The Things We Failed To Save

Nobody spoke during the escape.

Not Tara.

Not Rion.

Not Clara.

Not even Dren.

The vehicle shook violently as it moved through ruined roads outside Veykar.

Behind them.

The city burned.

Black Bloom climbed skyscrapers.

Explosions continued somewhere far behind.

And occasionally.

Very quietly.

Andy’s laughter still echoed through radio static.

Xin sat in silence.

Blood dried across his face.

His hands remained covered in dust.

Red dust.

He kept staring at them.

Orion.

Red mist.

Gone.

Three hours later.

The convoy stopped.

Not because they reached safety.

Because there was nowhere safe anymore.

The temporary hideout was an abandoned industrial complex buried beneath old tunnels.

Broken walls.

Rust.

Darkness.

Nobody cared.

They entered.

Everyone immediately started working.

Medical.

Supplies.

Ammo.

Repairs.

Anything.

Because staying still meant thinking.

Thinking meant remembering.

Xin stayed sitting.

Exactly where they left him.

Tara finally walked over.

“You alive.”

No response.

She sat beside him.

“You should let Sia check you.”

Nothing.

Tara looked toward the floor.

Then quietly:

“He saved us.”

Still nothing.

“You hear me.”

Xin nodded slightly.

Tara exhaled.

“Good.”

She stood up.

Before leaving.

She added:

“Don’t disappear.”

Hours passed.

Xin remained there.

The necklace stayed in his hand.

Kaila.

Then Orion.

Then Alaric.

Then Harper.

Then everyone.

Every time.

People died.

He stayed.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Later.

Everyone gathered.

Not because they wanted to.

Because they had to.

Maps covered tables.

Black Bloom growth patterns.

Facility Zero.

Anti Spinat containers.

Everything.

Tara spoke first.

“We failed.”

Nobody argued.

Rion leaned against a wall.

“Completely.”

Dren looked exhausted.

“So what now.”

Nobody answered immediately.

Then Clara finally spoke.

Her voice sounded weaker now.

“Andy evolved.”

Everyone looked.

Clara continued.

“The version you fought before.”

Pause.

“Is gone.”

Silence.

“He adapts faster.”

“He regenerates faster.”

“He resists conceptual attacks.”

“He is integrating Black Bloom.”

Sia quietly asked:

“Can we still kill him.”

Clara looked toward the Anti Spinat containers.

“Yes.”

Pause.

“Probably.”

Nobody liked that answer.

Rion finally spoke.

“Then we need more.”

Tara nodded.

“More Anti Spinat.”

“More injections.”

“More traps.”

“More everything.”

Dren sighed.

“We barely survived one encounter.”

Tara looked directly at him.

“Yes.”

“Which means next time we don’t make mistakes.”

Clara suddenly looked toward Xin.

“You are quiet.”

Everyone looked too.

Xin finally raised his head.

His voice sounded different.

“Can we kill him.”

Clara answered.

“Yes.”

Xin asked again.

“No.”

Silence.

Then:

“Can WE kill him.”

Nobody spoke.

Finally.

Clara answered honestly.

“Yes.”

Pause.

“But not like before.”

Rion crossed his arms.

“What changes.”

Clara looked around.

Then answered.

“Everything.”

Later.

Night.

Everyone eventually slept.

Or tried.

Xin walked alone.

Outside.

Cold wind.

Dead trees.

Black Bloom visible far away.

He stood there quietly.

The necklace in his hand.

He remembered Kaila.

Then Orion.

Then Alaric.

Then Harper.

Then everyone.

He looked toward Veykar.

Very far away.

Still burning.

Then quietly.

Very quietly.

He spoke.

“I’m tired.”

Silence answered.

Then.

Xin cried.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just quietly.

Because nobody was watching.

Or so he thought.

Behind him.

Tara stood silently.

Then walked away.

Without saying anything.

Very far away.

Inside Veykar.

Inside Facility Zero.

Andy sat quietly.

Not laughing.

Not moving.

Tentacles slowly moved around him.

Black Bloom spread across entire districts.

He looked at his own hands.

Then quietly whispered:

“Why does it still hurt.”

Silence answered him too.

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