The small fire flickered in the cold wind, spitting sparks into the sky with its smoke. A harsh wind would occasionally pull at the tents and dance with the fire, throwing smoke and sparks into the boys sitting around it for warmth. No one said a word. They had continued on, carrying what should be the corpse of their close friend into the back of their truck. They had to get far away from that horrible place but had to stop a few hours before the sun rose, exhaustion and sickness sending them to their tents as soon as they were up. They didn't even argue over where to put Evan till he woke up.
Yet as the sun rose, those who couldn't sleep found themselves sitting around the fire, a cup of water or coffee held tight in their gloved hands. Jonathan however, stayed inside his tent, watching over Evan. His chest rose and fell slowly, but Jonathan could see the machine. He pressed the side of his head to Evan's chest, listening to his heartbeat and the sound of gears. He knew it was Evan by the small scar on his forehead, the remains of the wound that killed him.
"How are you here?" Jonathan wondered aloud, still listening to his heartbeat and the gears. "You are dead but living at the same time...You exist but you don't. You shouldn't be here but you are right where you need to be; where I need you to be...Are you the Evan I know? Or one I've never met?" Sighing, Jonathan sat up, his hand reaching for the owl patch on his shoulder. He yawned, fighting back another wave of exhaustion. He knew he'd be sick again if he didn't sleep but he didn't want to miss the moment that Evan woke up. Despite that, he found himself laying down beside him, wrapping himself up in a blanket. The sleeping bag and other blankets he had he covered Evan with. He tried his best to stay awake, watching Evan's chest rise and fall slowly before his eyes drifted closed and he counted himself to sleep.
"Are you…" There was a hand on Jonathan's shoulder. "Blue…" Jonathan's eyes snapped open, staring up into the dark eyes of someone who should be dead. Evan stared back down at him, his dark eyes wide with recognition.
"Evan...Y-You're awake."
"Jonathan."
"Oh my god." Jonathan sat up quickly, making Evan jump back away from him. "Sorry, sorry. It's just...you know who I am?"
"You're Jonathan...I'm the Vanoss-III."
"I dropped you off a bridge!"
"I remember. I just woke up and I had a body again." Evan held out his hands, a look of amazement on his face as he did. "I'm alive again, Jonathan!" He laughed, his smile bright and full of wonder. Jonathan never thought he'd see that smile before. "I have to tell you something...But I can't remember what it is." Jonathan knew he should tell him that he wasn't alive, that he was just a cruel manipulation by whoever created him.
"It's okay...You don't have to say anything." Jonathan said, giving him a small smile. He couldn't tell him. "Do you want to see the others?" Evan's eyes lit up and he nodded. "It's cold out there so you'll need this." He handed Evan his red jacket, watching him pull it on. Jonathan wondered if Evan knew about his dreams; if he knew how many times Jonathan had seen that jacket covered in blood. He pushed the thought away and unzipped the tent, stepping into the cold. "He's awake." Tyler stood up, almost dropping his cup as he did. Evan stepped out of the tent shakily, his smile spreading when he saw the others.
"Tyler!" Evan suddenly stepped forward and hugged Tyler tightly, startling him. Tyler didn't hug Evan back. "It's me, Evan!" His smile wavered when he saw Tyler's cold expression. "What's wrong?" Tyler didn't answer anything. Brock and Lui pushed past Tyler, pulling Evan into a warm hug. Craig gave him a smile, glancing nervously at Tyler who didn't move.
"I can't believe it." Brock said as he moved away from the hug, tears in his eyes. "How…?"
"I'm the Vanoss-III Evan. I remember everything that happened!" Evan explained. "I'm me."
"No...No." Tyler suddenly said, his voice full of pain and anger. "Evan is dead. You're a copy. A machine. Sent to hurt us more." He took a step towards Evan, making him back up, a look of fear spreading across his face. "You aren't Evan."
"Yes, I am! I know who I am, Tyler!" Evan cried, looking to Jonathan for help.
"No, you don't! You're a computer chip! You are a series of codes pretending to be Evan! You're a machine!" He suddenly hit Evan, sending him falling to the snow.
"Stop it!" Jonathan yelled, suddenly lunging forward to shove Tyler. He stumbled backwards, able to catch himself before he fell.
"And don't get me started on you! You're as much as an imposter as he is!" Tyler swung at Jonathan who jumped out of the way, almost tripping over Evan as he scrambled away from them. "You'll blindly believe whatever he tells you! Don't you see? This is a trick! It's meant to hurt us!" Tyler grabbed Jonathan's collar, choking him. The owl patch on Tyler's shoulder glinted in the bright light, it's large eyes watching everything. "We have to kill that thing before it hurts us. Before it kills us!"
"Evan isn't going to do that!" Jonathan gasped out. "Just because some parts of him have been replaced with gears and wires doesn't mean that he isn't human anymore." Tyler pushed Jonathan back, almost sending him falling to the snow. He caught himself and gasped for air, his furious gaze locked on Tyler whose anger had now turned to Evan.
