Fear the Night
Chapter 21-The Announcement

Chapter 21: The Announcement

Midnight came too slowly for Isabella andNatalie, but all too quickly for the people in town. When the sun began to set, hardly any peopleattempted to head for the Keith mansion. When they saw no Drones in the streets, and Suits literally everywhere,they inched from their homes and down the streets, warily glancing over theirshoulders. No one walked alone, alwaysin groups of two or more.

Whenthe moon was up, the streets lights around the mansion lit, and the camera streaminga live feed to every news station and television in the country was set up nextto the fountain that everyone was assembled around in front of the Keithmansion, Mr. Keith stood on the steps with his daughter and her friend.

“Ihope you know what you’re doing, daughter,” he mumbled from the corner of hismouth as he stared at the crowd in front of his home.

“Thankyou for your trust in me, father,” she whispered back and he stroked the backof her head before stepping closer to the impatient crowd.

“Whatis this, Keith?!” one of the crowd shouted. “Do you know the risk we take by just being out here?!”

“ADrone could attack at any moment!” a woman shouted in fear.

“Didyou call us here to die?!”

“What’sgoing on?! Tell us, now!”

Thecrowd roared with shouts of displeasure and fear and Mr. Keith onlysighed. He was far too old to be doingthis, wasn’t he?

“People! Please, listen!” he entreated loudly, raisinghis hands up to the crowd who slowly but surely died down. “Iam not the one who will be speaking to you tonight!”

Amurmur of suspicious yet incoherent words came from the crowd, but Mr. Keithcontinued, “I have asked you to gather here to hear out someone who has mademany sacrifices to here and obtain the knowledge he’s gathered! Let Maverick Fallon come forward and speakfrom where I stand!”

Helifted his hand toward the crowd, his eyes searching for the man he’d calledfor.

Itdidn’t shock Isabella or Natalie that many of the Suits around them made quickdraw of their guns and began searching the crowd for him as well. They didn’t need to search long. Gasps and cries and shouts of terror weretrailing through the air one by one as the crowd parted and the Suits bracedthemselves as Natalie’s father stepped back to stand with her and Isabella heldher breath.

Maverickmarched through the crowd, head held high, hands clenched into fists, Yukiobehind him, just as confident and determined…Maverick’s Drone father stalkingnext to his son.

Peoplejumped back at the sight of the Drone who only looked around at the crowd inthe kind of frightened curiosity a dog would. A few Suits stood in front of them just as they were about to step up tothe mansion, guns drawn.

Maverickonly smirked and without missing a beat, a few Drones came out of nowhere andtackled the Suits, throwing their guns away but they only held the mendown. Maverick stepped over thetrembling Suits at the mercy of the Drones and gave a scoff of amusement. None of the other Suits attempted to stop himas he headed up the stairs of the mansion.

“Don’tbe afraid,” he called to the crowd who whipped their attention to him as heclimbed up the stairs then faced them. “These Drones are protecting you from the others surrounding the town. They’re holding off other squads of them at thismoment.”

“Whatthe hell is this?!” a man shouted from the crowd. “Who are you?!”

I’mthe one who’s going to tell you the truth about the day of Lock-Dah,” Maverickreplied as Yukio stepped to the camera, lifted his hand to it as he examined itthen headed up the stairs as well to stand next to Maverick. “I’m someone who was orphaned by the Darknessin my parents and I’m the one whodidn’t give up hope that they could be brought back from the dead.

“Youall think Drones were lost in their darkness forever. I’m here to tell you that’s not true. The government deceived us and seeded fearand doubt in our minds. Those who havelost loved ones to the Darkness can have them back. The government said it couldn’t be done. Let me ask you, did the government even try to bring a Drone back to its humanform?!”

“Wedid!” one of the Suits argued. “Wecaptured one for observation! It diedwithin two days!”

“Yousaw it with your own eyes?!” Maverick shot back. “Or one of your superiors told you aboutit?!”

“W-Well…”the Suit trailed off, his eyes shifting under his shades in nervousness. He had no good answer for him.

“Yousee?” Maverick called, addressing the crowd again. “Lies! Every damn word of it!”

