Opal Delores,
Today's the day:
It's today. Today's the big day! Oh… my dress it's a beautiful slim fitting white dress with lace and little white beads… but there's the tradition isn't there? Something old and all that…
Well something old is my very first hair pin… something new is the lace gloves my sister bought me.. something borrowed.. a lovely white ribbon from Em and something blue… a little forget me not. Daniel has a forget me not on his lapel.
They're the flowers for us.. we had our first date sitting amongst the forget me nots… and I hope to never forget this day.
The ceremony had been beautiful. Opal had looked stunning in her dress, Daniel had the biggest smile on his face for the whole thing. It never left, even when he got a little teary when they read out their vows. Bill had married them, Clayton had been the ring bearer. His curls had been straightened just a little and he had his suit on, shoes polished so you could see your face reflected back in them.
Now, watching him run around Arcadia with Elaine and Bill's two year old daughter, Em wondered why she bothered. His shoes were packed in mud and his knees held grass stains.
Despite all this, Em couldn't take the smile off her face. Most of the guests were dancing, even though the wedding was held in Arcadia, people didn't care. There were a few people slipping on the grass, but everyone was too happy to really pay attention to it. Daniel and Opal hadn't stopped swaying quietly for at least three songs, almost like they'd never get tired. The meal later would be held at the Kashmir, for now, they were all dancing and celebrating together.
Kelly had managed to get a date and was dancing with him, Sarah and Cammie were constantly twirling each other as they danced. It was all so perfect. Rosa was around the edge taking photos of the celebration, she'd taken a few of Em who'd smiled brightly at the camera. Even though she was older, Em felt so much younger. All because she smiled more.
Kyburz's speech had been lovely, Rosa's had followed shortly after, she'd even gave her sister away. Rosa was the only one left in their family after all. It was what Opal had wanted and Rosa had been thrilled.
"Hi…"
Em looked up at the timid greeting, finding Kyburz standing in front of her, his suit jacket was open and his hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked nervous to be standing in front of her. They hadn't spoken since falling out, she could understand him being nervous. She was nervous too.
He gestured with his hand to the seat next to her at the table. "Can I sit?"
She nodded and he sat down. For a few moments they didn't say anything. Maybe they couldn't find the right words or they were too prideful to admit they'd been wrong, who knows. For a moment it was nothing but awkward silence. Then they both tried to apologise at the same time, which was followed by awkward laughter and silence once more.
She watched Clayton jump the little stream and then help little Sophie across the stream, Bill was standing nearby watching the two children play. In the light Clayton's watch flashed, before he covered it up with his sleeve. She still didn't know where he'd gotten it, given it's condition she assumed he'd found it on the street. When she asked him he said it was given to him, but he wouldn't say who. It was a secret was his reasoning, but he said it was no one dangerous and that she knew them. That did little to calm her nerves, but she assumed he'd tell her when he was ready. She offered to get it fixed, but he said no. He liked it battered, it was scarred and damaged, it had stories behind it.
"It was a lovely wedding…" Kyburz said softly and she nodded, offering a little smile of her own.
"It was. Opal looks beautiful," she turned to Kyburz with a serious face. "I'm sorry for what I said… and for punching you," she flushed a little out of embarrassment for that. "I lost my temper and said some things.. I didn't mean and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry for pushing you when you asked me not to," he rubbed at his chin. "You've got a good right hook," he cracked a smile at her. "It hurt for a good few days… but yeah, I'm sorry too."
"So… we're okay?" She asked softly. "Because I hate not talking to you Kyburz…"
He smiled at her crookedly. "Was that Em speak for, 'I missed you, Kyburz'?"
Sighing she nodded her head, still a smile was on her face. "Yeah… I.. you're right, about me. I need to get over certain things, but I can't just do that over night. It's gonna take time."
"I understand that," he nodded, leaning away from the table a little. "But can I say you look beautiful without you hitting me?"
