Chapter Seven
The day dragged on. Soul sat on one side of the room and Hiro sat in the other. Soul leaned against the wall, watching Hiro’s back sadly. She often tried to start a conversation, asking about his old home or commenting on the sky she saw out the window. Hiro never responded. Soul eventually gave up and contented herself with dwelling on her own hopeless thoughts. She would watch Hiro, then look out the window, and then her gaze would wander back to Hiro. She was concerned. He had acted terrified when she took his hand. How strong were the emotions he had felt? Was it possible his system was crashing already and he couldn’t control his reaction to small things?
Soul wondered if that was it. She reached into her pocket to find something to throw at Hiro. If her theory was right he would over react to it hitting him and possibly do something stupid. But at least she would know their time together was at an end.
A metal object stabbed Soul’s finger and she hastily took out her hand. The puncture wound began to bleed and Soul stuck it in her mouth. She found the pointy object in her pocket and pulled it out.
It was the jagged key she had found on the train Hiro had thrown her onto. Soul had completely forgotten about it.
There suddenly came a knock on the door and Soul pocketed the key. Hiro didn’t respond, not even when the door opened and Geicko stepped inside.
“Hiro,” he said, making the man in the corner twitch.
Hiro turned his head, looking Geicko up and down through empty eyes. “We aren’t there yet,” he said coolly.
Geicko shut the door and stepped forward. “No one is listening right now and the cloak is off,” he said, holding his hands out to his sides to show he meant no harm. “Hiro, do you know what they’re planning to do to you?”
Hiro slowly rose to his feet. “Why are you here, Geicko.” He didn’t even pose it as a question as he turned to face his enemy. “You never call me Hiro.”
“And you never call me Geicko,” replied Geicko. He stood as if he were facing a fire-breathing dragon and didn’t want to anger it. “Our leader, Anna. She’s changed the plans, Hiro. We were just going to capture you and dismantle you, but now she wants to reprogram you completely and get rid of the last bit of human in you. In short she’s going to kill you and put your power in an actual machine.”
Soul started in alarm, but Hiro was still. “I was supposed to be a machine from the start,” he said, turning his head away. “She’s merely doing what the scientists should have done decades ago.”
“Hiro, you never learned the truth, did you?” Geicko demanded, approaching Hiro who shifted threateningly into a defensive pose. Geicko stopped, but was shaking his head. “Don’t fight me,” he said sternly. “You have to listen.”
“You are Red Assassin!” Hiro snapped with a scowl. “I don’t listen to the killers I was set against from the beginning!”
“What about Enimito?” Geicko asked, stepping back just in case he made Hiro too angry. “You and he were supposed to be friends.”
“He was the one who made me kill,” Hiro said, glaring daggers at Geicko. “Why are you here, Geicko!” He roared. Soul and Geicko both grimaced when he shouted.
“Don’t tell the whole world, idiot!” Geicko hissed. “They don’t even know I came to see you.”
“Lies,” spat Hiro with disgust.
“You’re full of new emotions aren’t you?” Geicko said sourly. “You’re time is running out, Hiro. You need to find a way to stop your system from crashing or you’ll lose everything you’ve gained.”
“I haven’t gained anything,” said Hiro. “Emotions are useless.”
“Even if they help you grow closer to Soul?” Geicko’s question caught both Soul and Hiro off guard. They looked at him, then at each other.
Soul hunched her shoulders and Hiro looked away with an actual blush on his face.
“I need to be gone for her to live a good life,” he muttered.
“You made that up,” said Geicko bluntly, crossing his arms. “I came here to talk to you, Hiro, because I respect you as my enemy and I want you to know that right now I’m talking to you as a friend.”
Hiro cast him a suspicious glance. “Are you even capable of that?” He asked.
“I had friends,” said Geicko darkly. “Before you killed them all.”
Hiro didn’t say a word. He looked away with a cold expression.
