Don't Teach Kids Murder

Prologue - Don't Talk To Them

"Hey mom, who are they?"

Addison pokes her mother, wondering who the two strangers are. Alice glances down at her, then to where she's looking. Two other Workers, sisters by the look of it, with the identical purple eyes and hair. Addison's never seen them before, but then again - she hasn't seen much of anyone.

"They're Nori's daughters," she says. "Don't talk to them, okay, Addison? They're bad, both of them. Just like their mother."

Addison looks up at her, confused. "What did they do? Who's Nori?"

"You don't have to know that yet," Alice says firmly. "I'll tell you when you're older."

"I'm already old enough!" Addison shoots back furiously. "You never tell me anything!"

Alice narrows her eyes, and her daughter wilts under the chilling glare. "I'll tell you when you're older, and that's final."

Addison crosses her arms and looks away, sulking. I'm talking to them the first chance I get, she says defiantly to herself. I wonder who Nori is?

* * *

Nora stares at the two, wondering who they are. They're talking, but too quiet for her to make out. She tugs on Uzi's arm, and her older sister stops walking, looking up from the scribbled-on paper in her hands. "What is it, Nora?"

"Who are they, Uzi?" Nora asks, looking at the two orange-eyed Workers with curiosity. "I've never seen them before."

"Nora, I'm busy, don't-" Uzi huffs, and then gets a good look at the two. She stares, then looks back down at Nora. "She's Alice, and that's her daughter. I can't remember her name - something starting with A. Nora, don't talk to them, okay?"

Nora blinks, curious. "Why?"

"They don't like us much. Especially Alice."

"Why?"

"Promise you won't talk to them, Nora." Uzi says, avoiding the question.

Nora frowns, thinking. "Tell me why, Uzi! Please?"

"I don't know, lil sis," Uzi sighs. "Mom never told me. Maybe she got in a fight with Alice or something?" The response is curt and final. Nora squints at Uzi - her older sister really isn't paying attention to the conversation at all.

Nora looks back over at the two. I wonder who that is. I wonder why Alice doesn't like us! Ooo, a real mystery to solve! Maybe I can sneak off after school and go meet her...

* * *

The alarms are blaring at full volume. Uzi looks up from where she's sketching on her desk and sees the teacher speaking frantically with someone - another teacher, by the look of it.

The sound of grade sevens murmuring fills the class - "Huh?" "What's happening?" "Why's the alarm on?" - until the teacher claps for attention. "I want everyone to line up and stay perfectly calm," he says, looking disconcerted. "There's been a break-in by a Murder Drone, but everything should be fine. I need everyone to stop worrying. We need to head to the evacuation area-"

As expected, nobody listens to him. Panicked shouts fill the classroom, students standing and asking questions left and right. Uzi dashes outside, pushing past the teacher - who tries and fails to grab her - and heads straight for the grade three class, only one thing on her mind. Is Nora alright?

Uzi bumps into someone in the middle of the hallway and falls backwards, looking up to see her little sister. "Nora! Are you alright?"

Nora looks up at her, her wide purple eyes filled with fear. "Big sis! I heard- Murder Drone- thought you might-"

"I'm fine," Uzi says, hugging Nora tight. She pulls back, gripping Nora's shoulders. "We have to go find Dad and get to the evacuation spot, okay? The WDF will make sure everyone's okay."

She starts running, tugging her sister along behind her as they sprint for the warehouse. They start seeing more people in the hallways, soon thickening to a crowd rushing for the evacuation spot. Uzi pushes through, searching the ever-growing group of Workers for their father.

A brightly flashing badge catches her eye, and she looks towards a pair of Workers talking.

"Khan, you're the head of the Worker Defence Force. You can't leave until everyone's safe!"

"My daughters could be in danger!" Khan shouts. "I'm going to look for them and that's-"

"Dad!" Nori cries, tearing away from Uzi and bolting over to Khan. Uzi stumbles after her, looking around nervously. "What happened?" she questions.

"Some crazy Worker went out without us knowing," Khan explains, looking thoroughly relieved that both of them are here and safe. "How they got out in the first place, I have no idea. A Murder Drone got in after them."

Uzi looks around, a bit scared. "Who went out?"

Khan thinks for a moment, then points to one of the warehouse's corners, where two shapes are huddled. "That one. Alice, I think." Uzi starts slightly, recognising the Worker from earlier. "We think the Murder Drone's gone now- just flew off suddenly- but two died. Her husband, and that poor girl's father." He jerks his head at a red-eyed girl crouching on the floor, shoulders slumped.

Oh no! I know her, she's in my class. Uzi thinks, staring at the girl. Poor Doll. Her mom disappeared at around the same time Uzi and Nora's mom did - everyone thinks they both got taken out by a Murder Drone. Lizzy stands next to Doll, for once looking worried instead of insufferably annoying.

"The door's been secured," someone shouts over the general commotion. "There shouldn't be another breach, as long as nobody goes out without permission!" Uzi almost feels bad for Alice and her daughter - almost everyone is staring at the two with unhidden distaste.

After the crowd disperses, Khan tells Uzi to take her sister home, and she reluctantly obliges. As Uzi walks down the hallway back to their apartment, gripping Nora's hand tightly, she wonders whether it could have turned out differently. No one's fighting back, not even Dad.

If only they had some way to fight back against the Murder Drones instead of hiding behind the doors! Uzi's mind races, pieces fitting together. Traps? No, Murder Drones aren't that stupid. A sword? No, I'd die before I got in range... A gun! That's it. A railgun...

Enjoy this small comic I made :P