My heart seems to pause, blood turning cold. “Stay here? Impossible.”
She merely smiles as if everything is okay, as if this is all a part of some grand benevolent plan. But I’m sure it is the opposite. Malevolence runs through this world. There is no reason to lead us here unless to aid our downfall.
Oddly enough, I don’t fear losing my direction. I’m used to fighting. Used to dying, too. I’m not used to the fear of losing her.
Our connection is still shallow, and what I was promised never came to fruition. But it is clear we have formed a bond.
She gave me her body. I gave her my seed. A holy ritual that brings two souls together. Within that exchange was an oath to protect her and guide her out of harm’s way.
I don’t know how to do that anymore, and that creates a deep sense of discomfort.
Instinct forces me to protect her.
A few steps into this world, and we come to a stop. A great retching, and a powerful roar mightier than any cosmic storm I’ve ever faced rings out.
And then we see it. The truth about this place.
“Jesus Christ,” she whispers.
“Look away,” I tell her.
But she isn’t looking away. She’s staring with all her might, face pale with shock.
The streets are lined with skulls. Wild animals with metallic disfigurements, toxic monstrosities of horrific magnitudes scan the perimeter of the city, eating the remains of what appear to be other machine-like humans with torn flesh, revealing their metallic bones.
When these horrid creatures chew, I can see bits of metal, glittering silver and gold, chopped-up pieces hanging from their gnarled lips.
We hear them screaming.
Are they alive?
Am I alive?
“Snap the fuck out of it,” I tell myself. I’m alive.
I am not a cog in this fucked up machine.
I try to look away, to pretend I didn’t see what I definitely just witnessed. Machines eating machines, a regenerative cycle. They are becoming stronger through their own demise.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
I shift back a few steps, wary, my blood, thick in my veins. “Come,” I say, urging her forward. “And keep your head down. I’m not sure how dangerous this place is.”
The city feels no safer than the outside. The streets swarm with the addled and the insane, all leaning heavily in their hatred toward any onlooker, bent on delivering some kind of message or other sinister revelation.
Above the city landscape, further in from the sun, lie two bright, purple moons, suspended by a blooming sunset. The light shines between the dilapidated buildings and climbing freeways.
There are very few trees here, perhaps ten or less. Concrete has grown over the natural world like a virus that demands death to all life.
I don’t know what happens next. Not this time. I’m as new to this as she is.
So we walk. In silent fear, Ava grabs my hand, twisting her fingers against mine until we’re locked together with enough courage to continue.
I’ve never identified with a human before. They were always pitiful and pathetic, acting like victims whenever they saw an opportunity to cut me down.
But she’s different. She’s not afraid of me. I believe she will not betray me.
My race honors the bond between two souls. We have duties, bonds that cannot be broken. We engage in acts of mercy and sacrifice. What one experiences, the other experiences tenfold, so every relationship creates a balance.