Perspective swap to Juno

  It's dark now.

  My hands fall over one of my old sweaters,

  one of Bugs new sweaters… And I hear the train’s bellow echo through the valley.

  The silver of the gun reflects the moonlight and my mask looks back at me. I remember when they first gave me that thing, made from the living wood of the wall. I thought it made me invincible. like the mother would never be able to touch me again, never be able to tell me apart from them. What a lie. What a cruel lie. I can still smell the incense deep in the fibers of the thing. I can still see the blood writhing against its finish.

  This is all their fault, we'd be fine if they could just mind their own business.

  They wouldn't even think about us if it wasn't for this…

  The train bellows again,

  just two more stops until it reaches the tunnel.

  It’s time to decide now or never.

  Perspective swap to Bug

  I arrived back at the town, now dark and empty with only a few street lights to be seen.

  I began tracing my steps back until I found my way back to a small home tucked away behind the markets with the mask still on on my sleeves still bloodied. I knocked on the door.

  As a familiar face greets me.

  “It's you, again.” I take off my mask as she notices the blood. On my clothes and hands, she grabs me, dragging me inside. And quickly pushed me up the stairs into one of the side rooms.

  She takes my jacket and grabs something to clean me off.

  “Bug!”

  “Juno?”

  “What happened, why are you here?” Laura grabbed my arm and began to address the deepest of the wounds.

  “Why are you here?”

  “The Morrowmen are hunting anyone who left the organization, they're planning to bomb the wall and they want everyone out of there way, I just need to cause enough of a distraction they stop wasting resources on us.” Laura's ears perked up a bit when hearing Juno mention the bomb.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Are you stupid? what could you possibly do?”

  “I have to do something, Bug. I need more time...”

  “You're going to what?” Laura gave me some kind of shot as the pain started to melt off and as my hands started to melt off as well.

  “How do you even plan on getting that close, they don't like you and they hate me.”

  Laura begins to clear the table still listing into the conversation as she prepares another needle. Approaching Juno with it in hand.

  “I’t sounds like you two have had a long day I’m sure this can wait till morning.”

  She's standing behind Juno now.

  My eyes get heavy as I slump back into the chair.

  The soft sound of a telephone ringing fills the room.

  “Hello, yes, I have Juno here. The other one made their way back as well. Yes, Bug yeah. When can you get here, yeah that's fine. I think you need to talk some sense into these two. Ok, thank you.” Juno slumps down into his chair, as Laura takes the gun from him, taking both our masks as well as turning off the light as she leaves the room.

  They had a moment to take in a slow breath,

  The only opportunity they'll have to do so for a long time.

  soured by blood and sweetened by the truth.

  I’ve taken over what's left of them. They had no reason to fight

  No reason to be scared anymore,

  and yet they were what made Bug so…

  human.

  They sleep now only because I force them to do so,

  Things are simpler like this, don't you think?

  Early morning still dark, if not for only an hour more.

  Bugs' body began to fight and curse the orders the minds giving it.

  My voice starts soft, bitter, gruff, my mouth is dry and my mind is still.

  “Juno.”

  “Juno get up.” Juno groans, as he begins to come to as well.

  “What happened.” I try to stand my legs still frail, not willing to support my full weight.

  “We need to get out of here, you need to get up.” He looks around the room slowly, the light from under the door just giving the mind a mold to fill. I reach for the door looking out into the hall, my eyes fall down the steeps, my ears lagging behind but not finding anyone below.

  The fireplace is lit, the smell of scorched paint is soft but noticeable, Juno trails behind me as I move to what was the home's kitchen, my eyes landing on a tall stack of med kits and our things along the counter jackets and bags as well but who’s I couldn't be sure. My mind is begging to wake a bit more. I threw on one of the coats falling to my knees as I picked up my mask again, Juno does the same, visible relief when he sees the gun still loaded. I grab one of the med kits as we slip out the door. towards the tracks.

  “Bug.”

  “Yeah.”

  “... this is a bad idea, huh.” I look at him for a moment, the coat falls to his knees covering everything distinct about him, he hasn't yet put on his mask, it's odd to see him without at least something covering his face.

  The cold whips past us, howling and battering against him.

  “Why didn't you come for me?” He looked a bit taken back, refusing to look me in the eyes.

  “I’m here now, that counts for something doesn't it?” The snow has swallowed the world whole by now, the tracks are completely buried.

  “Just here for the hero's death then, couldn't even make yourself useful.” He looks nervous, I think he's only now beginning to think about what could happen.

  “I’m sorry.” I don't respond pulling my arms up around myself to try and keep warm.