KP - Episode 18 (Public)

Words Count: 4725

(“I used to be so- so angry.

Anger… It was the blanket which protected me from the monsters under the bed; the monsters in my own head, planted there by none other than my parents;

It was the only method for me to survive all the hurts. I clung to it so desperately, and yet-”

A loud sigh escaped his lips; his back- previously straight and proud and filled with so many childish aspirations and dreams slumped helplessly as he ran his hand through messy; matted locks. He continued- voice quivering.

“Now it feels as if my anger too, bright as it was, has dimmed- slowly being snuffed out by an all-consuming emptiness.

The thought even occurred to me that maybe, just maybe she was right.

Perhaps it was my fault…

Perhaps I never should’ve been born,

Maybe that's why she hated me.

I kept asking myself that until I became convinced it’s the truth. It had to be. There’s no other answer. I cursed myself; yanked at my own hair in search of an answer; glared at my reflection in the mirror like it’s my mortal enemy.

When I head out, I would rather look at the ground than the road ahead- afraid of meeting someone’s eyes and allowing them to see the wreck inside.

When people treat me well, I assume there’s a catch… For there is always a catch.

And when I see people laugh, I assume they are laughing at me.”

Fingers interlocked, the boy turned to the spanning forest before him- gaze hollow. That’s when he felt a hand on his back, causing him to flinch- expectant of a lashing hand or at the very least, insulting- hurtful words.

“You're not like a kid at all.”

The man mumbled as something akin to sympathy crossed his face. “You’ll grow to be a man one day, Julius.

A man does not lament his fate, nor does he dwell on his emotions.

Ignore those useless things… Feelings don't matter. What does are achievements. Harden your heart and drown them out if you must.

You’ll feel better, I promise.”

Like a fool, the boy lapped it all up and from there, something was born- someone full of resentment and hate for the world, and for the pieces of himself who had so callously taken the wheel.

“You’ll feel better.”

The man repeated, almost as though even he’s unconvinced by his words.

L̢̢̧̻͗̓ì̵̷̶̖̕͞ā̝̠̺̜͚̞̗͆̎͐̀̅r̸̡̧̛͙͕͉̘̞͈͍͓ͣ̈̄͊̃̾̔͞͡ͅ.͈̘̖̰̮̻̗̩͉̮̍̀͟͞.̧̧̩͖͚̻̳̙͖̼ͣ̋͂̈́̆̌ͮ̀͘҉̡͠͏͏.̢̙͍̳ͧ͘͝͠

“It’s still raining… “

Is it frustration I’m feeling, or is it sadness?

“Why is it still raining?”

Emptiness perhaps? Rage?

“I did exactly what I was supposed to- did what I was taught- what was expected of me.”

I don’t know anymore, and in all honesty…

“This isn’t fair.”

I don’t think I want to know.

“I just want this to stop- just for a moment to catch my breath and be myself.”

Who am I?

“I keep trying, and I keep failing. When will it end?”

What exactly lies beneath this façade?)

The way back to the States is crawling with SS soldiers armed to the teeth with advanced, energy-powered weapons that shine a deeper blue hue than my Plasma Cutter. On their arms are patches depicting a Hydra, stretching as if to devour the Heavens whole.

Soldiers sent to capture and, if all else fails, put an end to Nanna and Bryan.

We do not know what’s going on in the frontline, but here- in France, these two have singlehandedly stopped the Reich’s advances all on their lonesome.

They are practically legends to these people- heroes whose hands or fangs in Nanna’s case, are stained red. Still, the people adore them- look up to them in ways that almost make me feel jealous. Almost. “Sir Bryan, it’s not much but here–”

The beautiful Frenchwoman, cheeks dusted pink, shove a basket in his arms. Bryan never even gets the chance to reject before she, like the group of giggling girls in the distance, runs off into her house. “Goddamn.” Amused smile plastered on my lips and brows raised, I cast a teasing glance at the man, leaning on my wrist. “Leave some for the rest of us.” With a weary look, the private forces a laugh. “Not that I don't appreciate it, but they need this way more than I do…”

Inside are fruits and food of all kinds, neatly put to show their sincerity.

