The Remainders

Chapter 6

Emoji Word Chart
🐜= A  🐝=B 🐱=C 🐶=D 🦅=E 🦋=F 🦟=G
🦀=H 🌴=I 🥀=J🍃=K 🐞=L 🌾-M 🐉=N
🌑=O 🍑=P ✨=Q💐=R ❄️=S🌵=T🐽=U
🐬=V🐋=W 🦖=X 💦=Y🦎=Z
———————————————————————-
"That's Nikala's house, right there," Luka pointed out of the window of Connor's car, as Désiré steered the car along the brick road.
Suddenly, a terror stricken look flashed across Luka's face, as he screamed in the 'most girl-like scream ever' as Désiré would say later on, "AND THAT IS A FIRE HYDRANT!! LOOK OUT!"
    Désiré swerved the car, just in time to avoid a complete disaster. "Hehe... uh sorry about that," he told Luka, who was staring straight ahead, trying to catch his breath after hyperventilating.
"Fancy place. I thought these kind of houses didn't exist anymore..." Désiré said, as he looked out of the window.
The fact was, after the pandemic of 2020, many people had been displaced. Désiré had not seen houses like these since he was seven...
Homes in neighborhoods that received little to no income, had been decimated, and then flattened. Shacks and shabby single-level motels for single people, like the one that Désiré was trying to buy, and two story apartments for larger families, like Connor's, had been constructed in their place. Courtesy of the government.
"What are you saying? Do you mean, that where you live, those motel things are the only forms of housing?" Luka asked.
      Suddenly, Luka noticed that Désiré's face had turned beet red. The kid was obviously embarrassed about something, and Luka was sure that he knew what Désiré was embarrassed for— "which reminds me," Luka said, wanting to loosen Désiré up, "I know why you are trying to buy a motel in the slums."
     "Wh-what!? Wait. Are you saying... do you think..." Désiré stammered, as he brought the car to a stop in front of Nikala's house. He was not quite sure how to address his new friend's statement. Was Luka completely clueless of Désiré's life?
     "Of course," Luka continued, an air of confidence saturating his voice, "of course, I know why you are trying to get that motel."
      Désiré raised an eyebrow, as both Luka and himself, exited the car, "really? you do know?" He asked Luka. "Oh, I can't wait to hear this one," he thought to himself.
     "Uh. Duh! Yeah, I do," Luka continued to insist, "you are most likely, running away."
Désiré burst out in laughter, as he opened the car door, and hopped onto the sidewalk. Did Luka seriously just suggest that he, Désiré, was running away?
"I don't get it, Désiré," Luka said, as he to, exited the car, "what are laughing about? Did I get it wrong? You aren't on the run? Tell me!" Luka begged.
Désiré could only sigh, at Luka's lack of attentiveness. However, he was thankful in a way, due to the fact, that the real reason why he was in the process of buying the apartment, was probably worse than being a runaway.
"No, it's just..." Désiré hesitated. Should he lie about his situation? Perhaps, he could let Luka believe this. Perhaps it would keep Désiré, and his friends safe... "you were right. I am a runaway," Désiré said, his voice calm, but wary, "how did you know?"
Luka shrugged, and rang the doorbell, "lucky guess, I suppose," was his mumbled answer.
"LUKA WESTFIELD!!" Désiré jumped, as he heard a woman's voice, thundering towards the front door, from the inside. "Where the
🦀🦅🐞🐞 have you been!?"
"And that, would be Nikala," Luka said, as a mischievous smile formed on his lips, which in turn, encouraged Désiré to give a small smile of his own.
    Right then, the door was thrown open. A young, frowning woman stood on the other side.
     The look on this girl's, Nikala's face, made Désiré shrink back a step, leaving Luka to face Nikala, by himself.
    "Nikala," Luka's voice was dripping with about as much sweetness as a honeycomb. Despite Luka's greeting, Désiré noticed that Nikala looked like a bear, who just wanted to destroy the honeycomb, and leave the honey to rot, abandoned on the ground.
    "Why have you been ignoring my calls!?" Nikala demanded.
     Luka sighed, "I was in the slums, Nikala," he said, trying to explain, "you know that their signal is as low as their Usefulness Levels."
