Eden Virus
Chapter 28

Copyright© 2020 by JTaKeo

“Schenpai sniff I’m swo glad to schee you.” My words slurred as I sobbed upon seeing the smiling face of Mitsuhide-senpai appearing from his live chat.

“Whoa hey now Ryuuko, no need to cry. It’ll ruin your cute face, ha ha. But unfortunately, we don’t have time for a touching reunion.” Senpai said before turning to Alma. “So, the crowning asshole of misery is standing right in front of me. Heya VIP, so we finally meet eh?”

“Oh my, what a pleasant surprise. Hello, child of sin. It is indeed nice to meet you. A touch shame it isn’t face to face.” Alma chucked in response, a mocking smile on their face.

“Why you-!”

“SENPAI! Don’t let them rile you up! Right now, the President and Hideyoshi, what is happening to them?” I quickly intervened.

“Huh? Oh yeah! They’re in really big trouble right now! When your life signal suddenly appeared on my scanner, I quickly jumped to where you were but the last I saw them they were still fighting off those goddamn monsters!” Senpai exclaimed.

“W-we have to help them!”

“Yeah, I know. I overheard some of your conversations. If what you said is true then...”

We turned to see Alma grinning ear to ear as they looked towards us, a disgusting look of smug on their face. Just looking at them was infuriating, as if our problems were nothing more than mere jokes to them.

I felt the humming of energy from the coilgun in my hand, signaling its working status.

“This guy over there, is the source of all our problems. Ryuuko, the coilgun is ready at your command. Take it and fire at that bastard!”

“Eh? Y-yes!” I nodded my head as I aimed the gun at Alma.

“This is your last chance, Alma! I ask you, stop those monsters right now!” I demanded; my finger steady on the trigger. “P-Please?”

Upon hearing my added plea Alma suddenly burst out in uncontrollable laughter. It was a spine-chilling cackle that echoed throughout the void, taking both of us by surprise as I saw also the terrified look on senpai’s face.

“W-w-what the hell is with this guy?! How are they able to just laugh with a gun pointed at them?!”

“Takatora Ryuuko, very good. You’ve finally learn to use common courtesy. That makes me very happy. Maybe there is hope for you yet.” They said in a mocking tone.

“It’s not anything like that! And ... and I’m being serious here!” I retorted as I continued to grip tightly the gun in my hand. How could someone in such a situation still joke around like this?! It is absolutely enraging, as I fought to control my anger towards them.

“I know you are. However, please do believe me when I say that I truly want to comply with your demands, but I cannot. Even if you are to strike me down right here and now, nothing will change.” Alma said without a change in the look on their face, yet their tone of voice was of little emotion, speaking in a monotone that I could not gauge their true intentions. Whether they were telling the truth was hard to tell yet, to be able to believe them felt impossible.

I watched Alma slowly shake their head, as if reading my mind.

“But even so, there is no way for you to understand is there?” They said quietly as they turn their gaze towards the void above. “The rejection of trust; for not even the one I call my friend to be able to hear my pleading words. How thorough and cruel the restrictions you have placed upon me are, oh false god...”

“Ryuuko, that’s enough! This guy is as crazy as you’ve said, and any chance of diplomacy is a waste of time. Just pull the goddamn trigger!” Senpai interjected.

“Pull the trigger ... Pull the trigger...” As the words echoed in my mind, my entire body stiffened. Right now, in this situation, if I am to pull the trigger I would be ... taking the life of another, wouldn’t I?

“Senpai. This coilgun, the batteries fired from it is no different from a normal bullet, correct?” I asked nervously.

“Huh? Yeah, more or less. If anything, due to the extra charges from the coils I’m controlling, it might be even stronger.”

“And if I’m to fire, I will kill them, won’t I?”

“Positive! My scanner isn’t working at full power right now, but from what I can see; that bastard in front of us is a human! Or at least, of human composition. But even if they aren’t, the coilgun would still be powerful enough to kill them regardless!”

“Oh? You were able to scan me? How embarrassing. But it has been a while since someone has deemed me a “human”. How kind you are, child of sin.” Alma snickered.

“Tch! Ryuuko, do it now! Kill them! Kill’em and end this nightmare once and for all!”

“Kill ... so if it hits it will kill...” I repeated the words as my arm began to tremble. This person in front of me, is no doubt my enemy. This person who has destroyed my dreams, my life. The one whom supposingly took away our world and is now threatening the safety of others within Artificial.

Yes, this person is unforgivable and if I pull the trigger, all of this will end. This should be more than enough reason to get rid of them yet...

My entire body froze as I stared through the barrel of the gun pointing towards Alma. The condescending smile, the look of someone unworried even as an instrument of certain death is directed at them. It was baffling, that such a person could exist. Such a ... person ... a human being...

