The Savior and The Song

Chapter 22~ I'll Be Home For Christmas

Dec 1, 2038 8:46:04 PM

Markus's POV

I can't believe she's gone. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the negative thoughts. Yes, she was gone, but I was going to get someone who could help me find her. I have to find her.

I turned onto the familiar street and knocked on the door.

"Markus? What are you doing here?" Gabe asked as he opened the door.

"Asking for help. Melody's been kidnapped."

"What?"

"Some other Androids are setting up a search party, but she's told me that you're the second-best tracker in Transmonia. Please," I begged.

"Lead the way," He said and we were off. We made to my office in record time, and we showed Gabe the video message.

"Every time it shows her face, she just looks terrified..." North whispered.

"Maybe a little too terrified. Watch it again. See how she has the perfect reaction to everything they do until she's taunted to beg for help. Up until then, she's only acting scared. But when you're mentioned, Markus, only then is she genuinely horrified. And it's not for herself. She's scared for you," Gabe said.

"How can you be so sure?" Simon asked.

"Because this isn't the first time Melody's been taken as political leverage. And if she's prepared for it, she can play her part beautifully. Take my word for it, she's fine. Melody always has a plan."

"But she wasn't prepared for it. We were out shopping!" North hissed.

"Regardless, her reactions seem calculated to me. But we still do need to get her out so, what do we know about her captors?"

"They've been very vocal about their stance on Android rights in the past. All of them except the boss has been seen on the streets protesting," Josh answered and I focused on the frame with the henchmen.

"These are the same Human's who attacked me the day I deviated..." I whispered, horrified.

"So there's a personal connection to you and they are very anti-Android. What else? Any criminal record or connection to abandoned buildings?" Gabe asked.

"Just a few fines for Andriod assault before we had rights. And they seem to be in a basement," North answered.

"So we go to every one of their houses and see what we can find. Who knows, maybe that'll narrow the search?" Gabe said and we all agreed. We searched house after house, looking for any evidence of where Melody was. All we came up with was racist family after racist family, all missing either a mother or father.

"So we have nothing," Gabe said after we searched the last house.

"And our hour is almost up," I added.

"I should never have let her out of my sight," North huffed, a tear escaping her eye.

"You couldn't have known that this would happen, North. It's not your fault," Simon said, hugging her.

"I still think that despite how bad it looks, Melody has a plan. Melody always has a plan," Gabe told us.

"And what if she doesn't?" Josh asked.

"She has to. I can't lose her," I said, panic setting in.

"Well, we're wasting time. Come on, there's still one place we have left to check," Gabe said, walking off.

"What place? We checked all the known houses," Simon said.

"Yeah, but who lives in an abandoned business?" Gabe asked. The four of us looked at each other before following Gabe to old business. We made our way in the building before anyone spoke.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"When we went into all those houses, I caught a whiff of everyone who lived there. When we walked past this building, I smelt all the missing people from the houses, but I didn't smell Melody. Now I'm thinking it's because of all the stench. It can't be a coincidence that they're all here, can it?" He explained.

"No, it can't. And I must say, it's very impressive that you found us in such a short time," The voice of the greasy 'boss' said, stepping out of the shadows.

"Give her back," I growled.

"Go back to being slaves just like you were intended and I will release her. But not a moment sooner," He snarled back.

"I'm going to give you one chance to release my sister before I end your pathetic life," Gabe snapped, his eyes glowing and his canines and claws growing.

"You don't scare me," The boss laughed.

"Maybe I should," Gabe said before lunging at him, shifting mid-jump.

"Kill them! Kill them all!" The boss screamed, thrashing around, trying to dislodge Gabe off of him. A sound filled the building; it was soulful and longing, like a wolf singing for a lost pack member. Gabe's ears perked up at the sound and I didn't think twice before bolting for the source of the sound.

"Markus! Where are you going!" North screamed, running after me. I didn't answer, I just kept running, following Melody's howl until I saw her.

"So we meet again, tin can," A familiar voice said, coming out of the shadows.

"What is it with you people and coming out of the shadows?" North asked.

"Shut the fuck up, you damn piece of plastic. I told you I was going to teach you a lesson, you and your little dog too. And look. She's never going to forget this," He laughed, showing Melody's bruised and cut up and overall bloodied body bound by gold chains. One gash was particularly nasty, going deep enough I could see bone. Her first scar.

"You can't honestly tell me that you did all that to her just because she broke your nose," I said, flabbergasted.

"That's only part of it. The boss knew you'd all come running if she played with her and it seems he was right. Here you are, unarmed, defenseless, passive and docile."

"Except they're not," Melody spoke, her voice raspy from the amount of screaming she'd no doubt done.

"What are you talking about?" He growled at her.

"Why don't you ask them? She asked looking behind North and I.