“Sarah, Sarah!! Look what I got!!.” Justice opened up a book to his older sister. 

“Ah! What is this?” Sarah looked on, seeing the bright colorful pictures that exploded in front of her. 

“It’s a pop-up-book. And it moves when you push this button.” Justice brought the book back to himself, humming a little tune while he was at it. Sarah looked on. 

“Who gave you the book Justice?” 

“Daddy did.” Sarah smiled, a little shocked that her father would do such a nice action in his busy schedule. Her attention was pulled away from the opening of the door. Her smile grew even bigger.

“Daddy? You are home? Is everything okay?” She was unsure of his homecoming. He walked over to her handing her a small box. He planted a small kiss on her forehead. Justice looked up at his father. Rod looked down, resting a hand on his son’s head.

“Everything is fine. We just made a breakthrough. Ms. Anderson’s project was very successful. With that I can be home more often.” He gave his children a big smile.

Sarah ran into her father’s arms. Hugging him tight. Justice joined in as well, not wanting to be left out. She pulled away to look at her gift. She opened it to reveal a heart shaped locket. She ran into the restroom to place the necklace on.

“Thank you daddy.” She called out. Then in a flash, she ran to the kitchen. “I’m going to make a good dinner tonight. Something to celebrate with. I’ll make your favorite daddy.”

Rod laughed as his daughter ran past him. Justice held his book tight. He looked up at his father, standing by his side. Rod looked down. “Can I do something special for you daddy?”

Rod kneeled down, eye level to his son. Resting his hands on the boys’ shoulders, he smiled.

“I want you to be like you are now. By my side, making me happy.”

 Justice smiled. “I can. I can.” He called out. Rod smiled, then pulled his son close into a hug. Justice giggled a bit. “Daddy, you’re hugging me too tight.” Rod let go. 

“Ah sorry. I just wanted you to know that I love you.” 

“I love you too.” Justice looked down at his book. “I’m going to show David at school tomorrow.” He turned his back to his father, while he ran to the kitchen to see his sister. 

“You do that.” Rod spoke, a sad smile fell on his face.

Error 10

*********************

“It hurts. Why can’t I breathe?”

“It’s not because you can’t. It’s because you can.”

“What?”

“I thought you’d notice by now. You’re alive.”

“I’m alive? Then what about you.”

“I’m already dead, my time in this world is no longer. But….”

“But?”

**************

Clare leaned against the wall, looking around the corner. The eerie silence was off setting, making her want to go back into the safety of Will’s arms. When she noticed her path was clear, she headed off into a full run. Clare stopped once again, this time next to the medical office. Clare’s mind wandered, she figured she could also get more supplies for Will while she got 88’s maintenance gear. She jiggled the handle to see if it was open, to her relief it was.

She let out a heavy breath she had no idea she was holding. She walked in, almost normally, then faltered. There in front of her, was a naked red headed woman. The one thing she didn’t want to run into, was in a room she should have avoided.

The young redhead woman turned, revealing the two Zero’s that marked her face. Her smile written on her face as to being found. She reached out a bloodied hand out at Clare. Clare’s face fell, not sure of what was going to happen or what she should do. So she spoke.

“Are you alright?” She asked, her voice a little shaky. 00 lowered her hand. She smiled, now unreadable. 

“Are you not trying to kill me?” 

“Kill you? Why?” Clare walked forward. She had an uneasy feeling if she had tried to run, she wouldn’t get very far. 00 looked at her bloodied hand. 

“Someone tried to kill me.” Clare walked over to the medical counter, grabbing cleaner and a wrap. Her hands shaking with every move she made. 

“Is that why you are hurt?” She turned to the naked woman, who was now huddling herself into a ball. Clare couldn’t believe what 88 had told her earlier and she almost couldn’t stomach the idea of this thing slaughtering children.

“I killed them. I killed them all.” 00 hissed. A wicked smile fell on her face, looking over at Clare, who stood a few feet away. Her voice cracked into wicked laughter. 

“Can I clean your arm?” She kneeled down to 00’s current crouched position. Clare hoped to play nice and try to get away from the ticking time bomb before her. She reached out, grabbing the damaged arm with ease. 00 didn’t react, Clare wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. What Clare did notice was the warmth in 00’s hand, something not found in Models. The flowing red blood that fell from it. Models don’t bleed red blood, their blood is always black. With what and how long 00 was in hibernation, Clare pondered if this was a resurrection, a rebirth. A life brought back by science. “This will sting a bit.” Clare gave a warning as she poured the cleaning sedative on her hand. 00 did react, slapping Clare a crossed the face sending her across the room.

