Eight hours ago, Patch went missing. The day started like any other. Patch and I sat around the table, enjoying our breakfast of bacon, eggs, and coffee.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzYSR3pLUm
Patch scanned the apartment. "Hey, where's your brother? I haven't seen him in a while."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZDY0NuN0T
"I don't know. He left with Chase to go meet a friend yesterday, but I haven't heard from him since."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW9HTqj3Dp
Patch raised an eyebrow, "Who's Chase?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVZ2iTLNm4
"Umm, the guy who was in your workshop for a month and has been living with us ever since."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ90X6imkRI
He gave a recollecting nod. "Oh, that guy. I knew it seemed quieter around here this morning!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4DdLNHLIO
I fidgeted in my chair. "Atlas has been ignoring all my messages and calls. I'm getting worried."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM29Bk2VzZW
Patch took a long, slow sip of coffee. "I'm sure he's fine. It's good for him to get out and have some fun for once. He's so serious all the time."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb20eUAEP4P
I clenched my fists. "Something's wrong, I can sense it, and my intuition is always right!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDd04OMqhr
He let out an exasperated sigh. "Atlas is tough, I know he can handle himself."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xNnmhfB4t
"He's my baby brother. It's my job to look after him."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9BIEGUeNl
Patch pulled me into a tight hug. "No, it's my job to look after both of you."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5fcTMTCp9
I returned his embrace and gave a reluctant nod.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7PChHJx4N
"I need to go run a few errands around town. Do you want to come with me?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiPwtxHouv
I took a step back and shook my head vigorously. No way. Just thinking about it, made my stomach sick. "I can't!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22BHQ6jtFQ
Patch couldn't hide his disappointed expression. "Alright, I should be home in a few hours."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcFTpeFOQW
"I'm sorry," I muttered, sensing I'd let him down.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tEYpf5bZD
"It's alright, kiddo. I want to help you get better, okay? I don't know the first thing about treating anxiety, but I want to support you however I can. Alright?" For the first time in his life, Patch's tone wasn't laced with sarcasm. He'd meant every word.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3UHBMGO2i
I gave a faint smile. "Maybe next time?" I suggested.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8NJPJ5pdI
Patch smiled back. "I'd like that." He gathered his things and left the apartment, leaving me all alone.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOFJfXYBv5
I was used to being home alone. My agoraphobia makes it almost impossible for me to leave the house. Simple things, such as being in crowded areas, being more than five minutes away from home, or being in large open spaces, can trigger full-on panic. It didn't start this extreme. It started with a panic attack here and there when I was in overwhelming situations. Now.I can barely go outside at all. I have no right to be this way. Atlas's time with Bionic Corp was so much worse than mine, and he's still able to function. He was an assassin on the front lines. I just worked in the tech department, but some of the things I witnessed while I was there irrevocably scarred me.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7p7yxk3Yp
I grabbed my Holopad off the kitchen table and climbed onto my bunk bed. I cocooned myself in my blankets, pretending they could shield me from the traumatic experiences of my past.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRi590sh93
I still remember everything perfectly, no matter how hard I try. After Atlas was drafted into the cyborg army, I was devastated. I'd already lost my parents, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing my brother too. As soon as I was old enough, I enlisted as a Cyber Operations Specialist, which is a fancy term for a hacker who works for the military. I've always been a computer prodigy. My teachers always said I had a bright future. Maybe in another life that might have been true, but I chose to be with my family instead.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4MyKqMthS
Because I wasn't going into combat, I wasn't forced to become a cyborg, but I did have to go through the same training as everyone else. After I completed basic training, I requested to be sent to where Atlas was. I knew it was a battlefield, but I don't think anything could've prepared me for the horrors of war. The sound of gunshots and explosions rang right outside our base, day in and day out. The outside of the base was surrounded by mountains of dead bodies and broken cybernetic parts. The blood of fallen cyborgs dyed the ground crimson. Every day I'd wonder if that would be the day Atlas would become one of the countless bodies littering the ground.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6jYx8sgmw
The final nail in the coffin was when I had to step out onto the battlefield to save my brother as he was being ripped to shreds by one of his fellow soldiers. Atlas sent me a distress signal as he was being attacked, but I didn't get there fast enough to prevent any of the damage. I had to run 20 miles while carrying my dying brother to reach Ikigai II. I took everything in me to get to Patch's workshop. When I finally collapsed on his couch, I thought I was going to die.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLZKGZ6O5M