Emilie flushed again at being reminded of her outburst. She hadn't meant to hit him at all, she'd just struck out. She'd been so angry and then she'd worried for a good few days about hurting Clayton if she flew off the handle. Kelly completely abolished those ideas and she'd since been trying to get a better handle of herself. The withdrawal of not having any alcohol and the shakes had finally stopped. After getting over that hang up and her fears she'd been.. happier. Calmer. Less volatile.
"I'm not going to hit you, Kyburz…" she looked ashamed. "I really am sorry about that. I.. I was an idiot, no I was a bitch."
"I think we were both in the wrong," he shrugged a little. "But… we're friends right?"
Em smiled. "Yeah, we're friends."
"Thank god…" he breathed, letting his shoulders relax and sitting back. "Otherwise I'd have to go back over there with Pablo. I swear he's only come here for the food or… trying to get Kelly in bed with him."
Emilie looked amused at the idea. "I don't think even Kelly would sleep with him. She has… some standards…" a frown crossed her face. "Then again, she's been sleeping with Fontaine, so maybe she doesn't."
"Fontaine?" Kyburz snarled the name out and Em was taken aback. She'd never heard that kind of tone from Kyburz. There was nothing but loathing and hatred in his tone. He hated Fontaine, that much was obvious and Kyburz did not try to hide it.
Her mind drifted back to the evening they'd fallen out. He'd mentioned that Fontaine had been right, but right about what? It made no sense, there was nothing for Fontaine to be right about. She didn't understand what had happened and she didn't think now was the best time to ask. Kyburz was a private person at best and a damn secretive one at worst. It was paranoia, it got to him from time to time and when it hit, it hit him bad.
"I can't believe it," he continued. "Why would she settle with a bastard like him?"
"I… don't know," she shrugged. "Guess she just likes to live dangerously?"
"No wonder you two are friends…" he glanced at her, smiling fondly. "You always do tend to go for the more dangerous options. No matter where you work," he looked down at his hands, running his fingers over the rough surface. "Jesus, even when I worry about you… off you go… right to the dangerous option," he looked up at her and grinned. "I even heard you've been getting into spats with Daniel Wales."
"Ugh. I'm actually enjoying myself here," she gestured around them. "Don't mention his name. I didn't think I could hate someone more than I hated Fontaine… Daniel Wales proved me wrong. I can't stand him."
"He isn't the easiest person to get along with," Kyburz nodded in agreement.
They were quiet again, but it wasn't awkward like before. It was the kind of silence you could have between friends. Where you didn't say anything, but you felt comfortable with each other. It wasn't because you had a lack of anything to say, but simply because you didn't need to say anything.
The song changed again, Daniel and Opal were still slow dancing, the children were now weaving their way around the adults and Kelly had disappeared with her date. It was all so normal and peaceful, for a few hours Em could forget about Fontaine and Ryan. About the impending political war that was brewing between Ryan and Lamb. It was just her, her friends and her son. She wouldn't have it any other way.
Kyburz stood up, brushing his suit down and held his hand out to her. Em raised an eyebrow, looking at his hand, before looking back at his face.
He shrugged at her. "I know I'm not the best dancer… but I think I can manage this.."
"Uh huh… we'll see," she grinned at him. "I'll see how bruised my feet are afterwards."
He was better at this type of dancing than the quicker stuff. Kyburz didn't stand on her feet once, they swayed elegantly around the room, though there were moments when he stuttered and almost tripped. She'd laugh whenever he'd stumble, try and help him to steady himself. She'd try to teach some of her own moves or some of her own tips, but it didn't do much. Still at the end they were laughing and making jokes. It was like old times and the smile never left her face. It was nice to laugh again.
Of course she was still worried about the world outside this moment. Fontaine and Ryan, Lamb was also an issue now, but it didn't matter. She could forget for a few peaceful hours. She could be happy and carefree, enjoying her time with her friends. It was all she'd ever wanted really. It had taken her while, but she started to realise that this was the only thing that truly mattered. Not trying to be ahead of everyone else, not being the big fish in the pond, but this. Having fun with her friends and family and knowing they were all safe and happy also.
