I closed the old, rusty door. I felt my hands were trembling slightly. What Myra told me, shocked me to the core. I never expected her to be a real thing, to really see my future. She didn't lie about her powers. Though, the future for my friends seemed to be nothing special, for me it was something to worry about.
Back, when I was younger, I thought my nightmare was just a traumatic symptom of loosing my mother, nothing real, more than abstract emotions of the tragedy in my life. But now, hearing Myra's prediction, I realized, it had nothing to do with my mother's death. It was my future. Will be. Now, I quietly prayed, I will not see the day, when it will become reality. It is a scary thing. Just a thought of it, makes me cover in fear - mentally. I remember her saying, it is not how it looks like. The pictures can be interpreted in different ways, they can have a hidden meaning, totally different of what is seen in her artwork. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it, it could mean something totally different. But she cried. Like she was in that emotional pain herself. And she sent me away. Why? I want to know badly, why? Does she know more than she managed to say?
I was in deep thoughts, as I walked the street. The only thing I registered, was the crumbly concrete path under my feet. I didn't hear anything, nor see a thing around me, like the world didn't exist at this moment.
"Hey, little princess!"
I heard a low, growling voice. I snapped out of my thoughts and lifted my blue eyes at the place, where the voice was coming from. Seeing three, dangerously looking, man in front of me and one robot. Two of them young and slim. The third one was much bigger and older, with long dreaded hair. A shiny object was in his glowed hands - a knife. A big one. The robot in this kind of situation was not good as well. Now I realized, I am in big danger. I looked back at the alleyway, noticing I have gone quite a way from "Mirage". Why did I go so far from there. Why I didn't pay attention to my surroundings? I am so stupid. I saw no one on the dimly lit streets. Just these three snickering man.
"W... what do you want?" I said timidly, clearly afraid of sudden encounter.
"What do you have?" said the old man, his dirty smile never laving his face.
I had nothing with me. Nothing valuable. Just my ring. I was so nervous. I looked at his knife, which was still in his hand, glowing menacingly. What does he need that for? He is no thinking to .... right? I could hardly move, by the paralyzing fear, that hold my body.
"What? Lost your tongue?" he growled again.
"N.. no. I have nothing. Believe me." I was holding both of my arms against my thighs in attempt to stop their trembling.
"Don't play with us, princess!" he swiftly stepped much closer to me, showing me his dagger. He stopped and looked at me, eyeing me from head to toe. "I have seen you somewhere." he looked at me again. "Right! Now I know where. You are that old, rich dude's daughter, right? What was his name..." he turned to his man for a hint. "Ahh, yes. Elkwood, was it? I can't believe we have caught a real princess!" he laughed. "Now, how does it come, you don't have anything? You are clearly lying!" he shouted, making me flinch of his hard voice.
"I ... I am not lying. I swear. I have nothing." I felt a few hot tears sliding down my cheeks. "Here! take my ring. It is all I have. It ... it is a high quality and very expensive." with trembling hands I took my ring and and gave it to him. For a minute, he was examining it, and then looked back at me. Right now I didn't know what to expect from him. I couldn't run, he was too close to me, he would catch me on the spot. If he wouldn't, than his friends would have a chance to get me. The robot standing beside them, looked as terrifying as all of them. He was damaged. Might be infected. I remembered Carlos information. North Amber was the most dangerous place and full of infected machines. I couldn't be in a worst situation, as I am now. I am so unlucky today. I stepped back, trying to get some safe distance between us. Another step. And another. And a.. I couldn't go any further, as I felt a cold wall behind my back. I started to sob quietly, realizing I have nowhere to go. I was trapped. Tears were falling like waterfalls on my cheeks and down to my chin, wetting the fine fabric on my chest. "Pl... p... please! Let me go! Let me go!"
"Shut up you bitch!" he shouted angrily. I felt his cold blade touch the soft skin on my neck. This is the end of me. I will never see my dad, my friends. My crazy friends - Sharlene and Laura. And I will never see again my bodyguard's mesmerizing, bright blue eyes. Bryce's creepy stares ....
"Then the only thing left to take is your life, sweety!"
"Bryce..." I whispered sadly, closing my eyes and waiting for the end.
A gargling sound could be heard behind the bulky man in front of me. I opened my eyes, but could not see anything. The man was still holding his knife against my throat, but his face was turned other way. Something was happening. I wanted to see, but I was too afraid to move, as the knife was still dangerously close to me.
"What the hell... Who are you?" angrily yelled the big man.
He left me standing, turning his full attention to what he was yelling at.
Between his legs I noticed a body on the ground, a puddle of blood was forming under him. I raised my teary eyes up and noticed someone else standing beside the dead man. A tall figure. I couldn't see clearly who it was, as my vision was still blurry from my crying.
"You! .... What did you do to Mikey! You are gonna pay for this!" I heard one of the young man say in angry voice.
