"We, we've done it Father, we're launching! Get to the elevator!"
Should be easy enough. With all the Splicers either dead or drowning by now, surfacing to freedom neared. The elevator reached the top, and then, the building felt like it was...sinking?
"The bombs, Father! We're falling! Run!"
The Big Daddy and Big Sister ran out the elevator and down the shaft, footfall heavy. Every heartbeat was that much closer the vessel, their only hope. Running around a turn, Delta noticed that Eleanor raised her arms and thumped to a startled, struggling halt, then he saw the stacks of explosives.
Eleanor did not know what to do. She felt as though her heart rose to her throat. The bombs would blow. Mother was right, she would abandon Father. Eleanor turned her head, looking back at him, maybe for the last time, and teleported just as the bombs exploded.
The ensuing explosion and flood of water disabled Delta's senses.
Regaining some of senses, Delta desperately swam forth. He would not give up. He noticed that his drill was missing; it was blown away, along with his other weapons, lost to the depths.
Delta landed hard against Sinclair's lifeboat, grasping the railings, which, surprisingly, were strong enough to hold a Big Daddy.
The vessel arose powerfully, gaining knots. Vision still obscure and flashing darkly, Delta turned his head, seeing the underwater skyscrapers. His home, he place he was supposed to be with his baby girl, finally escaped...
As the lifeboat continued rising, Delta saw Fontaine Futuristics and other taller skyscrapers, even some fish and seaweed here and there. All the buildings became shorter and shorter, smaller and smaller, like little toys. Was this it? Had he finally escaped that watery grave?
Once the pressure lessened as the lifeboat approached the surface, Delta turned, grasping the railings with his other hand, and climbed. Pulling himself up, his legs did not have as much strength as he hoped, and he fell onto his hands and knees. He would not give up, and crawled up the grated steps. He had to see his Eleanor make it. If she did not, he would go back down and get her, he would have done everything all over again, no matter the odds. Delta struggled, suit scraping against the lifeboat, but reached the upper section of the vessel, grasping the railings to pick himself up.
And then, Father, the Rapture dream was over. You taught me that right and wrong are tidal forces, ever shifting. But evil is just a word, and under the skin, it's simple pain. Only when we are free from evil, do we know ourselves. For you, mercy was victory. You sacrificed, you endured, and when given the chance, you forgave.
As Eleanor's voice spoke in his mind, Delta limped over and leaned against the glass. The lifeboat was filled with water, and a family reunion took place. Mrs. Lamb swam in the water, swimming away from Eleanor? It was only a matter of time before she ran out of air.
When the guilty posed no further threat, you simply walked away. But when you fought the guilty, you destroyed them, always. I wanted to be like you, and I wanted Mother dead, Father, I really did.
Mrs. Lamb held her breath with everything she had, but snorted a little water. The coldness pierced her sinuses and the back of her throat. Her blood rushed, her lungs became like needles, her stomach twisted, and her limbs stiffened. She could not do this for much longer. Even as the water outside became brighter, the hope of light did not help.
Eleanor went after Mother, grabbing her leg, perhaps so that she would be in full view of Father as she drowned. Sofia seemingly tried to swim through the glass, perhaps a lat attempt to get someone's help. Now, the only friendly company were bubbles.
But... broken as she was, how could she hurt me, especially now?
Sofia grabbed her throat, kicking and twitching. Eleanor pulled on Mother's leg, Sofia now levelled with Father, and the former enemies stared at each other. Sofia's limbs shook, and she jerked side to side. Was she trying to plead for his help? To gesture mercy?
What could Delta do?
Eleanor swam around Mother, and offered her a reservoir of air. Mrs. Lamb did not react. Eleanor grabbed Mother's arm and yanked it toward her, then rammed the apparatus on Mother's face. Sofia breathed deeply, curling into a fetal position.
Mother believed that this world was irredeemable, but she was wrong, Father. Now, she will grow old and die, knowing that I rejected her beliefs...yet I forgave. In forgiving, we left the door open for her, one that she may choose to enter.
