Kokoro no X (I) ~EDITING~

Twelve

Everything was pitch black as I landed at the bottom of the shaft, all air knocked out of me. I staggered to my feet, trying to silently reclaim the breath lost when I had landed. I stuck my hand out for a wall and, upon finding one, used it as a guide for where I was walking. The wall was cold, almost freezing, and irregularly smooth, like metal. That did make sense, seeing as it seemed to have advanced technology (for your time period, at least). I began walking, but when I stepped out with my right leg, sharp pain shot through it and I winced. But, because I had no way to support my leg and keep it off the ground, I grit my teeth and I kept walking. Although it did take a long time, I finally spotted a light- a bluish-white sort of light, like the start-up screen of a computer or a Board. It was only a dot of light, but just as well. It was enough to motivate me, and I guess that counts. I limped towards it, and I found a tall, dark room, like being trapped in a tall black box. On the wall across from me hung a giant Board (called it!), still on its startup screen. A floating platform--er, floated, I guess--in front of the Board, with floating steps leading up to it. As I would later find out, there was a podium of sorts on the platform, but I couldn't see it at that moment as the figure from earlier was standing kn my view of it. All of it was painted black.

Once the startup bar in the center of the screen was completely solid, it flashed blue instead of the normal desktop home, and an ear-bleedingly loud rendition of the "now calling" drone blasted, echoing off the walls. Fortunately for my ears, it ended and a face appeared. Unfortunately for me, that face was the woman from my dream.

The woman sighed. "Don't you just hate Mype?"

"Really? You're going to ask that now?" the figure asked. Their voice sounded eerily similar to someone I had met before... But who?

"Yes, because I just got off a different Mype call about Nagai and Ikeda."

"What did you do, Maiko?"

"Well, Ikeda leaked information to the enemy via Ryuu, and Nagai tried to retaliate. Of course, I stopped him and taught them both a lesson."

"So, in other words, you killed them?" the figure declared, exasperated.

"Yes." But that would mean-

Yes, Tamotsu. Your dream this morning was no coincidence. The events that took place there happened last night. More or less. The giant cat was definitely not there.

I ignored him.

"Anyways, I found the killer boy. Everything's ready if you still wa-"

"I'm not going anywhere near that town as long as he's alive." Shivers crawled down my spine like freezing needles poking my skin as I realized they were talking about me.

"When you are done, call me back and show me his body. I won't be able to rest until I know he is dead." Why does she want me dead?

"Oh! Guess what!" The figure's voice--taunting me with its familiarity--suddenly seemed as excited as a child in a candy store.

"What?" the woman asked tiredly.

"I also found the other one- you know, that boy that I've been talking about! And, uh, I was wondering if we could leave him alive and bring him back to Central? Maybe turn him over to our side?"

"Hmm... It's a possibility. I'll contact the higher-ups."

"So maybe we could do that with all thre-"

"No. Just the human and the boy. Not... Not Akiyama. I need to see him dead." The woman was offscreen as she spoke, possibly sending the message to a figure of authority.

"But- If we're going to kill him, then why'd you send me?"

"Akari, you know I love your morals and the way you think. But the higher-ups said that I need to show you that you can't get by in the Corporation without becoming a killer." Akari?