“The offer stands,” Xi says. Then he pans a hand at the bodies all around him. “This is the Game of Gods, after all. Players gonna play.” Then he laughs. “You and Finn just took out all my rivals. I will rule the Medians like a tyrant from now on, thanks to the two of you.”
I am gathering my strength, just about to respond, when Finn says, “I’m not done yet.”
Xi laughs.
And I’m thinking the same thing.Yes, Finn. You are. Because I’ve got nothing left to power you.
But Finn raises his head, looks Xi in the eyes, and spits blood onto the now less-shiny black-glass platform. “I still see one last piece of shit standing.”
He pulls on me again, looking for power. I can feel his desperation. Hear his thoughts.Just a little more, Jasina. Just a little bit more—I got this.
I try, I really do, but there’s truly nothing left but drops.
Finn takes them, just as he takes a step towards Xi.
“SHUT DOWN,” Xi commands.
Finn takes another step, spitting out more blood. “User response blocked,” he whispers. “Override request denied. Operator remains conscious.”
“Jasina!” Xi yells. “Listen to me now. This was a very good demonstration of power, but the test protocol is over! I will disable him,” he threatens. “I will turn him off, and put him away, and you will be all alone in this world.”
Finn takes another step. Growls, “No, she won’t,” and takes one more. Still pulling on me. It hurts now. Bad. I feel like I’m unraveling from the inside out. Like I’m literally about to come apart.
Xi backs up two steps. “You, and that baby of yours, will live penniless, lonely, and painful lives in the Factory Dimension. Forever regretting the day you crossed the great god, Xi.”
And the moment I hear that word, ‘baby’, things shift.
A light inside me. A tiny glimmer of life. Something…created.
Something…female.
Someone who, even at this tender age of less than zero, hassparkinside her.
I will burn in Hell for what I do next. Burn for all eternity.
But I will do it anyway.
Because there can be no baby if there is no mother.
And I will not—will not—live as a factory slave to a god inanytower, let alone one I don’t even have loyalty to.
I’d rather die trying than be that.
So I do the unthinkable.
I steal her spark.
Push it to Finn.
And Hell answers back with open arms.
42 - CLARA
Icome out of the emptiness to chanting.
Please. Please. Please.
It’s a prayer in my head.