For a few brief hours, life would be perfect. That was all that mattered.
"The kid's becomin' an issue," Fontaine was pacing up and down in front of Sinclair. He couldn't sit still, he was fidgety, nothing like himself at all. Running a hand over his head, he glanced to take in Sinclair's unimpressed look. "He has to go."
"I am not gettin involved in-."
"I ain't suggesting murdering the little bastard!" Frank snapped. "You're right, his Ma would flip."
"Well, I'm glad we cleared that up…" Sinclair drawled.
He didn't get it. He didn't understand. Fontaine didn't care if Sinclair thought he was crazy, Clayton had to go. He was getting too close. Not that he was close to figuring out Fontaine's grand plan, in truth Frank didn't have one yet, but he was getting too close emotionally. Now he was actively seeking Fontaine out and he even humoured the kid.
The first time he helped him out, he swore to himself that this would be the last time. That he'd done it once, it would never happen again. Then the kid came round the docks looking for him and when Frank saw Henderson hit him… It was all too familiar. He'd been a victim to that kind of abuse when he was around Clayton's age. He'd been the victim of worse stuff too.
Absently Fontaine ran his fingers over his knuckles. They were the only part of his hands that weren't smooth. Scarred and rough from years of rulers being smacked edge end across much smaller hands. Cutting and re-cutting marks into his skin and half the time it wasn't even his fault. Apparently he couldn't tell the truth convincingly, but when he lied… oh that he seemed to be gifted in. What was it that his mother had said? If you never have to work a day in your life but you reap all the rewards than you have truly unlocked the secret to living.
He felt a smile flicker across his face when he remembered her. Never his actual mother, oh no that bitch didn't give a damn about him, but her… the actress who'd given him a chance and her time… like Em had given Clayton her's.
Fontaine shook his head, teeth gritted and trying not to think about the similarities too much. That was the biggest problem. The similarities between himself and Clayton. The boy was almost a shadow of his former self. The big brown eyes, so filled with innocent and childlike hope, like Frank's had once been until reality came crashing down around him.
"You killed her and sent my world crashing down around me! Only fair I do the same to you!"
He'd been very much a showman when he was younger.
"The only thing you love is yaself! You only care 'bout your life!"
A little melodramatic.
"So to destroy your world, I guess, it's your life I'm gonna have to take!"
He'd blame it on his time working behind the stage. He'd blame it on all the times he'd sat watching the actors work the crowd, make those idiots believe. The stage was always so much more dramatic than real life, but when he was younger they'd slightly blurred between the lines. He'd had hope back then.
"You killed her and sent my world crashing down around me!"
You tended to loose hope when it was taken away from you. Especially if it was taken away from you violently. Ripped out of your hands and torn to shreds in a simple blink of an eye. Then the rest of the world treats you like trash and the reality finally sinks in that no one cares about you. No one will do anything for you, no one was there to look after you, so you had to look after yourself and if that meant others suffering? So be it.
You'd suffered before that, it was their turn to give it a try and maybe they'd finally understand what it was like to be left with nothing.
"He's looking for me now," Fontaine explained, leaning on the back of the chair in Sinclair's office. "He goes out of his way to find me."
"Then tell him to go away."
Frank snorted. "You ain't been 'round kids much have you? Tellin' them to go away is like sayin' you want their undivided attention."
Sinclair rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I make a habit of interactin' with children? I spoke to the boy once," he fished out a cigarette from his packet. "What are you really here for, Frank? This is the second time you've come complainin' about the kid. What's the real issue?"
