Hiroshima Book Three
E. Mendell
Copyright 2014 E. Mendell
Table of Contents
Dark Secrets
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
About the Author
Connect with E. Mendell
- Dark Secrets -
Hiro did not sleep. He feared his nightmares and what they would remind him of next. He sat by a crackling fire, leaning back and watching the sky. His golden eyes reflected the firelight and the silver threads in his black hair shimmered. Curled up on the other side of the fire was Soul. Her blond hair cut nicely with long ringlets at the base. They would be mashed out of shape by the time she woke, but Hiro knew Soul wouldn’t care. She was a strong woman, even though she acted like a kid and had a fatal heart condition. Her life itself was proof of her strength. She had experienced a lot and had many questions, mostly about Hiro. He had apparently been present at her parent’s death and Soul thought he was the reason they died, but for the life of him Hiro couldn’t remember the fire Soul spoke of. As he watched her sleep he wondered if she was lying to him about it.
Shaking his head, Hiro passed his fingers over the fire, allowing the heat to singe his fingertips. He pulled his hand away, looking at the reddened skin. He wondered why the scientists had allowed him to have fleshly limbs. Why fill his torso with mechanical parts and leave the rest of him human? If they wanted him to be a weapon then shouldn’t they have made him fully metal so he wouldn’t be weak? The more Hiro thought about it the more the plans of the scientists seemed twisted and flawed. Why would they make him into a weapon? What were they trying to accomplish?
Hiro looked at the sky grimly. He wasn’t sure what to think. All he knew was that he had to find a new place to live since both of his worst enemies had caught up with him.
Enimito and Red Assassin.
Hiro shut his eyes. He couldn’t risk getting into a real fight with either of them. Already Soul had seen a glimpse of his other self. Hiro didn’t want to risk her seeing what he really looked like.
“When will morning come?” He whispered, looking at the sky again. He could only feel fear, pain, and sorrow. At that moment he felt sorrow, but he wasn’t sure why. Something about the sky full of stars made him sad.
~ One ~
Soul awoke to Hiro dousing the fire and rolling up his blanket. She sat up, stretching and yawning widely. Hiro glanced at her and she looked back with a sleepy gaze.
“Morning,” she said, smiling.
Hiro nodded and lifted his head, blinking in the dawning sunlight. He looked towards the horizon with his eyes squinted. “Nearly seven in the morning,” he said. “We slept in later than I predicted.”
“Seven o’clock is sleeping in to you?” Soul yawned again, covering her mouth with her hands.
“No, but I pretend it is,” said Hiro, standing up. He kicked dirt over the remaining embers of the fire and grabbed the duffle bag. Soul rolled up the blanket she had been sleeping under. They hadn’t been able to pack much when they left. Hiro’s enemies had found him after years of searching so Hiro decided they would move and they left with what they could carry. They had been walking for just one night, but the city was already a faint mark on the horizon that Soul found herself staring at sleepily.
“How long will we walk today?” She asked, glancing up at Hiro who was kneeling by the empty fire pit going through his bag.
“If we can, all day,” he replied, unzipping his jacket and pulling it off.
Soul looked away at first, her face blushing in embarrassment, but she still peeked at Hiro’s muscular arms and rounded shoulders. His abdominal was wrapped in bandages, beneath which was a lot of complex machinery. Around the edges of the bandages Soul saw the white scars and she stared at them as Hiro dug through the duffle bag for a new jacket.
He pulled out the jean jacket, slipped it on, and left it unbuttoned as he stood up and slung the bag over his shoulder.
“Let’s go,” he said, motioning to Soul.
Soul got up, grabbing her blanket and hurrying after Hiro. They were going cross-country, but still passing near the main road. Every so often Soul caught sight of a car driving by in the distance. Their surroundings were mostly trees and tall grass with bear patches of dirt and gravel. Soul had to push her way through the tall grass after Hiro who walked on, undaunted by the terrain. Soul kept stumbling and catching herself then would have to hurry after Hiro because he never stopped.
They were coming close to the woods now and Soul was getting exhausted. She struggled to keep up with Hiro, but slowly the distance between them grew and Soul’s sight began to blur. She shook his heard, trying to walk on, but then the pain started. It was weak at first; a small jolt that went from her chest into her shoulder, but then it became worse and Soul fell to her knees. Stars burst before her eyes and the pain consumed her head and body. In the back of her skull was a drumming sound and she felt hollow as her heart missed beats and began to tremor behind her ribs.
The fear grabbed hold of Soul and tears streamed down her cheeks as her sight went black. She could only feel the swirling pain and hear a loud droning in her head. The twitching of her body made her feel as if she were being jerked back and forth. Soul grabbed for the blanket she had been carrying, but gave a start when her fingers seized another hand that wasn’t hers. It was bigger with rough skin and little warmth. Soul gave a start and her eyes flew open.
