MTE: Evaded // Evade Fanfiction

Chapter 10 // Say Nothing

Jard's alarm clock blared in a wail like a crying child. His hand crawled from his crumbled sheets before slamming his fist onto the snooze button. His bedroom was quiet once again. Restless; silent. However, his mind is going into a downward spiral. They were louder than his inner voice. They were notifications of the reminders of last night. Defect. How did Defect pull it off? And why? He shouldn't be worrying about this shit again, it occurred for more than 3 years. But Rose. He did this to Rose. Commanded the rebels to beat her up. All for information she wrote. It made it seem like Rebel was the victim in this whole situation after all. Maybe he didn't want to torture Rose like how he commanded Defect to shoot the 'two kids'. Maybe Defect being the leader made sense after all. He was just stupid for not noticing. Anyhow, he needs to get breakfast and go out and do some day-off things. Possibly even spending his money wisely other than buying noodles. Take a sip of water, put on hood, cap and backpack. He knew what the plan was. It was like a never-ending cycle of early autopilot. 

With the entire day ahead of him, he walked out of the door and right into the streets. It was busier than usual if you didn't count the birds that take a bath in the roof gutter. There were tall figures. Each of them was holding black umbrellas and tucked to their sides. Jard noticed the small reflection the raindrops gave out when the Sun peaked through the grey blanket of clouds. As Jard walked closer towards Galf's lonely shop, he noticed a massive puddle down the corridor. Clearly, it was pouring cats and dogs the night before. 

It always rains on Tuesdays. Jard thought to himself as he turned his attention back to the colorless streets.

It was all he saw. Black. White. Or Grey. No blue. No red. No green. No rainbow. It was all dull and boring. And it was making Jard sick. Then comes Bobo. Fully dressed in a poofy red raincoat with a bright, orange umbrella. He giggled with every splash he makes with his bright yellow rainboots. It splashed onto Jard's greyish navy pants. He blinks as he shied away, even with the huge smile on his face.

"Sorry, Jard! I got too carried away!" Bobo replied like a toddler. Jard couldn't help himself but giggle.

"It is alright, Bobo. I'm sure it will dry eventually."

Jard heard his friend's shop door opening as he snapped his head towards the direction in a reflex. It was nothing more but Galf outside having a smoke. Jard couldn't recall how many packets his friend smokes every hour, but at least he wasn't smoking in his shop. Jard took a moment to examine the glass window. There weren't many artifacts left on the shelves. Even the artifacts that Jard only placed a week ago were now gone. The shop had been much popular than it was before. He doesn't know it was a good thing or a bad thing. Sure, Galf had more pay, but it was also giving him a lot of attention. The Elysium Corporation were smart, suing them would result in them being exposed from under the radar. However, this popularity may put a risk in Galf's shop being exposed to the government. Possibly even shut him down. He would have to work for the Elysium Corporation again. Work for that leader again. Even after everything he had done in that hellscape workplace. 

What was he thinking about earlier? Artifacts? He almost forgotten. A gift from Galf. A free artifact because the red cap shopkeeper was scared to keep it. The red energy sword. It had seemed to turn green ever since that incidence. Similar to a scar that was clawed into Jard's brain. As much like the shooting incident, he didn't want to go through that hell again. 

The door to Galf's door opened again. Defect's face was melted in frustration, but his posture was just as bright as Bobo's orange rain boots. He may be suffering with the bitch-face syndrome. It seems like Defect was no different to Rebel after all. Defect noticed Jard and Bobo.

"Good morning, Jard!" Defect greeted, giving him a gentle wave from a distance.

Jard raised his hand. But he paused. He remembered what Rose said to him.

He was the one who caused enough pain to Rose. He blinked, conflicting with his own thoughts, But... He saved my life. He saved Bobo's life. Should I greet him back?

"Jard? Are you alright?" 

Jard could sense the worry in Defect's tone. His feet were planted in the ground, staring at Defect like a deer on a busy night road. He couldn't move. He was consumed by the ocean of his own thoughts.

"Come on, Jard! Let's get ice cream!" Bobo claimed excitedly, grabbing Jard's arm in attempt to drag him in the opposite direction.

A perfect opportunity to break eye contact for Jard. He looked away, followed Bobo towards the nearest ice cream shop. Although it was what he wanted, he was only filling his own backpack. The backpack was empty but is now filled with coal weighted guilt. The guilt for leaving Defect confused and isolated. 

He led the rebels. I shouldn't be feeling sorry for him. Jard justified himself.

The ice cream shop was on the other side of the road. Again, the streets were busier than usual. Big cars, small cars and huge trucks. They all zoomed past them in an orderly fashion. Jard is nervous. Getting hit by those might had hurt. Like that time at Desert Bus. Even a nextbot could be knocked out by a vehicular collision. 

"Let's go!" Bobo exclaimed as he ran through traffic. Not a single car had hit him.

Either because he is a nextbot or that it is easy to evade the traffic, he manages to get to the other side with no injuries. If Jard was able to evade Munci, then he should be able to evade a buckload of traffic. Right?

He took a deep breath... As he picked up his pace and dashed through the traffic. He looked behind, proud how fast he had run ever since his first expedition in working with Galf.

Then there was an ear-piercing scream.

"JARD. WATCH OUT FOR-"

That was the last thing he heard before everything in his mind collapsed and gone black.