A Light in the Dark: A BioShock Drabble.
As he fell to the grimy floor facedown, darkness surrounded him and he lost all senses but one. Sounds filled the blackness, first soft pleading sobs, then shrill cries of desperation. He tried to mobilize, tried to answer the call that was permeating what should have been the serene solitude of death - but he could not, and it would surely drive him mad.
Was this his punishment? He had fallen, failed in his one mission. And now the frightened shrieks would surely haunt him until he could no longer function. It was less than he deserved for the ultimate trespass of leaving the little one to fend for herself, but it was agonizing nonetheless.
And just when he thought his torment would never end, the dark was met with abrupt silence. After a moment he heard what sounded like contented whimpers, and then...
"You- You saved me." Such a small whisper in a voice he'd known some time, but now it sounded melodic, tinged with a purity he was unused to. Silently, he pleaded to hear it again.
His pleas were answered after just a few seconds ticked past. "Thank you." The sweet whisper was followed by quick but quiet shuffling, and then...
Nothing.
He didn't know how much time passed. After the little one disappeared from his hearing and the hall fell silent, he had allowed himself to sink into a state similar to unconsciousness.
He was suddenly brought swimming back to the surface of awareness by movement - his own. As he was rolled onto his back, his sight returned, and the darkness was dispelled by a somber green light overhead and a small, pretty face with teary blue eyes and black hair matted to her forehead.
Flat teeth chewed a pink lower lip, and he longed to reach out to her, to bring her comfort as he once did. But his time was coming to an end, he knew. The bond was severed, but she had been saved. It was more than he could have hoped for.
She sniffled sadly. "I'm s-sorry, Mr. B," came her sweet stutter once more, and he felt a calm flood what was left of his human body, warming what hadn't been warm since his commission into this new life. This life of protection, of devotion-
Of love.
Softly, the small hand patted his cold, metallic head, and he wished he could give her a sign that all was well... That it wasn't her fault. That he was simply glad she was alive and rosy.
It took all he could to overpower the leadenness that had taken over his limbs, but he managed it; slowly, his right arm responded, and his own gloved fingers finally came into sight as they brushed gently along the line of her jaw, his thumb shakily rubbing at the matted hair on her forehead until it was out of her eyes.
Delight shone bright in the blue, and she smiled right then, her first real, genuine, innocent smile since they'd become acquainted - and his heart sang until it surrendered to his drawn out demise.
When his hand fell away, the girl gasped sharply, her smile faltering as she tentatively touched his head again, but there was no more response. The lights in his helmet had dimmed, and she knew he was gone.
But before her crying could begin anew, she heard rumbling the next hall over. Leaping back, she watched with anticipation and a little anxiety as another Daddy rounded the corner, looking just like the one she'd lost moments ago.
He stopped there, in the archway, surveying the scene before him a moment before stumbling forward and raising one hand expectantly. The girl watched him with wide eyes, astonished.
"Mr. B?"
There was no movement, no acknowledgement or denial. The hand simply hovered there, awaiting her approval.
Her eyes darted from the hand to his lit helmet, then back again. Finally, she smiled and took it.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me, Mr. B."