It was over...at last it was over. The day Genoa-No! Keyoko! The time of Genoa was over. The day Keyoko had been dreading, almost all her life, had come and gone. The owner of the shadow, the shadow man...Urel, had come at last. He'd taken her, and then he and his companions, took everything else, like they always did. Only this time, she rose up and fought back. In her anguish she'd taken them out and fully awoken.
She felt like she'd still been trapped under the ice, this entire time, only seeing faint shadows of the other side and the occasional cracks. She'd always just been on the cusp, but at last, she had broken through and was free. So much had happened in a short time. She lost everything and summoned a powerful, uncontrollable storm. She'd been so angry and grief stricken. She hadn't been thinking clearly. She just wanted to destroy him...destroy everything because she felt like her world was over. She took Urel and his companions out, but she'd also taken out everything around her. She realized too late, her storm would destroy so many others, so many innocent lives.
In that moment, she had wished she could take it back, but it was all too much for her. She'd passed out and came crashing down. As her body recovered, her mind had swirled with feverish dreams. She called out to Luka as she often did, in her dreams, but this time….this time, she heard him call back. Ever so faintly, she had felt his presence and knew he was close.
She wanted to reach out, to connect with him but felt herself being pulled away as her body was moved. She tried to send her out her mind in astral form. She just wanted a glimpse of him, to know what he looked like in this life, but she was too weak to see and fell back into the recessed of her mind until waking here.
She sat on a cot now, with her head buried in her hands. She felt bad about what she'd done, but knew there was nothing she could do. She more then anyone knew, some things could not be undone. Once something was truly broken, it could not be fixed. She ran her fingers through her hair, then lifted her head, and looked around once more.
She was in a room with metal walls and floors. There was a small sink and a toilet, cameras were in every corner of the room, and the door only opened from the outside. She doubted this was a hospital, given what she had done, it was probably a prison. Either way, whatever this place was, it wasn't Urel's bed. She let out a momentary sigh of relief thinking, at least that was something.
She stood up slowly, and carefully, her body was still in the process of healing. It probably would be for some time. She had exerted a lot of power, more so then usual, no doubt because- She paused suddenly catching sight of her reflection. She realized she was wearing clothes. A brightly colored jump suit. She looked down at herself and laughed. She'd been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed. Someone must have cleaned her up, last she could recall, she'd been covered in paint and blood...Harold's blood.
"Oh Harold." she whispered under her breath as flashes of her brother crossed her mind. She recalled him falling to his knees, the paint spatula embedded in his chest, to the very end he fought. He told the others they would go to prison that they would pay for this, but in the end, it was him that paid.
She leaned up against one of the walls, and let her head fall back as she closed her eyes. She could still vividly recall, Eyo stepping up behind Harold and breaking his neck. She recalled how Harold's body had fallen to the floor. One second he was there and the next he was gone. She had rushed to him, clung to him, and pleaded for him not to go, but his eyes had been dull, like a candle snuffed out, his light was gone.
She suddenly heard what sounded like a lock mechanism. She opened her eyes, and wiped her tears away as the door to the room opened. She pulled from the wall as a soldier walked in. Immediately, she fell back against the wall, sensing the soldier's presence. She could read him, almost as if he were a book, she'd pulled off a shelf.
He was Brock Patrick Balo. She knew where he'd been born, and who his parents and siblings were. Various flashes of his life, trauma and triumphs up to this point, crossed her mind. When he reached out and touched her skin, she could hear the very thoughts in his head.
'I'll take this one to the interview room, then take my break. After that it's two hours and I'm off. I'll stop at the store and get what we need. Then I should just be able to shower, change, and make it to the party on time, but man am I gonna be tired. These double shifts are killing me, but we need the money.
Keyoko's eyes widened as she looked at him, 'Why is she looking at me like that? What's her problem? What kind of hair color is that? Whatever I just need to move her to the next room, then I can take my last break. I hope there is still something left in the vending machines.'
He pulled her along and she found it hard to have thoughts of her own, when her mind was completely consumed by his. Without a word, Balo pulled her from the room and into the hall. There were at least five other soldiers waiting out there, lining the hallways walls. She couldn't hear their thoughts, but they were like open books to her as well...no pictures. YES! She was holding a book in her hand and staring at a wall of pictures that were each telling their own story. It was too much, after a second or two, they started to blur into one another.
Overwhelmed would be an understatement, she could barely put one foot, in front of the other. She started to stagger and Balo held her tighter. 'What now! What is wrong with her? She better not be sick, I remember that one guy puked all over me, couldn't get the smell out of my uniform, had to order a new one."
Instinctively, she tried to pull free of him, and his thoughts, so she could grasp hold of her own. Another solider Gerald Mac Milner, stepped up and grabbed her other arm, 'Just give me a reason bitch! Just give me a reason! My sister lived in Masser!" Keyoko could see a building in his mind, and recognized it as one she and her brother had often walked by, on their outings. She found she could weed through Milner thoughts like he was a file cabinet. Masser the building was two blocks from the center of the event. His sister's body had yet to be found. She was most likely dead.
