Everyone around him was warm, at this moment. There was warmth around him as well, yet just beyond the exterior coat there was cold, he could see it with his eyes, as each breath passed. Everything was so simple behind those doors. People might see it as complex, but was it really complex? Worrying about the kids getting to school on time, worrying about the doctor’s appointments, worrying about work, about things, that just didn’t seem to matter, to them it mattered, that was the power of perception. Normal life however, was more than just perception, it seemed to jump out of an individual, and everyone agreed upon it. A system, systematizing people…hell he thought. The world doesn’t even need an ‘evil’ organization to take control. Everyone’s a slave already. That’s what Plato thought anyway. A sour smile came to his face at the thought of the shadows in the cave. His teachers, the government, hell, even Trey. All of them were just shadows, playing tricks before his eyes. Yet, the truth was something that existed beyond the cave. Life isn't the most exciting thing sure, but it’s probably better than dying, at least from my point of view. It’s when you start thinking something is right or wrong, you start to ruin everything. It was odd how much sense that actually made.
He let out a groaning sigh as he knocked himself on the head. “Snap out of this melancholy!” he demanded of himself. He wished he could ‘simply’ live, but everyone around him seemed bent on preventing him from drifting through life. He had become far too studious for his own good. His dad would be proud of him, if he were still alive.
He went home then, hands in his pockets, eyes slightly downcast. He pushed through the door, stomping his feet on the rug, an indication that he had arrived. The trouble would be giving the serum, antidote, whatever, to Jessica, and explain to her what they were going to do. He felt a wave of guilt. He couldn’t come alone, but he needed someone he could trust. His only sister had definitely been his pillar of support during the past few months. His father’s death was a heavy blow to the girl, and him the same, they knew they could cope with it together. Yet, to steal her future, or to give it to her, whichever the case, he felt like he was playing god almost. His contemplativeness was returning and he tried to drive it away. Perhaps he could give it to her, invite her to come with them, but still. He hadn’t realized he stalled out just halfway through the living room.
“You look lost in thought.” His mother commented, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug in her hand, smiling at him. He nodded slowly, without realizing he was, and he laughed at himself, stopping just before the basement door. Should he try tonight? It wasn’t that late. “Is something bothering you?” She asked, and for a moment, he almost felt like telling her everything, and even handing her the antidote, and in an effort save his entire family at once by telling them to get away from this place as fast as possible, yet nowhere was safe. As his mind worked, he was spending more time, inquiring even more worry, and yet lying didn’t seem to come as an option. His mother stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Kaz?” She inquired and he recovered. “I’m fine, just, had a thought and lost it.” He trailed off, sounding vague, and of course, it wasn’t convincing. “Would you like some hot cocoa?” She offered him, and he nodded. “Sure.” He took a seat at the table near the wall, the wall next to Jessica’s room. He wondered if she was in there. “Oh by the way, where did you go off earlier?” She asked as set the water on the stovetop. Her body wasn’t entirely turned towards him, the question was presented so offhandedly, he was about to say, but he caught the words halfway up his throat. “I was looking for something, but, I didn’t find it.” Why am I being so careful? Perhaps it was the secretive nature that Trey had bestowed upon him, and the only one he’d feel comfortable with from this point on, would have to be the one who took the antidote, which he would want Jessica to have. “Is that so?” His mother said, bringing a mug down and opening up a package of hot chocolate.
