Hello everyone! Animelover54321 here, and back with another chapter for What's Left-
*Car drives through wall killing Animelover in the process*
What's up bitches! TheLivingMyth is in the house! Don't mind the dead guy on the floor I'll have someone pick his body up and throw him in the dumpster in a few minutes. No need to have my old weaboo name sticking around anymore am I right?!
Enjoy the chapter ya fucks! :D
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*Flashback*
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Day One (More Specifically Night One)
.
Ten Years Ago
Three grey colored buses drove down a dirt road late at night in the midst of summer vacation. Gravel and dust picked up off the ground and were blown away into dusty particles far behind them as they continued down the path to what one could only think of is the middle of nowhere. Nothing could be seen as far as the eye could see around them, other than the rare sights of street lamps they passed by every minute or so. The mixed children ranging from the age of ten to thirteen, and with the majority of them being boys, could only sit in silence with their heads down for the bus drivers refused to allow anyone to look out the window and wonder where they were headed. Some sniffling could silently be heard, for these were the kids that were already mentally broken and left in a devastating vulnerability when they stepped onto this bus to be taught some discipline from their own parents who had enough of their shenanigans and rebellious behavior. Some of them even pleaded the last seconds to not be sent away when the buses arrived, but to no avail, it was all helpless.
Lincoln Loud, an eleven year old child was lucky enough to get a window seat when he stepped onto the bus that shortly left Royal Woods. He was able to bring a few necessities the camp required for them to bring until they were able to supply them with their own basic items. Such as a few pair of clothing from home, his tooth brush and toothpaste, and a small bottle of shampoo. He also managed to sneak a family photo of him and his family to be cherished later on when he feels lonely. Other than that, he held nothing else that would be of value to him or any thieves that could possibly be on this bus. As time flew by, he didn't have to wait long to have another kid sit next to him seeing that there were no more window seats available.
It was a girl.
She sat crossed arm glancing down uncaring about the scenery around her or the situation she was in. To Lincoln, she sort of reminded him of Ronnie Anne in a way. Always standing on her toes and refusing to express any form of vulnerability to anyone. A tough nut to crack one could sum up, but Lincoln knew better. Spending eleven years around girls as well as dating Ronnie Anne for quite some time could surely teach a boy a certain thing or two on how girls manipulate their emotions. And at this moment, he concluded that the girl who sat beside him was fearing for her life at this moment. He could see it with her uncertain eyes that revealed itself now and then, the constant shuffling of her legs and crossed arms, as well as the twitching of her fingers. Yes, she is scared. But she wasn't scared of where she was being sent along side him and a couple dozen kids, so what was she scared of?
"Hey! I said keep your heads down now!" The ragged roar of an annoyed bus driver filled the bus, startling Lincoln and everyone else on it which swiftly made them all put their heads down.
Lincoln didn't know if that warning was meant for him or another kid, but he dared not take the chance to continue glancing around for he did not wish to risk getting on the bus drivers bad side. And so, the ride continued on in silence for what felt like days driving down these isolated roads that he was sure no one in this world knew of. He could've sworn that they were no longer in the state of Michigan, but maybe in one of the neighboring states such as Indiana, Ohio, or maybe Wisconsin. In a way, it made him panic knowing that this place was probably so far from home or even the slightest sight of a familiar face. However, these thoughts were soon erased when he heard screeching of metal being forced open.
He took a quick glance out the window to see a metal gate slowly, but surely opening up to allow the buses in to drop their new load of kids. Lincoln was on the second bus, just in the middle between two that were in front and at the rear of the vehicle he was currently riding. As soon as the gates were fully open, he felt the bus once more go into motion while tires began to continue its endless scratching and crunching along the dirt and gravel like substance below the vehicle. At this very moment, Lincoln has never felt more enclosed with the world around him to the point where he can literally hear his lungs inhale and exhale nervously as well as the slowly rising heart rate in his chest. It was breathtaking for him to see himself jump from an open world, to an enclosed prison like campus that screamed survival of the fittest everywhere you looked. The moment the last bus came rolling through from the outside world, the gates screeched close until a loud bang was heard throughout the area. The buses once more squeaked to a stop not a second later.
Lincoln noticed three tall, and very intimidating looking male figures separate from one another, each heading to one of the three buses that stood motionlessly in the quiet night. One of them walked along side his window, and by then he threw his gaze to the floor of the bus once more as to hopefully not be seen and be punished for this action. From then on, he couldn't understand what was happening, but every few seconds he could heard the mans footsteps walk across his window to which he could only conclude that this man was attempting to drive them to be extremely anxious of where they were and to surely strike fear into their hearts. In a way, he compared him to a predator stalking its prey.
Lincoln stayed completely still like an opossum playing dead, so he couldn't tell how the others on his bus, nor the girl next to him was feeling at this moment. But whatever this man walking around his bus was doing, it was surely working on him. It felt like they were sitting their for hours, and during that time he was becoming more and more anxious with his surroundings that it literally began to drive him nuts to the point that he just wanted to jump to his feet and literally scream his lungs out. However, before he could have a chance to put it in action, he heard the bus door squeaked open, and by then...
all hell broke loose.
"Get the hell off my goddamn bus now!" The man who was just walking around this bus moments ago stepped through the doors ordering everyone to get out.
Lincoln got to his feet, the girl right next to him already up as well as they forced themselves to the middle of the bus to go down the steps where the mans screaming was becoming more intimidating to Lincolns ears by the second. He swiftly descended the stairs of the bus where the hollering man continued to bark orders at every child coming out of the vehicle.
