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Chapter Two – Speak Against the Fire

🔥MATURE CONTENT 🔥

The echoing silence in the room enveloped as we spooned. In which case I began sweating and neared the end of my wits. Brandon either humped me in his sleep, or moaned my name every hour.

I told him I wasn’t into hugging. Holding hands. Cuddling had taken it too far. But he seemed to already be attached to me. 

This time I wiggled free, and I was able to remain that way. He rolled over, creaking the hinges underneath us. I needed to get back. Opening my shop on time deemed crucial.

So I stood quickly, dressed even more so, and walked shoeless down the hall. When I located my galoshes, the front door swung open.

“Leaving?” Julius questioned.

I nodded then stepped out.

“Adrianna,” he said to me.

Turning, I raised an eyebrow to him.

“What?”

“What’s it like?”

My nerves were still on a tight rope, and I was hoping this would end well…

“What’s it like what…Julius?”

“Being the only real thing on Earth?”

I felt a chill cool my spine as I turned to leave. Answering him wasn’t an option. There were too many out at this hour. Everyone assumed I was a Synthie. And I wanted to keep it that way.

Walking had been my only means of transportation. So I sloshed through the filthy streets, always looking around to insure I wasn’t being followed. Once inside my shop, I cleaned my boots, then stepped onto the aged wooden floor.

An inquisition made me turn and look into my wading pool. The blue light located inside flicked as the faucet spurted. Since I was the only person who would typically come here, this meant someone else had entered my quarters.

It was possible Natalie came, she had a key. But there had been no sign of her boots. Just the fading foot prints of much larger feet.

“Hello?” I asked.

I knew it wasn’t instinct at the moment to answer back, had you been trespassing. I went to the closet near the door for my shot gun. And with my discovery, my pulse began to beat out of control. Not only was it taken…but my rounds were gone as well.

This lead me to my register, in which I fingered the bottom, hoping my other piece remained there.

Once I pulled it from underneath, I tapped in the combination to my safe when I heard the floor creaking.

“Natalie?” I asked out of ignorance.

Still nothing…but the creeping of an enormous figure in the shadows of my shop caught my attention.

“Stop!” I screamed, assembling my weapon.

But further the silhouette came, stepping into the moonlight.

“Who are you!” I yelled, cocking my empty weapon.

He too cocked the one he had been holding.

“On your knees,” he said roughly.

“You’re in MY shop!” I yelled once more.

“ON YOUR KNEES, BITCH!” he roared.

Shaken by this, I dropped my useless gun, and slowly dropped to the floor. 

“She’s the human girl, yes?” he said, talking to himself.

I could hear a voice mumbling on. Perhaps from an ear piece or phone.

“Alive?” he questioned.

Then he dropped his firearm.

Immediately I stood, running to my door. For a quicker exit, I left my boots as I bolted outside. As I did, I ran into Brandon, who was glaring down at me.

For the life of me, I couldn’t speak. I put into regard the law that kept the both of us silent. Brandon searched my face when my possible assailant came to the door.

“Hey!” he yelled, attempting to pull me from Brandon.

“No!” I cried out, hands reaching to him, “Please! No!”

“This has nothing to do with you,” the intruder said calmly.

“Brandon!” I screamed, tears beginning to rush down my face, “please!”

“You know the law, don’t ya…big boy?” he continued, “don’t bother.”

“Brandon, if you have any common sense!” I spat out.

“You two enjoy your evening,” Brandon responded.

Shock replaced fear as my captor flung me over his shoulder. Of all things to do, he allowed me to be taken. Was his freedom more important than me?

“Sit,” he said, placing me inside a van, “And not a fucking word.”

I glared at him, then spit onto his feet.

“You are lucky he want’s you untouched. In any other case, I would have killed you and fed you to Spurs.”

He?

I went through my thoughts as to who he could be referring to. Then he motioned me to scoot back as he slammed the door shut. The jagged start to the engine could be felt on the floor. And then we were off.

“How many days to Governor’s Crest?” the passenger asked.

“Four, since we have to pass the toll, and get gas.”

Governor’s Crest? I knew no one there. But the evidence in all of this began to creep into my thoughts.

Was I truly the only human alive? It would explain why I didn’t have friends, or customers…

A four hour drive with nothing to sit on but the grooves on the floor of a rusting van.

