ira

Chapter 6: Just a Dream

I suddenly remember opening my eyes to see Ehs sitting down in front of me. It was completely silent except for the rustle of the wind.

"Um, Ehs? Are you okay?" I asked, trying to stand up, but my legs wouldn't move.

He looked up at me with bloodshot eyes, "You chose her instead of me."

"I don't understand." I reached my hand out to him.

He chuckled and pulled a knife out from his jacket, "You chose her. What am I meant to do now."

He walked towards me as I cowered, scared he was going to kill me. He got a few feet away and muttered a goodbye, plunging the knife deep into his chest. I tried to scream but no noise came out. I watched as he collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around him.

Suddenly I shot up out of bed. It was dark, really dark. I looked down at the floor, no Ehs. I felt my forehead. I was drenched in sweat. I laughed at how dumb I was. It was just a dream. But I began to cry, really hard. Sark rustled in his bunk above me and hopped down, sitting down next to me. He cradled me in his arms as I cried for what seemed like forever. It was embarrassing to cry in front of him, but I couldn't stop.

"It's okay. It was just a dream." Sark rubbed my back.

I stuttered, "I-It felt s-so real. Ehs k-k-killed hims-self."

I finally stopped, but Sark stayed with me. He kept telling me it wasn't real. I know it wasn't, but why did it feel so real?

"I know. It's hard, it felt like he was right there." Sark let go and rubbed the tears away with his shirt.

I shook my head and snapped, angry at him for telling me he understood me, "How do you know what happened?"

He sighed, "I suppose I have some explaining to do. You used to have nightmares all the time. When the scientists were first still programming you. You always said it was real, it wasn't of course. Just... A dream. It got so bad, the scientists decided to put in a memory block so you didn't have them anymore. Is this the first one you've had recently?"

I processed what he was saying. He seemed to know more about me than I did.

"I guess, yeah. I mean, you should know, shouldn't you? Considering you know everything about me." I glared at him and got up, putting on a auto-jacket, which instantly started examining me and spurting out words, and mount-boots.

"Ira, I'm not done talking, come back please." Sark followed me out of the door, I just kept walking.

"I need some time, leave me be." I tucked my hair up into a ponytail and placed my hands into my pockets.

I could hear Sark swear under his breath and walk back inside. It was freezing outside. The sweat on my forehead disappeared as I wandered around the village. I hadn't realized it, but the health patch on my jacket was still talking. I tapped a few buttons and it shut off with a quiet beep. I kicked around the dirt and sand that whirled around my boots, thinking about all that had happened. I started towards Ehs' hut, wanting on check on him. I knew it was just a dream, but I couldn't help it. I made it to his door and opened it as quietly as I could, hoping not to wake him. Peeking around, I saw him sleeping in his bed, hair disheveled and one leg sticking out. I watched as his chest floated up and down steadily, making me feel relaxed. I backed away and closed the door, turning around to see Rowena standing there.

I jumped and caught my breath, "Jeez, what do you want," I noticed she wasn't wearing a dress, but instead black pants and torn sweater that was much too big for her.

She smiled, "Good to see you too, dear. Care for a drink?"

I shrugged as she held her hand out to me. Leading the way, I ignored her hand and instead tucked them in my pockets. She weaved an arm through mine.

I stopped, "Okay, first of all, let's get one thing straight, as far as I'm concerned, were not a thing, so stop with the hand holding nonsense. Second, I don't mind being friends, but nothing more. Not now at least," I hid my blushing face as I said the last part.

She nodded, "I understand. Hopefully one day you may change your mind, because I do quite enjoy you," smiling, she took up leading the way to the pub.

I followed along reluctantly, looking around and noticing Sark was staring at me from our hut. I ignored him and continued on my way. Rowena was sitting at the bar, patting the seat next to her, wanting me to sit there. I hopped up onto the chair and ordered Bita.

"So tell me about yourself." Rowena turned to face me.

"I don't, I... What do you mean?" I was confused at such a loaded question.

"I mean, why are you a cyborg? Was it forced or willing? Were there others? Did you have parents?" She sipped the rest of her drink and ordered another.

"I'm a cyborg because my parents are dicks. No, I shouldn't say that, they weren't bad people, just not good parents. Lord Cole and his scientists were recruiting, they planned on giving tons of money to anyone who had a child to give. We were poor, so they handed me over. It was completely forced, but it wasn't all bad. My living situation was decent, and I met Ehs and Sark. And yeah, there were others, Knave, Axod and Zedon. There was supposed to be four of us, one to protect each mainland. Zedon ran away, which is who I'm in search of now, and Knave killed himself. They had planned on killing me too, but decided that I was the lesser of two evils and killed the last cyborg, Axod. Leaving just me. Pretty shitty thing to do if you ask me. But hey, now they have no 'super killing machines capable of mass destruction' as the scientists used to put it." I could feel emotions well up inside me, thinking about my parents and the other cyborgs.

Rowena listened, occasionally nodding or furrowing her brows, "Did you know the other cyborgs well?"

I nodded, "Very well. We were very close, All except for Zedon, she was very... Lone Wolf like. Axod, Knave and I were the best of friends. When I heard Knave ki--"

I choked up thinking about my friends, "When he left us, I was devastated. And then Axod. He was so young and fragile. Not meant to be a fighter. They should have killed me, he had so much possibility."

Rowena shook her head, "If you had been killed, I would have never had the pleasure to meet you."

"Yeah," I drank the rest of my Bita, ordering another and chugging it down.

"I'd like to help you find your friend." Rowena looked at me, dead serious.

I smiled and laughed, "Okay yeah sure. You'd be willing to follow me across this damn desert, for what? A person you don't even know?"

"More or less. It also means I get to spend time with you." She rested her hand on my leg.

I just shook my head, "Go ahead, if this is what you really want to do then fine. Just, stay away from Ehs and Sark please? They... They think you're bad news."

"Of course. Anything for you. Would you like to get going now?" She sipped the last of her drink and threw some coins on the table.

I stood up and ruffled out the wrinkled in my jacket. We exited the bar and she walked with me back to my hut. I couldn't tell if Sark was still awake.

"And this is where I leave you. Just call me if you need anything dear." Rowena pulled her hand away, which had been resting on my shoulder.

Before she could leave, I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to me, giving her a tiny peck on the cheek, "Don't call me dear."

She smiled as she nodded, then vanished into thin air. I walked back into the hut and saw Sark asleep in his bed. Good, I thought. I climbed onto my own bed, and instantly fell asleep.