Chapter 37: Always aware

"This is what your humans and their laws have done," Balthazar said. The pain and anger coming from him, echoing in his voice, was as hard to bear as the sight of the broken cyborg.

"I'm so sorry," she said to the wounded soldier. Her stomach recoiled. Without ears, how could he hear her?

That eye stared at her, unblinking.

Aurora studied her feet, ashamed because she couldn't look at the suffering soldier anymore. Couldn't look into that tragic eye. The horror of the moment kept her still and almost trancelike. No wonder Balthazar had executed all those people. She could only imagine what he must have felt. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. She didn't want the soldier to know that seeing him like this made her want to puke. "Does he feel pain?"

"Yes."

She moved closer to Balthazar. "Who is it?" she whispered.

"It is Amelagar."