Page 29 of High Noon

“I’ll clean it,” Enoch answered, exasperated.

Asa accepted his offer. “Okay then.”

Enoch looked back at Abram, who seemed unable to tear his eyes off the one who sired him. “Are your instructions clear, Abram?”

Abram nodded numbly.

“Good,” Enoch proclaimed. “Let’s get on with it, then.” He gently began to unwind the silver chain that held Abram to his seat. When both arms were free, he nudged him a little.

Abram’s suit roared.

“Enoch-” I started.

“Cut into your skin and remove the tech,” Enoch interrupted, looking at me for validation that what he was instructing Abram to do was correct.

Abram’s suit circuits were sparking, blinking rapidly beneath the fabric. “Enoch,” I tried again, “I think you should be careful…”

His left hand, the one clenching the knife’s handle, shook violently. Ever so slowly, the blade inched toward the back of his right hand, toward the tech lying just beneath a thin layer of skin, glowing like a beacon. His head wobbled. “I can’t do this.”

Abram’s suit looked like a disco ball. Circuits fired in rapid succession. It looked the same way it did each time we were about to jump, but he didn’t have to hit the tech to activate it. It was like it was activating itself. The suits were always on to a degree, but they shouldn’t run like this unless it was in the middle of amplifying something huge.

The knife’s blade hovered just over his skin, but didn’t move further.

“Abram, open your skin and remove the tech,” Enoch ordered again.

Abram began to laugh, a low chuckle emanating from his chest, his whole torso shaking as his laughter grew louder. Suddenly, his eyes fastened on my chest. Lightning fast, he took the knife by the tip, just like he would a stake, and threw it at me. I watched in horror as it seemed to turn in slow motion, end over end, in a direct path for my chest. I managed to move, but not before the blade embedded in my bicep.

I screamed. The irises of Enoch and Abram’s eyes darkened with the scent of fresh blood in the air. I couldn’t pull the blade out without leaking blood all over the place, and they were barely restraining themselves as it was. Abram tore loose from the rest of the chains, the silver breaking and scattering all over the cabin floor, the links chiming as they bounced along the wood floor. He was out the door before anyone could react.

“Go after him!” I screamed, pointing at Enoch with my good arm. “You have to stop him, Enoch.”

The bloodlust he was in was too profound. Ignoring the seriousness of the moment, he prowled towards me as I stumbled back. “Eve will hate you if you kill me.” It was the only thing I could think to say.

But it was the right thing. The invocation of her name was enough to wake him from his thrall. He tore out of the cabin so fast, the door’s top hinge broke.

Asa glared at me for a second, baring his fangs. Unlike Enoch, I had nothing in my arsenal to scream that would stop him from eating me.

Giving an exasperated growl, he chased after his brother and Abram. The door, which could take no more abuse, slammed flat on the floor.

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