"Faster! Faster! Faster! Line up on the yellow imprinted footsteps shoulder to shoulder now!"
One of the boys ahead of him tripped and fell on his hands and knees. He was wearing shorts, and sadly bare skin sliding across dirt and gravel don't make a good combination as his skin was cut open slightly.
"You!" One of the intimidating men growled when he saw the fallen child. "Get your scrawny, useless ass up and get in line before I make you."
The boy immediately got to his feet after, not wishing to meet the end of his threat in the very first day.
Lincoln managed to get into the formation these rough and what he could only assume as heartless men desired for them to be at this moment. As he did so, he looked back at the bus to see the remaining children frantically trying to get off and find their place within the crowd that slowly began to get bigger. After a minute more of screaming and demands to speed up the process, each child has now found their place standing shoulder to shoulder between one another silently as these three men walked through and around the rows these children provided for them all.
"Now listen up!"
One of the men roared in such an authoritative tone that everyone could only assume that he was the person running things around here. Lincoln nicknamed this man the Senior Instructor, for he knew this man was probably the one you didn't want to face if you did something wrong.
"From now on, as you are all under our hospitality, I don't want to hear anything coming out of your shitty little mouths besides, Yes, Sir! Or No, Sir! Unless given the permission to! Do you all understand me!"
"Yes, sir!" They all yelled at once.
"Good! Now, I'm sure you all know why you're all here tonight! If not, then allow me to fill you in!" He walked through the rows glaring at each children in the eye. "Your precious mommy and daddy has sent you here, because you all have some disciplinary issues on obeying their orders! And so, having enough of your sickening attitude..." He walked up to a boy who shook at the power behind his eyes. "...they sent you away to be taught a lesson or two." He growled before continuing down the rows until he spotted a rather, interesting sight.
"You!" He walked up to Lincoln before leaning in, his face only inches away from his. "What's your name!" He roared.
"L-Lincoln Loud, sir." Lincoln softly spoke in fear.
"What?! I can't hear you! Speak louder you piece of shit!"
"Sir! My name is Lincoln Loud, sir!" He yelled.
"Your name is no longer Lincoln! From now on you're snowball! Do you understand?!" He roared.
"Yes, Sir!"
"Do you like your name snowball?!"
"No, Sir!"
"Well too fucking bad! You're gonna learn to like it whether you want to or not! Do you understand me?!"
"Yes, Sir!"
He narrowed his eyes. "What's the deal with your hair anyways? You thought you were going to the circus or something?!"
"N-No, sir! It's just naturally white, sir!"
"Naturally white my ass." He spat. "But it doesn't matter, it won't be an issue for long." Taking one last, long and deep glare into Lincolns eyes. He continued his walk down the rows. "Now, as I was saying before little goody looking two shoes over there interrupted my train of thoughts, you all will be under my watch until the end of this month. You will sleep when I tell you to sleep! Eat when I tell you to eat! And you WILL complete your daily tasks without questions! Any objections?!"
"No, sir!"
He stopped, standing in the very center where every child could at least see him in the corner of their young eyes. "Now, we must know how many of you are here today so we know how many bunks you'll all be needing. So when we tell you to, extend your arms out ahead of you and when one of our instructors come across you, you will scream your number and then put it down until the last person has been counted!" He glanced at one of the other instructors before nodding at him, giving him the okay to get started.
The man proceeded to head to the very front of the crowd before barking. "Hands forward!" As soon as he got to the first child, the train of yelling immediately began.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
"Four!"
"Five!"
"Six!"
This went on for a few seconds until he came across Lincoln, where he then yelled out his number which was Twenty-Seven. A few more seconds passed by, everyone standing completely still and eyes forward out of fear on doing the slightest thing wrong in front of these vicious men. It didn't take long until the last child was called.
"Eighty-Two!"
"Eighty-Two kids!" The instructor yelled out from the back, to which the Senior Instructor who now had a clipboard in his hand wrote down.
After he finished writing the number down, he walked up to another instructor who stood next to him before whispering something in his ear that neither Lincoln, nor anyone else could here. There was a short pause before the man gave a nod to the Senior before turning to them all.
"Alright!" He spoke while stepping in the middle. "Boys to my left! Girls to my right!"
They hurried and shuffled themselves as he wanted, only taking about ten seconds before they all stood still once more like robots. "Boys, you will follow me get your hair shaved. You will have to make a quick decision on either getting your hair cut half an inch long, or you will be shaved completely bald. So decide on what kind of hair-cut you'd want before we get there."
They all headed off in silence, all while keeping themselves in a straight line. Lincoln took a quick glance to his left at the girls once more noticing how few they were compared to the boys side. If he'd had to take a guess, he'd probably say their were about twenty-three girls that were here with them. He spotted the girl he sat next to, and for a second he could've sworn that they locked eyes. He never got the chance to speak with her on that bus, but for some reason he felt as if he'll be damned if they parted as strangers.
After almost half an hour later, all the children were gathered together once more outside in the dark. The different hairstyles that helped identify the kids were now gone and replaced by either a hairless scalp oroa long enough hair to be considered a hairstyle. The girls weren't allowed to have their hair hanging loosely or in a ponytail, so they must always keep their hair tied into a bun or be shaved just like the boys were, which made them all without a doubt keep their hair tied into a bun.