The real issue was Frank was getting too close to the kid. He was starting to… give a damn about him. Find him less annoying than the rest of humanity. Worse yet, he was becoming fond of him. Fondness evolved to care, care evolved to love or Fontaine's interpretation of the emotion. There was too much at stake here for him to start caring about some snot nosed brat and in reality the only reason he cared was the fact Clayton held a resemblance to him.
He'd tried to deny it at first. He'd tried desperately to ignore the similarities, but there were just so many that it was hard to ignore. Not only did the kid look like he had, but the situation had been the same. Clayton had been adopted and taken in, sure Frank hadn't been adopted but he found someone that cared about him like a son. Same thing here and there were moment, just moments, where Clayton would act like he would. They were few and far between, but the boy could be cold when he wanted to be. Living on the streets by yourself tended to do that. Couldn't afford to let anyone close, because in that world it was either them or you.
The main issue, if Frank was going to pinpoint it exactly to a particular thing, was the fact that Clayton… his entire life so far was a 'what could have been' moment for Frank. He had the nice happy family life, that a much younger Fontaine had dreamed about having again. It was safe to say he'd rather given up on such a stupid and useless notion. What good was family anyway? His family had thrown him away, a little blonde haired boy, unwanted and unloved by the very people who'd brought him into this world. It wasn't his fault. He hadn't done anything wrong at that point in time, he was innocent. Apparently though, according to his father at least and what he remembered of his birth mother, existing was a big enough crime to require punishment. Then they decided that he wasn't even worth their time with that, so they threw him away.
Frank's life had meant nothing to them and subsequently in later life, his existence meant nothing to society either. Well, if his life was so unimportant to them, then he didn't see why he should give a damn about anyone else.
Maybe that made him bitter and spiteful. Maybe in reality he was just sad and couldn't get over a traumatic event in his life, but reality was also that he enjoyed it. He enjoyed holding that kind of power over people and lording it in their faces. Of showing that he didn't care about them. That their existence, circumstance and family meant nothing to him. It was what everyone else in his life had directed at him as a child, it was obvious now as an adult it was his turn. He could see why people did it. In a sick and twisted way… that kind of power was addictive and once you got a taste of it… well, it was very hard to quit.
Everything was moving along nicely, he didn't have a care in the world and then Clayton came along.
"Can't you just appreciate that things are difficult right now?" He hissed.
"No, because I have far more important things to deal with," Sinclair replied, not at all unkindly. "Lamb's causing more problems by the day. Hell I've heard she's squeezed her way into Hephestus now."
Fontaine was begrudgingly impressed by that. Hephestus was the heart of Ryan Industries, the life blood of Rapture if you will, it was hard to get people in there. He had of course. Fontaine had about three guys working for Ryan that secretly also worked for him and then there was Em who was not so secret. She didn't spill secrets though, he was beginning to learn that now. Whenever he asked her something, she'd only shrug at him and make some half assed excuse, before moving on with her day.
"Ryan ain't gonna like that…" Fontaine mused. "Still, whilst he's dealing with her… other things may sweep under the radar…"
Sinclair smiled at that. "When can I be expecting my next box of cigarets?
"I dunno, Sinclair…" Frank narrowed his eyes at him. "When can I expect new test subjects?"
"I sent you two yesterday."
He waved him off. "Tenenbaum and Suchong already worked their way through those," he grimaced slightly and shuddered. "Working on a new Plasmid… teleport…"
Sinclair frowned, but it soon morphed into a grimace as he probably worked out what might have happened. "I take it they… didn't teleport?"
"Oh no they did," Frank shuddered again. "Just… not all of them to.. the same place- anyway," he placed a file in front of Sinclair.
He didn't want to think about the failed teleport experiments. The room had been a mess, blood had been dripping down from the ceiling as well as other body parts. The worst part were the ones that had managed to teleport… at least parts of themselves. Random body parts dropping out of thin air in the corridors. It might've been funny if it wasn't so morbid. Frank had a morbid sense of humour but this was pushing it. He'd thrown a fit at Suchong and Tenenbaum, these were the type of mistakes he was trying to avoid.