    Désiré felt his face grow hot. Suddenly, he regretted having helped Luka the other night. But hey, that was a Useful for you, always caring about themselves, and if you were lucky, other Usefuls.
     All of a sudden, Nikala caught both Désiré, and Luka, off guard— "Just what were you doing in the slums, Luka?"
     Luka stared at Nikala. He knew that he would never be able to give Nikala the proper answer to that question...
    "You know what," Désiré said, trying to break the ice, "I really should be on my way. I know that Connor will be worried..."
    "Oh no you don't," Nikala said, making Désiré and Luka snap to attention.
    "Y-y-yes m-m-ma'am," Désiré stammered, wondering what was going to happen to him.
"Do you like cake?" Nikala asked Désiré.
Désiré blinked in surprise. Perhaps he had not heard Nikala correctly— "I'm sorry?" He asked.
A warm smile replaced Nikala's threatening expression, "cake, sweetheart. I asked if you like cake. I made double chocolate, with a praline pecan filling."
"Oh! I- well..." Désiré was surprised, to say the least. The last time that he had cake, was... well... since he was eight. And geez, if that didn't sound like the most decadent piece of art... well... piece of cake, then Désiré didn't know what did.
"I take that as a yes!" Nikala exclaimed, as she reached out her hand for Désiré to take, "come on, I just pulled it out of the oven," at this point, she turned and glared at Luka, "It was for Luka's birthday, tomorrow, but he's grounded." As soon as she said that, Nikala closed the door behind herself and Désiré, leaving a butt-hurt Luka on the front step.
As Nikala, Luka's assigned partner, seemed to completely forget about him, Luka stared in shock, at the closed door. "But... that was supposed to be my cake..." he said to himself.
Suddenly, Luka had a horrible vision of Nikala and Désiré, pigging out on his birthday cake. Oh 🦀🦅🐞🐞, NO! "HEY!" He shouted, as he pounded on the door. "Nikala! Open up! I'm sorry! Honest, I'm sorry!!
#################
"Look, sweetheart," Nikala said, as she handed another piece of cake to both Luka, and
Désiré, "all I'm saying, is that you made me worried sick. I didn't hear from you, for a whole day! You could have at least called me... Luka! Luka, are you listening!?"
"Ah am-ph, ah am-ph! *Translation*: I am, I am!" Luka tried to answer, with a mouthful of cake.
Nikala gave a look of pure disgust, to Luka."seriously, Luka? Don't talk with your mouth full," she chastised. Luka quickly shut his mouth.
"And Luka," Nikala's tone was now serious, and dark, "Liam called again."
    Désiré noticed Luka stiffen at Nikala's words. "And, what did want, this time? Why can't he just leave me alone?" Luka grumbled, as he took another mouthful of cake.
    "How can you say that, Luka," Nikala demanded, "I sent you several messages, explaining what Liam shared with me. And despite whatever happened between you two in the past, your brother is trying to reach out to you."
    "Hmm," Luka shrugged, indifferently.
    Nikala sighed. "He seemed really worried on the phone, Luka. Maybe you should try to talk with him. You should give him a chance."
   "Ah ah-gwee, *Translation*: I agree," Désiré mumbled, as he was chewing his piece of cake. "Nikala, I absolutely adore this cake, you have to let me have the recipe!"
    "Awww," Nikala said, beaming, "I like you! Of course I'll let you have the recipe, sweetheart!"
    Désiré beamed, as Luka glowered at Nikala. "So... I get chastised for chewing with my mouth full, yet you seem to have ignored Désiré... why?"
   "He complimented my baking," Nikala said with a shrug, "and, he agreed with me." Nikala and Désiré shared a smile.
    Luka sighed. The truth was, that he did not want to admit that he too, agreed with Nikala, maybe it was about time to hear what Liam had to say for himself.
   "Fine," Luka sighed dramatically, "I'll give him a call."
    Nikala smiled in relief, as she handed her phone to Luka, allowing him to borrow it for the call.
    Désiré watched closely, as Luka hesitantly took the phone out of Nikala's hand. "You're making the right choice, Luka," Désiré said, as he placed a hand on Luka's shoulder.
    Luka gave Désiré a smile. "I hope so," he told Désiré. With that, Luka punched in Liam's number. He did not have long to wait, before Liam answered...