All of the eighty-two children stood motionlessly in formation as they stared ahead at the instructors before them, waiting for further instructions. They now all had their small luggage of personal belongings they were able to bring with them at their side, which in a way gave a tiny source of comfort for them all to at least have something they recognize.
"Atten-tion!" The ruff voice of the Senior Instructor echoed through the silent compound. "You all will be separated into two, I repeat, two! Different groups!" He clarified by gesturing to his two assistant instructors beside him. "Group A will follow Instructor Alvarez to your barracks!" He pointed to his right with his right hand. "And Group B will follow Instructor Xiang, (Pronounce Y-a-ng), to their own barracks! Is that clear?!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Fan-fucking-tastic!" He spoke before giving orders. "All the children with the first letters of their last names beginning from A to M, follow Instructor Xiang! Everyone else will be following Instructor Alvarez." He spoke before walking away to complete any tasks that required his attention, but not before saying one final sentence to them all.
"Welcome to your new life brats!"
After that, the two other Instructors called for their groups to follow them to their sleeping quarters. Lincoln followed the Asian man, which led them in a different direction from Instructor Alvarez. Lincoln and the other forty children, half of what they were since when they first stepped foot in this prison, silently followed Xiang. They walked for almost five minutes until they were led into a grey, circle looking building. In a way, Lincoln thought it looked a lot like a giant metal can that was cut in half from the top, down and then placed on the ground to provide shelter. When he stepped inside, the first thing he noticed was the very dim lighting that was provided. If it was any dimmer, then it would almost be like walking into a dark room. Their were ten bunk beds along the sides of the building, and since the building wasn't that long, the space between the bunks were a little tight to walk through.
"You'll all be sleeping together in here for the next month!" Instructor Xiang spoke. "As you all can see, their is very little room in here to start throwing things around, so if you all want to live as comfortable as one could be for the next four weeks, I suggest you all work together to keep it clean! Every two days their will be a cleaning inspection in this room. If I find even a spec of dust, dirt, or crumbs anywhere in this building, it doesn't matter who it belongs to, you will all be running a mile!"
As everyone entered, Insturctor Xiang marched to the front of the door before turning back to look at the children. "Here's a little hint for you all to hold onto to make your month here at least a little bit easier. Whether you choose to follow my advice or not is none of my concern; Work together, make sure no one steps out of line, and lastly, treat the people around you the way you want to be treated." He slowly began to close to the door. "Lights out, your duty calls for you much before the sun peaks over the horizon." And with that, the door that was shut left an echoing rumble in the building, signaling that they were now able to do as they please.
Lincoln grabbed his small bag of belongings and pushed through the crowded children before walking down the aisle of bunk beds on both the left, and right of him. He grabbed a bed, three away from the last one before sitting down, eyeing the others who slowly found their bunk and bunk partner. He looked down, staring at his bag deciding whether or not he should rummage through them to get an extra pair of clothing out and ready for tomorrow or not.
"You mind if I bunk with you?"
His thoughts were cut short when he heard a voice other than his own just standing above him. He looked up to see another boy who seemed to be a year or two older than him. He had dark, ruffled black hair that was also shaved just like his almost an hour ago, his skin contained a light brown color and he wore a pair of black glasses. He was about as tall as Lincoln, perhaps a few inches taller, but other than that he was a fairly normal kid.
"Sure." He replied without a second thought.
"Thanks man." He smiled as he tossed his belongings on the top bunk. "The names Chester Berninham by the way." He leaned up against the exterior poles that was holding his bed just above Lincoln.
"Lincoln Loud." He replied with his own smile. "So what got you in here Chester?"
"Fighting." He answered without a second thought. "A lot of fighting to be honest, for most of them, I'm not too proud of myself knowing that I committed the act of assault." He added while picking his nails. "How about you? Why was a goody looking two shoes like you sent here?"
Lincoln couldn't help but scoff as he realized the insult Chester used was the exact same one the Senior Instructor, to whom he has yet to learn the name of, shouted at his face just an hour or two before.
"I sort of, broke my dads frame that held his high school graduating picture."
"Sort of?" Chester raised an eyebrow. "Or you did?"
"It's..." Lincoln paused as he thought back to the incident with him, his sisters, and his father. "It's complicated actually, but yeah, I guess it was mainly my fault."
Chester hummed. "Well, I don't know if it's reasonable enough to send you to a fucked up place like this, but I mean..."
Lincoln zoned out, Chester's words becoming nothing but muffles in his ears as he spotted the girl who he sat next to on the bus now bunking in the next bed over. She still kept her non-vulnerable appearance up steadily with little to no falter. In a way, he felt an enigmatic aura around this girl that made him crave to discover this mystery that stood just before him.
Chester stopped speaking as he noticed Lincolns distant eyes that were not on him. He glanced behind him to see what or who he was eyeing, only to notice the girl that was laying in the bed just beside them. Chester looked between the two of them and couldn't help but grin teasingly as he saw this, and no sooner than that, he snapped his fingers a few times in front of Lincoln to bring him back to his senses.
"Sorry." Lincoln muttered with a chuckle. "I sort of dosed off their for a second didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did." He sat on the bunk next to Lincoln before leaning closer to him with a teasing smile.
This sight made Lincoln lean away nervously, and awkwardly laughing. "Hehe... what's up man?"
"So..." He began to speak. "Who's the cutey you've been eyeing?"
