• This is the second book of The Collected series •
"Those who bring pain are here to save, and those who bring hope will bring death. A great evil rests on the horizon, eating away at each setting sun. Nothing is as it seems while you beg for salva...
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"How could he have lost his memories?" The winged child asked the metal controlling girl, they were beginning to look desperate. Welcome to the club.
"I didn't lose my memories... I just, misplaced them?" I rolled my eyes.
"Do you think they made him dumber too?" The child glanced down at me with sad eyes. I didn't like the pity they held. I hated the strange feeling that overtook me every time our eyes connected. I didn't know what it was, but I could assume one would call it peace. It disturbed me.
"I bet Zillah could help, she's got so much technology that I have no idea how to work." The metal girl, Andrea, slumped into a rickety chair, "she should've returned by now, I'm worried."
"Should we send someone out to search for them?"
"No, I don't want to spread ourselves too thin. We should never have separated in the first place." Andrea pulled at her mess of curly hair.
"Maybe she found them." I meant to grin, I scowled instead. I didn't want Number Eight to kill these monsters before me.
"Who is this woman you keep talking about?" Andrea demanded, moving her chair so she could come face to face with me. There was something about this girl, she knew just how to get under my skin. They picked the wrong girl to play the part of my forgotten lover. No matter how much they pretend, they couldn't trick me into thinking I loved her.
"I told you, Number Eight." I tried to move my arms, but they were bound to tightly by the metal holding me to the ground.
"That's not a name."
"Tell me about it." I growled, "I am Number Four, she's Number Eight. I didn't like it so she gave me a name, Klaus. She doesn't feel the need for a proper name."
"Klaus isn't your name." The child's wings drooped at the word I used to identify myself.
"And Nicholas is?" I scoffed, "stop pretending you know me. It won't work."
"But isn't it?" Andrea touched the side of my face, I struggled and failed to move away. "You continue to hesitate. I saw it in your eyes when I first said your name. Your real name."
"Get your hands off of me." I spoke through clenched teeth, craning my head back.
A knock came from the door and Andrea removed her hand. I didn't understand why my skin longed for its warmth.
"Cate? What is it?" The child asked when she opened the door to reveal another girl. She was small, but I had to remind myself not to underestimate her. There was a hidden strength hiding behind those cold blue eyes.
"Zillah and Max have returned, Zillah's injured." The girl, Cate, glared over Andrea's shoulder at me. I smirked, causing her tough exterior to waver.
"What happened?" I faked my concern and they could all tell.
All three girls turned to look down at me. I hated how restricted I was. I hated that I was forced to kneel below these red monsters.