I can understand why he would have such thoughts. Similar to Bryan, I too can last a long time without foods or drinks, as long as I don’t overuse my transformations. In comparison to our roided-up frames, these people all appear like they are a mere meal away from collapsing of starvation. “It’s impolite to reject a gift. They can’t fight–”

Not while outgunned, outnumbered and with most of the male population belonging to one of the three categories: The elderly, children or murdered to prevent potential uprising.

I must say, the Reich’s ruthlessness both impresses and scares the absolute shit out of me. “So let them contribute in other ways. It’ll ease their minds at least, to know they’re doing what’s necessary to retake their homeland and avenge the dead.”

“Yeah… You’re right.”

Bryan mumbles, face shadowed as the bell rings- accompanied with the panicked screams of children in the distance. In sync, we shoot up from our seats- eyes zooming past the thick canopy. “Enemies.”

My… Friend whispers, reaching for the guns laid next to us. Anxious-ridden, the children run towards us like headless chickens, their faces devoid of blood and the childish excitement we had witnessed previously. “Fucking Nazis.” The more I get to see the cruelty they have inflicted, the more agreeable I find Bryan’s ideology. In this world- in every world, there exist monsters who masquerade as humans. My mother was one such creatures, and the Nazis are cut from the same cloth.

“BR- BRYAN! JULIUS!”

A foreboding sensation takes shape within me, shrugged off with a resolute motion.

What can possibly happen? Nanna’s with them, and my girl has proven she can fight off several platoons with little difficulty. ‘Weren’t- Weren’t there seven before? Why do I count only five?’

One of the boys- Jaime if my memory serves me right, rushes towards us as quickly as his little legs can carry him. “Nanna! Nanna, she’s- They got her!” I hear glass shatters in my mind, and a stuffiness I can’t begin to put into words courses through my heartstrings. ‘She's gonna be fine. It’s not her first rodeo. She knows what to do.’

Meeting them halfway, I wait patiently, swallowing an irrational burst of anger as I watch the kids try to catch a breath. The world continues to revolve as people flee to their homes, throwing their doors shut. Moms grab their children; working women- because all the men have been executed prior to our arrival, throw the dry branches and fruits they have collected to the ground in favor of preserving their own lives.

“Jaime, it’s alright.”

The private puts his hands on the boy’s shoulders.

“Breath first.”

My fists clench as I scan the area for the familiar presence of Nanna, nearly exploding in a hail of curses when I discover none.

“Nanna, she’s–”

‘Useless brat!’

Julian screeches, voice as panicked as I feel. ‘SPIT IT OUT!’

There’s no growl or the expected sound of claws digging into the soil, not even a chirp to break the silence. No… I cannot afford to stay idle, not if Nanna is in danger. “Bryan, protect them,” I command. “I will go and take a look.” With that, my body collapses, shifting into my Avian Form. Momentum propels me into the air as I take flight. Rising above the dense canopy, my sharp eyes catch a glimpse of a futuristic aircraft flying in the opposite direction.

Blue energy with a flame-like consistency erupts from the thrusters as it streaks through the sky, while below armored vehicles crash through canopy, razing all in their paths to the ground and bringing it to rubbles. From the corner of my eyes, I catch two small corpses- a boy and a girl. The missing children, no doubt. I continue to scan for Nanna.

The Sun’s setting; everything's bathed in a golden hue that should’ve made her blue feathers stand out in the spanning field even more,

Yet I cannot spot Nanna, no matter how hard I try. ‘Where’s she?’

Red creeps in edges of my vision, held back only by my rationality. I won’t be of much help to anyone blinded by rage. Transforming back, I drop onto one of the vehicle, my fist creating a dent on the roof. Goo spills from my sleeve to form thick, viscous spikes that penetrate their vehicle’s armor effortlessly. “Feinde!” Peering into the hole, I see six men in advanced power-armors, hugging submachines close to their chests.

‘Let me out…’

It takes no time for the nozzles to turn to me, but within the same second, my tendrils already yank the weapons out of their hands. Skin peels from my face to reveal fleshy muscles underneath, my mouth stretched to a fang-filled, lipless snarl that I don’t bother to hide.