That's why I can't leave the apartment, because the world is cruel and dangerous. I can't step outside without envisioning the piles of corpses, anymore. Sometimes I think I can still smell the stench of decomposing flesh.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMOjvBQTZp
The lifeless faces of the dead cyborgs I saw on that battlefield still haunt me to this day. Sometimes I stay up at night thinking about all the cyborgs who were slaughtered on that battlefield. Did they have someone out there who loved them? Is there anyone who still remembers them? I try to remember the names of as many as I can, so they won't be forgotten.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQX6zmjRUU
Venus nudged me with her paw and let out a soft mew. I was so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even noticed she'd climbed up here to join me. I gently stroked her head and she purred. She curled up on my lap and snuggled with me. It was almost like she sensed my anguish and wanted to comfort me. "Good girl," I whispered.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtteNhfE6P
We were both startled by the loud sound of my Holopad ringing. I checked to see who was calling me. The person calling me chose to hide their number, along with their caller ID. I refused to answer anonymous calls. So, I denied the call.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63ShDgwPmV
Less than ten seconds after denying the first call, I received another anonymous call. My stomach churned with anxiety as I pressed the deny button a second time.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkembnER7eI
Sure enough, immediately after denying the second call, a third one popped up. I hit deny again and switched my Holopad onto silent mode.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jzw3CBtzR
A silent notification appeared on my screen, notifying me of another anonymous call. I considered denying the call for the fourth time, but then I started thinking, maybe Atlas was finally trying to contact me! I hesitantly pressed the accept button.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtx4e3HM5j
A burly man in a skull mask appeared on my screen. "Hello, Marisa." He said in an amused tone. "How nice of you to finally answer my call."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDKCDbDTj3
I tried to keep the fear out of my voice. "Do I know you?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbZ5LsFWQQ
He stroked his chin in thought. "I think we've been acquainted, I knew your brother very well."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8OhwvWp1F
"Why are you calling me?" I demanded an answer with an authoritative tone, but inside I was quaking.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCWwZRtrQE
"I've called to warn you of an impending threat to your family."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGga2DOec47
"Why should I believe you? He doesn't even know who you are!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxmpN2AvPi
He sighed. "Believe it or not, I want to protect people."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pACwvT3jX
I crossed my arms. "I don't believe you."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWglapewVa
"Please hear me out, your uncle's life is at risk!" He said, with an urgent tone.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tiNTKdIoj
"Take your mask off," I demanded.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkMPFV4oGa
"And then you'll listen?" He asked.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYQmCPhVtJ
I nodded.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QdLc0tJzq
He removed his mask, revealing a boy a couple of years older than me, with ghostly pale skin, thick brown hair, a wide jaw, and startling green eyes. I recognized him right away. I could no longer keep up my calm facade. "You're the one who ripped Atlas apart!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRnbNVSmNw
He nodded solemnly. "So you do recognize me?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaJbhCzz88
"I watched you try to kill my brother! You're pretty hard to forget. You're a monster!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaFCojdb5R
He clenched his jaw. "Do not make me out to be a villain." He spat.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLRVFtxg1i
"You sure looked like one from where I was standing!" I retorted.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCCsZBbj8f
"You think I wanted to hurt Curseword?" He looked offended.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE3Lp4mwQh
"Yes! You mercilessly ripped him apart and left him for dead!"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LDfM264Ji
He frowned. "I loved Curseword like a little brother, ever since we first met at the foster home. He looked up to me. Do you remember how close we were?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZSuL7hQwy
I couldn't remember meeting him at the foster home, but I studied his face to see if I could awaken some old recollections. I had a vague memory of an older boy with the same jade-colored eyes, but the man on the other end of the screen looked so tattered and worn down. I refused to believe they could be the same person.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiItDzgBvsd
"After we were drafted together, I tried to protect him, but I failed. After his first kill, he developed a taste for murder."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkQAzrxDyf
"You're wrong about him."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4vyIj49Zw