Limey had been right about one thing, as time had gone on, Frank had become more accustomed to the gore. He'd never been a squeamish type, but the things those Doctors were doing… well, just remembering the special projects unit still made him feel nauseous. Other things though, watching a scalpel cut or someone burn up from too much incinerate, it didn't bother him anymore. Not like it used to. He'd become… used to the violence and gore. She said it was a good thing and he would agree with her. What was the point in ordering these things if you couldn't look at the mistakes?
Sometimes though, in quiet moments at home by himself, if he'd drank too much and no one was there to entertain him, he'd start thinking.
Thinking had always been a dangerous thing for Frank. He thought too much he'd remember the day his old man dumped him at that orphanage. If it wasn't that event it would be working back stage and the murder of the actress who'd given him her time. Now, it was starting to become the experiments. The screaming and pleading, it fell on deaf ears to him, but in the quiet moments at night it would rise up. He'd drown it out with alcohol or on bad nights he'd shoot up with the good stuff and if it was too much he'd disappear to Eve's Garden and block it out with a woman's company.
He was taking the approach of out of sight, out of mind. He didn't know how Suchong and Tenenbaum could stomach it sometimes, they seemed to enjoy it.
Maybe, Frank thought privately in the safety of his own mind, I don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss.
"What's this?" Sinclair reached for the file, flipping it open and his eyes lit up.
Inside were new adverts for new plasmids and tonics. Ones that worked at least. No one would be exploding because of these ones. All safe and tested. As safe as plasmids were of course, that seemed to be a relative term. There were side effects, bad ones. Whenever someone questioned him about this, he'd shrugged it off. Everything had bad side effects. He didn't know a single medical practice or treatment that didn't.
"These seem good," Sinclair mused. "I'll be able to double the advertisements. That teleport one sounds good too… once ya get it workin' Chief."
"Tell me about it," Fontaine rubbed at his face, pressing the palms of his hands against his eyes a second. "If they can't sort it out soon… I'll tell 'em to abandon it. Can't risk too much bad publicity."
"Hm, bad publicity is an awful inconvenient thing," Sinclair agreed, looking through the fresh advertisements. "Though I don't suppose we'll be worryin' about that anymore, Chief… not the way these people are babbling about ADAM," he smiled. "Why, some might say they're addicted."
"And if they are?"
"Then I'd say that's the best bit of marketing I've seen down here in a while," he smirked. "Get them hooked and scoop up the cash after. They won't stop 'cause they feel like they need more of it and you'll get richer because they'll never stop. I gotta say, it's a real grifters ace."
Frank laughed at that, tilting his head back and laughing loudly at the ceiling. Oh if only Sinclair knew. Fontaine had something else planned for his grifters ace. He wasn't too sure what that would be yet, but he was working on it. Frank had a mind to be in control of Rapture, though plenty of people already thought he was. He needed to buyout Ryan Industries, take control of the cities power, that was how you got complete control.
If Frank could somehow get control of the heating and power of Rapture, he'd have the city in his pocket. Whoever controlled the light and warmth controlled the people and he liked that idea. There was just something nice about being in complete control, a comfort in knowing that no matter what they'd never betray him. Because they couldn't.
Suchong called it conditioning, Frank called it power and he liked having that kind of power. He'd never had it before in his life. Back topside Frank was a little fish, a simple con man who fixed games and watched poker matches, maybe a few real estate scams thrown in there. In Rapture? Oh, Frank was a king in Rapture and he loved it. No more dancing around and keeping his distance from mob bosses, because he was the mob boss.
"Just you wait, Sinclair," he grinned at the other man. "I'll be lifting Rapture out of the old man's pocket, no fuss, no muss."
"Thank you for carrying him."
"You did so much dancing tonight I'm amazed you're still standing."
