Amber Deen Leska

Amber Deen hadn’t heard of another group fighting the 2Ms, much less a different bunch of Adumbrae.

Shouldn’t Adumbrae be united in—? She actually didn’t know what the ultimate goals of these monsters were. It wasn’t far-fetched there’d be in-fighting among them, especially given Hedley Kow’s claim that he retained his human mind. Hard to accept even if she didn’t know why he, or rather they, would make it up—they have just met her several minutes ago.

Which parts of their story were true and which ones weren’t, Deen couldn’t tell for sure.

However, she genuinely believed the part that Erind had attacked…killed people. The bloody clothes in the washing machine she found the other day were evidence it had happened, and on more than one occasion it seemed. This was confirmation Erind was changing because of the Adumbrae inside her, and it was all Deen’s fault—she wasn’t able to protect her best friend from the attack on the condo she lived in that definitely caused her to be seeded.

Erind had risked her life to save Deen from the Adumbrae chasing them at Sanders parking lot. But Deen, in turn, had failed her best friend. She was supposed to be the heroic one, sacrificing her humanity to meld with the artificial Core, risking everything to obtain the power to fight Adumbrae. And what did she have to show for it?

Her savior, the person she owed her life to, became an Adumbrae.

This was why Deen resolved to stick with Erind, to protect her no matter what, even if her best friend would eventually forsake her humanity and become an evil incarnate. Deen was fine with all of that, for it would be her penance and duty.

“You found a way to keep your human mind?” Deen asked in almost a whisper. It sounded too unbelievable. Were they lying to entice her to join them? They could’ve just offered her protection from the BID; a newly seeded individual would already be grateful for that. But if this was true, and she sincerely hoped it was, could this be the way to help Erind? Something concrete, not her band-aid solution of trying to protect and hide Erind’s true nature for as long as she could.

“Yep, yep,” Hedley cheerily replied. “As you can see, we’re way past the seeding stage—no trace of our original human body. The Adumbrae has taken firm root. But we’re fine and dandy.”

“Well, Hedley, she—our friend here…” Kow questioningly tilted his head to Deen.

“Amber Deen,” she replied. “Just call me Deen.” It was pointless to give a fake identity because they knew about Erind.

“Deen here has no way of knowing if what we’re saying is true.”

“Oh right.” Hedley stuck her tongue out.

“We can leave that discussion for later,” Kow said. “It’s going to take a time to explain everything, and also to prove it; we can’t spare much right now. What’s important to know is that there’s going to be a repeat of the incident at your friend’s condominium building—”

Hedley snickered. “‘Incident’ is an understatement.”

“—on a much bigger scale. We suspect it’s going to be tomorrow at EFU Medical Center, during the time Auron Cohenn said the PCM will attack the hospital to remove the patients related to the previous Adumbrae attacks.”

“Whatever that entails.”

“All of that is a cover to gather as many people as possible to feed the monsters they’ll unleash. An act of terrorism to force out a seeding outbreak.”

“Wha—? I-I don’t understand,” Deen stammered in reply. “That’s horrible!” Contrary to the facade of cluelessness her Guardian Angel advised her to have, she already knew something suspicious was going on inside the hospital. But she didn’t think it was going to be this. It’s starting to make sense. I should tell the others about it!

“Like I said,” Hedley chimed in, “we’re trying to stop it. That’s what that toasted machine back there is for—supposed to be for.”

“It’s made from two types of field generators we stole from the PCM,” Kow explained. “We suspect those could turn humans into monsters and control them, and I was tinkering with it, checking if it’d elicit some reaction from the passing protestors outside, and perhaps find a way to counteract their signal when they’re going to be used tomorrow.”

“This should be Euphonia’s job,” murmured Hedley as she folded her arms with a huff, probably referring to another Adumbrae.

“Since these are out of commission,” Kow said, “we have to find replacements. And soon.” He took out a bulky gadget from the front pouch of his sweatshirt; it appeared similar to a satellite phone with a sausage-looking antenna and a greenish blinking screen. “Although, I’m not sure if we’ll be able to find any unless somebody turns one on and we can trace the signal it emits.”

“It’s really lucky,” Hedley said to Deen, “for you and for us, that we met each other. More for you, because you did accidentally destroy the generators we were working on, and that's a bummer for us. But I’m sure you can make up for it by assisting us in our mission. It’s only me, Kow, and Penemue in this city, a real struggle on manpower.”

“I-I’m not sure what to do,” Deen cautiously replied. Were they guilting her into helping? How long was she going to stick with them? She could glean more information, but she’d also increase the risk of getting found out.

“You should stick with us,” Kow said. “I’m sure you’ll be of help looking for more generators. And it’s better than being alone when whatever Auron Cohenn is planning comes to fruition.”

“What about Erind?”