I couldn’t sleep. Nor should I cry. My mind kept playing back on how Brandon did not help me.

So much for being his. I knew leaving that night with Natalie was a bad idea. And as great as it felt, I should have stopped myself the first time. But I couldn’t draw away from him.

It was almost as if there were some type of spell cast on my soul. As soon as our eyes met, I wanted nothing to do with anyone else.

Gathering the trip would be costly to my emotions, my thoughts swarmed around my days as a Thrasher.

The sport of A Reckless Thrasher involved high voltage spears…and death matches. Death matches were only between humans, as Synthies just came into notion.

It was an adrenaline rush. Diving into others, and electrocuting them. The agony and screams from the others fueled your rage.

When it was over, and the blood and other various remains were mopped up…you assessed your own damages.

And the reason as to why you came back every weekend.

Once you smelled spilled blood for the first time. Or took 5 days to recover from a collision. Once you heard the crowds cheering, their must and grungy array filling the stands.

You were in too deep to quit.

I felt the sting from my shoulder. It had been years since my last match. Funny, however, how Brandon couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off it of. But after telling him…it was even funnier that he didn’t question my past.

My past. A candle lit with a flame created to be extinguished. From being 6, in a hoard of humans. To being 24…the only one left.

With this, I could hear my mother’s moans echoing from the hall. I always walked and sat at her door when she worked. No matter how loud she was. The only time I couldn’t bear listening was when a customer would beat her. 

The door always remained locked. And regardless of the outcome…she always lied to me.

I knew what she was doing.

Her body had always been her only means to survive.

“If you’ve got it, use it,” was the motto.

Then she was out of work. Perfect women could be made over night. They were utterly beautiful, flaw free. So what did the human prostitutes do?

If you had smaller breast, replace them! No ass? Slap it on. Dying of lung cancer? Amenity Units could replace ANY organ in the human body. All you had to do was sacrifice your life to them.

Then rumors started to circulate the business. That angels used humans innards simply as a delicacy. And arms and legs were trophies to gloat unto company.

Then The Dump happened. I remember my mother sending me to Grace Springs with my uncle. He admitted that 71 should be too old to care for a thirteen year old. And shortly after my move he died.

I always pictured my mother pushing me on the train. Stuffing her treasures into my suitcase. What I couldn’t shake was the mechanical whizzing from her leg. The shocks that flew from her arm. The strange smell her breasts emitted when she smoked.

The first makes from Amenity Units had to be charged. But right before I left…if you could afford it…they came with dual power. 

A question that never had been answered…

What powered most of it?

The van stopped abruptly, sending me into the back of the seats. I hit my head on a bar, and scrapped the bottom of my legs on the rusting metal. Kicking the seats in anger,I screamed…almost sure I was inaudible.

No one asked if I had been hurt.

“Let’s go, doll face,” said my captor.

“Don’t call me that, dick-shit.”

He growled clawing for my foot when the passenger who road with us grabbed at his shoulder.

“Alive and unscathed…” he said quietly. 

His voice was painfully familiar.

“Get out,” my captor barked.

“Stop talking to me like I’m an animal…”

“Sweetie,” said the other guy, “just get out…please?”

“Sweetie…” I scoffed. 

I stepped out and looked around, noting the sun was beginning to rise.

“Not a moment too soon. Walk,” my assailant said.

The other sat a pair of silk threaded slippers at my feet. I acknowledged this, but still felt I was being mocked.

“No tender feet. He wants you how we found you…” he whispered near my right ear.”

“And after?” I asked.

He clicked his tongue twice, and wagged his finger. 

“Shoes, Adrianna…”

After slipping them on, I followed the men up a slow, inclining hill. Then to a gate, with marble steps.

“I haven’t seen marble since…” I whispered.

“This way….” one said, tugging at my hand.

I had never seen such beauty….period. The mansion lay adorned like a palace out of a fairy tale. Gold, marble, granite. Things no one could afford. And then massive statues of fearsome angels, some of which had names, as others seemed too beastly to label.

Once we stopped walking, I got a better view of both men. One had a mechanical arm, and definitely an older model. It buzzed and whizzed as we stood, waiting for the large mahogany doors to open.

I saw the etchings, and dints lining the upper part. Then my eyes made it to his left ear. A glint of light caught it as we walked further into the room. He turned and smiled at me.

