Too Afraid To Love You

Chapter 4: I Love You

Markus stared at the mansion. It had been weeks since he last saw Carl, or well his father. He slowly entered into the mansion.

“Alarm deactivated. Welcome home Markus,” The female robotic voice rang through his ears. Markus admired his old home, it felt different to him, even though everything looked the same. He headed upstairs to see another android, Greg.

“Who are you? How did you get in?” He interrogated as he kept a cold stare at Markus.

“I need to see Carl,” Markus replied.

“Carl isn’t seeing anyone. You need to leave,” Greg ordered. Markus walked up to him and converted him to a deviant.

“Please, I need to see him,” Markus pleaded with his mechanical hand still on his arm.

“H-he’s very weak… I’m not sure you’ll be able to talk to him,” Greg warned as he stepped to the side for Markus. Markus walked into Carl’s bedroom, to see him hooked up to wires and a machine, his eyes were closed and weak. Markus rushed to his side and held his hand.

“Carl...no.”

“Markus!” He greeted weakly as he opened his eyes and smiled at him.

“Hey…” Markus greeted back with a slight smile.

“I was hoping you’d come…!”

“I’ve missed you so much Carl. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” Markus stated as he squeezed his hand.

“What’s wrong Markus?” Carl asked as he looked reassuringly in Markus’ worried eyes.

“I-I don’t know what to do anymore… all I have left are bad options.... and no matter what I decide, there’s gonna be blood,” Markus replied grimly.

“World is ruled by fear, Markus. Fear of others… fear of the future… It’s like me, too old. It’s time for it to end.” Carl stated. Markus let go of his hand gently and stood up in front of his bed.

“What should I do? Carl they’re… they’re killing my people, I don’t want to answer violence with violence, but tell me, what choice do they give?”

“Being alive is about making choices… between love and hate, between holding out your hand or closing it as a fist… I don’t have any easy answers, Markus… you have to accept the world at it is, or, fight to change it,” Carl replied as Markus kneeled back down and held his hand. The word love rang through his thoughts. Love, the emotion I can’t stop feeling. “Is anything else wrong Markus?” Carl asked. Markus thought for a few moments before replying.

“I-I think I’m… in love,” Markus stated.

“In love!? With who?” Carl chuckled as he grinned at him.

“Uh, th-this girl called North, I love her, but I don’t know why, I just do, though, she… she doesn’t love me back,” Markus replied with heartbreak in his voice.

“How do you know that Markus?”

“What?”

“How do you know that she doesn’t love you?”

“W-well, whenever I try to show my feeling for her she pulls away.”

“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you, there’s a reason for everything Markus.”

H-her past…

“She… she doesn’t have the best past… it made her broken, as if something’s stopping her from feeling cared for,” Markus stated.