The train sped towards Solaris. Molly's heart was pounding as she thought of all those cures held in Liam's hands.
"Okay, so you two, we haven't been a thousand percent honest," Alli's voice chimed in.
"What?" Liam asked, turning away from the window towards them.
"The alligators are definitely in Solaris. But, the team of nine rebel gators lead by Alfonso…they're all there, too. Hiding in bushes and such. Except for us, of course. And they all have the special tasers."
"Okaaay," Molly said slowly. "And?"
"And we're going to get rid of the alligators. Well, at least, we're going to lock them off until they die."
"I thought you said their weakness was the Operation," Molly said accusingly.
"Like we said, we weren't exactly honest. But hey," Alli continued as Liam tried to interrupt. "You guys are still on our side, right? We even have special tasers for you."
"Then what was the point of all that? Getting the cure and everything? I'm confused," Liam said, his face slightly upset.
"We lied about a few things because we wanted to get the cure, mostly because without the cure, the alligators are too afraid to perform Operations. But also because we want the human race back."
"If you lied about some things, did you lie about not being able to be a human again?"
Alli paused. "It was a half-lie. We said we were positive we couldn't be humans again, but, in all honesty…maybe there is a chance."
It was the first time Molly had seen Alli not being harsh or sarcastic, which was a nice change.
"Stop for Solaris, stop for Solaris!"
"You're saying-there's going to be a war? Right now?" Molly asked, her voice shaky.
"Of sorts."
"That would've been nice to know!" Liam spluttered as they started getting up from their seats. "We're kids, and you're just throwing us into the thick of a hundred alligators shooting bullets and electricity like spitballs?"
Gayle turned to Liam. "You aren't kids. Kids don't struggle with their minds to become someone they don't remember. Kids don't risk their lives every day trying to do so. Kids don't get hunted down for trying to be who they once were. You two are adults. So kindly act like it."
Liam glared at her. "Thats not how it works," he began, but they were already moving off the train.
"Molly," Alli said. "This is extremely important. You need to take the cures, round up all the villagers, and take them to Kappn's island. They cannot be caught in the crossfire." she turned to Liam. "You're a human, and you have things alligators don't, so you'll be fighting."
Liam nodded tersely as Alli handed him a taser. Gayle gave one to Molly, just for self-protection.
"No!" Molly gasped. "You can't throw him into war and make me run off to a safe home! Thats completely unfair; and I can fly! I can shoot them from above!"
"And they'll just point their guns up instead of forward. Easy." Alli countered flatly. "No time for arguing. Go!"
They exploded out out of the train station, Alli and Gayle immediately shooting into the crowd. Liam turned towards Molly.
"Molly," he said softly. "Don't worry about me, alright? Just go and send the villagers into the island. Please." He handed her the cures, and Molly took them hesitantly. They shared a glance, and Liam ran out of the station, Molly quickly following. She looked around and saw Filbert, cowering under a tree, eyes wide.
Round up the villagers. Molly started towards him.
"M-molly! They said you were a criminal! I ha-have to report you…" he stuttered.
"They were lying, Filbert. They're the bad guys. We need to get everyone to the island, now." Molly's heart swelled with rage at the thought of poor Filbert, clueless and afraid, hiding from the big creatures searching for his neighbor and calling her an evil criminal. He's so innocent!
Filbert paused, then nodded. "Are we going to get hurt?"
"If we stay here, yes. We're going to get hurt."
"Whats all that in your hands?" Filbert asked. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he studied the cures silently.
He remembers them, Molly realized. From the candy.
"No time to explain. It's a very long story." Molly grabbed his paw. They ran around the village and gathered up all the residents of Solaris, then started towards the dock. They were halfway there, when a horrible sight caught Molly's eyes and she stopped dead.
An alligator was sitting on top of Liam, right outside the town hall. Liam was yelling and scrabbling, and before Molly knew what was happening, the alligator gripped the top of Liam's head and tugged it up.
No…
The alligator sharply bashed Liam's head on the pavement. A strangled shriek leaped out of Molly's throat.
"Filbert," she gasped, trembling. "Filbert, take these vials. You have to lead the rest of the group into the island, I have to help Liam, please hurry!"
Filbert nodded, his eyes scared. He took the cures and raced off to the dock. Molly started towards Liam, who was still screaming as the alligator grabbed the top of his head, smirking in delight.
Molly was almost there. She was so close, when suddenly, an arm closed around her wing.
Molly whirled around to see her attacker. And her heart nearly stopped.
"Jacques, what the hell are you doing?!" Molly screamed. Jacques glared at her, his eyes wild with anger, his grip tightening.
"That kid, that kid you're chasing after! I'm sick of you making cow eyes at him. Stay back and let that gator do what he does best."
Molly shrieked at him, unable to comprehend words. The alligator bashed Liam's head on the pavement again and Molly strained, strained with all her might towards him. Liam stopped screaming, the light left his eyes, and he dropped like a ragdoll.
"LIAM!" Molly wailed.
"I'm not letting you save him," Jacques said softly. "So just-"
Molly felt a burning rage in her body. He could be dead, because of this jealous bird. I will kill him. I will kill him.
Molly brought her knee up and kicked him right where it counted. His grip instantly faltered and Molly rocketed for the alligator. She whipped out her taser and shot him, repeatedly pressing the trigger even after the alligator had fallen. She ran to Liam and dropped next to him.
"Liam," Molly choked out, trembling with terror and fury. "O-oh my god, Liam." Don't you just sit there like an idiot! Do something, Molly!
