Aftermath

Chapter 33

Aftermath

“Kezonto, listen to me, I don’t have much time left, I can feel.”

Her arms trembled underneath the pressure of the debris on her back, as tears cascaded down her battered facial features. Each droplet was warm, as they splashed against the face of the young Kezonto. He was barely conscience, his eyes barely opened as he looked up at his older sister. But it wasn’t Avilla’s teardrops he was feeling dripping on his face, but the blood seeping from the wound in her mid-section. Off her will and desperation alone, Avilla tapped into her essence. Giving the protective sister the strength needed to shelter not only Kezonto but Viyah from the destruction.

Her arms buckled, and she slid down the pipe impaling her a little further. She scrunched her face and grit her teeth. She found the strength to straighten her arms and hold a little longer. Opening her eyes, she looked down at Kezonto, his burgundy eyes staring back, full of tears and emotion.

“ I can’t move, I’m not going to make it baby bro. You need to be strong; everything is going to be alright. Just live, that’s all you must do Kezonto, live. Your whole life you have been a brat, breaking all my stuff, fighting with all kids in the neighborhood, putting on this tough, bad boy persona of yours. When on the inside there is such a caring, loving soul that cares for everything, feels for everything. Use all that energy of yours to protect, not destroy Kezonto. It’s time you nurture your true nature, its begging for your attention.”

A blood-stained smile crossed her face one last time, and Avilla’s body slowly collapsed over Kezonto and Viyah. After days of shielding the children Avilla passed away, using her body to protect them even in death. The debris crushing her body started to shift and make noise, catching the attention of two young man some distance away. They looked at one another in shock; there was no chance anyone could have survived the blast that devastated the Mangoton district. The once elaborate playground was nothing more than a pile of rubble now, no different than other parts of the district that were attacked by a group led by the Elder Kezonto.

“Onyx it’s important that we don’t get our hopes up.”

Onyx ignored Sebastian, rushing toward the sound of shifting rubble. Sebastian closed his eyes, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he followed behind his friend. Onyx furiously tore at the rubble, tossing aside slabs of concrete with ease. Onyx’s mouth dropped and his eyes widened, seeing the dead body of Avilla. He snapped the portion of the pipe protruding from her back and pulled her limp body back cradling her in his arms. Sebastian approached slowly, knowing exactly who Onyx had found.

“No, Avilla…”

He looked down, noticing Kezonto and Viyah, unconscious and visibly breathing from the subtle raising of their chests. Sebastian quickly gathered the two children and turned to face Onyx. He was in a state of depression as he held the girl he loved, motionless in his arms. Onyx and Sebastians’ attention was taken away from their tragic discovery, when a faint calls for help caught their attention. Sebastian left Viyah and Kezonto and rushed toward the sound. He struggled moving the debris for a while before getting a glimpse of Obsidian. He too was alive, but he was in bad shape and couldn’t move.

“Onyx, hurry I need your help its Obsidian!”

He snapped out of his depressive trance, gently placing down Avilla and rushed to assist his little brother.

“I can’t lift this slab on my own, I need your help.”

Grabbing hold of the slab of concrete with Sebastian, Onyx channeled his essence. Lifting the slab off Obsidian revealed the pulpy remains of his arm and leg that had been crushed by debris.

“Onyx, he needs medical attention right away, so I’ll take care of everything here. Meet me at the black Rose when you can, then we can piece this whole thing together and try to make sense of it.”

He didn’t respond to Sebastian and nodded his head. His mind was racing he couldn’t make sense of anything. All he knew was Obsidian needed him now and that’s all that mattered. He picked up Obsidian and cradled his little brother in his arms. He looked at Sebastian one last time before rushing off to find medical attention. He watched him leave, turning his back to Onyx, he looked at Avilla’s lifeless body. Huddled over her, Kezonto whimpered for his dead sister to come back.

“I NEED HELP!”

“WE GOT ANOTHER ONE IN COMING”

Onyx ran through the doors of the emergency ward. Nurses and doctors leap into action, grabbing a gurney and medical equipment to attempt to save the young child. They pushed Onyx aside, placing Obsidian on the gurney and navigating him to the nearest operating room. Onyx fell to his knees in the middle of the lobby, and for a moment he stared blankly at the blood-stained laminate floor. He looked up, watching the mob of medical professionals carting his brother off. The double doors of the corridor flying open, blinding Onyx in blinding white light.

***

The good, the bad, it all played before his eyes as he laid motionless on the bridge. Hanging on to the last fraying strand of life he had left. Onyx stared at the blurry image of Obsidian; he tried to suck in whatever air he could. It was beyond difficult; he could feel the blood pooling in his chest like mucus. He struggled to raise his hand toward the blurry image, the salty smell of sea water burning at his senses. Obsidian grabbed his brother’s hand, lifting his head, he placed his forehead to his. He cried, cried like he never cried before. Angry with himself, angry with Sebastian, simply anger with the world. He felt a soft pat on his chest and raised his head looking in his brother’s lifeless eyes. Onyx gave his brother one last blood-stained smiled before dying, his arm falling to the ground, along with his copy of “The Brothers Harold”.