“Andwhat makes you think we’ll believe anything youtell us?!” another person shouted from the crowd. “What proof do you have that you’re telling the truth?!”

Mavericksaid nothing and only gestured to his Drone father who took the hint andstepped forward between his son and Yukio to address the crowd, still slumpedon all fours like an ape.

“Here’smy proof,” Maverick finally said, solemnly. “This is my father, taken from me when I was only ten, but notcompletely. It’s his squad protecting you now, and he was there forty yearsago. He saw the first Drone with his owneyes, and if you don’t believe me, hecan tell you what happened to the president and his daughter forty years ago.”

Maverickand Yukio stepped back as one of the crowd shouted, “Drones don’t talk! You have no proof!”

“Listen,”was all Maverick’s father said and a gasp swept the crowd, followed by amurmur. “My son speaks truth. My speech, not so good, but good enough totell truth of Lock-Dah. I saw Dronewhile guarding president forty years ago. Government said daughter was kidnapped. Not true. She was first Drone. The one Isaw.”

“That’sa lie!” one of the crowd protested. “Whywould the government lie to us?!”

“Bodyguardstook power after Drone killed president,” Maverick’s father replied as his sontook a small step forward to help him, but stepped back again. “Drone was his daughter. Government never tried to capture her tohelp. Too afraid.”

“Iwas labeled a fugitive for having a Drone in my home,” Maverick spoke up. “They didn’t want anyone figuring out thatthey could be cured or they wouldlose control of the country. The Suitswould be dismantled if people decided to elect a new president, so they put thefear of God into them using the Drones. The Suits only want power. Theycould care less about people’s safety! They only care about power!”

“Andwhat about you, huh?!” a personshouted from the crowd. “Aren’t youtelling all of this to us to gain power?! You expect us to elect youpresident after you supposedly ‘save’ us from ignorance?!”

Everyonewas silent as all eyes turned to Maverick. He gazed down in thought for a moment as everyone was still silent. He scoffed and looked at the man who hadaddressed him with a confidence in his eyes that made the man shrink back abit.

“Youdo what you want,” Maverick smirked. “Icould care less about ruling this damn place. All I know is, the people of this country need to know the truth of thisforty year conspiracy, and before I leave this world, dammit, I’ll tell theentire world the truth aboutLock-Dah!”

Isabellaallowed one sob to jerk her shoulders, but quickly composed herself as a tearran down her cheek. No one but Natalieglanced at her, even though Maverick had heard her as well but he didn’t darelook at her. If he did, he would loseall that confidence thick in his voice. He hadn’t seen her since that morning, but it had felt like ages sincehe’d left her at the Barrier.

“Whyshould we believe you?” one of the crowd called out after a moment of awkwardsilence. “This could be some huge hoaxfor all we know!”

Maverickgave his confident smirk and raised a hand to stop Yukio when he opened hismouth to argue. The younger man quicklyclosed it again and shrunk back as Maverick gestured to one of the Suits undera Drone. The Drone snarled and climbedoff the Suit who shot to his feet and dusted himself off before looking atMaverick.

“Tellme,” Maverick began, coolly, “and think about this before you lie through yourteeth. Isn’t the real reason you’re after me because I was close to replaceing out thetruth? Isn’t it because I had a Dronethat was making progress in becoming human again, contradicting thegovernment’s lie that they couldn’t come back? You bastards knew where I was and what I was doing for who knows how longand you were just watching me to see howfar I’d get, right?”

“That’senough, Maverick.”

Hefroze at the sound of the familiar voice, but the gasp after it made him whirlaround to stare at the place Isabella was standing. His breath caught, silently at the sight hewas met with, but shock and disbelief turned to hot, boiling anger at seeingIsabella being restrained by an arm around her shoulders, a gun at her temple.

“Whatthe hell do you think you’re doing, Yukio?” Maverick seethed through clenchedteeth, holding up a hand to his father who was ready to pounce on the youngerman, but stopped at Maverick’s silent command. Isabella’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she trembled and Mr. Keithyanked his daughter back when Natalie tried to help her friend.

