The Purge
Chapter 55: Bri

“Instead of trying to make a better robot, try to make a better man.”

Shimon Peres

“I had a dream.” Conleth said. “It was about you.” I felt his hand in mine. I felt his warmth rush up my skin like silk. “And I’ve never been so scared.”

It has been days since I caught the poison. The death sting from Noah Mori’s pets that almost killed me. Almost but not quite. This was just a warning. He says. He entered my mind. I can see him clearly in my dream. He was this pale haired boy with eyes as cold as the winter’s solstice. He continued to taunt me that if I try and say a word about his plans to my friends he wouldn’t make the slightest of hesitation to make their heads explode. And he would take Conleth’s life first.

I know I am stronger than this. I am not easily bent. I know I can find a way to save them. I am smarter than him. I am braver than this. I can save my friends. I can save Conleth.

“I dreamt about you dying.” I felt the pain in his voice as he surrendered his head on the weight of my hand. He’s holding it like it was his refuge. “There was this invisible wall between us and I couldn’t reach you, Bri. I couldn’t do anything to save you.” his tear found its way to my skin and I never felt the urge to protect someone so much. “I love you. And I know it could take away my life. But when I look into your eyes… I know you’re still worth the sacrifice.” He kissed my hand tenderly. “Please wake up. I don’t want to lose you. I will do everything not to lose you.”

I knew we have the same dream. Or our minds are just playing tricks on us. But one thing is for sure. One would be lying to the other in the end.

And I will do anything to save you.

The second time I woke up, Conleth has his head resting at the edge of the bed. I reached out to him and ruffled his hair. He woke up at the contact and a smile lit up his tired face. He took my hand in his and he blew a kissed in it.

“Briseis.” He whispered and it made me smile.

“You know… the sound of gun fire used to scare me. And then I learned how to hold a gun. The mere silence deafened me. And then I speak little, so often.” I pressed his hands to my lips and I laid a gentle kiss. “But then I hear your voice. And I know everything will be all right. Con,” I breathed in the hurt. “I don’t care how complicated this gets, I still want you.”

He leaned in and kissed me. We lingered in that moment for a while. I don’t want to let go. I wanna feel his kiss against my lips. The very touch of it makes me sane. I ran my hand through his hair. For a split second we let go of each other’s hold. Our foreheads met and we stared at each other’s eyes like we see each other’s soul. My hands trailed down his face and my lips brushed its shape. We felt each other’s breath like we’re breathing one air.

“Don’t die on me, okay?” he whispered.

My tears fall as I nod. “Okay.”

He kissed me on the forehead before he wrapped his arms around me and I fell back to a peaceful sleep.

Everyone was ready to go even though we don’t have anywhere else to go to. I hold on to Conleth’s ring hanging around my neck. I felt like it’s the only thing that actually belonged to me. I went down the stairs with a heavy head; remnants of the poison still hanging on to my body like crazy vines. I tried to shake off the thought of Noah Mori inside my head and seeing Imogen seem to be a good thing to take off some unnecessary thoughts and be distracted.

She was at the foot of the stairs, finishing up with the knot on her boot. She looked up at me and smirked like she knew a secret that I don’t.

“Why do people look at me like that today?” she asked, the air of sarcasm building in her tone. “People stare at me like they’ve never seen a goddess before.”

“Well, aren’t you a little dark today.”

She crooned. “Don’t be a racist, Bri. Hate everyone equally.”

“You don’t have to go you know.” I said as I reached her at the bottom of the stairs.

“Oh that’s nice of you.” She wrinkled her nose as she stood up and faced me. “But I’d rather fight it than fake it. Got it?”

I raised my hands up in mock surrender. “Whoops. My bad. I thought I was actually dealing with an adult.” She scoffed at me.

“How I love it when people insult me. It means I don’t have to play nice anymore.”

“I am being nice to you, Imogen.”

