Burying the Hatchet (COMPLETED)

Repercussions

The surroundings were in total chaos. People running to and fro. There was even one man who was opted for escape when one of the police officer fires his razora at him. A hole blasted through his belly. It was not even sinking in yet as he looks at it with horror in his eyes. When he stared ahead to keep going, another blast hits his head. It exploded like some tomato getting fired at.

Eli puked on sight, it was her first time to see actual death in combat. The level of morbidity she expected was way different than what she currently experiences. It still doesn’t make sense to her. The government could just capture and imprison them. Just because they were rebels, they are stripped off of their humanity. Treated as a mere bag of sausages to fire at when they don’t submit to its demands. Now that's just harsh reality on full display.

This is what she signed up for yet a huge part of her wants to back out that time. Her legs are wobbly and trembling while hiding behind a column. Her face is covered in mud and dust only her eyes are visible like bi-colored blue flames; scanning the nearby corners for enemies and maybe possible allies. Far enough from the put together ensemble she has started with. Now she looks like a real soldier tested in actual battle.

The whole building is quaking from time to time due to the exchange of gunshots and grenades exploding. Most of it included a pile of bodies. Hearse City is located at the far north of the country. The forgotten city. Where all the criminals, squatters and traitors are sent to suffer, die and rot. It was one of Revival’s major turfs that was captured by the government four months ago.

They thought the raid would go smoothly since the people there were used to cut throat fights on a daily basis. If not with the government dogs but among themselves for a little respect, title and petty leadership. But oh boy they were damn wrong. There were innocent bystanders in there. Women, children, elderlies, handicaps and a few more who can’t fend for themselves. That was under their protection. Living a rat's life in hiding from the government.

Anger stir inside Eli’s heart even more. All her life the government let them believe that EDEN is a perfect system, to all walks of life no matter the status and belief they had. But it was nothing but false propaganda from the president and his administration. Justice under his rule is bought by those who can afford it. To those who can't he has no qualms over it.

She received an encrypted message from him that read:

‘Sapphire I’m out, location -24.6574, 30.3685’

It was Fray.

The coordinates he sent flashed in her eyes. Automatically a five dimensional map sprawl in sight. A red pin flickering meant his exact location.

‘On my way Jade, hang in there,’ she replied.

Without wasting anymore time she rushes downstairs. Staying alert for whatever unwanted forces she might encounter along the way. Right hand planted on her pocket holding on to the crystal marbles. She didn’t think her senses have heightened over the last five months but it did. Even the slightest rustles, she can detect them now plus the audio support of the EDEN program that came in handy.

‘Just a few meters to your location, situation update over there?’

She heard him sigh, ‘could be worse without a rescue on the way.’ Breathing is the safest thing he could do compared to the risky talking. Thanks to EDEN’s encryption feature.

She bit her lower lip in frustration. ‘I meant the numbers, how many are there?’

He looked around and EDEN’s x-ray analysis showed him the targets.

‘Four. One hiding behind a column. The other two on my back on both sides of the closet. The last one is docking under a table with his sniper.’

If he didn’t know any better and did not calibrate EDEN like all Revival members did---he’d be toast right now. They can’t see his exact location on their end but they know he’s there. The one hiding behind the column chased him that way then called for backup. Well informed of who Fray was. One of Revival’s sickest hackers. Him being off the grid is all the more reason to stay, it’s screaming something’s amiss on their faces. Though he has that advantage, without any weapon at hand he’s good as dead if they catch him.

Fray could have moved forward if he didn’t sprain his right ankle. After a miscalculated landing from the previous upper floor. He was massaging it when another message popped up.

‘Take cover.’

So he pulled his murky plaided green scarf up to his nose. Then pulled down his steampunk leather crested goggles.

‘I’m good.’

A few seconds later a blue smoke emerged. The same poisonous smoke that leaves humans into living corpses in its wake. The officers panicked. Even Fray almost did the same but he relied on that fact that during the intruder attack on the previous Revival safehouse he withstood its effects. When he moved to his right side to shift position his hand caught something. It was a crystal marble. While he was scrutinizing it another message popped.

‘It’s a gift. Your wish is its command. Any weapon in mind?’

He grins as he reads the message. Thinking, ‘is this for real?’

Since he did not respond for over a minute she bugged him again. ‘Just give it a go, I bet you can manage a knife at least?' She taunted him.

Given the instructions, he thought of a simple knife while holding out the marble in his right hand. Then out of nowhere his eyes widen at the sight of the knife materializing in his grasp.

‘Three o’clock.’

As he read that he threw the knife on that direction. It pierced theough the thigh of one officer. He fired his razora but Fray managed to duck. Then someone was on his back.

“Don’t chicken out it’s just me silly,” said Eli holding a razora as well. Then tosses another marble mid-air for him to catch. “You might want to try again don’t you?”

This time Fray thought of a razora and got one in an instant. Eli snickers, offended with how he can do it naturally. When she has to go a ton of hit and miss to save her life earlier.

Amazed Fray complimented her, “you’re good Sapphire.”

Then they stood back to back firing on the locations of the officers. They were totally in sync as if they were dancing to a music only the two of them could hear. Eli fired at the sniper under the table while Fray hit on the two officers on both sides of the closet. Light rays sparred as their weapons were shot.

“Dock!” Eli ordered as she leaned on Fray’s back as she fired her weapon.

Piercing through the officer’s head. The one that was hiding behind the column. She hates the idea but she needs to kill them. Ignoring the fact that they might also have a family waiting for them to come home. The officer fell on an instant death.

When a grenade was thrown through the broken ceiling. By the sight of it they scrambled away as far as possible. Then it exploded, the flames consuming half of the room. That was the only time she saw the truth. It was a female officer. Half of its face was burned by razora. While her right eye was still wide open. It’s like she was roasted alive.

She hurled her guts out while Fray rubbed her back to comfort her somehow. She looked at him with confusion. Waiting for a justified answer but instead heard something cold.

“The face of the war is not just pure black and white. There is a huge grey area that would make you question even your own morality,” he said as he anchored himself in a nearby wall.

Skipping his way to move forward. Eli followed along closely as his right arm hung on her left shoulder for support. She was still disoriented after what had happened. Who wouldn’t? When they reached the outside of the room Fray tapped her shoulder as he faced her. His emerald eyes pierced through her. Consoling the raging waves of her heart at the moment.

“I should go down the hall, I need to rescue more hostages.” She just nods as he points to his next destination. “Thanks for hauling my a** out of trouble Sapphire.” Then he smiles ingeniously and rustles her cerulean hair, treating her like a kid again. But she’s used to it now, she actually looks forward to it.

“See you at the extraction point,” she adds then turns to the other side.

Heaving out a deep sigh and dreading each step she took forward. She’s ought to do the same things she did earlier. She’s sure of that. That makes her shudder at the thought. With both of them walking away, it made the hall emptier. Aside from the occasional gunshots, screaming and explosions close by.