Tyler Dinuzzo || Issue 10 || December 3rd, 2024
I stared in disbelief at the gruff face in front of me. Hair protruded out of half of the man’s skin, as he stared at me, emotionless as can be. I would kill him in a few moments, but first, I must gain knowledge. “Tell me, what do you know about humans?” he began. He had an odd voice, a strange mixture of silky smooth and gravelly. “I know that you tried to destroy us.” I started, stoic as possible. “I know that you tried to end this world.” “Me? I could never do such a thing.” he chuckled. “It’s funny, you claim you were oppressed by humanity, but really, you’re struggling with the same things we were.” I gazed at him, surveying his face. He was being serious. “You see, years and years ago, we
humans would do the same thing. We saw someone different from us, and blamed them for their ancestors’ supposed misdeeds.” “But you are to blame. You are a human. You worked with them to try to destroy us.” “Me? I had no part in that. I was a toddler when all that went down, hundreds of years ago.” he laughed heartily. “Little me had absolutely no idea what was going on, half the time. I… I lost a lot with my eyes closed…” He trailed off. I wanted to reply, but I hadn’t quite processed my thoughts
yet. “Listen. I know a good person when I see one. You are a wonderful soul trapped in the body of a machine that has to do an atrocious thing.” he started. “Stoicism will only get you so far, my friend. One day, you’ll need to show your emotions, or they will devour you from the inside. You need to
let that wonderful soul of yours out of its cage.” “…I wish I could.” “Why not?” My mind screamed and begged at my mouth to stop moving, to stop speaking at all, but my heart poured. “My chief… she- she practically raised me. She taught me everything I know. Sparing you would be disobeying her, and I- I can’t do that.” My voice quavered peculiarly. “I’m nothing without her.” The human’s eyes narrowed, something like frustration pouring onto his face. “Monster.” he gruffed. “What?” “That chief of yours. It sounds like it’s quite the opposite of what you say.” he started. “She is nothing without you. She’s manipulating you, because she can’t afford to lose her most valuable chess piece.” My eyes widened.
“H-how could you say that!? She raised me! I would not be where I “Do not speak of such ideas!” he shouted. “She is abusing you and the skills you have! You are everything without her!” I flinched as his voice towered to disturbing volumes. Fear coursed through my veins, and unfortunately my heart was open enough to show it. “You’re right.” he gasped, “You would not be where you are without her. You
would be further. So much further. The heights you would have achieved if not for her restrictions is immeasurable.” As he finished speaking, I noticed my body in a strange position of defense, my body slightly crouched, and arms prepared to guard. He stared at me in what looked to be pity. “There. That is the most telling sign of all.” he spoke softly. “I shouted, and you guarded. You are haunted by her,
aren’t you?” No, no, no. Everything felt wrong. My world began spinning. I don’t understand. I was supposed to kill this human, but instead I spoke my mind to him. If he is right, then everything I’ve
ever known isn’t true. I can’t. I can’t live with that. I can’t adapt to that quickly enough. My world is falling apart. My breathing quickened, and my thoughts clouded. The world around me faded
away. I fell unconscious.
The Hudsonian 