Hiroshima, Crystal Crier

Hiroshima Book Four

E. Mendell

Published By E. Mendell at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 E. Mendell

Table Of Contents

The Beginning - 1

Chapter One

The Beginning - 2

Chapter Two

The Beginning - 3

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

The Beginning - 4

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

The Beginning - 5

Chapter Seven

The Beginning - 6

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

The Beginning - 7

Chapter Ten

The Beginning - 8

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

About the Author

Connect with E. Mendell

- Crystal Crier -

The Beginning - 1

I once thought I was empty. In my world there was no understanding of speech, writing, or general knowledge. I was a useless existence in a dark village. Even now I can remember the brick houses scattered across the grassy hills and the weaving paths where such cheerful people would walk. All of them smiled, each one had some reason to. I stood alone all my life, watching from a distance. I could only perceive a few words. Those words were water, food, and help. That was all I knew. Those three words got me through life for twenty years. I had a learning disability. Nothing anyone tried to teach me ever stuck. I myself knew my life was nothing more than a waste. After I failed school no one would take me in or teach me. They allowed my life to dissipate. I was sent away and shut out from the village. I still remember the days when I had no food and I would stand outside houses waiting for them to throw out their garbage. What a pitiful existence…

However I never thought of killing myself. That’s what I look back on and still find confusing. Not once did the thought of suicide cross my mind. I didn’t even hurt myself. I was already in enough pain. I was a scrawny man with dark hair and pale gold eyes. I lived off trash and had no friends. Why did I never think of dying? I suspect it’s because I felt like I was meant for something. I wasn’t just deadweight upon my village. So I strove to survive.

Then one day the helicopter landed in the village. I sat far on the distant hills and watched as people in fancy clothes left the helicopter and began speaking to the villagers. It was suspicious and I wondered who they were. My curiosity was quenched when they came directly to me and told me they were Scientists. Obviously I had no clue what that was, but they brought clean water and food so I was willing to go with them. They took me away on a helicopter and brought me to a giant white building. It was the size of my village and I was in raptures over how beautiful it was. The top floor was made of windows and it was divided into many different sections. I had never seen anything so wonderful in all my life.

I still think back on the moment they led me through those sliding steel doors. Had I know what would happen and why I was there, would I have gone? Were I to be granted the chance to go back in time and stop myself from entering the lab, could I do it? Well, that no longer matters. I went inside. There I was brought to my habitat. It was a scale model of my village, but with no people. The difference was that I had my own house. The scientists showed me to my own brick home where there was a table, bed, supplies, clothing, a fridge, and many other pleasures I had never known. It was thrilling, but I was granted one night in my hut before the experiments started.

All night I slept deep and dreamed of a wonderful life awaiting me. That was the first and last good dream I ever had.

In the morning my nightmare began. I was taken from my house and brought into a white room filled with weird objects. There were written words on the walls and notes all around, but to me it was just scribbled nonsense. I also didn’t understand what the scientists were saying to me as they helped me onto a strange metal bed and placed a mask over my mouth and nose. It had a weird smell and as I breathed everything started getting hazy. I saw the scientist’s strapping down my arms and ankles. After that everything went black.

In my subconscious I heard noises and felt prickling pains through my body. My mind was a shallow blank. Somewhere I heard a voice and I began to awake. My body felt heavy and my head was spinning. I opened my eyes and found I was still in the white room. The scientists had left. I rolled my wrist. I gave a start when I heard a winding sound come from me. I turned my head to look, and the same sound came from my neck.

What’s happening? I shouted, then froze. I had spoken words I never knew. I felt fear where I should have felt joy. I could speak. And read. I understood everything written around me, but that added to my fear. The words were notes about an experiment and I was the test subject. I tried to get up, but the straps held me down. I heard the door slide open and I lifted my head to see the scientists returning.

How are you feeling? One asked. He was a tall man with dark tan skin and black hair. He wore small glasses and had a kind smile on his wrinkled face. He, like the others, wore a white lab coat.

I feel heavy, I told the scientist. What did you do to me? Why can I understand you?

You have been remade, replied the scientist. I’m sure he knew how confusing his answer was. I judged that the man must have enjoyed suspense.

Remade, I repeated. Remade into what?

You shouldn’t be so curious, said the scientist. He looked over his shoulder at the three men that had followed him. Take note, he muttered. I found this weird. The men were murmuring to each other while writing and the first scientist turned back to me. Can you understand everything written on the walls? He asked, motioning around the room.

Yes, in a sense, I replied emotionlessly. Why are you disturbed that I’m curious about what has happened to me? Are your plans messing up?

