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A match had started. Yet another match, as another day carried on. He knew it was pointless to not participate, as they had lost a dear friend for refusing to play another game. The Baron had taken the poor priestess' life, telling everyone that if they don't participate, the same will happen to them. All death's meant to him, were just one less person to send letters to. He had seen so many, he became immune to the way people lied lifelessly. He became immune to the emotions he used to feel when he saw someone's life slip away. Maybe that's why, he found himself giving a fake face that showed mock sadness for the young woman. He knew she had been close to many of the other survivors there. He knew people were grieving for real over her. But he wasn't sad, he was numb. He had been for a long time. Ever since he lost her… She was his comfort, his songbird, his little star. But, good things can never stay. The gunshots that rang out in his mind proved it. He shook his head and checked his surroundings and sighed. Moonlit River Park, one of the maps he hated. The eerie atmosphere was still in the air, reminding him he was not safe and wouldn’t be for a while. His golden orbs landed on the metal machine only a few feet away from him and trudged along to it, his little friend skipping at his side. He looked down at the animal and bent low to stroke her ears a little before getting up and working on the cipher machine. He heard Luca’s shout from across the map saying.
“ The hunter is near me! “ and the postman quickly drew out a paper, writing down words that he knew by some magic would give Luca the ability to kite. He always wondered how it worked, but his mind drew blank everytime he thought of himself getting close to the answer. In the end he had given up. He folded the letter and bent down to Wick, signing to her ‘ Luca ‘ and as if she understood, she ran off towards the direction Luca’s voice had come from. Grantz shook his head and went back to work on the metal machine. Of course Luca was found first, he always somehow ended up near the hunter at the beginning of the match. Some of the hunters would pity him and go for someone else, but for the other’s, they had no mercy. Decoders were a big threat apparently, and Vic found himself grateful for not being one. He saw an outline of two red figures, one running away limping, and the other wiping something off of the tool they used to injure the other before starting their chase back up again. He saw the figure of Luca running as fast as he could with the outline of Bane catching up. He heard Wick’s bark that signaled the letter had been sent, and a few moments later he saw his tiny friend running back to him. Vic smiled and gave her a thumbs up before reeling back in shock as he missed a calibration. He shuddered as the electricity entered his body and wondered how Luca was able to deal with it. He shook the feeling off and watched as the progress bar glowed on half of the bar, showing Victor was at 57% at the most.
“ Come on! Keep it up! “ Naib had shouted to his team mates and Victor realized that he wasn’t alone on this side of the map. It had occurred to him then that he hadn’t heard anything from Norton, who was also on the team. Given Campbell wasn’t much of a talker, but usually he would let his team mates know where he was. Vic sent the others his progress on his cipher, and heard a ding saying “ 68% “ coming from the other side of the map that Vic assumed was from Norton and gave a sigh of relief. A bang and orange outline of a cipher not far from Victor showed that Naib had finished his work. Just after the popped cipher had been popped there was a cry from the prisoner and Victor whirled around to see Luca lying on the ground before getting on his knees and holding his head. He truly hated seeing Luca ( or anyone for that matter ) in so much pain they couldn’t get up, it made him remind himself that this world and the people in it can be brutal. As much pain and suffering the hunters would bring them during the matches, Vic couldn’t find himself hating them. He always reminded himself that they weren’t in control, but like almost everyone else in the manor, they weren’t the best mentally outside of matches. He watched with emotionless eyes as Bane roughly picked up the inventor and slammed him down into the rocket chair.
“ Focus on decoding! “ Luca wheezed out, trying to struggle out of the chair but to no avail.
“ Don’t move I’m coming! “ Shouted Naib who circled around the hunter and faked a few rescue movements. Bane swung at the merc but hit the chair and reeled back groaning, Naib took this chance and freed the prisoner, moving to body block just as Bane recovered and limped after them. A bang happened right in front of Victor that made him gasp in shock and lose his balance. Norton stood over him, an apologetic look in his eyes as he held out his hand. Victor took it, pulling himself up.
“ Sorry ‘bout that, you were too busy focusing on the other two and not working so I thought I’d pop it. “ Victor looked down signing ‘ sorry ‘ but Norton shook his head “ It’s alrigh’, we all have our days. Jus’ try to make sure you’re paying attention next time ok? Now let’s go, we got two ciphers left. “ Norton waved and ran to another machine. VIctor sighed looking at Wick, who just sat patiently, wagging her tail when she saw Victor looking at her. The taller smiled and stroked her a few times before realizing he hadn't sent a letter in a while. He realized with panic that even if he tried he couldn’t tell anyone to send a ping so he could send a letter to them, but thankfully Luca heard his thoughts from a mile away and shouted.
