Code Corrupted

the Kill Switch

The place smells like zinnias. That shouldnt be surprising but for some reason it is. My brain isn't braining.

"Dorian, are you okay?" I ask quietly, switching our coms to private so the others can't hear us.

"Nope. Not in the least." He shakes his head, making his lone loose curl bounce. I reach over and tuck it into his cap. He smiles.

"What's with the caps?" I ask.

"You can change your hair color to show allegiance to you guild. We don't do that here, but we definitely don't match the violet of the Amethyst guild. You're close enough we thought you'd be mistaken for one of them at a first glance."

"Oh." I reach up and touch my hair, "that's a little weird."

He huffs a laugh. "Its so we don't change midfight. Its a way for the guild leaders lording power over us and I hate it."

"You know, you talk like you've been here a lot longer than a week."

"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't. No one will ever know." His eyes are smiling mischievously.

"Maybe I will." I change our channel back to the squad, "found anything, general?" I ask Audrey.

"Nope. They keep their safe well hidden."

"That sucks." I sigh and turn my coms off completely. My body isn't tired, but my mind is begging me to sleep. I guess that's the difference between my old games and this one.

This Way. I recognize the sign from call of duty. Its in my arsenal with "stand ground", "right" and "left flanks", and "take cover".

"Hands where I can see them." Dorian freezes and so do I. He resembles a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.

"The smoke didn't get you?" I ask, holding my hands in the air but making sure ehe can't see my blades.

"My mask is fitted with the latest and greatest." He says, "so. What brings you to our neck of the woods? I thought you just slummed around that backwater world Hazel or whatever it's called."

"Son of a bitch, you know what it's called." Audrey snaps angrily.

"Oh? Audrey, I didn't recognize you without your hair. Really, you mustn't hide that shock. What color is it today?" The boy reaches over and plucks the hat off Audrey's head, spilling her neon green hair across her shoulders. It appears almost radiant in the light.

"Don't fucking touch me, you backstabbing--"

"Oh, don't talk to me about backstabbing." He snaps, "you armed me and treated me like a soldier. Like I was EXPENDABLE! I'm not expendable, Atilla. I never was."

"So do the Amethysts see your true worth then?" She retorts.

His nostrils flare. Or at least I think they do. I can't see much of his face between the mask and his dull purple hair covering most of it. All I can see is the glint of his avatars red eyes. Albino eyes.

"Well, at least they don't call me CUPID!" he snaps. "Now come on. We're putting you in the cells."

"You and what army?" Myraid asks.

"I don't need one. You're all powerless. You can't draw your weapons without me knowing."
I can hear the smirk in his voice.

"Valentine." Dorians voice is quiet. "Please, just let us go. We haven't done anything yet."

Valentine? Whos-- the one who left the Guild. The thought hits me and my fists clench in the air.

"Oh, Dorian."  Valentine's voice is full of sorrow. "You were the only thing I ever regretted letting go." Oh. Oh my God. Valentine. His ex. These are his blades.