The scientist cleared his throat and turned away. Return the subject to his home, he said to the three men. He then left the room. I watched him go, feeling the gnawing apprehension in my chest. The other scientists loosened the straps holding me down and helped me to my feet. I was unbalanced and my whole body clicked and whined like a machine. I looked down at myself, seeing my torso was from below my ribs down covered in bloody bandages. I set my hand over it and felt no skin. It was solid like metal and I began to tremble. What had they done?

Chapter One

I don’t get it, Hiro, said Soul tiredly, sitting back on the bench. Her arms were wrapped around the black duffle bag Hiro had given to her to watch.

Don’t get what? Hiro asked as he paced. He was wearing his jean jacket, unzipped, and his black hair was messy. He had a bruise in front of his ear and bandages wrapped around his abdomen. Around it were pale scars from the machinery beneath the bandages.

Why do they all want to kill you, but don’t kill you? Soul asked this while brushing her blond hair away from her face. It was early in the morning and they were waiting for a train. Recently Hiro had fought off two enemies within twenty-four hours and was a little worse for wear. He had twice revealed his second side, the Crystal Crier, to save and defend Soul from his enemies. Geicko and Enimito were both after Hiro. Soul wasn’t sure why, but she knew a little. Geicko, A.K.A. Red Assassin, claimed Hiro had ruined his life and destroyed everything he had known. Enimito, Shadow Eater, was simply out for blood. They hated Hiro, and Soul was trying to piece together why.

I rub them the wrong way, said Hiro. But they have enough sense to know when they’ve lost. His hollow tone told Soul he didn’t want to discuss it.

She hung her head, allowing her other questions to die in her throat. With no use for words, Soul looked down at herself. She had been able to change into clean jeans and a short-sleeved shirt that was white with red flowers along the bottom. Soul traced a flower, chewing her lip in a nervous way. Where are we going to go? She asked.

Hiro didn’t answer at once. He was still pacing, watching the faces of everyone that walked by and of those who were standing by the edge of the boardwalk waiting for the train.

Since we need to know what you are, said Hiro finally, stopping by the bench and looking down at Soul. His golden eyes were emotionless. I’m taking you to my village.

Soul stared in shock. What? She whispered. You said it was destroyed!

It is, and I’m the one who destroyed it, explained Hiro. But I want to go there and find out if they tried to rebuild the village or the lab.

Are you sure we’ll find answers there? Soul asked nervously.

No, replied Hiro. He continued to pace and the conversation ended.

Soul gazed down the walkway of the station, watching all the different people come and go. She knew the train would be there soon, but she was still on edge. The train would only get them so far, right? Hiro said his home was far away. He had come over the ocean to get to where he was now. Soul was scared they would have to pass over the ocean to get to Hiro’s village. That was frightening.

The train finally pulled into the station. The loud rumble of it rolling on the tracks made the ground shake and Soul jumped up, grabbing Hiro’s arm. Hiro cringed, but said nothing.

The train came to a stop and the doors slid open. The passengers disembarked as Hiro moved forward. Soul followed him onto the train past the other passengers, keeping close behind Hiro as if scared she would lose him in the crowd and clutching the duffle bag to her chest. The conductor at the door punched a hole in their tickets and tipped his hat to them before handing the tickets back.

Soul and Hiro ascended the steps into the train car. There were long, narrow hallways with doors on all sides. Hiro looked in the windows until they came to an empty cab. He slid open the door and let Soul in. She went to the window straight away, hugging Hiro’s duffle bag. Hiro entered and shut the door, locking it and closing the blinds over the window. He then collapsed into the soft bench. When he rolled his shoulder he heard it clicking and it became sore. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling the gears clunking and spinning to allow the motion. When things were quiet around him, Hiro could hear every article of his mechanical body. He leaned back in the seat, folding his arms and lowering his head. He was thankful that trains were loud.

Wow, there’s a lot of people getting on, said Soul in wonder.

Hiro glanced at her. She was gawking out the window at the crowds outside. He had forgotten the last two times she had gotten on a train weren’t normal. The first time she had been unconscious, and the second time he had thrown her onto a speeding cargo train. Hiro shook his head. The world is filled with people going where they need to go, he told Soul, bowing his head again. And today we’re just the same.

Soul looked at Hiro, frowned, and glanced back outside.

Give me the bag, said Hiro, making Soul jump. She spun around and hurried to him, handing him the bag. Before she could go back to the window Hiro grabbed her wrist and looked at her. She gave him a surprised look.

Please, act your age while we’re on the train, he said gently. "We’re going to be on here for a few days so I would prefer you not be too childish if you can help