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tthevoic3s · 8 hours ago

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From Blood Births Life and Death - Chapter 12

A significant turn of events

Word count: 2,543

MASTERPOST

“One month.” Higgs declared. “I’m giving you one month to observe the target and make sure he’s not a threat.”

Junior nodded quickly, getting out and clasping her hands behind her back. The general turned his attention towards the other soldiers. “Junior won’t be working alone. I want the Research Department to support her mission, Erickson.”

One of the soldiers, a tall, blond haired man, straightened his posture and nodded in response.

Mars Erickson, the unit’s captain. “Yes, sir. My unit will undertake the assignment.”

Higgs gestured at the door to dismiss them.

As the chamber finally emptied, Higgs’ focus shifted. His eyes fell on Sadie, who had been standing silently at the far end of the table.

“One month, Junior.” he repeated.

“Yes, sir.”

As she turned towards the door to leave, she felt a strong hand clamp down on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

Higgs leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a cold whisper.

“I am trusting your judgement,” he said, the sole sentence sending a chill down Sadie’s spine.

“Do not fail me. Understood?”

Sadie hesitated for a moment. She turned slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of her mother’s gaze fixed on her. There was no trace of softness in her expression, only a silent demand for excellence.

Failure was not an option this time.

“Yes, sir.” She repeated, her voice steadier this time, as her expression shifted into one of firm determination.

Higgs studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. “Good. Now go. Your mother and I have things to discuss.”

The grip on her shoulder disappeared, leaving behind a faint ache.

Scott concluded, his hand abandoning its firm grip on Sadie’s shoulder, letting her free to move again, but even if his hold on her shoulder disappeared, it still left a faint ache.

She turned around fully, gave a faint nod, and finally got out of the room, her boots clinking softly against the metal floor.

Back in the meeting room, Higgs turned his attention fully to Sadie’s mother.

“You raised her to be resilient,” Higgs remarked, folding his arms across his chest. “Let’s hope she lives up to your expectations, and mine.”

Laura tilted her head slightly, studying Scott for a moment before replying. “She’s my daughter,” she replied smoothly, “She won’t disappoint.”

Higgs chuckled, though there was no warmth in the sound. “For her sake, she’d better not.”

Outside, the corridor was dimly lit, the muted hum of the facility’s systems the only sound accompanying her. As she walked, her mind churned with thoughts—of the mission, of her mother’s scrutinizing gaze, and of Higgs’ cold words. He wasn’t someone who sugarcoated anything, for sure, but the way he talked to her this time… something was wrong. She felt like he already knew everything, and this was only a sadistic kind of game of his to test her loyalty.

She shook her head, to send away the thought. Scott Higgs was her mentor, the only possible reason he was so demanding was for his desire for her success. It had always been like that. Nine years of commitment and determination couldn’t be changed in a single meeting. And yet, there was something else lingering in her mind.

Why?

Why did she protect him?

“Sir, I don’t think that’s the best course of action.” The words slipped past her lips without any kind of control or rationality. She didn’t even think before speaking, she just spat that awful proposal out of instinct. She bit her lip in frustration as she made her way to her quarters, and still her mind couldn’t give her an answer.

Because of one reckless, not even conscious decision, a brief, impulsive moment of action,she was forced to face him again. And the worst part was that she had protected him. Even if unconsciously, she had chosen to save him. And now, she had to deal with the consequences of such a choice.

Her frown deepened, as well as her churning confusion. Having him dead, as Higgs clearly proposed, would have cleared the way for her. It would have eliminated her only distraction, the only thing that seemed like an obstacle to her success. And most importantly, it would have erased the single, glaring reminder that she could fail.

Andrew was the proof that she could fail.

She hated even the sound of his name in her head. Her fists clenched tightly, nails biting into her palms as her mind replayed the moments she wished she could forget.

She shot him, insulted him, and acted out of raw anger and terror. Yet, he still promised her to keep the secret. Her secret. Her failure.

