The Purge
Chapter 20: Bri- Act 1

“Nature cannot be reprogrammed forever. Humans are not meant to run like software. You cannot hack the human condition.”

Proxy; Alex London

A wise commander once said: There are only two forces that unite men; fear and interest. I don’t know if humans will ever unite to eliminate the aliens. It seems to me, humans are at most war with themselves.

We need to get out of the Inception. In my frantic state to revive Conleth, I destroyed the Inception and now it’s swallowing us whole. If Conleth dies, it’s my fault. If all of my soldiers don’t wake up to the other side, it’s my fault. I never felt responsible in my life until now.

Wake up! I willed myself. Wake up! I willed my comrades. But we were all deaf. I felt numb to the bone.

The Last Gate closed and I sunk to the ground on my knees. The earth shook beneath me. There was no room to think. I was so tired. I closed my eyes and I waited for the Inception to be done.

I woke up from the nightmare. I returned to my body like a forced explosion of an atomic bomb. My breath boozed out of my system and I had to be settled back to my seat with arms that didn’t belong to me. My heart beat quickened. Panic settled in immediately.

I tilted my head up to replace my comrades. Athren woke up after me in a more relaxed state. His eyes drifted towards Sigourney who threw up the moment she woke up. She started to cry once the pain settled in her injured leg. Athren released himself from his seat, ignoring the scientists blocking him and he rushed towards her. Halley still has her eyes closed. The Zenith scientists were checking on her to replace signs of life. But just as a scientist tried to pry on her eyes, Halley breathed and woke up coughing. My soldiers were awake. All but one…

I felt water in my eyes as I searched the room for him. My heart ached with every beat telling me he was gone for good. I willed my head not to think of otherwise. I refused to think that he is. When my eyes finally found him, the scientists were already reviving him. Without hesitation, I unbuckled myself from the straps that held me to my seat. The scientists assigned to me had forced me down, but with a flick of my hand, they were out of my way.

“He’s unstable.” One of the scientists said placidly. I stopped dead on my tracks.

“We lost him. There’s no heartbeat.” Another one confirmed.

The first one double checked. And then he shook his head.

No. He can’t be.

The scientists started to cover him in a white sheet.

“Revive him.” I found myself saying. My voice shook along with my body. The scientists looked at me as if they just saw me for the first time.

“Do something.” I whispered the plea to them.

“I’m sorry.” One of them said. They all looked away from me as they prepared to take Con’s body to wherever they wanted to take it. Something boiled inside of me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder but I brushed it off. I don’t need their sentiments. I need my soldier back. And I don’t need to believe those useless scientists to tell me that there is no hope for him. Addonexus don’t die.

One of the scientists tried to pull Con out of his chair when a force blocked her in place. I placed an invisible wall to separate them from him.

“What are you doing?”

I ignored the scientists and I shoved them out of the room. The door slammed shut and I kept it lock for the mean time. The other scientists stayed rooted to the ground and emotionless. Worthless assholes. They can’t even help us. They are of no use for the sake of humanity. It’s very easy for them to give up.

“Bri,” Athren held me back as I went for Con’s seat. I looked back and narrowed my eyes at him. He flinched and he let me go.

I pulled the sheet off of Conleth and I stared at his lifeless form. I don’t want to believe this.

“Bri, he’s gone.” Athren said.

“Shut up, Athren.” I snapped.

I reached out to Conleth and I let my hand brush away the hair that fell on his face. I started to feel something sharp inside my chest as I looked at him. I remembered that moment when he held my gaze as the Predator drove its claws into his chest. It’s my fault. I suppress the urge to cry.

I don’t like you.Those were one of the last words I said to him. My fingers traveled down to his temple, to his eyes, to his cheeks, to his lips…

I love you. Don’t you understand? I love you. Can’t you see it’s too late to stop myself now? I can’tsave myself from the ruin.

The memory of Con’s words hit me like a hailstorm. It was starting to dawn on me. It was going to break me. Oh, Con. Why do you have to be so stupid? I did this to you. You fell in love with the wrong girl.

I let my hand linger on the side of his neck until my fingers felt the slow beat of his pulse. I heard myself gasped as I collected myself from the pre-ruin.

“He’s alive.” I found myself saying as I pressed my head on his chest. He has a heartbeat.

I placed my hand on top of his chest and pushed the life out of him.

“Please, Con. Don’t go. Not just yet. Stay with me.” I said as I forced the breath out of him. His heartbeat started to fade beneath my palm. Tears threatened to come out of my eyes.

“Stay with me.” I whispered to him as I forced the tears back. “Don’t let them take you. Not like this…”

From my periphery vision, Halley covered her mouth with her hands and she started to weep silently. Sigourney hugged Athren and she buried her face deep in his shoulder.

This can’t be the end.

I let the tears fall down my face as I stopped reviving him. His heartbeat was gone. I let my head fall down his chest as I cried. I looked up and I gently caressed his face. I leaned in and…

…he woke up.

He opened his eyes just in time I pulled away. Stupid. I was that close to kissing him. Almost. Anyways, I should not be thinking of that. I wiped the tears out of my face as I slid out of his chair. I wasn’t going to give him a kiss. That was CPR. But still, that was close.

Conleth coughed and he rolled on his side. Halley caught him before he falls on the ground and hurt himself again. Relief flooded back to me and I backed away from the group into one of the vacant seats. His eyes met mine for a second before he searched the place. Halley and Sigourney hugged him. I looked down at my hands as his eyes felt its way back to me.

“You got us all worried.” Halley said, she was still clinging to him.

“I was kind of thinking if I should electrify you back to life.” Sig said with a giggle.

Athren snorted. He was leaning on the wall opposite to Con with his arms crossed. A smirk painted his lips with mischief.

“You were so close, man.” He snickered as his eyes traveled to meet mine. I suddenly felt a warm, uncomfortable breeze on my face. I narrowed my eyes at him. I pushed myself up as I headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” I heard Con say. I turned to look at him and I shrugged.

“Back to the headquarters. I’m tired. I can’t take… this right now.” I deadpanned. “Get your bearing, all of you.” I told them. “Sig and Con, make sure you get your injuries patch up.”

“There’s no need.” Halley said. “I’ll heal them myself.”

I gave her a grateful nod before stepping out of the room.

Then the alarm started to flare in red.

Not again.