I can’t do this anymore.I can’t.
Janet wiped at her face, willing the tears to stop, trying to exude enough calm authority to reassure herself—her sister—but her tears had a mind of their own. She kept picturing the gun on Lily and hearing Hectors confession in her head.
Hector…
Her heart hammered in pain. What was happening? Was he okay? Would he be able to take down another Cyborg on his own?
After she cleaned the snot from her sister’s face for the third time, she drew back and slumped against the wall, pulling Lily with her. She petted her hair until the hitching in her chest abated.
Sometime later, her tears dried up, and Lily quieted next to her. It was then she realized no sound had come from the apartment. She looked down at Lily who was clutching the glittering fabric of her dress. The sparkling green fabric only brought more pain. It was the same color as Hector’s eyes.
“Try and get some sleep,” Janet whispered, running her fingers over Lily’s brow.
Lily sniffled. “Do you think Mr. Heartface is alright?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s not his fault.”
Janet frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t have the ability to think for himself. He told me.”
“Mr. Heartface did?”
Lily pushed away from Janet and rubbed her dewy eyes. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Lily, Mr. Heartface is a robot, one who isn’t sentient and isn’t ahe. It’s my fault that you think otherwise. You’ll never be left alone with it again.”
“That’s not true! Sometimes he’s Mr. Bullseye, and sometimes he’s Gunner.”
Janet stiffened. “What did you say?”
“Mr. Heartface wouldn’t hurt me.”
“No. I’m talking about Gunner. How do you know who that is? Has he approached you?”
Lily picked at her pant leg. “I don’t know.”
“Think, baby. How do you know who Gunner is?” Janet slipped off her heels and sat up, searching her sister’s face. It wasn’t possible.
Then she remembered how the Cyborg had mentioned her sister.
“Mr. Heartface said if I needed help, to just ask him for Gunner,” Lily said.
Janet rose to her feet. “Fuck.”
“You said a bad word!”
Somehow he had gotten to Lily during the battle. He’d gotten through the android during the EPED attack, it was the only way. Her opinion of Cyborgs and their uncanny, invasive attitudes towards everything she cared about fell more with each passing second. She kept telling herself that this, too, shall pass, but when it finally did, something worse took its place.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.Lily needs me. Stay calm.
Janet needed to get a grip.It’s not about me.Hysterian had said it himself. This wasn’t happening because of either her or Lily.
This was all about Hector. No matter how badly she didn’t want it to be.
The only way to keep her sister safe was to get her away from him.
