So it's been four years since I started this story and it's about time I finish it. I originally wanted to have it completed completely today on the anniversary of the posting, but the more I think I have an ending in sight (I have an endgame for this) I have to go back and rethink the events of what I want to happen. So read, review, and I'll be back again soon to finish Go On Living.
Keahi had her least favorite job that day: guarding Fang. He wasn't as bad as he usually was with other people since he learned that she didn't put up with any of his crap. He usually ignored her if she turned the television on and sat quietly reading the newspaper or a magazine. But the television set was broken and no one had been able to fix it yet. So she was stuck listening to him yammer on about something trivial. Keahi often wondered if Fang possessed the ability to stop talking.
She relieved the guard that had the night shift when Fang actually slept – even then he talked in his sleep – and sat down on the chair.
"Hey, Kay-Cat!" Fang greeted. "How are you doing today? I'm fine. Nothing like being stuck in a tiny cell with nothing to do. So how's your week been going? Mine's the same old thing every day."
Keahi opened her magazine.
Fang crouched down to see the cover. "Home and Garden? Never thought of you as the domestic type."
"It's not for me," said Keahi, not looking up from the page. "Well, part of it is for me. I want to redecorate."
"Sure. A little paint can really brighten up these dark tunnels," Fang said with a roll of his eyes.
Keahi looked up. "Oh, you think so, too? I think a nice shade of bubblegum pink accented with sherbet orange would look nice in here."
Fang gagged and stuck his tongue out at the color combination.
Keahi went back to her magazine, reading a recipe for chimichangas. She preferred fish, but they had more chicken than fish in the Labyrinth.
"But really, what's been going on out there?" Fang asked seriously.
"If you learned to behave, you would know," said Keahi, turning a page.
"Yeah, yeah. But behaving is boring," Fang groused. "Ever live a little? Or does Claw like his girls boring?"
"Would you call me boring?" asked Keahi. "Because if I recall, there is nothing boring about getting pounded on by a girl half your size."
Fang remembered that beating. "So is Talon still on about a cure?"
Keahi didn't answer.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Fang. "You know, there's nothing wrong with us. We're just the new breed in an old world."
Keahi still didn't acknowledge him.
"But I guess he and his kitty-cat want to be normal," said Fang. "What about you?"
"What about me?" asked Keahi.
"If a cure was found, would you take it?" asked Fang.
"No."
Fang's eyes widened slightly. "No?"
"I don't need to take it," said Keahi. "The person I once was died years ago. This is what I am now."
Fang shrugged. "I can admire that. I like this body. I'm not giving it up. What about Claw?"
"He's not taking it either," said Keahi.
"Really?"
"He says that since I'm not taking it, he won't take it."
"And then there were three," said Fang.
Keahi looked up at him. "A cure hasn't been found yet. There is a chance one may never be found. Why are you so concerned about it anyway?"
"I'm just making conversation," Fang told her. "I don't get much information down here."
"Again, whose fault is that?" Keahi asked.
Fang was a bit quiet after that and Keahi finished her shift a couple hours later. She got up to leave.
"Hey, Keahi!" Fang called. "If Talon ever leaves, who's going to take over the Labyrinth?"
Keahi paused for a moment before continuing out the door. That was a very good question.
It was such a good question that it did concern Keahi. She went over to see Talon in his little office about it.
She knocked on the door to see if Talon was in.
"Come in," came her reply.
Keahi stepped inside. Talon's office wasn't much of an office. There were notebooks and binders with notes, logs, and lists on top of several boxes to keep them off the floor so if something flooded, they wouldn't get wet. There was an old desk and someone had either found or made a chair for Talon since ordinary chairs were not suited towards someone over two hundred pounds unless it specifically said and even then it was iffy if they would hold. An old secretary chair was on the other side of the desk for guests.
Talon looked up from whatever he was reviewing. "Keahi, come on in."
Keahi closed the door behind her and took a seat in the chair.
"You usually don't come here to see me," said Talon. "Is something wrong?"
"Something that Fang said," Keahi replied.
Talon groaned. "Keahi, you can't believe everything that Fang says. He's all talk."
"I know and I usually don't, but he said something that gave me a few questions of my own," Keahi replied. "If there is a cure and you and Maggie take it, who takes care of the Labyrinth?"
Talon blinked.
"Wouldn't you and Maggie want normal lives away from here?" Keahi asked.
"I never really thought about it," Talon admitted. "I mean, I want a cure so bad. I want to be able to walk around in the daytime and go to a family barbeque not looking like this. But it just seems like there's never going to be a cure."
Keahi frowned. "You haven't given up, have you?"
"No! I just don't see it happening, if ever," said Talon. "But I haven't lost hope for it, Keahi."
Keahi gave a small nod.
"And in answer to your question, I don't know who would take over the Labyrinth," Talon continued. "I would have to think about it."
Keahi nodded and went back to her room.
Talon sat in his office and thought about what Keahi had said. She had a very good point. He did want to be human again and have a normal life, but at the same time he didn't want to leave the Labyrinth in the hands of someone incapable. These people relied on him for protection and food. Whoever would take over as leader would have to be know when to draw lines, but was also kind. There had to be some leadership experience and knowledge of how the Labyrinth worked, so Talon didn't want to appoint an outsider. There was also the issue of trust. Who could he trust enough to do a good job, but also had the trust of the people? He got out some paper and started making a list.