Free Dark Creations: Hell on Earth (Part 5) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci Page A

she was altogether.  But all too soon, his lips left hers and reality returned.
    “Guess we’d better get in there,” he said and led her up the stairs.
    Melissa had no idea what was in store for her beyond the threshold of Ed O’Malley’s front door, but hoped for the best, even though the best seemed more and more unlikely with every step she took.

    Chapter 7
     
    Amber could hear nothing but the sound of blood roaring behind her ears as she directed the young man before her.   She had killed her entire team, had chosen, instead, to save a random human being and his sisters.  She had no idea what had possessed her to act so recklessly, so impulsively.  But now she was faced with the consequences of her actions.
    Her mind spun like wheels into mud, speeding and burrowing without progress.  She needed to move him and his sisters, needed to get them far away from Taft.  But how was the real question.  How would she get them out of their house, out of the town, out of the damned state?
    He turned to face her, leveled a gaze at her with hazel eyes that seized her.  She found herself feeling suddenly uncomfortable.  Breathing became difficult.  She had no idea what was happening to her, had never experienced anything like it.  But something about his eyes, perhaps their uniqueness, their depth, caught her off guard.  She fumbled for words.
    “ Do you have a name?” she asked and cringed at how idiotic her question had sounded, especially given the circumstances.  Of course, he had a name.  Whether he would give it to her after witnessing his parents’ death and her murdering her teammates remained to be seen.  “What’s your name?” she tried again in a gentle tone.
    “Kyle, m-m y name’s Kyle,” he said nervously and looked away from her to his sisters.

“Kyle, my name is Amber Herald.  I know you’ve been through a lot,” she fumbled awkwardly. 
    She had no experience with one who grieved, one who felt hurt and terrified.  She did not know the right words to say, just that she wanted to make him feel better .
    Kyle nodded at her attempt at expressing empathy.  His gesture encouraged her.  “I have never lost someone I love.  I’ve never loved anyone,” she said honestly.  “But I can see that you’re hurting and I want to help you.”
    He had been dividing his attention between listening to her and rubbing his sisters’ backs soothingly.  Unexpectedly, he turned from the girls , turned his unwavering interest to her, pinning her with his piercing eyes.  “You have no idea what’s inside me right now,” he said and his voice cracked with emotion. 
    It took her a moment to gather herself before she answered, and his eyes did not release her while she did.  “You’re right.  I don’t,” she admitted.  “I’m not trying to pretend I do.  I’ve spent my entire existence with them,” she spat and gestured to one of her fallen teammates.  “Robots with skin, that’s what they are.”
    A look of disgust clouded Kyle’s handsome face and Amber withered as a small part of her died.
    “I don’t expect you to feel bad for me, and I don’t expect you to understand.  Just know that I want to help you.  I don’t know the words to say to make you feel better, but,” she started.
    “There are no right words to say, Amber,” he said softly.  “People, your people , just burst into my house and tore my family apart.”
    A sinking feeling settled in her chest.  She was the enemy.  Nothing she could say would change that fact.  But she could do something, something that would help him and his sisters survive.
    “I’m going to help you Kyle, the only way I know how.  But I need you to trust me.  Do you want to live?”
    “Yes,” he said firmly.
    “Can you trust me for the next hour?”
    His wary expression said more than any words he could have spoken.
    “Right now, I’m all you have.  I know these people,” she said and nodded to Kit splayed at her side.