Thanks once again to Tsuki-Chama for the beta and hopefully i uploaded the right one;;;;
The second day… and he still hasn't come around.
I listen to the tree branches brush against the murky dining room window as I gazed, indifferently, at his stiff body… it brought back faint memories of the day he arrived at the house. I remember how alarmed I was at first sight… how I held onto Grandma out of panic…
That day was the beginning of the end, wasn't it?
But it didn't seem like it at first… everything was perfectly normal, despite a humanoid robot in the household. It was like a perfect family to me. I had a brother… we laughed together, we teased each other, and we played pranks on Grandma often… Where did things go wrong?
…Even if I did know, can I fix it?
…Grandma… where are you? You say you went to the store, but you still aren't here. Did you leave me? Did you know how insane he was? You probably had that gut feeling whenever you were around him, right? That's why you left as soon as you got the chance… I-It'll be too suspicious if he saw both of us leaving together, right? So you left while I was gone. And you'll come back for me anytime now…
You'll come back soon, with help and everything because he's…
I tightened my grip on the handle of the cooking pan.
Grandma knew, but what about me? Did I know how psychotic he really is? No, of course not, I…
…
…Yes. I knew… I always knew… Anyone would have to be stupid not to realize.
That pesky, nagging feeling I constantly had whenever I spoke to him, how my heartbeat would always quicken whenever I would ask him about something I probably knew the answer to… I just thought it was my worry for Kaito, but I know, deep down, I would get uneasy because of him. I could never tell if he was lying, because those bright, robotic eyes of his never waver… But his actions gave it away. I lied to myself so many times. 'Oh, it's just my imagination,' 'Maybe he's still laughing at the joke,' 'This is just what robots do from time to time'.
But I can no longer be in denial. Not after that day. Now it's been made obvious that he's the reason why Kaito is still missing. Where did he go? I'm sure we'll find him eventually…
But we'll never get an answer from Len, I'm positive about that.
Who knows what's in his head? But I know one thing. He's dangerous… So I made up my mind.
I've decided to break him.
Len. You took away Kaito… you laughed hysterically at us when we were concerned about him, like it was some kind of running gag… You were the only one not even remotely worried about him. You didn't think that I would find that suspicious?
I lowered my eyelids and glowered at his still body. "I should have done this a long time ago…"
As I grasped the handle with both hands, I felt hesitation gradually coming to me.
No, I have to do this…! Because of him… Kaito… and he drove my Grandma away! If I don't do it now, who knows what will happen when he wakes up? If he ever will.
Somewhat fiercely resolute, I stood near his head…
Just do it!
I start lifting the pan above my head, watching my shadow loom over him. … I see his face obscuring my vision; shaking violently, laughing giddily, grinning savagely…This was my determination. My hands quivered faintly when I found the willpower to tear him apart.
I harshly drew in breath and…!
…
…
…
…I can't… I can't do this. I backed away while lowering the pan to my side lazily once again. I felt unwanted tears coming to my eyes. I don't know how I feel right now. Anger? Frustration? …Sadness?
Dammit… "Why? Why can't I hurt you?! …You practically ruined my life!" I cried desperately, "Why can't I just break you apart while I still have the chance!?"
Then I came to a realization.
…Because… you're my brother. You're the brother I always wanted…
…I hated being the only child. It was lonely. Sure, I have Grandma, but she can't do anything without risking some kind of pain with her brittle body. But with you, I experienced what it's like having a sibling. We played video games competitively, we ran around the yard for no good reason, and at the carnivals, I had fun with you… It was the first time I sat with someone I knew on a huge rollercoaster…
You've been here for almost a year… I have so many fond memories of you…
That's why I can't… because you're so close to me.
I shook my head in disappointment. I must be out my mind…
…Abruptly, I hear sounds coming from him as he moves slowly. Clanking sounds… Is he coming to? I watch him as he's fingers jerks a little bit before he finally shot open his brilliant cerulean eyes. As he did so, I hid the pan as well as I could behind my back.
He stares blankly at the pearly ceiling, unmoving… Is he… really broken? Or maybe he's still crazy?
I readied the cookware just in case if he made any sudden moves.
Len nonchalantly sits up, wordlessly surveying his surroundings.
I felt a tinge of regret… I should have done it. Maybe I could still… No, I can't. Why did I have to chicken out the day before? Sighing softly, I came to a decision to finally speak. I haven't said anything for the past day… "You're awake," I say, emotionlessly.