That promise was worse than any retaliation she could have imagined. It was a tether, a connection she had no desire to maintain. But it wasn’t just the promise that haunted her. It was the way he had looked at her. She remembered it vividly. His gaze wasn’t filled with anger or hatred like she had expected. No, it was worse. It was calm. Piercing through the walls of ego and defiance she had built so carefully over the years, exposing cracks she didn’t know existed.

He seemed worried. Even pitiful.

Sadie scoffed, her fist pounding to the wall as to make the memory go away. She covered her mouth with her free hand, shutting her eyes.

Pity.

How dare he? she thought, her teeth clenched so tightly her jaw ached. How dare something so beneath me show me pity?

A pang of nausea hit her stomach at the thought. She never felt inferior to anyone. How was it possible that the first person to make her feel that way was someone who shouldn’t even be a person to her? She had even compromised with him.

Sadie punched her fist against the wall harder this time, the weight of humiliation burning in her chest.

Compromise.

She cursed at herself, her nails digging into her skin. How could she even think about compromising with one of them? She had lowered herself, offered him a deal, treated him as though he were her equal, or worse, as though she were at a disadvantage. He made her, figuratively and literally, feel truly small. How dare he?

She could feel the heat of regret and anger surge through her veins. Having him killed would have solved everything, and yet, here she was, not being able to erase the image of his eyes from her mind.

No matter how hard she tried, his gaze stayed with her, cutting deeper than any wound she had ever inflicted. There were no words to explain how much she hated him for it. She hated herself more.

—

The prison bed itself wasn’t so uncomfortable. Maya even managed to have a good rest, her body fully enveloped in the blood stained blankets. Higgs’ men didn’t even bother to check her wound before confining her in that cell. She was lost in whatever dreams she had in her mind when a strong metallic noise — the door prying open — startled her, jolting her awake from her slumber. She sat up rapidly, her reflexes quick as always, and covered herself more with the blankets. She hadn’t had a proper shower in days, her clothes were the same from the morning she got arrested, and despite being a reckless little goblin - as a lifestyle - she wanted to appear presentable to whoever was entering the room.

Her dark eyes narrowed as she recognised the figure emerging from the doorframe.

Mars Erickson? What the fuck is he doing here? He isn’t a guard, I’m pretty sure he’s in one of Higgs’ special squads, what the fuck does he-

Her flow of thoughts was interrupted by the soldier’s voice, who greeted her in an almost ironic way. “ ‘Morning, Strauss. Slept well?”

There was a faint smirk on his lips, his voice tinged with amusement, and it made Maya’s blood boil. He was one of her father’s best students, as far as she remembered, and the mere thought he could even think of siding with Higgs after everything Friedrich taught him, made her stomach churn with disdain.

She frowned, and ran a hand through her disheveled locks in an attempt to gain a decently serious look. “Damn fucking no,” she spat out, though she was half lying, “Quit the acting. Why are you here? What do you want to do? Interrogate me so you and that motherfucker can kill—“

Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed how Mars was not paying attention to her complaints, but was moving around the room before her cell with nonchalance. He stopped near the desk on which the computer was placed.

He bent to access the keyboard, and muttered something under his breath as he typed quickly. Maya stayed silent, observing him with sharp eyes, as the only sound in the room was the clicking of keys when the soldier’s fingers pressed them.

What the hell was he doing? Did he just…?

“Okay, now I think we can have some privacy.” He announced, tilting the chair and sitting down backwards, with his legs spread at the sides of the backrest.

“You’ve caused quite a scene, haven’t you?” He continued, his voice still tinged with that amusement that irritated Maya. “All your father. It’s almost touching, you know? But I’m not here for sentimental pep talks, I’m afraid.”

“Then spit it out,” Maya snarled again, “what the fuck do you want from me?”

He adjusted his glasses, sighed, and leaned forward, meeting her gaze. “Listen, Maya,” he began, his smirk fading away, replaced by a quiet seriousness in his tone. “What you did was heroic, sure, but straight up reckless. Sure, your father’s interest was something, but running away past curfew, stealing documents and interacting with a giant? You’re crazy.”

“And why do you even care?” She replied, facing away from him as she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and irritation.

“I care because with this whole ‘playing the rebel’ act you’re going to put someone in danger.”