Lincoln lightly flushed as gave an expression of surprise. "W-What are you talking about?" He turned away.
"Don't play dumb with me. I saw you eyeing that girl just a few seconds ago." He nudged him lightly. "Does lil Linky need a helping hand to be introduced?"
"N-No! I just thought she looked cute." He rubbed his fingers together nervously. Not a second later his eyes widened as his face began to turn redder when he realized what he just said "I-I mean."
"Oooo~" Chester now had a massive grin on his face as he began to tease him with words like any ordinary child would.
While Chester continued to tease Lincoln, the distraction that was caused by them soon attracted the girl that was on the next bunk over. She rolled to her right side where she was able to spot the two having a conversation, well if you could even call it that for the kid with white hair looked as if he would pass out from embarrassment over the compliment he gave her earlier. Yes, she heard him say she was cute, to which she was slightly happy that someone saw her that way.
"You know, you two aren't as quiet as you think you are." She spoke, halting Chester from continuing his attack on a flushed Lincoln.
Chester looked at the new speaker that was laying across from the two. "Well, there wouldn't be much privacy over how narrow these places are. So I'm not surprised if you did hear us."
For the first time, Lincoln actually took in the girls features. She has blonde hair, much like his sisters in a way but not too bright, her skin held the milkiest color he ever laid eyes on and her eyes were of an extremely alluring bright green color that he's never seen before. She wore a long sleeved purple sweater much like Ronnie Anne, but except it didn't have a hoodie, along with dark blue leggings that were of soft fabric which Lincoln could probably guess that it's not the best type of pants to wear for some place like this.
The girl ignored Chester as she eye'd Lincoln. "You're the kid I sat next to on the bus, right?" She questioned.
Lincoln blinked a few times before realizing that he was asked a question. "U-Uh, yeah. That was me!" He answered. "How did you know?"
The girl let out a light huff that sounded as if she wanted to laugh. "Well duh, who wouldn't forget that white hair snowball." She added with a faint, yet charming smile.
Lincolns eye twitched lightly as he heard the other humiliating nickname the Senior Instructor gave him. It seemed as if his reputation began to grow among the group, for if the girl before him even called him by thay embarrassing name, then who knows how many have decided to use it on him as well.
"Oh, well that seems reasonable." Lincoln replied in a faintly annoyed tone.
At this point, there was a banging that echoed throughout the building followed by a muffled yell.
"Lights out!"
"Welp, you heard the ol' man." Chester wasted no time and climbed onto his top bunk. "G'night Link." He spoke before looking at the girl. "You as well lil' lady." He winked.
"Put a sock in it." She frowned which caused Chester to laugh.
"Feisty." He muttered before he disappeared over the top mattress.
The girl looked at Lincoln, searching for his eyes to lock onto hers, to which they soon did as the two had a very quick staring contest at one another. She soon smiled, confusing Lincoln slightly on her sudden change in her expression.
"You're also cute to by the way"
With that, she turned her gaze to the bunk above her as the lights soon turned off, cutting everyones vision into pure blackness where nothing could be seen for a few seconds as their eyes adjusted to the lack of light. If the lights were still on, everyone would surely be able to see a furiously blushing Lincoln. Not because the girl called him cute, but because she heard him call her cute awhile back which he tried so hard to keep a secret.
Lincoln found himself laying down on his bunk a few seconds later, still contemplating the words he heard moments ago as if they held a secret meaning that could lead him to the next stage of his life. It felt strange honestly, not because a girl was probably interested in him in the slightest of ways, but because it felt like he could connect himself to this girl like he could with his sisters. And by now, Lincoln soon realized that even now she still didn't know this girls name. She must've magically heard his thoughts, because soon after he heard soft voice speak.
"My name's Ellie, by the way."
He faintly heard to his left where the girl was currently lying down on her mattress.
"Ellie, huh?" He thought as he rehearsed that name over and over in his head like a record player.
He smiled, glancing to his left to see if he could catch a glimpse of her, or at least an outlined frame of the now named, Ellie, just a few feet away beside him. He wasn't able to see her, but he could've sword that he saw those luscious green eyes staring at him while surrounded by pitch blackness; And it felt, relaxing to the point where he felt as if his soul being sucked out of him. His eyes began to grow heavy as his thoughts slowly began to fizzle up into nothing. And just like that, he fell into a deep slumber, waiting for the day to call upon him tomorrow where he'd surely, and hopefully befriend this girl that sparked his interest, this girl named...
Ellie.
Day Four
.
26 Days Until Judgement Day
The sun was high, and temperature much warmer than what a kid would wish to be standing outside in this blazing heat. Group B, marched back and fourth carrying boxes filled of resources that'll keep them fed, protect gear, and medical equipment just encase someone has ended with an injury that must be properly attended to. As they did this, they couldn't help but glare at Group A when they come across them, for the instructor has given them a much lighter task to be performed. They weren't mad because they had a lighter task, no; they were mad because Group A was able to work under shade, protected by the scorching heat from the sun that burned against the back of the necks of Forty-One sweating children.
Instructor Xiang, who surprisingly worked along side them told everyone to place their final box they had where they were stocking them in a small shed before heading to the mess hall for lunch.
Lincoln, who was currently sweating like a fountain as he busted his ass off in this heat could only let out a sigh in relief when he heard those words left the instructors mouth. The few days he's been here turned out to be complete torture on his weak, scrawny, and fragile body that he gave in on himself a few times under the amount of pressure from both, completing his portion of the heavy load and trying to keep the ruthless and unforgiving attention of the instructors off his shoulders. Every night he'd collapse on his bunk, physically and mentally drained since he couldn't keep up with the demands of his given tasks.