Her legs buckled under the weight of everything. She turned to Milner and cried "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
"What!" said Milner. "I didn't say anything to you!"
"Let's just get her to the room," said Balo "I want my fucking break."
"Good luck, I'm still waiting on mine, was suppose to have it three hours ago," said Milner before he glared at her. 'What is she apologizing to me for? Does she know who I am? Does she know she killed my sister? Did she do it on purpose? Was she targeted because of me?'
Keyoko stumbled about then stopped walking all together. It was too much, she wanted it to stop, but they just kept going. They dragged her along until she was in the interview room. They sat her down at a table and handcuffed her to a chain, that was attached to the table. They gloriously let go of her and their thoughts pulled from her mind. She could feel herself again. Their presence were still their but quieter. She was going to have to get a handle on this, sooner rather then later, or it was going to be a big issue.
She tried to settled down and then her sensitivity spiked. She could hear scattered thoughts like she was turning the dial on a radio. 'I'm hungry! I knew I should have eaten. but I was just so tired, no time, no time for anything. It's just a rash. it's just a rash, nothing more I'm fine I'M FINE! DAMN IT ITCHES! MY BALLS ARE GONNA FALL OFF! FUCK! I knew I should have worn something! I knew a threesome had to be too good, to be true! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! When you love a man, you got to stand by his side. When you love a man you've got to give him the world or was it word? I can't remember all the lyrics. Was I even getting the tune right? The audition is next week I need to be ready. When you, when you love a man, shit they need to let us wear headphones. Focus, focus, shit I gotta go to the bathroom. Was it the episode with the wings or I think it was the episode with the dynamite, yeah that was the one where Chutney found out his father was still alive. Man I love this show!"
The thoughts separated and then combined, they felt like they were coming from everyone, everywhere. Keyoko cried out in agony. Her eyes, her ears, her entire body was so sensitive to everything. Their minds suddenly began to focus on a woman that walked down the hall.
'Big boss coming and salute, feeeew, bathroom, bathroom, gonna use the bathroom!'
'She is so cool, I wish I could be like her. At this rate I'm not gonna make rank until I'm 30 uhhh'
"What is she twenty, fucking kids leading shit these days!'
'She's kind of hot, I guess, yeah I'd do her! Yeah I'd do her real good heh," he saluted."That's right salute my cock,'
"Has she been secured?" the woman asked. For some reason Keyoko couldn't hear her thoughts.
"Yes Survayant Rogers," 'Her father is the only reason she has this job,'
The woman stepped into the room, Balo was standing in the doorway. He saluted her, 'Don't make too much eye contact. Don't make too much eye contact, she's spooky as shit. I heard she can do things, "
"What did you do to her?" asked Survayant Rogers as she saw Keyoko flailing about the table. Keyoko could barely focus on her voice.
"Nothing she just started acting like this as soon as we pulled her out of the room." said Balo
Milner's thoughts suddenly popped in 'She's probably faking it, trying to get some medial release.'
Balo looked at her 'What If she has some sort of disease? What if I get sick before the party?
Milner 'Shit she could have one of those false teeth. I bet that is what it is. She's killing herself or wait would their be foam? Or gas? Shit I hope there isn't gas or were all dead? Dead like my sister-"
"AAAAHHH," Keyoko couldn't take it. "PLEASE! PLEASE! MAKE THEM LEAVE! IT'S TOO MUCH! TOO MANY VOICES! I CAN'T! I CAN'T!" She cried out and covered her ear, but the voices weren't in her ears. They were in her mind and she didn't know how to block them out just yet.
She'd heard a few others, before she'd been fully awakened, but they'd always been very quiet just out of comprehension. It was easy enough to drown them out, especially when she and Harold were barely around anyone else. She closed her eyes and began to rock. She needed to focus, she needed to focus, to shut them out. How could she shut them out? She had to remember! She had to remember how she used to shut them out!
Survayant Rogers stared at Keyoko for a moment, then began ordering the soldiers out, and away from the interview room. They thought she was crazy, given how dangerous Keyoko was, but they followed her orders. As they got farther away, Keyoko was finally able to hear herself think. She let out a sigh of relief, then looked up at, Survayant Rogers as she returned to the room. Keyoko was surprised to find, not only could she not read this woman's thoughts, but she couldn't read her at all. There was defiantly something different about her. Yes! She was one of them...the cursed, but which? Keyoko closed her eyes, trying to sense just who she was. Was she a friend or foe?
Survayant Rogers set a folder down on the table, then sat down. "I am Survayant Krissy Rogers, with the SVC-"
"Jezza," gasped Keyoko, a smile crossed her lips as she could feel her now. She opened her eyes and looked at her old friend. At last, after all these years she had found a friend!
Jezza's breath caught in her throat."You know me?"
"Yes, you and I were friends," said Keyoko excitedly. "In another life, in many other lives,"
"Yes," said Jezza quietly. "I know."
"How long have you been awake?" asked Keyoko excitedly.
"Since I was a child," said Jezza.
