Fractured Bonds – chapters 7-13

Part 7.

Today I planned to stay inside and aggressively force my brain to remember, but of course my friends had to ruin my suffering. I am scared, because after a while, my head literally started to ache from the forcing. Camie and Connor burst into my room, Connor shutting the door and Camie loudly scolding me for rotting inside and avoiding them.

“I can’t belive you want to stay here all alone! You are unbelievable! What is going on? Is that imaginary boy of yours troubling you?”

“What?! No, of course not! I am way past that part.” Although the hypothesis of having a brother that I have completely forgotten about is horrifying.

“Okay, than which part are you not past?”

“None! It’s… stupid.”

“Come on, Pepsi, we’re here for you.”, says Connor softly. Camie hugs me and Connor tries to comfort me by bringing a glass of water. I do not know when the tears stopped falling, but after a while, my headache ceases, my breathing evens and my knuckles are not white anymore from clenching my fists together. I sigh and tell them about the visit to genetiX and even show them the secret message.

“This is not much. Have you tried heating up the other side, too?”

“Yeah, but no result.”

“Then there is only one option I see could work.”

“And that would be?”

“Come on, guys, it’s obvious, isn’t it? We cannot use any source other than what we acquire! Which leads us to…”

“To?”Connor dramatically rolls his eyes.

“It’s rather obvious that we must pay another visit to that factory, but this time, stay as long as possible, not get caught like Pepsi did – ”

“For heaven’s sake, I was not caught! And would you stop calling me Pepsi?”

“You were seen and no, it’s a cute nickname. Ouch!”

“Pepper, stop hurting Connor or at least do it properly, and you, Connor, shut up. How are we supposed to break into such highly secured building?”

“How do you know it’s highly secured?”

“They clearly have something going on, don’t tell me they don’t have guards or security cameras at least.”

“Yes, but we have the advantage of a surprise attack. They aren’t counting on anybody even approaching the facility. Pepsi, did you see any other entrance?”

“No, only the main gate. Although… if we were fast enough, we could cut a small entrance into the fence. I remember that at my hiding spot, there was a tree and its roots damaged the fence. We should be able to pry it open even more and fit through the gap.”

Part 8.

The first part of the plan is to lie to our parents about going camping in the fields so as to ‘savor the last two weeks of vacation and freedom’. We pack two side cutters and water bottles. We cycle to the factory and settle a bit further from the bush I had left my bike at during my first visit. We wait for the Sun to go down, then sneak to the spot where the tree’s roots have already done some damage to the fence. As Camie seems to be ticking like a bomb and overly sensitive to everything, we decide that she should be the guard while Connor and I hurriedly yet quietly start to cut a hole into the fence. After an hour, the gap is big enough for us to squeeze through.

The second part is more complicated. Follow the shadows, try to blend in as we are running towards the building. Apart from the guards at the main gate and two men in uniform smoking, we do not encounter any obstacles. Our plan is to quickly sneak-peak into the building, maybe eavesdrop, any piece of information being essential to understanding. We double-check, but the facility seems almost abandoned. Some distant noises may be heard the inside.

“This is too easy! Nobody is trying to stop us!”

“Well, they should not even see us!”

“Yes, but shouldn’t there be more guards? Dogs? How about the alarm being set off?”“Connor, shut up! This is not a spy-action movie! Maybe it is this easy to break in somewhere and Hollywood tries to overact things for the sake of the box office!”

“Especially if I disabled the electricity. Honestly, why didn’t you think of the fence being high-voltage?” Camie nearly screams, Connor looks very startled and I am quietly swearing.

“Now, no need to shit your pants, I won’t call the guards or something. Did I scare you? Didn’t mean to, but, honeslty, I couldn’t resist sneaking up on you. You seemed too overweening that it was so easy. Teaching you that what seems easy is definitely dangerous. Educational purpose.”I want to yell at the scientist, but instead take a shaky breath and decide to be the voice of our group.

“Thank you for the lesson, but you could teach us something really useful, like, what the hell is going on?”

“You got my message, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but – ”

“I’m Storm, Marvin Storm. Yes, that is my actual name, it’s just convenient that the mutation modified my hair color to match the Marvel-Storm’s. Kinda cool to be honest.”“You’re a mutant.” It is not a question but a statement.

“Yes, I’m a mutant, at your service. And…” Someone is approaching. Marvin suddenly moves, we find ourselves hiding near the wall... except for Connor, who was definitely seen.

Part 9.

I cannot see much, but I hear my friend’s terrified voice as two men cuff him and take him into the factory. Marvin tries to gently persuade them to ‘let him deal with the intruder, he’s a stupid kid anyways’, but the men threaten him, too, implying that ‘he took off his security rings, so he’s in no position to speak.’

After the men drag Connor away, I realize that we are somehow next to wall, although we have been standing at least a feet away from it.

“Aerokinesis, I can manipulate the wind and therefore move stuff.” explains Marvin.