Chester, bless his caring heart, assisted Lincoln whenever he could to relieve some of the stress he's been dealing with. Lincoln could've sworn that Chester was one of those kids who mainly looked out for himself, like a lone wolf in a way. After all, due to the short conversation the two had the first night they were hear and the brief explanation on his background and why he was here, Lincoln didn't really know what else to think about him. That is until when he began to cover for him every time he couldn't continue, which happened more often than what he could ever bare himself to come to terms with.
Lincoln set his final box load down in a corner of a shed and couldn't help but bend place his hands on his bending knees that were screaming at him to rest.
"Good hustle out there, Link."
Lincoln saw another box drop next to his. He would've been startled by the sudden slamming if he weren't so damn tired. Lincoln stood to his full height before cracking his tensed spine that gave a sudden release to his back muscles. "Thanks..." He groaned out in relief while taking a glance at the person beside him. "Chester."
"You didn't need my help this time. I guess I can stop babying you pretty soon, am I right?" He smirked while they left the shed while the remaining children piled their boxes in.
Lincoln lightly scoffed. "Whatever you say."
Chester wrapped his arm around Lincolns neck as he squeezed his arm. "All that hard work seems to be helping you build some muscle. Shoot, by the time you get back home all of the ladies are gonna be fawning over you, just watch."
"I'm sure it takes much more than muscles to attract a girl, Chester." He rolled his eyes. "Besides, I'd doubt any older girl would try to date an eleven year old kid."
Chester gave a confusing glance at Lincoln as he let him go. "I was talking about girls around your age." The two stood in silence for a few seconds before a grin slowly began to spread across Chesters face. "Ooooo~ So Lincoln is into older girls huh?"
"W-What?!" He furiously blushed. "Why would you say that?"
"No reason, I just thought you liked that Ellie girl though." Chester grabbed Lincoln into a head lock before giving him a noogie. "You're not gonna turn into a player now are we?"
After a struggle, Lincoln was able to yank his head out of Chester's grasp before rubbing his lightly stinging head. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He replied with lightly annoyed tone.
The two entered the mess hall, where a rapidly growing line could clearly be seen stretching farther by the second. The two stepped in line, not wanting to be the last ones to get there tray as well as to try to hopefully be able to have a choice on the selection of meals they have today. As they now held their trays while choosing a variety of sides that would fill their growling stomachs for a few hours, Lincoln felt a nudge from Chester causing him to look at him.
"Cutey at our six." He spoke.
"...what?" He questioned, not understanding what me meant.
"Just, look behind you." He hissed.
Lincoln looked back, wondering who and what he meant only to catch Ellie sitting down in silence poking away at her tray while speaking to another girl.
"Ellie?"
"Uhhh... yeah man!" He pulled his shirt nervously, not that Lincoln could tell though. He wasn't trying to point out Ellie, rather he was trying to point out the girl she was speaking to, because honestly, she looked rather... dazzling in his eyes.
"Why would you want to point her out?"
Chester, already nervous about the whole idea about what he wanted to say, went along with Lincolns confusion as if there was nothing wrong. "You haven't spoken to her, much less try to get to know her at all this entire week!" He leaned into Lincoln whispering. "I saw those goo goo eyes you give her. I bet you would like to get a hold of her and just."
He then proceeded to make kissing sounds, much to Lincolns embarrassment.
"N-No man!" He almost, but thankfully didn't yell. He did not wish to gain anymore attention than what was already given to him. "I don't... like her like that."
And that was true, even if he thought Ellie was cute and attractive, he did not contain any feelings of romance for someone he just met four days ago. Maybe he would begin to feel something down the line, but chances of that happening with how long they'll be here together was quite slim. He didn't love her, he felt drawn to her. Something about her just made him feel like he was still at home in a way, which was pretty odd if you could find that comfort in a girl you could hardly call a friend, but nonetheless, he did.
"I just..." They walked to their table as he continued, slightly hesitant and confused at first on what he wanted to say. "I don't know. I just feel a sense of comfort around Ellie I guess. I don't really know how to explain it, but it just feels... right, you know. Like I never left home in the first place." His head was down the entire time he spoke.
"...interesting." He heard someone reply, but it wasn't Chester's voice he heard, no it was far from it. It was feminine and...
right next to him?
Lincoln glanced to see that he and Chester came to a halt where Ellie was sitting with the girl that was accompanying her. The look on her face as she was staring at him with interest, yet in slight awe really struck him hard.
"I'd like to know more." She gave a faint smile as she rested her chin on her interlocked fingers.
Chester who had his mouth gaped open with a wide smile, let out muffled screaming laughs, not believing Lincoln actually said what he said next to her. "Lincoln, I wish I had your balls." He thought with slight joy.
Lincoln never felt so tensed in his life when he noticed his embarrassing mistake to the point where he's never felt so open and vulnerable in his entire life. Here he was, pouring a little of the pent up emotions he had within him to someone he's known for only four days, only for the exact person he was speaking about to hear him as well. The only other time he's ever felt so humiliated was the time when his sisters insisted that the girl who was bullying him, Ronnie Anne, bullied him because she liked him. They were right about her having feelings for him, but the response she first gave him seemed as if she didn't which left him walking inside with a black-eye and shattered pride. Those few minutes were the most, humiliating moments he's ever felt since today.
