You Better Bring an Umbrella, Vol. 2

Chapter 39: Wrapped up in a Messy Bow

            Five and I had been drawn away from the commotion of the world by a familiar noise outside. The sun was setting in the background, and my brother had gone oddly silent, but the two of us still shared a smile when we emerged out into the world and spotted two familiar, blue-dressed figures standing among the dead bodies. The environmental effects of Harlan's outburst lingered, making their breath form clouds in front of their mouths.

"Herb. Dot," Five greeted as they did their best to step over the masses of dead bodies. The horror of that hadn't quite struck me yet, and part of me hoped it wouldn't get the chance to before we abandoned the scene altogether.

"Hi, Herb." I smiled at him cheerfully, offering a small wave to the two of them. I hadn't known them that well, and yet, they helped me. That was worth a great deal in my mind. More than that, they helped my entire family—a life's worth of debt and gratitude to me. "All good?"

"It's good to see you guys," he responded, reflecting my same expression. He took another glance around at the damage, as though trying to take every ounce of it in. "I still can't believe it. "Is she...?" Herb drew his fingers across his throat.

"Really dead this time?" There was something jovial in Five's tone, but this time, I really couldn't blame him. Though I hated to think it about anyone, that woman was better off dead.

"Oh, yeah," I confirmed. Herb nodded, his face frozen as he attempted to completely process that the leech had died.

"Now that the Handler's dead, what happens at the Commission?"

It wasn't a question I'd thought to ask myself, but I understood why Five did. He'd had a much longer involvement with that group and those people, and even if he didn't love the place, I got why he still cared about what happened. I, myself, had placed quite a few organizations and groups on my shit list, and yet, I'd still found myself worried about what was going on with them from time to time. There was also the added fact that they had, in a way, saved my brother's life.

Having been there, and learned how they brought people in the recruit them, maybe I could've been a little more understanding about that part of his life.

Herb faltered over his words a bit, his mouth moving with no coherent sounds emerging. His eyes darted around wildly, moving between the ground beneath him to Dot, and then to Five and I before entering some new pattern.

"Just tell them," Dot urged, nudging him slightly. Herb's cheeks flushed with bright red blood, and he still jittered with nervous energy slightly.

"Eh—well, we need to elect a new board of directors." I figured as much, given they'd all been slaughtered. "But, until then, I, um... I've been voted in as acting chairperson."

I gasped as I beamed again, offering my congratulations to Herb. I hadn't known him for that long, but I could still tell he was an ambitious, capable man. Not to mention, the kindness he possessed hopefully would put the Commission on a different track. A new era was dawning, and it looked pretty promising for the rest of the world, past, present, and future.

"I'm so goddamn nervous," he shuddered, bouncing on his toes.

"You'll do fine," Five assured him. That was about as close to a compliment as it got from him.

"Oh, thank you." Herb paused a moment, taking time to look between my brother's face and mine. "Now that you're standing next to each other, I really can see the resemblance." The two of us laughed, and I cast my glance over to my brother, who looked up at me with one of the sincerest smiles I'd seen.