The rumbling sound of the bus went on in the empty street. The morning light barely pierced through the dust clouds in the air, the buildings started to turn on their neon light and billboards, ready for another day.
Inside the bus, Sal and Trout sat in different sides of the bus while the bus driver was concentrating on the road. Sal closed his eyes and breathed slowly, yet his fist tightened and fingers cracked.
On the other side of the bus, Trout was sitting quietly. His focus was outside of the window, the gray sky and the light piercing was barely visible but enough to be graceful. The reflection on the glass showed a dark gray light on the glowing center of his helmet.
The bus passed through a residential area with neon lights flashing on both sides of the bus, Trout looked up at the shining billboards while Sal was still keeping his head down at his hand. Sal opened his eyes and glanced at Trout. His mouth parted, but nothing came out, and he looked back down at his hand. Trout never noticed.
As the bus went on, they escaped the residential area and went to a highroad path, the path leading to a gate. There were no guard at the gate. The bus driver went out of the bus. Moments later, the gates creaked open as the driver got back on the bus and drove deep into the place.
The bus rumbled for a while then stopped In front of an abandoned factory. Sal looked up from his hand. He sat up from the seat and adjusted his clothes. He grabbed the long business case that he put under his seat and opened it. Trout heard the noise and looked at Sal. Inside the case was a thin blade, about a meter or more long, the blade had an eye and a ring symbol carved into it while the handle looked very sharp and well-maintained. He noticed a little teal orb at the pommel of the weapon.
Sal touched the thin blade and took it out with the scabbard and inserted it in. The bus driver caught the reflected light from the blade, he looked in the mirror but quickly closed his eyes, avoiding the blade. Sal inserted the sword into the left side of his belt but the trench coat he is wearing as a cape quickly covered it up, barely showing that he was armed with a sword.
Trout looked at the whole process, he remained silent yet his helmet flashed with yellow. The light caught on Sal's face and he took a glimpse back, he quickly looked away avoiding Trout's gaze. After finishing the preparation process, he stood there in silence for a bit and sighed. He used his leg to push the case aside so it didn't block the path in the bus. He turned away without a word and went to the door of the bus, stepping out toward the factory.
Trout quickly followed behind Sal, but he couldn't bring himself to walk beside him, so he stayed a distance back.
Sal stopped for a moment when he heard Trout's footsteps, then kept walking. He neither sped up nor slowed down.
The walk went on, Sal leading far ahead.
Their footsteps echoed through the empty factory, swallowed and returned by the darkness deep inside. The facility looked long abandoned, yet screens still flickered and the lights hummed softly.
The walk went on until Sal suddenly stopped walking. He stood still and looked around, the air was heavy and hollow yet the temperature was dropping with time. A flickering light turned bright and flashed both of them. Trout covered his face with his hand while Sal squinted his eyes and observed the light. After the bright flash was over, it revealed a hologram device that showed a map of the whole facility.
Sal stepped close to the map to observe it, Trout hesitated to follow so he stood far behind him. The map was extremely detailed but some paths that were blocked by falling debris were still shown by the map.
Sal carefully looked at the hologram map, he was impressed by the details and the multiple layers of the map that he couldn't do anything but to admire. The screen was pretty bright up close but designed to stick his eyes on like an artwork.
On the other hand, the air tensed and got colder all of the sudden. Trout heard a small creaking noise from behind, he turned back but nothing was there. He turned back to Sal and saw an electric wire cut open that was leaking sparkles slowly lowering down towards Sal's neck like a tentacle. He wanted to rush towards Sal but his legs refused to move. He took a step forward but the hesitation took too long, the wire descended too low, moments away from Sal's neck.
"SAL!"
A scream shot through the silence. Sal looked back and saw Trout reaching a hand out towards him, but they were too far apart that he couldn't reach out in time.
A snapping sound cut the air like a whip. The electric wire span around Trout like a serpent and hanged him up by the neck. His legs were kicking hard as he struggled to breath, his hand gripped the wire but the shock from the electric spark froze him.
