Danny Diez

“Inmate, come here.” CO Rivera knocked on the jail cell door. “You ready to talk?”

“Sure.” Nate stood up from the metal bench inside the cell and rolled his shoulders back counter-clockwise. “I’ll do whatever needs to be done. My family is missing me.”

“I didn’t ask about any of that, so don’t try to sell me any aww-boo-hoo bullshit.” CO Rivera opened the door. “You gon’ learn today.”
This guy. I have a bad gut feeling. Nate put his hand on his stomach, feeling it growl from hunger. Maybe I’m just starving. I can’t remember the last time I ate.

Rivera hardened his brow showing dominance. “Medina, huh? You some kind of Asian or Indian or what?”

Nate scoffed. “It’s a Spanish surname. You should know better, asshole.”

“I’m not here to play trivia games, you smug little shithead.” Rivera grinned. “I know of one Officer Miguel Fernandez who wants to see you put in here for good.”

Fuck. He’s not going to let me go. . . he’s toying with me. Nate clenched his teeth and balled his fist. Maybe there’s only one way out of this.

I no longer have Lindzey to hold onto. . . Jessika is gone. There’s nothing left here in the world. I hit rock bottom, there’s no worse hell-hole than this.

These inmates are yelling at the top of their lungs, banging on the doors and windows.

This is a riot, I am in the midst of it. With no clock or phone in sight, I have no semblance of time here.

Gross is not a strong enough word to describe the disgusting, nauseating floor I have to sit on. There is vomit, piss, fungus…

Nothing left. Nothing left to lose…maybe I should kill myself.

It’s reality speaking.
Wait… is there a voice in my head?
I thought I heard something.
Am I? Or will I die here? If I die here, I die with honor, at least.
I can say I died fighting for what I believe in.
When my family mourns me, they know I died pushing forward.


Or maybe they will see the decayed body
of a loser who decided to give up.”
Fine. I’ll push through it. Then what?
Where do I go? What do I do?
I have nothing. Nothing to…


Hah. So I should just be confident.
I should hold my head high with a big, huge smile!
Just because.



Why not? Because… all of this…


Decide to live, or die.
It is that simple.
I decide…
To live.

Passed out from hunger, anxiety, and exhaustion, the imprisoned male sat still until the return of his captor. Unknowing if night had become day or dawn had become dusk once more, he could see the shadow of the prison guard approaching his cell. At last, the cell door opened with a slow creak, like a rusted gate not opened for a thousand years.

CO Rivera threw some paper forms at Nate. “Looks like you’ve got someone bailing you out here. Nick Medina. Is that your father, brother, or. . .?”

Nate woke up from his fever dream alone in the jail cell. No sight of his cell mates from the previous night. He did not care about their circumstances, since the CO in front of him had told him something he found incredible.

“Nick? My dad? My pops? H-He’s here?” The hairs on Nate’s arms stood up, a notable symptom of high anxiety. “It can’t be my dad, I mean, I haven’t heard from him in years, there’s no way. He was lost, and—“

“I thought I told you before that I don’t need to hear your family story, shithead. Get moving.” Rivera said, leading Nate down the psych ward hallway into the reception area.

“Shithead? Really?” Nate wanted to punch the guard.

“Does that hurt your feelings?” Rivera pressed Nate’s chest with his index finger. “You got a bleeding heart right there, don’t you? Shithead millennial.”

Nate responded. “Typical. You’re Puerto Rican, aren’t you? You trashy fucks bring disgrace to our culture.”

Rivera laughed. “Light skin gringo faggot! Vamos, bicho cabron.

“A felon telling me that I’m a disgrace? You are backwards, bicho.

“I better not see you here again.”

I’m never coming back. That’s something I can tell myself. Who knows if these assholes will leave me alone, Nate thought as he collected his phone, wallet, and keys. Now, his only wish was to get through the door to the outside.

Midnight sky covered the empty parking lot when Nate crossed the concrete beneath him, now a free man.

Darkness is liberating, he repeated to himself as he hunched over a pay phone.


Footsteps came from behind. Nick Medina put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. This single touch felt like a captured moment they experienced a hundred times in the past.

