Awakening From the Dead

Let's turn back a few hours... many hours.

A faint noise roused me from sleep. Opening my eyes, I felt groggy. Looking around, I realized I was in one of the military vehicles.

The environment was cramped, sterile, illuminated by cold lights reflecting off the metal surfaces. Around me were amber suits, motionless and silent, like statues.

Sitting in front of me was the red suit, staring at me... I think... I couldn't tell where it was looking, it bothered me.

I tried to move, but I felt restrained. Looking down, I saw my body wrapped in a metal blanket that adhered perfectly to my body. It didn't seem attached to anything, probably magnetically locked.

«Untie me, or I'll mess your seat with a crap!»

From the cockpit, a man entered grumbling. «What's all the fuss about?!»

From his uniform and voice, I immediately recognized him as Scares. It was the first time I'd seen him without a helmet. He had straight, medium-length hair, and a well-groomed imperial-style beard, similar to that of Napoleon III... He was cool!

He looked me over with a curious expression. «Oh, good, you're awake.» e said, surprised, making his way through the soldiers to stop beside the red suit. He turned to an android sitting nearby. «Make way for your captain!» The android stood up without a word, and Scares sat down regally.

«I thought you'd kill me once I was defeated.» My voice was still thick with sleep.

«Indeed I would have, if you hadn't fainted after a few hits. If I had eliminated you in such an undignified way, it wouldn't have been a noble victory for me at all!»

«I see... Where are we going?»

A mocking smile appeared on his face. «To Muràn.»

«Why?»

A mischievous smile appeared on his face. «So you can rest and recover your strength... Of course, to die gloriously under the blows of my sword!»

The red suit elbowed him.

«Ouch! There's no need to be so rough! I won't hurt him, one hit and he's dead.» he protested, immediately receiving another elbow.

«Ouch! Stop it!»

When she prepared for another blow, Scares raised his hands in surrender, exclaiming «Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!» and stepped aside, trying to protect his ribs.

«Alright, I'll tell him!» he sighed and sat back down composedly, giving me an unbearable look.

«Seeing as you've proven yourself to be a pretty good fighter, the red suit here has suggested sparing your life to enlist you in her ranks.» he explained in a more serious tone.

«Could we skip the whole procedure and go straight to when you honorably discharge me?» I asked with an ironic smile.

«No, you only have two choices: live or die.»

«Man, as multiple choice questionnaires go, it sucks…» I commented, trying to lighten the tension.

Scares snorted, crossing his arms. «Get used to it, boy.  Be proud to be promoted directly to the highest rank of a soldier and immediately gain access to the best cybernetic implants there are.»

«Wait... But if I'm one rank higher than you, that means I could order you to slap yourself!» I retorted, barely holding back a laugh.

«Of course you can't!» he exclaims indignantly.

The red suit turned to him. Scares looked at her confused. «What?… What?!»

She pointed at me and, sighing, the general slapped himself.

«Pppppffffffff AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!» I burst out laughing at the scene. If I wasn't tied up, I would have doubled over. «That's more than enough reason to accept! Ahahahah!»

He looked at me annoyed. «If I were you, I wouldn't laugh too much... you'll be under Seneca's direct command.»

«Aaaand who's Seneca?»

«Don't you listen when people talk to you?!»

«My attention comes and goes..» I admitted nonchalantly.

«She's the girl next to me! She's in charge of the red suits!… She'll put your head straight, boy. We can't have you running around like a loose cannon. We want obedient soldiers, ready to die for an order, not kids who make their comrades suffer for pure egoism.»

«…»

«I see that you've finally lost that goofy grin.»

Although he doesn't understand anything, he is right. Out of my selfishness and jealousy, I did nothing but make my friends suffer. Just thinking about eating Bea, I get chills and nausea just thinking about it…

Even though I don't understand everything, he's right. Because of my ego and jealousy, I've only made my friends suffer. Just thinking about eating Bea makes me shiver and feel nauseous... But is it really my fault?... I couldn't have known. Pierrot kept it from me... Bastard... Why did he make me his friend? Why did he make me fall in love with her? Why did he steal her from me? Why did he force me to eat her? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? I HATE HIM!

…

I let that maniac... Escape with Bea... What an idiot... IDIOT!

«Everything alright, boy? You've been staring into space for a while.»

I turned to Scares, smiling. «Yeah! Everything's fine!»

«Great, because we've arrived.»

The vehicle stopped with a jerk, and slowly, the hum of the vehicle faded. An android yanked me to my feet. The hatch opened, revealing a spectacular view of the Venetian lagoon.

Scares leaned on my shoulder. «From today, this is your home.»