The Lightbreakers of Orpheus [10]
A Sci-fi flash fiction.
Previously [1] [2]. [3]. [4]. [5]. [6]. [7]. [8]. [9]
[10]
The Lightbreakers were a cold-blooded killing machine. Ruthless and efficient, perfect little cogs in the mechanism of destruction the Rebels had invented.
They’ll finally end this, Derek thought. This is it. The Rebels had changed their initial plan of waiting until the Government forces destroy themselves. The Lightbreakers will put an end to the war. Derek pondered whilst picking up leftovers of corpses lying around scattered on the red sands of Orpheus, among rubble and trash. The Lightbreakers left none alive.
The previous years on this side of the planet had been relatively calm. But the war knew no boundaries. It found Derek again.
“Dad, we should head back. We won’t finish today, with the storm coming, and…”
Derek looked up at his stepdaughter; Anouk’s Gravedigger uniform was covered in blood and gore. She was right, but Derek knew the storm wasn’t the reason for her hastiness.
“He’ll be fine. Mom is there, she’ll look after him,” Derek reassured her.
“But what if they come again?”
“The Lightbreakers probably consider this area clean. They won’t return soon,” Derek said, placing a dismantled arm into a cryo-container. All corpses were buried with dignity under his watch.
“Yeah, but…Mom doesn’t talk to Mark much. He needs to improve his speech, and…” Anouk stuttered, and Derek saw her blushing beneath her visor.
“He will be alright. We will finish this sector today,” Derek said sternly. Anouk snorted angrily, marching back to assist the other Gravediggers.
Derek sighed. Anouk’s attachment to this guy was obviously growing daily, but Derek was unsure what to do with the blind former Lightbreaker. Could a brainwashed killing machine ever be fully trusted? Derek felt uneasy every time Anouk spend time with the guy, he and Sophie tried not to leave the two alone, but Anouk still managed to slip into Mark’s room every chance she got.
***
“Drop it!” Sophie said, pressing her gun into Mark’s forehead. “I’ll blast your brains out, but first I’ll make sure you suffer in agony for a couple of hours. Drop it now!”
Mark wouldn’t listen. Though blind, he somehow found a pair of scissors Anouk had carelessly left in the drawer of the nightstand, after cutting Mark’s hair shorter.
The tip of the scissors sunk into his chest, as Mark was attempting to stab himself. Sophie walked into the room just in time.
“Drop it!” Sophie grunted, though she knew he wouldn’t. If he was determined to self-destruct either way worked for him, a sharp blade in the chest or a bullet to the brain.
“No!” Anouk shrieked, running into the room. “Mark, please don’t! Please, don’t!”
“I must eliminate myself,” he said, “the last command I received was to eliminate myself.”
“Please, no!” Anouk wrapped her hands around Mark’s still clutching the scissors.
“Why? I have failed my mission.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re not a Lightbreaker anymore!” Anouk objected, “please, give me the scissors!”
“What am I?” Mark said with his voice turning softer, and his grip loosening. He gave into the warmth of Anouk’s hands, he let the scissors slip away from his strong hands into hers. Sophie took the scissors from her, and stepped away, still holding Mark at gunpoint.
“You’re… You’re…” Anouk blushed searching for words. She embraced him tight instead of answering, she kissed his cheek, and whispered into his ear,
“You’re special to me. I want you to live. Promise, you won’t try to kill yourself again! Please!”
Mark enveloped her with his wide arms, exhaling heavily. He nodded. She was right. Mark43 the Lightbreaker was no more.