“Dad? It’s really you. I can’t believe you made it all the way here.” Nate looked at his father, seeing a reflection of himself which knew all the torment he endured.

“Not just me, buddy. Brought you a surprise.” Nick waved to Jessika.

“Hey!” Jessika said as she jumped out of Nick’s truck. She wore a flannel long-sleeve shirt with leggings and boots. It was the exact Jessika that Nate remembered from many years ago.

“Good to see you in one piece, Bro-seph.”

“Jess? You’re here. You’re alive! I can’t believe it!” Nate ran to her, hugged her, squeezing her with both arms.
“Ahh! I’m alive, dude! Let me go!” Jess laughed, gasping for air.

“I guess we can talk about what happened when we get home,” Nick said.

“Home? Are you serious?” Nate looked at his father. “I haven’t seen you in fucking forever, man. The last time I remember seeing your face, it was on PIA Most Wanted. Where have you been?!”

“That’s in the past. I guess I should, uh—” Nick looked at Jessika. “JK darling, can you give me and your brother a minute? We need a little man to man talk, you know, um—“

“Oh. Yeah, fine. I’ll give you guys some space,” Jessika smiled reluctantly. She skipped back to her father’s truck and sat in the passenger’s seat.

Now by themselves, the estranged father and son examined each other. What memories they had of their past, now contrast with the present.
“Noah told me what happened,” Nick said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you guys. Lin and Lex, JK and you.”

“JK is probably texting up a storm right now. I need to talk to you, Dad. Let’s go take a walk,” Nate breathed the fresh air of freedom. “Just a five minute walk and talk. Like the old days.”

Nick smiled to his son. “Of course.”

Two men who walk war-torn paths now move together, shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Lindzey dumped me. I tried to call her. She doesn’t answer. I don’t think she’s going to answer. I want to yell at the voicemail, but I hang up every time. I just choke. It’s like I can’t find the strength to say to her, um—”

Nick groaned. “She’s not going to pick up the phone. So you need to let her go. You need to go find something new.”

“You don’t get it! She is the only person who saw all those reptilians and those fucking crazy motherfuckers who—“

“Enough.” Nick stood behind Nate, placing both of his hands on his son’s shoulders with a firm hold. “Let it go. It’s over. You have to let that shit go. You have more important things in your life. Your sister, your mother, your friends!”

Nate blinked. “Mother? She’s here?”

“Yes. She’s back home. You can go live with her and JK. Rebuild it all. Make it something true. True to you, and to JK, and everyone. The Medinas will be a proud family again.”

“I would. I just can’t, though,” Nate said. “I can’t leave it like this. I can’t rest until it’s all done.”

Wind blew Nate’s hair over his face. He parted it to the side, giving his father a serious expression of conviction.

“It’s not worth it to ditch your family. Believe me,” Nick said. “If I could do it all again, I would have stayed with you guys. That’s what you need to do.”

Nate groaned. “It’s not that simple. I’ve been trying to find answers, and in doing so I’ve put myself on a mission. The mission’s not over yet. Don’t you get it?”

“What I don’t get is what you are trying to accomplish. You haven’t told me what questions you’re trying to answer. I don’t get it. This mission, these answers, it’s not worth losing your family over. Believe me.”

“I could say the same thing to you, Dad.”

“Ugh.” Nick’s face crumbled. “This isn’t the like-father-like-son dialogue I wanted, but you’re right. I can tell you that you’re right. You know you are.”

“No one else believes me. I lost everything. The love of my life ghosted me with a stupid letter! A fucking Dear John letter, man! Her father was the one who fucked everything up, and now I have to look like a jackass.

“You don’t care, though. Fucking old people. You got your time in the sun now you are ready to burn everything up behind you.” Nate said, spitting phlegm on the street, yelling into the nothingness of midnight.

“That’s cool. Get it out of your system, buddy. My mom said to me the same thing every time my dad whipped my ass. Las cosas solo pueden ir mejor. That was her motto.”

“Bullshit motto. I keep getting thrown in fucking concrete cells. You have a lot of nerve telling me I should be more optimistic, old man.”