"You should be dead." Tyler snarled.
"I-I know…" Evan stammered.
"Did you know we would be here?"
"No."
"Liar!" Tyler swung his foot back to kick the machine in front of him but was stopped by Brock who shoved Tyler backwards.
"Stop it!" Brock yelled, shocking the others. "Just stop. Evan is telling the truth, he doesn't know how he got here. And don't you dare hit him again. He's Evan. You said there was a wound on his head, do you see the scar? That's our Evan!"
"Our Evan is dead."
"But he's right here...right now." Brock said, pointing to Evan as Jonathan helped him to his feet. Evan leant against him, looking between Brock and Tyler with wide, fearful eyes. "Yes, him being here hurts us and messes with us, but he's here! Jonathan is right. He's still human."
"This is fucked." Tyler shook his head. "We're going to die in this fucking wasteland and it'll be your fault for thinking that monster is our friend." He turned on his heel, storming away from the camp into the woods.
"Tyler where are you going?" Craig yelled after him. Tyler didn't answer, only flipped Craig off as he disappeared among the trees.
"Give him time...He's just shocked is all." Brock said, trying to reassure Evan. He didn't meet Brock's gaze, his dark eyes on the snow. "You're a miracle, Evan."
"He hates me. He has always hated me like this...I'm real, aren't I?" Jonathan nodded. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks but he fought them back. He would not cry in front of Evan.
"You're real."
"How? How am I real, Jonathan?" Evan cried. He held onto his blanket tightly, his knuckles white. Evan refused to eat, to even talk to the others, his fear of them and their anger driving him back into Jonathan's tent. "You're the one who knows how machines work!"
"I know...I know...It's just...Tyler thinks that this is wrong. Once a body is dead...it's wrong to bring it back. You are like a zombie or a ghost to him. You shouldn't exist like this." Jonathan sighed. "I can't tell you how you are real, Evan. Do you feel real?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what 'real' is?"
"I'm existing."
"Are you happy?"
"Maybe one day…When this is over."
"And do you know what will happen to you if you don't achieve that goal?"
"I know what you are doing." Evan's tone had suddenly darkened, his hands slowly letting go of the blanket. "Am I just another mechanical experiment to you? Like all those machines you tested for your father?"
"No. You're Evan." Jonathan reached for Evan's hand, holding on to it tightly. "That's all that matters."
"I've been sent here to hurt you, Jonathan. I have to tell you something." Evan said sadly. Jonathan knew that he would cry if he could.
"Then tell me. I can handle it."
"You can't handle what you'll find." Evan said, making Jonathan freeze. Evan had said that to him before in a nightmarish dream. He couldn't know about the dreams, could he?
"Tell me, Evan."
"I can't remember...But I do know that I don't want to tell you." Evan was shaking. Jonathan pulled him into a hug, pressing his forehead against Evan's shoulder.
"You have to do what is right."
"This isn't right. This world isn't right."
"One...Two...Three…"
"Evan!" The scream escaped Jonathan's throat as he reached for his friend, his eyes wide with shock.
"Four...Five...Six…" Another gunshot echoed through the air, echoing painfully in Jonathan's ears. He could only watch Evan as he reached his arm around to his back, his hands coming away bloody. Blood dripped to the snow.
"Evan!"
"Seven...Eight...Nine…"
"Save me." Evan said, reaching for Jonathan before he collapsed to the snow, his empty eyes staring up at the sky.
Jonathan awoke with a gasp only to come face to face with the barrel of a gun. Still struggling to catch his breath, he looked up, meeting Tyler's calm gaze.
"Tyler…"
"Move." His eyes narrowed slightly. Over his shoulder, Jonathan could see the night sky and the faint glow of the dying fire. Behind Jonathan, Evan slept peacefully.
"Tyler don't...He's not going to hurt us." Jonathan said calmly. "Put the gun down, let's just talk about this okay? Let's get Brock and Lui...we'll talk, okay? We can figure this out. There's no need for thi-"
"You always say 'do what is right'...This is right, Jonathan. I'm sorry." Tyler suddenly swung the barrel at Jonathan, the hard metal crashing into his skull. He cried out in pain as he fell to the soft floor of the tent, blood trickling down the side of his head. He struggled to stay conscious, swinging his legs out to trip Tyler before he could make it to Evan. As he fell, he pulled the trigger, the bullet creating a hole in the tent just beyond Evan's head. Evan jumped awake, scrambling backwards as Jonathan got to his feet, grabbing Tyler's collar and dragged him into the snow. Tyler suddenly rolled, twisting Jonathan's arm as he did.
"Fuck!" Jonathan winced in pain as he struggled to hold onto Tyler, the pain bringing him to his knees. Tyler pulled away and tackled Jonathan back down to the snow, wrapping his arms around his neck in a chokehold. Jonathan gasped for air, flailing his limbs and kicking at Tyler in an attempt to get away.
