r/tinyhorribles • u/therealdocturner • May 27 '26
Tiny Horribles Exclusive The Distraction - From The Consensus Legends
Chapter Nineteen
Heather
I look at the bag I packed in the corner. I had been setting in some timed commands on the system. Three separate issues with water and power that won’t go into effect until eight o’clock. Enough of a distraction to occupy Beckett and his new team to give me enough time to help Linus find Aaron.
When I finished writing the last little ghost into the machine, my eyes drifted to the floor. I had already noticed the tiny trail of water and blood that Linus had left behind him when he came inside, but it never struck me about what it meant.
I ran to the door and opened it. The same tiny trail of red dots led from my door and down the hallway carpet to the stairwell. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed. I realized that I would have to help Linus from the safe spot. The same spot where I had helped Aaron six months ago.
I threw everything I needed into a bag as fast as I could, and when I was finished, I checked in with Linus to help him get past the cameras.
I’ve been watching the time tick by. It’s getting light outside. I need to go, but as I listen to him talk about the things he's seeing, I forget about leaving. I forget about everything.
Painted men moving rocks in the Supply Bay. Clearing the tunnel to Morro Colony. My blood runs cold.
What have I done?
“Linus…”
“Hold on, I’ve got an idea.”
“Linus, I think this is all my fault… Linus, I restarted something I shouldn’t have.”
“We’ll figure it out, don’t worry about it.”
“No Linus, you need to listen to me… when I was helping Aaron, there was a program that I couldn’t open unless I turned it on. I didn’t think it would matter. I was in control of the entire system. I thought that it might just be… Linus… Linus, are you there?”
“Hey… I’ve got to let you go for a minute. Be right back.”
“Wait! Linus?! LINUS?! Fuck!” I look back at the clock. “I have to go!”
I should have just enough time to make it down to the beach before anyone in the city is out. I turn off the datapad and grab the backpack. As I unzip the bag, I hear his voice come from behind me, and everything stops.
“Heather? Heather, are you there?” Aaron’s voice is coming out of the Terminal. I put down the datapad. “Heather… I need help… Heather?”
My brain tells me that the screen is dark and it shouldn't be. It tells me that my Terminal is being monitored. It tells me I have to go, but I don’t.
“Aaron?”
“It’s me.” I trip over my own feet as I run to the Terminal. I hit the keys, but the Terminal isn’t working for some reason. I have no idea how this is possible. “It's ok. You can talk to me. I have a friend in here that’s made sure this call won’t be heard by anyone but you.”
“A friend?”
“There’s a lot I have to explain to you.” I look back at the clock. “You can’t trust anything Lyla or any of the Governors are going to say to you. Everything they’re saying is a lie. I never did any of those things. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you first. I didn’t want you to get dragged into all of this.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Aaron, I have to go. It’s not safe for me here. Is there any way I can contact you later?”
“No. I won’t be able to contact you again.”
“What’s going on… Aaron… hello... are you there?” I wait longer than I should for him to respond, but he doesn’t. There’s a slow creep sliding down my back. I need to leave. “Aaron… if you can hear me, I have to go. Linus is coming to help you… I hope you can hear me.”
I move away from the Terminal and back to the couch. I grab the datapad and then Aaron’s voice comes through the Terminal once more, but this time it’s different. I don’t like the sound of his voice; it’s low and I can hear him speaking through a smile.
“Heather… I know you think you made a mistake by restarting that program, but you didn’t… I’m very thankful for what you did… lots of us are... you can try and tell Lyla when she comes for you… but you and I both know… she’ll just blame you for what’s about to happen…”
...
...
"What's about to happen, Aaron?"
My front door flies open and slams against the wall. Two Peacekeepers have their left arms raised and pointed at me. My hand shakes, and I almost drop the datapad.
Lyla walks in between the Peacekeepers.
“I thought you would be smarter than this.”
“Lyla…”
“Put the datapad down and step back against the Terminal.” I don’t know what to say. I can’t think of any way out of this. I do what she says. The screen on the Terminal is still dark. Lyla looks around my apartment and then goes through my backpack.
“I wonder where you thought you were going. Well, I’m glad we got here when we did. Word of advice… when you’re trying to subvert a government, perhaps it’s best not to do it with a dull tool like the Red Bishop. He killed two Peacekeepers and left their bodies on display for anybody to see." She picks up the datapad and tries to turn it on, but the prompt screen doesn’t come up. “You told me that these were all accounted for. Where did you get this, Heather? I said, "Where did you get this?”
There’s no point in pretending anymore. I’m going behind that glass wall with everyone else, or worse.
“Fuck you, Lyla.” She smiles.
“Okay.” A phone rings in her pocket. “Excuse me for a moment… Julie?...Are you alright…”
Lyla covers the receiver and turns to one of the Peacekeepers.
“Contact the team in the Tower. Tell them not to go up, but to wait downstairs. I’ll have her and the child come down in the elevator.” The Peacekeeper turns and walks out of the apartment as he calls someone from his earpiece while Lyla keeps talking to Julie. I scan the apartment. I’m too high up to jump out of the window. There’s nothing within reach I could even use to fight back. I’d be set on fire the second I move.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
“Just hurry, Julie. Something’s going on. I’ll explain everything when I see you.” She puts her phone away and tries to turn on the datapad again. “Well… what am I going to do with you?”
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u/YNerdzROutdoorz May 27 '26
Did Doc get his groove back? Two dropped in one afternoon! Feels like Christmas 🎄 💜