“I’mdoing what I was ordered to,” Yukio replied, emotionlessly. “You can’t say any more, Mave. It’s over. That camera in front of the fountain isn’t even on. I turned it off.”

Maverickfought the urge to look back at the camera, anger at being deceived and that agun was being held to the woman he loved searing through his mind andheart. The edges of his vision had areddish tint coming to them.

“Whatyou were ordered to do, huh?”Maverick seethed. “By whom, you sneaky son of a bitch?”

“Youdon’t know the whole story, and you don’t needto know, Mave,” Yukio replied, unmoving as Isabella still trembled. “Don’t make me hurt Izzy, ok? Just stop talking and turn yourself in. You and your dad with his squad.”

“You’vealready hurt her, Yukio,” Maverickreplied, knowing his betrayal had carved a deep wound in all of theirhearts. “And if I don’t know the wholestory, why don’t you explain it to me, or was that just a line to make yourselfout as the victim here?”

“Don’tplay cocky with me, Mave!” Yukiosnarled, the barrel of the gun slightly tapping Isabella’s head and making herwhimper. “I’ve seen the way you are whenfaced with the Suits! Can you act thesame way with me behind that name?!”

“You’reno Suit, Yukio,” Maverick replied, “and you’re far from the Greenhorn youwere. You don’t know how to play withthe big dogs, though. But if it’s afight you’re looking for…”

Withoutanother word he leaned toward Natalie and yanked her from her father’sgrasp. He held her close to him with anarm around her shoulders, a gun of his own which he’d pulled from his belt andheld to her temple with the other hand, his eyes stone cold as he stared atYukio and Isabella’s astonished faces.

“M-Maverick,that’s not going to help!” Isabella trembled in wide-eyed confusion whenNatalie wailed in fear. Mr. Keith movedto help his daughter, but Maverick’s Drone father leapt in front of him to stopthe man who stared at the Drone in wide-eyed disbelief.

“Wait,”the Drone murmured.

“Whatthe hell do you think you’re doing, Mave?!” Yukio shouted, his hand shaking ashe began to tremble violently as well.

“It’sa standoff you want, right?” Maverick replied calmly, ignoring Natalie’swhimpers and the crowd behind him that was staring n at the scene intently,wondering what would happen next. “Alright, kid, what’s it gonna be? You may have been able to get away with lying to me pretty well, but I can see it in your face and hear it in yourtone…you love this girl. You won’t letme kill her.”

Hewatched carefully as Yukio shuddered, breathing so heavily that everyonethought he would hyperventilate and pass out. His hands and knees were shaking, his eyes were as round as the moonabove and the hand on Isabella’s shoulder was balling into a fist around it.

“Well,kid?” Maverick called. “What’s it gonnabe?”

Yukio’seyes were shooting gazes in every direction. He was panicked and Maverick thought he knew why. Letting down his weapon, he shoved Natalieback to her father who welcomed her with open arms from his stance in front ofMaverick’s father. Maverick steppedtoward Yukio and Isabella, the younger man still trembling.

“They’renot gonna get you, Yukio,” he assured, gently.

“Stayback, Maverick!” Yukio shrieked, the gun shaking tapping Isabella’s templeagain. “I-I’ll shoot her!”

“Youdon’t wanna shoot her any more than Iwanted to shoot Natalie, kid,” Maverick replied, still walking toward him. “You saw yourself the squad of Drones set uparound the town. The Suits don’t have anything on them.”

“Maverick!”Isabella shouted in warning, but he didn’t turn around in time and froze whenhe felt the barrel of a gun on the base of his skull allowing him to hearclearly the action of the hammer cocking back to fire.

“Don’tmove, Mr. Fallon,” the Suit warned from behind him, then he looked around himat Yukio. “Good job, Mr. Hayate. You’ll be rewarded as promised, and the onesyou care for will be threatened no longer---”

TheSuit was cut off when he shouted in terror as Maverick’s father tackled him tothe ground. The gun went off before hehit the ground and the bullet buried itself in Maverick’s thigh when he whirledaround. He gave a strangled cry of painand knelt on one knee but quickly shot back up, gritting his teeth against thepain.