    "Hello. Nikala, please tell me that you found Luka?"
    Luka winced. His brother's voice sounded strained, and as Nikala had said, it also sounded worried about Luka's well-being. Well, it was now or never...
    "Liam," Luka started to talk, "this is Luka."
    "LUKA!" Liam shouted. "Oh my G-! Luka!"
     Luka felt a knot forming in his throat. It was so wonderful to hear Liam's voice. However, Luka knew that Liam had not called, just to send well wishes to Luka.
     "Yeah, I'm here, Liam," Luka sighed.
     "Luka, I-I-I..." Liam was at a loss. How, just how was he supposed to be the bearer of bad news, just when they had spoken for the first time in years?
     "What do you want, Liam?" Luka was beginning to grow impatient, and Liam knew he had to say what he had to, now.
     Luka heard Liam take a deep breath, before saying eleven words, that would change Luka's life as he knew it— "Luka... your Usefulness Level has just been lowered... to a seventy."
     A wave of cold, rushed at Luka, who dropped the phone in shock.
The phone's volume had been loud enough, so that both Nikala and Désiré, had also been able to hear the somber message.
     He scrambled to retrieve the phone, and replace it by his ear. However, Luka barely heard what his brother was saying, as he continued to ramble on, until— "But Xander said that we can fix this, Luka."
    Luka blinked. "H-huh?" Had he heard Liam right?
   "Xander," Liam repeated, "has said, that we, you and I, can fix this."
    Luka thought about this for a moment, lowered his voice, and then gave Liam an answer— "can we talk about this over dinner?"
    "Of course, Luka," Liam said. Liam knew that he would have to be patient with his brother. "What restaurant do you have in mind?"
    Luka thought about that for a moment. He definitely wanted to discuss this in a more reserved situation. But where? Suddenly, he had an idea...
   "Meet me at a night club... Connor's Night Club. Eight O'clock sharp, okay?"
    "I can find that," Liam said. "Luka, I really want to thank you for talking with me. It was really good to hear from you... I only wish that it had been on better terms," Liam sighed.
    "Sure. Whatever... I guess it was nice to hear from you, too," Luka said. With that, both Luka and Liam, hung up their phones.
Luka rolled his eyes, and huffed out a laugh. "And now, he finally decides to care about me," he told Nikala and Désiré, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
However, Despite Luka's 'couldn't-care-less' actions, Désiré noticed the crestfallen look in Luka's eyes. He knew exactly how Luka was feeling; scared, confused, alone... useless.
"Luka, I'm sorry..." Désiré tried to say, but was quickly stopped, by Nikala placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Désiré glanced back, just in time to see Nikala shake her head slightly.
"Thanks Désiré," Luka shrugged, "but I don't need any apologies, especially from someone that has done no wrong." Luka smiled at Désiré.
Désiré shifted nervously. Now he knew, without a doubt, that Luka was in fact, clueless about Désiré's life.
"...And I am truly honored, to meet such a great person as you, Désiré," Luka continued to shower Désiré with undeserved praise."
This time, Désiré's cheeks turned bright red, from embarrassment. "Oh, you really don't mean that, Luka," he said under his breath. Thankfully, Luka had not heard that. However, Nikala did.
   "Of course he meant that, sweetie!" Nikala exclaimed. "Why would Désiré say something like that?" Nikala wondered to herself, as Désiré smiled shyly.
  Before Nikala could say anything, Luka asked Désiré a question— "Désiré, do you think that Liam and I, could reserve that isolation table?"
    "Oh. Uh. Sure, I don't see a problem with it," Désiré said with a shrug.
     "Thanks," Luka said.
     Leaving on a good note, it was not long before the two men were walking out of Nikala's house, and were on their way to meet Liam, neither one of them noticed the black Camero, that had pulled close behind them.
              ##################
      From inside of the Camero, two hooded figures were talking amongst each other—
Figure 1: "That looked like the useless, that the boss was talking about."
Figure 2: "Which one?"
Figure 1: "The black-haired one."
Figure 2: "Ah... they're so young, nowadays. And half of them, haven't really done anything, to get them to this point."
Figure 1: "Yeah? Well... innocence can't save him now. Besides, the young ones are the best. Their bodies can take more than the older ones. Contact the boss... tell him, that we found him a new tester."