“You can tell her to prepare. After we’re done with our mission in this city, we’ll take both of you—"

“Wait! We’re going to leave?”

“Yes. Of course, we—”

“Like leave our lives? Our families?” Deen was elated earlier that she might’ve found a way to help Erind, but it now dawned on her it’d mean Erind going with these people forever. “Leave everything behind?”

“You’re seriously not saying you'll stay with your families?” Hedley said. “You might be thinking you could go back to your normal life if you succeed in pushing the Adumbrae in your head to dormancy…but we are Adumbrae…there’s no normal life for us anymore.”

“There is also the service you’ll render for the help we’ll extend,” Kow said in a foreboding tone.

“Kow, you’re making it sound like we’re an evil organization taking advantage of people,” Hedley said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, Deen. I told you we’re the actual good guys. We’re going to fight Adumbrae inside of us and those around. Think of paying it forward. Pretty noble, right?”

“And now, we should get going.”

“No, no. I’m not going with you.” Deen was no longer so sure of asking for their help. Gabe hadn’t given any more instructions. “I-I have to think first, and then, uh, talk to Erind. I don’t even know what to say to my family, um—”

Hedley and Kow looked at each other. “We’re going to insist you come with us,” they said at the same time. “We can’t risk you and Erind—real Adumbrae specimens—falling into the hands of Auron Cohenn.”

“That’s not going—”

“And if they’ll flood this city with monsters,” Hedley said, “we don’t know what’ll happen if you get eaten by them.”

Kow grabbed Hedley’s hand. “We’d have peace of mind if you’re with us.”

Uh-oh. Deen didn’t like her chances fighting both of them at the same time. Gabe, what do I—?

Beep! Beep!

Kow’s gadget was flashing. He glanced at it and then turned to the open window. Screams filtered in from the streets outside. There was something that could be gunfire and a couple of muffled explosions. “They’re doing it now?”

“Seems like it, yeah.” Hedley tutted as she scrolled through her phone. “Posts about Adumbrae all over Snippet.”

Kow went over to the smoldering machine and kicked it as if that’d fix it. It sputtered a cloud of rancid black smoke before a small explosion scattered its pieces all over the floor. “We can’t even try to…If only Euphonia was here.”

“Monsters attacks in this area,” said Hedley, “and—oh! Auron is at the precinct we left Penemue at. It's on the news a while ago.”

Kow rummaged through his pockets. “Did I leave it behind? Here it is!” He took out a phone. “I’m going to message everyone in Cornelio’s contact list. Maybe we can get one of them to Penemue; he’d want to save as many people as he could over there.”

“Hmm, you did tell those SVS people to surrender themselves at that precinct for safety. Funny how that went.”

“What’s happening?” Deen asked. “Are the monsters—?”

“Yes, Auron Cohenn apparently moved the schedule of their attack,” Kow replied. His brows furrowed. “We’ll be forced to fight.” He pointed at her. “Deen, you contact Erind. The two of you should hide. You can stay in this building until we come back for you.”

“She’s not going to stay put here,” Hedley drawled, giving Deen a wink.

“We have too much on our plates right now,” Kow said with a sigh. Their clasped hands glowed purple. “Your Sloth or my Veneer?”

“Veneer is going to light up BID sensors.” Hedley shook her head and sighed. “But it’s not like this is the time for subtlety. Let’s get this over and done.”

“Veneer it is.”

A flash of purple light, and once again, the two children were gone.

Deen involuntarily took a step back.

Replacing the twins was a ten-foot-tall humanoid creature with an appearance that reminded Deen of the pictures of the devil from Christianity her hyper-religious aunt used to show her before she changed her religion to worshipping High Overseers. The demon creature, who was probably named Veneer before Hedley Kow absorbed it, as they did with Dr. Cornelio, had a flaky dark reddish skin, almost like a cockroach’s exoskeleton, covering its incredibly muscular body. Six large horns jutted symmetrically from the sides of its head, curling forward into drills; it added a couple more feet to its height that it had to stoop or it’ll hit the ceiling. Giant bat-like wings, their leathery membrane torn in places, grew from its shoulder blades.

Its red-hot coal eyes fixed on Deen. She gulped, a bit nervous and intimidated. Then she put on a brave face. Gabe would tell her if she was in danger.

“Stay hiding here…or go…just don’t get in our way,” said Veneer, or rather, Hedley Kow. It had a silvery voice that seemed to come from everywhere and made Deen’s heart pound faster. “Use the time…decide if you and Erind will come with us…we’ll offer our help only once…then you’re on your own.”

Hedley Kows’s vast wings covered its body and it suddenly dissolved into a black puddle on the floor. The puddle zipped to the wall, up to the window, and disappeared outside.

Deen exhaled, her whole body slumping down.

She didn’t realize her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and the hairs on her arms standing straight up.

