A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 65: Oliver Brown

I stir to the sound of insistent beeping, but it's more of a drone, an endless drilling in my head. I'm in my bed, connected to that god-awful machine of his. It doesn't seem so god-awful anymore though; it provides me with a sense of numbness, which is a much more preferable state than the one I was in. I think it's Ella's voice in my head I hear: Wake up, Emily. Please. Wake up...

It's a bit of a shock, I suppose; I didn't think she still cared. After what I did to Crayton, then Marina, and Sarah... I thought for sure she'd never forgive me.

But by the way her voice shakes and how hard she holds my hand (practically squeezing it!), I think she does. I don't think she's as mad as she once was.

Slowly, I manage to turn my head, and her big brown eyes light when I do, and she pulls me into a hug. I wince. "What happened?" I cough.

"I'm afraid it's my fault," Beloved Leader claims behind the desk. "Someone slipped some aconite into my meal. My people are still trying to find out who. I'm terribly sorry for this."

"Aconite?"

"It's a very strong and fatal poison."

"Someone tried to poison you?"

"It appears so, but don't worry. They'll be apprehended and brought to me before the day is done."

"What about me?" I ask. "If it affected me, not you, because of the charm..."

"I have administered an antidote. It will take time for it to sink in." he intones. "All you must worry about now is recovering. I will handle the rest." I nod because I'm too tired to debate it with him anyway. I wish I could help him find this person; with my Legacy, I doubt it would be hard. But my mind's in too much of a fog to even consider how to go about it.

"How long?" I try to ask. "How long do I have to stay here for?"

"A few days, to be safe."

"What will happen to whoever that did it?" Ella wonders.

"I will meet with them in person, then pass a judgment that is more than just."

"You're going to kill them?" It's hardly a question. I assume he will. What else would he do? And why wouldn't he? Somebody tried to take his life, and in doing so, threatened mine. I want them to pay for what they did. I want them to know. "Can I see them before you do?"

"If you insist..." he says, but I don't think he's very comfortable with the idea. I don't know; I can't tell. It's hard to get a reading on him.

"I just, I want to know who's responsible. I want to know who put me here."

"As you wish."

***

When the doors whoosh sometime later, disturbing me from my slumber, I groan and roll over, but in all honesty, I don't feel as numb as I used to be. Setrákus Ra is a welcomed sight; the man in chains is not. I sit up with my back to the bedframe as soon as Beloved Leader puts him on his knees. "Who's—" I start but am not sure how to continue.

"This is Oliver Brown," Setrákus declares. "He's one of the chef's assistants at Quay. He is the one responsible for the aconite poisoning, isn't that right?" I look at the man. He's younger than I thought he'd be, plump, and his nose sticks out. He doesn't look at me until Setrákus pulls on his hair, tilting his head back to meet me. "Answer the question. Tell her who you are! Do you even know who she is? Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"I know in full what I've done," he says in a heavy, hearty accent yet grimacing. "And I won't apologize for it. I did it to bring this damn world war to an end."

"You poisoned my associate in attempting to assassinate me!" he raves. I don't think I've ever heard him so upset. "As much pleasure as I would take from killing you myself, I will not. I will let her decide your fate for me."

"Me?" He can't be serious.

"You are the one in recovery," he says, as if I forgot. "Tell the man what his punishment is."

He's being serious. He wants me to choose what we do to this man. What am I supposed to say? Kill him? Let him go? I don't want to let him go, but... is killing him really the best way? What if we imprison him? Will that work?

Do not take his actions lightly, he mutters in my head. He must suffer the consequences.

I nod. He's right; I know he is. "He shouldn't be allowed to live..."

"By what means should he die, Emily?" he asks, but I'm not looking at him anymore; I keep sighted on the man on his knees. He's staring up at me less like a grotesque murderer and more like a frightened child now, his dark eyes deep with remorse and regret.

"Please," he begs. "I have a family. I have a wife and three kids—they'll be wondering where I am about now. I meant nothing by the poison, I swear; I'll never try anything like that again. I was just trying to do what was right... for them..."

"Silence!" Setrákus bellows. "Let her decide. Emily?"

"Aconite," I breathe, "or if that's not available, any poison will do. I want him to know what it's like to feel that in his blood."