Chapter Seventeen – Blood Splatter
John laughed as he rocked, the creaking of the horse beneath him filling the small room. Gentle hands rested on his back and thigh, making sure he didn't fall. He turned his small head to see their family unit, LED glowing a gentle blue in the afternoon light shining through the playroom window. The android looked up at the sound of his name, a little girl padding over with a porcelain doll. John felt the horse slow, but he was happy enough with the gentle swing as he watched his little sister.
"You promised you'd help me fix Sophie's hair!" The girl pouted as she looked between them. The android processed the information cheerfully and patted John's knee apologetically as he sat low on his knees. The Asian accepted the doll with a gentle smile, hazel eyes looking at the human with their usual programmed warmth.
"So I did, come Lady Sophie. What style would you like today?" The machine asked as it shifted its attention to the doll. It had golden locks, just like John's sister. The boy allowed the horse to slow to a stop as he watched his sister sit down eagerly. She pressed right up to the android and leaned on his thigh as she watched him hold the doll and look at her face expectantly.
"She wants a French plait!" The girl announced, and the android nodded his agreement.
"A very good choice M'lady. Would you like me to braid Josie's hair as well, so that you match?" He asked the doll obediently. John smiled as he watched Josie bounce on her knees, agreeing instantly. Her own golden locks were loose and bouncing around her waist. She looked just like her doll, wearing the same light blue flowery dress. All she was missing was the straw summer hat, which the android gently removed as it set to work. Josie handed him a small brush and elastic band as he started. John watched the android's delicate fingers part the hair, wrapping it tightly into a braid that started right on top of the small scalp. He was precise as always.
"Donald, when will father be home?" John asked as he climbed off the horse. He watched the android's LED swirl yellow as it processed the request, his fingers never pausing. He tied off the tail neatly before making room for Josie to scoot between his strong thighs. The girl wriggled in anticipation as she sat impatiently.
"Three hours, traffic depending." The android replied, "Miss Josie, I can't fix your hair if you keep moving like that." He added in a teasing tone as he rested his gentle hands on the five year old's small shoulders. She agreed and stilled herself, happily playing with the doll in her lap as she waited. John watched Donald's long fingers thread through Josie's hair, tugging and twisting it into a braid. He'd barely finished when his LED flashed yellow, head turning towards the door. John heard it too, running footsteps on the stairs.
"Donald! Take the children! Get them out of here!" John's mother cried as she threw the door open. His mother was usually demure and quiet, speaking in soft tones. John found his body shaking as the woman's shoulder length locks tossed around her shoulders. There was a loud bang below, and Donald was on his feet in an instant. Josie was up in his arms, his free hand grabbing John's wrist in a painful grip. "Go! Go!" The young woman urged, unable to give John the reassurance he desperately needed.
"This way John." Donald ordered in a strangely calm robotic voice, but his steps were urgent as he hurried along the landing to the back staircase. The steps were old, originally made for servant use. John flinched as he heard his mother scream behind them, and a strangely loud popping sound. Donald hauled the boy off his feet, running out into the large garden with the children in his arms. Josie was crying loudly now, likely alerting their pursuers.
"Donald, I'm scared." John cried as they entered the large play house at the bottom of the garden. Donald looked panicked himself, LED blinking red as he put a hand over Josie's mouth and tried to hush her cries. He tried to give John a strong look.
"I know, I know…I'm scared too, but it'll be okay. I'll look after you, both of you." The android promised, hugging Josie tightly to his chest and John against his leg. John's heart pounded as he gripped the android's trousers. Who were these people? Why were they hurting them? At eight years old John was too young to comprehend it. All he knew was that his mother's scream had stopped with that loud popping noise, and the sound of further loud cracks made him flinch and tremble. "Quick, this way." Donald urged, tugging John towards the second floor, where a small bed and toy chest had been set up. The wooden door below was shattered.
"They're in here!" A man's voice shouted, steps sounding on the stairs. Donald put Josie down and threw himself at the first man, wrestling the gun out of his grip and hitting him until he fell down the stairs. John held Josie close and closed his eyes tightly, crouching on the floor near the bed.
"Get away from my children!" Donald shouted murderously, another thump sounding as a third man fell. John cried quietly, not wanting Josie to know. She was already wailing loudly as she gripped his torso tightly, her doll still dangling in her hand. "No!" The androids voice called. John cried out as the breath was knocked from his lungs. A heavy weight pressed down on him as loud bangs filled the room. He heard his sister's cry cut off half way through and closed his eyes tighter. He opened them when the firing stopped, looking up to see Donald's blue stained face, a large hole through his temple. The android hushed him with an expression that begged him not to move. John felt his lip quiver and bit down, closing his eyes and holding his breath as he heard dull steps approaching.
"Did you get them?" A voice called from further down.
"Hang on, just finishing up." The voice above replied. John tried not to flinch as a loud shot sounded, a heavy dead weight landing on his body as Donald went limp. "Now we're done." The man decided, either not noticing or not bothering to check John's body. The steps went away, and John was left trembling in the silence. Oily residue seeped through his clothes, the android's warmth slowly fading as its dead systems cooled. John couldn't stop shaking as his voice stuck in his throat.