“Onyx, come on, Onyx come back.”

He could hardly see through his tears, he looked down at Sandra’s gift in Onyx’s hand, he heard sirens in the distance growing louder. He glanced up, down the bridge toward Busaya and the convey of patrol vehicles speeding his way. The cars came to a halt and heavily armed soldiers jumped up, swiftly securing the area and creating a parameter. Placing Onyx down, Obsidian limped to his feet. Blinded by rage, he quietly watched as Major Kalus stepped out of his vehicle. He took stock of the scene before him showing no emotion, slowly he walked up to Obsidian. Taking a quick look at Onyx’s lifeless corpse, he sucked his teeth, instantly fixating his attention on Obsidian.

“The tech division has regained full operation of our networks; we have word the founder was safely evacuated is there anything else you can tell me?”

Obsidian looked at Kalus, disgusted by the lack of respect for his fallen brother. Every fiber of his being wanted to beat this man down where he stood. But he knew better, he knew nothing good would come from it. To throw it all away in a fit of rage, that’s not what Onyx wanted.

“I can’t tell you much about anything, whatever happened, happened before I arrived on scene Major.”

Kalus looked over Obsidian, his demeanor and the numerous injuries that littered his body. He didn’t bat an eye; this was the life of a soldier. This was what was expected of them, and he demanded nothing else from the young man.

“Get yourself cleaned up and report to your commanding officer A.S.A.P…”

“MY COMMANDING OFFICER IS RIGHT HERE!”

Obsidian snarled back, not once breaking eye connect with Kalus who diverted his gaze toward Onyx’s dead body. He looked back at Obsidian, not concerned or phased by his temperament.

“ This, worthless excuse of a bodyguard is your brother, last time I checked he was not your commanding officer. Now put your emotions aside and do as you’re told and report to your commanding officer.”

He snapped his fingers, waving for soldiers to come over to collect Onyx’s body. Obsidian blocked them off protecting the sanctity of his brother’s body. His eye Shifted side to side watching the soldiers approaching closely. His adrenaline was pumping, enhancing his perception, allowing him to pick up on their subtle hints of hesitation. A glimpse at their humanity, a sliver of conscience for the sensitivity of the situation. But their orders were given, reinforced by Kalus’ right-hand man, who drew his handgun and pointed in Obsidian’s direction. Kalus said nothing, stuffing his hands in his pockets anxious to see Obsidian’s next move. Clenching his mechanical fist, he stepped aside, never once breaking eye contact with the Major, who was more focused on gathering intel about the situation than Obsidian and his plight.

***

“I don’t know what I can do this is bad, I don’t have the proper tool, she needs serious medical attention. I not sure I have the essence left to repair the damage.”

Haiden shouted, applying essence to the wounds on Shima’s back. Haiden had doubts that she had the abilities needed to repair the damage done by Obsidian’s well-placed grouping of bullets. She wasn’t deterred and instead focused on what she could help with. She avoided interacting with the bullets, they were too close to her spine, and her hands were unsteady, she didn’t want to risk it. She focused on bleeding using her dwindling essence, slowly repairing ruptured blood vessels and tore muscle. After aiding Atif previously Haiden was nearly tapped and had nothing left to pull from.

“I need more essence! Locke, ki Autumn can you give me what you can!”

The three of them didn’t hesitate and provided Haiden with additional essence. There wasn’t much to give, after the battle through Busaya, Locke and Ki were spent and didn’t have much to offer. Autumn on the other hand did, she knew she did, but why now? Why now, was she experiencing a dry spell and the inability to draw on her essence let alone channel it.

“Come on Autumn, this isn’t the time to hold back, I’m getting nothing from you.”

“I’m sorry, Haiden I can’t, I can’t channel my essence.”

“It’s ok Autumn.”

Locke smiled and pushed himself harder to give Haiden more essence. Autumn pulled her hand away from Haiden and stepped back. Lowering her head, she was beating herself up internally even more now. The soldier before, the situation now, was all taking a toll on her. Her expression stated that much, and Keyon was quick to pick up on it. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her, not once since the moment he put Shima down to be worked on. There she was, the ghost from his past, there before him, alive and not some corpse at the bottom of the ocean.

He felt the searing pain of the beast clawing into his chest again with every second he stared. Keyon looked at his bloody hands, by now there was so much of it he didn’t know who it belonged to. He said nothing and placed his hand on Haiden shoulder and provided her with the essence she needed. Locke and Ki stepped back, knowing if Keyon was providing essence there was no need for them to push it. Ki placed his hand on Keyon’s shoulder before stepping aside. They didn’t make eye contact; they didn’t have too. Just a simple gesture from one brother to another, letting him know he was there. Haiden looked away from Shima, and over her shoulder at Keyon. His cold burgundy eyes looking down at her, his essence harmonizing with hers. She had never felt such an influx of essence like this before, she was calm, she felt powerful. The shaking in her hands was gone, and her resolve reinforced.

