Chapter Text
His cell was in the back of the company. While everyone else went about their actings, he was cooling in the syllable. And that wasn't just a form of speech. Every time he opened his mouth, it shivered from the cold. His legs were tired of being in one position, his arms and shoulders ached from being tied up for so long. The wounds and bruises faded into the background.
The Chosen One leaned his head back against the chair. For now, it was the only movement he could allow himself. His eyes darted across the ceiling. The only light came from his box. The perpetually glowing floor was terribly irritating to his eyes. Beyond the glass was darkness. Through the gloom, he could make out the silhouettes of boxes and broken machines. It was quiet here too. Chosen saw no point in making any sounds of his own. He closed his eyes. Quiet. It was just as quiet in the drawer as Alan closed it. Click...
Click! The Chosen One opened his eyes and shook his head. Again. His own thoughts would drive him crazy. Click... Click. Cho frowned: this wasn't funny anymore. Had his hallucinations really reached a new level? He began to look around. Click... Step... Step. No, those weren't clicks, but... footsteps? Very quiet and hesitant steps. So it wasn't Victim. Step... Step...
- Is someone here?
What? The Chosen One's eyes widened. A child? Had Victim completely lost his mind? The voice came from behind him, where the door was. Cho opened his mouth, but nothing came out. That's what happens when you're silent for too long. He cleared his throat.
- Here!
- Where?- the voice was high-pitched, but gentle. It was hard to tell whether it was a boy or a girl.
- Go to the light.
The voice said nothing. Step... Step... The child was making his way through the darkness. Judging by his steps, he was going in the right direction. The Chosen One laughed quietly when the child bumped into something. Step... Step.
He looked ahead. There, behind the transparent walls of the box, stood a small figure. It was a light gray, almost white, hollow head. With two black braids. She wore a yellow dress. The girl placed her hand on the glass.
- Hello. What are you doing here?
The Chosen One smiled. He still didn't understand what the child was doing here. But even if it was his hallucination, Cho was glad she showed up.
- I'm sitting. And you? This isn't a place for gambling- His voice was hoarse from the long silence.
- I got lost- The girl leaned her body against the glass and... walked inside. The older man tried not to be surprised by what had happened. She stood in front of him and extended her hand.
- My name is Hope
- Hello, Hope. My name is the Chosen One. And I'd really like to shake your hand, but- TCO looked down at his cuffed hands behind his back.
- Oh- the girl looked behind him.
Hope reached for his shackled hands. Warmth radiated from her. Chosen smiled and closed his eyes. He hadn't felt warmth in a long time. His powers were shackled along with his body and didn't provide any warmth. He didn't even have the strength to try. There were no stickmen who showed warm feelings towards him, either. The only one had died. And the Victim was cold in every way. He was the only one who came to he. And he didn't try to make hes life easier. Тhud!
The Chosen One opened his eyes. His hands. So facile. Was this freedom? He couldn't believe it. The feeling of freedom was intoxicating. He wanted to break free, to get out of this box. To run away. Just like he had done on Alan's computer. A yellow dress loomed before his eyes. The girl sank down at his shackled feet. Some kind of device appeared in her hands. He'd briefly seen something like it in Agent Smith. Thud! Thud! He was free again. Completely.
- That's it- the girl smiled.
In her hands, all the shackles dissolved into green sparks. Chosen had seen such things before. Concentrating, he rose unsteadily to his feet. He swayed slightly from side to side. But having assumed a more stable stance, the black stickman began to walk and stretch his arms. His power raged within him. He wanted to let her go. He looked at the girl. She was smiling and held out her hand to him again. The Chosen One smiled and shook her small hand.
- Hey, Hope. Want to see a magic trick?
- Of course!
Chosen took her by the arms and sat her down on a chair. He didn't really want to, but he had no choice. She was laughing. A little sunshine. Dark was beaming too. Not as brightly as she was, but just as special.
- Don't get up from here, or I won't be able to do this.
