Assassination of Memories
Chapter XXII – Whaddya Do When You Know Someone's Gonna Die?
Shadows' POV
"Is she waking up yet?" Fang's voice floated in my ears. No not Fang, the body the voice came from had no scent of the Blood Stone; Fang was hovering on the wall across from the bed I was lying on.
"No. Father was right, you're impatient Ari." The voice of a little girl said attached to the body of 88697-O2. The little girl I had seen after the car accident, when I saw the effect of Angel being taken away from her family.
I felt like crap, being in the place I had run away from so long ago didn't help with that. Damn I had gotten sliced in the stomach just like Blaze. Oh the irony! The smell of anaesthetic and rotting bodies assaulted my nose; I tried not to lose the contents of my stomach. No this was worse than First Branch Organization so it must be Second Branch. What happened to Iggy? The last thing I remembered was him being taken down by the Copies. Everything past that moment was a confusion of smells, colours and sounds. Mainly was everyone else here? Calm down I told myself. You're working yourself up. 'You have a right to worry; Tranq wouldn't be able to survive in the Organization again.' The little voice said. What do you want? I thought sourly. 'Find out if the others are here, they might need your help.' The little voice instructed. Is that so? My eyes blinked slowly open just as Ari started to speak. "I don't understand why Father would let that monster live. It isn't worth the Blood Stone since its tainted now." Ari was standing near the end of my bed, glancing over his shoulder to Fang. Fang was chained to the wall, thick steel chains wrapped around each leg, his waist, torso, his neck and his arms. Fang looked like he was hanging from his outspread arms, being pulled to the ground by the chains around his legs. Something flashed before my eyes, a boy with wings chained in the air a foot above my head, giving me a weak smile filled with sharp teeth. Fang's usually blank face looked pained, his chin resting in his chest.
"Tainted?" 88697-O2 repeated, sitting on a chair next to my bed. We were in a grimy cell with a singled tiny window with bars near the roof suggesting we were partially underground. There was a brown collapsible table pushed up against Fang's wall, a bunch of junk from my closest littered the surface.
They went to the house!? Jared, Ethan... what happened to everybody?
Ari didn't answer his eyes flicking to my face. He began to leave when 88697-O2 stepped into his path. She was a tiny girl, appearing smaller than her age with chestnut brown hair that swept down just below her shoulders in gentle curls framing her long tanned face. Her eyes fiercely glared at Ari, lighter amber than Hunter's fur. I looked between the two as they exchanged a silent conversation though looks, Ari stepped around 88697-O2 slamming the steel door behind him. She seemed so small and insignificant that it seemed impossible Ari would even stop when she got in his way. With a sigh 88697-O2 gazed over to Fang, a slightly sadden expression crossing her face. "How could he be a monster? He's not as horrible as Father." She muttered under her breath. Wait she said Father and horrible in the same sentence, why...
I was getting sick and tired of calling her by her number; I just hated the long string of numbers that made up the identity. And frankly I didn't want to call her O2 for short either. She looked small and fragile, like what people though fairies looked like. I decided to name her Fey seeing I had read many books that called the creatures that included the fairies Fey, it just seemed to fit.
She looked towards me watching me with an expression that said "you'll reopen your wounds" as I sat up. "How long have I been out?" was my first question. "Two days. All three of you." Fey answered. Damn she was just as bad as me or Ari; didn't exactly talk in full sentences there. So they had gotten Iggy too. Okay so it was just me, Fang and Iggy here, I didn't have enough information to work on and I currently didn't know of Iggy's present condition. Until I could investigate further I couldn't get us out of Second Branch. "Where are we?" I asked looking Fey in the eye. She hesitated, "Second Branch... Albert mountain range." Fey sounded like a computer almost though just by the she talked, her voice sounded human enough to make me believe she wasn't a machine. However my nose was giving me doubts, this girl smelled like a machine, no a machine with blood. To put it nicely it was weird, I knew very well I wasn't going to mix up her smell with anyone's. Then I saw a book tucked under the large coat that framed Fey's fragile build. A large book.
CL's book.
