, not just fear, but sky without stars. One of the nightmares flash back and I immediately shut my eyes and shake my head. It's the big city, like the one we're in now. He killed me—me and the other one... it was so long ago...

"Emily. We need to go," alien boy says.

I didn't know we stopped, but my feet won't move; I can't make them. "Prevent bad. Embrace good," I murmur, not to anybody, just to me.

"What?" the girl asks. I ignore her.

"Can't."

"What do you mean 'can't?'" I try to plant my feet and cringe when he says I have to.

"Not running," I say. "Too many people... Nightmares... They—They'll come true."

I turn to meet the man's eyes, watching me while he bickers with the others. I hear them: "Perhaps I should provide a demonstration of what true Mogadorian Progress looks like," he says, raising his staff in the air. It burns red. I know what it does. I know what to do. Don't know how, but I know. I look deep inside me and try to find the blue glow. I wait for it, but it doesn't come.

I try, and try, shaking my hands like I did in training, but it doesn't work. My hands stay normal. What if I fail? Not again...!

You must show them the truth, a voice says in my head, at least, I think it does. It's delicate and slow; imperial, a presence like no one else. I've heard it before: Many-Voice, no less, no more. I look around. People are watching the stage. Blondie is too, and alien boy.

I try again. But the blue doesn't come. My stomach burns worse. I close my eyes and try to talk to it: I can't. My body—it won't let me. Something's wrong—

Would you like my assistance?

My eyes widen. Yes! Yes, help me! Please!

I don't hear it again, just walk back to the stage, not on my own will but of someone else's; it's easier now... and everything, at long last, turns deep dark blue.