The Purge
Chapter 34: Bri

“I watch him get farther from me. He never even knew I was near. He disappears into the darkness like a fading dream. I stare at the sky where he vanished for longer than I probably should.”

World After; Susan Ee

I keep coming back to that kiss.

When I look at them it’s like I’m being tossed back to the past where the road map to the present has disappeared. That Imogen bitch sure knows what she’s doing. She’s all claws and curves. A guy like Conleth will be an easy prey. But as much I refuse to think of their public display of coquet they sure succeeded into being a nuisance inside my head.

My soldiers are distracted. It’s a problem that I should be focusing on rather than replaceing a way to avoid two lovebirds perching on the wrong branch.

The Inception Trials have been more intense and complicated than before. We were always trying to solve puzzles and replaceing a way out of a maze that doesn’t have an exit. From the team who always gets the highest score, we dropped to the third. But the deaths didn’t stop there. The Zenith, in cooperation with the Republic, continued to eradicate my kind in secret execution.

Being brave is essential. But telling the truth wasn’t so easy just as I have thought.

Ever since I knew about the truth behind The Purge, I kept thinking about ways to get out. I kept on distancing myself from friends I needed the most. I don’t need attachments that can be used against me. My comrades will understand. But the longer we stay here, the harder it gets to me.

I watched the crowd looking at the people who seem too demure of what’s going to happen when the Dark Hour comes. Worse things could happen. Far worse than the Inception Trials they’re throwing us in right now. And somehow, the Zenith had succeeded in terminating my kind to the point that the numbers left are enough to participate in The Purge.

“When does liberation start?” I turned only to face a bitch coming my way. “Because I’m 101% sure participating in that.”

I rolled my eyes skyward. “I don’t think that’s gonna happen, Imogen.”

She smirked at me. “So, how are you holding it up, commander?”

“Good.”

“Why so passive, Bri?” she crooned. “Do you miss Conleth?”

I felt a knife in my heart. I swallowed hard. “No.”

She giggled. “You know, you have to decide if you want to punch him in the face or have his babies.”

“You’re incorrigible, Imogen.” I started to walk away.

“I know right. I’m the one and only. It’s too bad you have to let go of Con. He’s such a great guy. Such an asset. Do you have any idea if he’s good in bed?”

My head started to boil that I came back to face her like burning tornado.

“I am really, really trying to be nice to you, Imogen. But when I snap, you’ll be the first to go.”

She snickered and hooted. “Whoa, Bri. Why so harsh? Inability to understand sarcasm can be an early warning sign of a brain disease.”

I huffed at her. “I just wonder: if your mind is so close, then why is your mouth so wide open?”

She chuckled. “That’s the Bri I was looking for. Fight for your man!”

“I’m not fighting for Conleth.”

“Oh? I didn’t mention any names.” She smirked at me. “Know what you want Bri.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “People say everything happens for a reason. So when I punch you in the face remember I have a reason.”

She laughed again. “You are such a joker, Bri. I may have a bad mouth but I can do great things with it.” She turned to look at Conleth who was making his way towards us.

“You can have him back if you want.” She said. I felt my heart pull again. This is Imogen Morgenstern. She doesn’t giveaway everything she has.

“What’s the catch?”

She simpered at me. “So, you are interested in getting him back.”

I tilted my chin. “I just like winning, Imogen.”

“So do I, Bri.” She looked back at Con. “He still loves you. If that’s what you want to know.”

I sighed. “What do you want, Imogen? Get this over with ’cause you’re wasting my time.”

“Here’s the deal: if Conleth comes to you then he’s all yours. I’ll get Rafa Saladin back in my army. But if he comes to me, then he is all mine, Bri.”

I gritted my teeth. Although I have doubts myself, I said: “Conleth knows where he belongs.”

She smirked at me. “We’ll see about that.”

We both turned back to Con. As much I wanted to force myself to look away, our eyes locked at each other’s gaze. My heart started to hurt as it took its pace. But just as he stepped right beside Imogen I felt all the sensations drown in the sea of nothingness.

“Hey, Con.” She addressed him sweetly.

“What’s up?” he asked her but his eyes came fleeting towards me.

“Oh, nothing. Just clearing things with your old commander. You can run along now.” She waved him away.

Con nodded at me before leaving and disappearing in the crowd.

“He sure knows where he belongs. Sorry about that—”

“No need to.” I took a steady breath. “He’s all yours. I have nothing to do with him.”

I turned my back and I started walking away.

“It’s your fault he got way.” She said and I stopped in my tracks. “Now he can never be yours.”

“He’s never been mine anyway.” I told her from my shoulder.

She made a default sound. “Wrong answer.” She sighed. “I may not be perfect but at least I am not you. Good luck with you, Bri.”

She waved goodbye and disappeared in the crowd just like Conleth.

The Inception Trials brought us in a dessert this time. Landmarks started to ascend in and out of the sand as it moved in its own volition like an ocean wave. I kept trying to grab hold on to anything that in order to stand. I ended up holding on to a rock that had me on top of a giant sphinx statue. From on top I could see my comrades struggling to maintain their balance as sand wave after sand wave location changes.

The sand was too thick that if we weren’t wearing any helmet it would be very hard for us to see. When the sand wave had finally softened, it settled on to ancient Egypt. I found Sigourney on top of a pharaoh’s open hand. Rafa was on a roof of an abandoned house while Athren and Halley stayed on ground.

“Are you guys okay?” I asked them.

Rafa gave a thumbs up. Sig nodded. Athren moved towards me when something burst out in front of him. The impact caught him off guard and he fell on his back. Halley came rushing towards him as a mutated Sanguinarian materialized from the sand. It has black metal-like skin this time with white glowing eyes and sharp sword-like arms.

