The Eden Projects (EDITING)

Chapter 49. Collected.

"Now." Ace had flipped Zero onto his back. "I need you to hold him."

Kasper was pulled back into his body. He was sure if only for a few seconds, he was watching it all happen from somewhere else. It was all a terrible dream and he was the sympathetic viewer through which everything was seen. He was an unreliable narrator even at his best. "R-right." He moved quickly, and lowered himself with a sharp inhale near the head of the bed. Gently, he pulled Zero up. "Like this?"

"Perfect." Ace began pulling at Zero's pants.

"Wait-"

"Ark doesn't play by our rules when it comes to placement." Ace looked him over. "What- I'm not some creep. Don't be disgusting."

Kasper looked to Jack.

"He's right. Ark likes to hide their work. It won't be somewhere obvious."

Kasper nodded and held Zero's head in his lap. He felt the boys chest rattle with every breath he took and Zak slowly crept over. 

He's here. I found him. 

Kasper felt Zero's cheeks, they were just as pale as his own. The loose silvery curls nestled against his skin like delicately drawn feathers, framing his soft features. The lightest freckles pocked his temples like stars. Veins snaked at his neck and torso like deeply pigmented velvet ribbons on hand polished ivory. Iridescent vintage pearl. Chiseled marble. He was deadly, like a blooming bush with poisonous thorns. "He's so cold." Kasper felt his neck. Who knew monsters could be beautiful...

"So are you. You just don't feel it." Ace felt along Zero's legs and hips.

Kasper looked away. He felt odd, holding his brother again. He questioned himself. Did I see him die? Is that what I saw? He was embarrassed, everything about the situation felt wrong and the creeping idea that someone else had hurt him ignited every protective instinct that made up his drive. We left you there to die. Kasper was beginning to harbor an untamable animosity deep within his core. I'll kill them all for what they've done to you. No matter how long it takes I'll kill every last one. Zero looked so similar and yet so unrecognizable to the boy he remembered. This Zero was a ghost from the past chasing him into the present. Ace was right. Riley was right. 

"Here. There it is." Ace turned Zero to his side and felt at his tailbone. "Told you."

Kasper looked and sure enough, a small angry black bump sat under his skin.

"Zak, I'll steady the skin and you cut it free."

"Okay." Zak swooped over, wings trailing behind him like plastic-burn smoke. 

Ace positioned his hands at either side and applied pressure. The area bulged and the tracker rolled closer to the surface. Kasper watched Zak's freckled hand position the knife and at the count of three, he pressed the blade into Zero's skin. The thing came free almost instantly, trailing a long hairlike antenna with it.

"They likely already know where he is but we can hope we're far enough to cause them issues pinpointing him. Jack, run this around out there. Don't destroy it, just run it around and toss it in the river near town. We don't know if it'll signal anything if it's tampered with." Ace adjusted the antenna. "But it's worth a shot."

A quiet knowing settled between them all. This was a decision not made with the group in mind.

 This was selfish.

"Thank you." Kasper spoke.

"I don't want your thanks." Ace felt Zero's curls. 

"Then I have nothing to give."