Different Similarities

Savior Complex

Luna stood back overwhelmed by the three other worlders who had sprung into action hissing aggressively at Hoper. High pitched and hostile the trio began encroaching on him, who surprisingly remained nonchalant on his perch.

"Hahaha" Hoper started chuckling slowly with misplaced joy. "See? I told you. Animals. They'll turn on you at any second."

"I- what's going on? Horus? Zahad? What's wrong?" The brunette looked around confused waiting for someone, anyone, to give her answers. She was met with silence only broken by Hoper unsettling joy. Ego fueled chuckles escalated, seemingly happy his prejudice was proven just.

This was perfect, beyond perfect. The one crack he needed to feed that growing resentment that always seemed to fester deep inside Luna. Those hazel eyes of her began shifting between the three separating them. Uncertainty breeds animosity and it's clear from here that they've kept her in the dark long enough.

"Lulu!"

He sang my name just like he always did.

"Did they ever tell you why they were on board the aircraft? Why do they protect you with such fervor?"

His voice was horse from his constant yelling and scratchy from the years of smoking. Everything was the same, condescending with a slightly sassy tone, but Hoper was never one for big or convoluted words. In fact he always laughed at her when she spoke of her favorite books or geeked out at the finds from Earth he used to bring her. The Hoper she knew was blunt and rather scream his point across than bothering for these mind games he's been favoring.

"They never told you, did they, and why would they? Leading the blind is easier when you're the only thing they're able to hold on to." I felt my synthetic skin become taut as a wide grin split my silicone lips. Porcelain teeth at full display. Human memories always had a hold on the way we portray situational reactions. Try as I may I could not bring myself to reel my eagerness in. I finally had her.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Zahad'uid and Asahid shifted slightly, glancing back at me but making no attempt to ease my worries or dismiss Hoper's insinuations.

"Luna, come on! You know what they are. Hunters. Back on Earth the most common term for these animals was "predator". Their whole culture and traditions are based on killing. Some of them even engineered themselves to be more effective murderers. In reality they're just biological monstrosities."

"What are you on about!" Her high pitched shrill laid her fears bare for all to hear. He was silent for a second, a second too long for her racing heart that seemed to stutter at his silence. Was he taking pity on her or was he finding the most effective way to drive the last nail in. Even though the man always found new ways to hurt her he never once lied to her or beat around the bush. It was the one thing she used to love till he started pointing out all her and her loved ones shortcomings. Still he managed to isolate her till she had no one to turn to but him.

"Hunters" he scoffed, finally answering, grin long settled. The brunet man stood straight stirring the aliens between them. "What do hunters do? They hunt. And what was there to hunt on a human spaceship?" He urged her to answer with a wave of his hand: an elegant gesture that a scavenger never had the privilege to learn.

"The" she swallowed her words and took a step away. Away from him, from the first actual conversation they've had in years, away from the three figures supposedly protecting her. "The alien, they were hunting the black aliens."

"Luna." Hoper clicked his tongue against his uncharacteristically white and straight teeth, a perfect smile.

With a baited breath she took another step back wanting nothing more than covering her ears and hightailing it out of the suffocating cave. Running away and choosing to live in blissful ignorance was the path she was comfortable taking time and time again. However, there was nowhere to run this time and the decision was made on her behalf. Worst of all Hoper had been the one to shove the truth in her face for the last time.