Eleanor stepped to the glass with her long, long legs, placing a hand on the glass and staring at Father. Her helmet tilted up, and Delta also looked up. The sunlight blinded him. As Sinclair's lifeboat approached the water's surface, a high-pitched ringing noise deafened him. The vessel surfaced with a loud splash. The change in pressure caused Delta to blackout.
Delta awoke, lying on his back. As his vision gradually yet slightly recovered, he noticed Eleanor kneeling over him. Bones and muscles throbbing, he knew his time was coming.
Eleanor's pale face had a concentrated look to it. She lowered herself further to get a better look of Father, then leaned to her left, head tilting to her right, as if a cold-blooded snake sizing up her prey. One side of her admired the monster within, and she wanted to seize it for herself.
You may not have wanted me, Father, but you defined me, Eleanor's voice spoke telepathically, and she raised her needle-tipped device. Delta slightly raised his left hand, but Eleanor pushed it aside, positioning her needle above Delta.
You also chose to survive. No matter the cost. But all those you shot, crushed, maimed, drilled through, burned to death, gutted... It would be so easy to misjudge them, but you slaughtered without regret or guilt...
Eleanor straightened her back, and just stared upon Father. Her predatory look faded away, and she let her arms drop. Delta's vision flashed slowly again, sunlight increasing behind Eleanor.
You could have made a monster of me, Father. And if I was, would I be a monster on a leash of forgiveness? A cage of innocence? It made me wonder, what would I truly become, but I was left in doubt. Didn't you want me to be like you? You are my conscience, Father, and I want you to guide me.
She leaned over Father again, leaning to her right, examining Delta. Eleanor positioned her needle above Delta again.
I knew I could save you. But if you felt regret, if you feared what I could become... If you wanted me to choose for myself, the only way to truly be myself... I would need to let you go. To let you die...
Needle positioned, eyes narrowed, Eleanor pushed it down.
Father brushed the needle aside. Eleanor's head turned, as if surprised and annoyed, then she looked back at Father, confused. Her eyebrows furrowed. Her face softened. Eyebrows and eyes returning to normal, she made a babyish, gloomy face, and she naturally being baby-faced and having large puppy dog eyes...
Eleanor rested on her heels, staring at Father with her glum, pale, babyish visage. She stood, Delta losing strength. His head dropped. He could only see his daughter's tall boots.
The Rapture dream is over, and in waking...I am without you. Mother, I have to leave behind, and you chose to die, rather than to have me become more like you?
Dropping her wrist-mounted needle, Eleanor stepped to Father's side, grabbed his hand, and dragged him down the metal stairs, towards the edge of the lifeboat.
No matter how many people you killed, no matter how grisly their deaths were...you are still my Father. You will always be my Father. And, Mother...no matter what she did to me, to you, to so many others... No matter how many people who died because of her... She will always be my Mother, even if I can't be the Utopian she wanted to see.
If Utopia is not a place, but a person, then whoever that may be, must choose carefully, lest repeat the same mistakes as Mother and Mr. Ryan. But this world is not ready for me, and I am not ready for this world, yet here I am.
Delta was dragged to the water, looking down at his reflection, left hand partly in the water.
But you gave me the greatest gift of all...something I have never had...
Father saw Eleanor's reflection. She sat beside him, legs in the water, hands on her lap, back bent over. Daughter looked at father.
...my freedom.
Delta had to look at her, his grown-up Little Sister, awaiting a new life. He noticed Eleanor's head was low, then she looked back at him with a ghostly, depressed face.
There is no name for what I truly am, but the world...I thought we would seize it together. And whenever I needed you, you'd be there for me. Hah hah! Just imagine us, finally reunited, to make up for lost time! We would finally be able to grow, to learn, to live, to love, to be free... Together... Her face scrunched up, eyebrows and the corners of her mouth lifting...
Eleanor wept.