Em laughed as Kyburz and herself got off the Atlantic Express. Kyburz was carrying Clayton, the little boy had fallen asleep on the journey back. His hand was clutched against his chest where the watch sat. Like he was keeping it safe even while he slept. It looked like it was the most important thing he owned, but Em still didn't know where he got it. Kyburz had even asked him, but he'd shook his head saying it was a secret.
This night was very reminiscent of the one where they fell out. Things were different this time though, for one Em felt a lot calmer, she wasn't on edge. She believed that was because she hadn't had to deal with Fontaine this evening. Anytime she had to deal with that man it always left her in a bad mood, like something leaving a bad taste in your mouth. It stayed with you and made everything else foul.
It was cold in the drop tonight, but she didn't feel it so much, her skin was still prickling from dancing and the party afterwards at the Kashmir. Daniel and Opal had been completely involved with each other for the entire evening, almost like they couldn't believe they were finally together. Opal had tossed the bouquet at the end and Kelly had about rugby tackled one of the other girls out of the way so Cammie could catch it. Her and Sarah were talking about having a private ceremony and Em thought that was a lovely idea.
They finally reached her floor, the elevator was still broke, but she didn't complain this time. Kyburz and Em laughed and joked about some of the things that had been happening at work. Things that hadn't been able to talk about because they weren't talking. They danced around and avoided serious questions and conversations. Both of them were too much of a good mood to start talking about Persephone or heaven forbid Ryan and Fontaine's big boy pissing contest. Though that was funny for now, Em had a feeling it was going to be less funny later.
"It's almost 1955," Kyburz spoke as they walked up to her door. "Can't believe it… time's gone by so fast… so much has changed."
"Yeah, I'm on the fence on if it's changed for the better," she was able to open the lock this time. Em had actually taken time out to oil it and fix the door. "I think there's owls in the bog."
Kyburz blinked. "What?"
"Owls in the bog?" Em blinked back at him. "You don't have that saying?"
"Umm… it's not one I can say I've heard before…"
"Oh. Well," she walked inside, tossing her purse onto the sofa, standing aside to let Kyburz in. "It means," she continued. "That I think something mysterious is going on. It sounds better in Norwegian."
"I'm sure it does," he offered a smile, walking over to Clayton's curtained off bedroom, laying the little boy down on the bed and pulling the covers up to his chin.
Emilie smiled softly at the scene, watching Kyburz turn on the nightlight she'd made Clayton. She couldn't get him one, she didn't earn enough, so she made him one instead. He was so terribly scared of the dark. He's told her it reminded him of the air vents and she'd felt her heart break a little when he said that.
She didn't understand how anyone could give their child up. Not in the way they gave Clayton up. People who couldn't afford to look after their children and dropped them off at an orphanage or something, it was a different matter. It was the people who decided they didn't want a kid anymore that she didn't understand. She'd only been Clayton's mother for a year and a half and she'd do anything for him. He was her kid, she'd never abandon him, if things weren't working out she'd look at what needed to be changed. So maybe she couldn't have a new pair of shoes because the food bill had gone up a little, that was just something she'd live with and deal with later.
Seeing him happy though, warn out and tired after a long day or running around, it was sweet. She adored him and never wanted to see him frown again.
"You guys are still okay here?" Kyburz asked her, drawing her out of her thoughts. "I mean, I know the drop's been getting worse… where I live isn't much bigger but it's safer."
"I feel like safe is a relative term down here," Em mumbled, shaking her head with a smile. "But it's okay. I've almost saved enough, I'll be moving out by the end of next year."
"Thank god.." He breathed a sigh of relief, smiling at her. "I always hate the idea of you two living here. It's not safe."
As if to confirm to him that he was right, there was a loud bang several floors below and a scream. Soon shouting and yelling joined the screaming, followed by what sounded like a gun shot.
Clayton jolted awake in bed, staring with wide eyes. He grabbed his teddy, an overstuffed and overloved bear that had an eye missing because Em still hadn't gotten round to sewing it back on. Instead the teddy had an eyepatch and Clayton had dubbed it a pirate.