He shook his head. "I wish I was wrong, but you didn't know him like I did. I had to take him down before he killed any more cyborgs."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSIshKpHpi
I said, now on the brink of tears, "I'm his sister, I know him better than anyone."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97wlI4rbQl
"He's kept things from you. He knows you'll never look at him the same way if you know what he's done."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63UWcBnAab
I refused to make eye contact with him. "Why are you calling me?" I squeezed my hands into tight fists, as I spoke.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR7evdYGBV
"There's been a masked assassin killing cyborgs all over Ikigai II. They've been going by the call sign, Oblivion. At first, I thought Atlas was the one behind the mask, but I'm beginning to have doubts."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYEayOoHXb
"Why did you think it was Atlas?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb09NW74fbK
"They've been using the Annihilation Code."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mJ48jsoFS
"That's not possible!" I protested. "Atlas is the only person who knows the code."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOfVnF5F4d
"It seems things have changed. It looks like Bionic Corp built themselves a new cybernetic assassin."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzqsl5lVXD
Chills ran up my spine, and I took deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself. "What does any of this have to do with me?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0KiRA4Yc8
"About one month ago, I broke into a Bionic Corp warehouse and stole some important information from them. It was a risky venture, and I almost got caught and lost everything. Luckily, I found a way to take the suspicion off myse, and keep most of my loot. One of the items I stole was Bionic Corp's hit list." He pulled up the list on his Holowatch and scrolled down until he reached a specific person. Cyborg 16541815.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0KiB2CFan
I stared up at the photo. "Patch?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHOJrXAY5T
"Bionic Corp doesn't like deserters, and they certainly don't like people who've evaded them for years. They want to make an example of him. I tried to warn, your uncle of the incoming attempt on his life, but he didn't answer my calls. It's up to you to warn him."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB6XU8jXQe
"I don't know where he is," I said honestly.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XTaCLazYE
"You don't?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjG7fCl1Yu
"No. He said he was going out, but he didn't say where."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07lCJhZFeE
His facial expression was unreadable.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvulygws50
"Why do you care if Patch dies or not? Don't you hate our family?"
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIZKw8aEsB
He shook his head. "I will never forgive your brother for killing our fellow cyborgs, but Patch doesn't deserve to die for Atlas's transgressions." He slipped his mask back on. "I've enjoyed our chat, but I have business I need to attend to. Farewell, Marisa."
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCE3rwakuw
"Wait, I still have more questions!" I shouted, but he'd already ended our video call. A growing sense of panic took hold of me. He didn't even say when the murder attempt was supposed to take place! This month? This week? Today? I have to warn Patch! My fingers shook, and my heart pounded, as I called Patch on my Holopad.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzjS5jM0Lf
"Congratulations, you've reached Patch Contreras. Either I can't come to the phone right now or I'm ignoring you, so leave a message or don't. I don't care." He sent me straight to voicemail. Dammit! My head started spinning, and my lungs gasped for air. Now, what was I supposed to do? I tried calling him again, but the results were the same. I buried my head in my hands. Maybe if I'd agreed to run errands with him when he asked me to, he'd be safe right now, I scolded myself. I shook my head. Who was I kidding? I couldn't have protected him, I'm not even brave enough to step inside a shopping mall. If Atlas were here, he could protect us.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQefi9qiWA
I typed up a message on my Holopad and sent it to Atlas. Where are you?
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr65BydZbh
He didn't respond.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcLTdPnadv
Fine! If he wasn't going to answer any of my messages, I would hack into his Holowatch and find his location. I furiously typed away on my keyboard, until I finally managed to track him. He was at our safe house uptown. Why was he there? Is he in danger?
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWYDUcYvQC
I climbed down from my bunk bed and paced back and forth. I took deep breaths in a fruitless attempt to calm myself down.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cWp7Q90x6
Someone loudly slammed the front door of our apartment. Venus scurried under the bed. I tiptoed towards the sound. "Patch? Is that you?" A loud crash sounded from the kitchen. I inched towards the kitchen. A brief flash of something darted towards me. Before I had time to react, a cyborg wearing all black grabbed me by the throat and rammed me against the wall.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd9pA6eDgm
I gasped for air and tried to claw my way free from their grasp.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV8QxGbOMe
The cyborg gripped me tighter. "Where is he?"
ns216.73.216.146da2
