Chapter 21
Haru and Ari arrive in the next town past noon. Haru knows that he has to get to BIOTECH’s stated rendezvous point before they decide to do something drastic to Hikaru and Asha. As Ari follows him further, she realizes that Haru’s legs have begun to quiver. “Maybe we oughtta stop for a while,” she says. Haru doesn’t reply and keeps on walking. “Earth to Haru!” Ari says irritably. “We should take a break while we’re in town.” Haru glances back at her for a moment, then keeps walking. “You haven’t said a word to me since we left!” Ari yells. “Why won’t you answer me?!!”
Haru just ignores her. We don’t have time to stop, and she knows it, he thinks. Each step he takes becomes a chore, but he tries to ignore the pain and keeps walking.
Along the way, Ari points out benches and restaurants and parks, trying to get Haru to stop. Can’t the guy take a hint?! Ari thinks, annoyed with Haru for giving her the silent treatment.
Finally, they reach the edge of town and start on the road to the next. “How close are we?” Haru asks.
“Finally decided to talk, huh?” Ari snaps.
“Just answer the question,” Haru says irritably.
“Sheesh, you’re snappy when you’re in pain,” Ari comments. “Just admit that you need to stop, already!”
Haru flashes an angry glare at her. “Don’t you care what happens to Hikaru and Asha at all?”
“Of course I care!” Ari yells.
“You know we don’t have time for any more stops,” Haru says, turning his back to her again.
“You’re such a pain!!!” Ari explodes. “Why can’t you just listen?!!” Haru gives her the cold shoulder and refuses to respond as he shakily walks on with Ari behind him. “Fine, then!!!” Ari yells. “Just keep walkin’, you freak! Go get yourself caught, for all I care!!! I’m gonna take this kit and–!” Before she can react, Haru topples over and collapses on the road. Ari’s eyes widen with fear as she rushes back to his side, gripping the medical kit that has the antidote inside. “HARU!!!” she screams.
She picks Haru up and carries him back to the previous town they walked through, then looks for somewhere she can tend to him. She finally finds a small empty farmhouse and takes him inside. Ari quickly administers the medicine to him and waits for him to wake up. Ari, you idiot, she condemns herself, it’s your own fault he doesn’t trust you. You got him into this mess in the first place. And now I’m givin’ him a hard time...Man, why did I say those things?
“Fine, then!!! Just keep walkin’, you freak! Go get yourself caught, for all I care!!!”
Ari frowns. If he’s a freak, then what does that make me? She glances at Haru sleeping nearby. I knew what kind of shape he was in...and yet... She hears Haru stir and crawls over to him. “You okay?” she asks.
“For all that talk...” Haru mutters, barely even conscious, “...you sure...seem worried...”
Ari looks ashamed. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
Haru nods slightly and then loses consciousness again. He’s still in pretty bad shape, Ari thinks. It’ll take a while for us to get to the others.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
By the time Haru wakes up again, an hour or so has already passed. “You were out for a while,” Ari comments. “How are you feelin’?”
Haru props himself up and glances around. “What time...?”
“Around three,” Ari replies.
“We’ve gotta go,” Haru says. He jumps up too fast, and his legs buckle under his weight. Ari rushes to prop him up before he falls backward.
“Not so fast,” she says. “You’ll pass out again.”
“But we’ve already–!”
“No buts,” Ari says. “How many times have I gotta tell you that you won’t be able to stand up to BIOTECH’s goons if you go rushin’ off before you’re well enough?”
Haru looks annoyed, but says nothing in retort. “If your uncle works for BIOTECH...then why are you still helping me?” Haru asks.
“My uncle doesn’t work for BIOTECH,” Ari corrects him. “He’s the head of the corporation.”
“What?!” Haru cries.
“My brother and I were part of one of their earlier experiments. Me and Ryo – the real Ari and Ryo – died years ago in a car accident. My parents were so distraught...that when my uncle told them they were working on a new genetics project, they asked him...to bring us back.” She pauses for a moment, as if recollecting herself. “There were two conditions. My parents had to agree to lend their full support to BIOTECH, and they had to agree to let BIOTECH have complete creative freedom and ownership over us. My folks were just so happy to have their kids back that it seemed like a small thing to ask in return.”
“So then...you two...”
“We have powers, too, though they’re not quite as developed as yours,” Ari says. “We have to deal with the same problems that you do, except we’re not living on our own. That’s why we have BIOTECH’s antidote.”
“If we’re so alike, then how could you turn my friends in to get to me?” Haru asks, looking hurt.
Ari frowns. “We owe our lives to our uncle, even if he is...Our uncle is a wretch, and I know it. But if I hadn’t done what he asked, he would have taken away the antidote, or worse–!” She looks away from Haru and softly says, “I couldn’t let him take Ryo away. I’m sorry, Haru, I really am.”
Haru frowns. The two are silent for a moment. “Ari...we really do need to be heading on,” Haru says, as he glances out the window.
Ari grabs her medical kit, then stands and holds her hand out to Haru. “Just stick with me, okay?”
Haru nods, grabbing her outstretched palm, and she pulls him up. Ari helps him out of the building and supports him as they walk back down the road to the next town. After what seems like an eternity of walking, Ari says, “We’re not far now. Hang in there.”
“I can already see the smokestacks,” Haru says gesturing toward the horizon.
“You’re right,” Ari agrees. “Well, we know where we need to go when we get into town.”
When they finally reach the city, they wander through the factory area searching for the rendezvous point. As they turn down one more small street, the BIOTECH factory towers above them. “This is it,” Ari says. She glances at Haru, who looks worn out already. “You think you can handle this?”
“No room for doubt at this point,” Haru says, looking up at the enormous building.