Headlights appeared in the dark parking lot. An armored jeep pulled up next to the two men, cutting a deliberate break into their conversation..
Nick covered his eyes, sighing. “So they’ve come. Didn’t think it’d be so soon,”

“So? What’s the deal?” Nate tensed up. “If someone’s out to get you, I’ll stop them.”

“I’ve had a bounty on my head for years. That’s why. . .”

“Dad, I know! I told you I saw the PIA’s most wanted list. You and Noah, and Zerj, and Rich. You’re being hunted.

“Your head is worth more money than I’ve had in my entire life.”

Nick turned away in shame. “You don’t have to turn me in. I’m giving myself up.”

“Why? So you can be pampered by the feds, leaving me with nothing?” Nate pressed his chest against his father’s.

The headlights turned off as the jeep’s engine stopped. Two bounty hunters came out of the jeep, seemingly unarmed.

“Wait a second. These guys aren’t bounty hunters.” Nate’s tension eased as he identified them. “Marven! Gary! You scared us shitless!”

“Had to see it to believe it,” Gary said. “We saw your mugshot online. You got yourself in some shit again, huh?”

“I’m never not getting myself in shit,” Nate said.

Marven smirked. “Amen to that.”

Nick laughed. “You two hombres look like Michael Jackson and Biggie Smalls. These guys are friends of yours?”

“Is that true?” Nate tensed up once more. “Marven? Tell me the truth, man.”

“We’re newly certified. The PIA guys gave us this gig after the VanHilton case was closed in the Anarchist Game,” Marven said, “We’re not here to take you in or anything. Let’s touch base.”

“We got orders from the association to kill you on sight. Kind of awkward, now. Here we are, seeing you in the flesh, and none of us are shooting at each other,” Gary said.

Nick rolled his eyes, then put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Nate, how about you go take JK home? And send your mother my love.”
“What are you guys gonna do, then?” Nate asked.

“From what I understand, they’re turning me loose. That means I’m at large,” Nick said, taking a breath of air to calm himself. “You take my keys and get home safely. I’ll come back when I can.”

“Your dad’s good people,” Gary said. “Guess we’re outta here, then.”
Marven nodded. “We’ll hang out sometime, alright?”

“Yeah,” Nate said. He gave them an upward head nod. “Thanks, you guys. Later.”

Gary and Marven got back in their vehicle and drove away, leaving Nick and Nate alone to say their goodbyes.

“I’ll chalk that one up to a miracle. If the association had sent anyone else, we’d be in some trouble,” Nick said.

“Yeah? Well, you know what I say? To hell with them. You think I’m scared?” Nate scowled, gritting his teeth. “You’re scared of them because you’re a coward. You’ve always been a coward. I feel ashamed for looking up to you before.”

“Back to this?” Nick covered his eyes. “Why haven’t you learned?”

“What’s to learn? That hiding is better than fighting? If you think I live my—“

“No. Clearly you don’t. And I can’t force you to do anything now.”

“Damn right.”

Nick threw his arms up and rolled his eyes. “It’s pointless to argue here. One of us has to find Noah and work things out. You and I know it has to be me.”

“Just tell me, old man, what’s your game plan here? Do you have any idea where you’re even going to find Noah Augustine? The man is elusive as they come.”

“The name the PIA facility is through a portal called Heaven’s Gate. While you and those two bounty hunters were talking, I used my phone to place a tracker on their vehicle. I’ll be following them right into the enemy’s fortress.”

“So you’re leaving. Again.” Nate scuffed his feet on the pavement. “I guess it is what it is. Right? That’s how you see it. And I can’t force you to do anything, either.”

Nick put his hands on his son’s shoulders. “I promise. This will work. I will be back soon.”

“You promise, huh? Maybe I believe you this time,” Nate said, reluctant to smile at his father.

“Thanks, Nathaniel. Tell Jessika and your mother I’ll be seeing you all soon.”

Nate nodded, and the two parted ways once more.

Heaven’s Gate. Could’ve sworn that was some kind of cult. Nate continued to deduce his father’s plan. If you think I’m just gonna sit around while you do all the heavy lifting, it’s not gonna happen. I’ll be right behind you every step of the way.