Clare slowly pushed herself up. Holding what felt like a near-busted jaw. Her red cheek was starting to grow swollen. She moved her way back over to the still sitting 00. Clare was determined to look at the wound and what had exactly wounded her. If she found out, she could tell 88 in hopes he might have better luck than the one who damaged her before. That being permitted that 00 would let her live in the first place.

00 just looked on at the woman, unsure if she was just crazy or stupid. Her gray eyes moved back to the non-existent object in the corner that seemed to keep her attention momentarily. Clare grabbed the bandages she dropped from the hit and knelt down once again to 00. She prayed her second time wouldn’t kill her. She went through the same routine but this time without the cleaning sedative. Clare looked down at the ground, picking up the cloth she placed down moments before. She wiped off the blood on 00’s hand to reveal a bite mark. A chunk of meat was bitten out of her. Clare couldn’t understand how 00 saw this as a threat. A bite like this, was something a person would get while defending themselves. Clare took the bandages and wrapped 00 hand up.

“We don’t want to get it infected now do we?” Clare asked. 00 took her hand back readily, looking down at the white bandages. Almost matching that of the color of her skin. 00’s long red hair drowned out the blue color of the tiles on the ground. Her gray eyes seemed fixed on her newly bandaged hand. Clare then started to walk back, grabbing a small medical box slowly. With every step, she took it with ease. Making sure she didn’t make any unnecessary noise. She reached her hand out as far as she dared. When her warm hand clasped cold metal, did she feel her heartbeat thunder in her head. The door slowly opened, her exit just millimeters away.

She made it. She made it through the door. Then, she closed the door behind her. The soft click rang in her ears. Her near-death experience still lay behind the closed door. She took a soft step back before turning and running into a new found speed. She found it easier to run, when knowing where the threat was.

The only thing she knew would hold her back, was getting back to Will and 88. Because by the time she grabbed the things for 88, she was sure 00 would be out wandering again. She didn’t have time to waste in her middle aged state. Clare was just happy that she did her workouts.

**************

Will looked around nervously. If he could, he would be pacing up and down. If he could, he’d be the one getting the supplies. But no, he was there. Half drained of blood, with a shoddy patch job on his wounded leg. 88 stayed posed at an open door, keeping watch for either Clare or 00. Seemingly ignoring the panicking man.

“What’s taking her so damn long?”

 “Calm down. Not like it’s going to be easy for her.” 88 sighed. 

“Say’s you, you’re already dead.” Will snapped. 88 turned to look at Will with his good eye. His expression wasn’t one Will was expecting. 

“If she is dead. Will you bring her back like the others? Play God again?” 

Will weakly punched the table. “Shut up.” 

“Why don’t you? What don’t you get about “hiding”.” 88 turned his attention back to the empty hallways. 

Will mumbled, falling to submission. “When did you become a smart ass.” 88’s stern face broke into a smile when he saw a brunette huffing and puffing down the corridor. 88 limped away from the door, going to join Will at the tables. Will’s head snapped up.

“Clare?” She came in at full speed. She slowed to a walk when she got to the others. Will smiled, almost standing up to give her a hug in his blood loss state. 

The woman took her man down in a steady grip. “Don’t you dare get up.” She put down the small medical kit, grabbing a bag of plasma. 

“What are you doing?” Will asked stupidly. “Giving you something to stop you from fainting.” She rolled up Will’s sleeve, inserting a needle into his arm. 

“You know what you are doing?” Will asked again, this time being irrational. 

“Don’t you remember? I used to be a Night Nurse before working here.” 

88 frowned. “His lack of blood is really getting to him. He stopped feeling the pain over an hour ago. What happened?”

 Clare glanced over at 88 while she was working on re-fixing Will’s leg, this time without being rushed. “I ran into 00 in the Medical Section of the base. She was wounded slightly.” 

88’s eyes widened. He leaned in, trying to listen better. “What damaged her?” 

“Someone bit her on the hand. She saw it as an attack and killed them.” 88 reached for the tools to try and fix himself, since Clare was preoccupied and Will was useless. 