Haiden got to work, with renewed confidence she attempted to extract the bullets she could. Still cautious of the one, closest to Shima’s spine. Keyon eased himself, focusing on his essence he headed Locke’s advice. Keeping his composure and not overreacting to the situation. Doing what he could to help this girl save Shima. This whole thing was on him; it wasn’t meant to go like this. Shima fighting for her life, Onyx dead by his hands. In the end he got what he wanted, the founder was dead, it was time to put it behind him. Shima was strong, he knew that she was going to make it through this, he want to believe thst. He looked away from the faintly breathing Shima at Locke and the others. Autumn sat beside Atif, who slowly started waking up. Locke and Ki stood together watching in silence.

“Viyah…”

Keyon didn’t know what to feel, Seeing Autumn’s face flooded with tears as she watched on, worried about Shima. While he shed nothing, not a single tear. He turned away; he had to, and instead watched Haiden work her magic. This was something new to him, he had never witnessed someone using essence in this capacity. It was creative and he hoped it was what Shima needed to make it through this.

“Locke and Ki, Autumn and Atif too, they are some of the most powerful essence users I’ve ever came across. But none of them had any spare essence to give. Yet you, who I can only imagine went through some shit back there still have all this to give?”

“Your guess is as good as mine kid, how is she doing is she going to make it?”

“I not going to sit here and lie to you; she is in bad shape. There is only so much I can do here; she needs real medical attention. Can we really trust that guy to come back with a vehicle?”

“Yeah, he gave us his word, and I don’t know if that man holds anything else in higher regard.”

Locke and Ki turned their attention to the sound of tires cutting through the terrain. Catching sight of a giant dust cloud advancing on their location.

“Speak of the devil.”

Keyon commented, turning his attention to Lorenzo as he came to screeching halt nears the group. Jumping out of his truck, he took one hit of his cigarette before tossing it to the ground. Rushing to truck’s flatbed, he swung open its gate to allow Keyon to place Shima in the back of the truck. Haiden easily hopped over the side of the truck and continued to work on Shima, channeling what she had left remaining from Keyon’s contribution.

“They’re not going to be enough room for everybody!”

Autumn shouted as she helped Atif into the back of the pick-up truck and jumped in the back alongside her. Giving Haiden and Shima the space they needed. Locke looked at Ki and Keyon, who in turn looked at him.

“Ki, you go with Lorenzo and the ladies, me and Kezonto will meet you guys back in Coastal Garden. Hurry and get Shima the attention that she needs.”

Ki ran alongside the driver side of the truck, pulling on the handle he opened the door and hopped in. Lorenzo didn’t waste any time and jumped in the passenger side of the cabin. While Ki threw the truck into high gear and raced back to Coastal Garden. It was a long drive, it wasn’t going to be easy, but if they wanted any chance of saving Shima, they had to risk it. For a moment the two of them stood there watching the truck speed off into the early morning.

“ We ran into her and her sister Atif aboard a New Aurora Capital Ship, what she was doing before that I know very little. All I know is that she is suffering from amnesia and doesn’t remember you, or anything from her past for that matter. I imagine that Shima had concluded the same back in Busaya. She was the one that confirmed my suspicions when me and Ki ran into her in Busaya.”

“How did you two find us in the first place?”

“She is the one that led us here, you and I both know if Shima didn’t want you two found, you wouldn’t be.”

Keyon sucked his teeth, disappointed by Shima’s betrayal. But it was too late now, none of that mattered anymore. What was done was done and he was going to have to learn to live with it, whatever the outcome. But Viyah was alive, that was something, something he could hold on to, a small sliver of light in a dark situation.

“You should have stayed in Rosa, Kezonto.”

A voice called out from behind the two, he stood tall, a man in his late twenties. In his hand he held a bottle of spirits, that he raised to his lips. Sucking down the last drops, looking down through the bottle’s neck, making sure he captured every sip. Locke and Keyon turned around to face the man, Locke assuming a defensive stance against the mysterious stranger. Keyon placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder, urging him to ease up. He stepped forward, taking stock of the man before him. Keyon was shocked by yet another ghost from his past revealing themselves. This time it was none other than the founder’s son, the spearhead of the rebellion, the one and only Sebastain Solomon the 5th.

Tossing the empty bottle to the side, he stuffed his hands in his pocket as he walked closer to Locke and Keyon.

“Sebastian!?, what are you doing here, where have you been, how did you know that I was in Rosa.”

He played with his glasses, cleaning the lens, thinking of how he wanted to answer the brat.

“We will get into that in due time, it’s going to be a long walk to Coastal Garden, I’ll explain everything along the way, there are things you should know Kezonto.”