ColorBlind (Book #2 of S.H.A.D.E.) ✔

A Place to Call Home

4.

I am not happy with what Indigo is proposing.

"I just need two wires and a power source. The ends would be placed at each of your temples. The voltage would be intense, but not damaging... well not overly."

I take Copper's arm, whispering to him, "Please tell me you aren't considering this?"

He looks at me, then back to Indigo, a pensive expression on his face. "It's our best shot, honestly. We need to go off the grid in order to hide from S.H.A.D.E."

"The only thing we're going to be off of is our rockers, Copper, if we let him fry our brains."

"Do you trust me?"

His question startles me. "Yes," I answer, to my surprise, without any hesitation.

His expression softens at my answer. "Good. I think this is our best option. Indigo may be useful to us."

"I have one request," Indigo speaks over our hushed voices.

Copper and I glance over to him. "And what would that be?" I say dryly.

"After I have helped you in all the ways that I can... I... want to be executed. A quick and painless death. I know I deserve far worse, but..." he twists his hat in his hands again, "but I'm a coward, it seems."

Copper and I stand in silence in the wake of his words.

My anger towards him lifts a little, seeing the remorse for the first time clearly on his face. He wanted to do good. He thought he was doing good.

Scarlet and Iris enter the apartment again, immediately sensing the gravity of the moment.

"No," I say firmly, breaking the silence and causing everyone to look at me, including a shocked Indigo. My lip feels like it will quiver, but I fight past it, continuing. "I speak for my entire Swatch now, Swatch 999, and I get to decide if and how you die. I choose to let you live." The last words hurt, like spitting out shards of glass, but I say them with conviction.

Indigo tremors, his hat all but a tight little ball in his hands now. "Will you ever forgive me?"

Ah, there it is, the anger. The memories. Violet's hair, sailing past me as she falls backwards to the floor.  Beige's body going limp, Fuisha's sobs, Al's frantic pleads for mercy. Silver's unflinching eyes, carelessly above it all. It all comes back full force.

I swallow the rage back down, I let it go up in smoke in my chest. "I don't know," I answer truthfully, "but you dying doesn't make them alive. What does it matter?"

I leave the room, going off in search of some ice for Onyx's head. I don't mean to make a scene, but I just can't be near him anymore.

Copper follows me into the kitchen, stands in the doorway as I route through the unfamiliar freezer, finding the ice tray and popping some cubes out to place into a cloth.

He doesn't say anything, and I'm grateful. It's enough that he's just there.

I wonder why. I think I know why, but there's no time for things like that.  People have died.

"Is Onyx really going to be okay?"

"I think so."

"Good." I pass the makeshift ice pack to Copper.

"Do you want to go through with his idea? I'll get it if you don't."

I let out a long, sad breath, expelling the grief from my body. I have to be a machine again, it's what's needed right now. I have to be my own Sync now, and control these emotional impulses. I look at Copper, feeling determined. "I'll do it. We need to get to your family, and this will help."