“Stoptelling them!” the Suit screamed. “Theycan’t know! It’ll ruin everything!”

“Shutyour mouth, you idiot!” a Suit from beneath another Drone growled at him, buteveryone had heard him. Maverick tookthat opportunity to prove his point.

“Yousee?” he shrugged, matter-of-factly then struggled to turn to Yukio who stillheld Isabella, but his gun was slowly lowering to his side. “Yukio?”

Theyounger man’s wide-eyed gaze shot to his and he still trembled, his breathingerratic. Maverick slowly limped towardhim, a hand out to him.

“Giveme the gun, kid,” he requested, gently.

Yukiolooked at the gun in his hand as Isabella trembled as well, but didn’t turn tolook at him. He looked back at Maverick,paler than a sheet, the gun slowly sliding from his hand and when it hit theground he turned his gaze to Isabella and spun her around frantically, paniccovering his face.

“Ihad to do it, Izzy!” he explained,knowing he had to, but he couldn’t explain it to anyone but her. She was the only one that would understand,he hoped. “The Suits said they weregonna kill you if I didn’t doit! All those times I went out, givingthem reports…I had to! I was protecting you! Please don’t be mad, Izzy! No one was supposed to get hurt when theycame to Maverick’s pad! I didn’t wannado any of it, but I didn’t wanna loseyou, Izzy! Don’t be hate me,please!” Yukio pulled Isabella into atight, desperate, hug as he cried, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for everything!”

Isabellastood as still as a statue, wide, golden eyes staring at nothing, her facepaler than pale, still in shock. Maverickturned back to the crowd, a hand on his leg, covering the wound on his thighand held a hand out to his side.

“Whetheryou believe me anymore or not, it doesn’t matter to me now,” he admitted. “You’ve witnessed the manipulative waystonight, first hand, and I’ve said my piece. Now, I suggest you all go home before my father and his squad leave aswell.”

“Wecan’t leave yet!” a man from the crowd shouted and Maverick frowned in wonderat him. “Come on, people! The Central Buildingisn’t far from here! Let’s show thesedamned Suits what we think of all their lies and deception!”

Thecrowd roared in agreement and turned to hurry down the lit streets as the groupon the steps pf the Keith mansion watched in astonishment at the revolutionthey’d started. The Drones on the Suitsmoved away for a few from the crowd to grab hold of them and drag them with thecrowd, kicking and screaming to be let go and being punched to silence them.

“Maverick?”Yukio called and the older man turned to him with a bit of a limp and Yukioswallowed, his mouth agape after doing so. He looked exhausted, and Maverick knew he was. “It was a lie. The camera…I never turned it off. I said that for the Suits. I-I’m sorry, Mave! I didn’t mean for it to go that far---!”

“Yukio!”Natalie called and he turned in time to catch her when she ran into his armsand hugged him close. Withouthesitation, she pulled away and kissed him as is she hadn’t seen him in years.

“Iwas so frightened,” she shuddered, hugging him again. “Don’t you ever do that again!”

“Natalie---”

“Justtell me you won’t!”

Yukiosighed in defeat, hugging her back after another moment and whispering, “Iwon’t, Natalie. I swear.”

Nataliebegan sobbing into his shoulder and Maverick looked up at Isabella at the exactsame moment she looked at him as well. His heart sank at her appearance. Her eyes were huge and glassy from threatening tears, her skin was sopale, she could have passed for a Drone if not for her eye and hair color andthe fact that she stood erect.

Sheonly stared at him and he stared back, waiting for everything to sink in thenheld a hand to her, beckoning her to his embrace. She ran toward him and he gave a grunt whenshe rammed into him but held her with one arm, his hand still on histhigh. He felt her shudder and heard herchoked sobs but only pulled her closer.

“It’salright, Bell,”he murmured, stroking her hair, soothingly. “It’s all over. It’s finished.”

“Notquite,” Mr. Keith argued, drawing everyone’s attention. “What about this uprising you’ve juststarted? Now that the people knoweverything, they’ll need a leader. They’ll ask you.”