“How did you get away?” With his free hand, he started fixing his own leg. 88 wanted to make sure he could run. 

“I fixed her hand. It was the only thing I could think of.” She spoke as she wrapped the leg even tighter. 

“So, she was bitten…” 88 kicked his leg back and forth, hearing a rather sickening snapping sound. It wasn’t the sound that made him cringe, it was the thought of 00 being bit. Whatever memories 88 had of his life as Justice, knowledge of Sarah’s death was gruesome.

Will leaned forward, laying his head in the crook of Clare’s neck. He was starting to drift off to sleep. Clare pushed Will up, slapping him to try and awaken him. 88 just smiled in amusement as he started to work on his damaged arm.

The stainless steel blade was dull and damaged. A new one was needed. 88 knew the bullets that riddled his body would cause more damage as time moved on but he’d had to make do with what he got. 88 looked around the room with his good eye and was rather disappointed that in the area the closest visible weapon was a fire extinguisher.

“Why the hell are weapons located down below?” Still resting on Clare’s shoulder, Will looked over and cracked a smile. “Is that sarcasm I hear in your voice?” 

“No, it’s my cherry out look at life, what do you think?” 

“Oh look Clare, our boys are teenagers now. They grow up so fast. Ow!!” Clare flicked Will’s ear to get his attention back. “If you are talking about children then you better marry me at the end of this.” 

“Did you just propose to me?” Clare gave a heavy sigh, 88 chuckled. 

“I think she means to shut you up.” Will just dug his head back into Clare’s shoulder and mounded. His mind was growing numb.

88’s head snapped up to a slight click. The smile that happened to form, was gone in a flash. The cold facade returned as did his alerted movements. He shot up, moving back to the door he was guarding before Clare had arrived. 88 leaned against the door opening, his ears hearing the clothing scrap metal.

Clare helped Will move to where they hid last, as well as trying to keep the man quiet. She glanced over from the trash can, keeping her eyes on the man who was their only protector. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the Model tossed like a rag doll to the other side of the room. The wall 88 happened to hit, dented and cracked. His damaged body, hitting the ground with a sickening crack. Clare pulled Will farther into a corner, using her body as a cover. In hope to look smaller in an area that she felt would turn into a battlefield.

88 pushed himself up to his knees, gritting his teeth to block the pain he was starting to feel. 88 coughed as the wet matter trickled out of his mouth. 88’s eyes widened when he looked down at the ground. The black blood that once ran in his body, was now a vibrant red. This made 88 panic, this panic made him fear his mortality. For a flash of a second, he feared he would die again. 88’s gray eye looked up, his red hair swaying. The woman before him stood at the doorway he was at seconds ago.

88’s gaze seemed lost. The redheaded woman walked in, smiling casually. Her hair seemed to flow with her, untouched by the horror that she had caused. 00 marked plainly on her face was the only thing that marred her face. The elegant walk, her soft steps on the metallic ground as she made her way to the fallen Model. 88 stood up, regaining his composure to face 00 head on. The only thing 88 could not do was walk forward. It was the fear that stilled him. The naked woman was a few inches from 88. The height difference between the two was far and between, but the resemblance between the two was unmistakable. Siblings. 00 reached out her unmarked hand, gently caressing 88’s bloody cheek. 88’s good eye faded away from fear to longing.

“….Sarah?” 88 spoke, he leaned forward into a waiting embrace. 00 held on tight to the damaged body. 88’s body relaxed, falling into something familiar. 

“Is that you? Justice?” She closed her gray eyes, her smile never leaving her face. 88 felt the hair behind his back being pulled. The strength of 00’s grip wretched him back, making him fall down to his knees again. 

“Sarah?” He choked out. “You are not my Justice.”

88 was forced to look up. The light above him seemed to outline 00’s form. The angelic light hid the demon within. Something inside 88 wanted to save that innocent smile she shined down at him. 88 reached out, grabbing to the only thing that grounded her to the world of the living.

************

“It hurts. Why can’t I breathe?”

“It’s not because you can’t, it’s because you can.”

“What?”

“I thought you’d notice by now. You’re alive.”

“I’m alive? Then what about you.”

“I’m already dead, my time in this world is no longer. But….”

“But?”

***********************

“I have to take Sarah back with me.”

“Will you two be in the same place.”

“I hope not.”

*********************