Then Jessica appeared in the doorway, looking rather perky, her long brown hair was not done up, and she looked around the kitchen, excited to see Kaz was there, and her excitement seemed to put a smile on his tired and weary face. “What are you so excited about?” He asked drearily, and the girl frowned, jokingly, taking the seat across from him, clasping her hands together, and staring at him intently. “What? Did someone ask you out or something?” She seemed taken aback by the statement, looking confused for a moment. “Would you like some hot chocolate Jess?” His mother asked. “Sure! I’ll go ask Ed too.” She said sliding back her chair, and Kaz watched as she went, a dark feeling began to creep over him. As if someone was probing him, watching him. Everything seemed to develop like a storybook. He could feel something course through his body, uncertainty was rising as he took a deep breath in. His mother set down two steaming mugs of cocoa, Jessica was coming back into the room, and she saw him, gripping the table. After effects of the drug…? He thought. “You don’t look so good bro.” His sister stated, but he brushed it off. “I’m fine.” His hand went down to his pocket slowly, withdrawing the small pill capsule, but then he put it back. “So what were you looking for, oh wandering son of mine?” His mother asked, and then Ed came into the room looking very solemn for his age, and very politely he took his seat. “Nothing…I just needed some fresh air to get away from the stresses of life.”
For some reason he was seeing images of Jack appear in his head, and his vision was beginning to blur. This can’t be happening, just like last time. He tried to raise his hot mug to his lips but he couldn’t make it reach, and he had to set it down. He stood up then suddenly, all eyes came to him. This can’t be happening damn it! His mind began to jump from one conclusion to the next. They had already found him, they had probably followed him here from Stadweld, they knew all along, they were trying to get his family, that is what this was, he was certain of it. “Kaz?” Jessica rose up touching his arm, as he staggered from the kitchen. “Go let him lie down, Jess.” His mother was saying but he waved his hand. “No. Come.” He whispered into his sister’s ears. He walked towards the basement door, feeling the corners of his vision steadily recovering, while what was in front of him was still in a dizzy blur. His sister was helping him down the stairs. “Fight it.” He whispered to her, out of earshot of his mother and brother, the two were left in the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” She was asking, but it wasn’t like her. They turned the corner; they were heading to his room. His one hand was in his pocket, she was leading him. Each step he was returning to his own strength. Forgive me…Jess, but I wasted too much time. He thought as his vision finally cleared and they stopped just within his room, and he moved quickly, she didn’t even see it coming, expecting him to be incapacitated. His hand came out of his pocket with the antidote, the palm of his hand wrapped around her mouth, and squeezing his fingers together he popped the pill into her mouth. Holding her still, he held her nose. “Swallow it Jess. Please.” He commanded a silent plea of hope, through his hands she tried to scream, uncertain of what he was going to do. Her eyes were wide with fear. She squirmed in his grasp for a moment, but he had her pinned now against the wall, and a terrible feeling began to rise inside of him. “Please…just swallow it…” He begged, the images of Jack persisted in his mind, and he didn’t want to kill her. She was his inspiration. He needed her to be on his side. He wouldn’t let those bastards take more from him. It had been quite a time before he heard the girl relent. He spun her around abruptly, staring into her bewildered, searching eyes. “Open your mouth!” He demanded, and she did, lifting her tongue, there was no sign of the pill in there, and he backed away from her slowly, sighing with relief.
He backed away from her and sat on his bed looking at his hands. He didn't want to look at her face for some reason. His sister was breathing heavily, looking down at her feet, but she didn't seem scared, she didn't run away from him. It must have worked, there was silence in the room, and they could hear Edward running just above them, eager to get to his room. His mother would probably come down the stairs. They needed somewhere to go. Leaving the house would not be a good idea, he would have to pretend to be ill. There was little time to explain. Without looking at Jessica, he instructed her.
"I'll explain later, tonight, but I'd rather wait till Mom was in bed." Was all he said, shifting his body over onto his bed, pretending to rest. The girl didn't say anything, turning and heading out of the door, she closed it and he listened as her soft footsteps ascended the stairs and into the kitchen, where a soft murmur echoed between the two women. All was well, for now. Guilt rose in his chest. He had forced her down into the rabbit hole.
