The fluorescent buzz of the lights was punctuated by heavy boots trudging on the dirty carpet.
Pieces of armour clattered quietly against each other as the tall figure reached for the door handle. Finding it locked, he wrenched hard, ripping the lock out of its frame and prompting the woman inside to yelp in surprise. The man strode inside unflinchingly, but not unhurt, as his shallow breathing immediately prompted a look of concern on Absynthe's face.
She got up from the chair and rushed to his side, supporting his back and chest with her hands.
"I- I can't-" Willow heaved. "I can't take this..."
Absynthe set him down on the bed, which creaked conspicuously. She walked back over to the entrance, looked sheepishly back out in the hallway and tried her best to keep it closed before walking back over to Willow and crossing her arms.
The man was still in the black and white armour, though the shiny carbon fiber was much more scuffed than before. His invention, the yellow device on his belt, seemed worse for wear as well, though nothing compared to what Willow himself was going through.
His helmet was most black, shaped in the impression of a canine animal. White streaks of material were visible in certain spots, but the orange visor in the middle of it all was the biggest eye-catcher. Absynthe could see his bloodshot, weary eyes within.
She reached out and touched his shoulder, running her fingers over the damage the armour had accumulated. "We're so close. Just a bit longer."
"Please, this isn't- this isn't who we are."
"It's too late to decide that." Her face was as soft as ever but her voice had turned harsh. "This is-"
"No." Willow said firmly. "There's too much risk there, there's-"
"And they'll all reach their heaven." Absynthe squatted down to meet his eyes, taking his gloved hands in hers. "And it's the last thing we'll have to do to make up for it."
His lips quivered inside the helmet. Every part of his body wanted to deny her, wanted to back out of what they were doing but-
What else did they have?
They had been young, then, on the last dredges of humanity after years of trekking through the blood-soaked, war torn wilderness that used to be their home, when Ren had found them. That warm smile, the promise of family, the relief of knowing that their worthless lives would be useful after death, the scriptures, the sermons, becoming one with everyone else in the Church.... all gone.
Absynthe was clearly on the same wavelength of thought. "I don't want to be alone, again."
You never were. A voice hissed in Willow's conscious.
"This loyalty, this- this family. It's all we have."
You had me. A different voice.
"It's all we are. It's all we can be."
YOU ARE READING
FALTER
Mistério / Suspense"Do you remember what we used to say?" "Never falter." "Yeah. Forever after." When a familiar cult emerges from the shadows of Youth City, underground rockstar Imti has to choose between hiding his demons behind a mask or finally facing everyone bur...
