The True Lives Of The Fabulous Kill Joys

Chapter 48- Battery City

MK connects some wires together, fiddling with technology. Hundreds of people are filing into the square, a mass of grey. We send out a message. The whole city should be coming.

My eyes scan over the crowd. There is a stage set up at the front of the square, and I sit on the edge of it. Everyone looks the same and I dont recognise anyone.

I hear the noise of microphone feedback. Gee hands Ef a microphone and I follow them into the centre of the stage.

"Hello, Battery City. Its Party Poison, Jets Star, Fun Ghoul, Bulletproof Heart and Kobra Kid here! We are here to liberate you!" Gee yells.

The crowd hums for a few moments before silencing again.

"You can stop taking the pills, they are mind control pills! BL leader Korse is dead and you are all free!"

There are mixed reactions in the crowd. That was pretty straight forward...

"You have freedom to do what you want. You can recreate society now. Us Killjoys only stayed to help you, now we move on to help others. Enjoy living the free life, you take charge from now. BL IS DEAD!"

"Spread the news! No more BL, no more mind control pills and no more dracs!" Ef shouts.

The crowd seems mainly happy as Ar and MK join us on the stage.

"So its us Killjoys, signing out!"

We all wave and people give a mediocre applause.

I turn to Gee.

/Tell them to burn their pills. Tell them we will be back to make sure they are gone/

Gee shouts it into the microphone and everyone seems to be paying attention.

"You have a week!" Ef yells. "Holler Point Smile is here to help you rearrange."

We leave after that, theres no reason to stay. On the ride back I lean on Gees shoulder and he fiddles with my hand.

/do you think it worked?/ I take back my hand for a moment.

"We will see about that." Gee says quietly. "I assume so."

We stop off at Dr Ds on the way. We all file into his office and sit in chairs in front of him.

"So its over then? Killjoys finally won against BL? Theres no huge party? Well, thats disappointing." He tells us with a laugh. "I was expecting you to blow up the desert!"

"We arent done yet and Jade lost her voice, maybe for ever. Soon, though, things will be perfect." Gee says.

"Did they brainwash you? You cant speak at all?"

I turn to Ef and rack my brain, how do I say what I want to say?

/I cant talk at all/

Ef translates for me.

"They went out with a bang, didnt they now... Ruining a young mind? That is horrible." Dr D exclaims.

/Im also sorry/ I make Ef translate.

"Its okay, it was a success anyway, wasnt it?"

I smile half heartedly.

***

That night I sleep curled up in Gees arms. His arms around me, our legs intertwined. I decide tonight I dont need to practice or sit on the roof, Im already in Gees arms.

But as soon as I fall asleep I want to wake again, stuck in nightmare after nightmare. Ones about the guys dying, the city dying, my happiness and voice disappearing.

When I am finally freed from my nightmares it is because Gee is shaking me.

"Hey, wake up, dont panic." His voice smooths over me.

I can feel the trails of tears on my face. I stare up at Gee and he brushes a tear away, smudging the perfect trail.

"Its not real, its over now."

I take a breath every other second and try and hold still, but Im not in control. I need control.

"Come here."

He pulls me onto his lap and wraps his arms around me, nuzzling his head into my shoulder.

I sit quietly, aware of every little thing happening to my body. From the quake of my fingers, through the turning of my stomach, to the tears on my cheeks.

"Its okay, soon we leave everything behind and start afresh. Its going to be great." He soothes.

Gee smells like sweat and love and admiration and flowers. Or maybe thats just me. But he smells good.

His arms are warmer than the sleeping bag and more comfortable. As he wraps them around me, I wrap mine around him.

I let my eyes flutter close and sleep take over again.