Bad News From The Zones, Tumbleweeds

Original Character’s POV

It’s been a few weeks since the baby arrived and I’m so lost. I’m never going to be able to do this. I should have just completed my plan and died when I was in the city. I shouldn’t be a mother. I don’t feel any bond to the baby. I’ve held her, fed her, changed her, and talked to her. Nothing. I can’t even bring myself to name her. The boys call her Missile Kid, I guess that’s it. I have nothing better to suggest. There is no magic when I hold her, I just feel guilty for not being better at this. I’m doing all I’m supposed to but if I’m honest with myself, Poison and Ghoul are better at this then I am. I can’t stop crying when I’m alone with her. Doesn’t matter if she is sleeping or awake, I cry. I miss Jet so much and he should be here to see his daughter. He’d be a wonderful father; he wouldn’t have to try so hard to be below average like me. I know something isn’t right, I think I’m going crazy.

Ghoul’s POV
Star is a mess. Something is seriously wrong; we have no information on how motherhood can affect women. I see her crying a lot. Poison and I are taking care of Missile. Missile Kid, I still think it’s a cute name. I don’t think Star is sleeping, even when she says she is. She’s like in a fog. She doesn’t eat. She thinks we don’t notice but Poison saw it right away. She’s lost weight and the dark circles under her eyes are so much worse than before the baby came. I’m worried.

Poison’s POV
The baby is wonderful. Such a blessing. Star has been taking care of her and keeping her in her room at night. During the day, I just can’t help but take over. She seems so exhausted, I just want to help. We’ve christened the baby Missile Kid and Star hasn’t said anything different. I don’t know if its hormones readjusting or if she is going to come out of this and be the happy person she was with Jet. My fear is this is a spiral and she’s getting close to the bottom.

Original Character’s POV
We celebrated two months since the baby was born today. She is growing and I’m amazed at how she can look like Jet in so many ways but different at the same time. Tonight I’ve asked Poison and Ghoul if they can let her sleep in their room. I need some alone time. They’ve offered just about every night since she was born but now she is sleeping 6 hours at a time at night so maybe it won’t be such an inconvenience.

I sit down at Jet’s desk and begin to write. I start with the story of me and the Ritalin Rats in the streets of Battery City and end with my last trip to see Korse. This is my final confession, I told them I’ve give them all the details. I can’t stay here.

The Letter
…I don’t belong here. You two will be Missile’s parents and damn good ones too. It’s only fitting, you can tell her so much more about her father then I ever can. I’m going back to end things once and for all. Korse will die by my hand. The Killjoys will be safe and now you know that Cleric has been by your side since I met Jet. The guilt and grief are driving me crazy; I can’t live like this anymore. I’m weak and can’t tell you this in person. I’m afraid of what you will say and do. It’s easier this way. Make sure she knows that her parents loved each other and love her.

Back to Battery City
It’s dawn as I pull into the armory of the city. Flashing my ID badge, I don’t care who knows I’m Cleric anymore. I’ll be dead soon. Once inside it’s easier to just shoot everyone I see; I grab explosives and batteries. It’s gonna be one helluva day for BLI. On to headquarters, people are everywhere. I aim and shoot each person I see. I drop a few charges on each floor as I murder every Better Living Industry worker I come across. Some try to hide when I start shooting but I know this place to well. I know all the hiding spots and I kill them all.

I get to Korse’s office. He’s not here yet. I take a seat at his desk and begin to wipe all information about the Killjoys from the database and all the computers city wide. Backups included. The Dragon Lady walks in shouting that someone has killed everyone on the floor.
OC Did they? Sounds like someone doesn’t like the way BLI does business.
DL You are crazy! Where is Korse?
She tries to back out of the room when I shoot her in the leg. She falls. I laugh.
OC Bitch Korse is dead. He doesn’t know it yet but WE are all dead.
I walk over to her and shoot her in the arm. She cries and I watch as her blood pumps out onto the floor. It’s such a dark red. So pretty, it’s mesmerizing. I’m lost in her screams and my thoughts when I see a shadow move into the doorway. It’s Korse.
DL Look! Look what she has done! She’s crazy. Help me!
Korse looks down at her, then to me. He smiles.
K Kill her Cleric, finish it. We can run this city together. I’ve been waiting for you to return to me.
I shoot her in the head as she begs for help. The silence fills the room.
OC Korse.
It’s all I can say.
K My dear Cleric, come.
He holds his arms open to me and I step over the dead bitch on the floor as he wraps his arms around me I stab him in the heart with a dagger. His look of surprise as he crumples to the floor is so satisfying.
K Why my dear?
I lean down over him as he bleeds out on the floor.
I stab him again and say, For MY Killjoys
I stab him again and say, My lover Jet
I stab him again and say, his brother Kid
I stab him again and say, for my youth
I stab him again and say, for MY parents
I stab him again and say, AND FOR MY DAUGHTER!
Korse lies in a puddle on the floor, a bloody mess his chest looks like twisted hamburger. I look at the knife in the light. Blood is dripping from it; my hands are covered in blood. I drop the dagger and lather the blood on my hands. The colors, no wonder Poison likes to paint so much. The colors are so bright. I look around at the boring Black and White walls that comprise this city. I walk to the window and look over at the tablet factories being rebuilt across town. I pull the detonators from my pockets. I press one and watch the buildings crumble across town. I sigh and hope this will be the end of it. The torture, the torment, the drugging, the zombies, and the lifeless existence they know.
OC At least it’s the end for me; I need peace. I need my Jet Killer. Our baby is safe and will be loved and Korse is dead; the Killjoys data gone from all the city systems. I kept my promise Jet. The boys are safe.
I press the second detonator and feel the building around me shake. I hold my gun to my head and the floor beneath me begins to give way and collapse. I pull the trigger and everything goes black,

Notes