Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ The Lynching Game (part 8)

[Audrey] - "What happened to you, McCree? This isn't like you at all! What did they do to you? "

Said Audrey in shock as she backed away from him.

[McCree] - "They made me understand the similarities between an ignorant man and an evil man. Being ignorant is just as bad as being the evil itself as ya allow perverse ideas and actions to slip under your eyes without trying to stop them. Ya don't truly care about Kadyn or anything going on. Ya only care about what concerns you. When what doesn't concern you finds itself at your doorstep, that's when you care. But it would be too late by then. "

[Audrey] - "Well it's not too late to care now! I'm concerned for Kadyn's well-being! Please, McCree, just let me see her just once. I want to see my friend. "

Said Audrey while trying to find compassion in McCree's heart.

[McCree] - "She's already fine under Mike's care. I'll let her know you came to wish her well when she wakes up. "

[Audrey] - "I just want to see her in person! "

Pleaded Audrey as she held her hands by her heart.

[McCree] - "What? You don't trust me? You think I'm harming her or being an accomplice in doing her harm? "

Audrey held her breath before nodding her head.

[Audrey] - "I trust you, McCree. But please, take care of yourself. Don't work get to your head, old friend. "

Without a word, McCree nodded his head before signalling for Audrey to please leave. Hesitantly, Audrey walked out of the room while sporting a disappointed look on her face. Although it was already near morning, Audrey just couldn't feel any urge to sleep. With a long face, she stepped into the commune room shared with her teammates where she noticed Oltevin on the sofa.

[Oltevin] - "Couldn't sleep, comrade? "

[Audrey] - "No, unfortunately. I was thinking about Kadyn. I think something was off with her and Mike. Something tells me he was not telling us the truth at the party. "

Said Audrey as she poured a cup of coffee from the snack table.

[Oltevin] - "I was thinking about comrade Kadyn too. Very unusual with our dear comrade these days, don't you think, Audrey? "

Oltevin's words immediately caught Audrey's attention and she quickly moved to sit beside him. On the television, the Russian movie "T-80 For Donbas" was playing.

[Audrey] - "I asked McCree since he apparently knew a lot more about Kadyn than we do. However, he isn't himself anymore. He has changed into this... weird fanatical lunatic who thinks only about his work. I tried to inquire about Kadyn but he simply refused to give me a proper answer. "

Said Audrey as she stared down at her coffee.

[Oltevin] - "Hmm... Maybe I should go try talking to him. I think I can talk sense into comrade's head. "

[Audrey] - "Good idea. Maybe a close friend could talk some sense into his nutshell. "

Suddenly, a loud explosion from one of the scenes made Audrey spill her coffee.

[Audrey] - "Oh great! Why the heck are you always watching that same movie over and over again? Doesn't it get boring after a few times? "

[Oltevin] - "It reminds me of my old comrade. The plot of this movie feels very similar to our lives. Despite propaganda, I like plot of movie as well. It shows that we are all humans no matter what side we take. We could be wrong one day but it's not too late to correct our mistakes. "

Inside the screen, one of the Russian tank crew jumped out and pointed his weapon at the Ukrainian tanker exiting his knocked-out Abrams. After taking him prisoner, the main character had an exchange with the prisoner.

[Ukrainian] - "Добре, так? Воюють за того пса Путіна, щоб вбивати невинних українців. Тобі соромно за себе, суко? "

*(Feels good, huh? Fighting for that dog Putin to kill innocent Ukrainians. Do you have shame in yourself, bitch?)

[Russian tanker] - "Держи имя Путина подальше от своих проклятых уст! У него была вся власть в мире, и вместо этого он решил помочь нам, когда НАТО нас угнетало! Он выполнял Божью работу, пока вы сражались за свое марионеточное правительство, которым управляет Америка. Если ты еще раз оклеветаешь имя этого человека, я позабочусь, чтобы ты пожалел об этом! "

*(You keep Putin's name out of your damn mouth! He had all the power in the world and instead chose to help us when NATO oppressed us! He was out there doing God's work while you were fighting for your puppet government ruled by America. If you slander that man's name again, I will make sure you regret it!)

As the subtitles appeared below the screen, the Russian's words caught Audrey's attention as they sounded very much like how McCree talked to her earlier.

[Oltevin] - "Try to sleep a little, comrade Audrey. I have received order earlier. Tomorrow, by afternoon, we have to go on mission. You need to stay focused since they say mission may be very dangerous. "

[Audrey] - "Say, Oltevin, do the main characters always speak as if Russia is the only right nation in the world while Putin is a Saint? "

[Oltevin] - "Yes, movie was made after Russian victory in Ukraine. So movie director and actors all very nationalist. "

Audrey nodded her head before refocusing her gaze on the screen.

[Audrey] - "I think I'll sleep after I finish the movie. I wanna see just how crazy is the propaganda. "

Said Audrey before taking a sip of her coffee.

To be continued...