“ The hunter is near me! “ Victor quickly wrote down a few words of encouragement and signed ‘ Luca ‘ to Wick once again and the dog bounded away. He heard another bang as another cipher had finished, which he assumed it was from Norton. He heard another cry as Luca got knocked down again and saw Wick running back looking down, the letter in her mouth as she approached Victor. Victor patted her telling it was alright before running to the last cipher machine that ( thank Venti ) already had some progress on it. He hit a button which made a voice say “ 34% “ to show everyone he was working on the last cipher. Luca was placed in a chair again and Naib went back to his circling and fake jukes. Bane raised his weapon and successfully hit Naib with it, who hissed in pain and freed Luca once more, body blocking again. Victor reeled back as he missed another calibration, Wick whining in concern. He gave her a comforting smile, but it fell when he heard something. A child’s laughter, a little girl’s laughter. It sounded all too familiar. He whirled around, looking for the source of her voice, but he saw nothing. He began to shake, it couldn’t be her… could it? It had been so long since he heard her voice. It couldn’t be her… she was dead. She was gone. Forever. She was- Vic had fallen to the ground holding his head, tears falling. No… no no no no… get it together Grantz, get it together. He could hear the gunshots, he could hear her screams of agony. He could hear laughing… He shut his eyes tight and the scene played in front of him. Smoke filled his nostrils but to his surprise he didn’t cough, or feel it. A gruff laugh came from the smoker.
“ Well, get on with it then. Shoot ‘er “ His face went pale. No… not this again…
“ S-shoot her? “ He found himself saying. Nono, stop talking, stop it. Stop…
“ Well yeah, isn’t that what we agreed on? Now go on, place the gun to her head, and shoot. “
“ I-I couldn’t… she’s just a kid- she has a whole life ahea- “
“ Do you wanna stay here or not? Shoot. Now. “ So he did. He watched her fall, dropping the stuffed cat she was holding, gasping in pain. Blood gushed out of her forehead as she hit the ground. Then everything went black. Victor opened his eyes to see he was in an alleyway. It was a familiar alleyway, but he couldn’t seem to know why. Curiously, he walked forward until he heard a squeal.
“ Big brother! “ He turned around and saw her running up to him, smiling wide and leaping herself onto his leg, holding it tightly and giggling. Vic found himself smiling as he watched the memory. Ah yes, this had been when they first met. She had claimed him as her big brother, despite her not knowing him at all. Something about this girl made him curious, he wondered what went through her mind to just go up to a stranger and claim them as her family. Was it that she was desperate? Or had she felt something different about Victor and trusted him? He never knew, not even when he took her to his house and cleaned her up. She was homeless, but Victor decided he would take her in after some time. He had grown fond of the small child, despite not liking humans. She was different, she was kind, she was gentle, but more importantly, she loved him, and he loved her back. Throughout the months they lived together she followed him everywhere, to the store, to the park, to some people’s house that were assigned to Victor. There was one place she hadn’t gone to, that Victor had begged her not to go. His work. He told her she could tag along anywhere except there, and had made her promise it. Curiosity always killed the cat, Victor knew as he watched in horror as Big Daddy brought her in and set her in front of Victor. He sobbed, he truely sobbed. Tears ran down her face as he fell to the ground next to the body that he loved. He held her close, pressing a finger to the hole that was left on her forehead. She was dead, he knew, he didn’t want to believe it. He wanted to save her. He could hear Big Daddy and the other members laughing, and Big Daddy telling him to clean the mess before exiting the room. Victor clutched at the small girls dress, hands wandering to the necklace he bought for her. Victoria it had read on the silver heart hanging from the chain around her neck.
“ Do you have a name? “
“ No- do you? “
“ Mhm, Victor. Victor Grantz. “
“ Victor huh! Well, in that case, I wanna be Victoria! “
“ Victoria? “
“ I wanna be just like Big Brother Victor! “
“ Cute… “
When Victor came to, he found himself in his room, bundled up under the covers on his bed, Wick sleeping soundly next to his side. He stroked her and smiled when he felt her lean into the touch. He looked around and saw Andrew sitting in the chair, asleep. He bit his lip and sat up softly, feeling guilty. The shuffling made the albino’s eye flutter open, but widen when he saw Victor awake. Victor only cleared his throat and looked down.
“ You passed out… “ Andrew explained, Victor only nodded. Andrew continued. “ What happened? “ But Victor shook his head and saw in the corner of his eye a nod from the other. Andrew hesitantly got up and walked towards the postman, wrapping his arms around him. Victor leaned into the touch, wrapping his fingers around Andrew’s arms and leaned back, closing his eyes.
“ It’s ok… “ The gravekeeper whispered “ I’m here, you should rest. “
Victor did just that.