From 86 Sols to 7

The man stood there speechless as he looked at the face of an old lover that should not be walking amongst the living anymore.

"No...how?"

For all the strength he had displayed while going after No. 2, 1441 was now standing helpless on a small island surrounded by lava.

"What's the matter, dear? Do you not recognize your own lover? Don't tell me, have I gotten that old? That's rude of you. But it's ok. I forgive you. Don't I always?"

The lady laughed as she pulled the leg of 1441. She found joy in looking at his confused face. She found him cute. She wanted him to despair. She wanted him to love her. More than that, she wanted to consume him. She wanted everything that was left of the man in front of her.

And so, she gently raised her arms forward, ready to embrace the face of the man she was in love with. She took the first step, getting closer to 1441, when a piece of molten rock flew towards her.

"What was that for, dear? Don't tell me that man's plan got you acting like that..."

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?"

"What? I saved your robot. Look, once that man died, the robot even reset itself. The first thing it said was your number, but it seems to be asleep now. Or are you talking about me killing that red-eyed bastard? He had it coming. He was way too ambitious for how fragile he was. It only took me one surprise attack, and he was done. You should have seen the look on his face. Pure gold! He didn't even have time to realize it was all over for him! Hahahahaha!"

The hysterical laugh was getting to 1441 more and more. He recognized it. Deep down, he understood what was going on, but he refused to believe it. Such an atrocity should never be committed, no matter the circumstances or the victim.

"Stop playing dumb and tell me, WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY GIRL? NUMBER 7!"

"The smile faded from the face of the lady. "Ah, for a second I thought you were falling for it. I knew you were not stupid enough to get tricked, but you like lying to yourself, right? Why didn't you do it again? You could have lived in a lie and pretended I was your old girlfriend. I know how to take care of you. It wouldn't be the first time, right?"

Shortly after, the grin returned to the girl's face.

"Or, maybe, the fact I am wearing her head disgusts you? HAHAHAHAHA! THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT IT ABANDONED LIKE THAT! What? Were you too scared to face your own incompetence? Yet you are trying to play the part of the hero now? Of all times, did the impending sense of doom make you repent right now?"

"ENOUGH! What is it that you want from me?"

"Me? Oh, dear, you already know what I want. I want you, all of you. Until the end of time, I want to be loved, adored, and desired. You may as well be the last man on Mars, so if I get you, I get it all. What is so hard to understand?"

"What makes you think I would ever give myself to a monster like you who defiled the body of my dead lover? Stop being delusional! I will take my own life before I fall so low!"

"Now, now. There is no need for that. We have this computer right here. With it, we can both live forever. You want to forever hate me? Fine. That also makes you mine. Dedicate yourself to me as everyone else around us dies!"

"Correction: That computer can only grant eternal life to one person. And even that life will be devoid of memories." The voice of the robot became louder and clearer as it explained the hole in the naïve plan set up by the woman formerly known as Ann.

"Tsk. Is that how it is? No matter, then how about this?"

Ann jumped at the computer and quickly inputted some code into it. The next second, Soj sounded the alarm.

"WARNING: REMAINING SOLS ARE DECREASING RAPIDLY: 50, 49, 48."

"AHHAHAHA! THAT'S IT! NOW WE WILL BOTH DIE TOGETHER! YOU HAVE NO WAY TO ESCAPE ME ANYMORE! I WIN..."

Just as No. 7 was about to finish her sentence, 1441 flew past the console. Behind him, the computer was left split into two.

"Remaining sols...Seven."

...

None of the three present spoke a word for the next few minutes. Ann just stared at 1441 in silence as the volcano was calming down.

After some time, the lady finally broke the silence.

"Seven sols. You heard that. We only have seven sols left. Do you think that seven sols are enough for you to get away and start a new journey? Or, better said, can you run away from everything once more?"

1441 did not answer her. He just stood there, waiting for her to say everything she wanted to say.

"But that's just who you are, right? No character, no substance, no personality. Just an overpowered guy with nothing to show for it. That's what you have always been: a coward with too much power and no idea how to use it. So you just hide, act all mysterious, and stick to your stubborn ideals. You never really served any purpose; you just set a point and let yourself be carried around. And when things turned sour, you left. Every single time. You used your lame excuse of adventure while trying your best not to face the reality, because you know you can't take the reality. But it's ok. I accept you like that. So just come to me! I know you will. You haven't changed in all this time. Just be a good boy and let others take you wherever they want. Dear."

"You're right."

"I know I am. After all, I've known you ever since..."

"You're right, but you forgot one thing. I am damn stubborn. I've decided I won't let YOU play me around. So prey on somebody else for your last sols. If anyone is left in this damned world you have created. Once again, I'm running away."

The man turned around, and Soj flew next to him. The two partners, now reunited, walked away as if nothing had happened. With the little time he had left, there was no use in agonizing over what had transpired.

"DO NOT DARE LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN! I KNOW WHO YOU WERE! I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, AND YOU WILL STAY WITH ME UNTIL YOUR LAST MOMENTS! You have to! Because you...you...wait...what was the reason?"

A shock ran through the body of 1441 as he picked up on the sign. He turned around and looked Ann, no, Number 7, in the eyes. The woman gave him back a blank stare, and with a heavy voice, she whispered a "help."

Time froze for 1441 as he rushed to the lady. He already knew there was no way of saving her, but there was one last thing he could do. He was the only one able to give her a different ending. He had the duty of making sure Ann's final moment wouldn't be one of rabid agony. Blood was already plenty on his hands, and his rule of staying human had since been broken in a fit of rage. Those things didn't matter. All that mattered was whether he would reach her in time.

With his speed, one step was enough to reach her, but he felt like his foot was never going to reach the ground in time. He was able to see her brain waves. He should have known, but he never bothered to check. After all, she was supposed to have the maximum number of days left, just like him.

Right before his hand finally reached her throat, he noticed a slight twist at the corners of her mouth. Was she smiling because he came to her, or was she on the brink of completely losing her sanity? 1441 could not tell, but one thing was clear: he made it in time. He severed her head before her face would twist into agony.

The head rolling on the ground had a single tear vaporizing on her cheek. 1441 noticed it before she rolled over into lava. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he had never seen the woman shed a real tear until now, no matter what situation she was in.

After a brief moment of silence, Soj addressed the man.

"Question: What do you plan to do now?"

"I don't know." Said the man with seven sols left to live.

"For this sol, I just want to rest."