“Then why didn’t you move Connor, too?”

“Listen, Pepper, be glad that I saved your asses. I don’t have the occasions to practice, I always have to wear these.” He gestures on the rings. “These stop my power.”

“Power? Why do you have a power?” asks Camie, sobbing. I feel a sudden wave of guilt flooding me. Not only did I take them here and not only is Connor gone, but I did not even notice that my best friend was crying.

“The name and slogan, little one. GenetiX manipulates the human genome and inserts segments of modified DNA in order to force the organism to mutate. You get a ‘power’ based on how your DNA is transformed. They basically mess with your genes and stress you until the DNA chain is reactivated.”

“Stress?”“Internal change requires external force.”

“What will happen to Connor?”

“I’m sorry. I promise I will fight to be his supervisor so that he gets a lighter mutation, which doesn’t require a complete system reboot and…”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Listen, it’s a complex process. Very simply, they insert a new DNA…”

“I got that part! What force did you mean?”

“For example, one dude was left a weekend without oxygen so that his underwater abilities would activate. He’s a fish-man now. Or was, couldn’t control him so he was put down.”

“No. No, none of that will happen to Connor! You can’t let this happen!”

“I shouldn’t have let it happen to Jer, yet he has pyrokinetical abilities.”

“Jer?”

“My… friend. Your brother.”

My vision is all blurry. So I did have a brother I forgot about!

“Where is he?”

“He’s inside. Doing well, I guess. I tried to persuade him to become my assistant, so he wouldn’t be locked up. But he’s stubborn, you know. Wait a sec, what are you doing?”I do not listen. My friend and brother are inside the building, I am not letting anything happen to them! I hear Camie joining me and Marvin chasing us, but all I care about is putting an end to this nightmare.

Part 10.

Inside the building, it truly looks like a factory. On one side, there are cells, that’s where the voices are coming from. On the other side, rows and rows of improvised labs. My brother must be in a cell and my friend in a lab. Fuck the choices! Wait, when did I start to swear? I do not care. Luckily, Camie decides that right now Connor is priority, so we run towards the labs, Marvin still behind us. Panting, we arrive in a room, where Connor is lying unconsciously, a thick, grey liquid flowing in his veins through pipes.

“I define this situation as late. They already corrupted his genome. I’m sorry, girls.”

“No, we can still save him!”

“Pepper, you can’t get that out of his blood system!”

But, yet again, I do not care. I rip the tube out of Connor’s hand, the needle breaking in the process, meanwhile Camie is gently slapping him across the face in a poor attempt to wake him up. Marvin is looking at the whole scene, a sad smile plastered across his face. Because he must know that the process is irreversible.

“Girls, listen. Connor cannot be… restored. That fluid… It transforms you, no need for external force or stress. It’s a quick way to make someone mutate. It’s something new the boss was experimenting with. We’ve already lost men to this.”

“What mutation does it cause, exactly?”

“He will… Do you know Colossus? Also Marvel. This ability is called metal mimicry. He will basically transform into a metal man.”“He what?!” shrieks Camie.

“Don’t scream, little one! It’s a miracle they haven’t heard us yet. Yes, he will become Tin Man in real life.”

“Who becomes what?” mumbles Connor, his eyes slightly open.“Oh, Con! Pepper, we must get him out of here!”“I’m not leaving without my brother. I’m sorry. Marvin, get Camie and Connor outside, I’ll search for… What is his name?”“Jeremy. I call him Jer.”“Thanks. Now, get my friends out. Fly them through the fence or something.”“I can get in trouble for using aerokinesis without permission.”“And you can get in trouble for standing between me and Jerry.” The nickname rolls off my tongue so easily, like it has always been there, I just needed to relearn it. Scary.

“Fine. However, you promise me that you stay put. I can get you to your brother, I know where his cell is. You have no chances of surviving here.”

“Bet.”

Marvin rolls his eyes, then urges Camie to help Connor stagger towards the exit. They disappear from my view. I am impatiently chewing on my lips, hoping that by the time I find my brother, they will have already arrived back to Hopkinsville and consulted... I don’t know, either a doctor or a mechanic, whoever knows how to deal with a Tin Man.

“Miss Yates, what a generous surprise! Let me introduce myself: Charles van Buren. I run this circus and today we’re having  a special performance. It has to do with fire. We’re testing the fire tolerance of someone with pyrokinesis. So exciting!”

Part 11.

Strange how his eyes are the first I notice. They are burning orange, so bright yet dim as the shadows of concern, panic and confusion cross his face when he sees me. He has the same hair color as me and we share the same traits, except he is older. Jeremy Yates, Jerry, my brother, whose existence has completely been wiped out of my memory.

“What a fun reunion! How heart-warming. Joke’s on you, though. You should have never, ever tried digging up the truth. If you chase the truth, it will come back haunting.”