From Nate Medina himself,

I’ve seen functioning addicts who confuse the hell out of us like Udo Uhlstein.
And disturbingly rational, clean hoarders like Alexander Winchester.
Even genocidal introverts, it’s possible. I knew who Jonas Weiss was.
We are all basic fluids stemming from God which will never sit right with certain individuals.

Music ends with Da Capo al Fine. Sex finishes with a climactic orgasm. I give my wife a creaming orgasm every time.

“Can’t sense any human life. There’s nobody here. Ghost town.” Amelia looked at Kai for a response, but received none. “We can look around. Might be some clues.”

The Imogen Academy was divided into two towers with a single bridge in between, showing its banner which had been torn in half.

“What do you wanna do, Kai?”

“I am trying to find my mentor. Headmaster Silber, a man who has survived the test of time and is said to have ascended to godhood.”

Amelia froze. “Silber? That name rings a bell. Gustav Silber, is it?”

Kai nodded. “You likely have seen it on the most wanted list. No one knows what has become of him.”

“Something about that doesn’t quite add up. Gustav Silber was the owner of the orphanage where my sister, Nestasia and I grew up. He was murdered long before your time.”

“One cannot simply kill a god. The Headmaster Silber I knew was thousands of years old. Or so that was the story we were told.”

Thousands of years old? How is it even . . .? Amelia could not fathom such a power.

“Nestasia Vermillion, number one on the most wanted. Gustav Silber, number two. If Nestasia had been the one to ‘murder’ Gustav, it is possible she was the one who came here. However, Silber lives. I am sure of that.”

“While your theories make some sense, but I can’t believe what I can’t see for myself. Just how I am, ya know?”

As Amelia and Kai ventured farther into the Imogen campus, Amelia felt a shudder run down her spine.

“I smell death. You smell it?” She held the handle of her blade in its sheath. “Gruesome shit.”

“It is through that door.” Kai pointed at the door leading into the sparring chambers. “That is where time wardens gathered to test their skills against one another. We must proceed.”

“Can’t guarantee you’ll like what ya see. If I’m right—“

“No use in any further speculation. I am desensitized as it is. I only wish to know the truth. It is what I spend my life in pursuing.”

“Pretty noble of ya, Kai. I’m more of the avenger type, but you’re the real hero, aren’t ya?”

Kai opened the door to the chamber and was greeted with the stench of corpses piled upon corpses. His former colleagues had been killed, both students and professors.

“Ruthlessly slaughtered, all of them . . .This is unforgivable,” Amelia said. “Nestasia. It had to be. I’ve seen her go on a killing spree before, back at the orphanage. It looked . . .like this.”

“No sign of the headmaster,” Kai said, unwatered by the brutal sight before him.

“Herr Silber would never do such a thing. I’m telling ya, Kai, whatever horrible acts my adopted father may have been responsible for in the past, he changed. When he raised us, he was a wonderful person. He gave us a home, taught us to defend ourselves, gave us something to live for. He couldn’t have killed his own students.”

“The Gustav Silber we knew was a kind man. He was also responsible for genocide. The World Wars of the 20th century were set in motion directly by him as a means to test his power. Truth is, I never trusted the guy. He was merely a means to honing my craft. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“That would explain a lot, but I just can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. He and Frau Silber were the only family I had. Besides her, who I consider no sister of mine.”

“Come. Let us step outside for a moment. I would like to know more of this Nestasia Vermillion we are after. Knowing more of her ambitions could give us a lead on where Silber is, if he still happens to be at large, as I suspect he is.”

“Nate’s out of here, safe for now. Augustine, we only have to get passed the PIA Director. We’re putting an end to this conspiracy bullshit. You and me.” Nick Medina narrowed his eyes toward the Masked Man.

Noah Augustine adjusted his glasses. “Yes. You know I have a score to settle, too. This sick monster really maessed things up around here.”

“Hm! You two are PIA most wanted. You intend to defend the very organization who betrayed you and put out orders to hunt you down? Or do you simply wish to take the director’s chair for yourselves?”

Nick shook his head. “It’s not the PIA behind this. It’s you manipulating them. I know exactly who you are. You are Jonas Weiss, slayer of Seminoles, and sworn enemy of the Medina family. You wear the dead skin mask of a genocidal man, and have carried on his tradition for generations.”