"Tyler stop!" Evan yelled. "This isn't you!" Caught off guard, Tyler's grip loosened as he looked up at Evan, giving Jonathan the opportunity to get away. A strong kick to his side threw Tyler down onto the snow, reminding him of his anger. He grabbed his fallen gun and aimed it at Evan.
"Better to kill you before you kill us!" Tyler pulled the trigger as Jonathan kicked his wrist, the bullet once more barely missing Evan who flinched away. Letting out a snarl of rage, Tyler grabbed Jonathan's ankle, pulling him down to the snow.
"Run!" Jonathan yelled as he scrambled to his feet. Evan bolted into the woods and Jonathan followed, glancing back over his shoulder to see Tyler close behind.
"Why won't you listen to me, Jonathan? Do what is right!" Tyler yelled, his voice echoing through the cold forest. Jonathan ignored him, keeping his eyes on Evan's red jacket up ahead. A bullet flew past Jonathan, chips of wood flying off a tree beside him. Taking a deep breath, he ducked behind a tree, watching Evan turn back over his shoulder to look for him. Something dark caught Jonathan's eye, his gaze turning away from Evan to Evan. The soldier stood in the snow, blood dripping from his gloved hands. Jonathan looked between both Evans, not sure which one was real.
Tyler suddenly ran past him, not aware of Jonathan till he jumped out from behind his cover and brought Tyler down to the snow. Tyler cried out in shock, throwing Jonathan off. "Listen to me! Listen!" Tyler grabbed Jonathan's coat, shaking him roughly. His head rang with pain, making him reach out to grab onto Tyler's arms in an attempt to steady himself but also to struggle away from him. "Stop!" Tyler yelled as Jonathan struggled to get away. "Listen to me! Evan will kill us! He's been sent here by whoever sent those war machines! He's here to hurt us! He isn't our friend! He doesn't remember you!"
"Yes, he does! He's Evan! That consciousness chip is the original one! The one that remembers everything, before and after death!" Jonathan cried, struggling to push Tyler off him. The owl patches on their shoulders stared at each other with their large wide eyes.
"You dropped him off a bridge!" Tyler yelled. "This is a liar! A big fucking liar!"
"He's Evan!" Jonathan yelled back, hearing running footsteps towards them.
"Tyler stop!" Brock called out. There were footsteps in the opposite direction.
"He's a liar!"
"Stop!"
"It's Evan!"
"Liar!"
"Stop it!"
"Dear Tyler…" They all froze. Tyler looked up, seeing Evan standing in front of him, struggling to catch his breath. "I never knew how to tell you that I am alive but I do know how to tell you that I am dead. They...They are going to kill me very shortly, Tyler. I know you would be scared and angry, yelling at me to fight." Tyler dropped Jonathan to the snow, getting to his feet as tears welled up in his eyes. "You wouldn't let me give up…"
"You wrote to me." Tyler breathed, reaching for Evan.
"You got my letters?" Evan asked as Tyler nodded, taking a slow step towards him.
"I'm sorry...I know it's you, Evan...But you should be dead...You shouldn't exist like this. It's so cruel." Tyler said, shaking his head. The gun in his hand shook.
"But I'm here...With you. Right now. I don't want to hurt you, ever. I know that I'm not what you want me to be...But I'm Evan. I know I am. I remember our home by the bridge, I remember 3:57. I remember my toy soldiers and my poems." Evan said, his voice full of pleading. "I remember you." Tyler dropped the gun, pressing the palms of his hands to his eyes, hiding his tears.
"Fucking...god damn it." Tyler cried as Evan took a step towards him and pulled him into a hug, both of them dropping to their knees as Tyler cried onto his shoulder. "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry…" Tyler sobbed. "I believe you...I'm so sorry."
The sun rose slowly over the trees, the warm light making the world sparkle. A thin ray of light shone through the bullet hole in the tent, Evan's red jacket reflecting the warm glow.
"He hit you pretty bad...Are you sure you are okay?" Evan asked; the small cloth in his hand damp with warm water and blood. He cleaned the wound on Jonathan's head, the cut deeper than both of them had thought it was. Jonathan nodded, still feeling light headed from his fight with Tyler.
"I'm fine...Really." Jonathan said, giving him a smile. He had seen the real Evan, but he had also seen the ghost of him, standing among the trees. Something told him that both of them were real. He had to ask Evan if he knew about his dreams, if he knew that he had once been a soldier. "Evan, I've been hav-"
"I remember what I have to tell you." Evan suddenly said, dropping the cloth. He stared at Jonathan with wide, fearful eyes for a moment before he lowered his gaze, shaking his head. "I can't...I can't do it."
"Tell me, Evan. What is it?" Jonathan begged. "I can handle it." Evan sighed and shook his head again as he looked back up at him. "Please, tell me."
"I'm not the only machine." Evan finally said, his sad gaze locked onto Jonathan's. "Someone else here is a machine too…"