New Me

Over the next four days, I've slipped in and out of consciousness.

Dying to a Savage with a revenge story wasn't a way I thought of going out.

But over time, I started waking up a lot more and for longer amounts of time.

Each time I opened my eyes, I either saw Defender checking in on my condition or Specter watching me. Out of all things, seeing my boss staring at me was one of the creepiest feelings ever. Especially with that skull helmet.

Finally, I began taking control over my body again.

I looked out of the window next to me for the time. "And of course I wake up when no one is awake." I sighed and kept scanning the room.

"Hello in there." A mechanical voice spoke to me through the door.

Specter opened the door. Quietly, they closed the door. It was like they were trying to not wake up a baby.

They placed their hand gently over my head. "How are those cuts feeling?"

"DON'T FUCKING... sorry, I mean, don't touch my head." I tried my best to not sound too pained.

Specter tilted their head and released my head. "That armor, it saved you. Your entire back and neck almost became shredded if it wasn't for it and you bashing Osto through walls."

"I'm still critically wounded, though." I painfully admitted my condition.

What hurts the most wasn't the cuts themselves. I could handle a thousand of those, but what hurt me the most was I might never return to the fight again.

"No, wounded. Not critically anymore. You're recovering at a fast pace. Surprisingly fast. We're expecting you to be back out there in just four more days." Specter's voice randomly increased, trying to mimic an excited voice.

Deep inside, I felt a part of me coming back.

And with that, came my memories. "Wait, what happened to everyone else? How about the raid, did that go well?"

Specter began pacing the room. "Defender brought you back here. She looked like a cannibal, carrying your body around like that and all that blood. Warmonger and Finch nearly finished it."

"Finished?"

"One got away."

How did they get away? Did Edward get hurt as bad as me? Did Warmonger's brutality impede her leadership? So many questions in my mind.

Enough to make me fall out of consciousness.

***

"Does this finally mean I can talk to him?"

"Yes."

Two voices were talking to each other. But I couldn't tell who they were. Then they got closer. It was Specter and Defender.

Defender noticed my eyes opening and stumbled closer. "Finch, you're alive!" Her voice sounded more comforting than a machine mimicking an excited voice.

"Did you really carry me all the way here?"

She brought out a blood stained napkin. "I tried my best. Leaving you out there would be like leaving the last shard of a family I have to die. You were talking so much sometimes."

I could tell Specter began getting uncomfortable.

They put their hand on Defender's shoulder. "Why were you so stupid?"

I didn't reply. I thought it was my ears playing tricks on me.

"Are you going to answer?"

Specter now stood over me. Even their shadow was threatening.

"I don't deal with people who frame me as a monster very kindly. If they want to picture me as one, then I'll show them one."

"Not good enough. You put Edward into a tough mental state. Warmonger has been more cruel than ever, and Defender has feared her own shadow since then."

If I could see Specter's eyes, I bet they would reflect a grave. Overtime, I accepted the team higher-ups gave me.

Working with Specter was a massive problem at first. The only one who didn't find a problem with Specter was Edward. Each time someone messed up, Specter would lash out at them.

But through time, they began taking it easy on us. This was the first time Specter did this to me since the very start of the Calamity.

Suddenly, Defender smacked Specter's hand away from her. "Give him a break. He is pure flesh and blood. You're nothing more than metal and mystery."

"A well-made piece of metal and mystery. I have my reasons. Showing my face would accomplish nothing for anyone. You seeing the scars I've built up over the years and the voice box will not help in combat." Specter's voice became more aggressive.

Defender nodded and walked out of the room.

Before she left, Warmonger entered. Her usually dead gaze quickly grew into a more humane look of relief.

"Finch, I heard you were back, but I didn't believe it. Listen, I ordered new armor for you and I found the curved dagger you were talking about." Warmonger spoke to me with a strange motherly voice.

Specter took out a curved dagger. Its handle was cyan, just like Osto's cloak. My hand quickly reached for it.

Osto's voice echoed in my mind. Why did he want me to have it? Was it because I showed respect? Deep down I know I didn't kill a Savage, I killed a fellow man. Maybe that's why he gave me his dagger?

Grabbing it made me feel stronger. I felt like I could take on Edward or Warmonger in a fight with this strength.

Warmonger gently pushed my head up so we could look eye-to-eye. "How does it feel? You know, that edge right there left you with nasty cuts. But now, you own it."

I quickly thought of a feeling. "Uneasy."

"What?"

"I said I feel uneasy. For some reason I feel powerful, but I also feel like digging it back into myself."

Specter laughed at my thought. "No, you're crazy. What you want is to dig it into that final Desyn. Keep resting, in four days you're free to go."

Warmonger noticed Specter's hint. "Yeah. I have some scouts keeping an eye out on that last one. Bye."

Before she left, I shouted out to her with my question. "How did they escape?"

Just as the door began closing, Warmonger paused and turned to look at me again. "We ran out of flame arrows to shoot him with. Whoever was in that Stronghold with him was strong enough to cut through most of our offense. A tragedy that their death didn't meet them sooner."

I knew what was going through Warmonger's head now. "I'm assuming you want to capture them and make sure they are an example?"

"You know me so well. Good bye."

Silence filled the room and I was alone again.