Hiro looked down at her. He seemed pale and his golden eyes held remorse.
“Good, you’re awake,” he said.
Soul stared at him, then lifted her head and looked around.
They were in a small compartment made of redwood with drapes over the window. Behind the drapes the world was rushing by and Soul felt the couch beneath her swaying a little. She had thought the motion was her own body spasms, but it was the rocking of the train car.
“We’re on a train?” She stared at Hiro who knelt on the ground beside her.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you,” said Hiro, looking towards the window at the trees and phone polls that shot by. “I didn’t realize what was wrong until you passed out, and even then I walked on a while without knowing what had happened.” Hiro’s eyes were locked on the window as Soul gawked at him.
“You left me behind?” She whispered.
“Not on purpose,” replied Hiro, unmoving. “I didn’t hear you fall. I told you to tell me if you needed a break.” Here he did look at Soul, meeting her eye with a stern gaze. “Next time speak up if you feel an attack coming on. I almost didn’t have time to save you.”
Soul looked at the ground, ashamed. “I didn’t want to be a burden,” she muttered. She looked at their hands, her face flushing bright red when she saw that Hiro had not made her release his hand yet.
“When I finally saw you were having an attack I had to try calming you down,” explained Hiro. “Once you were calm I carried you to the train station. When we got there you were sleep and no longer ill so I didn’t bring you to the hospital. I hope you don’t mind.”
Soul frowned, still gazing at their hands. She swallowed hard and released Hiro’s fingers. “How far of a walk was it?” She asked quietly, bringing her hand beneath her head and laying down again. She saw that her blanket was draped over her and she had a pillow from the train under her head.
“A day,” replied Hiro, looking out the window. “Our train departed four hours ago. It’s now dawn.” He stood up and went to the window, moving the curtain and looking outside. The morning sun filled the small compartment like a beacon.
“How long will we be traveling?” Soul asked, blinking in the sunlight.
“It’s a two day r
ide,” replied Hiro, looking down at her. “That should get us pretty far from Enimito and Red Assassin.”
Soul frowned and looked at the ground. “Unless they followed us,” she murmured.
“I doubt they would,” replied Hiro, shutting the curtain and returning to the floor beside Soul. “Enimito is too organized to go running after a train. As for Red Assassin…” Hiro faded to silence with his eyes on the window. He narrowed them and said no more. Even though Soul waited for him to finish his thought, he never did. Before she could ask what Red Assassin might do there came a knock on the door and Hiro got up at once.
He went to the door and slid it open. There stood a plump woman with a red nose. She wore a black vest with white sleeves and black slacks. With her was a trolley of treats that she was wheeling down the hallway. Her hair was thick with curls and she smiled sweetly at Hiro who looked back emotionlessly.
“Would you like anything to eat, Sugar?” The woman asked in a melodiously kind voice. “Everything is two for the price of one today.”
Hiro cast one look at the trolley before shaking his head and slamming the door shut.
“That was rude!” Soul said, gapping at Hiro who locked the door and went to the window. He peered through the curtains with an uneasy look.
“Don’t speak, Soul,” he said, walking over to her and setting his fingers over her mouth. Soul gave him a blank look as he turned his gaze to the window. “I think you were right about us being followed.”
Soul’s eye widened and Hiro moved away from her. He went to the door, kneeling beside it and placing his ear to the wood. Soul saw him shut his eyes, listening to the people who walked by and their muffled conversations. All was still inside the compartment, but then there came another knock on the door. This one had purpose, and a rhythm.
Hiro’s head shot up when he heard three knocks, then two faster knocks. He got to his feet and Soul saw he was pale again. She wanted to say something, but there was no time before Hiro unlocked the door and slid it open.
“Good morning,” said the young man who stood on the other side of the door. “I was kicked out of my compartment, can I share yours?” His bronze colored eyes held Hiro in what looked to be awe.
Hiro looked back darkly. “No,” he hissed.
“The cloak is off, calm down,” replied the man, taking a step into the room. His brown hair was short and slicked back at the sides. He was a little shorter than Hiro and had a burn on his face that looked fresh. As he examined the room his eyes landed on Soul and he gave her a look of deep interest.
“I said no,” said Hiro, grabbing the man’s arm and shoving him back to the hallway.
In a flash the man had a knife to Hiro’s throat and a creepy expression. “The cloak is off,” he snarled. “You can’t hurt me, and I can’t hurt you. We’re at a truce.”
“I don’t have to be nice to you,” Hiro replied acidly, glaring down the knife at the man.
“Yeah, and because of that my face is ruined,” said the man with a cheerless smirk. He removed the knife, slipping it into the satchel that hung at his waist. The man moved past Hiro who shot him a cold look while shutting the door. Hiro’s eyes remained on the man who stood in the middle of the room. He was watching Soul who gave him a suspicious look.
