Chapter 35: Isolation
WARNING: This chapter contains the death of a character. Reader discretion advised.
After staring at the ashes drifting in the wind, Jace clenches his fist and sheds a tear. He truly can’t save anyone, can he? He’s gotta accept the fact that this past week has meant nothing to anyone besides him. He begins his walk home as the sun begins to finally set. He walks back into the empty apartment and is able to throw himself on the couch this time before passing out due to exhaustion. The next morning, there’s once again another rumor going around of another member of the crew running around in Bluestone. Jace wakes up and makes his way outside. He steps out into the alley and notices the familiar face.
Jace: “Mythril? Why are you here?”
He doesn’t respond. Instead, he begins to make a mad dash west towards Morning Glory.
Jace: “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
Jace begins to sprint after Mythril. Thanks to the Shiftium, he doesn’t have to worry about stamina as he continues to chase him down. Within an hour, they arrive as Mythril runs into the hospital.
Jace: “Get out here! I just wanna talk!”
Once again, there’s no response. Jace walks inside and begins to shove himself through each set of doors.
Jace: “I know you’re around here somewhere. I’m not playing hide-and-seek with a grown-ass man. Get out here!”
He hears a rustling in the room behind him. He flings the door open, almost snapping it off its handles. In front of him is Mythril, still blank like earlier.
Kien: “I’m so glad you could make it.”
Jace: “What the hell? Are you being controlled too, Kien?”
Kien: “Nope, that’s why I wanted to get you here.”
Jace: “How are you fine from it, but he’s not?”
Kien: “I was injected into Mythril after the chip was placed. It has no effect on me because I am not directly linked to Mythril. I’m simply a parasite. I leech, I don’t bind.”
Jace: “Makes sense. Why did you make me run all the way here just to tell me that?”
Kien: “Because I’m gonna kill you.”
Jace: “Excuse me?”
Kien: “Mythril’s under that mind control, but I can still access his body. As far as he’s concerned, he’s unconscious. He can’t hold me back from doing what I want.”
Jace: “Why do you want to kill me?”
Kien: “That’s my true purpose. I was placed inside of Mythril in the hopes to fully take over his body, but he resisted me so much that we struck the deal we created. It wasn’t a bond, but a pact. Not that it’s been broken, I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
As they talk, Kien uses his Aura arms to grab some objects off the floor without Jace noticing. Suddenly, he throws a surgical saw at Jace. He dodges it with only scratching his cheek. Jace fixes his gaze and readies his left arm. In response, Kien uses Mythril’s body to shove Jace out of the way and make another sprint through the hospital.
Jace: “I’m gonna kill that parasite. I’ll try and be gentle to you, Mythril, but that thing needs to go.”
He stands up and begins to run after it. They run up and down flights of stairs in a desperate game of cat and mouse. Whenever Jace would find Kien, they’d just throw a random sharp object and keep on moving. While on the run, Jace begins to think of ways to stop and/or kill Kien. Finally, something hits him. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but does a socially unaware parasite know it? He catches up to Kien one last time.
Jace: “Kien! Look behind you!”
Kien: “I’m not falling for it! I know this hospital like the back of my glowing hand.”
Jace: “I’m being so serious! Look!”
Kien grumbles and turns around. He sprouts an eye on Mythril’s forehead and begins to scan his surroundings. Behind him, Jace rockets towards with a Zap punch. Kien hears the crackle and goes to turn back around, but the punch connects and Mythril’s body is sent hurtling forwards towards the end of the hallway. Jace rests his arm and sighs.
Jace: “I was aiming for Kien, so I hope I was able to fry both him and the mind control piece. If not, then I’m sorry, buddy.”
Jace doesn’t hesitate and returns home from Morning Glory. The moon shines brightly above as Jace makes his way back inside the tavern. It’s past midnight, so no one’s around to welcome him. He climbs the stairs and walks into the empty apartment.
???: “Hey, buddy!”