He waited for her nod and turned his back to her. TCO took a deep breath. His power warmed him pleasantly. Fire spread through his hands as usual. A grin spread across his face. He launched two projectiles at opposite ends of the box. The transparent glass fogged up and turned black. Go to hell, Victim! The Chosen One took pleasure in crushing the cage. The ice hit the walls with a satisfying thud. He looked at Hope. He saw the same ardor in her eyes. The ardor of Dark when the Chosen One demonstrated his powers after escaping. When they didn't limit themselves. The girl wasn't afraid, she just laughed sincerely. Cho approached her.
- Did you like it?
- Yes! You're like, poof, poof- the girl mimicked his movements.
He smiled and stroked her hair. Hope reached for his hand like a flower. Dark loved that kind of praise too. He decided to push those thoughts away. Too much, he might not be able to handle it. And giving in to his emotions right now isn't the best idea.
- Hope, tell me, what are you doing here?
The girl looked at him. Her blue eyes were beginning to remind him of someone.
- My nanny didn't show up for work today. So Mom and Dad had to take me with them. But this isn't my first time here. And what are you doing here? Especially constrained and in the dark
The Chosen One bit his lip. How could such a little girl know such words? But he'd never been one to lie.
- I was locked up here for bad deeds. Even though I hardly did anything...
- And almost doesn't count...- the girl interrupted in her high-pitched voice. The Chosen One frowned. Hope looked down- That's what Daddy said
- And who's your dad?- No, seriously, what employee was allowed to bring their daughter here?
- Oh, he's the boss here-the girl smiled sweetly.
- Ah, I see- The Chosen One turned away from her and clenched his fists. Victim, you pig, why the hell aren't you watching your child? He sighed deeply. Okay, no time to deal with this. He needed to go. He had a mission.
- Okay, Hope. Let's make a deal. Don't tell us I ran away and we'll take you to your father. Deal?
- But shouldn't you be here?
Cho pinched the bridge of his nose. Yes, exactly, the why-why phase. He looked at the fair-haired girl again. How pretty she was. Chosen smiled.
- I have to. But I don't want to.
– Why?
– I don't like it here.
– Why?
– I have other things to do.
– Why?
The Chosen One groaned. This wasn't his job. He shouldn't have to answer these endless questions. Cho looked at the girl again. How beautiful she was. He picked her up and walked toward the exit of the box. Thanks to his eyes, he could easily navigate through the junk. Hope wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against his shoulder.
- Are you afraid of the darkness?
- No
TCO chuckled. He believed it. The entire warehouse was huge and dark. It was amazing how Hope had gotten through. He approached a huge door. A truck could drive through one of those. This huge thing shouldn't be opened. They'll notice. Looking to the left, he saw a smaller door. To the right, he saw similar doors. So where to go? Probably to the left. Coming closer, the Chosen One opened the door. No one there. He walked through the door. Just corridors.
– Did you come from here?
– I don't know. I think so.
– Okay
Chosen walked forward. There were many doors in the corridor. He didn't bother checking them all. He wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible. The last door was at the end of the corridor. Cho sighed heavily. He opened the door. The street. The main building was visible to the right. Looking out onto the street, he saw a camera and quickly backed away. Cho hoped he'd entered the camera's blind spot. The girl squealed in his hand.
- Sorry
-It's okay
- Okay, baby- The man pulled the girl out in front of him- Time to say goodbye. As soon as you go outside, there'll be a large building on the right. Go that way
- I don't want to- Hope pouted and crossed her arms. The Chosen One smirked. Her father's daughter.
- Why not?
- I want to go with you- the girl looked at him with shining eyes.
- No. It's dangerous to go with me
- It doesn't matter. Please
Chosen sighed heavily. Why was she forcing him to choose like that? On the other hand, he wanted to spite Victim, but this was too much. Kidnapping a child wouldn't be something you'd wish on your worst enemy. But he couldn't take the girl back to the main building either. Cho sighed heavily.
- Okay
The girl clapped her hands with a smile. TCO already thought he'd agreed. Walking outside with the girl in his arms, he stood in front of the camera and looked straight into it. At least he could leave a hint. Hugging the girl tightly, he ran toward the forest. He needed to get to the cliff, and from there, to AlanPC. Running with the girl in search of his brother's body, so-so. And there they will look after her and entertain her.