“You should be used to seeing things of my sort,” he said softly, “sit….maiden.”

So I sat. And I waited. Both were waiting with me. Sighing. Shifting positions. We had been sitting so long, the sun sat at high noon.

“Thomas,” the nicer one finally spoke up, “my name is Thomas.”

“Who cares,” the main one retorted.

“A pleasure,” I answered him, not making eye contact.

“Pleasure’s all mine…”

“Thomas, shut the fuck up!” the other roared.

“Sure thing, Roman….”

Thomas then patted my leg and stood.

Soon after, a woman came treading in. She nodded at Roman, and held the door open.

“Let’s go…”

I could feel the cool air at my ankles as we walked into the room. The door slammed, making me flinch as I stood at a desk.

“This is her?” an older man said, examining me.

“Yes,” Roman answered.

“Adrianna…” he whispered in delight, “you know why you’re here?”

“Um…no…” I answered.

Fatigue started to get the best of me…I wasn’t interested in being quizzed.

“I’m sure you’ve heard…you are the only fertile…living…human woman on Earth,” he greased, “that means something to me…”

“I can’t imagine what…”

He stood in front of me and examined my face. Then he smiled, and swept his hands on my cheek.

“It’s a good thing you’re so beautiful,” he cooed, “that way I know my offspring have a chance at life.”

“Offspring?” I sputtered.

Then I looked to Thomas and Roman, who were both staring at the floor.

“That’s why you abducted me?”

“Why else would I wanted you…but I’ll fill you in on something…” he said, smiling at me, “I won’t have sex with you.”

“Well…that’s a relief!” I answered, “I was beginning to worry…”

“Insemination….” he continued, “artificial insemination.”

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed…but I’m not into that type of kink…” I said softly, “so…maybe there’s another…”

“There is no other!” he roared, now in my face again.

I stepped back and onto Thomas’ foot. Then I looked at Roman, who held up a silk robe.

“You will have the accoutrements of a queen, and the life of the rich. All you have to do is say yes. If you need time, I’ll still treat you as such. But you are not allowed to leave…”

“But…I…”

“And…” he said, holding his hand up, “if Brandon comes for you…consider yourself dead.”

All for the best I suppose. And maybe Brandon had something to do with it all along.

“Who are you?” I asked, still attempting to get a better look at him.

He turned, both legs whizzing and slightly jerking. His gray hair trimming his bald head seemed to matt and form into his beard. On his crown sat a satin heart, with a dark gold crest in the middle. With a gold eye that replaced his left, I was sure he owned a few more pieces.

Then he smiled, a mouth full of gold.

“Mayor Reddens of Governor’s Crest, Adrianna. Welcome home.”

***

Save the girl. Or stay safe. Fly to Governor’s Crest and risk my life….

Or stay staring at the wall. Then…I also had to confront Roman, who was walking in the house at the moment.

I knew what his job required. Finding this girl that seemed to be a bit of a myth. But it just so happen to be Adrianna.

The knocking on my door did not stir me. I sat, still staring at my wall, completely complacent.

“B….” Roman said quietly, using my nickname.

“You know,” I said, still staring, “I had never really loved anyone…”

“B…it’s apart of my job…” he continued.

“And it just so happened to be her…” I said, standing.

“It’s apart of life! At least now it is…” he said, chuckling.

I still hadn’t fully turned to face him, the wall seemed to be so interesting.

“Brandon, she was gonna die anyway. Anyone who’s not fully human has the parts to survive…she’s living on a breath…”

“No Roman…” I croaked, finally turning.

Detaching the cell from it’s charger, I slowly walked to him. Then I blinked a few times, skimming over my thoughts.

He gulped, knowing what may or may not follow. Then our eyes met.

“We’re friends, Brandon. You wouldn’t-”

And to this, I set the charger by his neck and pressed the green button. A fast whizzing sound could be heard as the gears from his insides toiled out of control. Roman fell to his knees, attempting to cling to my legs. Afraid I would be electrocuted as well, I pushed him off, and landed on my bed.

Pops and sparks shot forth as he screamed and writhed on the floor. Then a waterfall of blood oozed from his warped eyelids. 

I stood, walking through his remains and pulled my charger from his neck. It vibrated slightly as the blue light switched off. Then I gathered my thoughts from there.