"Mama?"
"Shh.. shhh.." She was quickly at his side, pulling him close. "It's okay.. it's okay.."
Kyburz walked up to the door, opening it slowly and cautiously he stepped out. More yelling and screaming could be heard, shouts both desperate and angry.
"Somethings going on downstairs…"
"Kyburz get back here!" Em hissed. "Whatever it is… Ryan's security will deal with it."
"They don't come down here," he mumbled, pushing on outside.
She wanted to hit him. Was he crazy? Whatever it was he shouldn't be getting involved.
The voices got louder, the screaming had stopped and now only yelling could be heard. It wouldn't be the first time there was a domestic disturbance in the Drop. They happened a lot, but this seemed serious. Nothing like the other ones that happened every so often.
Slowly Em, carrying Clayton who was clutching his teddy tightly to his chest, walked to the door. She pushed it open, walking to the edge of the railings, noticing that a lot of other people had done the same. They'd come out wearing their nightgowns, staring down at the centre of the building. There was a man there, he had his hands up pointing at Kyburz, O'Riley and a few others she didn't recognise.
"Mama…"
"Shh… it's okay," she kissed the top of his head, holding him close and gently rocking him as she watched with baited breath.
The man was yelling about something, she couldn't fully tell what he was babbling on about. He'd break down into hysterical laughter at certain points and that was far more terrifying than the shouting. She wondered why no one had tackled him, but as soon as one of the men made a step towards him, electricity sparked out of the others fingers threateningly. He had plasmids and he was going to use them against anyone that tried to take him out.
"I'm here to see Carly!"
"She ain't coming back with you," Em heard one woman shout. "You hit her around for the last time!"
"Go home, Thomas," O'Riley barked at him. "She wants nothing to do with ya! Get going!"
Em hid Clayton's face against her neck so he wouldn't see anything if things did escalate. Hopefully, this Thomas wouldn't be so stupid. They'd actually back up and leave.
One of the other men tried to grab him, but Thomas lifted up his hand and fired. It was as if time slowed down. The Deluxe was lit up in an electrical shade of blue, casting long shadows across the ground. The man who had tried to intervene with this madness was thrown across the room, hitting the far wall and falling limply to the floor. He didn't get up again. There was stunned silence for a moment. No one could believe he'd done it.
"Okay, okay," Kyburz's voice was distinct, he was approaching cautiously. Thomas held his hand up at Kyburz and the Aussie stopped in his tracks. "This doesn't need to get any worse," he reasoned. "Just back away. Leave her alone… go home."
"I.. he tried to grab me!"
"Yeah and you just electrocuted him!" One of the other man yelled at him. "You just murdered him!"
"And I'll murder all of you!" He held his other hand up, alight with incinerate.
People started screaming then, she could hear the sounds of running footsteps as a panic set in. There was only one way in and one way out of the Deluxe and Thomas was blocking it. Sure they could all make a run for it, but who's to say they'd make it.
"You don't want to do that!"
"Put your hand out right now!" O'Riley yelled, he had a gun in his hand. Em recalled he kept one, from his time in the war. He was pointing it directly at Thomas but his hand was shaking badly. "There are women and children here! Put your hand out right now, I mean it!"
"Yeah?! Like you'll be able to shoot me with that shaky shot!"
He threw a ball of fire in their direction. They dodged out of the way, O'Riley hand't flinched, but it seemed like he was frozen. Screams erupted around them, O'Riley was frozen in place, breathing harshly. It looked like he was sucking air through his teeth.
Thomas waved his hands around, one sparking electricity, the other alight with fire. His eyes were wild, they even looked like they were glowing from the plasmids. He was yelling at them, but you couldn't hear him over the screams. Clayton was crying in her arms and she moved away from the railing, crouching down on the floor. She ran her hands through his hair, desperately trying to calm him down. She wiped his tears, repeating words in Norwegian and English. She was jolted out of her attempts to comfort him by a gunshot. Screams and shouts echoed, Em was quick to carry Clayton inside their apartment. She ran to her room, pushing the door open and curling up on the bed, pulling him close.