He turns his attention to me… excitedly. "Rin!"
I really should have broken him when I had the chance. "How are you doing?" I ask.
"I'm fine!" He says animatedly. …And there it was again, that grin. The same grin he's been having for the past week. Broad, demented, daunting… it sent chills down my spine…
"That's good…" I say, still unfeeling.
"Rin, how long have I been out?"
I frowned. "About two days… I didn't go to school, because I don't want to leave you by yourself…" Who knows what you would have done when you were to wake up, and I wasn't there…
"How sweet of you."
I instantly felt disgusted.
He began to heavily slide his feet toward me with his hands outstretched, but I back away, gripping the pan tighter than before. Taking one step back, he immediately stops and tilts his head at me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I answer on reflex. The short-lived silence was too unbearable for me, so I decided to change the subject. But what am I going to talk about? My mind wonders off from the present and into the past… I recall that day's event instantly… "You know, the two of them know you're a robot now. They were both fuming at me… though Miku tried not to show it…" It was hard to swallow, so I cleared my throat instead. "So much for the Vocaloids, huh?" Funny how the thing I didn't want happens to be the thing I already miss the most…
I want to say more, but I hold it in.
No, I should say something.
But what if it triggers him to be… like that again?
"What's wrong, Rin?" he asks me again. And once more, on reflex, I answer "Nothing."
I feel his eyes on me, almost literally. My hands hurt from gripping that pan too hard, but I don't want to let my guard down—
"Rin?"
I look at him, seeing that his face is more relaxed. "…Mm?"
"You have a very lovely smile," he says, smiling somewhat gently.
I blinked at him and frowned. "Smile?" Would I really be smiling at a time like this? Smiling is the very last thing I'll do right now.
"Yes, your smile."
Is he serious? "But, I'm not—"
"Yes, that one! It's so beautiful…."
Apparently, I really am smiling to him. I'm scared. I-I need to get out of here, away from him. "Oh… I see... Anyway… I'm going to bed… it's late…"
"Late?"
"It's ten o' clock…"
"Oh. Shall I walk you upstairs to your room? Do you need company? Do you? Do you?"
Scared is really an understatement. I am absolutely terrified. "…No, I'm fine. You should… rest up a bit." Before he says, or does anything else, I tell him good night and scuttle to the staircase, all while hiding the pan from his vision. Once up top, I hurried into my room, tenderly shutting the door, and locking it. I then pressed my ear onto said door, listening intently just in case if he decided to follow me.
I hear nothing…
…Once I felt safe, I exhaled heavily. I positioned the pan on a chair and dragged it next to my bed. I undressed speedily and lay down.
I had trouble sleeping for three days because he was unconscious on the ground in the dining room.
But now I'll have even more trouble sleeping because he's awake.
'Where are you?' was the text message I received from Luka when I checked for messages. Where indeed… I close my phone, leaving her question unanswered. Maybe I'll answer it later…
I placed my phone back on the small table, and once again slid back into the couch, gazing at the TV.
I've decided not to go to school for yet another day this week. I should be going, to keep my mind off things, but I know I can't really focus on things like vocabulary, math formulas, exercising and whatnot. It's just a waste of the teacher's time, and mine also. Instead, I'm sitting at home (this time with a conscious Len) watching, and doing nothing in particular. He and I talked very little, and although I preferred that, I still found it distrustful. Sure, he was the only one bringing up conversations (and I merely answer with "yes" "no" or "nothing"), but the fact that he's talking 'very little' made it strange for me. He should be loquacious and maybe apprehensive, like he's been… but he's calm. Content.
Something is wrong here.
Or maybe it's just me? Ever since the day he broke down, I've become a little more fretful with each passing day… But not only that. I feel like that I can never be happy again…
What's been pestering me is that, even though I know he's done something to Kaito, I still don't know what. I should ask him…
No, I'm too afraid. The exact same thing can happen again... But even if I did ask him, the only answer I'll get is 'I don't know', most likely.
The day flies by and I suddenly notice it's nighttime. I once again tell him goodnight, went into my comfort zone, and fall asleep three hours later.
Another day passes, and nothing was different from yesterday.
But the day after…
For the first time in days (I lost count), my phone rings with its unnecessary, bubbly ringtone. Who is calling me? Luka? …Grandma? I can't think of anyone else who would call… unless it was the school?