Yet, as I sat there with you, I wondered if even I could be redeemed... She wiped some tears, and slowly looked forward. She did not want Father to see her cry. She wanted him to die happy, and enjoy what little freedom they had together.
Eleanor cried steadily. She took a deep breath and slowly raised her shoulders, exhaling with parted lips. She could not top the tears. Eleanor just stared at her own reflection in the water, still seeing the freak in her reflection.
...for wanting to drown Mother. For killing people. For burning people to death. For having the idea that drowned so many, for wanting to become a monster...
Eleanor had a bad feeling. Just as she looked at Father, he heard him make his last exhale. She moved a hand to him and leaned, her mouth slightly opening. Delta's head dropped breathlessly, and he no longer could see his baby girl. The Lighthouse instead came to view, a symbol of sacrifice and victory. Though, he would have preferred to see Eleanor's eyes as he died.
But your sacrifice gave me hope. And Father, wherever you are...
Delta's vision faded to blackness.
I miss you... Were the last words Subject Delta felt, and he expired.
Eleanor's head and shoulders dropped. She wept bitterly and steadily, tears squeezing in-between her eyelids, as if eager to fall into the ocean. Her face felt so hot, yet her eyes, cheeks and nose felt so wet and cold, in the breeze.
Eleanor did not know how long she sat crying, but at least Father could not see her weeping anymore. But, at the same time, she wished he could. She leaned against Father's shoulder, defeated and gutted.
She did not know how long she sat crying, but the waves calmed down, and the setting sun shone through the clouds. Eleanor felt someone tap her shoulder a few times. She turned her teary face. One of the Little Sisters was patting her shoulder, wearing a bright purple dress, and Eleanor could see the reflections of the other Little Sisters amassing around her. They only wanted to comfort Big Sister, and stared at Eleanor with their cute eyes, leaking with the desire to make her feel better.
The Little Sister who patted her shoulder presented a makeshift doll to her.
My toy of Father... Eleanor smiled despite crying, and accepted the gift. She lowered her head, closed her eyes, and held the doll against her heart. I wish I could just feel your heartbeat against my own...
Sniffling, Eleanor picked herself up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Once a few Little Sisters noticed Eleanor was looking at their direction, some gasped with excitement. Many bounced on their heels, clenched their little fists, cocked their heads, and smiled, all in unison. A few more adjacent Little Sisters looked up at Eleanor and grinned. Eleanor made a crooked smile, tenderness adding more tears for her hurting eyes. She looked at the doll, and extended her arm over the waters...
No, she would keep it. Eleanor walked to her helmet, and placed the doll inside.
"What a great Big Daddy!" a Little Sister remarked.
"Yeah, a lot!" another exclaimed.
"Best Big Daddy ever!" yet another yelled, followed by the Little Sisters chirping about how good Delta was to them. Eleanor turned around, feeling better that Father's efforts were recognized. It helped reduce her tears. She softly chuckled.
"You think he's cold like that?" a Little Sister asked, putting her foot into the water, "Brrr! Water's cold!" she whined, shaking her foot.
"Big Sister, there's more sun up there." A Little Sister pointed further up the lifeboat, where indeed, more sunlight shone. Not wanting to disappoint the children, Eleanor grabbed Father's arm, and dragged him. The Little Sisters skipped and scurried around Father excitedly.
Eleanor found it much harder to drag Delta up the stairs than down them. The children seemed to notice, and they helped pull or push Father up the stairs. Eleanor smiled again, teardrops patting onto Father's visor. With combined might and compassion, the Sisters heaved Subject Delta onto his back near the glass.
Eleanor placed Father's hands atop one another over his sternum, a suitable position for the deceased. The Little Sisters placed their hands upon their hearts, and lowered their chins to pay their respects. Eleanor also lowered her head, and closed her eyes. Eleanor really did not want children to see her sobbing, though they did not seem to care, and such gentle company was nice.
Speaking of unseen company...