Guardians(3)
“Screw the Sage.”
“Marcus.”
“Emmy, all he wants to hear is that he was right: That I abandoned my mission because of you.”
“It’s his job to tell us what he knows.”
“He doesn’t know crap. He should have told us where the Triplex was. We could have been finding a way to save you since we got here. Instead, he let us go on some wild goose chase, knowing damn well the Triplex was in you.”
“He didn’t know. He just knew that our love would get in the way of the mission. And it has.”
“I don’t care about the mission.”
“You do. I know you do. This isn’t just a mission. It’s about saving humans and you have always tried to do that.”
“Emmy, I can’t lose you. I won’t.”
I look into his eyes and I see the human he used to be. The teenage boy that fought with everything he had to stop his mom from taking drugs; the boy who was unable to keep his family together.
“Okay, let’s keep looking,” I say, taking his hand in mine.
Relieved, he kisses me quickly and goes back to the reading. It’s funny that a kiss so quick can linger on my lips and make me weak. I don’t know if it’s because Marcus and I weren’t able to kiss till a few weeks ago, but I crave his touch every time like it was the first time.
As I flip through the book nearest me, I think back to a month ago when Marcus and I first told the team where the Triplex was. I have been to hell. That experience came very close.
************************
After Marcus told them the news, the room went completely silent. It was the kind of silence that rings so loud, it could make your ears bleed.
“Someone say something,” I said to them. Then I realized what stunned them wasn’t the news but the actual sight of a micro-map inserted in my eyes. They all stood up and studied me. I understood the fascination. I looked at myself in the mirror for hours when I first found out. I still do, as if looking at it will make it go away.
Ameana was the first to speak.
“The Sage was right. You are betraying your mission.”
“Really, Ameana? That is the first thing you can say?”
“Well, it’s true. You know where the Triplex is but you won’t on get it. So, he was right. You have betrayed the mission.”
“We don’t know he’s going to betray anything,” Miku says.
“Pretty, we all know Marcus isn’t going to kill the human,” Ameana answers.
“This is jacked up…” Jay says, filled with frustration.
“So, what now, Marcus? You’re going to let the whole world go to hell so you can save one girl?” Ameana asks.
“You can’t put your hatred of Emmy aside for one second to try and figure a way to help?”
“I already put my feelings about Emmy aside. Why do you think the two of you can go up to the mountains and screw each other every night?!”
“What, we don’t—we haven’t—Ameana what is your problem? How long are you going to keep hating me?”
“This isn’t about you. It’s not about Marcus. It’s about the world. It’s about saving billions of lives,” she barks.
“Emmy, you know you my girl but Ameana’s right. We can’t let Lucy destroy humanity,” Jay says sincerely.
“I know,” I assure him quietly.
“We need to talk about options,” Marcus begs.
“It’s a Dy, Marcus. There are no options,” Rio says pensively.
“Well, we thought you were dead and there were no options. But you’re standing here now, aren’t you?” Marcus snaps.
“This is different,” Miku protests.
“How can you be so okay with killing her, Miku? Emmy has done everything to try and help you. Now you want her to die?” Marcus accuses.
“She’s not saying that Marcus,” I defend.
“Whatever. We are not killing you,” he assures me with absolute certainty.
“Let’s talk to the Sage. He might be able to help,” Miku offers.
That’s when Marcus and I exchanged a quick glance.
“We already talked to him,” I confessed.
“What did he say?” Miku asked, her red-tipped wings flapping against the air.
“He said I should use this time to say goodbye to family and friends,” I replied softly.
The Twins exchange a look of deep concern and Jay lowers his head. The despair and anxiety make it hard to breathe. Marcus holds my hand tightly.
“Look guys, I’m not saying it will be easy but we have three months. We might be able to find a way to get out the Triplex out of her. I really believe that,” Marcus says, softening his tone.