There's only one way to find out. I lift the phone from the table and turned it over to the front.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
"Meiko?"
Why? I thought she never wanted to deal with us ever again. Why would she call out of the blue…? I swallowed nervously as I answered the phone. "…Hello…?"
"I want to speak to Len," she says without delay.
The pulled the phone away from my ear slowly. Len…?
When I looked at him, he was already looking at me. "…It's for you," I say cautiously, handing him the phone.
He took it graciously, pressed it to his own ear, and greeted, "Yes?"
I paid close attention to the respond Meiko gave, but I couldn't make out the words. He hangs up the phone and places it back on the table. Wait, what just happened? "What did she want?"
"She wants me to meet her somewhere. Haha, what's with her and meeting places?"
Meiko wants to meet him somewhere…? Maybe she's going to…
"Oh, don't worry, I'll come back as soon as I can," he says elatedly.
"Yeah, I know you will," I said instantly. No matter how much I wouldn't want it, you'll always come back…
Len snapped me out of my dreary mood as his face was suddenly in front of mine. It's not as close as it normally would be, but still close enough to make me uncomfortable. "When I come back," he says awfully harmoniously, "I'll have a big surprise for you. So, look forward to it, okay?" Again, that grin came upon his face… and just like that, he turns to leave.
I should stop him. I should reach out to him, and stop him… In my gut, I know that if I let him go now, something bad will happen. It's no longer a possibility. With Meiko, something tragic is bound to happen…
This is just like the night he left to meet up with Kaito somewhere. I saw him passing by the doorway, knowing that I should prevent him from leaving, but I didn't… and look what ended up happening…
That's why, to avoid something like that again, I should… stop him…!
The door closes with a resounding 'click' echoing throughout the room and my ears.
I didn't do anything, just like last time…
…
I fell sideways on the couch.
Len didn't come back home last night.
It's about midday now, and I am once again at home lounging on the sofa, surfing through the channels unseeingly.
Dammit… what's wrong with me?
I'm worried. I'm really worried. But I don't know for who; Len or Meiko? As far as I can tell, both are on the brink of losing their minds… maybe I am also. Did she… get him? Did he get her? The more I thought about it, the more disconcerted I became.
…I changed the channel to the twenty-two hour news network, wondering if there's anything reported about them…
"…Thank you, Sweet Ann. …Just late last night, a local pick and shovel store owner was killed in his own store. He was found by his family, beaten to death… with a shovel. Authorities are on the scene right now, as well as our reporter, Leon. Leon?"
"…Yes Big Al, authorities are indeed on the scene, but nothing has come up yet. Unfortunately, the store was closing due to remodeling, and the owner himself shut off the surveillance cameras. And since this was a family owned business, not to many people were around the area, so we have no known eyewitnesses. The police are asking if anyone has any ideas as to whom or why, they would like you to contact them immediately at the nearest police station… This is Leon from the news network reporting from the Yamaha plaza, Big Al and Miriam, back to you in the studio."
"…Thank you, Leon. Another developing story—"
I switched off the TV. That didn't help at all… poor guy…
I sighed heavily. I stared at my reflection on the television screen for who knows how long… I look older…
Suddenly, my phone rings, causing me to jump and sit upwards.
A call…! It's Meiko, right? Without looking at the caller I.D, I answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Rin!"
"…Miku?" Well this is certainly surprising…
"Rin, oh thank God you answered! Did you watch the news?!"
"About… the store owner?"
"No, no! After that!"
"No…"
I heard her frantically shuffling things on the receiver, breathing as if she just ran a whole mile. She took a moment to recollect herself, then spoke again, "I-It's Meiko! She's in the hospital!!"
Everything around me froze as if I was stuck in time. I heard nothing, not even Miku's harsh breathing in my ear. My heart gave a sudden jolt, and kept beating against my chest vigorously. I sat still, my eyes slowly becoming wide like saucers, and I feel like my own breath was taken away from me. I finally muttered softly, "What?"
"She's in the hospital! Oh my God, this is—"
"What happened!?"
"I don't really know… I heard 'Meiko' and 'hospital' in the same sentence… I quickly left the den to get dressed…"
Oh no no no, please no… "Which hospital is she… staying at?"
"The one nearest to us. That catholic one." I heard keys jiggling. "I'm on my way right now. Do you want me to come pick you up?"