They could hear the yelling and shouting from outside, the sound of foot steps running around. Eventually she heard Kyburz calling for her. Emilie got up, running to the front door just as Kyburz pushed it open. He looked shellshocked, eyes wide and unseeing. He was able to focus on her, pushing past her a second and heading for one of her cases.
"Pack up some clothes for you and Clayton, you're leaving with me. We'll lock the door and collect the rest of your stuff tomorrow after work."
"Kyburz what the hell happened?" She asked, holding Clayton close as the Aussie quickly packed some of Clayton's clothes in to the case he'd picked to store their clothes in.
"O'Riley shot Thomas," Kyburz said, but he was madly grabbing clothes and stuffing them in the case. "He's dead. He shot Thomas in the head."
"Kyburz, Kyburz stop.. slow down," she grabbed his hands, still holding Clayton tightly in her arms. He'd stopped crying for now, curling up tightly, gripping her and his teddy. "We can't just leave…"
"Yes you can. You can come and live with me."
"I can't," she frowned. "My lessee, I'd still have to pay," Emilie kissed the top of Clayton's head. "I can't leave. Sinclair will still charge me."
Kyburz screwed his face up. "But he can't-."
"Stay the night," Em interrupted him, placing a hand on his wrist. "If you're worried about us this evening then stay the night. You can take the sofa, I think Clayton's gonna be with me."
It wasn't exactly the proper thing, but Em would admit she'd feel a little safer if Kyburz stayed this evening. She'd be okay after but just for tonight, she needed someone to stay with them. It was Clayton she was worried about, she didn't want her son to be scared in his own home. It wasn't fair to him. He should feel safe, that's all she'd wanted when she first brought him home. She wanted him to feel safe.
Thing was, that attack felt like it might only be the beginning. People had been worrying about side effects of Plasmids and Tonics. The side effects, as far as Em could see, was that they were accessible to anyone and everyone. You didn't know who was buying it and what they were using it for. In this case they'd decided to use it as a weapon and how long would it be until others got the bright idea to do the same thing?
Kyburz nodded, getting up and placing the case to the side. The adults set up his bed on the sofa, before Em disappeared into her bedroom with Clayton. They didn't sleep, couldn't sleep. Clayton, thankfully, was able to fall asleep despite everything that had gone on.
A little later into the night Ryan's security had come round, asking what had happened and dragged the bodies away. Karlosky was thankfully the person to talk to Em and Kyburz, it didn't sound like O'Riley was going to be charged with anything. It was self defence after all. The young man who'd tried to stop Thomas had died from the shock and the impact into the wall. Karlosky told them that it hadn't been the first attack, a few more had been happening up and down the city. No one had died yet though, this was the first plasmid recorded death.
"Don't think it's going to be the last," the Russian added ominously. "Keep your head down."
Kyburz and Em did not sleep at all after that. Instead they sat on the sofa talking about what had happened, wrapped up in blankets while Clayton slept in Em's bed.
Both were speculating what Ryan would do about this. What security precautions he'd take now people could carrying weapons with them that didn't take up pocket or bag space. This then lead to, just how far were people willing to go.
In the end, there was only one thing they both could do and that was wait and see.
Doctor Cicil Conners,
The possibilities:
Well now things are getting interesting. Fire and electricity at your finger tips! With more to come.
ADAM, the genetic implications are astounding! The things we could do… the things I could do.
I managed to buy some from that Fontaine fellow. I quite frankly, would like to keep any contact with that man to a minimum. Not for exposure of course, no it's more a case of… takes one to know one… and I know that the only way they could've gotten the genetics to work so well… would be if they had their own human test subjects.
Perhaps he could direct me to his supplier, ha.