I wiped my teary eyes to see better. Then I saw it. It was Bryce. Red braided boy punched him in the face, but it made no effect on my robot. Bryce was standing still, like nothing happened, just stared down at the young man. He threw some more punches towards Bryce's hard chest, but again, nothing. Finally I saw Bryce swiftly walk in to him. The boy bounced against his chest and fell down. Before I could even blink, I saw his skull smashed against the concrete by my android's foot. I felt sick, but I couldn't take my eyes of him and the poor boy. What he was doing? Is it really Bryce? He... he just killed a person. I need to stop him, before he hurts someone else. But no words came out of my mouth. The sickness was quickly replaced with fear as I saw him come towards the old man. His face revealed anger and rage, but his body moved in calm, swift motion, in total control. The man shifted his knife in different position in his hand, while eying his dead buddies.
"Xie, go and get him, show no mercy!" the man with knife ordered the damaged robot.
The robot had no chance to even try anything. Bryce moved forward with few large steps and grabbed his head with both hands. I saw him tear off the robots jaw, after tossing it aside like a piece of trash. Still holding his head, he jammed his hand in his opened neck and tore off all the wiring. He let go of him after. The now dead machine was lying on the ground, making some sudden movements, some electric sparkles left his torn neck area.
"Xie! Xie! Damn it, useless machine." then he turned to face Bryce, shock and disbelieve in his face. "Who... who the hell are you? You are not a human! No human would be capable of doing such things!" a slight panic was evident in his low, raspy voice. As he saw Bryce nearing him, he swung his dagger, aiming hard on my robots face. My bodyguard moved aside just in time, but the thick blade had scraped of the part of his jaw, revealing the shiny metal inside.
"You are a fucking robot!"
Swiftly Bryce grabbed his dagger holding arm and bent it towards the attacker itself. In no time he pierced his neck, holding the mans still knife holding arm. The blood was oozing from his neck on his and Bryce's hands. His other arm fell down, indicating his death. But Bryce didn't let him go yet. With hatred, he was still eyeing his already dead body.
I couldn't believe my eyes. He was crazy. My bodyguard murdered these people. How did he get out of control? Not too long ago he was just fine, before we entered "Mirage". What happened to him? Maybe he wasn't OK all along. Maybe he is infected, was infected all this time. This is just an outcome of it. A strong fear gripped my heart. Some tears fell down my red cheeks again. My legs were week, I thought, I will collapse in any moment. It seemed, he haven't noticed me yet, still looking at the man's dead body on the ground, between other lifeless corpses. He looked like a stranger to me. There was nothing that resembled the 'usual' Bryce, only his outer shell. His stance was beyond intimidating, his hands were closed in tight fists, breathing was not in his usual rhythm, though not too heavy, still keeping his calm and collective impression. I couldn't see his face, but I didn't want either. I was scared of what I will see. As soon as I thought about it, he turned and faced me. I saw anger, rage and hurt. His eyes were hard, no light seemed to be able find it's place in them. Seconds later his emotions vanished, but his hard gaze was still on me. I started to doubt myself. Was it really him? Was it really my Bryce?
"B... Bryce?" I said quietly between my light sobs.
He didn't answer me. He looked dangerous. His hands covered in blood, his jaw damaged, his eyes... I didn't know, what exactly I saw in them, but I knew, there was nothing good. I realized, I might be in danger myself. I had no idea of what is going on in his mind. I started walking away, keeping my body close to the wall behind me. I stumbled on some trash, but gained my balance back, never leaving the sight of him - now, a total stranger, in front of me. He slowly followed me, his eyes registering every movement I made. They looked predatory, all his appearance looked like it. Following every movement of his pray. And I knew that pray was me. Some cries left my dry lips. I couldn't hold in anymore of this tension. I turned around and started to run, run away from this place, away from him. Before I could make some steps, I felt my upper arm grabbed strongly. I let out a scream and desperately tried to free myself from his strong grip. Bryce took my other arm and made me face him. My heart dropped in my stomach, as I saw his hard stare. I stopped for a second, but then tried to get myself away from him again.
"Stop trying! You are not going anywhere!" I heard his voice, which was said through his clenched teeth. He momentarily turned me around and grabbed my hole upper body and wrapped his strong arms around me, making it impossible to move my hands and myself. I started to scream again, but again, his fast movements stopped me. I felt him squeeze me tighter. He lifted me up from the ground a bit and put his large hand on my mouth. That made my panic rise even more. I was so afraid. I had no idea of what he is going to do with me. Is he going to kill me? I felt his head resting against my head, his breath touching the top of my ear, sending a strong shiver of fear through my body. I couldn't see anything, as my eyes were filled with endless streams of tears.
Suddenly I heard a voices I recognize. Sharlene! Laura! I screamed and tried to get their attention, but all of it was muffled under my androids strong hand. I heard their voices nearing, but I could only see two blurry silhouettes of my friends. They have to call for help. Bryce might hurt them. Before I could make another attempted wiggle and scream, I felt a pain on back on my neck and everything went black.