The big, gray guy’s cheeks darkened.
“Seriously? I’m not asking for that! I simply thought if you plan to rush in here every time I have a nightmare, that maybe it would be better if you stayed close? Besides, we are stuck with each other for the foreseeable future, and I don’t know…well you haven’t acted like a typical Military Model. I expected you to hate me or at least be pissed off at me. Instead, you’ve been kind, coming to check on me every night and…”I’m lonely.I hadn’t realized how quickly I had gotten used to having so many people around. I went from being alone, to having three cyborgs, to having a rebellion full. Plus, five other human females and two children.
It made my life feel complete in a way I never thought possible. I had never really let myself fully enjoy it, too afraid of what would happen when they learned the truth, but I didn’t know what I had until it was gone.
I brought my knees up to my chest, curling my arms around them, hugging them tightly. “I get it. Next to the Global Allegiance, I am enemy number one at the moment. Even if you are only pretending to be nice because Lennox ordered you to, I appreciate it, Ion. I made a mess of everything. And I don’t expect you to be my friend.”But I hoped you might be.I kept that part to myself. It was foolish to hope for anything right now.
I was trapped here, away from my Luxury Models, waiting to see if my end will be at the hands of the Global Allegiance or when Reaper decides it’s off with my head.
“Never mind. Go back to whatever you were doing, Ion.” I slid back under the covers, ignoring the damp and sticky state of my pajamas as I rolled over and stared blankly into the darkness.
A tiny sliver of moon light peeked in through the small window, acting like a small nightlight. It might have been beautiful if I didn’t feel so tangled in the mess I created.
I heard a sigh, followed by footsteps. The bed dipped dramatically as Ion settled in beside me. I twisted to face him, rubbing my eyes, trying to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
He had left a gap about a mile wide between us, but it didn't matter. I blinked back the tears threatening to fall.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Try and get some sleep, human female. I’ll be here.”
I rolled back to my other side and pulled the sheet up to my chin. If anyone could scare my nightmares away, it would be a Military Model.
A Tank Class would be better.Stop. Don’t think about Brone or the hurt look on his face when you told Reaper you wanted anyone else but him to guard you.
But I lied, Brone. I wanted you. Just not as my jailer. I wanted you as my friend…and maybe something more.
Those were the last thoughts I had before my eyes drifted shut and sleep overtook me.
Brone
Lennox’s Compound
The sky was dark gray above me, fog rolling around my frame. My boots sank into the damp ground as the light fall of rain landed on my face. I looked around, not finding anything familiar.
A wail pierced the darkness, and I searched frantically for whoever had made the sound. It was the sound of someone in deep pain and distress, tugging on my chest. I had to find whoever made it.
A bright flash of red appeared, shining out like a beacon in the darkness. Another wail echoed, a rush of choked words reaching my ears. “No! They can’t be gone.”
Nara.
I took off running, her continued sobs like daggers to my heart.
“Nara!” I bellowed, searching the fog for a speck of red.
As soon as I spotted it, I raced at cyborg speed until Nara came into view. Sliding to a stop, I reached for her, but my hand passed through her like she was a wisp of smoke.
This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t be this close to her and not be able to touch her. I tried again, but my fingers once again came back empty.
I was forced to merely watch as she crumbled in front of me, her knees giving out as she cried as if her heart was shattering.
And it was. In between us, placed a few inches into the dirt, there was a stone marker, two names standing out stark against the stone.
Suddenly, my processors caught up to the scene playing out before me. This was her memory. The memory of losing her parents.
My arms ached to hold her, a physical weight that sank into the metal bones beneath my frame.
I fell to my knees in front of her. “I would take this from you if I could,” I whispered, bearing witness to Nara’s pain.