“Oh my gosh. I don’t know what’s happening anymore.” She stared at the floor for a few seconds. More screams from out the street snapping her out of her stupor. Phone! She fumbled checking her pockets. She needed to contact…just anyone. And also check up on Erind.

She had dozens of missed calls and unread messages, most of them from her sister. They started as furious messages, asking her where she went. Deen grimaced reading them; she had anxiety dealing with her when she got angry. Then the messages turned into concern, telling her about the attacking monsters.

“The BID is protecting us,” Deen read. The LEPD headquarters was near city hall, and there was a temporary BID base there. Her sister should be safe. She hastily sent replied with an apology for suddenly leaving along with an explanation that she had to go home to attend a make-up class online that she had forgotten about. “I’m safe at home,” she texted her sister. “There are no Adumbrae here. May the Mother Core keep you safe. Keep in touch.”

The other messages were from her friends and schoolmates, blasting group messages, sharing about the ‘Adumbrae seeding outbreak’. She knew it wasn’t what was happening, but it might as well be. There were no messages from Erind or Myra, only from Reo and Everett. They were a block away from the hospital, asking for help.

Deen tried calling Erind, but she couldn’t connect. Next, she tried Myra’s number. Same result. Dario's phone was ringing, but he wasn't picking up.

Did something bad happen to them? Were they near an area with monsters? Maybe Reo and Everett knew about something. She decided to find those two since she was near them.

“Help!” yelled a woman inside a car. She had crashed into a metal fence, the front of the car crumpled, likely pinning her legs inside. A monster with a clump of tentacles for a head tried to pull her out.

Deen jumped on top of the car, right behind the tentacle monster. It whipped its tendrils at her. She caught them. “Oh no, you don’t.” She pulled the creature off the roof and slammed it down the decorative spikes lining the top of the fence. The spikes burst out of its chest, holding it in place, but it still wasn’t dead. Tentacles grew all over its body, wrapping around the fence and the car.

These weren’t Adumbrae—that was what Hedley Kow said—but humans turned into monsters. As she fought them, she did notice they weren’t regenerating. But she had no idea how to kill them. They were very resilient, continuing to move even if she had ripped off their heads and limbs.

Before the tentacle monster could free itself from the fence, Deen jumped down the car. She yanked off its door, then punched away the pieces of metal that had bent inwards because of the crash.

The woman yelled in pain. Deen wanted to assure her, but she didn’t want anyone to hear her voice. She had pulled up her hoodie and made sure to hide her blonde hair; she also fashioned a mask from torn strips of her hoodie to cover the lower half of her face.

Thankfully the woman passed out so Deen was able to focus on freeing her. She carried the woman out of the car and ran down the street. Gabe, find me a safe place for her.

[Next block, red building, third-floor balcony.]

Thanks, I see it.

She was glad her Guardian Angel was becoming more responsive. Following its instructions, she effortlessly climbed to the small balcony in front of an open window. The room appeared to be empty, but she could hear someone trying to muffle their crying. The cabinet was shaking.

“Get out of here!” An angry man wielding a shotgun popped up from behind the sofa. “I don’t know how you fucking climbed up here, but we got no place for you!”

Deen gently placed the injured woman on the floor. Raising her hands to show she meant no harm, she slowly backed out of the balcony and jumped down to the streets.

She tried to save as many people as she could on her way to meet up with Reo and Everett. Unfortunately, most humans she passed were dead. She felt pangs of guilt in her heart.

This was the work of the 2Ms…but somehow…some way…she had a hand in their deaths.

The machine Hedley Kow was working on...she destroyed it. Not accidentally. It was her Guardian Angel’s contingency plan to distract Hedley Kow from forcibly taking her. If it wasn’t destroyed, could it have stopped the carnage going on around her? Hedley Kow seemed to think it could.

“Gabe, is this my fault?”

There wasn’t a pip from her Guardian Angel.

“So, now you’re not answering me.”

[Stop going forward.]

Deen halted in her tracks. The pavement was slightly quaking. A giant creature that was a pile of rotting corpses squeezed through the narrow alleyway between two buildings a few yards ahead. A step of its squat, yet humongous legs shook the ground. It had a lopsided grin on its face as it chewed a dead body, mangled legs dangling from its lips.

Before she could hold her breath, the terrible smell of this abomination hit her nose. She pulled down her mask and puked on the street. Wiping her mouth, she looked around for another way. Reo and Everett were somewhere up ahead.

Where do I—? She began to ask Gabe in her mind, but then the disgusting monstrous mound in front of her convulsed.

It trembled and deflated, spewing out half-digested body parts. Boils all over its body exploded. Deen was about to run away when something erupted out the head of the monster—a small chubby creature with disproportionately tiny wings.

“Blubber?” Deen said. “It’s Reo!”