Who would do such a thing to their own sister? Especially because I'm her brother. She doesn't understand yet, she might not for a long time. For a brief moment, I was an enemy, she was an enemy. That thought alone sickens me to the point where I wouldn't be able to go on. He shuddered in his solitude, wrestling with his consciousness. It wasn't in till he heard the soft timid knock on his door an hour or two later that he wiped the sweat from his brow, and opened the door to let her in. She walked in on cat's feet, and he closed the door.
"What's happened to me?" She asked first, and he wasn't sure what had happened to her, or what is happening--the effects of the drug seemed to have worn off, as if Trey's theory about the program was correct, she would have acted more strongly, or would have told her mother. They wouldn't let him escape, though there were obvious holes in that, still he kept quiet for a moment, allowing her to sit on his bed, while he leaned against the wall.
"Where to begin?" He had trouble understanding it himself. He let out a sigh, and his emotions were mixed like a chemistry experiment gone sour; all swirling around somewhere beneath his skin. Jessica's expression was of worry, as she looked down at her feet from time to time. There appeared to be nothing exceptional beneath the socks, yet that is where her eyes fell. "I was...trying to help you." He said finally sliding down onto his bottom near the door, keeping his ears open. "What's going on, tell me." She pressed, concerned for her safety if anything, he guessed as much. Her brother had forced her to swallow a pill, a side he had suddenly forced upon her. "The world's...gone to hell...it all happened back home." He shifted his elbows onto his knees. "Someone told me something inconceivable earlier today...and I had to make a choice...whether to believe it or not." He wasn't sure if that choice was hard to make or not; he had taken almost every word Trey said as the unmistakable truth. And, in all honesty, it was holding up as such.
Jessica continued with her downcast glare, occasionally glancing at him, finally she spoke. "It was odd...I felt like a veil had been lifted...I...don't think I could even speak for a while..." She admitted, looking at her hands. "It's like I've never used this body before almost...when I finally swallowed that thing...memories started to fade away...things I've done in the past hours. I found some homework problems in my room on the bed, I don't even remember doing them..." She looked confused and worried. "What's happening to me?" She asked. "What does this have to do with Stadweld?" He closed his eyes, and revealed the truth, piece by piece. The information Trey had told him, to the organization known as Hive to the underground he was pressured to join. The mind control serum, he concluded, must have been inserted into their home, he suspected that they were under it. He even got to talking about Jack again.
"Every time I am near the gas it seems...my vision goes blurry...I lose my sense of self almost...but I overcame it quicker this time..."
His sister had calmed down, taking what he told her with a nod of her head. "I'm sorry..." He eventually said, unable to stare her in the eyes. "I..." He couldn't get himself to say it.
"Don't worry about that. There's no turning back." She stood up.
"What is worse? Going to a future I can't call my own? Or abandoning that for the present? The choice is obvious."
He cracked a smile then, getting on his feet. "Well then, how about three days from now, we start kicking some ass?" He asked, in a voice that sounded far too bad-ass for himself. She smiled, and gave him a generic thumbs up. "We'll take back our world together!"
Nothing could have made me more happier in that moment, and seeing Jessica's resolve, it strengthened my own. Knowing that we'd be marching down this road together, it erased my depression nearly entirely...
* * *
~Three months previously~
Meredith stood at the end of the escape tunnel, arms folded, her foot tapping impatiently on the concrete floor, occasionally staring back down the dark passage. It was quite sometime before she heard the echoing sound of footsteps, and she let out a very irritated sigh. "What the hell took you so long?" She demanded as Trey came into view with Amy next to him, and he gave her one of his genuine sly smiles. "My, my aren't we a little impatient!" He said in a taunting voice. "Whatever, let's get going." She said, and the three of them passed through the exit coming up onto the street after a long climb, and there near the side of the road was a car already waiting for them. "Not bad, now we'll just have to regroup once everything is cleaned up." She said opening the door to the car when she suddenly stopped. Amy had just climbed into the backseat of the car, and while Meredith had moved to enter the drivers side she realized that there weren't any keys inside. "I'm afraid I'll be the one driving this time." Trey said stepping forward and the woman relented, backing away towards the passenger side and then as Trey got in he started the car and began to drive down the road at a fast speed. "Hey, do you know where to go?" Meredith asked, and Trey nodded his head slowly. "Yes, about that, allow me to explain what's about to happen."