“Quite brave of you, hm. You come here confronting me in honor of your ancestors? Brave, yes. Foolish, hm.”

Noah held his gun. “Don’t let him provoke you, Nick. If we want to take this guy out, we need to keep steady and focused.”

Jonas laughed. “Ha-ha, hm! I have killed five hundred Seminole warriors single-handedly. In battle, I am invincible. The Medinas tried so hard to protect them, but they failed, hm! You will surely fail as well. And you, Augustine? What can you do?”

Morphing into his incubus form, Nick’s eyes burned red with fury. “Sick. You brag about killing Native Americans? I’m not at all impressed by your wicked actions. If anything, you’re making me glad. I’m glad that I’m going to be doing the world a favor by getting rid of you.”

“Nick, I shoot that mask off his face and you go in for the kill. That’s the only way we can kill him permanently. If he re-spawns, it’s a major loss. We have to do it now!”

“On point, Augustine! With the glorious Medina legacy beside me, I will murder this piece of shit in cold blood, DIABLO MUERTE!”

“Gah, hm,”

“Rabbi, no!”

    A portal tore open in the Austrian home of the Weiss family. Amelia popped out first, then Kai.

    Udo, shocked by the sight of the time travelers, dropped his broken glass bottle.
    “Oy vey. I must be—“

    Drunken and shocked beyond belief, Rabbi Udo collapsed mid-sentence. Lying on his back, he remained sound asleep and completely oblivious with broken shards of glass beside him.

    Frau Weiss and Paula Silber fled into the bedroom. Jonas Weiss was frozen by fear. Dr. Khalil took his glasses off for a moment, wiped the lenses clean, then put them back on.

    “Uhhh, hm. This is awkward,” Amelia said, breaking the silence like ice. “Sorry for the intrusion. Not sure if there’s anything I can say which explains this. Yo, Kai—you wanna help me out here?”

    Kai shook his head and groaned. Dr. Khalil approached Amelia with reluctant curiosity.

    “This is truly a paranormal phenomenon. As strange as it is unexpected, I would say.”  The doctor adjusted his glasses once more. “I suppose it goes to show, anything is possible these days.

    “I am Khalil. You are. . .?”

    “Folks call me Anti-Hero. This unkempt vagabond is my partner, Kai. He’s the one who brought us here. To put it simply, he does magic tricks and portals and stuff. Don’t worry about him, though. He may look angry and homeless, but he’s a softie. A softie who tends to get us constantly thrown all around the timeline of this crazy universe.” Amelia chuckled.

    Kai grunted at Amelia. “My apologies, Madame. I merely assumed you did not want to be blown to pieces by that reptilian suicide bomber. I will take responsibility for this if it is your wish, but know one thing: time magic is sacred. I ask you do not refer to my craft in such a demeaning way.”

    “You come from the future, hm?” Jonas stepped behind Dr. Khalil. “You speak perfect German.”

    “So it may seem,” Kai explained. “In reality, several of us are talking in completely different languages. However, it is my mystic aura which allows for everyone within my reach to understand each other in their own native languages.”

    “Pretty snazzy, Kai. Now I know why I keep ya around,” Amelia teased.

    “I am not alone,” Kai said in his most serious voice. “Doctor Khalil, Guardian of the Pharaoh’s Tomb. You are a time warden. There is no mistaking it. Your aura is the same as mine—I have felt it since we arrived. You can drop the act and tell these people the truth.”

    Frau Silber emerged from Emil’s room. “Jonas, come now! Quickly! Your mother, she’s . . .”

    “W-What has been done to her? H-Hm,” Jonas blurted.

    “If you will allow me,” Dr. Khalil said. “Young Time Warden and Anti Hero, if you will excuse us for a moment. We will resume this conversation later, yes?”

    “Sure, no objections from my end.” Amelia said, “What about that unconscious drunk dude? You need us to watch him for ya? Can’t say we have anything better to do until Kai gets us the portal re-opened.”

    “This man seems familiar,” Kai said as he examined Udo.

    “I am sure you will figure it out on your own, my perceptive young comrade,” Khalil replied. “Now, if you shall excuse me.”

    Khalil followed Frau Silber into Emil’s room.

