I found him in the tunnels, way below the dungeons of the Monarchs, chained in tech I'd never seen that glowed with strange symbols. The images looked like something I'd once seen in the historical archive, I think they were called runes. But that doesn't make sense, because that tech died out thousands of years ago.
I creep closer and peer over his collapsed form. He isn't moving. Dead? Surely. How can anything survive hundreds of stories below the surface, in the ruins of the old world?
I shine my light on his countenance, his black hair that shimmers with a neon blue hue, the curtain of hair misconstrues his face.
I lean forward, slowly reaching out my hand and brush aside his hair. I jerk my hand back in reflex as blood red eyes stare back at me passively.
I fall backward in fright and scramble towards the exit, expecting the man to attack but he doesn't move. My heart continues to patter in my chest. I could have sworn he was dead.
The moldy dust filled room starts to reverberate and rumble. I throw panicked glances at the walls fearing they will collapse.
My ears tune into the source and my eyes widen with fear, it is the chained man, his large frame vibrates and his hair sways with the movement.
He lets out a booming laugh, throwing his head back maniacally.
"Eons" is all he says.
"What?" I reply without thinking.
"I've waited for eons, for my savior to set me free."
My brow crumples in confusion.
"Then a scared cowardly child finds my tomb."
I feel anger prickle in my throat. Child? I'm no child. I am Rai Harkness, General of the Rebellion. A celebrated and decorated bionic freedom fighter.
"A stupid little girl" the man grins, his pronounced canines shine in the dim light.
"Who you calling stupid, creep?" I snap back at him.
The rumbling starts again, and red eyes flash from across the room.
"Perhaps not such a coward after all" his disconcerting grin lengthens.
The prickling in my throat intensifies, and I feel the familiar hum of gravity solidifying around my form. Dust and rocks start to float around me like a cloak, I stand with as much dignity as I can muster. Rubbing at the filth on my uniform.
"Just great" I mutter to myself.
I don't know who this guy is, but I don’t need this type of distraction - I'm on a mission. I turn on my heel to leave without another word.
"Wait" comes the panicked voice from across the room.
"Child of Eve, how do you do that?"
I turn and follow his line of eyesight, he's staring mesmerized as the particles of dust and larger rocks floating around my body.
"Well," I reply fatly "you pissed me off."
"Pissed you off?" The man mimics my reply, his eyes hesitating in uncertainty.
"It appears my initial impression was wrong. You are not weak. I accept you. Break my bonds."
"Wait. What?" Now it is my turn to laugh, I let out a sarcastic chortle. "Not gonna happen, creep."
I move towards the exit.
"But you came to free me..?" Comes the confused reply from the man.
"I don't know what you're doing down here, but I came across you by chance. I'm here to save my friends. Have fun" I wave over my shoulder and leave the room.
I hear frantic yelling from the to room as I retreat, I ignore it and trek further into the ruins.
His yelling is a mere whisper in the distance when I stop and let out a relieved sigh. In the darkness, I take a moment to collect my thoughts. My bionic aura is still up, flickering like a protective shield. I close my eyes willing myself to calm down, trying to drop the canopy of strained gravity. However, it wavers insistently in the direction I'd just come from? Like it is anchored to something. I've never felt anything like it.
I might not know much in this life, but I know to always trust my instincts and powers. I close my eyes and let the pull guide me, I walk blindly with only the kinetic energy as my guide. I feel the pull strengthening, my bionic aura humming in response.
"You're back."
My eyes flutter open and I'm back in the filthy room, the man has repositioned himself trying his best to look demure in tattered shreds of fabric that looked like once to be clothing.
"What the fu..." I turn angrily back towards the exit.
"Please" he whispers. The desperation in the tone halts my retreat. "It appears as I've lost my manners in my isolation, we've gotten off on the wrong foot."
My eyebrow raises, the humming of my aura intensifying in sync with my emotions. I feel a sudden tug at my core.
I realize he is the source of the pull and I am not sure why or how. Is he also a bionic?
"I've been waiting a long time to be set free..." his words break my inner contemplation.
"But I'm not here to set you free" I reply simply, the suspicion impossible to hide in my voice.
"I understand that now... Then I ask you to take me with you."
"Absolutely not!" I hiss. The bionic shield splutters around me, ready for release.
"Why not?" He asks quietly.
"Because no one wants to go where I am going, there is little chance of return."
A vicious grin spreads across the man's face "how exciting" he replies. "You set me free, I'll follow and fight by your side."
"You're insane" I reply curtly.
"Well yes," he murmurs offended "but I'm also a fighter like none other."
Images of my fallen comrades flicker through my mind, the Rebellion has had many loses in the past week, and I can't deny the fact I'm traveling alone because my team was killed. It would be safer traveling with someone...
I stride towards him and extend my hand "names Rai, try anything and I'll end you."
The man smiles and jangles his hands in the manacles, an indication he can't shake my extended hand.
"Oh" I reply embarrassed, I extend my hands grabbing onto the cuffs and focus my bionic energy, the cuffs crumble like dust under my touch.
"Incredible" the man murmurs.
I smile in spite of myself, re-extending my hand in greeting. "Welcome aboard, creep!"
I feel a taloned claw grip on my wrist, viciously pulling me into the darkness, followed by a searing pain ripping at my throat.
My bionic shield drops around me like a useless sheet of fabric.
My legs waver and I collapse, the man holds me in a brutal embrace, drinking heavily from my neck.
My eyes start to dim, and the last thing I hear before being lost to oblivion is a guttural animal growl "foolish child."
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