“Geicko,” said Soul, stepping forward for the first time. “If Hiro is experiencing new emotions I think it would be best not to make him angry.”
Geicko glanced at Soul. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t listen to you.”
Soul flushed in embarrassment and Hiro rounded on Geicko with a sharp look.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” he snapped. “Now enough about my emotions. What is this truth that you claim I don’t know?”
“It’s simply that,” replied Geicko, giving Hiro a pitying look. “You were never told. I don’t know how that’s possible. I thought that was why you went crazy and blew up your home.”
“Don’t talk about that,” said Hiro bitterly.
“You need to know one thing, Hiro,” said Geicko as if pleading for Hiro to listen. “You were never meant to be a weapon. The scientists took you in to help you, but someone in their group changed the plans and so you were turned into a weapon like Enimito.”
“Lies,” muttered Hiro darkly. “I was made as a weapon and that’s all they intended.”
“If that was the intention then why are you so human?” Geicko asked.
“They wanted to torment me, that’s all,” Hiro responded coolly. “Leave me lost between human and machine where there is no comfort.”
Geicko threw his hands in the air hopelessly. “I can’t get anywhere with you!” He said in annoyance.
“You’re here to lower my guard,” said Hiro hostilely. “It won’t work.”
“Stubborn idiot!” Geicko shouted. He cut off, looking over his shoulder at the door in alarm. Hiro and Soul heard it too.
Fast approaching footsteps.
“You two have to get off this barge,” said Geicko swiftly, looking around at Hiro and Soul. “I’m sorry I was against you, but now I’m begging you to get out of here and save yourselves!”
Someone banged on the door and Geicko whipped around, locking it. He looked back at Soul and Hiro, desperation in his bronze eyes. “I was supposed to be a secret weapon against you, Hiro,” he said hastily, holding onto the doorknob as it rattled and more banging could be heard. “I thought I was doing what was right, but now I see how wrong I was. Get away from here and save yourselves-!” He cut off when a long blade slammed through the door and into his body.
Soul screamed. The blade stuck out Geicko’s back and his eyes were wide. He looked at Hiro, staring at him with blood racing from his mouth. Hiro stared back in horror.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Geicko, his voice cracking as he choked.
“Geicko,” said Hiro. He wasn’t sure what he felt, but he didn’t like it.
The blood stained sword slid out of Geicko and the door. Geicko wavered, leaning hard against the door as it continued to rattle.
“They’re... just playing with me now,” he hissed, his eyes shut as the color drained from his face.
“Come with us!” Soul suddenly said, hurrying to join Geicko at the door. Hiro seized her arm and pulled her away. She stared at him in confusion, but Hiro’s gaze was on Geicko.
“Geicko,” he said calmly. “Thank you.”
Geicko laughed, coughing more blood, and opened one faded eye to look at Hiro and Soul. “Have a better ending... than mine,” he whispered.
“No!” Soul cried as Geicko fell to the ground, a puddle of blood forming beneath him. His eyes were glazed over and an empty smile was at the corner of his mouth.
The door burst open and Shadow Eater stood facing them. The hood over his head wrapped around his neck and hung down his back like a scarf. His shaded goggle
s were menacing and added to the depth of his steel jaw. His black armor was like spikes at the back of his legs and arms. He looked lizard-like, but ominous and scary. In his hand was the blood stained sword that had killed Geicko and behind him were several men with masks and guns pointing into the room.
“Pathetic,” said Shadow Eater, smirking evilly at Hiro and Soul. “He wasted his life.”
Hiro laughed once and everyone looked at him. His golden eyes were filled with anger and pain as he glared at Shadow Eater. “Wasted life is a matter of personal opinion,” he said. He pulled Soul close to his side and all of a sudden there was a huge burst of energy that filled the room.
