Silence

8. Red Guns

–•–

obligation noun

an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.

–•–

I woke up and there was a parcel at the foot of my bed. I was confused then it hit me. 'Aunt' Alia. I took a quick shower, got into a new change of clothes before sitting on my bed staring at the parcel.

It was wrapped in black silk, with a small note stuck to the back. Susannah Roberts, AR. Alia Roberts. The silk came apart when I removed the string. Inside, there was a wooden box, gems studded and carvings. 

In the box, there was a bottle of mysterious bubbly red liquid. Beside it was a syringe. An inch long needle with a small compartment. I hated needles, I had enough for a few lifetimes at the hospital. There was a card stuck to the syringe.

"Insert in left arm daily in vaccination mark, fill syringe halfway. Lock doors and windows during this process. Use until bottle is empty."

I picked up the small glass bottle and stared at the red liquid. I popped the cork out and held the bottle up to the needle compartment. I poured the liquid to halfway. I knew that if I didn't do what Alia told me, she would know and she would find me and there would be consequences. 

I rolled up my sleeve so that my vaccination mark was exposed. Needle in right hand, the point slowly pierced through my skin. I winced when the liquid entered into my arm. I placed the now empty syringe in the box and clutched my arm.

It now felt like my arm was burning, inside out. The fire spread across, until my whole body was throbbing. Then the pain turned to energy and I got off the bed and with clenched fist. I punched a dent into the hard wood of the closet. The adrenaline and energy flowed through me, I was unstoppable now. 

I tried to hold back, I fell to the ground, on my knees. Then I spotted a box, it wasn't mine. On the lid was a short message with the initials AR. Have fun. In the box was a dagger and a Beretta M92. 

Then I gave in. 

I picked up the gun and started shooting at my reflection in the mirror. The gun had a silencer. The mirror cracked and with the second bullet, it shattered. Then my gaze moved to a door. The door connecting my room to Alex's. The door had no lock.

I cursed and my body moved beside the door and it creaked as I opened it. I saw Alex by his desk, working on his laptop. 

"Susie?" He stood up and his eye's widened when he saw the gun in my left hand. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry." Tears blurred my vision and my left arm raised so the gun's muzzle was aimed at Alex's head. My hand was shaking, the bullet only missed Alex's head by a few centimeters. He jumped onto his bed, shocked and surprised. 

"Susie-" I fired again, the energy was still there, even stronger. This desire to kill. I was moving closer to him now. My left arm with the gun never dropping, finger never leaving the trigger. Then he ran and jumped, I felt my back smash into the wall, he pinned my left arm against the wall.

"Susie, fight it. You're stronger than that." He whispered. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the energy flowing through my veins. Mixing in with my blood. Then I released my grip on the gun, it dropped to the ground and I slumped against the wall. Alex held me up. 

Sweat gathered at the corner of my face. When I opened my eyes again I was lying on my own bed, Alex was in the kitchen. The box with the gun and dagger on my desk. The energy was gone and the flame was distinguished. I sat up as Alex entered the room. He had a glass of water in his right hand. 

"You feeling okay?" He said as he sat beside me on the bed. 

"Yeah, thanks."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Maybe later, I've got to get to class." He left the glass of water and smiled before disappearing behind the door.

I gulped down the cold and refreshing water and went to wash up. Then I met him outside in the corridor, then we headed towards the lecture hall.