My Pet Human {UNDER SERIOUS EDITING}

Chapter Twenty-Four: 'Eden'

            

Axel could do nothing but stare. He stared around him at the mall, at the mob of curious, disgusted Laquanians who'd gathered to watch the commotion. He stared up, past the four bus-sized boots planted formidably behind him at the leering faces of the Pet Controllers as they peered back down at him with powerful authority. He stared at Waverly; out cold in his arms with dried blood caking her scalp and her breathing far too shallow.

And then he stared at Adam.

He's gone. Some part of his mind reminded him, but it was no use. No matter where he looked, he could still see everything that had played out. Adam's face slackening suddenly, a puppet with its strings cut. His legs tripping over themselves as his muscles spasmed. His body slamming into the ground, lifeless.

You're just like me, aren't you? You loved someone, but they took her away... Axel's fists clenched. Adam... he'd known all along that they were the same, but had left him alone with his feelings out of courtesy. He'd died for a cause he knew next to nothing about, all because of Axel's stupid, stubborn pride.

Eve is all I have. It had been like having his own past recounted by someone else. Waverly used to be the one part of Axel's life worth living for. It was only until she left him in the S.C.U that day that his mind finally switched off and he began acting like a true, robotic pet. Despite everything he'd strived for. Despite 238821's constant encouragement. Despite his own thoughts. Every wall Axel had built against them; every scrap of dignity he'd had left vanished the second she stepped out of his life. He'd lost hope, and then drained it from his last remaining ally by abandoning him.

But he wasn't going to abandon anyone ever again.

"I'm sorry, Waverly."

Before he could fully process what he was doing, Axel had lain her down beside Adam and grabbed the pin sword still tucked into the Genesis's belt. His breathing steadied as he held it out in both hands, turning to fact the Pet Controllers at last. There was no giving up, no matter how slim his chances were of actually escaping. Adam's death would not be in vain. He would fight on for the sake of humanity... no; for the sake of his family.  

"I hope you're watching, Colton." He whispered.

The Laquanians grinned smugly down at him, as though he were no less than a bug about to be trampled underfoot. Axel's eyes were hard as he met their gaze, hatred pumping adrenalin through his veins. His grip tightened around the cloth-wrapped hilt of his sword.

"Go on, then." He snapped defiantly. "Kill me."

"You're a feisty one, aren'tcha?" The first man chuckled in his booming Laquanian voice. "So much gall for such a little guy."

"Quit teasing it, James." His associate gave him a shove in the ribs, holding out the cage.

Axel took a step backward as the pet controller—James— knelt down, switching off his electrical prod and stuffing it back into the sheath on his belt. As his giant, gloved hand extended towards the three humans, Axel steadied himself and held his weapon high.

"You leave her alone, you piece of shit!"

The Laquanian's lip twitched, and that was all the warning Axel got before his other hand slammed into the human's side, launching him across the room as though the man was swatting a fly. He landed on his back, grunting from the impact as the momentum sent him skidding along the slick tiles. His pin sword shaken out of his grasp, all Axel could do was watch as Waverly's body was plucked off the floor in the Pet Controller's giant, unforgiving grasp.