Soul clung to Hiro so not to be blown away. A loud crash and tearing sound filled her ears and she gave a start when Hiro suddenly turned and ran. She lifted her head, seeing that Hiro had blown a hole in the wall. He jumped through it and Soul had a split second to remember she couldn’t swim before they hit the water and went under.
The water gurgled in Soul’s ears and she felt Hiro’s grip slip off her. Soul kicked and splashed, trying to get her head above the water. She couldn’t breathe. Her heart was racing and it hurt. She couldn’t feel Hiro near her and she began to panic. Was he drowning too? He was made of metal so there was no way he would float. The barge had passed over them and Soul could still hear the propeller as it faded into the distance. They weren’t stopping. Why was that?
The surface appeared and Soul burst out of the water, coughing and gasping for air. A wave washed over her, sending her back beneath the water. She flung her arms and legs, trying to get back to the top, but she wasn’t even sure which direction she had to go.
Something grabbed her and she struggled to get free, but when she broke through the surface for the second time she found it wasn’t just some thing that had her. It was a hand.
“Hiro?” Soul gasped, water rushing from her mouth making her cough. She stared at Hiro who nodded once and looked past her to the barge.
“They’re slowing down,” he said.
Soul looked around, but the motion made her fall back under the waves. Hiro brought her back up, keeping one arm around her waist.
“We’re far from land,” said Hiro, looking around himself. “Soul, I know you’re scared of my other form, but you have to let Crystal Crier save you.”
“Why?” Soul asked, trying to tread water. “Can’t you save me as you are?”
“No,” said Hiro. He was watching the barge and looked frightened. “Shadow Eater is coming.”
Soul looked around, able to see Shadow Eater standing on the edge of the barge as it slowly turned and came towards them. “He can’t touch water so we’re safe as long as we put distance between us. Soul, I have to save you.” Hiro looked Soul in the eye. He saw she was scared, but he was too. “Hold on to my hand.” He gave her his hand and she snatched it, knowing there was no time for hesitance.
A burst of white light that nearly blinded Soul erupted around Hiro. This time Soul heard something like grinding metal and she felt the armor come over Hiro’s hand from inside his skin. She nearly let go in alarm, but before she could Crystal Crier grabbed her hand and pulled her up out of the water.
At first Soul had no idea what was happening, but then she realized that Crystal Crier was standing on top of the water.
“How-?” Soul began to demand, but she never got to ask before Crystal Crier swept her into his arms and ran from the barge.
“Don’t think you’ve escaped us!” Shadow Eater shouted after them. He was enraged and Soul looked back over Crystal Criers armored shoulder. It was by no means comfortable to be carried by the man in armor, but it was better than being left with the cloaked monster on the barge behind them. He looked ominous with the shadows dancing around him eerily. Soul lowered her head and looked away. She placed her face against Crystal Criers neck, the only spot that wasn’t covered in the spiky black and silver armor.
“Why did Geicko die for us?” She asked quietly. “I thought he was your enemy.”
Crystal Crier didn’t reply.
“You’re going to have to explain it to me you know,” said Soul, glancing at his face. The red lines from the corners of his mouth led down to his chin and for a moment Soul wanted to touch them. She didn’t though. Crystal Crier may have been Hiro, but up close there was no real similarities and that frightened Soul. She didn’t even want to be in his arms, which was strange since lately all she wanted was to be close to Hiro.
But she would never admit that out loud. Not yet.
The Beginning - 6
Things began to come into perspective after that mission. I didn’t see what happened to the Light Ninja, nor the remains of the village. I was simply taken back to the lab and returned to my room. I spent that night standing in silence and watching the door. Not once did I move. I kept my eyes on the wood, waiting for the scientists to come and see me. What I got instead was Enimito.
He opened the door, his hood covering his head and a hard expression on his face. “You’re name,” he said, shutting the door.
“Hiroshima,” I replied. “Isn’t it?”
“I’m here to tell you that you’ve earned your Massacre Title, Hiroshima,” said Enimito. “You’re called Crystal Crier now.”
