Out of This World Gaming [~ read description]

Chapter 21: Ominous Plan B

His body tossed and turned, sweat beaded up and rolled down his forehead, and its muscles were stiffened as he grunted during his slumber.  

"Please don't hurt her! She did nothing wrong!" A little boy's voice begged. "She's being punished for your actions because you're a horrible older brother." An older man's voice bellowed. "A good brother always takes his beatings~" A woman's menacing voice taunted. "You weren't here for one of them though, so you're responsible for her suffering." 

The little boy looked at the little girl crying as her neck was gripped in the bloodied hands of a woman. "Leave her alone!!" 

The little boy lurched at the couple only to be punted in the chest by the man. Zander abruptly sat up and was breathless whilst he held onto his chest as if his body still thought it was still in a dream. Just who was that little boy? He not only sounded familiar, but the little girl looked and sounded familiar as well. 

Just who were they? Who were those kids? Who were the couple of people that looked nothing like the children? Knowing that strange things have happened since they met Iris, he wouldn't be too surprised if this was some sort of warning. 

. . . 

"Feeling better, Zerrin?" A woman's voice asked in a dark room that was lit by a lamp on the other side of the room, in which the lighting set a calm atmosphere in great contrast to yesterday evening's scuffle. "Yeah, thanks. I can't believe you all found me." She spoke up as her cheek was rubbed with the warm washcloth Larkspur used to aid in healing her topical wounds, such as cleaning the blood from her cuts or alleviating the aches that accompanied her bruises. 

"If it wasn't for Zucchini, we wouldn't have. I can't help but feel like this fight was in some way my fault. Maybe if we all minded our business, you would've been fine." She blamed herself. "Larkspur, please don't think like that. Had you not found me, we'd be even further away from our goal and Satara would've eventually found me anyway. Do you remember what our goal is?" Zerrin reminded. "To protect lives endangered by corporate greed." "That's right and we can't do that unless everyone's together." 

Zerrin and Larkspur heard bones cracking once again and her knees seemed to be back in proper placement. "Even if your choker's damaged, that consoleoid ability seems to be intact. You never did tell me how your healing works." "Well, Larks, I use nanobots that are so small that humans need special equipment to see them, but if they're in a large cluster, the naked eye could see them with no problem." 

"Can you walk?" "Only one way to find out." 

Zerrin got up from her bed and found that she could stand with no problem. She began to walk forward; there was a small limp, but other than that she could walk again. "How impressive! How'd you get such an ability?" 

"Consoleoids of my class are skilled in being mechanics and programmers. You remember Stella, don't you?" "She was your mentor, wasn't she?" "Yep and I hope she got out of there okay." 

"Well, I'm heading downstairs if you need me." Larkspur announced. "Cool." She responded. Larkspur rose to her feet and walked towards the door. "Wait!" 

"Yes?" "Thanks for tending to me." "Anything for a good friend." 

. . .

The sun had begun to rise in the coastal town. Just as everyone was starting their day, Clover was outside on her porch rocking back and forth on one of the chairs. She was mesmerized by the multiple colors overtaking the sky and the reddish clouds that blanketed the horizon. She grasped a mug from the table beside her and raised it to her lips.

She heard the front door click and creak open; once the screen door opened as well, Zander's figure revealed itself. "Good morning, sis." He greeted. "'Morning, bro." She said halfheartedly. Zander looked down at his sister whilst she drank from her mug. If he had to be honest with himself, he knew she had something on her mind and couldn't bear to see her like this any longer.