Fey stood up moving the chair placing it so it faced the table lined with my junk, getting down to reading. I sat there listening to her breathing, listening to the whispers from pages of the book turning gently. Fang's own heart pounded in my ears, a little faster than I was use to. It was also stronger. Like a predator's. Part of Fang's shirt was ripped blood covering his arm yet there was no wound, I just knew there should be a wound. I probably sat there for a couple hours, silent like a shadow, when I finally figured it out. It was when reality slapped me hard in the face. I didn't fight the feeling of guilty, feeling sorry for Fang and what had happened to him. I pulled my knees to my chest wrapping my arms around my legs letting my head drop into my knees. Fey looked over to me from CL's book. "What's wrong?" she asked. I didn't answer instead I wanted someone dearly to talk to.
Hey are you there little voice? I thought. What should I do? What should I do for Fang? I waited bracing myself for silence. I could almost see a soft smile as it answered back. 'Do what you can, show him the rights and wrongs. Comfort him when he's in pain.' The little voice told me. "I can't do that." I muttered to myself.
'Just do what feels right Shadows; Fang's going to need you.' And another thing, who are you? I asked. 'You know who I am Shadows, but you make it seem like I hate you and I don't.' The little voice answered. "Where's Iggy?" I asked Fey this time. Fey sighed in relief making me raise an eyebrow. "I'm glad you asked. I was getting tired of pretending there Panther Shadows." Fey smiled now sounding more human than computer. The door opened and a boy walked in looking displeased. "Why do I have to watch it?" he growled. "Just do it Logan, and don't use him for a target or I'll put a hole in you." Fey said tucking the book under her jacket again. The boy reeked of Copy, his fur coloured hair falling into his bright green eyes. Logan had a rifle propped on his shoulder; he rolled his eyes as we passed. "You watch over him. Make sure no one touches him." Fey ordered. "Why do I have to watch over it why can't Wolf–" "Him, Logan, him. He's not an animal. And Wolf ran away remember?" Fey said sounding a little irritated opening the door to the cell. We went down the hallway that looked as disgusting as the cell, quite a couple of swing double doors along the hallway. I got a quick look of what was behind one of those doors when a geeky looking Whitecoat came out with a vile of blue liquid that smelled like blood. Behind that set of doors was a long room filled with cages stacked to the ceiling. Blaze would have loved it here, the smell and sense of fear and horror was all around the place making the air thick. Fey led me through another hallway and stopped at a single door with a bored Copy standing guard. He looked around eighteen though I knew very well he was probably around one or two. "Call when she wants out." Fey said turning on her heel going back to my cell sounding like a machine again. Or at least that's where I thought she was going.
"Man don't know what you want with it. I imagine the thing will soon." The Copy grumbled unlocking the door and pushed it open. I entered, freezing just inside the room. The stench of blood almost made me hurl, the Copy closed the door closing me into the room with no fresh air. There was no window in here, making the air very humid and thick with the stench of blood. This cell was so small that the bars that lock off the back quarter of the room seemed to actually lock off half of the room. I came stiffly up to the bars, clutching them while peering into the darkness. In a corner at least four feet away from the bars was a mass of blood, limbs and flesh. It was breathing, Iggy was still alive.
Just barely.
I could see him crimpled in the corner, cover with blood, his body twisted in unnatural angles. The thing that horrified me the most was the golden yellow-brown wings covered in blood bent in odd directions on his back. How could the Copies do that to him? I felt my chest tighten, my throat closed over a sob. My eyes filled with tears, my knees buckled underneath me and I finally lost my stomach of steel on the side wall.
Tears streamed down my face, I wiped my mouth my tears blurring Iggy's nearly lifeless figure slumped in the corner. I transformed into a cat, squeezing myself through the bars padding over to Iggy. His face was distorted with pain, his eyes shut tight. Even though he was blind Iggy kept his eyes open as if fighting his disability. He was hurting, though for once seemed to give in and just close his eyes. And Iggy... what do I do for him? I thought appalled.
'What feels right to you?' the little voice asked.