‘LET ME OUT!’

The angrier I get, the more the pangs in my brain grow- mercilessly hammering at the door of my consciousness. “Mutant! It’s one of those fucking mutants(German)!” I don’t understand what they’re saying, nor do I feel the need to. Seeing one reach for the pistol strapped to his belt, I leap inside.

Fist nearly crushing the flailing man while his fellows watch in horror, shattering his pristine power-suit, I question- eerily calm. “Where is she?” Like knives, the tips of my fingers dig in his breast-plate. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?!” Bristling with an untamable urge to put my palm through his skull, I cast a glance over my shoulder- silently warning the ones who’re putting their hands on their weapons. Outside must be pretty hectic, because I can hear the other platoons clamor, ‘They will be dealt with later.’

“If you don’t hurry the Hell up, you are gonna eat through a fucking straw for the rest of your miserable existence.” And I mean every word. “H- H–”

“SPEAK UP, MOTHERFUCKER!”

My voice explodes, bouncing between the steely confines that separate us from the world. “Hail Hydra!” His mouth moves ever-so slightly, as if to chew on something, and then it occurs to me: I’ve about this before. Some spies, high-ranking members of the government and even soldiers would have small capsules containing a lethal poison in case they’re captured by the enemy. What for, I am sure you already figure out. Unfortunately for him, my… Everything is far faster than an ordinary human.

With precision, I ruthlessly pry his mouth open, causing tiny tears to form where his jaws attach, yet no further. It’d defeat the purpose if I rendered him mute… Although I don’t mind either.

There are a lot more where he came from, the five shell-shocked men who are shivering in fright behind us for example.

The German, pain exceeding his tolerance, lets loose an ear-piercing scream while I locate the capsule.

“You really thought you could get off that easily?” Playing with the poison held between my fingers, I lash out with a slap that knocks quite a few of his teeth out. “Where. Is. She?”

Each word of mine is accompanied by a carefully-regulated punch so I don’t lop off his head accidentally. His response’s a gurgled, unintelligible string as he collapses. Fists put to my sides, I slowly turn to the rest. If not for the fact the appendages have been replaced with Klyntar’s flesh, I am almost certain the blood supply would’ve been cut off with how hard I’m clenching.

“I grow weary of repeating myself… I’ll count to three, if none of you can give me an answer, I’ll start by breaking your jaws and…”

I trail, stealing the pack hidden in the man’s breast pocket. “Well, there are 206 bones in the human body, and five of you left. One of you is bound to sing, surely.” Tendrils erupt out of my forearms as I repeat. “Surely.”

— [POV Change] —

“They- They–”

The boy's words catch in his throat as he tries to explain through hiccups and tearful sniffles. Desperately, he wipes the snot from his face with the tattered sleeve of his faded shirt. “It’s alright, Jamie.” Bryan interrupts, tone filled with a surprising gentleness that completely belies his gruff appearance. “Like I said… Take your time. Let it all out.”

“They shot her!”

He screams mournfully, brought to his knees by the events. “Who?”

“AMÉLIE!”

He cries, collapsing though is thankfully caught by the private’s welcoming arms.

Anger surges through the Angel of Death’s veins at the news, yet he shows nothing on his face- none except a wilted, dead-eyed look of grief. ‘There’ll be time to grieve, but…’ There’s a child in need of consolation, information to gather and enemies to eliminate. Revenge is a dish best served cold anyway, and Bryan will get to exact it sooner rather than later. “They shot her in the head… Nanna tried to stop them but–”

Wetness spreads over his shoulder, seeping into his stylized uniform, but the private pays it no heed. “They captured Jacques- used him to threaten her into compliance. They- They had this net that shone. I don’t- don’t know what it is but Nanna couldn’t break through and…”

An enraged roar rips through the air, causing the nearby birds to scatter in fear, successfully capturing everyone’s attention. “Julius?”

Ignoring the chaos stirred in the surroundings by the young man’s enraged roar, Bryan’s eyes narrow as he pats Jaime on the back. “Jamie, I need you to be strong… Can you do that?” The boy nods weakly, his arms still slung over the Angel’s neck. “Go. Hide.”