Jerry tries to say something, but van Buren shuts him up with a stern look.“Mr. Yates, please, would you really like to see a hole in your sister’s skull?”I look around, but there are no guns in sight. Van Buren must be really enjoying himself.

“Hydrofluoric acid penetrates the human skin and so destroys soft tissues underneath. It decalcifies the bone. Words can be toxic, mine literally.” He leans closer and then I see. His tongue is white, too white. He spits on the ground and it starts to sizzle. Human saliva never does that, unless...

“I spit acid, darling. One droplet and boom, you’re burnt. Not the most elegant mutation, but efficient. Enough of me, I am a modest man. Jeremy, why don’t you demonstrate your power? Right, you need another person for that. Who volunteers? Nobody? Then it must be yourself.” His sinister smile turns into a maniac snarl. “Burn yourself alive.”

No way this fucker wants my brother to do that. I am not letting this happen! However, I am constantly reminded of van Buren’s phenomenal acid-spitting ability as he stinks like those toilet cleaning liquids. How come I have not noticed before? Stupid, stupid, stupid!

In the meantime, Jerry shoots me an apologetical look and extends his hand. Tiny flames are dancing between his fingers. He reluctantly touches his own face, leaving an ashy, burned gash. I scream in my helplessness as he is tearing up, but still heroically holding his fingers on his face.

Suddenly, a strong wave of air flies me away. I crash into the wall, but am still able to see Jerry jumping to the side. I think he manages to find a cover as the scene in front of me unfolds: Connor is blocking van Buren’s way. He is not even reacting to the acid dripping down his face, which is a dark shade of grey. There are no sparks in his eyes as there used to be when he was a human from flesh. He is… metallized. Van Buren must realize that the hydrofluoric acid is no use against Connor, but he does not have time to think of a strategy as Marvin sends a smaller tornado in his direction. Jerry joins in, setting the air on fire. I had no idea this was possible, but van Buren is rotating in the middle of a burning tornado. The flames are conjuring his body until there is nothing left of him, except for a few torn pieces of his sandy-colored coat. But before we could celebrate the victory, Connor faints.

Part 12.

Connor’s whole body is shaking and his already metal grey skin turns a shade paler. He is blinking fastly, unable to control himself anymore. He throws up, but his vomit is unnaturally black. Marvin rushes to a shelf, takes a syringe with a colorless liquid inside and tries to insert the needle into Connor’s throat, where his main artery is supposed to be. The needle breaks when it comes in contact with his skin – of course it does, Connor has turned into Tin Man! Out of the blue, his tensed body relaxes. His eyes fall back into his head and his chest is not rising up and down anymore.

“I’m sorry. The mutation wasn’t finished, only on the surface of his skin and the metal tore his inner organs.” Says Marvin quietly.

Maybe I am in shock, because the tears are not coming. I lost my friend and found my brother. What a plot twist.

“I am so sorry, Pep.” Jerry folds me into a hug. He flinches as my head scrapes the burnt wound on his face. Great, now I am crying.

I want to stand here forever, caught up between a moment of joy and sorrow. I do not want to cross the borderline, I want to wait with the celebration of the finding of my brother and the mourning of my friend. This is too much for me, I want to feel nothing but that reassuring weight of Jerry’s hand on my shoulder, like the day they took him away and yet his last movement was making sure his little sister was not crying.

“I don’t want to ruin your moment, but they definitely heard us.”

Marvin is referring to the guards, who are now running up and down outside the building, trying to ‘secure the perimeters, two mutants are wild’. They should be more panicked because of me. Their boss murdered Connor.

What if we manage to escape? They will search for us and Hopkinsville is just a small town where everybody greets everybody, you cannot hide. This needs to end now and here.

“Boys? Why don’t you perform your burning tornado trick again? But, like, bigger.”I want to see this shitplace torn apart, but first, free every mutant to get back to their families. And, if all this ends, I want to leave Hopkinsville forever and never come back. This friendly town was my biggest enemy and I have not even noticed the snarl behind the smile.

Part 13.

A week has passed since the fall of GenetiX. With the end of their poisoned food supply, the townspeople have regained consciousness. Now, Hopkinsville is swarming with reporters, detectives, tourists, government officials, and aid organizations, everyone wanting a glimpse of “the town where time stopped in 1983.”

Yes, the world moved on – it’s 2026 now. The Berlin Wall fell.

The World Wide Web went public. The Twin Towers collapsed. The iPhone.Curiosity touched down on Mars. Brexit.

COVID-19.TikTok and Instagram Reels. Artificial Intelligence. War returned to Europe and Asia. Weird ‘brainrots’.

All of this happened while we were frozen, trapped in a time bubble, and the Earth spun 43 times around the Sun. Crazy? Let me tell you something crazier. My family moved to this country so that I could stand here before you today and redeem my stolen future. If you were brave enough to follow my story, please, carry one moral in your heart: time repairs the fractured bonds.

Balázs-Blénessi-Pataki Kincső   XI. R