What feels right to me? I transformed back, touching Iggy's shoulder. Iggy didn't respond, until I wrapped my arms around him trying not to hurt him. "What........ Shadows?" Iggy murmured hoarsely. "How are you?" I asked my voice shaking. "Like pudding. Pudding with nerve endings. Pudding in great pain." Ig laughed weakly. He still had a sense of humour even in this state... good lord. I let go of Iggy sitting back, he still didn't open his eyes.
I looked at his wings. His wings should have been beautiful, but those Copies had destroyed them. I slowly unfurled my own wings, comparing them to Iggy's.
The boy seemed to have drifted into unconsciousness as it took a firm shake to get Ig to respond. "What?" "Brace yourself." I told him taking hold of his wing and rearranged it to it looked like mine. Iggy arched his back and scream, it echoed in my head making me feel bad for putting him in pain. "What are you– doing?" Iggy choked. "Fixing your wings, here it comes again." I said guiltily, putting his other wing back in place. I was met with the same result; Iggy slumped down his breathing heavy and ragged with pain.
"What if you're doing it wrong?" Iggy grounded out. I shook my wings out, like usual I got at least one loose feather. I picked it up, sliding it between two of his fingers that were bent in the wrong direction. Iggy's thumb awkwardly stroked the feather, with difficulty his other hand wrapped around mine.
"You... too?" he moaned clutching my hand. "Yeah." I said quietly pulling my wings in all the way. Iggy nodded slightly his hand slipping off of mine, then he forced himself back awake. He didn't speak, I found myself feeling I should go see Fang. "I– I have to go. Just– just be okay." I said and kissed his forehead without thinking. Iggy seemed to have missed it becoming unconscious again. I went back to the Copy, the instant I stepped out of the door Fey was there waiting for me.
"It's the other boy. He's up." She said when out of earshot of the Copy leading me quickly back to the cell. "He wasn't doing well either. I cut him down and he curled into a ball. He's not responding to anything we say and looks like he's going to be sick when we bring food." Fey filled me in opening the door. Logan was there, standing near to Fang who was curled up in the corner holding his head like it was about to explode. I rushed over dropping beside Fang though didn't touch him. "Fang." I said quietly. Human ears wouldn't have picked it up, though Fang's eyes open a slit glancing over to me. Those eyes hit me with a hard slap of guilt, filled with pain, the eyes of a caged animal. I didn't want to touch him in fear that he would react wrong. I kept saying his name to him quietly, talking to him like he was a frightened animal. Fey had a glass of water on hand which I took from her. I brought it up to Fang's lips letting it drizzle into his mouth slowly. Fang curled into a tighter ball clutching his head more tightly. I knew that the sound of the water hitting his teeth was vibrating up his skull painfully but Fang needed to get some liquid into his system. He didn't swallow, just letting the water run down his throat. Fang finished when he shut his mouth suddenly, water spilling down his shirt. He turned away from me slightly cringing in pain. Fey left then with Logan closing the door as quietly as they could. Still it was a heavy steel door and Fang tightened his ball when the noise echoed through the cell. I laid down on the bed, wishing Fey had left me CL's book. Soon I drifted off to sleep, my dreams a flurry of sounds, sights and scents. Iggy was in his cell still in his pile of hurt, his eyes still closed as he whispered one single word. A name.
"Ser– enity."
I woke up to screaming that threatened to burst my eardrums. Fang screamed in pain sounding more horrible than Iggy, curling tighter and tighter into his ball. I jumped up slapping my hand over his mouth as Fey and Logan ran through the door. The wrong reaction I was worrying about happened then, Fang bit down on the top finger of my hand that was over his mouth. Blood dripped down my hand a crazed spark lighting in Fang's eyes.
Holy hell Fang had... fangs, canines. Sharp ones at that, they barely needed any pressure to split the skin in my finger. I jerked my hand away Fang's teeth creating a small gash in my finger. He was stiff, all his muscles locked, his eyes focused on me with many expressions.
I saw that trapped animal again, the crazed spark, confusion, and horror, even a glint like I was a juice piece of meat. He sat there crouched in his corner though I knew very well he wasn't completely healed, at any little sound pain would flash across his face. He had no idea what was happening to him, the look in his eyes told me he thought I had the answer. I did, but we were going to have to lay down the rules.