Bryan instructs, breaking the hug to meet Jaime’s eyes. “Julius and I will deal with the Nazis. Don’t come out, no matter what you hear, get it?” Lightly pushing the boy in the direction of his house, towards his worried and beckoning mother, Bryan winks- a reassured smile dancing on his lips, though if one were to pay attention to his fists- nails digging in the palms of his hands hard enough to draw blood which at one point was thought impossible with current technology, given his durability.

Only after the boy vanishes into his dilapidated house, does his wings unfurl.

“Fucking Nazis!”

The curse- brimming with hatred- vibrates his vocal cord as he takes off to the field where the kids were playing. There, he discover twenty vehicles, each covered in groaning, armored men whose limbs look like they’ve been twisted from the joints. No, never mind that. They are indeed broken, though he even with his sight enhanced by whatever Julius had done to him, Bryan can’t seem to spot the familiar crimson.

That is until he sees the youth in question clutching one said soldier by the neck, his face mutilated and inhuman.

“JULIUS!” Bryan calls to notify the man- the monster of his presence, for he is almost certain had he not, his Progenitor might've mistaken him for a hostile and taken a harsh swing at him with how tense and on edge he appears. “Are you okay?”

Crimson glows meet his own brown depths, betraying not a hint of emotions- of Humanity. The youth growls warningly, and increases the pressure of his grip which renews the armored Nazi’s weakening struggle. “Bryan… They got her. They got Nanna.”

His heart sinks at the confirmation of Nanna's capture, but instead of giving into despair or hopelessness, "We will get her back, Julius," Bryan declares, his voice filled with determined resolve. "Then we will make them pay for what they’ve done. But first–” Slowly- Cautiously, he approaches with arms raised to show that he’s unarmed. “I need you to settle down. We need them alive, or we won’t find her.”

Loath as he is to admit it, Bryan has grown quite fond of the fluffy feather-ball, when she’s not in her destructive mood at least. It'll be sad to lose her, though for Julius, judging from what he has seen, her loss will be crippling. “Put him down, Julius. They will get what’s coming to them, I promise.”

Still fuming, Julius mumbles under his breath- his brows pinched in contemplation and barely concealed rage. “They knew precisely where we were.” His skin goes livid red as it dawns on him- on them both. “They came prepared with a small army, all of whom was armed to the teeth with weapons designed to take Nanna and you down specifically.”

“Someone sold us out.”

Disbelief creeps up Bryan’s chest.

“They refused to admit it, but I know for a fact someone did.”

Julius replies. “They betrayed you… They betrayed her… Even after everything you two have done for them.”

There’s a slight shake to his voice- one filled with fathomless hate and all of a sudden, hechanges. Gone is the previous calm; gone is the messed up, albeit trying boy Bryan met as a man. In Julius’ place is something far more… Hateful- someone who seems so ready and eager to–

*Squelch

–Kill…

“Ju- Julius?”

The pair that set sight on Bryan is choked-full of malevolent as he callously throws the corpse down- the soldier’s head hanging limply with a broken neck.

‘Julius’ does not answer, instead flinging a casual, yet blazing glance at the group of battered men scattered all around. “Deal with them.” In a flash, he's gone- rising above the canopy and dropping down in the isolated town where they were staying. “GET OUT HERE!” His scream reverberates through the air, thick with tension as he walks out of the crater his feet has left on the ground. “You–”

— [POV Change] —

“–Worthless, ungrateful lowlifes!”

The sensation is euphoric, of crimson dripping from my fingers and staining the ground with a vivid red hue.

Finally, I can let loose my pent-up frustration. Caine, the arrogant fool, proved to be a disappointing opponent. Our so-called fight was nothing but anticlimactic. At most, he managed to land a meager two or three hits, and it’s only because Julius allowed him to, orchestrating the encounter to maximize our earning. Meanwhile, a single kick from me and he's already on the precipice of oblivion- his ribs shattered.

It wasn’t even my fault…

Who’d have thought the bastard was that… Fragile?

My eyes sweep across the town, a breeding ground for the meek and feeble. The sight of them infuriates me.