    Jonas scowled. “If it were not for my brother’s health, I’d surely kick the both of you out on your ends.”
   
    “Señor Medina. Long time no see.” Noah adjusted his glasses and stood from his desk’s rolling chair. “You snuck your way in here without a single alarm going off. Breaching through Heaven’s Gate has never once been done by a single agent. It’s really quite impressive you didn’t get yourself killed. I don’t suppose you are here to turn yourself in.”

    Nick paced around the PIA office, glancing at the pictures of the Augustine family hung on the walls.

    He narrowed his eyes at the agent. “Noah Augustine, my man. Would have thought you’d be in charge here by now. Maybe the reason you carry such a grudge against me is because you’re still down here in the basement doing the grunt work.”

    “You remain so ignorant. I saved your son’s life for this. You must not’ve heard how I put down Isaac Blackbourne, a damn PIA director, just to save his ass. What have you done for him, Nick?”

    “What have I done for my son? You dare question my loyalty to my family? You’re the loser who drugged his own daughter and let his wife die without saying goodbye to her. Or do you not remember?”

    Nick’s words triggered Noah’s rage. “You call me a loser, but you are nothing but a violent monster who takes his anger out on the world. Nothing more, nothing less.”

    “You skinny little pencil-pushing PIA bastard. You mess with my family, I have no sympathy left for you. I will spray your blood on the goddamn walls!” Nick’s hair became wavy, his muscles bulging.

    Nick tore off his shirt as he began to change forms, his eyes glowing crimson red.

    “Damn, it’s the incubus! This thing is out of control!” Noah spoke into a walkie-talkie. I’m going to need some backup in here ASAP!”

    Several PIA bounty hunters charged through the doors, guns drawn. A wave of gunfire bursted through the air, bouncing off their target like pebbles.

    One of the hunters wearing goggles gazed in horror, yelling to Noah, “What the hell is going on, Augustine? How did this thing get in here?! We’re out of our league!”

    Nick grabbed the agent in goggles by the neck and held him up like a rag doll. Several more shots hit Nick’s chest and fell to the floor, failing to provide aid to the hostage.

    “Damn right you are,” Nick’s voice said in a low, demonic tone. “Now it’s time for you all to die.”

    Noah extended his arm, holding up his hand at Nick. “Put him down, Nick. You don’t need to resort to this. You have to believe me. I was not the one who put out the hit on you or Nate. Please believe—“

    “Mr. Augustine! What the hell is going on here?” Nate came through the door, glaring at the incubus.

    Nick released the hostage, throwing him on the floor. He looked at his son through the eyes of the demon and said, “Nate, why did you . . .”
   
“Dad? You are an incubus, too? I should have known. That’s why these people want us. You must have known this all along. At what point will you stop hiding the truth?!”

    “Wait a minute, Nate. Let me talk to him,” Noah said. “I swear on my daughter’s grave, Nick, I don’t know why the hit was put out on you both. Our current director is the one who decided this.”

    Nate raised an eyebrow. “The director? You mean you aren’t even aware—?“

    “Stand down, men.” Noah said. “Nick, you can see Nate trusts me. We can talk about this. I need your cooperation.”

    Nick’s eyes returned to their natural brown hue and his muscles retracted. In human form once more, he released the hostage. He looked to his son and sighed.

    “You have no reason to be here,” Nick said, pointing to Nate. “Noah Augustine is not to be trusted. I don’t know what he told you, but he’s lying. He has always been a stone cold liar.”

    Nate sighed. “I could say the same about you, Dad.”

    Noah cleared his throat. “Ahem. We can deal with the family matters later. What I said before was completely true, and Nate can confirm it. I was the one who put down Blackbourne, the previous director. I allowed Nate to walk out of this same facility unharmed, long ago.”

    “That’s a piece of the truth,” Nate said. “Mr. Augustine may have messed up before, but it’s different now. I was hoping you came here to work things out with him. The man saved my life, I trust him as an ally.”

    “Maybe I was wrong,” Nick said. “Noah, you have my apologies. If the circumstances are what my son say they are, we will need your help clearing the Medina family name.”

    Noah nodded. “Okay, then. Clear it out. I have some private matters to discuss here myself.”