Sal rushed forward and reached his hand into his coat, his eyes were locked onto Trout. He sped up trying to cut the distance between him and Trout.
Another wire shot from the dark aiming right at Sal, he weaved out the attack and used the motion to draw his sword. He grabbed onto the wire and yanked it, flinging himself towards Trout.
Sal used his sword to cut the wire that was hanging Trout and freed him. He caught Trout by the shirt and the two crashed down to the ground. Sal quickly picked his sword up, his eyes observing the dark around him, every light flickering, every sound from the dark.
Trout look up to Sal, knowing that he have once again.
"Sal.....thank you..."
Trout whispered.
"It's fine...sorry for not paying attention to you, I promised to keep you safe but I...I.."
The conversation was interrupted by another shot of wires from the dark, Sal pushed Trout aside to use his sword to parry the strike of wires. The sparks of electricity shone the ground and lit up the place slightly. The place they were standing was an empty place that looked like like a testing area.
"We've been tricked. Lured into this."
Sal said. He stood up and lower his sword. The image of the map flashed through his mind, he looked at a dark corner of the room and rushed to it.
"Don't make any noise, it's not seeing better than we are."
Sal said, Trout looked at the direction Sal was running to and opened his mouth, but closed it because Sal told him not to make any sound. Trout sat there, his hand gripped tightly. The light on his helmet turned gray again.
Sal reached the corner and used his sword to cut open a bunch of wires, the wires sparkled and emitted a little light. He dropped his sword and connected each wire to another. A light flashed and the room turned to bright light. Sal picked up the sword after successfully activating the lights. He look around and located the thing that was lurking in the dark.
A figure that looked like a twisted human, it's body made out of dark blue and black wires, the tips of the wires sparkling with dark light of electricity. It moved by crawling among the walls and hanging itself to the wall by piercing wires into the ceiling.
The monster steadied its movements from the light, it dropped down from the ceiling a distance in front of Sal. The monster observed the scene.
It suddenly knelt down and started weeping, the crying was small and uneven, weak yet drifting through the space and shivered in the air. It echoed from the walls of the facility, returning every little sob to the center once again.
Trout covered his head and knelt down on one knee, Sal covered one of his ears while the other was still holding his sword.
Sal gripped his ears in pain, he took a step back and threw the sword towards the monster's head. The sword pierced through the head and stopped the crying. The wires on the head were cut and fell down the floor. Sal stood up, he squinted his eyes and observe the monster. The body made out of wire was still and showed no sight of movement. He walked toward his sword and retrieved it, his eyes were locked onto the dim blue light that was still shining at the chest of the monster.
Trout recovered from the attack and stood up, he walked to Sal. His steps were slowing down with each step he took. His eyes were fixed on Trout but his mouth felt broken.
Sal looked at Trout, his eyes closed. After a moment he opened his eyes again.
"Come, I think that might be it. Job's finished"
Sal said. His tone was unserious but it's the voice Trout wanted to hear.
"Yes... it's done isn't it? Let's go back to the bus."
Trout replied. His steps sped up and he walked normally towards Sal. The two stops before the body of the monster, their eyes were both locked onto the dim light that was still shining.
The two stood before the corpse for a while, Trout was the first one to take a step forward, reaching for the light on it's chest.
A slight sound of electric spark. Trout and Sal's body tensed, they both heard it. Sal lowered his body in an instant, backing out of the body of the monster.
Seeing Sal's reaction to the sounds. Trout thought Sal was startled by the sound, his hand rushed towards Sal and pushed Sal aside. Sal fell to the floor while Trout lost his momentum and sat right before the monster.
Two black electric wires shot out from the body, they pierced Trout's chest but aimed directly for his clavicle. The shock of pain and electric shock entered his body. He collapsed to the ground, shaking, foam leaked from the corner his mouth. His helmet changed violently from red to blue repeatitvely and then completely shut down to darkness.