"Fang." I said quietly, he reacted like a dog hearing its name. I continued in the same quiet gentle tone. "I know that you're probably confused, but whatever happens you have to fight the urge to lash out when someone touches you. If you scream you are only going to bring yourself more pain." I was thankful that he processed this given that Fang looked away a little as if he was working this out. "Fang," I paused when Fang looked back at me. He was eager to listen; he was probably going to do what I wanted him to do. "... I'm going to tell you what's happening to you but you have to be prepared for it. Dismiss everything anyone's ever told you and listen and believe what I'm telling you. Can you do that?" I asked. He wouldn't, no matter how much someone thought they were ready they weren't really. But this was my responsibility, I had to tell him. As I did Fang sat there, his face and eyes blank again, blinking when he didn't believe it. I found that he was shaking his head a little as I talked, trying to push himself back into the corner curling into a ball again. Fey and Logan stood on the sidelines watching as Fang received reality. But it was as if I was telling him he was going to die slowly and painfully. I stopped when Fang was curled in his ball again clutching his knees; all life seemed to have left his eyes. Fey stepped forward but I waved her off shaking my head. Fang needed to be alone now. He wasn't in the condition right now to have someone saying sorry. It wasn't a death sentence even though he was taking it that way. I decided then would be a good time to visit Iggy no matter what time it was. I grabbed the glass of water, transferring the water into my water bottle that was on the table as we walked to Iggy's cell. "Were you telling the truth?" Fey asked. "You think I'd do that to him? Don't tell me you didn't see his face." I shot back making Fey flinched.
If possible Iggy was doing worse, he didn't respond at all this time. I didn't want to hurt him seeing I'd have to shove at him hard to wake him up. Instead I gave him some water; he actually swallowed some of it weakly. I stayed with Iggy for a couple hours, aware that Fey was standing there the whole time watching. "We should go," she finally said, "It's almost time for lunch."
When we came back Fang still looked like all the life had been sucked out of him however the instant food was brought Fang looked like he was going to be sick. "Just some bread would be nice." I told Fey and she went off to get what I wanted. The days continued on like that, a routine that I would stay with Fang for a couple hours then go to Iggy for a couple hours, giving both of them water seeing Fang refused to even touch any food. Iggy couldn't swallow any solid food and any substance close to liquid (soup for example) I gave him came right back up again. Though Fang was getting better unlike Iggy, he moved more as the days progressed, he would say good morning to me when I woke up.
One night I couldn't sleep, watching Fang in the darkness as he thrashed around. He startled me when he bolted up right, looking terrified drenched with sweating before he lost his own stomach. I got out of bed, giving him a few mouthfuls of water and wiping his mouth.
"You okay?" I asked gingerly touching his back. I could vaguely feel his wings tucked underneath his shirt, like me he seemed to be a side or stomach sleeper. He had a trembling hand on his mouth shaking his head looking nauseated. "Tell me about it." I told him. This was the first dream Fang had that he looked so utterly horrified waking up in the middle of the night. Fang seemed hesitant before he let it spill.
"I was running through the forest, there were four people in front of me screaming. I was chasing them, they kept screaming why I was doing this. When I got closer I saw it was Max, Gazzy, Nudge and Angel. I caught up to them and I– I– I killed them. Then I..." Fang couldn't continue, closing his eyes and shaking underneath my hand. I rubbed his shoulder taking a deep breath.
"I'm sorry to say that's normal Kiba. It's just a nightmare, you didn't really do it." I told him. "But I enjoyed it." Fang spat sound completely revolted with himself.
"I know." I said softly still rubbing his shoulder. "Don't stay awake though, it will be more vivid the longer you stay awake. Try thinking of an alternate end for that nightmare Kiba and replay it in your head a couple times. After do that for a while the dream should change." I advised him getting up to go back to bed. Fang grabbed onto my arm looking up into my eyes his hand holding so tightly he could break my arm. He looked so much like a child, so helpless, so frightened. "I might need your help." He confessed quietly. I sat down next to him and brainstormed ideas with him. In the end we figured out that everyone was going to fly off a cliff, and Fang would be stuck on the ground for some reason. Fang decided to fight the horrifying nightmare with his own fear; he wouldn't be able to fly after them because he would find himself stuck in a cage. I wasn't so sure about that but I let him do it getting back into bed. I watched him again as he sat there in silence rehearsing what he wanted to happen in his head. That took around half an hour before his eyes slid close and he sat back against the wall.
