Brainwashed

Sing It For The World

     I shook off the inevitable feeling and grabbed the medical kit out of the window and ran back inside. I walked up to Ghoul and turned him over carefully.

     "You sure youâre okay, man?" I questioned, getting the bandages out.

     "Yeah I'm fine, I'm f-fine."

     I was very sure that he was lying, but I didn't want to argue with him. I placed a thin sheet of gauze over his wound as he hissed in pain.

     "That burns, fucker."

     "Sorry, it has to be clean."

     Not many more words were exchanged at that point. It was sundown and we needed to lock up for the night. It was then that I realized that Missile wasn't with us. They'd taken her.

     "We're going to Battery City."

     I didn't wait for any objections or complaining as I grabbed the keys to the Trans Am off the floor and headed out to the rusty beat-up vehicle. I ignited the engine with the turn of a key. The engine was quiet for it being a muscle car. I almost didn't wait for the rest of the gang to haul Ghoul into the back seat. As soon as everyone was in, and had barely shut the door, I stomped on the gas pedal and sped down the dirt road to Battery City. The view of the desert as the sun was setting was a beautiful moment, but I didn't have time for beauty.

     This was a rescue mission.

     I pulled into a parking lot at least three blocks away from Better Living Industries and stepped out of the Trans Am.

     "Let's go."

     We all had our ray guns at hand as we paraded up to the building in a V formation. I knew they'd detected us from the second I placed a finger on the car door.

     "Where are those fuckers?" Ghoul breathlessly managed to say. "I know they're here."

     "Calm down, Ghoul," I persuaded. "There'll be guard Dracs soon, don't you worry."

     As if on cue, Draculoids sprung up from behind shallow walls that were surrounding the building. They bombarded us with ray gun blasts, but we returned them just as quickly. Our blasts knocked them out, clearing the way for us to move our way into the building.

     "Poison, in there."

     Jet pointed to a room down a narrow hallway where faint lights iluminated through the glass door. I immediately assumed a leader position and led the way to the room. Breaking the lock, I shot the Drac by the door and bent down to hug Missile.

     "I knew you'd come back."

     Ghoul was standing by the door, still limping a bit.

     "Poison, we got trouble."

     I stood up and we paraded down the hallway once more only to meet face to face with Korse.

     And a small army of Draculoids.

     We raised our ray guns and fired relentlessly at the militia. A few fell, but many came charging at us. We separated and Missile tried to stay out of the way by sitting in a corner in the hall.

     "Poison, I can't--!"

     Kobra was hit in his legs and fell hard.

     I think I heard his skull hit the floor.

     "Kobra!" I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks.

     I shot furiously at anything and everything that came near me. I almost shot Jet Star, actually.

     "Don't shoot me!" Jet yelled.

     "I'm sorry!" I yelled back, my voice cracking.

     I continued fighting through the tears of losing my beloved brother. But I suddenly felt a hand clasp around my throat. I was pushed up to a wall. I blinked hard to clear away the small rivers.

     "Hello, Killjoy..."

     Korse held my neck tightly and slowly moved his ray gun up to the bottom of my chin.

     "Any last words, Killjoy?" he said with a sneer.

     I gave him a furious glare.

     "Killjoys never die."