12. Fight For Freedom
12
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
~NYX~
P ain.
Always pain.
But different now.
Not from needles.
Not from tests.
From fighting.
From survival.
From choice.
Riot fights back.
Strong.
Determined.
Water everywhere.
Can't breathe.
Don't need to.
They made sure of that.
Elbow connects with nose.
Satisfying crunch.
Blood clouds water.
Riot gasps.
Swallows water.
Recovers fast.
Strong prey.
Worthy opponent.
Look for others.
Movement catches eye.
Glass wall.
Not concrete.
Azurite punches.
Again.
Again.
Cracks spreading.
Spider web patterns.
But too slow.
Time running out.
Oxygen depleting.
Death approaching.
Must survive.
Must protect.
But protect who?
Memories flash:
Riot's laughter in darkness.
Luna's quiet wisdom.
Azurite's calculated strength.
Friends?
Enemies?
Both?
Neither?
Decision time.
Choose path.
Accept consequences.
Swim toward glass.
Toward hope.
Toward escape.
Riot grabs ankle.
Pulls back.
Still fighting.
Always fighting.
Turn in water.
Move faster than should be possible.
Grab her throat.
Squeeze.
Feel pulse under fingers.
Watch bubbles escape lips.
Light fading from eyes.
Consciousness slipping.
Death approaching.
Should feel nothing.
Should finish it.
Should eliminate threat.
But...
Something wrong .
Different?
Want to stop?
Need to stop.
Have to stop.
Release grip.
Watch her sink.
Feel... regret ?
Not supposed to feel.
Not to care.
Never hesitate.
But watching her fall...
Watching her struggle...
Watching her fade...
Want to save.
Need to save.
Have to save .
Look at others.
Not prey anymore.
Azurite still punching.
Luna still searching.
Both still fighting.
Like Riot.
Like me.
Survivors all.
Warriors all.
Sisters in pain.
Memory flashes:
Sharing stories in darkness.
Finding strength in unity.
Building trust in hell.
Not prey.
Not enemies.
Not targets.
Family.
The word burns.
Makes shadows stir.
Wakes something sleeping.
Control returning.
Humanity surfacing.
Monster retreating.
Have to choose.
Have to act.
Have to decide.
Riot sinks deeper.
Time runs shorter.
Death comes closer.
Look at survivors.
Look for friends.
Look at choice.
Must protect.
Must save.
Must decide.
But who?
How?
Why?
Confusion burns.
Instincts war.
Time slips away.
Azurite's fist connects.
Cracks spread wider.
Hope grows stronger.
Luna's face shows strain.
Lungs burning.
Time running out.
Riot's form grows distant.
Darkness claims her.
Peace approaches.
Should let her go.
Must save others.
Will follow training.
But…
Something breaks inside.
Triggers changes.
Harbors awakening.
Not monster anymore.
Not weapon anymore.
Not their M.U.S.E.
Just Nyx.
Just survivor.
Just protector.
Look at glass.
Look at friends.
Look at choice.
Decision forms.
Path clears.
Purpose awakens.
Save all.
Protect all.
Remember all.
They made me weapon.
Made me killer.
Made me monster.
But they didn't make me this:
Friend.
Sister.
Protector.
That choice is mine.
That power is mine.
That freedom is mine.
Riot taught me that.
With her sacrifice.
With her choice.
Now my turn.
My choice.
My path.
Look at cracked glass.
Look at fading friends.
Look at sinking sister.
Time to choose.
Time to act.
Time to be...
More than weapon.
More than monster.
More than M.U.S.E.
Water presses.
Time slips.
Death approaches.
But for first time...
First moment...
My first choice...
I know what I am.
I know what I want.
I know what matters.
Not their experiment.
Not their weapon.
Not their monster.
Just Nyx.
Just protector.
Just friend.
Stare at glass again.
Hope again.
Truth.
Save all.
Protect all.
Remember all.
Because that's what family does.
What friends do.
What humans do.
They made me weapon.
But they forgot:
M.U.S.E.s can choose purpose.
Time to choose.
Time to act.
Time to be...
Free.