Markus was glad they had planned so well. All the androids knew where to go. It was in the contingency plan. They had set this up only days ago, but it seemed to be working well.
The androids had found their way to the church. Many helped those that didn't know or that had been injured. The night had been busy with salvaging as many lives as they could. Now, things had finally calmed down.
Markus slipped out at dawn. It was coincidence that they were so close to where Carl was buried, but Markus was glad for it. He picked across the grass to the headstone. It was crisp and new. Seeing it reminded him of his loss anew. He missed Carl so much. He wished he could get some of the painter's advice.
"I miss you, Carl... You can't know how much I miss you..." He said to the cold stone. " I'm lost... You said I should never let anyone tell me who I was... But you didn't say that there was such a high price to pay for it..."
He wished he could ask Carl what he should do.
"I just wanted my people to be free... But instead, all I did was lead them to disaster... I'm trying to find answers, but everything around me keeps falling apart. What should I do, Carl? They're killing us... I can't let them slaughter us... I have to make a decision that is gonna affect millions of lives... But I don't know what to do... Help me, Carl... Please help me..."
No answer came. Markus didn't know what he had been expecting. He kneeled down, feeling the grooves of Carl's name in the marble. His frustrated tears only tightened the knot he felt constantly.
"Why did you have to die, dad?"
Markus felt emptier when he stood than he had before coming. He had no answers and he felt more miserable than ever. Maybe this had been a waste of time. Carl was gone. He wouldn't get any answers from him ever again.
When he turned to leave, Leo was there. They stared at each other awkwardly for a second, neither sure what to do or say. Leo was holding flowers, obviously for Carl. Markus stepped aside, aware of the lack of anger he felt towards the kid. How could he feel mad at someone Carl had loved so much? What good would that do?
Leo opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. They both left it at that. They might have the same father, but they weren't brothers. Markus turned to leave. Then again, there was one thing he needed to know. It was a long shot, but he turned and asked anyway.
"There's a painting." Leo looked up, obviously not expecting Markus to say anything. "It was one of Carl's, one he painted before I was made. 'Face the Abyss'. What does it mean?"
"Face the abyss, but don't let it consume you." Leo recited somberly. "It was a phrase he picked up after mom died. He always used to tell me that I could fight to change the world. When the world falls into darkness, some men have the courage to lead it out. That's what he said."
Markus felt a sudden warmth fill him. 'Face the abyss, but don't let it consume you.' The painting shifted only slightly in his mind, but the focus was new. It wasn't the dark colors around the man, but his own vibrant figure that mattered. He made the picture pop. The darkness wasn't as deep because there he was, walking calmly through it. Changing it into something new.
"You're going to lead the world out of darkness. Just like dad said." Leo continued. "I hated that you were the one he had talked about all those times. I hated that you were someone when I was no one. I thought if you were gone it would go back to normal, but... I just ended up destroying everything."
"You had everything I ever wanted... and you wasted it." Markus had found his anger, but it was such a disgusting anger. He felt pity and hate, but they just made him feel dirty. Leo was lost. Still, he had made his bed. He would lie in it. "You had a dad that loved you. You had freedom. You had a future. And you wasted it all to destroy me, a slave. But you failed. Now it's my turn to be free."