She narrowed her eyes at me as she stood in level with me. “I don’t trust people who don’t yell when they’re angry. They act as if they step on their pride and then they would lower their voice in a mock attempt of being nice but in truth they’re giving you a threat. That shit is just pure evil.”

“It’s hard for you to trust anyone.”

“Was that supposed to be a question? Because if it is, trust is not bought at the convenience store. Like forgiveness it is earned.” She clicked her tongue and started to walk towards the door.

“I am sorry about your team.” I finally said.

“As if your sorry could bring back lives. Please let me know if it can.” She retorted. I followed her to the door before she opens it.

“You don’t have to do this alone. You have no one else to turn to. Look, if you’re mad that Con chose me—”

She laughed.

“I am not mad that Con stupidly chose you. It’s quite obvious. I am mad that for so long you chose this time to choose him when everything’s already falling apart. Don’t you think it’s unfair?”

I looked down at my shoes.

“Sometimes people never get what they deserve because they’re too busy holding on to things they’re not supposed to let go of.” She pouted her lips. “I’m not your friend, Bri. You are quite a competition. And I still don’t want to lose to you. So as long as you are still alive, I will keep on playing.”

I shrugged. “Then why not just kill me now?”

She smirked at me. “I am not gonna kill someone without a fight, Bri. I am legit. So don’t expect me to offer you flowers ’cause I’ll be very much happy to dig you a grave.”

“You are a fighter.” I sighed. “Well, I am only offering allegiance as an Addonexus. This is our fight. Whatever it is they plan against us, I want you to fight alongside with me. I wanna live as much as you do, Imogen. We may have different beliefs but we are fighting over the same cause.”

She grabs hold of the door knob. “Desperate seeking measures aren’t you?”

“It’s not gonna be your team who’s gonna die out there every time I’m gonna make the wrong decisions. It’s gonna be mine. It’s hard for me to fight but what choice do we have? I want my team to get out of here in one piece. Just as much as you wanted for your team.”

“What made you think that I will help you? I have no one else to fight for.”

“You don’t have a squad, I need a soldier.”

She sneered at me. “That is kind of lame.”

“Imogen, You are Addonexus. We are of the same comet. We are of the same blood. We are family. I need you in my team. I need you to be in my team. If that’s what it takes to protect my family, I will take anything.”

She lets go of the door knob. I was hoping she’s making a consideration.

“What do I get out of this?”

“Freedom.”

I read the rules before I broke them.

I have no words to describe today except the crazy homicidal thoughts lurking at the back to my head. Imogen decided to stay. I was glad about it even though she tries to hide the excitement of actually killing aliens. Chivas stayed as well. He claims he just wanted to find Phyllis and kill her, take revenge on what she did to him and their team.

So I stood now in the living room, hating to face them all once again and not having to say the truth. They all looked at me with eyes bright with hope and courage that somehow we’ll get through this.

“I hate to break it to you guys. But today’s the day. And I hate farewell speeches because I was never truly good with goodbyes. Nevertheless I don’t want this to be the last speech that I’ll be giving to everyone.”

Imogen snorted.

“But once again I urge everyone to fight. I know you’re tired. Maybe some of you already feel hopeless. But there are monsters out there that want us dead. They will do whatever it takes to get their filthy hands on us. But we are Addonexus. We are stronger than anyone else. This time, we will show them the monsters that we are made of. This time, we’ll be the ones to make them bleed. Today we fight! Monster to monster.”

“Watashitachi no saigo no iki made.” Athren said.

Until our last breath.

“Guaiwu guaiwu.” Imogen said.

Monster to monster.

“Today,” I looked into their eyes, willing Noah Mori to listen. “we will bring the fight to them.”

Halley gasped.

I tensed. “What is it, Hal?”

She turned to me. “A message.”

We all turned to her. And then everyone, except me looked into blank space right before them seeing something I cannot see.

“It’s a map.” Halley continued. “They are luring us out.”

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