“Maverick,don’t do it!” Isabella breathed, gazing up at him and gripping his shirt in herfists at his chest. He looked back ather desperate, wide-eyed gaze as she repeated, “Don’t do it! Don’t become a leader in a revolution! It’ll only take you away from me, and it maybe selfish, but I can’t live without you! If you were killed…I-I wouldn’t know what to do! Please don’t let them make you their leaderfor their uprising!” She wrapped herarms under his to rest her head on his chest as he still held her and she begansobbing again.

“Hey,Bell?” he called, gently after a moment and when she looked up at him theireyes locked as he said, “I hadn’t planned on helping out. The people are on their own now.”

Maverickfelt his heart swell when Isabella’s face lit up and she stood on her tiptoesto kiss him with all the passion she possessed. He deepened the kiss before pulling away and Isabella grinned so widely,Maverick was afraid her face would stay that way.

“Well,”Yukio called, hesitantly. “What now?”

“Now we head back to Joshua’s,” Maverickreplied and turned to his Drone father. “What do you say, dad?”

“Go,”he nodded. “My squad stay here. Protect city. I go with you. Protect you.”

“Thanks,”Maverick nodded and pulled Isabella under his arm with a smirk as he asked, “Bemy crutch for a bit?”

Shenodded and said, “After we get to Joshua’s, I’ll help him with your leg.”

“Nah,”Maverick groaned as they headed down the steps, thanking Mr. Keith on the waywith Yukio, Natalie and Maverick’s Drone father. “I’ll have better things for you to do while Joshua fixes me up. Let’s just get there first.”

“AndYukio?” she whispered, stopping herself and Maverick. He frowned and turned to see Yukio, scaredstiff and Natalie latched to his arm. Maverick only smirked and looked back at Isabella.

“I’mnot worried about him,” he shrugged, starting down the stairs again.

“You’renot mad at him?” she wondered in shock.

“Bell,” he began, stoppingat the bottom step and turning her so they were face to face. “You’re not, and the camera feeding this tothe whole country is still on. I can’t be mad. Besides, I know him. He may be sneaky, but he has too much heartto kill his friends.”

Notfar down the street they heard crashes and shouting, making them all jump andNatalie gripped Yukio’s arm a little tighter.

“Natalie?”Mr. Keith called, drawing everyone’s attention. “Come inside before you get hurt. I have a feeling a riot will begin soon, if it hasn’t already.”

Natalielooked back up at Yukio with sorrow filled eyes, knowing her father wasprobably right, but not wanting to leave Yukio.

“I’llcome to see you when the dust settles,” he assured her, pulling his arm fromher grip and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Go inside with your father and lock thedoor. Stay safe for me. Promise?”

Natalienodded solemnly with a sniffle and Yukio pulled her toward him for a kissbefore gently guiding her to her father. She stopped and looked back at him to shudder, “Be careful, please?”

Henodded and the four watched her and her father go back inside before headingtoward the Barrier to meet Joshua. Theman had stayed there when the younger men had entered with Maverick’s fatherand he was there still.

Hehelped Isabella crutch Maverick through the woods, his father leading the wayand Yukio covering them from behind, Joshua’s rifle in one hand, the torchJoshua had brought in the other. Onceback at the house, Joshua instructed Isabella to get a basin of water with acloth as he sat Maverick on the couch and he told Yukio to start locking up thehouse.

“Howdo you always end up getting woundedin one way or another?” Joshua asked, ripping off a strip of his sleeve for atourniquet.

“Atleast it lets me know I’m still alive, right?” Maverick smirked and Joshuascoffed as Isabella came back with the things Joshua had requested.

“Isthere anything else you need?” she asked as Joshua dampened the coth in thewater.

“Bringmy medical bag from my office at the end of the hall, if you please, Miss?” herequested.

“Callme Isabella,” she replied, hurrying down the hall and Maverick watched Joshuawatching Isabella.

“Hey!”he snapped, catching the doctor’s attention. “Mind keeping your eyes to yourself, oldman?”

“Wow,Mave,” Yukio chuckled, coming back into the room. “I didn’t peg you for the jealous type.”

“Hehad goos reason to be,” Joshua chuckled back, ripping Maverick’s pant leg untilit uncovered his wound. “She’s abeautiful girl.”

