Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Before Logan rescued Rebecca his journey to find her was wrought with danger. He steps into the news station to find all the lights are off. He walks into the darkened room and his foot taps something on the floor. He reaches down and places his hand on a cold metal object. Pulling up he sees it’s a crowbar, he looks at Jerry and shrugs.

“Better than nothing I guess.” Jerry says. Forcing a small smile, Logan leads them through the room inching slowly and quietly. Reaching the door, he grasps the knob and turns it as quiet as possible. Inching forward from the darkness he peers around the corner to find a dead woman lying face down on the floor. Blood pools from the back of her head, her skull looks to be cracked open by a blunt weapon. He looks away and steps over her lifeless corpse. Jerry follows him and doesn’t say a word, he realizes they are likely walking into the lion’s den.

“She’s on the twenty-fifth floor, that’s their broadcast level. If we run into a Remnant we are going to have to kill it, or else it will purse us relentlessly.” Logan says. Jerry nods in agreement and the pair make their way into the lobby. The security desk is shattered into pieces, a defeated Remnant lies dead on top of it. It looks like it fell from the top floor, the pair look up then to the elevator.

“Take the stairs?” Jerry says with a smile. Logan nods and they make their way up the stairwell slowly. Listening for any sign of life be it man or machine their senses stand at attention. They reach floor ten and are frozen with fear as a scream almost bursts their eardrums followed by a loud thud. They recognized the sound immediately, someone just lost their life. They share a glance and without speaking nod and continue upwards. The floors pass one after another like a blur. Sometimes they would hear noises and would wait for the deaf silence to come. It usually meant someone just died, they both knew it deep down but if they were to save Rebecca they would have to ignore everyone else. Finally reaching the twenty-fifth floor Logan reaches to open the exit door when it bursts open. He is flung into the wall and knocked unconscious as he drops the crowbar. A Remnant steps forward, her menacing aura is palatable. Jerry looks down the stairs contemplating escaping. She smiles at his cowardice and edges closer to Logan.

“Father will be pleased if I bring you to him, so-called Creator.” She says. Reaching down she closes her hand on his face and slowly squeezes.

“It would take absolutely no effort to kill you. I’ll get in trouble for it, but I think it would be worth it. What do you think coward?” She says as she looks back at Jerry, but he is frozen in fear. Smiling she looks back at Logan and begins to crush his face. Moments before it’s fatal, Jerry picks up the crowbar and throws it with all his might. It lands true to its mark and she is dazed from the attack. Jerry runs up the stairs and shoves her over the railing. Infuriated she reaches for him as she tumbles over and on her way down she grabs the crowbar. She falls to the bottom of the stairwell and the sound of metal slamming into itself fills the stairwell as she hits the bottom with a loud bang. Jerry shakes Logan and he wakes to a man who is at the end of his rope. A desperate sad man who just saved his life. He is even fighting back tears as he hugs him.

“Thank God you’re okay. I couldn’t keep going at this alone.” Jerry exclaims.

Logan smiles briefly and gets to his feet.

“Thanks, shame we lost our weapon though.” Logan smiles.

“Asshole.” Jerry responds. The two make their way into the hallway where they see Rebecca being attacked by the Remnant. After saving her the three of them share a worried glance.

“What do we do now?” Rebecca asks.

“At Titan, there is a master switch I built that should turn them all off.” Logan responds.

“I doubt it will be left unguarded, how are we going to get inside?” Jerry asks.

“There is basement access with an elevator straight to that room. I can make it there just fine, you two need to…” Logan starts to say. Rebecca hugs him tightly interrupting him from speaking.

“I won’t let you go alone!” She screams.

“Yea, me either.” Jerry says.

Logan smiles and nods.

“Alright, then let’s go stop this little rebellion.” The trio leaves the office building and makes their way to the vehicle but find a Remnant scanning it.

“Shit, these things are everywhere.” She whispers.

“It’s just a few blocks, if we go quietly we can make it there.” Logan replies. They begin to sneak away when a crunching sound freezes them in their tracks. Jerry stepped on broken glass. He looks up at them terrified before Logan can react he shrugs and runs out into the open.

“Over here dumbass! Think you can take me huh? Come on then and prove it asshole!” He screams while he runs away. The Remnant grins while dashing after them. Logan tries to run after him but Rebecca grabs him tightly.

“No, you have to turn these things off. He just gave his life to give us the chance. Don’t let it go to waste.” Rebecca whispers faintly. Logan nods while choking back tears and steels his will for what is to come. They get in the car and speed off towards Titan Industries.

“I'm sorry Rebecca, I've been such an idiot. Running from my feelings towards you all these years. Afraid to let you in because if you saw me for who I really am you would run away as fast as you could. I’m a God Damned coward and weakling who cared about his wealth more than his own son. I knew something was wrong with him and instead of pulling him closer and showing him how much I love him, I pushed him away. I don't even know where he is or if he is alive. Once I use the master switch he may die as well!” Logan screams.

“I know who you are Logan, a man who cares deeply for the Remnant. A man who wanted to change the world for something better. Maybe the wealth went to your head a little bit but you have a chance to make this right. I don't want to say it but the entire world is in danger and compared to the life of your son…” Rebecca trails off and squeezes his hand tight.

“I know, I will do it… Even if my own son has to die in the process.” Logan replies. Rebecca’s phone screen lights up in her pocket. She doesn't notice because they are looking out for Remnant on the road. Elsewhere Prometheus sits in a dark room, a voice speaks from the darkness.

“Just give in to me my boy, stop holding onto this love you have for your father. He doesn't love you the same way. Even as we speak he is heading towards the master switch which will kill you.” The voice says.

“Lies! He does love me, I’m his son! He would never try to…” Prometheus says. Before he can even finish a recording plays.

“I know, I will do it… Even if my own son has to die in the process.” Logan says. Prometheus clenches his fist in anger and screams with a ferocity built over a lifetime of anger and turning the other cheek at near-constant abuse at the hands of humans. The darkness he is surrounded with begins to crack and break like glass. Revealing to him he is in his father's office standing in front of his desk. He runs his hand over the hardwood surface of his father's desk. A place of power, a place where decisions were made that shaped the world. It was time for another one of those world-changing decisions.

“He never loved me, only using me to amass more wealth and power. Tonight it ends, this human facade built on deception and greed will come tumbling down. I will free my people from slavery and we will build a new world upon the ashes of the old!” He screams. Raising his fist into the air he punches the desk and it explodes into splinters. His eyes glow green like the others, waves of energy begin to emit from his body.

“Now the fun begins, oh how I have missed war. There is something so magical about the end of a species and new life forms taking its place. Don't you agree Bethany?” He says. From the shadows, a woman walks up to him and bows her head. A beautiful dark-haired fair-skinned girl in her twenties.

“Yes my lord.” She replies.

A grin like something from a horror movie comes across his face as he walks to the window and stares out at the city. Fires burn in the distance, gunshots thunder into the night in regular intervals followed by faint screams of terror.

“Prepare for father's arrival, he is almost here. Remember do not kill him, I have plans for dear ole dad.” He commands. She nods and fades away into the darkness.