"Hey, kid... helloooo~"
Lincoln came back to his senses when he realized that Ellie was trying to get his attention. "U-U-Um." He choked, not knowing what to say.
Ellie sighed, brushing a loose strand of her blond hair behind her ear. She decided to change the subject seeing that she wouldn't be able to get a response out of him anytime soon with all of his gibberish and heated cheeks which she found rather cute.
"What's your name?" She spoke, giving him something easy to answer.
"O-Oh." Lincoln gulped. "U-Uh... Lincoln." He hesitated.
"Well, it's nice to finally know your name Lincoln! I never had the chance to get your name the last four days." She spoke while scooting away from him, confusing him greatly.
They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds in awkward silence, Ellie already having enough of it, decided to say something.
"Well... are you going to sit?" She patted the empty bench next to her that she provided only seconds ago.
Lincoln looked at the seat, then at her before saying, "May I?"
She lightly giggled at his request to sit. It was as if he was confused that if he sat down, he would be invading her space without proper permission. "Of course."
"That means I could sit as well, right?" Chester spoke as he moved to sit across from Lincoln.
"No!" Ellie lightly glared." Not after you were cat-calling me the first night."
"Aw, come on! It was just joke." He pouted before looking at Lincoln. "Back me up Lincoln! Don't leave me alone."
"He's... he's fine." Lincoln managed to get out. "He helped me get through these last four days... so I owe a lot of gratitude to him."
Ellie lightly glared at Chester who was acting as if he was crying, and he was good, not that she knew of it of course. It made her feel like the bad person in this conversation, and she did not want to leave a bad reputation.
She sighed in defeat. "Alright, you can stay."
Chester's face instantly cleared of all and any signs of any tears that leaked out of his eyes before turning into a smile of flirtatiousness to the girl he sat next to.
"Good afternoon M'lady." He fiddled with his eyebrows.
"You were faking it!' Ellie almost practically yelled in shock and annoyance.
Chester ignored her as he kept his eyes looked onto the girl next to her. As every female in this prison, she had her black hair tied into a bun. And unlike him, Lincoln, or Ellie, this girl had a much darker that she could be considered a colored person, to which she most likely is. Her eyes contained a chocolate brown color, and her skin smooth and gentle. It was everything Chester looked for in a girl.
"Um... hey?" She replied in a slight accent, but was not anything else other than American.
Even though it was normal english, you can hear the grinding of the words coming out differently like how country people speak their english, only this wasn't a country persons accent. It sounded rather... ghetto in a way, yet it wasn't, but Chester didn't care about that, he loves accents, and this one could be a score for him if he played his cards right.
"What brings a pretty young thing like you down in this hell hole?" He lightly smirked.
And just like that, the door of opportunity slammed in his face.
She lightly glared back at him. "None of your business, that's what." She growled threateningly.
Chester leaned away a bit, taken aback by her hostile attitude. "Woah, woah! What'd I say?"
Ellie let out a scoff. "You just met her, and your first question is wondering what she did?"
"I-I don't see the big deal about it." He replied. "I mean, we've all done something to end up in this place, s-so I'm just curious."
"Well maybe I don't want to remember." The dark-skinned girl replied with venom. "You could've introduced yourself first like how people typically do when they meet a new person."
Chester gulped lightly. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Just because you have a change of scenario, no matter where you end up, the majority of the time it's good to introduce yourself to someone before taking the step further to befriend each other.
"H-Hi." He hesitated before extending his arm for a handshake. "I'm Chester. What's your name?"
The girl looked at his hand for a split second before taking it. "Audrey." She replied.
Her bitter taste of him has now dissipated, but that didn't mean she had to smile and feel a wave of curiosity when meeting anew individual, which she didn't.
Ellie turned her gaze to Lincoln, a sense of interest beginning to creep its way into her thoughts about the boy she didn't think of other than another person that was locked up in here with her.
"So, Lincoln." She began, getting his attention. "You mind if I ask why you're here?"
"*Cough* Hypocrite."
Ellie glared at Chester who whispered innocently while glancing away, acting as if he didn't say the insult she knew he said only seconds ago. As she slowly turned back to Lincoln, she added on to her question. "But, if you don't want to say anything, it's fine."
"Broke my dads old high school graduation frame." Were the only things he said.
Ellie and Audrey looked at each other, taken aback by how... innocent it sounded.
"So he sent you here to place like this because of that?" Ellie clarified.
He nodded without saying so much of a word.
"That's... stupid."
"That's what I thought!" Chester butted in.
"Shut up." Audrey spoke.
"...meanie."
"Lights out!" Instructor Xiang ordered as he began banging on the metal bunks with a baton he had signifying that it was now time to go to bed.
Lincoln laid on his bed as he stared at the mattress above him. Today has been as normal as the other days, except the fact that he's now befriended two new people that he'd surely get along with for the month to come. Audrey, surprisingly was bunking with Ellie which made him and Chester wonder how they've never noticed her presence before, but they never did question it, for they knew it would probably lead to some confusion and headaches they did not wish to go through. All in all, his day was pretty great, yet no matter what happened in the end of the day he always felt lonesome. Sure Chester and Ellie helped dim the effect of loneliness on him, but it still wasn't enough to subside the eleven years of bonding he's made with his real family. He just felt, really homesick.
"Lincoln."
