Skye City: The Darkness of Emmilyn

Return of the Phoenix

Howling laughter and clanking feet reverberate around the industrial estate and I fear the rampaging pilot is truly losing his mind. The mechanoid stamps on a corpse, squashing its torso like gum and popping off its head, arms and legs. The laughter loudens as I jolt in revulsion. Potholes in the snow link corpses which now appear vulnerable like they can be killed all over again. Risking my safety I stand beneath the shutters of the armoury and yell, 'What are you doing? You can't disrespect the dead like that!'
'Don't worry, that was a bad guy. I'm only splatting the ones in uniform!' Smig yells as the flattened torso peels from the mechanoid's foot, revealing squished organs. Maybe his lunacy is the process of seeking joy in the darkest nightmare, ironically attempting to preserve the sanity he is losing.
'Well, watch where you're going. Now the snow has gone down, I'm gonna try identifying bodies again, see if there are any I've missed. Don't go splatting our guys or me. In fact, just stay as far away as possible.'
I wander through the shin-deep snow, continuing the horrifying task which now seems like an ordinary part of life. There are too many bodies to drag to the morgue, but if I see any familiar faces, they will be given special treatment. My task is surely harder than what the majority of soldiers face on the frontline. Most simply kill and move on, or they exit the battlefield instantly and permanently. Few face what I – a young girl – am facing, but the tasks which require true bravery do not result in glory. Pulling a trigger does.
If the world could see through my eyes, I suspect the recruitment drive on both sides would end tomorrow because those so-called acts of glory transform everyday places into mass graves and the heroes become pitiful.
I rediscover the body of the lad we partied with, clear the snow with my sleeve-covered hands and grab his legs, dragging with all my strength. This is difficult to do alone, but I refuse to give up. He deserves my effort.
Bex emerges and helps me as the howling laughter and clanking mechanoid feet continue with such ignorance. We drag our friend over the snow and through the base into the morgue which now bears the overpowering smell of raw sewage and sweet perfume. The added warmth is encouraging the bodies to decompose. Hurrying from the room, I almost vomit and I feel unsure my stomach could cope with another trip.
Scoop and Oscar are nowhere to be seen as we venture outside to continue the corpse identification process. Although I want to stop, the fact Bex has pushed herself into helping me provokes a touch of guilt. The rotting smell is not as severe outside so maybe we can stick to looking, identifying, rather than dragging. That would be better for our stomachs. If we find another friend, we can get the lunatic to drag him, once he has finished prancing in the mechanoid.
Bex and I stop trawling through the frosted rubble as we turn towards a high-pitched cry. Golden light sweeps through the factory buildings and over the snow and thawing corpses, and a magnificent sight meets our eyes. The phoenix elemental has arrived to call an end to this horror show.
'Dynah – she must've heard me. I said her name... Never mind, she's safe, and she's leading us back,' I say as the bird composed of flame hovers eerily before us, illuminating the snowy battleground. Steam rises and the corpses glow as though their spirits are ascending to the heavens. Perhaps the heroes are finally receiving a fitting end and the cowards are being shown mercy. I would like to believe this. I really would. 'Let's get the others and pack our things.'
We return to the sleeping quarters and pack food and clean clothes into rucksacks, then we call for the boys, but unsurprisingly we get no answer. We venture outside, following the howling laughter and clanking feet to the other side of the ruined base. Scoop and Oscar are avidly watching the prancing mechanoid, looking desperate for a turn at the controls. I pray to the Goddess, Smig has more sense than to let them near the cockpit.
'Hey, we have news!' I yell and the mechanoid comes to a standstill.
'What's that?' Smig says.
'We've been contacted by Dynah, or more accurately by the firebird. It's waiting for us. We've been packing. Can you squeeze some bags in there?' I say.
The mechanoid crouches, the cockpit dome rises and we throw our bags onto Smig's lap, then return to the sleeping quarters with Scoop and Oscar. We pack more things, return to Smig, squeeze as much as possible into the mechanoid and carry the rest on our shoulders. Then we lead the lads around the ruins to where the phoenix is waiting, and it turns around, guiding us out of the industrial estate, out of the killing field, and presumably towards our missing friend.