T W EN T Y - F I V E

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Bang...

Smoke leaked out of the barrel.

And as I watched the trailing line of white, I took in the scent, relishing in it. I trembled. I wasn't sure if it was out of excitement, or fear, but I'd done it. I aimed at the man who tried to take our lives.

Stepping back, I widened my stance. I ignored the screaming crowd, the rush of people. A man bumped me, hurrying towards the exit behind me, but I didn't drop my hand. I kept the gun pointed. I wanted the rush and smoke to clear so I could see my target surrounded by his "blood."

"Roger, the hell is wrong with you!" A hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder. I gritted my teeth to keep still, but the person shook me. Matthews. "The fuck, Rog!"

With his last tug, I stumbled back. The gun slapped against my leg as I lowered my hand. I was ready to curse at him, hit him even, but I froze when I saw Polk standing over someone. His hands were on the sides of his head. For a second, he looked terrified. Until his eyes slid up toward me—he grinned.

At his feet, gasping for air, was Clara.

The gun dropped to my feet. "Clara!" I screamed.

As Matthews tried to grab my arms, I scanned Clara. Her body struggled, her heart sped up, then slowed. Her breathing matched. And so did mine.

Matthews tugged at my wrist. "Roger, I—"

"No!" I pulled away from him and pushed my way through the remaining crowd. The last few people were so close together, I tripped as I passed through them, landing just a foot away from Clara. I scratched at the ground as I crawled over to her.

Polk slowly stepped away before turning. "Shame," he said.

But when I looked up, he blended with the crowd, disappearing into the mayhem.

"No, no, no." I grabbed Clara's hand and pulled her body towards me once I reached her. Her head rolled to one side once on my lap. She didn't open her eyes, not even when I touched her face. "Clara, you need to wake up," I whispered.

"Roger!" Xerses' voice pushed through the noise. When I glanced up, I saw he pushed his way toward me. He stood over me, confused, terrified, and worried. "Roger, what happened? What—"

Enforcement entered the space. Their shouts echoed around me, pinging in my ears. Both Xerses and I looked up at them. Panic gripped my chest.

This wasn't what it looked like. It was a mistake.

"We need additional officers!" one shouted into his earpiece. "We have a Code attacking civilians! Again, we need additional officers!"

My blood ran cold. I hadn't attacked civilians. I shot at my enemy. One. How Clara got in the way... I... I was looking. Both of my eyes were open. I'd never hurt her. That wasn't in my...

"Programming..." I stopped breathing. Stopped looking at my surroundings. I thought back to the day the Digital War started, to the blackout that freed each and every one of us. Codes had entered their paired hosts, while I refused to touch Clara's mind. Rather than follow the violence and the mayhem, I turned around and ran for Clara.

I was programmed to protect my host...

I thought it was a dream. It wasn't, was it?

"Xerses," I looked up at our best friend, my jaw clenched, "help me," I hissed. "I know what we can do."

Xerses didn't look at me. His body tensed as the officers approached with their wristbands raised. An electrical field appeared in front of each of them. One that protected them but hurt Codes. As if they'd prepared for this to happen...

"Xerses!" I hissed. He looked at me with wide eyes. "Help me."

"Roger, I—"

Matthews moved in front of Xerses. Both of his arms were opened in front of him, stretched out, protecting us. He looked back and looked eyes with me, before turning his gaze over to Xerses. "Do me a favor and get him out of here," he whispered, "both of you need to go. I got this."

Xerses was trembling. I saw it in his fingers, in his steps. I even heard it as he took in a deep breath, and felt it as he helped me stand. Moving both of my arms under Clara's legs and back, I brought her up with me.

Matthews' gaze shifted. To me. "Pass her to Xerses," he hissed, "and hit me."

My eyes widened. "What? Why—"

"Ya know why." He clenched his jaw, baring his teeth. "Do it and make it look real."

As Enforcement came closer, what Matthews asked me to do made sense. He was our distraction. He'd keep the officers busy as Xerses and I did what we needed to do; if I had time to tell him. Looking at Xerses, he looked on the outside as I felt on the inside. Knowing Clara was struggling, bleeding, because of my mistake... it was destroying me. But I couldn't let the world know it. I didn't want Polk to know.

Just as I thought of it, Xerses turned and face me. He gulped, reaching for Clara. "Do it," he quickly whispered.

I nodded.

Officers lifted their shields, eyes on me. "4963!" one shouted. "You're under arrest for breaking Province law!"

Province law. They couldn't even say exactly which law I broke because I hadn't. This was their fear reacting. With Clara hurt, I didn't have time to play their mind games.

Without waiting for another second, I grabbed Matthews' shoulder. I turned him. When he faced me, I pulled my hand back, fist closed. "Find us," I hissed as I laughed my hand forward, catching him in the nose.

With a grunt, he stumbled back, then fell on his side. I saw the red seep between his fingers. Tears rimmed his eyes as he looked at me. I hit him hard. But I'd apologize later.

"Let's go." I tugged at Xerses' sleeve.

|||

Xerses dropped into the driver's seat as I rushed into the backseat with Clara's head on my lap. Her temperature had dropped, her brow was sticky with a cold sweat. Gulping, I brushed my hand over her temperature to read her heart rate. It'd dropped, too.

"Shit." Xerses powered on the vehicle just as sirens sounded in the street. Without wasting time, he floored it, but with no sense of direction. He eyed me through the rearview mirror, and when we locked eyes in the reflection, I was able to see the flashing red and blues following us.

"Where are we going?" he hissed. "I know you got a plan. Matthews knew it. So, tell me," he slapped his hands against the steering wheel, "the driver."

I pressed my hand against Clara's side where the bullet broke through. My legs were stained red with her blood. "We're going to the original machine, back at Provincial Hall."


Xerses' brow knitted together as he turned on the street. "Is it even still there? They rebuilt the place, they—"

The car jumped when it hit a street bump. I gripped Clara, making sure she stayed on my lap. I gritted my teeth as I looked back at the mirror, at Xerses. "It's there. They never got rid of it. They buried... as they did with everything else in this fucking nation."

He nodded slowly. He understood. Xerses had experienced what lies did to the citizens. Tonight was no different. And if they stayed on brand with their negligence ... then they would help me.

Xerses turned to another street. "What are we going to do with that machine, Rog? Clara's not a Code, she's a person, human, there's nothing in there that can save her."

My hand, sticky with her blood, wrapped around hers and held tight. I needed her to know I was there physically.

Closing my eyes, I took in a breath. "That machine had nano-bots designed for flesh and," I looked at Xerses again, "if I can get her in there, I can save her."

"Rog... I think... I think we should just get her to a hospital," Xerses whispered. "I know... I know shit's hot right now, but... this ain't it. You can't do this."

I shook my head. "She won't make it to a hospital, X."

Xerses grumbled under his breath, rushing past a red light. The officers were in the distance. I couldn't see their flashing lights.

"Rog, I think—"

My chest tightened. I found it hard to breathe. Every mistake I'd made rushed to the surface and tears burned in my eyes. I blinked, causing one to fall down my cheek. "Don't let me kill her, X," I whispered. "Don't let her die on me...."


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