"Hive doesn't care about you, me, or anyone. As soon as that project 'failed', we all became dispensable. Don't you think that's a shame?" He continued to speak. "What are you saying? We escaped without anyone knowing about us! The self destruct mechanism is going to take out anything, we...we passed the test!" Her voice was rising, and Trey shook his head. "It wont all be destroyed, there are somethings in Stadweld they want to bury forever. So, I have decided to offer you a job, why don't you work for me instead?" He asked, as usually in his style, he was fairly cheerful. "You...bastard, you would betray hive?" She reached for her weapon, but he interrupted her. "If you'll notice, your seat isn't fitted with a seatbelt, if you kill me now, you'll only be killing yourself." He pointed out, and when she looked it was true, the seatbelt had been cut out of her seat, and at the moment they were traveling at about ninety miles per hour. The woman turned back to Amy who was pleasantly listening to their conversation. "Amy! What do you think about this? You can't leave Hive, you're one of their programmers!" The woman was practically yelling, and the girl shrugged. "Not really, I work for Michael actually, and I kind of got this job by luck...besides, Trey's job sounds a lot easier." She said with a smile. "Damn it! You even pulled Amy into this?!" She clenched her fist and her teeth, feeling anger well up inside of her. "Why are you so uptight? I know who you are...the only reason you are loyal to Hive in the first place, is because you wanted to carry out your illegal sadistic psychological experiments. Hive gave you ample opportunity to do those...little tests on those poor young people." For a brief moment his expression faded into a distance stare, as he turned to face her. "Keep your eyes on the road damn it! Fine, fine, so what? What will I have to do for you then?" She asked, bitterness swelling up inside of her. "Oh, it's not so hard, we're going to destroy Hive, and then once they are out of the way, destroy the rest of the world, I must say that Stadweld was a resounding success...if my assumptions about Doctor Einburg are right, he'll keep his system running, causing everyone to fall into a unconscious state." He laughed to himself, though it was an empty, hollow laughter. "You're insane!"
That is how it had happened.
Three months later, Meredith found herself, soaking in a tub of hot water, letting out a heavy, unburdened sigh. "Ah, this is so much better than Hive~ I can finally relax..." She turned towards the open door, where she could see Amy tapping away at a glowing computer. While at first she was adamant at joining forces with Trey, so far, it had been the best thing that had happened to her since graduating from High School all those years ago. With all the grant money stolen back from Hive, she had enough to sit around in this free apartment and do whatever she pleased...
The door to the apartment suddenly opened, and Meredith saw Amy turn. "Oh, hey, Trey is finally back. So? How did it go?" The girl asked, as per usually, her greeting was cheery and full of delight. "Well more or less, we're going to have to get another apartment, but that shouldn't be much of a problem." Trey said as he stepped into the living room, and then he peered into the bathroom. "Oh hey! In the bath again?" He said poking his head and Meredith sank down into the bubbles. "S-stay away you demon!" She shouted at him fiercely, and he backed away closing the door with a bright smile on his face. Seriously...and I was enjoying my vacation...Living off the radar isn't really all it's cracked up to be at times...
It wouldn't be long in till the mysterious organization that Trey is a member of, to make another strike against Hive! The Arrows are going to point the world in a new direction!
/End
After a two month break, the new chapter has finally been released. With that, we shall end this short arc involving Kaz as the pivotal character. Very soon a very new arc will be released...don't forget about Rey's role in searching for Theodore... there is also Hiro and Norie's story. Soon, soon we will head into a new era of chapters, the real, second season if you will.
No comments:
Post a Comment