Playing the rebel. At those words, Maya finally snapped. She believed in what she did, and it was not her fault she was constantly alone in it. Constantly alone in a whole community that either agreed with Higgs or didn’t care to stand out, out of fear or sheer ignorance.

“At least I have the balls to stand against that motherfucker.” She replied, her voice like venom. “Not like you and all your… crew, who betrayed my father and his ideals when he casually died, siding with Higgs.” She finally got up, her voice rising and rising, tossed the blanket away and kept shouting at him holding the bars of the cell door so tightly her knuckles turned white. “And you have the nerve to call my behaviour ‘playing the rebel’? Go fuck yourself.”

Mars’ eyes widened slightly as he witnessed her outburst, and he leaned back slightly on the chair as the young redhead turned away from him.

“Do you really think that someone as wise as your father, with such noble ideals, could be betrayed so easily?” He asked after a brief pause, his tone measured.

“What do you mean?” Maya turned back suddenly, her interest evidently piqued.

“I’m saying that you shouldn’t be messing around playing the rebel. I’m saying that someone like you should take part in a concrete action, a real rebellion.”

The soldiers’ words kept Maya stunned for a solid minute. She just stared at him, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.

“What… the fuck?”

“You’ve got the courage, you’ve got the knowledge, the guts, and as you said,” he smirked, “you’ve got the balls to stand up against Higgs’ ideals. But this doesn’t mean you should do it alone, and in such chaotic and attention seeking ways.”

Maya backed away, sitting cross legged on the bed as she listened to him attently. Her heart was racing, and she had difficulty understanding whatever he was planning, but the sole fact that Mars fucking Erickson, one of the highest ranked soldiers, was planning something against Higgs, was a good sign. More than a good sign.

“Now,” he continued. “I turned off the cameras and the microphone, nobody will know about this conversation. I’ll replace the records, no one will suspect a thing.”

He got up from the chair, and started pacing around the room, with Maya’s gaze never leaving him.

“We thought Higgs was simply willing to exploit the island, without meaning direct harm to its people, but turns out we were wrong.”

No shit Sherlock. That was clear, at least it had always been in Maya’s head. If Higgs could harm somebody of his kind, — and he did, more than once — harming someone who he barely considered as a person would not be a problem for him, in terms of morality. And the worst, yet most ironic part? All the fear inducing crap he put in his dehumanising propaganda suited him better than whatever giant he was trying to describe.

But, even if Maya had that idea, how far was Higgs willing to get? In the 5 years humans stayed on the island after her father’s death, it was not like Scott did much except research and exploitation aimed expeditions. Mars spoke again, as if he could reply to her thoughts.

“We’ve been studying the resources here for a long time, and Higgs has come to the conclusion that the local population is an obstacle. Not something new, but it’s clear that he wants to get rid of them. He needs only two things to wipe everyone out: approval and weapons.”

Maya gulped. Wipe them out? She thought he was violent, but planning a genocide? For resources? It was too far even for a man like Higgs.

“Well, from what I’ve heard, he got the approval. With all the propaganda he’s been spreading…” she said, gripping the blankets at the edge of her bed. “What about those weapons?”

“He had to talk with the higher ups. It took years to make them believe his lies after your father’s death, but I overheard he finally got those damn permits from the government.”

“How much time do we have?” She asked, her eyes darting to her feet as she dangled her legs off the edge of the bed. She felt a pang of anger inside, but also guilt. She couldn’t believe a human being, ever so immoral, could even think about such a monstrosity. A genocide.

“Nine months, more or less,” Mars replied. “But none of this information is sure. That’s why I’m saying this to you. You’ve got the spirit and the ability to help us, I knew your father. If we have a possibility to stop this madness, I don’t want your recklessness to fuck it up. If Higgs thinks there’s someone who wants to oppose him, his control will be even more strict. No more sneaking out, trying to break out of jail alone, or drawing unnecessary attention. Am I clear?”

Maya stared at him, her gaze firm and fixed on his face. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her response. She hesitated for a moment, then let out a slight, humorless chuckle.

“Fuck yes, count me in.”

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