Fear the Night

Chapter 9: The Drone

“When did you learn to talk?” Maverick asked rhetorically as Faye wobbled on her legs in her corner. “And when did you learn to stand?”

“Mine,” Faye replied, reaching for him. Maverick lowered his arms to his sides and took a few steps toward her. He was glad he’d sent Isabella away. She would have been screaming at him to get out of the cell.

“How am I ‘yours,’ Faye?” he asked, still heading toward her.

Faye pulled the hand reaching for him back to herself to place it on her heart and almost desperately said, “Love.”

He stood in front of her, emotionless as she stared up at him. He noticed she was shorter than Isabella, something he wouldn’t have seen if she hadn’t stood. Looking into her eyes he felt a pang of guilt as he saw the love for him in her yellow orbs. He had suspected they had bonded, but apparently that bond ran deeper on her end.

“Love?” she said again as she slowly lifted her hand to his face. He didn’t move as her fingers touched his cheek softly, something he hadn’t expected from this creature of darkness.

“You understand what I tell you?” Maverick asked back.

“Yes,” Faye replied, then asked again, “Love?”

“No,” Maverick sighed in guilt. “I’m sorry, babe. I don’t mean to hurt you, but I won’t lie to you.”

Faye pulled her hand back then glared at the stairs and snarled, “Her!”

“The answer would have been ‘no’ whether she was here or not!” Maverick snapped and she whirled her gaze back to him. “She has nothing to do with that!”

“Lie!” she roared and shoved herself off the wall as she tried scratching him. He only backed away as she fell forward and onto all fours again. She snarled and hurried at him as he stood in the middle of the cell.

“Love!” she cried, coiling herself around one of his legs then pointed to the stairs and shouted, “More!”

“You saying you love me more then she does?” Maverick wondered.

“Yes!” Faye cried, not letting go of his leg.

He moved his leg and quickly knelt down in front of her when she was detached from him. She sat slumped forward, head bowed and he placed his hands on her shoulders trying to catch her gaze. He saw tears in her eyes and a few streamed down her pale flesh but she didn’t sob.

“I have no doubt about how you feel about me,” he murmured, truthfully. “I really hate to break your heart, but I can’t return your feelings for me. You’re making more progress than I thought you would away from the others. It makes me happy to see you doing so well. Does that make you feel any better? Do you understand what I’m saying? I’m happy with you. I hate to send you back---”

“No!” Faye cut in, still crying and pressed her fists to her heart. Stay!” She then pressed her hands to Maverick’s chest. “Happy.”

“Faye, if I send you back, you can teach the others to be like you,” he explained, touching her hands with his. “You can make me happy that way, too. That’s what this is all about. making the others go back to the way they were. Helping them become human again…like me.”

“No,” Faye said again, then pulled her hands toward her chest, his with them and whispered, “Stay.”

Maverick stared at the Drone in front of him. He couldn’t have imagined when he lured her here a year ago that she would make so much progress. Solving little problems, standing, talking, feeling something other than hate, anger and primal instinct. He was happy with the progress she had made, and there were days he had dreaded the approach of Lock-Dah, knowing he would be alone again without her. But what worried him was the obvious jealousy she had for Isabella. His feelings for her were unclear, but he certainly didn’t want her hurt or killed, and Faye would most likely try to accomplish the latter. He had to make a decision, though.

“Alright,” he sighed, pulling their hands down between them. “I won’t send you back. But, you have to leave Isabella alone. If you try to hurt her again, I’ll never forgive you, understand?”

“Yes,” Faye replied through displeased clenched teeth.

“Yukio either,” he amended.

“Yes,” she agreed. He nodded and stood to leave the cell but she caught his pant leg. When he looked down at her she stared up at him desperately and meekly said, “Kiss?”

Maverick felt a tug at his heart. He never thought he’d feel pity for a Drone at all, let alone want to kiss it out of pity. But, he supposed there was a first for everything, and if this would make her happy and keep her from attacking Isabella again, he may as well bite the bullet. Who knew, maybe she wouldn’t it wouldn’t end up killing him?

Kneeling down again he nodded and took her chin in his hand then, tilting her head slightly to the right, he pressed a tender kiss to her cold cheek, lingering a few second so she could savor the feeling then pulled back with a smile.

“Feel better?” he wondered, sincerely.

“Yes,” Faye breathed and Maverick couldn’t believe he saw a small smile touch her black lips.

“Good,” he nodded then stood and let himself out of the cell as Faye sat in the center, watching him.

“I’ll be back, sweetheart,” he told her, locking the cell door. “Gotta get Yukio Bell back. Don’t you worry, though. You just go back to sleep.”

Faye didn’t respond as she watched him walk to the safe, put the key away, close the safe then head to the stairs.

“Sweet dreams, hun!” he called and headed up the stairs, Faye’s eyes on him the whole time. The door opened then shut and Faye stared sorrowfully out of her cell.

Reaching toward the stairs she called out to him one last time, saying, “Love.”

With that word, it was as if a trigger was set off, and she fell to the ground, limp. Dead from a broken heart.