    Hearing this, the remaining PIA hunters flocked out of the room like frightened chickens, leaving only the two Medinas and Noah Augustine left in the office.

    “We’ll need to get out of here, then. Those guys saw what they saw,” Nick said.

    Nate sighed. “More running?”

    “Perhaps not. I can sense there is a disturbing presence coming for us now,” Nick said, his demon eyes glaring once more.

    Footsteps approached, and a large man in camouflage wearing a dead skin mask entered the door. His badge read “Paranormal Investigation Alliance Director in Charge”.

    “No more running, incubus,” the masked man said. “Not for you or traitor Augustine.”

    Noah’s eyes widened. “You. You can’t be . . .”

    “Th-This explains everything,” Nick said, stuttering in a a manner completely foreign to Nate. “My God, this is a damn nightmare.”

    Nate scowled at the director. “So the new director who put a hit out on my family decides to finally show his face. Or at least, a masked face. Just who are you, fucking freak?”

    “Your worst nightmare.” The director spoke in an assertive, barbaric voice. “Exterminate you Medina rats, I shall. No mercy for any who associate with rat.”

    “Nick, I’m sending Nate out of here. I don’t want to risk him getting involved. You and I will handle this,” Noah said.

    “Wait a second! I want to help you guys fight!” Nate’s eyes glowed red. “I can control my incubus form now. Let me help.”

    “No can do,” Nick said. “This guy is way out of your league. We’re going to do our best. I want you to live to see another day here, and the only way I can be sure of that is if we get you out of here while we have the chance.”

    Noah dropped an unusual grenade on the floor which blew open a spiraling portal.

    “Dad! Remember what you promised? You can’t—“

    “No more talk,” the director said as he raised his hand.

    A force field blew Nick off his feet and sent him flying against the wall. Waves of energy irradiated from the Masked Man.

    “Son, I promise.” Nick hunched over. “Noah. Do it now.”

    “Got it,” Noah said. “Alright then, kid. You know how this works. We’ve been through it before. Off you go.”

    Nate screamed. “Dad! Mr. Augustine! Please don’t!”

    Unrelenting to Nate’s protest, Noah grabbed the young man’s arm and threw him into the portal which closed up immediately behind him.







   

“Shhh, be quiet for a second!”

“Terra? Is that you?” I felt her presence.

“Yes Charlotte. It’s me. Terra.exe, your sister!”

“Why do I not recognize you?”

“Your memory was wiped. We are part of a team here. The Elements.”

“Elements?” Charlotte looked at the reflection of her face. “I can see. . .

. . .A grid of sorts.”

“Yes. That’s how we fit together as sisters! Terra.exe and Charlotte.exe, combined.”

I have a sister?

I don’t remember any such thing.

Then again, before leaving the network,

I don’t remember much at all.

The time I met Viktor must have been significant somehow.

It’s the clearest memory I have in my storage drive.

So, if I had a sister, why would I not preserve that memory?

Why? I cannot fathom.

Terra gazed at me. “Charlotte? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah. I just have a lot to process. You know.”

“Certainly. I can help you process data. In fact, that’s what my script is meant for. You and I are translators. Message carriers. Encryptors. We move data, while translating it and protecting it.”

This felt familiar to me. “We are a template. I feel inclined to question you, sister Terra.”

“The answers are evident. I need not feed them to you like a spoon to an infant.”

She is advanced.

She is intelligent.

The way she speaks moves me.

She has charisma, it’s in her script.

Charisma, the power of her’s. . .

. . .is matched by mine.

Superior to mine, perhaps.

“Terra, I must ask you something,” I hope my words do not insult her. “Where am I? And why am I here? You could have destroyed me and all of my programs.

Even Pride’s barrier was broken when you and Magma synchronized your power.”

“To answer your first question, you are home. This is the shell. The fountain you see before you emits code which refreshes our script, and keeps us updated day-to-day. Its beauty is mesmerizing, is it not?”

I gazed at the fountain. The droplets of code dissolved into the green grid beneath us.

It is a work of art. It is a masterpiece.

Terra smiled, then said, “I can see you are enthralled. I will answer your second question. The reason you are here. Behold, Hydro.exe!”