Sal saw the scene, his fist clenched. His eyes locked onto the corpse, blood strings slowly appearing on his eyes. He tapped on the teal orb on the hilt of his sword, the sword vibrated intensely. He rushed towards the monster.
The monster after defeating Trout stood up. It's destroyed head spit blood out like a fountain, the wires slowly took root from the blood column and tied a new head. Sal stood still from the recovery the monster. He didn't stand still for long, he rushed towards the monsters, sword aiming straight for the dim core that was emitting dim light. He pierced right into the light.
The monster did not reacted.
It shot more wires towards Sal, he let go of his sword and grabbed the wires. He yanked all of them out violently, throwing the wires aside. He pushed his hand deep into the monster, digging and gouging it's core out ferally.
Every shot from it was grabbed and gouged out violently, his hand dived deep into the body. He pulled out a small box covered in millions of small wires that were still sparking weakly. He yanked the box out and jumped out of the monster.
His sword was inside of the monster and vibrated violently during the whole process, he grabbed Trout and ripped out the two wires that were connected to Trout's body by the monster, not hurting Trout. After breaking the bound on Trout, he dragged Trout out with one hand while the other was still holding the box.
He went away from the moment the moment the monster recovered from the feral attack. It bend down and started to weep again, Sal dropped the box down and snapped his fingers, the sword that was violently vibrating inside the monster released a wave of heat, the heat melted the wires down with the monster. The weeping was louder and more desperate but slowly lowered and completely stopped.
Only a pile of melted plastic and copper wires were left behind with a sword standing still at the center. The smell of burned plastic filled the ground along with the scent of rotting metals.
Sal laid Trout down and sat down next to him. Trout was not responding, the open wound from the piercing left a mark on his clavicle, the wound was burning and there were still copper particles inside. Sal took off his glove and slowly put his hand into the wound, taking out little particles that got stuck inside.
After finishing cleaning the wound. He stood up and went to his sword, he pulled it out from the pile of melted plastic mix with copper. He looked down to the sword.
He adjusted his grip and moved the tip of the blade closer to him while pulling out a lighter from his coat with another hand. He sat back down next to Trout and used the lighter to heat up the tip of the blade, after the heat could be felt just by hovering his finger above of it, he quickly pushed the heated tip onto the wounds, the heat burned the skin and close the wound immediately. The smell of burnt skin covered the place yet Trout showed no reaction.
Trout's helmet was still, a pure black on the center of his helmet that was always emitting some light. Sal frowned, he shook his head and left Trout aside after taking care of the wounds.
He looked down onto his hand, they were still shaking, the burning from the electricity while ripping the monster apart affected him badly. He scoffed and took the glove off the ground that he took off and put it on again.
The pair of gloves were burned badly, burnt spots throughout the texture of the gloves. He used one of his hand to hold the other, both were shaking. He slowed his breathing down, attempting to remain calm yet his shaking worsened.
"Stop it, he is not dead."
He grunted, snapping his finger backwards and then relocated the joints. His joint dislocated, the feeling of pain stings, but the shock successfully stopped the shaking.
He heated up his sword again and began pressing it against his wounds. His jaw clenched with each second of contact with the hot blade but he keep going and burned his wounds closed.
He sheathed the sword. He leaned down to Trout's chest, putting his ear above Trout's heart and listened.
A beat. A weak beat yet it was enough to confirm. Sal breathed out a long breath.
"Scared me to death, you better stop doing that."
He said and slightly tapped Trout's helmet. Yet Trout laid still, no sight of respond in sight. Sal sat there for a moment.
Then he reached out for the box he got from the monster, he opened it. Inside was a blue USB driver. He took the USB out and put it inside of his shirt's pocket.
He took off his trench coat and emptied the pockets. After making sure there was nothing inside, he twisted the coat into a rope and slowly slipped it under Trout armpit, after got it completely under Trout, he adjusted his swords sheathed location and raised the coat up, carrying Trout behind his back like a human backpack.