"What day is it?" I groaned. It was so difficult just before the 26th and right after, I didn't think Fang would survive it. Said boy glanced over his food. The kid had at least a month's worth of food at once, he was just finishing. "July... 3rd, 4th maybe." He answered getting back to eating. "Thanks Kiba." I said rolling my eyes as he shovelled food into his mouth. "I'm glad you're feeling better Fang." Fey smiled. He nodded his eyes meeting mine. He swallowed, "How's Ig?"
Yep he just had to bring that up. "Not good." I confessed. Fang had asked to see Iggy but I told him that wouldn't be a very good idea. He asked again right after I had answered his question. "Not yet. Your nose probably won't get over it." I said this time it was Fang's turn to roll his eyes. By now my hair had grown out of its usual short boy's cut. It swung down to my chin now, still sticking up at the front. "You should really cut your hair kid." Logan told Fang. His black hair now went past his waist; he had at least three elastics spaced out to keep it under control. Fang pushed his shaggy wildly long bangs out of his face still stuffing himself. "You do look like a ragamuffin." Fey pointed out and Fang ignored her.
"Looks like we're having stuffed turkey for dinner." Logan said. Fang ruffled his feathers making himself look bigger, a deep growl coming from the back of his throat. My wings were much like Fang's wings, just a little sleeker and had a brighter sheen than his. Fang kept his wings out now, finding that he could make himself more intimidating with them and a growl.
"Dang this kid's gettin' creepy as hell. He looks like a demon when he does that." Logan commented as Fang finished his food. "Does Second Branch have a yard?" I asked. "Yes but they'd kill me if I brought you there. That is one thing this girl can't do." Fey answered. She still didn't know her name I gave her, though I knew very well that Fey was just a repeat of me after reading CL's book. So it was just a matter of time until we got out of here. When Fang finished his food he instantly reached for CL's book.
Fang was reading it too now, it seemed like a disease to read CL's book. "I'm seeing Ig. Try not to shred anything while I'm gone, Kiba." I told Fang getting up. I found that sometimes he'd fall asleep on the bed when I left then shred it from a nightmare or a dream. Although it was different dreams, he hadn't had another dream of killing his friends since that night just before the 25th. Fang nodded though otherwise seemed completely oblivious to what I had said his eyes darting over the pages. The kid was a fast reader, engrossed with this human child that happened to be babysat by the Organization. I also think he read the book because it seemed to be CL's journal too, CL vividly describe the scenery around the Organization as they had let the kid out when CL got to be too snoopy for them.
As I had said before Iggy wasn't doing any better, he was faring much worse than Fang had been. I felt responsible for it, though my life had turned upside down so many times it turned right side up after Ride and company had moved to Branklin.
Was it really their fault, or would this have happened if they hadn't come? Well more likely that everyone would be dead except for me. I didn't even know what happened to the others –or Blaze for that matter. I found Fang was probably speaking more than he would to anyone else, hopefully Ride wouldn't kill me afterwards. "Why aren't they dead yet?" I asked Fey. It seemed odd to me Iggy and Fang were still alive. "Father hasn't come in for Inventory yet. He won't 'step foot' into Second Branch unless it's for Inventory. Once Father's done checking everything out he'll probably see what's going on with these two..." Fey eyes checked Iggy over before she heaved a sigh. "But Shadows... Iggy might... not make it to then..." Fey said her eyes meeting mine. I was sitting on the ground next to the bars like I always did after I gave Iggy water, pressing my face against the bars staring at Iggy. I knew she was right but something told me not to give up just yet. Maybe something could happen that could save Ig's life. Though frankly I could use the Stone, it would make things much, much easier.
However –yes however– there was the part of getting it out of Fang with one of the many rituals.
And most of these tactics were excruciatingly painful.
...
Except one.
...
And there was no way in the fiery pits of Hell I was going to do 'that one'.
