Alignment

“What time is it?”

“Four minutes to three.”

Putting on her coat, a woman climbed down from her hut.

“You shouldn’t go. It’s a trap.”

“…”

The woman with the coat ignored the warning. Unsettled, the other woman grabbed her hand.

“He isn’t coming.”

“Leave me be. It’s my own fault for whatever happens to me. If I’m caught, then I’m caught. Don’t come after me.”

“My sister. He wouldn’t want you to end up a prisoner of the Red City. Think about what you’re risking!”

“…I already have.”

The woman with the coat littered her sister’s hand and kissed it softly. She released it as though setting a bird free from isolation.

“Reba… why are you so stubborn? I’ve never complained before, but I will now. As your older sister it falls on me to protect you. Reba… are you even listening?!”

Reba was already walking down a dirt road.

Sighing with exasperation, Reba’s older sister followed after her.

“You are lucky to have a good older sister like me.”

“I know Sara.” Said Reba.

***

“We are not going to make it.” Said Reba quietly.

“Sure we are. Look at all this gear.”

Sara swept her hair up and tapped her left eye. She had a metal reader that helped her inspect minerals.

“We can build a roller from these parts and get there in no time.”

Reba watched as her older sister began sliding gears and latches together as though she had an instruction manual right in front of her.

Sara was gifted. She loved mechanical tools and took pride in creating. It was strange to think that she was of flesh and metal. She seemed entirely human, but some parts of her had been surgically modified. Her left eye, for instance, was removed to pay off debt.

With the help of a close friend, Sara was able to regain her sight. Still. It was hard to imagine how she was even able to move at all. There were other things that been removed and replaced with metal.

“Done.”

Sara placed the rollers on the bottom of her shoes and handed the other pair to Reba. It was a convenient contraption. The roller allowed one to glide over most surfaces even it was rocky or steep.

Thanks to the additional support of the roller, the sister traveled much faster than before.

“Time?” Asked Reba.

“Twenty minutes after three.”

“We are going to make it.”

“Did you have a doubt?”

Sara smiled and Reba felt like she was living in a past memory. Sara’s smile was effortless. No hidden intentions, no pettiness. There was only pure confidence and compassion.

They arrived at the site.

Reba walked to the headstone and placed a small metal bracelet on it.

“Father… we come to see you again. Forgive me. I’ve been reckless and I’ve made Sara help me do dangerous things… but I wanted to do this much at least.”

Kneeling to the dirt, Reba closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.

“We miss you.”

***

Sara stood near Reba and watched her little sister tear up with grief.

“Okay… that’s enough. You have paid your visit to father. Let’s return back before it’s too late.”

Reba nodded her head and pulled the coat tight around her shoulders. She was dazed.

At that moment, Sara’s left eye turned red.

“Reba. We are not too lucky today it seems…”

Hunters from the Red City. It was easy to tell from their red masks.

Sara looked to Reba and winked. At that moment, one of the hunters pounced. They were incredibly fast. It was thanks to their upgrades. They sacrificed their humanity and replaced their flesh for metal. Not even their heart remained.

It was a short conflict. Sara and Reba were captured and on their way to the Red City.

Each step closer to that dark place made Reba tingle with regret.

She should have never gone to the headstone of her departed father. It should have been enough to cry his passing at the safety of their hut. But… she couldn’t stop herself from going to that grave. Year after year.

The amount of pain and suffering swelling inside Reba made her cold and miserable. At that moment, Sana began coughing.

“Hey… this one is defective. On closer inspection she is already-“

Sana had twisted her metal arm and shutdown the hunter before they could say anything more. She rolled up her sleeves and the sliver glint was shinning in the light.

“This one is hostile!” Said the hunter.

Six against one. Reba was being held back by her fear. Even if she wanted to help, there was nothing she could do. She was entirely human. All she had was bone and flesh.

Sana took on the hunters head on and stuck each of them strategically. She wasn’t as powerful as them, but it seemed she was more creative in her attacks.

Reba watched as her sister slowly began to tire out. Her cheek was cut and bleeding. She was running out of time.

The last two hunters seemed to recognize this as well.

They were learning her. Anticipating her attack pattern. Each kick and throw.

Sana grew impatient and struck one of the hunters only to be grabbed by the other. They worked quickly.

Reba felt her heart fall. They were going to finish her.

The hunter held Sana’s arm back and the other ripped open her shirt.

Reba widened her eyes.

Sana was more metal than she had previously thought. Her chest was solid metal. She had no heart. Not anymore.

***

The hunters did not know what to do. Sana was not human. She fooled them.

Sana kicked out her metal leg and twisted her hip to continue fighting for her life.

Once she had eliminated the hunters Sana looked at Reba and smiled.

Trembling Reba shook her head.

“Sana? What have you done?”

“I’m the older sister. I have to protect you somehow.”

She approached Reba, who was too upset to look at her.

“You sacrificed your humanity to save me didn’t you.”

“Not exactly. I was… not sure how much time we would have together if I continued to remain human. My own body was becoming too dependent on metal. Eventually, I replaced each bone with metal.”

Sana looked at her hand.

“I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted you keep believing I had not changed into one of them. I know I’ve lost my humanity, but I still feel bound to you. I still have this feeling that aligns with what I know to be true. Human or not, I am still your sister.”

Could this be true? Reba felt uneasy. She wanted to believe Sana. It was her words, it was her face, but was it really capable of love?

Reba looked carefully at Sana and in that moment the whole world seemed to make sense.

She leaned forward and hugged Sana.

“You are right. You are still the same. Stubborn like me.”

***

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