Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)(64)
Long moments pass with nothing but second thoughts and I for company. But at last the door groans. Grinds itself open. Red glowstick quavering as she steps inside.
I am peering over her shoulder as she walks. Listening to each trembling breath.
Watching the light play across her skin as she treads from room to empty room.
“Mom?”
Belongings scattered on the floor. A child’s toy. A shoe. A diamond ring.
“Anyone?”
No bodies.
No people.
“… Please?”
Nothing.
She sags.
Slowly at first.
Shrinking in on herself as if her bones were being plucked out, one by one.
I watch as all of it—the bravado, the bluster, the armor she has encased herself inside these last few months—all of it crumbles to dust.
She slithers to her knees.
Great heaving gasps shaking her entire body.
She knows now. The answer. The truth.
At the apex of callousness, she finds only ones and zeros.
And with no hope to hold it in check, grief finally steps out to take its place on the stage.
The sound of her sobbing rings in the dark.
There are none there to hear it.
None there to care.
None save I.
ByteMe: Ezra?
ByteMe: u there?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: always
Mason, E, LT 2nd: where u at? u ok?
ByteMe: promise me we’re not about to have a fight, Ez
ByteMe: u cannot believe how much i need us to not have a fight
Mason, E, LT 2nd: why would we have a fight?
ByteMe: promise
Mason, E, LT 2nd: cross my heart
ByteMe: i’m on the Alexander
ByteMe: what is it you always say?
ByteMe: k go
Mason, E, LT 2nd: um
Mason, E, LT 2nd: “kady what the f*ck were you thinking”?
ByteMe: u promised
ByteMe: u promised, u promised. i have a bio suit. will find u. it’s happening, don’t waste time arguing w me
Mason, E, LT 2nd: jesus, you’re f*cking crazy
Mason, E, LT 2nd: how the hell did you get over here?
ByteMe: i f*cking swam, okay?
ByteMe: hey, do u remember our one month anniversary?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: um
Mason, E, LT 2nd: dare i ask why?
ByteMe: i’m trying to go to a happy place, there are a lot of dead ppl here
ByteMe: that was what confirmed all my suspicions about u. giant softie
Mason, E, LT 2nd: dead ppl? where are u?
ByteMe: remember u were waiting outside my classroom? u and your big romantic notions
ByteMe: who even celebrates a 1 month anniversary?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: handsome and romantic devils
Mason, E, LT 2nd: that’s who
Mason, E, LT 2nd: HANDSOME I SAY
ByteMe: how did u even think of it all?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: not just a pretty face
Mason, E, LT 2nd: where u hiding? r u safe? you got power? gravity keeps dropping in and out
ByteMe: u r just not going to talk romance with me, r u? dodging :(
ByteMe: could kind of use a boost here, lover
Mason, E, LT 2nd: i’m sorry kades
Mason, E, LT 2nd: but i feel it’s my duty to point out that ur alone in a derelict spaceship, surrounded by pipe-wielding maniacs and now might not be the time for pillow talk
Mason, E, LT 2nd: where u at?
ByteMe: hiding in the shuttles in hangar 4. safe. whoever was here is gone now. i’m powered up. psyching myself to get out there
ByteMe: to which end reliving a happy memory might help, but mooooving on
Mason, E, LT 2nd: i’m sorry
Mason, E, LT 2nd: just
Mason, E, LT 2nd: yeah … :(
Mason, E, LT 2nd: they all came out of bay 4. the crazies, i mean
Mason, E, LT 2nd: please PLEASE be careful
ByteMe: believe me, i’m on it. this is terrifying. and sad. don’t need telling twice
Mason, E, LT 2nd: yeah :(
Mason, E, LT 2nd: like, i see these lunatics wandering around all bloodied and messed up. killing anything that moves. and screaming. jesus, the things they scream
Mason, E, LT 2nd: and then i remember they used ot be real ppl.
ByteMe: our friends
Mason, E, LT 2nd: yeah.
Mason, E, LT 2nd: and i can’t help thinking
Mason, E, LT 2nd: BeiTech have a lot to f*cking answer for
ByteMe: they’ll answer for it
ByteMe: i’ll get right on it, soon as i’ve got u.
Mason, E, LT 2nd: :)
Mason, E, LT 2nd: my hero <3
Mason, E, LT 2nd: heroine?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: w/e … >_>
ByteMe: you’re right
ByteMe: deep breaths.
ByteMe: give up and they win
ByteMe: and u know i never admit my ideas are stupid, which means i’d better get on with proving this idea was a good one.
Mason, E, LT 2nd: :D
ByteMe: love you.
Mason, E, LT 2nd: love u 2 :)
ByteMe: so let’s get this done and get out and kick BeiTech’s asses so hard they’ll be singing soprano for the duration
ByteMe: q 4 u: do i need to come find u, or can u get here?
Mason, E, LT 2nd: um, i’m kinda stuck :P
Mason, E, LT 2nd: holed up. think i’m safe for now but i dont’ wanna move.
Mason, E, LT 2nd: i can hear them. outside.