Some may argue it's not their fault, that they are outmatched and outnumbered, incapable of mounting a resistance. But haven't countless wars been fought by oppressed groups who were similarly outmatched and outgunned? Didn't they sacrifice their lives for a glimmer of freedom? So what if the men are absent? So what if they possess no weapons? The truth is, like the Mask I had formed in my moments of weakness, these feeble creatures dare not rise up and seize their own destiny.

They sit and wait and pray for a knight in shinning armor to rescue them… Now that people- actual people came looking to offer help, their response’s to spit on the hand that feeds them. They’re not just cowards, they’re ungrateful cowards. The children I can forgive, they’re mere children. What can they do? But the adults? They have no excuse. None! “Sir Julius? Is everything a- alright?”

A brunette stutters the question at me.

“Do we need to move elsewhere?”

Like I said, “Cowards.”

I spit under my breath, unsympathetic gaze boring holes in her torso.

“Call everyone in town here. Young, old; men and women. I want them present in the square in half an hour.” She flinches hearing the tone I’m using. Good, the faster she realizes I am not playing around, the less of my valuable time they waste. “Y- Yes, sir!”

“Don’t make me wait.”

I say casually, yet allowing a hint of threat to express in my words. “My patience is limited.” The sentence has barely escaped my mouth when my appendages sprout tinier tendrils that wave and shake menacingly. The ‘Or else’ is left to the imagination, but that ought to hurry her up. I look back, expecting my progeny to land any second now, yet minutes pass and nothing.

“The Hell’s that bastard doing?” Arms crossed, I take a seat on the edge of the communal well used by practically everybody in town, eyelids closed shut.

Even as more and more of the trash pour into the clearing, I refuse to acknowledge their presences, forcing them to dwell on their own fears and thoughts. “S- Sir?” One, after literally half an hour of trying to muster up the courage, approaches only to be sent scurrying back by a glare of mine.

“Who here speaks fluent English?”

Alas, I address the fools.

Birds of the same feather truly do flock together. I know several who have spoken and communicated via English, yet here we are… Instead of raising their hands like they should- of putting themselves in danger, they will rather others do it. They look and look, trading fearful glances… Again, they are waiting for a Hero to save them and again… I am disappointed. ‘Damn them. Damn these pieces of–’

“Did you not hear?”

My empty glare causes all who meets it to backpedal. “I asked: WHO HERE CAN SPEAK FUCKING ENGLISH?!” My outburst sends them fleeing to their houses like rats to their nests. Unfortunately, I’m not in the mood for these games, and with a forceful stomp, the ground shakes. They too fall, scrambling away in fear. “Try that again, I’ll bath this land with your blood.”

Shivering at the naked threat, the maggots quiet down at last. “Now… A fucking translator, please.”

Surprisingly enough, it isn’t the adults who make the first move, it’s- “Jaime, is it?” There is disgust, not at the boy himself, but the cowards who will let a fucking child stand in way of danger.

Jaime nods nervously, his eyes darting between me and the scattered crowd. He speaks up, his voice barely above a whisper and simultaneously filled with courage as he positions himself between his mother and I. “Y-Yes, sir. I can speak English.”

I fix my gaze on him, inspecting his trembling frame before, “Good. At least somebody has a backbone ‘round here.”

He flinches at my words but manages to maintain eye contact. “What do you need, sir?”

Frustration bubbles within me, but I suppress it, realizing that it won’t accomplish anything to unleash my anger on this boy. I’m an asshole, but I’m not her… I won’t beat down a child just to satiate my sadistic desires and feel good about myself. “I need you to translate. Can you do that for me? I’ll pay you.”

Once more, he nods.

“Several platoons were moving towards your quaint little town. Several.” I reiterate.

Jaime hesitates for a moment, clearly unsure of how to deliver my demand to the frightened townsfolk. But with a deep breath, he nods and starts relaying my message in hushed tones.

One by one, with hesitance in their gazes, the townspeople begin to panic. Their eyes betray a mix of fear and curiosity, their gazes flickering towards me on occasions.