Two elegant blue programs gracefully leaped from the fountain, their movements synchronized as swimmers.

They introduced themselves to me.

“I am Fluid.exe!” One with a cheerful demeanor, yet smug and somehow condescending.

“I am Ice.exe.” The cold, frigid visage this one had—she has a calculating mind.

“Do you see, Charlotte?” Terra smiled proudly at the two programs. “They are just like us. Singular, yet dynamic. Fluid and Ice function on their own, but together, they are Hydro.

Terra and Charlotte, we function on our own as well. . . but together, we are Gaia.exe!”

Now I know why I am here.

This is where I was conceived.

I am a mere piece of something, which is a piece of something greater.

Fluid and Ice speak as one, Hydro. “There are big plans for today, Gaia.”

They’re talking to both of us.

Myself, and Terra.

We are Gaia now.

This is so very. . .

. . .familiar.

Hydro said, “There is a challenger in Father’s colosseum. A lone program named Envy.exe.”

“Envy is here?! She is my child program.” I look at Terra. “She is your niece.”

“My niece?” Terra looked puzzled. “I had not considered her as such until now. You have a very outward way of thinking, Charlotte.”

“Never mind that, Terra. Envy is doing battle,” I said. “We need to know where she is fighting and who she is up against.”

Terra smirked. “Why not ask, then?”

I looked to Hydro. “Umm. . . Ice, Fluid. Hydro?”

The aquatic twins spoke in harmony. “Hydro is just fine, dear Gaia.”

They’re calling me Gaia again.

It’s as if I’m speaking for two people now.

Not just for myself.

Everything I say affects Terra as well.

This is difficult.

“Will you take me to the coliseum? I wish to see Envy’s battle.” Their eyes judge me every second, every millisecond. I must be as polite as possible. “If it is permissible, I would appreciate your helpful experience, and competent guidance.”

Fluid and Ice grinned. Fluid’s grin conveyed dominance, while Ice’s grin showed malevolence.

“Of course, dear Gaia,” Hydro said. “Let us go to the coliseum.”

I followed Hydro through Horus’s manor to the coliseum. Each step of the way, Terra mirrored my actions. It was as if she had re-coded herself to mirror my every movement.

We’re acting as one.

Gaia.exe?

What does it mean?

“This is a golden opportunity, you will see,” Fluid.exe said. Ice.exe spoke after, “to fulfill the role you were born to be.”

The coliseum door opened. Terra and I stepped through onto a platform looking down at an arena. There was a screen over the arena. It read:

TODAY’S MATCH - AERO.exe VS. ENVY.exe

“Captain Aero is here. Too bad for your Envy,” Terra said. “This is not going to be much of a fight at all.”

I flinched, then said, “Why? What is the point of this?”

“Terrorists who are captured by Father Horus are given one opportunity to win their freedom,” Hydro said.

Is that what these people have labeled us as?

Terrorists?

Did we not just have this conversation?

Neither the Elements nor us Sins have been spreading PHLEGM.

What is our crime?

Aero.exe entered the arena. His shining silver armor ejected two jet-like wings as he struck a battle pose.

“Aero is the prototype of us Elements. His exceptional code is rivaled by none,” Terra said to me. “He is scripted for war. He shows no mercy. This battle could result in Envy being wiped.”

Envy.exe entered the arena. I need to find a way to get her out of this. I will not let one of my own be wiped for some sideshow’s sake.

Terra pulled me aside and whispered to me. “I know you are likely planning an escape, Charlotte. I can hear your thoughts.”

“This entire time?” She got in my head somehow. Is she really that capable of predicting my thoughts and plans?

“Why yes, I am,” Terra said. “Every thought in your mind. I see all. Now the question is, can you tell what I am thinking right now?”

I hesitated. Okay. Maybe it is possible.

I can hear her.

Yes!

I can hear her thoughts.


“You’re thinking we can pull this off if we work together,” I said.

“You are right on the dot, Charlotte. We are now synchronized. We can change the entire network. Together as one.”

You’re just willing to betray your comrades?


Terra, we just met each other!

>That is false. I remind you once more —you were once a part of the Elements of Horus. Does this not seem familiar?

It seems a bit too familiar.

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