He tried to tie the coat to his hip but his hand's slight shaking made it difficult.
After successfully getting Trout secured behind of him, he slowly used his left hand to put Trout's head on his shoulder, making sure he could hear every breath and know when the breathing stopped.
He looked around, checking for danger potential, the factory is empty, the testing area has only one way of leading for both in and out.
The lights inside the place shut down, leaving complete darkness. Sal step carefully out of the place and headed out.
His condition was no better, his legs were shaking, his hands sweating and trembling. His head was heavy, he could barely keep it up and look for the way out, the only thing he was thinking of is the map he saw. Remembering every detail and getting out of here.
His knees collapsed, he knelt down on one knee, breathing hardly. The electric shocks and wounds hit harder than he thought.
He forced himself up once again, his body constantly switching from hot to cold. His eyes are burning and every blood cell inside of him felt like a knife rushing through the veins.
Each steps felt heavier than the last, yet he went on. Closer and closer to the light at the end of the lobby.
Right before reaching the light, his body collapsed again. He could feel the end of the adrenaline rush was hanging over the edge.
"I'm so damn rusty, bloody hell."
He muttered, he could feel the sharp pain from each words coming out from his mouth.
He breathed in again, inhaling as much as he could. But he vomited, coughing violently, the other knee gave up on him. His vision was blurry, nose bleeding, the tiredness got deep into him. Now he was on all four with Trout on his back, adding to the weight. His hand reached down to the knot tied on his hip. His other hand quickly grabbed it, his eyes looked up to the bus from afar, only a long walk could get him there. He moved his hand towards his head.
A loud slap sound echoed through the facility. He stood up again, eyes burning like it was about to explode but he walked on. His legs threatening to give up again from the extra weight. His vision got all blurry, his steps following the light he saw.
The moment he escaped the factory, his body was already broken enough that he could barely move on. He walked toward the bus, his legs gave in again and he knelt down on both legs, the solid road with soil and gravel cut his pants, the pain didn't make him flinch. He picked up a pebble and threw it towards the bus.
The bus driver was taking a nap inside of the bus when heard the tap on the window, loud enough for him to notice. The old man moved down from the back row of the chair and went to check out the sound. He stood before the door and turned the lever inside the bus, the rusty door creaked opened. The glass was in terrible condition so he had to wait for the door to open completely to see what was outside. His hand gripped tightly and one hand in his pocket.
The moment the door completely opened, the bus driver froze in shock. Sal was lying face down on the ground, Trout was on top of Sal and tied up by Sal's trench coat. He quickly rushed towards them and untied the coat, picking up Trout and putting him aside. Noticing the strange light of the helmet was no longer shining.
"Sal, are you alive?!"
He shook Sal violently. Sal regain consciousness. Pointing towards Trout with his fingers.
"Take him in...medic now. I...can still....walk."
Sal said, his voice was weak and barely understandable .
"No you fucking don't, I don't even know how to explain to them if you die here."
The bus driver said and picked Sal up and walked toward the bus, leaving Trout behind.
He put Sal on a seat.
"We are going back , you are not dying no matter what you encountered outside. "
The bus driver said.
Sal reached his hand out and grabbed the bus driver by the collar for a mere moment but his hand gave in and dropped down due to the lack of stamina.
"Save the other guy, please..."
Sal said, his head turned up and locked eyes with the bus driver.
But not for long his nervous system locked down and his head dropped, hand no longer trying to raise up.
The bus driver muttered something under his breath and went out again to pick Trout up. He put Trout down next to Sal. He shook his head and went to the wheel, closing the door and started driving.
"I'm so fucked for this."
The bus driver said. Driving the bus out of the area, not even bothering to close the door he opened while entering.
The bus drove on.
"You all owns me this one...this is not even my job..."
The bus driver kept muttering and complaining but drove on for the journey to continue.