Mutants: Normal

0-2: Decision

Blood and gore everywhere. Lelouch wished for once that his senses weren't so developed. Even if he closed his eyes, his nose gave him a mental image of the destruction around him. Misshapen lumps lay motionless on the ground-some originally that way, others recently made. But they were the minority-the non-human count. Lelouch tried to focus on the poor creatures instead of the number of white coats dyed red, if only because there were too many to count of the latter.

But he's not here. Pushing aside his disgust, he addressed the Man as they started moving across the ravaged battlefield of green dyed red. "Is there anyone still alive?"

The Man paused and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they appeared to glint red for a moment. A trick of the light. "There are two individuals who live yet. One is very near death."

"Take me to them."

"Of course."

As they continued their shaky course forward, Lelouch couldn't help the multiple thoughts running through his head. He hadn't been able to stop the tragedy in front of him, nor the one under his feet, from happening. He hadn't been able to save his brother. He hadn't been able to warn his friends in time. And right now, at this moment, he was following this creepy look-alike of a family member long since deceased. This creepy family member who could make weird coincidences happen was the only person capable of locating the survivors, or helping in any manner at all. All of this seemed like an accurate summary of recent events to Lelouch.

But this isn't enough... I need to understand the situation. I need to know who took my brother-my actual brother-away. I need to know why I'm still alive. Lelouch's eyes flickered as he passed over his options. Appraising his situation inwardly, he was only dimly aware of stepping around spilled blood and broken bodies. I need more information. He glanced up.

Especially information about this man.

"Checking me out?"

"You wish," Lelouch snapped, briefly taken aback by the immaturity of the comment. But he soon brushed it aside. "I needs some things to be clear. First, you're not my brother."

"That is correct." A small smile.

"And that other one also wasn't my brother."

"Two for two." A wider smile.

"Okay then." Lelouch redirected his gaze downwards. Deep breath and keep walking. "How can that be? And how long will it take you to explain all this to me?"

"Less than a second."

"Then shoot-" Lelouch raised his eyes back up only to see a hand slip over his field of vision, plunging him back into darkness.

†††

"Brother, you made it just in time!" A young boy clapped his hands happily. It was quite a sight to behold: a frail figure bearing filthy garments splattered with blood, glowing in the aftermath of a reddened battlefield. His black hair glistened with something that Lelouch was sure wasn't water.

But what drew even more attention was his strange eye, just above his left cheek caked with dry blood. It had been there the last time Lelouch had seen him: three twisted, tear-like blobs in the iris.

Will I have that as well if I follow in his footsteps? Lelouch felt sick and almost turned away to avoid looking at the present chaos and the small child behind it all. Instead, he braced himself and snarled, "Ciel, this isn't a game!" My own brother... "What have you done?" His eyes darted to where another unlucky soul was lying motionless on the ground beside his brother, unmoving except for the erratic fall and rise of his chest. No external injuries, but the deathly paleness of his face told Lelouch that he was very much in danger of slipping away for good. "Are they all...?" He searched for other survivors but found none. The remaining familiar bodies littering the ground looked peaceful save for their uncanny stillness and the faded tear streaks on their faces.