If I pull the trigger I will kill them. If I pull the trigger I will kill them If I pull the trigger I will...

“Ah...” I gasped weakly as the thoughts finally clicked in my mind. What am I doing? Holding a makeshift gun towards another person. Potentially having them await death. What is my actual reason for doing this?

To help the President and Hideyoshi? To protect Asumi? To protect this entire world?

Yes ... yes, that’s right...? I’m here to protect everyone! Yes, yes, YES! To protect everyone ... to protect everyone ... but...

“Why?” Suddenly came a voice from the back of my mind that made me flinch.

“Why do you want to protect anyone? What makes you so special that you think you can be some heroine, as if you were in a story?”

“Who are you really, to be able to decide the fate of others? What gives you the right to take the life of another ... yet again.”

“AAAAAAAHHHH!!” I screamed as a sudden intense pain erupted from my brain. Dropping the gun and falling to my knees, I clutched my head.

“RYUUKO!!”

“Tsk, so it’s begun. But not here. Not yet.”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! STAY BACK ASSHOLE!”

“Sshh ... child of sin, you don’t belong here. Return from whence you came...”

“Wha-WHAT THE HELL ARE YO-AAAAAAHHH!!”

Still writhing in pain, I weakly peeked to see the sight of Alma drawing closer. A finger was on their lips as they gently waved their right hand. Senpai was screaming as if he was in pain but suddenly he vanished from his live chat.

“S-sen ... pai!” I choked as I struggled to where the coilgun laid.

CLICK CLICK

It was dead. The humming from moments ago ceased and no matter how much I pulled the trigger, nothing happened.

“No ... no...” I whimpered as another intense spasm occurred and I immediately clutched my head again. The pain, it felt like my head was being split apart. A familiar feeling from before as I continued to thrash in agony on the ground, begging for it to stop.

“Painful isn’t it? True memory often is...” Came a mocking voice as I peeked up to see Alma shadowing over me. A rage inducing satisfied smile was on their face, as he looked down upon me.

“Wha ... what have you ... done to Mitsuhide-senpai?”

“I’ve sent him back to the rest of the boys.” Alma slyly replied as they stretch their hand out to me.

“NO! Ge-get away from me!” I screamed desperately, still holding my head as I tried to squirm away from them, but my body immediately froze as I slowly floated to my feet as if being pulled up by an invisible string. Alma grabbed my arm and pushed it away while with another they placed a finger on my forehead.

“Not yet, you are not allowed to take this girl!”

A feeling of impact rippled across my body as I was then released and fell back down to my knees.

“Haa ... haaa!” Not understanding what just happened I gasped for air. The terrible pain that was in my head suddenly subsided as I confusingly rubbed my forehead.

“I won’t be able to prevent it anymore, least you allow yourself again to such weakness, Takatora Ryuuko. I pray that you shall not be fully consumed the next time.” I heard Alma mumbled.

“Wha-what did you do to me?!”

But just as I asked, the ground began to shake. A loud sound of cracking caught my ears as I turned around and saw fissures in the far void, like strange cracks on hard glass.

“It seems our time here is nearly up. Aaah ... those boys of yours, it seems they’re causing more trouble than the Anti-bodies could handle and soon, the “Savior” shall descend upon this land. When that happens, it will become complicated. How annoying...” Alma spoke in a tone of seriousness. There was no emotion on their face, no smile, no smirk, as only their soul-less eyes remained, looking up towards the void.

“Huh?! Then that means, the President and Hideyoshi, they’re okay?!”

“Unfortunately, it would seem they’re much more of a nuisance than I had anticipated. Still, very impressive.” Alma sighed.

Hearing Alma speak in such distress, I couldn’t help but find myself laughing.

“Ha ha ha ... that’s what you get for underestimating the A.R.C.! Looks like not even you could see and control everything!” I sniggered.

“Oh, what’s this now? Getting snarky, are we Takatora Ryuuko? This is a side of you I’ve never encountered before.” Alma smirked.

“Shut up! You don’t know anything about me.” I angrily rebutted as I struggled to my feet. “I can see you looking down on all of us. You’re human, yet you act as if you’re some sort of higher being ... err...”

I quickly retracted my words, as I remembered that this person in front of me is possibly responsible for the entirety of Artificial. Such a thing to say, even if senpai had confirmed to me they were human, might not be appropriate to this person in front of me who is something that might be beyond the bounds of a normal human being.

“Go on. What were you going to say?” Alma giggled as they noticed my stumble.

“N-never mind.” I shook my head nervously as I took a quick step back away from them. The exchange of conversation have unexpectedly dulled my wariness of this person, but reevaluating the situation I am currently in reminded me of how dangerous of they who were standing before me.

“Back on your guard again, Takatora Ryuuko? How disappointing. I was actually enjoying our small time as actual friends.”