"Me too, well not really," said Keyoko tilting her head, "I thought I was awake. I was in an accident when I was younger. I remembered a lot, but as it turns out, I was only partially awake until recently, so yeah. I guess I was somewhat awake, but now I'm fully awake"
"I see," said Jezza. She leaned forward in her chair and looked like she wanted to say something, but held back. Her gaze shifted to the side, she stiffened then straitened her posture and continued, "I am happy to see you again, my old friend, but you should know, I am first and foremost a Survayant of the Urutha government."
"Oh," said Keyoko. She looked at Jezza, a second ago her eyes had been warm, but they now seemed distant "I see," said Keyoko pulling back in her seat. Even though this was Jezza, she was making it clear, her job came first in this life.
"Do you know why you are here? What you have done?" asked Jezza.
"Yes." said Keyoko quietly. For a brief moment, she had forgotten it all, Urel, Harold, the storm. "I- I unleashed a storm."
Jezza let out a heavy sigh. "You- Why did you do this?"
"I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself," said Keyoko, lowering her head. "Urel- He returned. He and the others, they killed my brother and I- I just lost it."
"You WERE attacked." said Jezza perking up. "Wait! Urel he HAS returned! HE'S BACK! WHO IS HE!"
"It's alright," assured Keyoko, "I got him before he woke up. I'm not sure what that does to the curse for this life. I know if one of us die dies, it makes us all vulnerable, but if he wasn't awake, I'm not sure if it counts. Do you remember?"
"I do not." said Jezza. Her tone was stern as she stayed on task, "What was his name? How did you take him out?"
"I took them all out," said Keyoko leaning forward. She played with the chain, attached to the table as she replaying it in her head, "I threw Eyo out a window and Gigi through some walls. I don't think they will be dead though, they were already awake. You'll want to keep an eye out for them."
"We have Eyo," said Jezza. She quickly popped a pen open and began taking notes. "But we haven't run across Gigi yet,"
"OH, WELL YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL!" said Keyoko, "Remember she can use her powers to make herself look like anyone, or even just disappear." Keyoko recalled how Gigi had made her and Keyoko disappear. Harold hadn't seen them and panicked when he couldn't find her. She clenched her firsts thinking of Harold. Perhaps if she had called out to him, he would have seen Gigi's abilities and believed her. They could have run- No. Gigi and the others would have just attacked sooner.
"Right," said Jezza, jotting down more notes. "She makes illusions. Do you know her name in this life?"
Keyoko sighed. "She said it was-" She tried to think back. It hadn't been that long ago, but it felt like ages now. "Esma, Eldro or Elder or Eldor, I think?"
Jezza quickly took down the names, "Now Urel! What was his name?"
"His name in this life was, Jesep Zian, he lived in the penthouse of my building." said Keyoko.
Jezza stopped writing and froze, Keyoko tilted her head sensing something was wrong.
"Who...Who did you say was Urel was in this life?" asked Jezza, she looked shaken.
"Jesep Zian," said Keyoko.
Jezza quickly looked through her folder and pulling out a picture of Jesep. She placed it on the table before Keyoko and said "This man!" Keyoko winced, even though it was over, even though he was dead now, she could still feel his skin, on her skin. Those eyes of his, the way he had made her feel. She trembled feeling her body moisten, she turned her head away feeling sick and ashamed. She nodded. "Yes. That was him,"
Jezza breathed in sharply, shaking her head. "This man! He's not dead, Keyoko!"
Keyoko turned back to her, "WHAT! BUT NO! NO! I- I threw him down! We were up in the air, he wasn't awake yet- At least that is what Gigi said! I used my powers and I threw him into the ground. HE SHOULD BE DEAD!"
"Well, he isn't!" said Jezza, "Some of my men found him, in a what we believed was a sink hole."
"Where is he now!" gasped Keyoko. She looked around the room, fearful he was just going to pop up out of nowhere. She looked for the shadow, was it even still with her? She looked all over the room, but couldn't be sure, if it was there or not. "You have to do something! HE'S DANGEROUS JEZZA!"
"I know! I know! Believe me I know," said Jezza. She quickly gathered up her things, "I didn't realize it was him. He didn't have his stone."
"He doesn't have his stone!? Maybe- Maybe he's only partially awake, like I was." said Keyoko. "There might still be a chance to stop him!"
"I don't know," said Jezza. "But believe me, I'll find out! I need you to wait here! I've got to secure him at once. When everything is under control. I'll return and we'll figure things out."
"Let me go with you," said Keyoko. She stood up, pulling on her handcuffs. She didn't exactly want to see him again, but she knew there was strength in numbers. She wasn't alone, not anymore and neither was Jezza. They had each other, they could work together!
Jezza paused, Keyoko could tell she was considering taking her with her, but ultimately shook her head. "I'm sorry I can't take you with me. Please just hang tight, I'll be back as soon as I can,"
Jezza practically ran out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Keyoko dropped back into her seat. Alone she ran her hands through her hair and over her face, recalling the last time she'd seen him. He'd looked up at her and she slammed him back down to the ground. She wondered now if...if she inadvertently woken him up. She hoped Jezza would be able to secure him and that together they could stop him, but she had a bad feeling about this. She couldn't help but think of what Gigi had said. 'HE'LL GET YOU FOR THIS! HE'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!'
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