“Leave her be,” said Hiro bitterly, locking the door.
“I haven’t done anything yet,” replied the man cleverly.
Soul glared at him and sat up, even though it made her head spin. She wrapped herself in her blanket and looked at Hiro who met her gaze. He saw she was confused.
“Soul,” he said, moving to stand beside the other man. “This is Red Assassin.”
“My name is Geicko,” shot the man, giving Hiro a cold look. “I don’t walk around calling you by your Massacre Title, now do I?”
Hiro didn’t reply. He went and sat beside Soul, crossing his arms with a protective air. Soul glanced at him, then looked at Geicko who stood a moment longer before plopping down in the couch opposite theirs.
“You two are rather conflicting,” he said, examining them. “Odd that the fate brought you together under such circumstances. Hiroshima, I thought you didn’t want to risk killing anyone again?”
Soul looked at Hiro to see his reaction to Geicko’s words, but Hiro was emotionless. Hiro’s silence made Soul frown. She looked at Geicko who was watching them with a calm grin. It was the perfect opportunity to get some questions answered. The static silence of Hiro wasn’t inviting and demanded the utmost silence, but Soul was stubborn enough to ignore it.
“What’s a Massacre Title?” She asked, breaking through the silence.
Geicko cast Hiro an astonished look, which Hiro returned darkly.
“Don’t you dare answer,” he growled.
“But the pretty lady insists,” said Geicko brightly.
Hiro scowled and Soul glanced at him. She wondered for a moment if she was going to get in trouble with Hiro for asking Geicko questions.
“A Massacre Title is a name that killers earn,” explained Geicko brightly. “After our first couple of missions, depending on our fighting style, amount murdered, and amount of time spent completing the missions, we will be given a name.”
“But you weren’t even supposed to get a name,” shot Hiro, making Geicko look at him. Hiro was still ticked. “You’re supposed to remain a Light Ninja, one who fights for good. Not a killer.”
Geicko’s smile was cast with a shadow of spite. “I would still be of the light were it no for a certain someone who destroyed my life in a fiery explosion.” He replied coldly. “Had the past events not happened then I would still have my village, my family, and my clan to protect. I would not be here right now.” He gave Hiro a menacing glare. “But no, here I am, a killer like you with a name I earned on my first mission.”
Hiro shrugged, but Geicko turned his attention to Soul. “Has Hiro told you anything about his past?” He asked. “About his Massacre Title and how he earned it?”
“Geicko!” Hiro barked, making Soul jump and Geicko look up in surprise. Hiro stood up with a menacing presence. Soul could have sworn she heard a strange hissing coming from somewhere inside of his mechanical body and she shivered in fear.
“Yes?” Geicko inquired, slowly rising to his feet.
“Get your cloak,” said Hiro icily, his golden eyes filled with anger. “I’d rather face Red Assassin than Geicko the jabber mouth.”
Geicko smirked. “I’m worried now, Hiroshima,” he said carefully. “Is that anger?”
Hiro didn’t answer and Geicko chuckled.
“You’re angry,” he said cleverly. “That’s a new emotion. You’re not supposed to gain emotions, Hiroshima. You’re supposed to lose them.”
Soul gave Hiro a puzzled look. Hiro ignored her and went to the door.
“I’m going to ask you to leave now,” he said, looking at Geicko with a hollow expression. “Before you talk yourself into a grave.”
“You can’t kill me when I’m not wearing my cloak,” said Geicko
Hiro’s expression darkened. “Try me,” he growled.
“If you break our truce then I’ll break you.”
“I’d like to see you try.” Hiro unlocked the door and slid it open. He froze, staring at several guns pointed at his face. The people who held them were dressed as workers on the train and one was the lady who had been pushing the snack trolley.
In one move Hiro slammed the door shut and fell to the ground, covering his head. The gunfire resounded through the air and stopped only when an explosion at the back of the cabin went off. Hiro heard Soul scream and he lifted his head just in time to see Geicko grab her and disappear through a smoking hole in the wall of the train. The smoke filled the cabin and Hiro coughed, getting up and running to the hole in the wall. He looked out in both directions, spotting Geicko and Soul at the back of the train, vanishing onto the roof.
Hiro gritted his teeth and examined the metal wall of the train. He followed Geicko’s lead, sliding
out of the train and climbing sideways along the wall until he came to the back of the train car. He found a ladder on the back of the car and seized it, climbing onto the roof and turned to look around. The billow of smoke from the hole in the wall left thick smog behind the train car that was hard to see through.
At the back of the train Hiro spotted the rippling of a crimson red cloak.
“If that’s the way you want to play,” said Hiro darkly, a white light filling his body and eyes. “Then game on.”