THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR
"Kai's Lament"
from Infection
from Infection
This scene got the chop because I wanted to keep the first act exclusively from Adam's POV.
Kai and Mira get their moments after the first nine chapters are completed.
The scene takes place between when Adam passes out and when he wakes up.
Kai and Mira get their moments after the first nine chapters are completed.
The scene takes place between when Adam passes out and when he wakes up.
The trio walked back to Kai's place. Adam was too worn out to get back the way he'd come, so even Kai took the ground route, although the concrete hurt his bare feet. After all, Mira's power was more adept for battle aftermath than actual battle, and Adam might be too exhausted to properly defend Mira if Kai flew. So he had to take on the mantle of keeping an eye out for both of them.
One look at Adam told Kai that he was probably making the right decision. Poor guy barely seemed to register what was going on. He stumbled along, Mira's arm flung over his shoulder. He looked like he was about to fall asleep. Nobody spoke a word. Not even Kai, who was still burning up about the incident.
Mira was right. They could have died. And it would have been his fault, had Adam not swooped in to save the day. Kai was grateful to Adam, despite how he had reacted in the heat of the moment. How could he have made such a fatal error in the sight of someone who just wanted to see how Kai and Mira did their job? He was glad Adam had been there to see it, but at the same time he couldn't stand himself for making Adam have to do that in the first place.
Now look at him, half passed out. Another surge of guilt sucked away at his ego. Kai lit a flame in one hand to light the way--- darkness was closing in and the zombies would soon come out in droves. Kai almost wished one would shoot out in front of them now, just so he could blast it and alleviate himself of this horrible feeling. He could prove again that he knew what he was doing.
But it never happened. Kai could, at least, relax in knowing he had gotten them all back home safely. But as he and Mira placed Adam in bed, Kai knew the last thing he could afford to do was relax. If he had any hope of bolstering back his reputation, he had to do it tonight. As soon as possible. After all, the night had only just begun, and more calls were sure to be had.
And this time through, Adam wouldn't be there to take up the slack if Kai messed up again. He had to prove to Mira--- and to himself--- that he could still do this.
One look at Adam told Kai that he was probably making the right decision. Poor guy barely seemed to register what was going on. He stumbled along, Mira's arm flung over his shoulder. He looked like he was about to fall asleep. Nobody spoke a word. Not even Kai, who was still burning up about the incident.
Mira was right. They could have died. And it would have been his fault, had Adam not swooped in to save the day. Kai was grateful to Adam, despite how he had reacted in the heat of the moment. How could he have made such a fatal error in the sight of someone who just wanted to see how Kai and Mira did their job? He was glad Adam had been there to see it, but at the same time he couldn't stand himself for making Adam have to do that in the first place.
Now look at him, half passed out. Another surge of guilt sucked away at his ego. Kai lit a flame in one hand to light the way--- darkness was closing in and the zombies would soon come out in droves. Kai almost wished one would shoot out in front of them now, just so he could blast it and alleviate himself of this horrible feeling. He could prove again that he knew what he was doing.
But it never happened. Kai could, at least, relax in knowing he had gotten them all back home safely. But as he and Mira placed Adam in bed, Kai knew the last thing he could afford to do was relax. If he had any hope of bolstering back his reputation, he had to do it tonight. As soon as possible. After all, the night had only just begun, and more calls were sure to be had.
And this time through, Adam wouldn't be there to take up the slack if Kai messed up again. He had to prove to Mira--- and to himself--- that he could still do this.