Molly could not stop reliving those moments. She was so utterly helpless as Liam's head was hit against the pavement. It must've been painful; he had gone from yelling in anger to screaming in fear. Screaming in a terrifying, horrible way.
Molly's blood ran cold as she realized what she had to do next. Slowly, trembling, the sounds of war went silent around her as she dipped her head next to where Liam's heart was. She knew she'd hear the steady beat, the drum of reassurance that everything was alright.
Instead, she found nothing.
Molly felt sick as the world spun out of control.
"Liam, no, you bastard, don't you dare die on me now," Molly rasped to him. Being angry was the only energy powerful enough to keep her sanity running. She thought of Jacques. If he hadn't clutched her like that, Liam would be alive. The fuel she needed shot through her and she screamed, screamed at Liam. "Wake up! Wake up! I did not go through hell and back for you to die! Wake! UP!"
Trembling, Molly's hand brushed over his wrist. He can't…he can't be dead. It's not possible.
All hope was drained from Molly's body, and she was ready to start running off to beat up Jacques. She summoned her strength, and tried to get up.
Instead, she burst into tears. She sobbed loudly and uglily, looking at the pallor of Liam's face. Dead. It didn't seem real, it couldn't-
And then she felt it. A stirring. Molly gasped and choked and she madly traced where she had felt the movement. Her wing was still on Liam's wrist, and she could just scarcely feel it. A pulse!
"Liam? Liam! Say something!" Molly gripped him and shook him, and she knew it was a bad idea, especially with his head; but she couldn't stop herself. "Say something, you idiot! Please!"
And then light came back to Liam's eyes, and they drifted towards her. They were flickering with all sorts of things; pain, confusion, relief.
But there was one thing that was not there.
Recognition.
"L-Liam…?" Molly looked at him, waiting for a response. He stared at her with a frown. "Liam, are you okay? Say something!"
"…Who…" he began, and then his eyes, his dark-brown, almost black eyes, rolled away and faded off again. Molly looked around and finally reality came to her; she was in the middle of battle. It was a miracle that with all her sobbing and screaming she hadn't been noticed yet. She had to get Liam to somewhere safe. My house is nearby, Molly quickly calculated. She soon came across a problem; Liam was around nine times her weight, considering she was a tiny duck. There was no way she'd be able to drag him to her house, let alone lifting him so his head injury didn't bump along the ground. Molly needed help. But all the villagers were probably halfway to the island by now; the alligators were in tight war; and there was no time to grab shopkeepers or anyone. She felt the tears pricking her eyes again; would the odds ever be in her favor? Molly sighed and looked at the sky, trying to formulate an idea. However, halfway on her eye's journey to the sky, she spotted someone, leaning against a cedar tree. Observing silently.
"You," Molly said softly. Liam was still yelling, still lucid even when the alligator had hit his head once, but the second time…something deep and irreparable had happened. She saw it in the brief moment he was awake. Jacques caused it; and she would never forgive him.
"What?" Jacques asked, voice defeated.
"I hate you." Molly looked at him, channeling all her despair and fury into her gaze. "Are you an idiot? Did you think stopping me and potentially murdering Liam would make me like you?!"
Jacques didn't reply, he just silently walked over to her. Molly quickly braced herself for the punch that was sure to come; but he did something worse. He curled his wings under Liam's body.
"What are you do-"
"Well? Are you going to help me or what?" he replied flatly. Taken aback, Molly nodded silently. With effort, they lifted Liam together. He was still out cold.
"My house," Molly ordered. After some huffing and puffing, they managed to get Liam in Molly's classical-themed bed. She stared at the intricate carvings on it, the shafts of light pouring in from the window, highlighting the dust motes in the air.
"Molly," Jacques began.
"Go. Get to Kappn's island. Now."
"Molly, no," he insisted. "We need to talk."
"Like hell I'm talking to you. The only thing I enjoyed about you was kicking you in the crotch," she snapped.
"I did it because I was jealous, okay?! I know you like him!"
Molly's face turned red-hot. "He's my friend, Jacques! We're not even of the same speci-" her voice caught on the end of the sentence and she just glared at the navy-blue bird.
"I did it because-I'm sorry. I don't know." Jacques seemed at a loss for words, holding out his wings helplessly.
"Why, why on earth would I forgive you?" she whispered. "I can't. Look at him. I thought he was dead."
"But I know why I helped you."
Molly looked at him, mildly curious, but really wanting him to leave.
"I helped you because he's the mayor of this damned town, and this town is my home. I didn't do it for you, okay?"
"Good. I don't want any favors from you." Molly looked away. She wondered why he cared about who owned his town or not; and then she realized.
I remember him when he was a human.
She went rigid as she remembered his features; the same sea-green eyes and beanie, the same hair dyed navy blue, the same whiskers on his chin.
His house burnt down, didn't it? And his father…he died in the fire. Thats why he cares. He cares more about his home than a normal person.
"I'll leave, Molly," Jacques murmured. Yes, even his voice was exactly the same. It sent chills through her spine. "But I want you to tell me what is going on here."
He was kind…he wasn't as smug and annoying as he is now. The Operation changed him.
Molly didn't trust her voice to remain steady, so she gave a very vague response. "Those alligators wanted us to forget. But we want to remember."
Jacques glared at her. "What's that supposed to m-"
"Just leave!" Molly snapped. He huffed in exasperation and exited the house. Molly watched him go, then looked back down at Liam, her heart pounding with concern. Please, let him be okay. I need him.