He faintly heard the gentle and comforting tone of Ellie from his bed.
"Yeah." He replied in a low whisper.
After the fourth day, he was able to see more of his surroundings in this area and adapt from the low to non-existent light, even by the slightest to it's environment. He turned his head to see Ellie, with her head on her pillow, gazing at the mattress above her. He could outline her facial features perfectly, her lips, her cheeks, her hair, her neck... her alluring green eyes. For the first time ever, he could see such vulnerability within her eyes to the point where she looked like a completely different person to him. If it wasn't for her recognizable features, he could've sworn that this wasn't Ellie, she looked so... scared. So weak, so fragile, so readable.
Ellie's worried gaze refused to give him even the slightest glance, maybe because she knew. She knew that he would be able to see her susceptible side that she dared not want anyone to see.
"Ellie? Are you... okay?"
She turned the other direction in fear that she saw who she really was. A fraud, a useless imbecile that shouldn't even be here in the first place and always relies on others to take care of her. She was just a sheep in a herd of wolves trying to be one of them, but in the end couldn't muster up the courage to actually be one of them. That's who she was, that's who Ellie was.
"I'm... I'm scared too, ya know."
Her eyes widened and her body stiffened in surprise when she heard what Lincoln said. She shuffled her body a bit to be able to see Lincoln in the corner of her eye without exposing too much of her face. He now had his gaze facing the mattress above him with his arms behind his head as it rested on his pillow. It made her feel strange to be honest, her stomach twisted, but in a good way, and a sense of feeling like someone can actually understand her filled her empty bones in a split second that she hoped that this wasn't a dream.
"I'll be honest with you." He spoke, the snoring of the children in the room masking his voice from anyone and everyone who may be still awake besides Ellie. "When I first crossed those gates, I was so frightened. Just the thought of having these... intimidating men forcing discipline into us the hard way made my skin crawl."
Ellie turned away once more, her expression now filled with disappointment and hurt knowing that he actually wouldn't understand her. He was just like every other stereotypical kid here, fearing the same exact thing like a herd they are.
"But... I came to realize after the third day that. I wasn't scared about any of that." He continued. "I wasn't scared about someone screaming in my face, or insulting and hurting me in any possible way. None of that bothered me at all."
He gulped, looking over to Ellie who was now looking at him with interest once more. "I'm scared... I'm scared of losing who I am." He finally answered. "I'm scared of becoming something I'm not. I could lose a lot of things Ellie, but..."
The two now locked eyes with one another, a deep synchronization seem to flow within the two. It was as if they were looking in a mirror, a reflective mirror that didn't give the slightest effort on concealing who they are, how they feel, and who they will probably turn out to be. It was like they were an open book filled with pages and pages of hidden secrets that were long forgotten deep within their hearts.
"If... I lose myself." He continued. "...then, what's left? What's left... when all of it seems... lost?"
(See what I did there? o3o No? Well fuck you then... jk)
As the two continued to eye each other disorientated, yet suddenly feeling as if they began to discover and envisage the possibility of satisfaction and joy entering their lives.
"But, I'm not going to let that happen." He assured himself. "I'll get home, even if I have to march through the depths of the dark below to make it back. I'll do it, and I'll win."
The two stayed silent for a few seconds just staring at each other in a comfortable silence. It's been so long since Ellie felt this sort of tranquility envelop her in a warm, yet comforting invisible blanket. How she wish she could feel like this forever. This person before her, the one that suddenly unlocked the closed gates of her masked personality made her like this. She tried so hard to keep herself locked up this entire month, to give off the aura of a strong, and fearful girl. She wasn't saying she was weak, she knew she wasn't, but with the overwhelming sense of a pessimistic behavior taking control of her for so long, she felt as if she suddenly felt as if she wasn't alone anymore.
Lincoln extended his arm that enclosed their bunks by half the distance. He gulped, waiting for her to take his hand, if she would take his hand that is. He wanted to show her that he is, and should never question his companionship, because at this moment he felt and knew that it was as true as a lonely and undiscovered waterfall that hasn't been tainted with the hands of the human touch.
A warm embrace was felt on the palm of his young and growing hand that a wave of an even deeper understanding flowed up their arms and spread throughout their body. That's when he realized her gentle grasp on his. He couldn't help but think, that there could never and would never be a more beautiful moment than now. Their were very little windows in the barracks, yet a faintly glowing light was able shine on the two's entwined limbs that refuse to part from one another.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore." Lincoln surprisingly found himself saying. "You're not alone."
Ellie didn't respond to his words, but the relaxation of her body told him that she understood him and allowed herself be overwhelmed with the feeling of being safe, protected, and warm. He watched as her eyes that wouldn't look away from his, slowly began to grow droopy, and her grasp on his hand weakened, letting him know that she was about to enter a deep slumber. Another minute passed, and he now watched her sleep peacefully as he held onto her limp hand that would surely fall limply beside her if he never continued to hold onto it. He wouldn't let go of her now that he uncovered her true self. Just like himself, Lincoln knew that she wouldn't make it through the month without going insane if she was alone, but she wasn't now. He was here, and perhaps Audrey and Chester would be if they could understand them like Ellie and himself understood each other.
"Never letting go." He weakly muttered out as he himself began to slowly lose himself to the wonders of sleep.
"Nev...r le...ing... go." He muttered again.
That line repeated itself through his head as his eyes closed on itself.
Never letting go. Never letting go. Never letting go.
