A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 56: Welcome Wagon

"Welcome back, dear," Setrákus says, seeing me awake. "How do you feel?"

I don't want to answer him. My mind's too preoccupied with scattered thoughts, trying to piece together what happened and why, and how I'm still alive. Everything was white; John was in the light; I could've sworn I was gone. I wanted to be gone, but I'm glad I'm not. I hope I never have to feel like that again; I know exactly how to make sure I don't: I look him in the eyes and answer truthfully: "Better. Thanks to you."

Despite my lingering confusion of the past events, I smile a small smile. He returns the gesture. "I heard what you said in there," he says then, unusually calm and self-centred. "I heard your apology." My heart skips a beat. "Would you care to explain yourself further?"

I divert his gaze, in thinking. "Being in that room..." I start, "it made me realize... All this time, I thought you were the problem. I thought I had to defy to keep myself from getting hurt. But it's not your fault. You do what's necessary because we refuse to listen. You do it because we refuse to believe in your ways. I don't know how your ways were ok when Lorien burned; I just know that I was blaming you when I should've been blaming myself." I stand and face him, and—knowing in full the error in my mistakes—I turn and do the only thing I can: I get down on my hands and knees, bow, and apologize. "Thanks for saving my life. I want to apologize for my past misbehaviours. I understand why you had to do what you did, and I'm so sorry I ever disobeyed. From now on, I will listen to you. I'll never fight you like I did again. I hope you can see that I'm still worthy of being your associate—because I want to be." I raise my head, enough to look him in the eyes. He's staring down at me. "Please take me back, Beloved Leader."

He smiles, a sort of satisfaction in his pristine teeth. I smile too, both at the hope that he has accepted my words and, most of all, at the thought of a painless future. "I'm glad you finally see," he responds. "I always knew you would. However, I am still right to hold my suspicions."

"Of course," I agree, diverting my gaze. I expect nothing less after all the struggle I put him through. He has every right to be skeptical.

"I will assign you a task," he goes on. "Should you complete it successfully, I will honourably accept you as my associate again. Do you accept this challenge?"

"Anything."

"I want you to kill Number Five." My heart drops. It's like the whole world stops cold. "He has broken out of his cell to save you when you did not need to be saved. He disobeyed me, disrespected me, and now you will be the one to take his life before we return to Earth. You have three days to plan your move. Is that understood?"

I nod. As internally scared as I am to face one of the Loric—who I'm sure is much stronger and more experienced than me—I assure, "I won't let you down, Beloved Leader."