Forget Me Not

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

          I left Kieran and headed upstairs, a triumphant grin smeared across my features. Once upstairs I could hear her stumbling back to the wall and her fists pounding against the cement as she yelled for help, or something like that. I merely ignored the annoying sound and exited the house. My body was pulsing with a rebellious spark that I no longer wanted to release. I felt so alive and human like, rather robotic and stiff.

My feet crossed the living room floor (I made sure to make each step louder so that maybe she would hear the echo of my exit, just because it made me feel so good) and headed out the front door. The sight that welcomed me was like no other.

Men lined the streets, weapons in hand, as Robonnas stood heavily beside them. They all had this content look of hatred that never vanished. I looked over the crowd to search for my familiar Robonna, which was quite difficult because they all looked alike.

“Robonna #546.” I exclaimed, looking around at the long crowd. Only one robot flinched, its eyes looking up to me directly. Her eyes looked deep and dark, as if she were remembering some bizarre memory that was sucking her up into her mental mind.

After a while she pushed through the other members of the crowd and made her way to my side. Her sullen face looked down upon me, expecting some kind of outstanding string of words to float off my dry tongue.

“Help me lead them, I can’t do it myself and you know better than I.” I suspected that I looked like an innocent little lamb, ready to be slaughtered by the masses at any moment. Robonna, much calmer and focused than I, plus she was more determined to win this for her once people.

“You have Anam inside your head, this is up to you.” She looked away then, motioning towards the crowd. From nowhere, Runda and Nuada appeared, hand in hand, in front of me. Nuada looked down at Runda and Runda merely stared ahead at my feet. “And him of course.”

Runda smiled slightly, tilting his head up to ‘look’ at me. “Yes, and I’m here. I can help plenty, despite my disability.” His grin never fell, but instead it stuck like a permanent scar.

“I appreciate that.” I said to him before looking up at the large crowd. They all looked at me eagerly and waited patiently for my words. After a while my mouth opened and all the wisdom Anam held inside me escaped.

“All of you, listen here. You have waited for too long. Your lives have been pulled out from under you and that was incredibly unfair. I’m here today to help you take back your land and to fix what has been wronged by the woman that is hidden behind these walls. We will all work together as one and right the wrong. But you all must listen carefully now. We will not hurt those who have been lulled into the idea that what has happened is okay. They don’t remember how it was and the more time we give them the more they will remember. Those of you who have loved ones still around, they will remember you in time. Now, let’s reclaim this land!” I said firmly and loudly, unafraid of my voice or the woman trapped underneath my feet.

The masses of men and Robonnas raised their fists and screamed in anticipation of triumph. I merely smiled and glanced to Runda, who was smiling just as broadly. I could tell that both of us were filled with pride.

When I looked to Nuada he was screaming as well, and I had no doubt Robonna was doing the same. I could hear her rough voice exploding from the robotic lips that spread across her face.

When their voices finally fell I turned and reentered the house, hearing Robonna (#546) give out commands to her troops. Then their marching drifted into my ears and I continued to smile. Suddenly, a hand fell on my shoulder and I flinched slightly, turning around to see Nuada and Runda. A relieved sigh escaped my lips before Nuada shared his feelings with me.

“You sounded just like him.” He grinned and wrapped his strong, yet wrinkly, arms around my body. The smell he fed off wasn’t the best, to say the least, but I could get over it for a bit longer. First thing on my list for after the war. Get Nuada to take a bath.

“It wasn’t coming from my mouth, that’s for sure.” I chuckled and squeezed him in return then let go as soon as he did the same.

“No matter.” He shrugged simply and tapped Runda’s shoulder. Immediately after the small boy jumped up in excitement and exclaimed his praise as well.

“It was terrific! I couldn’t help but yell with them because it seemed fun. After I focused back on getting back to you though, so.” He shrugged before reaching forward. I took his hand and ruffled his short, curly hair as he giggled like the small child he was. It was nice to finally hear him sound like a child instead of some tiny adult. Personally, I think he should just be able to be the child he should be. Maybe after the war…

“Is Kieran locked up?” Nuada questioned after I released Runda’s hand. I merely looked up to him, nodded, then stomped my foot upon the ground. From underneath us Kieran began to exclaim again and pound upon the cement wall once more.

“She sounds like a trapped animal.” Runda commented in displease. Nuada didn’t say a word, but instead went for the basement door.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I need to see her, to make up for what I’ve done in the past so that maybe we won’t have to kill her in the end.” He never broke step, his eyes focused on the door. When he met with the wood he stood frozen for a moment before opening it courageously and slamming it behind him. Runda and I listened intently to each step and the loud rising of the wall. It was very quiet then… and no sound escaped the basement until Nuada returned with tears in his eyes and his cheeks darker than the rest of his facial features.

“Nuada…” I whispered, my hand in Runda’s. While we had waited he had gotten scared. Nuada was his anchor to be honest and I wasn’t as good at the job as he.

“Everything is fine, she agreed to release them. Let’s get a move on so that we can get this over with.” He shrugged past Runda and me, exiting the door just as quick as he had entered the room.

Runda looked up to me, his facial features pulled downward in an unpleasant emotion. I merely looked back down to him and spoke softly so that Nuada nor Kieran would ever be able to hear if by chance they were listening.

“Everything will be fine, Runda. Don’t worry about it. I’m here for you, remember?” He nodded slightly and looked ahead of us once more. His lips didn’t move and neither did the emotion from his face. I sighed softly and pulled Runda behind me as we exited the house as well. Nuada was sitting upon the porch like a wounded animal that no longer had the will to get up and move on.

“Nuada, come on. We have to help the others.” Runda released my hand and fled to Nuada quite easily. He most likely felt his presence and could hear his soft breathing over my words.

The man only took the boy into his arms and stood, turning towards me with a look of content. “Alright, come on.” His eyes seemed to look past me and to some far off memory that plagued him unnaturally. I figured it was about Kieran so didn’t ask.