Alive and Fighting: Revelations (4 page)

             
"I'm sorry, but I couldn’t let you think we were simply poor, misunderstood souls. Know that while I have some control, the others do not…and I disappoint myself frequently, my moments of control are often fleeting, and require much focus. I'm so sorry I had to scare you. Do you want some time to think things over?" Sigma asked, taking his seat again.

             
"When can I leave? I just want to go home. I won't tell anyone anything you've told me if you don’t want…" Rose pleaded, finding her voice much quieter than she remembered.

             
"I…don’t think I can let you…" Sigma admitted, shame and sadness thick in his voice as he left the room. The only sound was the lock sliding heavily into place.

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"Hey, you Spike?" A Klansman asked from behind his tattered white mask.

             
"Might be, who's askin'?" Spike replied, closing his tome.

             
"The name's Lynn. I heard you've been asking around about a girl who went missing. Might have something for you." Lynn said, scanning the Bazaar.

             
"Yeah, but she's been missing for more than a year. How old's your intel?" Spike asked, he'd followed too many dead ends to allow himself hope at this point.

             
"It's fresh news, but…you're the only one asking about a girl with a tape recorder." Lynn answered, pulling a recorder from inside his black coat and pressing play.

             
"It's October nineteenth twenty thirty five, First entry of the day Diary. It's been…well, it's been almost eight months since our last chat. Today's a special day. I can see the sun today. The doors were just open. No hums. No screams. No Sigma. Nothing. It's never been so quiet. I just walked right out of the Hive. Things look untouched outside. The people I pass look no different. The harvesters in white. The Apes are wearing hides. The Gravers still look hungry. What have I missed? Is my brother still alive? Still waiting at home for me to get back from the Bazaar? Does the Bazaar still exist? Maybe it's only been a long dream. Just fell asleep and its really only the thirteenth of August. I'm going home, Diary. Maybe things can pick up like they were if nothing's really changed. Well, I guess the Greys have some bigger guns now." The recorder played. Spike couldn’t believe it. Rose's voice, exactly as he remembered it, she'd been trapped in the Hive for over a year, and now, less than twenty four hours ago she'd left.

             
"How'd you get that?" Spike asked, looking through Lynn's mask into his eyes.

             
"Some of the…other Klansmen heard her mention leaving the Hive. They snatched her up on Main St. Just past the interstate. I was following them and saw she'd dropped this." Lynn revealed, holding up the recorder once more.

             
"Why tell me this? What do you want, ransom or something? Or are you just here to taunt me? If that's the case then you've made a terrible mistake." Spike replied, cracking his knuckles.

             
"You don’t scare me, storyteller. No, I told you because I think you and I have some overlapping goals and could work together." Lynn answered, handing over the recorder.

             
"I'm listening, and if I so much as consider this to be a trick…" Spike warned, pocketing the recorder.

             
"Look, we're on the same side here. Follow me, what I'm about to tell you is for your ears only, and even then I'm pushing it. So for now…partners?" Lynn offered, extending his hand to Spike.

             
"…Partners…for now."  Spike accepted, shaking Lynn's hand once.

Also available in the Alive and Fighting Series

Alive and Fighting: New in Town

Alive and Fighting: Every Sin a Saint

Alive and Fighting: Lost and Found

Alive and Fighting: Revelations

Alive and Fighting: Heroes in Blood Oak

Alive and Fighting: Addictions
Alive and Fighting: Carrion
Alive and Fighting: Broken, Part 1

Alive and Fighting: Roads Walked

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Alive and Fighting: Parting Gifts (Coming November 2013)