Simple Talents

Chapter Twenty-One

Fonna lay crying on the floor next to the howling wolf, both were soaked in blood.

"It's okay Frankie, it's okay to let go... we made it... it's okay. I'll be right behind you, we're finally free Frankie! We're free!" She was holding Frankie in her arms and held the bleeding bullet holes between his front lupine legs; Fonna herself had a hole just upper-left of her belly-button. Sara was sad to think that she was so tempted to fill her stomach again. She knew she should cry, but she couldn't even think of it. Death was inevitable, and they just hadn't been up to snuff for the life they were forced to lead, but she was, and it was time to go.

"Fonna, I know it's hard to think right now, but I need the code to get out. Maybe we can get you some help?" Fonna laughed aloud,

"I don't want to be saved, Frankie doesn't either. Our life has... has been short... in time, but long in experience and torture. We-we're ready to go now. Carry us to the grass outside, ca-ca-carry us out together. It's what we wa-ant... the code is A...C...12...6A5...3." Sara ran for the door, yelling behind her for Kayla to carry them out. She also heard another cry over the sirens and dying wails of Frank and Fonna- one of the others had been hit.

"Quintin, help whichever of ours is hurt, I've got the door, I'll come back and carry them if needed." Quintin responded quickly as Sara again moved to the door, entering the long code.

"Kay, Project broke his ankle I think... there's no way he can walk." Quentin called, she knew she should just leave them all behind and run, but something inside her made her stop. Even as the evening air filled her strong lungs, she turned to retrieve Project. As she passed Quintin, she whispered into his ear,

"Quintin, I can't feel much right now, but I know that death isn't an easy thing to accept, even if you barely know a person... and it's time to say goodbye if you're going to." Quinten looked down at his bloodied hands, everything had fallen apart so easily. How could he let all the pain go? He couldn't. Sara had been right, even if he didn't know these people all that well, it still hurt; it also proved the fact to him that he could easily die.

Sara picked up a broken Project and exited the lab, following was Kayla and her baggage, behind her the other two projects, and then finally came out Quintin. The fresh air startled his lungs as he breathed for what felt like the first time in years.

"We'll set them down in that clearing Kayla." Sara pointed to a place about ten metres away filled with low brush that upon closer look by Quintin were actually flowers. They reached it quickly, and as Kayla lay the dying friends in the grass and splashes of colour, Frank transformed into his human half,

"I'm sorry that I... I couldn't... I tried so hard... I-" Fonna shushed him,

"No Frankie... it was time for me to go." She then coughed into a weak fist, spewing blood; it dribbled down her chin in a mixture of tears,

"We made it Frankie... I told you we would... see you soon..." With that the life left small Frankie, but Fonna could no longer cry, she just had to say what she knew before she left.

"Kayla, Sara needs to know what you know... it will help... promise." Kayla who had been kneeling immediately stood and walked to the edge of the clearing, a cold and distant look blocking any lingering emotion.

"Projects, you will speak again someday. Stay strong... Sara, your friends know about you and the Labs and the schools... they are beginning a war that they could never finish without you... help them and you will help the world as a result... cough, cough, hack... Quintin... Lucy is alive..." Sara and Quintin begged for more but Fonna refused, even the Projects were filling her face with hand gestures, but she only sang, seemingly delirious as she looked into the cloudy sky, seeing the stars for the first time in years.