The Secrets We Keep

The wall broke down and about 500 Runners came in. I rose up and bolted to the houses to warn people, but the Runners did it for me. Some of the people aimed their guns and opened fire.

"GET INSIDE, GO!" I said.

People ran inside while some still were opening fire. I pulled out my Judge and blasted one with a shotgun shell. The recoil caused me to knock my head and pass out right in front of the herd.

Can't die...

Can't...

I saw Kyle get passed out. We all added cover fire, but it was useless. They ran...

Right past him.

"Why isn't he..." A man said.

"DON'T LET UP!" I screamed.

We kept opening fire as the herd came closer. But it was hopeless. One of our guys got tackled and ripped apart. Another joined him.

"GO, SCOOTALOO, GO!" One man screamed as he was getting bitten.

I ran to the nearest house and locked the door.

Why didn't Kyle... he was right in front of them...

I heard automatic gunfire from outside, and I knew that people were managing it. Then, I saw Adagio fight the Runners right in the middle of it. They were practically ignoring her...

And Kyle.

Are they connected somehow? Are they... could they be...

Related?

I woke up in the infirmary with Nicholas checking my head.

"Thought you wouldn't wake up." He said.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"About a day. We cleared out the herd and we're investigating what happened." Nicholas said.

"Someone set a bomb. It went off and the herd came through." I said.

"Do you know how you're not dead?"

"W... yeah, I guess someone got me out of there, right...?" I asked.

"No. The herd practically ignored you. They just ran past you like a stampede. Also, they ignored one of your own. The one with the large orange hair... Adagio, right?" Nicholas asked.

"Yeah, that's her name. What are you saying, then?" I asked nervously.

"I need a blood sample for a simple DNA test. I already have Adagio and Sonata's, I just need yours." Nicholas held out a syringe.

I nodded and he took the sample.

"You didn't even flinch. You must have a high tolerence for pain." Nicholas said.

"Yeah... Crystal Prep does that to you." I said.

"I should have the results by noon. You should see your people, Scooaloo's been worried."

I nodded and went out to see the others.

A.K.A, Adagio and Scootaloo.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You were both ignored by them. What aren't you telling us?" Scootaloo asked.

"I- I don't know. All I know is that I was knocked out by the recoil and I woke up here." I said.

"I know what's been happening..." Adagio said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"KYLE! ADAGIO! YOU SHOULD COME SEE THIS!" I heard Nicholas shout.

We ran in and I saw what seemed to be a close-up of the blood samples.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Look at this... the cells are SPIKING, they are a deep shade of red. At least... that's in Adagio's blood." Nicholas changed it to mine, which had some of these cells and the rest were typical.

"What does this mean?" I asked.

"I have no idea. Adagio, could you possibly tell us?" Nicholas asked.

Adagio let out a sigh and took a seat.

"Me and Kyle are related." Adagio said right off the bat.

There was a short period of silence in the room as Scootaloo and Sonata came and shut the door.

"What?" I asked.

"You heard me. Me, Sonata, and Aria are your half-sisters." Adagio said.

"I hoped they'd tell you..." The voice...

Aria said.

"Kyle, have you been hearing any voices in your head?" Sonata asked suddenly.

"Yes. Yes, I have. I've been hearing her ever since we left Sanctuary." I said.

"Kyle, the voice is Aria communicating with you telepathically. She's trying to get you on her side of the prophecy." Adagio said.

"Wait... what prophecy?" I asked.

"Man, Henry really didn't tell you anything, did he?" Adagio asked.

That was it. I grabbed my gun and drew it on her.

"How do you know that name?! What the HELL'S going on here?!" I asked.

"Kyle... you can't be attacked by them, and neither can we. That's all that manners now." Sonata said.

I nodded and lowered the gun.

"Is there anything else I should know?" I asked Adagio.

"Just go home. Somewhere there's all the answers you need." Adagio said.

Home? She doesn't mean...

The orphanage.

Me and Sonata were headed back to what was left of Sanctuary Orphanage. We saw the rubble of the main building, and we saw the cabins which were still up.

"Feels like we're just heading back." I said.

"Yeah... it does." Sonata said as she parked.

I grabbed my Judge and we went to the rubble.

"Anything we could see?" Sonata asked.

"One night, I saw him move a vending machine and walk down a stairway. Maybe we can still find the stairs." I said as we moved the rubble.

I started to remember the fire that took Dad's life. I remember the blood-shrilled screams of my friends that were melted to a crisp by the fire, Dad...

"I found it!" Sonata said.

I snapped out of it and I ran over to her. We saw the stairs and I pulled out a flashlight. We walked down to what seemed to be a set of computers and desks.

"Search the desks." I said.

Sonata went through and we saw what seemed to be birth certificates.

MY birth certificates.

"Are these... fake?" Sonata asked.

"Yeah, they are..." I said.

We kept looking until we found a video tape. We played it and we saw what seemed to be Dad.

"For my son, or whoever managed to find this when the world ends... I'm sorry. This was my fault, really. My son could've been purely human, my... my daughter would be happy with him as a brother. But... this isn't what happened. Instead, Kyle's mother just so happens to be the Siren Queen."

"Wait, Beth?!" I asked.

"My current wife, Beth Williams, has some recognition of Kyle's past, but not completely. I had Kyle a few years after I had Scootaloo."

SCOOTALOO?!

I paused the video.

"Scootaloo's my sister?!" I cried.

"My, God..." Sonata said.

I sighed and resumed the video. I had to know more.

"Kyle, I am so sorry to put this much weight on your shoulders. I always told you that you would be a great man, that you would take on the family buisness, but... you are either our messiah, or our destructor. That's on me, not you. So, whatever happens between now and the end of the world, make it count. Fight to make sure that you aren't like them."

I stopped the video right then and there.

I didn't make it count. I just let it slip, and to finish it off...

This bite on my neck.

This...

FILTHY

GOD-DAMNED

DISQUSTING

HICKEY!

"Go. Now." I said as I went to find...

Something.

I found a strand of sandpaper in a drawer. I hear Sonata ask what I was doing.

I aimed it, and I pulled back.

I did it again.

Again.

Again.