The True Lives Of The Fabulous Kill Joys

Chapter 43- Damsel In The Dark

"And I managed to kill it with only one more shot of juice in my gun!" Darkened Escape tells me.

"Wow, thats scary..." I reply.

He continues talking but Im not really paying attention, Im lost in his face.

Gee coughs loud and I snap back to life, slightly embarrassed.

"We have to leave in an hour or two, Ill go wake everyone up." Gee says.

I barely look away from Escapes face, nodding, before Gee is gone.

"My life hasnt been smooth, but then again, whose has? Its like... A series of doors in my face." Escape leans over towards me.

"Same here?" I say, unsure of where he is leading.

"Its like you understand me."

He is leaning almost uncomfortably close to me.

"Ive spent my whole life trying to find my place in society. But maybe its the lack of sleep talking... It couldnt be... Its your eyes..."

He is now too close and is sounding creepy.

"Youre like nothing Ive ever seen before."

He takes my hands and I flinch. He is trying to seduce me. I look away, exposing my neck. I can tell he is smelling me and its weird. I lick over my chapped lips and try to breathe.

"You know, I could just-"

"What are you doing?" I know whose voice that is, its Gee.

I hold still, barely breathing.

"You dont know her, you cant do that. You cant take advantage of her."

He moves back and I exhale.

"Just because she stares into your eyes like someone else wishes she would, it doesnt mean you can take advantage of her."

"So she isnt a whore then?" Escape says.

I dont know what they are talking about so I pull my knees to my chest and watch as people start getting up. I think about Ace. I think about MK working with test tubes. I think of Ar, how he helped me with my drawings. I think about Ef being playful and jokey. My mind gets drawn back to the conversation.

"Oh, man, I didnt know! Im so sorry. Later, man." Escapes voice rumbles.

"Yeah, get out." Gee replies. "Jade, lets go."

I stand, taking Gees hand for support.

***

I walk through the crouds of people, some on the floor, eating, and go inside the diner. Ar is half asleep and is attempting to open a can of Power Pup. I sit next to him, taking another can and opening it with ease. He rolls his eyes at me.

"Need help?" I ask.

He sighs and passes it over. The pull thing on the can is bent and is about to snap off but I can still tug at it.

"Today is the day."

"Where most killjoys will be dusted, probably including me." He mumbles.

"You said you would die for the cause, didnt you?"

"Yeah, I guess. I also really want to live."

"People out there would die for you, or any of the fab four."

He sends a small smile my way, "I guess. I can also use my 'fro powers!" He wiggles his fingers at me.

"'Fro buddies!'' I laugh, wiggling my fingers back.

I dig into the can and MK joins the table.

"There are so many formulae. Its not easy hacking." He mumbles.

"Nerd." Ar laughs jokingly.

"Im not a nerd! I barely understand what Im doing, its all an educated guess."

"And I thought front line was dangerous!" I joke.

"Phah, thats a walk in the park compared to this!" He jokes.

Theres a silence as we all dig into our cans of power pup.

"Is... The S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W unit big?" I ask.

"Not really, its just highly protected." MK says, mouth full. "If my karate moves werent such a joke, I would be on the front line!"

"Sure!" I laugh at him.

Gee jogs over. "Half an hour and we gotta go. People are packing up."

Thats when butterflies invade my stomach. I have to take a breath and compose myself before standing.

Outside the swarm of Killjoys have packed up and are getting into their cars. The plan is, we meet them 100 meters from the S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W unit and walk there together.

The car ride is quiet. Dr Deaths voice over the radio.

"Dracs on route Helado and zone 4." He is unaware. This is a stupid idea.

"We need to tell Dr D." I say, over the silence.

"You do it," Gee turns away from the wheel, throwing me a walkie-talkie.

"Hi, Dr D. This sounds a little weird, but... Right now all the Killjoys are going to the S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W unit and are going to kill Korse. So... Im sorry." I say quickly.

Theres no reply but I know he can hear me.

"Im sorry!" I shout into the walkie-talkie. "It needs to end! Either Korse dies or I do. Im sorry."

I throw the walkie talkie out the back of the car. It obviously goes through someones window as there is a lot of shouting and swearing.

"Good luck Killjoys, its me, Dr Death Defying, possibly signing off one last time. This whole shenanigan may end, and the need for me will go down with it. So, keep your chins up, and die with your masks on if you have to. Here, is NA NA NA."

The song that I heard when I first arrived here plays. This time nobody sings along, they are all too absorbed in their battle plans. Other cars are singing loud and gregarious. This is the last time we are going to be in this state, as Killjoys in this time, all alive, against Korse.

I start singing.

"Na na na na na na na na na na na na na!" I start.

I guess that Gee catches on, as he starts singing too. Soon everyone in the car is singing and the whole desert is filled with Killjoy song. I cant help but grin as everyone looks so happy. MKs face looks almost distorted and Ar seems uncharacteristically happy. I put my hands in the air and feel the wind dance between my fingers. The rising sun makes everything seem bathed in a pink-orange glow. I need to remember this when everyone is dying.

The happiness is short lived as suddenly everything goes quiet. The S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W unit is on the horizon.