I sat back on my heels taking a deep breath trying to sort out the least painful methods of extracting the Blood Stone from Fang. Most of these methods though came with heavy consequences and side effects. None of which really appealed to me since they would most likely kill me. Iggy shifted slightly, the only movement he really did, mumbling that name again. "What do you think that name does?" Fey asked having heard Iggy murmuring 'Ser-enity' like he did every day. "Don't know. It means something to him though." I muttered hugging my knees.
I cringed grabbing my head as a stabbing pain threatened to split my skull open. I hadn't had a painful vision like this for months, maybe even a year.
I was standing in one of the long rooms filled with cages standing right inside the door. Suddenly I was in front of a couple cages focusing on the three kids. The one that stood out the most was in the cage right in front of me on the floor, he was sprawled out on the bottom of his cage with a off white clammy face his breaths coming out in ragged huffs. His curly golden brown hair clung to his face and neck, his bright brown eyes just slits. In the cage next to him was another boy around his age, probably eleven or so, with short copper blond hair and large worry-filled autumn brown eyes. Both boys were quite fair, I was guessing they were brothers. The one on the floor was smaller in build than the other; I could see the blond boy had pretty sharp teeth. In the cage above the blond's cage was a boy around my age maybe even a year younger. He had this dark orange hair that went a little ways past his jaw, he had his head pressed up against the bars of his cage trying to look at the two boys underneath him. With ghost worthy white skin and dark golden eyes I wondered vaguely if he was a Twilight fan."Bryden? Yo Bryden, answer me." The blond boy pleaded, his hand shaking the other boy's shoulder. "Bryden! Come on bro open your eyes some more!" He looked frightened, his voice rising as he spoke. Orangey clutched a bar of his cage with his hand sighing. "Shawn it's no use, just leave him alone." Orangey told him calmly. I could hear Bryden's breaths becoming more dragged out, his heart slowing. His eyes slid close, his cage became silent and he didn't breathe back in.
"BRYDEN!"
Someone was shaking my shoulder; I heard a voice speaking to me. "Shadows, hey you okay?" Fey asked. I was breathing heavily, sweat ran down my neck as I shuttered. "You were muttering to yourself. Are you sure you're okay?" Fey looked concerned. "Come one let's go." I got up without taking another look at Iggy as we left. When we were out of earshot of the guard on the way to the cell I asked a question I never thought would come from my mouth.
"Say that you know someone's gonna die, what would you do?" I asked. "Like if I knew someone was going to kill someone?" Fey questioned and I shrugged. Fey looked away, thinking my question over. "Before I wouldn't care. I'd never give a thought to it. Now, well, I'd try to stop it. If I knew I couldn't stop it I'd probably still try to save the person before they died. 'Course that most likely wouldn't happen." Fey said shoving her hands in her pockets. Sometimes I forgot she was younger than Angel, she was defiantly smarter than anyone her age.
I made my mind up then. I don't know the cause of Bryden's death, but I was going to save him. I'd do what I could, it was the least I could do after the life I've lead.
its 2 am and I can't sleep
it's been like this all week
we lost another good man yesterday
I close my eyes and say your name
it's the only thing that keeps me sane
think of you half a world away
fight the tears
it's hard to live like this
lying here
so much that I wish
that every child would know the taste of freedom
there are dreams still worth believing
and just might come true in the end
I want all these troubles far behind us, better days to come and find us
and I just want to be in your arms again
its 6am I need more sleep
its been another hard long week
the kids are wearing me all but down
I close my eyes and say your name
its the only thing that keeps me sane
silence is such a lonely sound
baby be safe, I know you've got a job to do,
keep the faith and all the love I'm sending you
let every child feel the taste of freedom,
there are dreams still worth believing
just might come true in the end
I want all these troubles far behind us,
better days to come and find us
and I just wanna be in your arms again
ohh whatever I may have to do,
nothings gonna stop me coming back to you,
every stolen moment washed away, yeah,
yeah I want all these troubles far behind us,
better days to come and find us ,
I just wanna be in your arms again,
I just wanna be in your arms again, again
George Canyon
In Your Arms Again