Chapter Text
I slump against the white walls, my memories hazy and shallow, the antiseptic scent of the room invading my senses. All I can see are the white walls surrounding me and a thick transparent glass. After 279 days, 6696 hours, millions of seconds. I still can’t find the meaning of my existence. My body modified and experimented each and every day. It truly is a living nightmare, all painted in white.
Today was different. I spotted a tiny creature—a small, wet figure, trembling in the corner of her glassed-in prison. She was a person like me, trapped behind the glass door as I was. My curiosity drew me closer to the glass wall. She cried and cried, begging to be freed from the room. I curled up near the glass and observed her. Soon, she would become like me—someone unable to cry or smile anymore. I patted myself, feeling the ache in my heart. The only thing that triggered a faint memory was the hum of a woman’s voice, maybe what others call a mother? I hope so.I clung to that fleeting thought.
Three days later, she mustered the strength to rise from her curled position. With wobbly arms and legs, she shook but stood determined. She came to me. She approached the glass, her small hand reaching out as if trying to make contact with me, questioning my reality, hoping I was, in fact, real. My hand hesitated before reaching the glass, but I did it. She gets spooked by my hand and falls down.A burst of laughter escaped me, an echo of pure joy in our shared isolation. It had been days—no, weeks—since I had last laughed. I watched her, transfixed, as her startled expression transitioned into a smile.
It’s been a week, and my days have been better than before. My daily modifications happen, and I find myself rushing to the glass afterward, eager to share my thoughts and listen to hers. She narrates her fading memories in a soft, childlike tone, sometimes with tears that stream down her cheeks. To lighten her mood, I perform silly little dances and make weird faces, each one more pathetic than the last, but they never fail to bring a smile from her. With an exhausted yet bright grin, she leans to the wall. “You’re my gege now,” she whispers.
“What is gege?” I question her, and she giggles between her cries, “please don’t be mad at me” i said, hoping she doesn’t cry or stop talking to me. I felt stupid
“The most important person to me”, she said with a smile
3 weeks passed by, and I found myself already planning my escape with her from this hell hole. The adults come into the room to perform my daily modifications on my evol. I pretend to swallow the pills and sit on the surgical chair, My heart thumps hard against my tiny body as the knives come near me; I close my eyes tightly. I’m scared. My brain indirectly activates my evol in the sense of trigger. I hear the agonizing sound of pain from others, the sound of something being crushed. I open my eyes to find the deep red colour surrounding me, on myself and the white walls. I screamed as loud as I could.. I see the bodies in front of me. My tears welled up inside me as I began to panic. I tried to control myself, but my tears wouldn’t stop at the sight in front of me; the crushed humans were disgusting. I quickly get up from the chair and take the keys and gun from the bodies. My tiny palms couldn’t hold the gun but i don’t have another choice. The door was still open, so I quickly ran outside. After months, I can finally see different colours other than white, but I can’t look for too much time; I need to save her.
I unlock her door and kill the adults operating on her, they haven’t done anything yet. I let out a sound of relief. She was still unconscious, so I held her up against me. Her warm little body felt safe; it felt like something I had missed all my life.
Home.
I ran and ran, till my feet bled, and my heart pumped for the lacking oxygen. The guards in front of me were killed with the gun in my hand. Oh.
I became a killer, but I can’t think about it now. I need to save her. As I took a sharp turn, my feet tripping, both me and her fell on the floor and fell against the wall. I try to get up immediately and hold her close to me. The gun in my hands was shooting the guards in front of me with no mercy. Desperation filled me as tears flowed from my eyes. I hope I don’t get caught. The sirens ringing pierced my ears. 2 people ran towards me as I tried to use the gun, but the bullets wouldn’t shoot. I screamed not to come near, threatening to kill them. hatred filled my brain. My tears made everything foggy. Huge arms hold me upright alongside her. I tried to kick them, but my mind went blank as I got knocked out unconscious.
My eyes shot open in horror, panic racing through me as I took in my surroundings. I was on a large, comfortable bed, the little girl beside me still curled up peacefully. Relief flooded over me as I hugged her tight. The room was bathed in a vibrant yellow, so different from the dull white spaces I had come to dread. Suddenly, an elderly woman rushed in, her face a mix of concern and joy—but something about her gaze made me wary. I growled instinctively as she approached, instinctively shielding the girl. The little girl stirred at my growl, her confusion quickly transforming into a radiant smile. “Gege! Gege!” she shouted, her voice shaky with excitement as she hugged me fiercely. “You saved me!” Her joy filled the colorful room, wrapping us in warmth.
The elderly woman chuckled softly, her voice warm and inviting. “You’re safe now, my dear children. I’m your new granny!” I clutched the girl beside me even tighter, a sense of unease swirling in my chest.
“Granny? Are you really going to take care of us now?” the little girl asked, her voice a mix of trepidation and a hint of excitement, her wide eyes searching for reassurance. “Yes, indeed! Now, who wants some tasty chocolates?” Josephine raised her hands raised in excitment, as if she were about to share the greatest treasure.
We exchanged nervous glances, our anxiety momentarily forgotten as our stomachs growled in unison, the sound echoing in the small, dimly lit room. “Before we dive into the treats, let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Josephine. What about you, sweet girl?” she asked, her gaze gently landing on the little girl. “My name is y/n,” she replied hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly, torn between fear and a ravenous desire for the chocolate. Josephine settled down on the edge of the bed, her movements slow and deliberate, as she placed a shiny wrapper of chocolate between us. The moment it was within reach, y/n pounced on it, devouring it hungrily as it was the first decent food she had eaten in days.
“And what’s your name, young man?” Josephine asked me, her smile warm and welcoming, yet it did little to ease the dread churning in my stomach.
“Caleb, I think,” I replied quietly, my heart racing. She tossed me a chocolate bar, and I caught it, tearing the wrapper off in a hurry to avoid any judgment or scorn. I gobbled it down, savoring the taste and the fleeting sense of safety it provided.
Josephine enveloped us in her arms, pulling us close as if she were trying to shield us from the world. Tears spilled from our eyes, mingling in the embrace as an overwhelming wave of relief washed over us. There was warmth and comfort in her presence, something we had long yearned for.
“Welcome back home, children,” she whispered softly, her voice laced with tenderness and responsibility.