Chargers. I owned 20. It wasn’t enough for the job, but it was enough to get me there. Guns…zip.

Do I rob an arsenal? The next door neighbors? Then I thought…who had Roman been friends with.

Julius.

My bloody foot prints covered the raggedy carpet as I walked through my home. Then I pulled my boots on and looked up at the door. Aaron stood in the hall by the kitchen, a look empty of emotion.

“Twenty-nine chargers,” he said, handing me a bag, “and a nine millimeter…”

Without words, I stuffed the rest into my bag, and checked the gun. Nodding as I stood, I left the door open. Either Aaron hated Roman, or he truly didn’t care.

Then to Angel’s Peak I walked. It wasn’t far, but the closer I got the more I noticed a crowd forming.

“It’s too early,” I said to myself.

Pushing my way through, I stood in front of Julius, who was conversing with the others around him. He noted my presence and pulled me into the huddle.

“There’s rumors going about that the mayor of Governor’s Crest taking over Grace Springs…” he started.

“How can he possibly do that?” I asked, frowning.

“Well….” Julius said, now ashen, “he does have Adrianna.”

Titus, another security guard, pushed through us to address the crowd.

“In the event Mayor Reddens is bringing his campaign here!” he said, holding his hands up, “I advise all of you to stay indoors!”

“I work at night!” one woman complained.

“This is our city, he has no right!” someone chimed in.

“He can do what he wants!” Titus roared, “because he has something none of us will ever get back…”

“Something more precious that gold itself,” I whispered.

“I also advise that no one…and I mean NO ONE goes after Adrianna…”

Everyone fell silent after this. Titus turned his head to glare, then situated his attention back to the hoard.

“The flower shop owner?” one man asked, “what’s she got to do with this?”

Then muttering could be heard among them.

“I know what’s going on here!” I heard a familiar voice strain.

I spotted the faded blond hair a few bodies into the crowd, staring helplessly at me.

“She’s human!” Natalie exclaimed.

That notion sent an uproar throughout the gathering. Titus then grabbed a spear like object from Julius and slammed its end into the ground. A shock shot up, hitting the sign of the bar, and silencing all.

“If any of you go after her…you will put us all in danger. As we all have heard…the rumors of the angels there put us at risk… and since there is a set curfew now, I highly encourage you listen. Some of you aren’t full Synthetics, and some are. They will know who’s got better meat on the bone. So stay indoors. It’s for your own good…and…if they don‘t kill you…I will….” he finished, looking at me again, “Brandon.”

I raised my eyebrows to my name.

“Whatever you think you can do, stop all thoughts now. Reddens has an armada about a quarter of the residents there,” he said, “you’d die before you even got to her.”

“I doubt that, Titus,” I answered, “and since when did you care about my well being?”

“I think it’s a trap, Brandon. I really do. No one really cared much for her until now. After you had been with her…don’t you find that weird?”

I said nothing. The ground now had my attention. There wasn’t too much I could say to counter that. Perhaps Titus was right. 

But regardless of what he thought, I still had to get to Adrianna. 

With Titus trying to calm down the crowd, and Julius glaring me down, I began to walk. Once I hit the city limits, I’d aviate up and finish my route to Governor’s Crest.

About three blocks or so, the padding of light feet could be heard. Natalie maneuvered as if she’d been running after me this entire time. So I stopped and turned to face her.

“You’re going to save her?” she asked, clearly out of breath.

“Yes,” I noted.

“And then what?” she questioned.

“Kill the mayor,” I responded.

Then I started to walk. She grabbed onto my arm, attempting to stop me. But she fell on her bottom in the muck on the street.

“She doesn’t deserve to live!” she screamed as I walked, “you know that just as well as I. You either conform, or die!”

“And who decides that?” I asked, turning around.

“You can,” she said eerily, “you can leave her where she is, Brandon!”

Litter started to swirl around us as a breeze had picked up. The smell from the drying sewage added to the moment. That thought confiscating my sanity was simply this.

Adrianna was mine. So I looked down at Natalie who was now crying. She felt in some way I’s be endangering all of them.

Although, I was the only angel that resided in Grace Springs, there wasn’t a thing I could do against an army of Synthies, angels aside them.

My main objective now was Adrianna.

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