It moved like an automaton, slowly, as it turned to face Athren. But it was a relief that he wasn’t shaken. Athren lashed out his arm in an arch and sand flowed with the air, throwing the Sanguinarian off the ground. He immediately got on his feet and ran away from the beast’s reach.

I grabbed hold of the edge of the sphinx’s head as I opted to get down. That’s when the ground started to waver again. Halley got stuck on the wave before she could even climb a coconut tree. The place started to change once again under the sand wave as Sanguinarian ascended with each wave.

Athren rushed towards Halley as he tried to get through the sand wave. Sig’s hands were in lightning fits as she decided upon hitting the monsters that kept on appearing near Athren. But just like the landmarks, the Sanguinarians appeared and disappeared with them like it was a form of their teleportation. Rafa got off the roof and he tried swimming in the ocean of sand. Every time he tried to stand, a landmark would ascend in front or beneath him. The same thing happened to Athren that he got separated from Halley farther than he had expected. Out of irritation, he whipped his hands in the air, splitting the sand and making a way for him towards Halley. She fell on the sand as Rafa got close enough to get her. A Sanguinarian ascended behind her and it aimed its pointy hands right at her. But before the attack could come, the beast exploded into ashes. Rafa had been lucky to get enough distance to her. I finally got on my feet and ran towards Halley myself. But the sand wave was getting thicker and more Sanguinarians ascend. I tried to send them off by slicing off their metallic bodies but more just come out of the sand.

Rafa was able to get to Halley while Athren struggled to get Sanguinarian’s off his divided sand way. Sigourney was no help as she stood frozen on top of a building. Rafa said something to Halley but he wasn’t able to finish when a Sanguinarian appeared behind him and pierced through his head. It’s pointy hand had found an exit in his mouth. Halley shrieked. Distracted, Athren got caught in the sand wave himself and got covered with it. I rushed towards Halley as much as I could but the sand was too thick and it was holding knees. Another Sanguinarian appeared right in front of me and aimed its sharp hand towards me.

That’s when I woke out of the Inception.

It was like waking up in a nightmare only that this time, it was very real.

I looked around my comrades. Sigourney was crying on her seat. Athren got of his and rushed towards Rafa. Halley followed as soon as she woke up. Somehow I was hoping it was just all a bad dream. But as soon as I reached Rafa all my nightmares had been realized.

His eyes were close and his mouth was bloody. It soaked his suit and I felt nausea creep up my throat. I tried to hold it in as Sigourney’s cries worsened. Athren went to her, hugging her tightly in his arms and it covered her muffled cries.

The room went dead quiet as we buried ourselves in our sorrows. I’ve never lost a soldier. I’ve never felt so responsible and so defeated until now. I wanted to scream and cry but I locked myself in my room where no one would replace me and I stood right there, in front of my comrades with head held high.

“Come on. It’s time to leave.” I told them.

“What about Rafa?” Athren asked like an innocent child.

Halley reached out a shaky hand towards Rafa but held her wrist to stop her. She looked up at me, tears streaked her eyes but I shook my head.

“Leave him be.”

“I can save him.” She said.

I shook my head once more. “He’s dead.”

Her jaw tightened. “Addonexus don’t die.”

“That is a lie.”

I felt sorry for her. I could see in her eyes that she blames herself for this and she wanted to correct it. Sometimes mistakes happen so that we could learn from them.

Her eyes watered once again. I could see she was trying to hold everything in. When she no longer was able to contain it, she ran out of the Inception room.

It was a slow march out of the Inception room. I could feel my legs getting heavy. People were in the hallways waiting for something to gossip on. With Rafa gone and most of my kind exterminated, there’s no one else that could replace him. My army could no longer stand with three remaining soldiers. That’s the rule. It’s either the Republic would strip us of our title or kill us like lab rats. As much as I wanted to save my comrades, I’ve only worsened it by being so irresponsible. When I should be thinking of strategic ways to win each trial and acing up the Inception, I kept on coming back to Con and Imogen. I have wanted to set my soldiers free but what I gave them was far worse. I led them to a death sentence.

“Bri!” I felt my heart ache once more. I squeezed my eyes shut as I recognized the voice. He reached my hand and it took every ounce of me to dodge him off.

“Don’t touch me!”

Conleth held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. I just want to know if you’re all right.”

I huffed at him. “Well, obviously, I am not okay. A soldier of mine just died. Done. You may leave me alone now.” I started walking away but he kept on following me as the hallway stretched.

“That’s the problem with you! You keep pushing people away!”

“What will it take to make you go away?”

He paused as if he’s trying to figure out a way to make his way through me. But I was so full of emotions right now that it was hard for me to open even a window.

“You know, you are very difficult to love, Bri.” He ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head.

“Then if you’re tired, leave. It’s that easy.”

He shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

“Stop being a simpleton, Conleth.” I moved pass him.

“If only I can stop myself caring about you, I would have done it a long time ago. But I can’t. I love you and I’m not giving up on you even if you keep on pushing me away. I will always care about you.”

A ridiculous laugh came out of my lips. “Maybe I was right putting you in Imogen’s army.”

He flinched at me. The hurt in his eyes was visible that it sliced a piece of my heart.

“Rafa…” I took in a deep breath as the reality and hurt sank in. “He might have been you.”

He reached a tentative hand at me. A tear found its way out of my eye.

“Con,” Imogen called for him. I brushed my tear away and I started walking off.

Conleth called for me but I turned a dumb ear at him.

My decision had been right.