Chapter 17

Sci's P.O.V

"Hey Sci, could you pass me that bottle full of pink stuff over there?" Susan asked.

"That's not what it's called." I said, annoyed.

"OK. Would you fetch me that bottle full of the pinkish liquid then?"

I huffed grabbing the bottle and tossing it to Susan. She caught it very un-majestically.

"Hey, these are dangerous chemicals! You can't go throwing them around!" Susan scolded.

"I don't care."

I turned my back to Susan and went back to making the chemicals on the list I was given. Susan's eyes narrowed. She looked at Jenny, who had fallen asleep standing against the wall. The only sounds were Dust's damn snoring and myself working on the damn chemicals. Susan carefully set the bottle of pink liquid down on her table and walked up to me.

She put her hand on my shoulder. "Hey Sci?"

I groaned angrily. "What do you want now?"

"Are you OK?"

"You already know the answer to that. Now leave me alone."

"Not until you calm down."

"And you think antagonising me is going to calm me down?"

"No. I think letting out your feelings will calm you down."

"How about no?"

I slapped Susan's hand off my shoulder and continued working. But apparently, Susan wasn't going to give up so easily. She clicked her fingers and suddenly I found myself floating in the air.

"Susan, wha-"

"Come on, lets get some fresh air."

I was forced to follow Susan as she stepped outside. It was sunset and the sky was beginning to get dark. I could see a few stars here an there in the sky. The magic affect on me let go and I fell to the ground.

"Ow." I mumbled.

"Alright, skele-man, tell me about your troubles." Susan said, smiling at me.

"No." I stood back up and headed towards the door.

Susan snapped her fingers and the door slammed shut. I tried to open it, but the magic was surprisingly strong. I huffed and turned to Susan.

"I can wait all day." I said.

"Great. There's only about half an hour of day left. I can wait."

I growled. "What do you want?"

"I want to you express your feelings."

"Why?"

"Because you're tired, grumpy and that's no way to go to work. Don't you want to do a good job?"

"The job can go fuck itself."

"That's the first time I've heard you swear. Come on, do you want to feel better or not?"

I crossed my arms. "Yes..."

Susan's expression softened. "Then express yourself. Tell me everything's that's wrong."

I looked away. "I don't know you. I don't want to talk to you."

"Then don't talk to me. Talk to yourself."

"That's the first sign of madness."

"You mumble to yourself without even realising it all the time."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do. Come on, just talk."

I huffed. "Fine then. I'm angry, I'm sick of being forced to do what that stupid overgrown reptile says."

"That's good, keep going. But be louder."

I raised my voice. "I'm sick of being watched by that damn general of his! I wish she'd be fed to the damn zombies! Or that she'd throw herself into a pit and rot there! I'm sick to coming here everyday just to do some stupid experiments on my friend! I want to take all the chemicals and smash them! I-" my anger suddenly changed into great sorrow. "I...I want my children back...and I want my partner to be safe..."

I wrapped my arms around myself, looking sadly down at the lush grass we stood on. The wind was blowing silently, the leaves of trees shook and rustled. The occasional chirp of a bird getting ready to sleep sung and the frogs and crickets were beginning to sing their lullabies. The gentle flow of the river with the occasional splash of a fish could be heard off in the distance. There was nobody in sight.

I felt cold tears run down my cheekbones. Most of the frustration I felt had faded away and now I felt only the things I thought. I miss my family. All three of them, I missed them all. Although I was upset, there was a small sense of peace within me. A warm pair of arms wrapped around me.

"I'm sorry," Susan said. "That all of this has happened."

"I should be the one apologising..." I muttered.

"You have every right to be mad. Don't apologise for having feelings."

I hugged Susan back and we stood there for a good while. For the first time in days, I felt calm. Letting my anger out was exactly what I needed. It felt good.

"We should probably get back to work before Jenny wakes up." Susan said.

"Yeah..." we pulled away from the hug and I smiled. "Thanks, Susan."

"You're very welcome, Sci."

After exchanging one more smile, we headed inside and got back to work.

A dark shadow stood under the camp's biggest tree. Once that tree was the most beautiful part of the camp. Wild flowers would gift a sweet scent, the birds would sing a welcoming tune and leaves offered cover from the burning sun of late summer and the freezing rain of early winter.

But now, the tree was one of the most dreadful places to visit. Dozens of bodies laid out in the open under the tree's quiet branches. The sweet aroma of wild flowers was drowned out by the scent of slowly decaying flesh. It was a constant reminder of the hell that this once glorious, well organised survivor camp had become.

The dark shadow stood very still, so still that one might think he belonged with the pile of bodies. His glitchy skeleton hand held a small cloth made from his very own dark-blue string. The magic that flowed through the fabric was evident.

Why was this glitchy skeleton here? Because he wasn't going to wait any longer to see his partner, who had been snatched from his grasp a few nights before. He knew that the cruel ruler of the camp would take advantage of his partner's weakened state. In fact, there was a high chance he already did. The glitchy skeleton would not stand for it. He wouldn't let his lover be used like that. Not again.

Another shadow appeared close to the first. He hovered above the ground and wore a black cloak that made him almost invisible in the night. He held a sickle in one hand, a gift from his own lover many years ago. The sickle held its own secrets, but not nearly as many as it's owner.

"You wanted to see me, Error?" asked the second dark shadow.

"I did." Error replied, keeping his gaze on the fabric in his hand. "How have you been, Reaper?"

"Everything's been hell." the second shadow rested his feet on the soft grass. "King has no respect for us native guards. He has even less respect for everyone else. He kills for the sake of killing and will go to any lengths to ensure he stays in control." Reaper's eyes narrowed sadly. "We've already lost so many. I don't know if the camp will be able to recover if this goes on for much longer. We might be sent off into the wasteland again."

"Why not overthrow King, then?"

Reaper raised his head. "He has an army of unnatural mutants behind him. We stand no chance."

"So what does that mean? You won't fight by our side?"

"He has someone close to me."

"He has someone close to me, too." Error looked at Reaper for the first time. "Does this make you our enemy?"

"I'm afraid it does." Reaper held the sickle out to the side and it's blade and handle extended into a long, angry scythe. "I'm sorry, my friend. I wish I didn't have to do this."

"Me too. No hard feelings, OK?"

"None at all."

The wind howled and the moon watched as the two shadows came to a clash.

Error was thrown into the cold, metal cell within the wall. He sat up, groaning as his battle wounds stung. Reaper shut the bared door of the cell.

"I will see you soon in the final battle." Reaper said.

Error nodded. "I know."

Reaper floated away without another word.

"Error?"

The glitchy skeleton turned to the one who spoke his name. Ink sat at on the floor at the back of the cell, looking surprised and relieved to see Error. Thank you, Reaper, Error thought to himself. Error shuffled up to Ink, pulling the smaller skeleton into a gently embrace. Ink flung his arms around Error, yet his grip was weak and shaky. Ink then began to weep.

"It's OK." Error whispered assuringly. "I'm here now, it's OK."

The two reunited lovers sat in each other's arms, sharing each other's warmth and love.