“Hey!”Maverick snapped again in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing?! These are my favorite pants!”

“Wouldyou rather try taking them off?” Joshua retorted, dabbing the bullet wound withthe wet cloth.

“I’llfix them for you, Maverick,” Isabella assured him, coming in from the hall witha black bag and set it next to Joshua then sat down next to Maverick on thesofa.

“Youwon’t want to see this, Isabella,” Joshua warned, opening the bag and rummagingthrough it. “I have to get the bulletout of his leg.”

“I’mno stranger to blood, doctor,” she replied, taking Maverick’s hand as he onlystared at her. “Wounds don’t turn mystomach.”

“It’svery different when it’s someone youlove, though,” Joshua replied, pulling out a pair of pliers and a roll ofbandages from his bag.

Isabellasaid nothing and blushed instead as she cast her eyes down to her hands as theystill held hands. She caught a glimpseof Joshua lifting the pliers to Maverick’s leg and gripped his hand as herheart raced in panic. He’d been right,it was different.

“Don’tmove,” Joshua instructed Maverick and Isabella felt his hand tighten around oneof hers to brace himself. He bit his lipto mask the pain as Joshua dug around carefully in his thigh for the bullet andYukio came up behind Joshua’s shoulder but stayed at a good distance to let himwork.

“Damn,Mave,” Yukio sneered, but no one responded as Joshua pulled the bullet outslowly and examined it.

“Thingwent right through your pants,” he stated the obvious. “But it didn’t take any material with it, itlooks like.”

“Andif it had?” Yukio wondered as Joshua dropped the bullet in the water basin forlack of a better place for it.

“Ifit had, I’d have had to operate on his leg to get the cloth out with it,otherwise it would have festered,” Joshua explained, placing the pliers in thebasin as well and going for the bandages. “Clothing belongs on a person,not in them.”

Maverickscoffed as he leaned his head on Isabella’s shoulder, tiredly. It was one of those phrases Joshua made upand said like it was the wisdom of the ages. He’d heard a lot of those when living her, and he laughed at every onebecause the irony was, most of them were true, if random.

“Letme,” Isabella requested as Joshua began wrapping Maverick’s leg, but theyounger man pulled her back when she moved to get up. She frowned at him in confusion but he onlyburied his face in the crook of her neck, making her blush again as he onlysighed in contentment. Joshua scoffedand continued wrapping the man’s leg as Yukio rolled his eyes but felt a pangof envy because Natalie wasn’t there with him.

“So,now that you’ve started an uprising, what are you gonna do?” Joshua asked as hetied the bandage off. “Or had you eventhought of that?”

Mavericksighed again, this time in exhaustion and lifted his head to rest his chin onIsabella’s shoulder and stare at her.

“Iwas thinking I’d leave this place,” he finally replied after a moment ofsilence and Isabella snapped her gaze to him as Joshua knew he’d been forgottenand started gathering his things.

“What?!”she breathed with wide eyes.

“Wouldn’tyou wanna see what’s going on in theworld?” he questioned back, coolly and unmoving from her shoulder. “Maybe I’ll go to the Orient, or some exoticplace where no one knows me.”

“But…why?”Isabella breathed again. “Whyleave? Don’t you like it here?”

“Iused to,” Maverick admitted. “Now, Ireally can’t stand it here.”

“Oh,”she replied, vacantly and cast her eyes down in her lap to twiddle her thumbs.

Maverickfrowned and sat up slightly, still looking at her as he asked, “What’swrong?” She only shook her head but hecontinued, “Don’t you wanna travel the world and see new things and meet newpeople?”

Isabellasnapped her gaze back at him, not noticing Joshua smirk as he picked up histhings and walked away to put them away.

“Y-Youmean…?” she breathed, trailing off in disbelief at what he had said but he onlysmirked.

“Youdidn’t think I’d leave here without you,did you?” he replied and she gasped, throwing her arms around him as he caughther. “I’ll take that as a ‘Yes, I’llcome with you’?”

“Yes!”Isabella giggled, pulling away to kiss his face everywhere she could reach,repeating with glee, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”