I’ll admit for a moment I didn’t know how to respond. Crystal? Crier? No part of the name made sense to me. “Why?” I asked.
“Your current heart is a crystal,” replied Enimito. “Did you know that?”
I shook my head. “A crystal?” I asked. “How can that keep me alive?” I knew crystals were just chunks of perfectly arranged molecules that were often glassy in appearance, but still just a stone. They weren’t special.
“It’s a rare crystal,” replied Enimito. “Powerful. There are only a handful of them known to mankind. It secretes energy that your body is constantly feeding off of. The scientists aren’t sure how long it can maintain your life. The last experiments weren’t very successful, but you seem to be doing well.”
“What happens when it starts to lose power?” I asked. The knowledge of a crystal keeping me alive was not comforting. I had thought I was running on plain machinery and I found peace in that. But no, I was running on an unpredictable battery.
“When the crystal begins to die the scientists predict you’ll start acting different,” Enimito explained, moving inside and taking a seat at the empty table. “Their hypothesis is that the crystal tied itself directly to your emotions. That is why you’re not completely emotionless. When it starts to die it will release your emotions and you’ll start gaining them back.”
“Sounds impossible,” I said, even thought I was one to talk. I was a living, breathing weapon. Who was I to doubt what some strange crystal could do?
“It should be impossible,” Enimito agreed with a nod. “When I heard they had found one of the ancient crystals I was in shock. The crystals in question had once been crushed into dust and used as healing powder. That’s why they’re scarce. A sprinkle of that dust could cure almost anything, but once used it became nothing more than clear sand.”
“It lost its power that fast?” I was concerned and placed my hand over my chest. Beneath the flesh were hollow electronics... and a slowly dying crystal.
“As small fractals the energy left it swiftly,” explained Enimito. “The crystal in your chest is the size of your heart, give or take a little bigger. It isn’t round.”
I looked at Enimito. “You’ve seen my crystal heart?” I asked. Somehow that made me uneasy.
“You’ve been pulled open quite a few times when I was around,” replied Enimito with a shrug. “Want to know what you look like on the inside?”
I shook my head, but Enimito didn’t seem to think I had a choice.
“When they pull you open it’s like the center of your abdomen is a drawer filled with lights and wires. Then beneath your ribs there’s a metal case covered in thin metal threads and crossing rings. Behind your left breast is an opening
and your crystal heart seems to float eerily in the center of two lights. It glows white.”
“I didn’t need to know,” I told Enimito hollowly.
Enimito smirked, his metal jaw clicking. It didn’t enjoy him turning the corners of his mouth up. In fact it hurt Enimito to smile. He could only hold a grin for a few seconds before it became unbearable. “You need to know that when the crystal dies you’ll be a pile of machinery that everyone on the planet will want to capture,” he said coolly. “You have the fire power of a nuclear bomb, Hiroshima. If you didn’t cry every time you killed someone you may have been called Crystal Chaos.”
“Who named me Crystal Crier?” I looked at Enimito who shook his head.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I was told that your title is Crystal Crier and that I had to let you know. That’s all I can tell you on that subject.”
I turned away. “Will they ever have you fight me, Enimito?” I asked this in a toneless voice.
Enimito shrugged. “We’re similar, but not true brothers,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to disobey orders if we were to become enemies for any reason.” He paused and looked at me suspiciously. “Why?”
I hunched my shoulders. “Anything is possible with a crystal controlling me,” I said. “They may have you fight me to test my powers some day.”
“I doubt that,” replied Enimito.
I shut my eyes. Deep inside I knew Enimito was on to me. I was already planning on running away. I couldn’t stay in a place where my powers were being used to destroy. I knew then that I was not helping anyone. I was causing destruction for no good reason and that filled me with a mixture of agony and sorrow that was so strong I couldn’t ignore it. I didn’t want to bring ruin upon the earth. I had to stop it.
Escape was my only option...