“Why ... why do you keep referring to me as your friend? Especially when you know I want nothing to do with you?” I asked warily.

“Because I like you, Takatora Ryuuko. I really do.” They responded with a mischievous smile, making me not sure if they meant it or if it was a honeyed lie. “How I do wish you were not so hostile towards me in our encounters. Even now you are cowering before me, despite your claim of me as just another “human”.”

“Err ... r-right.” I racked my brain as I tried to remember every time we met, I was indeed angry and bitter towards them. Could it be possible that I was in the wrong this entire time? That this person was indeed trying to be friends? After all, now that I think long and hard about it, it was I who asked for them to save me that time...

“No! No, no no! Don’t fall for it!” I slapped my face as I tried to snap myself out of such thinking. “Dangerous! Dangerous! This person is dangerous! That is a fact! It is because of them that I am in this situation in the first place!”

“Heh heh heh ... it seems there are some ways to go before I am to be truly accepted as your friend. But I eagerly await that day, Takatora Ryuuko.”

“E-enough joking around. What do you mean by it being more complicated if a “Savior” is to descend? What is this “Savior” you’re talking about and how does it affect us? What about the A.R.C.?!”

“Now, now, Takatora Ryuuko. A question at a time. Being always so riled up, such emotions will do you no good.” Alma responded coyly with a finger on their lips.

“Ugh ... you’re dodging my questions again. F-fine ... would you kindly please explain to me?” I reluctantly backed down and asked nicely.

“The “Savior” that is to descend is the guardian of Eden’s garden of mercy that spins the flow of emotions. They are the final defense of this “paradise”, and a nuisance.” Alma bitterly spat as they explained. “I had hoped to avoid them before finishing what is needed to be done, but that might not be a possibility anymore. What a shame. And the Savior to come, it would be...”

Alma was then quiet, the look on their face turned blank. But as I stared at them I couldn’t help but feel that they were hiding a sense of sadness, despite their lack of emotions. However the moment I blinked I saw that they were looking back at me with a smirk.

“Takatora Ryuuko, why did you hesitate to shoot?” They suddenly asked.

“Huh?” I struggled to find words for an explanation. “Because ... because if I had fired, I would have killed you. And ... and...”

“Was it an act of selfish mercy? Or did you actually have such unfaltering kindness in your heart, despite saying you’ll never forgive me?”

“I ... I don’t know.” I looked away cowardly. “It was nothing of the sort, as I did not know myself why I couldn’t pull the trigger either. Of course I can’t find myself forgiving you for all you have done but ... the thought of killing another human being. I’m not sure ... I’m not sure if I’m able to.”

“Yet you pulled a blade on me just moments earlier. How strange you are.” Alma sneered.

“I-I lost control of myself! It was your fault for provoking me like that! But ... I won’t let such a thing happen again.” I quickly rebuked as I looked at my hand, feeling shame, and closing it tightly into a fist. “I said that I won’t allow others to have their ways with me anymore, especially you! Yet to lose myself like that is also ... ugh...”

“Yes, I heard you. That was when you found your resolve with those boys to come meet me, was it not? Heh heh, foolish girl.” Alma snickered in response.

“You-! How long have you been watching me?! You said you would await me in this terrible place, but you’ve been spying on me the entire time, haven’t you!? Then what was the point of all of this?!”

Alma suddenly got close to me, their face appearing right in front of mine causing me to nearly fall over.

“What are you even-?!”

“Takatora Ryuuko..., Eve...; that sense of determination to not be controlled, I hope you will not allow it to falter. Because the moment you allow yourself to waver, you will be devoured. Not just by others but also yourself.” Alma warned their voice in utmost seriousness before switching back to a more condescending tone. “And that would be troublesome for me. As I said, I rather like you very much and it would be a shame to lose you to something so disappointing.”

“Umm ... okay?” I replied meekly as I slowly backed away from them. The way they spoke was different from our usual conversations, lacking any feel of hostility or trickery yet I did not understand what they meant. Rubbing my forehead again, I tried to make sure the headache that was tearing my head apart earlier was really gone before hearing a sigh from Alma as they turned from me and floated away.

“Where are you going?!”

“We are leaving. The path to Kardea is opened to us now and we can come back at any time thanks to you, but I will not stay to face the coming Savior.”

“But what of the A.R.C.?!”

“They will die. Sacrifices for the greater good, you could say.” Alma replied coldly without even looking back.

“No! You can’t just let them die! All of this is your fault!”

“On the contrary, you were the one who brought them along. After all, I have no use for worms.”

“Ugh ... but ... but...” I struggled to find a way to argue but it seems that no matter how hard I try to convince them it would be pointless. Guilt filled me as I thought about how it was true that I was who dragged them into all this and that now, if something isn’t to be done, everyone will really die.

 
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