He still held onto her hand, even though his mind was now placed in a deep slumber that forced his body his body to go limp, his arm that held onto her just wouldn't comply with the rest of him.
Never letting go.
*Flashback #1 End*
It was dark again, his thoughts were blank and his senses were shut off, but no sooner he felt them slowly coming back to life.
"Lin...oln" He heard.
His eyes suddenly opened, but he closed them immediately since their was a blinding light that burned his pupils which he wasn't ready for.
"Lincoln!" He heard again
His eyes began to flutter, and no sooner his vision came back to life filling his eyes with the colors he's been empty of for a few seconds. His pupils landed on Lisa who lightly shook his shoulder.
"Lis?" He tried to get up to a sitting position, but a massive headache washed over his scalp causing him to grasp it in pain.
"Don't get up too fasht." She spoke while she assisting him to his feet.
After a few groggy seconds, he removed his hand from his scalp before looking at her and noticed everyone, besides his mom and dad was still there.
"How long was I in there?" He questioned. "And where's mom and dad?"
Lisa fiddled with her glasses before replying. "It's been approximately two hour, twenty minutes, and thirty four sheconds. As for our biological parents, our mother couldn't take what she was sheeing so she left to her chamber along with our father to asshist her cope with her emotional damage." She added. "Which was about five minutes ago."
Lincoln looked away from everyone in shame. It probably wasn't a good idea to show her parents, nor anyone the description of his past. Now that he's coming to think of it, it was probably all a big mistake he's placed on them all. They all suffered long enough, so there shouldn't be any case of him sharing the events that they sent him through.
"Lincoln?"
He looked up to see the twins, Lola and Lana moved their way in front of him before sitting down on both sides of him.
"It's not your fault that moms feeling bad." Lana said as she hugged him from his left. "I... I think it's good to get this out of your, and our system as well. So if you're thinking about stopping, then please don't."
"Yeah." Lola agreed as she as well hugged Lincoln from his right. "It's like... we're watching a movie. Just a movie." She pulled away from his shoulder and looked at his face, allowing the two to lock eyes with one another. "Besides, I wan't to see more of that Ellie girl. She looks really pretty honestly, even with the strict appearance they forced onto you guys, it was like it didn't matter if she followed it or not. She'd still be able to pull it off."
He chuckled at Lola's remark. But he didn't bother to reply to it, just the thought of her compliment about the girl he fell for made him happy. He looked over at everyone else who sat silently on the couch trying not to lock eyes with him after witnessing the beginning of his new life.
"How do you guys feel?' He questioned. "I don't want to continue if it makes you all uncomfortable."
The seven glanced at one another a few times, and as if they knew each others thoughts, they nodded before looking back at Lincoln who still awaited for his response.
"We'd... like to continue if it's okay." Lori spoke on behalf of them all.
"Yeah." Luna leaned back on the couch with her right leg over her left. "Seeing this gives me... inspiration in a way little bro." She scratched her cheek. "I'd like to make a song about it, perhaps more later on."
"Your grief yet undying search for light can help me take notes to improve my poetry." Lucy quickly said.
"I believe we all wish to continue Lincoln." Lisa summed up. "However, the reason why I pulled you out earlier was because your mind seemed to be, malfunctioning."
"Malfunctioning?" He raised an eyebrow. "How?"
'Well." She looked at her tablet. "When I sent your brain to relive its past moments, it seems to have taken an alternate route and suddenly began to think that it still resides in the past. The TV was buffering recently, like an interference was being made from a storm or something like that. I pulled you out because I didn't think it was safe to continue keeping you in a coma."
"So, what will I do if you can't look into my brain to relive my memories?"
"I have already conducted a sholution to the issue." Lisa answered. "We can shtill continue the same ashpects we've started with, however I can't allow you to be in that shtate of paralysis anymore than an hour and thirty minutes. Dishobeying these acts can permanently place you into a coma, much like Cardiac Arresht except this is due to your brain. You'd basically be living in the past forever."
"...that's risky." Lincoln lightly shivered. "i don't... I don't think I can do that."
After a few seconds Lisa laughed. "I'm just messhing with ya. You'd only be ashleep for a few days, but I do suggesht you don't stay in there any longer than an hour and a half."
"Dammit Lisa! You had me fearing for my life for a second!"
"I love you to brother." She lightly smiled.
"So, since we can't continue, and I'm pretty sure mom and dad would like to see this with us, what should we do?" Lynn questioned, bringing the room to a silence.
Lily jumped to her feet on the couch as she bounced on it. "How about a sleep over!" She cheered, her bubbly and childish charisma filled everyone's thoughts.
Leni squealed in delight "We've never had one of those since like, totes forever!" She exclaimed.
"Oh! That's a great idea" Luan agreed. "Coming to think of it, Lily, Lisa, Lola, Lana, it's getting way pasta your bedtime." She grinned as everyone let out a groan or a small chuckle.
Lincoln smiled as he saw all of his sisters get along and talk with one another. It was a sight he's long since missed and enjoyed, and he knew that they all missed these moments with each other as well. No matter how annoying they can suddenly be.
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I don't know what to say, so leave a review telling me what you all think!
And remember!
.
.
I am now TheLivingMyth. Animelover54321 is DEAD and will never come back! :3
(Same person by the way, just different name. If some of you think I am a hacker, then no. I am the same person. Trust me)
PEACE!
:D
(Never Letting Go - By Vexento. Words inspired by his title and soothing song.)
