Janessa did not know which way to go. Raddy was right there blocking the way. He was faster and stronger and no matter where she went he would catch up.
“You look really good,” he said, “Oh I could take you right now.”
Janessa made a run for it. He was forcing her to the ground before she made it three steps. She screamed when she felt his hand around her throat again.
“Why are you doing that?” he said, “I’m not trying to hurt you. What is wrong with you? That was not me. That was them. It was all their idea. Don’t you see that? I’m not a bad person.”
“Please just stop it,” she pleaded.
“Do you like me?” he asked, “You’re a nice girl. Felina is a nice girl too. Why does she like me so much? It’s not like I pay extra attention to her or anything. I don’t get it. The others just wanted me because I was famous. But she wants more than that. She wants me. She wants the real me. I don’t know what to do.”
Raddy’s grip on Janessa’s neck loosened and he pulled his hand away. He started to cry again.
“Raddy Volcane,” Zai shouted as he approached, “step away from her.”
“You?” said Raddy, “You’re an alien. You’re no better than them. Stay away from me or I’ll smash her skull in with this piece of a gun.”
“You don’t have to do that,” said Janessa, “remember what you said Raddy. This is not you. Remember Felina. She’s waiting for you. And she wants the real you. Just put down the gun part.”
Raddy scowled at her and said, “Don’t tell me what to do you natural bitch.”
Raddy raised the piece of metal over in the air ready to bring it down on Janessa. Zai threw the sharpened metal object he had made and it went into Raddy’s chest and sent a spray of blood across the floor of the common hall. The gun metal fell by Janessa’s feet. Raddy let out a single bloody cough before he fell. Zai caught Raddy and lowered him to the floor. Raddy Volcane opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, a moment later he was dead.
“I wish this could have ended differently,” said Zai.
Zai had barely had a chance to stand up when Vanz Kerrigan entered and pointed a gun at him saying, “You just killed a prime squad pilot. I thought this was going to get complicated. But you handed me everything I need.”
Kerrigan did not notice Janessa. He did not see her pick up the gun part. He was not prepared when she hit him with it. Kerrigan dropped to the floor unconscious. Janessa began punching him. He was knocked out but she kept hitting him. Zai grabbed her arm to stop her. Janessa punched Zai. She hit Zai again and again and she screamed out her rage and terror at him. And Zai did nothing. He did not try to stop her. He did not try to comfort her. He stood there and he took it without a word.
Janessa looked up at Zai. She looked at his ugly alien face. She looked into his yellow inhuman eyes. And she saw sorrow and regret. Zai had just killed Raddy and he hated himself for it and he would take whatever punishment anyone said he deserved. She could no longer look at Zai and see a monster.
Janessa broke down in tears. Perhaps it was the horror of her ordeal with Raddy or the knowledge of what was being done to him and to her and everyone else. But she needed to let it out and she needed some form of comfort so she put her arms around Zai. He hesitated then Zai returned her embrace. Janessa let it all out. Zai did the same. He threw back his head and roared like a great beast in agony.
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