“QUIET DOWN!” What awful- awful creatures. They deserve no pity, not from me. One even starts to pray… What a joke. If God exists- if anything Divine truly cares, we wouldn't have been in this mess to begin with. That’s what it is, what religions are- a way for weak people to escape from responsibility and accountability. She's the same too… On the rare days when the boozes and drugs hadn’t left her paralyzed with sadness, regrets or fear, she would hug us and apologize. She’d tell me how God’s looking over us, then the next day the cycle would start all over again.

“They’re dealt with.”

I say, eyes silently ordering the boy to relay the message to them, which results in a round of applause and sighs of relief.

‘Don’t they realize the situation they’re in?’ I can’t help but question. “They knew about us… Knew about Bryan, Nanna and I.” They couldn’t have known, not without an insider informing them. We came to the town under the cover of the night.

Bryan might’ve drawn some attention, but the man’s skin is dark, combined with the greenish uniform he wears, nobody should’ve seen him and if one did, they wouldn't have escaped our notice; while Nanna and I should’ve been just another pair of unassuming birds to them. “The Reich is aware of our presences in the town…” Jaime continues, confidence rising and for a brief moment, I can almost see myself in him, almost.

Him and his mom, I’ll spare them.

As for the rest?

Ha… “They knew when they couldn’t have, which means–”

I trail, wanting them to say it themselves.

“S- Somebody betrayed us?”

Yet again, it’s Jaime who answers. “Atta-boy.”

I ruffles his hair.

For his bravery- for showing me Humanity can still be saved, I shall grant him the greatest gift of all: Power undiluted, straight from my veins. “Somebody sold us out to the Reich… I want to know who.” At this point, my intention is clear. Treachery is unforgiveable, and whoever it was responsible for this, their death’s premeditated. They just don’t know it yet. “The Reich may’ve taken… Somethingimportant from me–”

‘From us!’

Julius screams under my thoughts.

“But whoever sold us out is just ad responsible. Two children are dead, and my pet is missing.”

‘Nanna isn’t a pet.’ He protests,

Silenced by my will. ‘QUIET!’

“You bunch have another half an hour to find the culprit, or I’ll raze this fucking place to the ground.” Jaime’s head snaps towards in horror and disbelief, yet seconds those are replaced by acceptance and resignation. ‘I’m growing fond of this brat more and more…’ Holding a steely glare, I stifle a proud chuckle as the boy informs the useless maggots of my want- Nay, need.

“If you try to run– / Si tu essaies de fuir–“

The radiations I've subsumed- robbed the Marker of surge through my nervous system. If the Artifact could do it, I don’t see why I can’t.

— [POV Change] —

Searching for the second child- for his corpse, Bryan stills as the bodies start to twist and writhe and morph all around him. Fearfully, he lowers his gaze at the girl laying peacefully in his arms- her haunting, wide-eyed look frozen; a bloody hole spilling red on her forehead. He almost expects her to imitate the others and sprout spikes out of her back; for her terrified expression to transform into a hideous, lipless grin; for her emaciated flesh- a result of years of poverty and hunger, to shrink until all that is left is skin over bones.

Thankfully, nothing of sort happens.

Howling to an ominous; bloody Moon, the Dead rise- all racing towards the town. Bryan immediately takes after them, aiming to protect the townsfolks before he finds Julius- one knee slung over the other, a look of boredom welded on his face, presiding over the folks like the Devil over Sinners.

The circle made out of people shrinks as they hurriedly retreat from the Dead who’re snarling and screeching, almost as if they can’t wait to sink their yellowing fangs into them. “I have… Ways to make you talk. I can even rip the info out of your feeble minds if I so wish, but I am merciful. I'll give you a chance- an opportunity to prove yourself, even though let’s be honest, none of you maggots deserves it.”

The arrogant look on his face is utterly unrecognizable from the calm, reasonable young man he knew. “Locate the traitors. Bring them to me, and I shall spare your lives.”

Unable to bear the scene any longer, Bryan lands- his wings stretched to shield the townsfolks from the Devil who holds their lives in his palm. “JULIUS! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”

The Devil levels a glare at the Angel of Death. “Punishing the wicked, what do you think?”