No way. I couldn't face her now, because… "No, I'll… take the bus. I'll be there in twenty minutes…"
"Okay, see you." she said hastily and hangs up the phone.
Oh my God… Meiko's in the hospital… that means… that means Len…
No, that meant I was responsible, didn't it…?
…I shook my head aggressively. Never mind that, I need to make the next bus. I ran into my room, grabbed four dollars, and darted out of the house.
The bus ride was short and it ended before I knew it. I hopped off the bus and, straight away, I spot Miku waving for my attention. I observe that the hospital was unusually busy today… either that or it's always like this around this time of day. I jogged up to my friend, who was relieved to see me. Once I caught up with her, the two of us began walking briskly side-by-side to the entrance.
"I still can't believe this…"
Neither can I.
"I mean, just the other day, she was at school… Which reminds me, why haven't you been coming to school? Luka misses you…"
I'm sorry, Luka, but I can't just deal with anything anymore. "Is that really important right now?" I ask her. "We're here for Meiko, so let's just focus on that, alright?" I realized I spoke a little too insensitively. "…Sorry—"
"No, you're right," she interrupted me. "Let's hurry."
I nodded as we both picked up our pace.
Once inside, we introduced ourselves to one of the middle-aged women at the front desk. We were still within the visiting hours range… thank goodness.
"Fifth floor, room three-eighty," she tells us.
We soon departed, rushing to get to the elevators, carefully avoiding any patients and nurses we came across. Then we finally stood in front of the room Meiko was located in. Miku was childishly peeking through the small vertical window embedded into the door. "…I can't see her; the doctor is in the way…"
"Just… Just open it already…"
She sucks in her lips and sighs. "O-Okay…" She grabs hold of the handle and pushes it down, opening the pearly white door.
The room was bland. It was small, yet comfortable, and a single TV hangs from the ceiling. The room was baked in a tangerine color, and the reason for that being the sunlight's rays shining through the lone, moderately sized window. Even when we opened the door, the doctor still hasn't moved from his spot. It looked like he was still tending to Meiko…
After a few steps inside, I stood rooted to the ground, not wanting to advance any closer. Miku however, fully advanced to Meiko's bedside. "Meiko," she said delicately.
The physician glanced over to the two of us and asks, "Can I help you?"
"That's our friend," she says at once.
"Ah, I see…" His head turns back to Meiko once again, telling her, "Your friends are here now…" Once he left her, Miku instantaneously ran up to closer to her bedside and smiled sadly. "Meiko—"
I felt my stomach drop.
Her face was covered with scrapes, bruises and bandages… from the chin, her nose, and up to her temple. There were a massive number of stained straps around her head… But that wasn't the worst part. She had no reaction to seeing or hearing us… it was like she didn't know we were there. Like she didn't know she was here. She just kept staring expressionlessly ahead of her…
"M-Meiko…?" Miku stuttered.
No response.
"H-Hey, come on…"
Still nothing.
Miku began to lightly shake Meiko's shoulder, and she waved back and forth lifelessly, still not making any noise or any self movements.
The doctor stepped in and gently took her hand away. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but she's in what we call a 'vegetative state'." Miku swiftly looked at him in disbelief, and he continued, "Yesterday, a pedestrian found her at a park, unmoving. Any person would ignore it, but the person saw blood leaking from her cranium. …The police were called, and the paramedics handled her at the scene. …Her nose was broken, her lips were busted open, and she was suffering head trauma and brain injury. …Her skull was fractured, to say the least. Luckily, she was only in a coma… Earlier today, she woke up from her loss of consciousness, but unfortunately it was in a state of unawareness, which is most likely because of the severely damaged brain…"
It was all too much to take in…
"Ah, but don't worry! Vegetative states rarely happen for more than a few months. She's still young, so I'm sure she'll recover in weeks. By the way, you said that she is your friend, right?" He looked at me, but Miku nodded for him. "Then, do you know who did this to her?"
My mouth suddenly became dry as I tried to swallow.
"Anything you know would help the police catch the person responsible for this horrendous crime…"
The emerald haired girl slowly shook her head. "I don't know anyone who would… She isn't nice sometimes, but no one really hates her…" She wiped her eyes from the oncoming tears stinging her eyes.
"What about you, young lady?"
I widened my eyes and felt my heart beat against my rib cage. All it takes it one simple word, Rin. Just say it… you know who did it. There's no mistaking it.
Yes.
"No."
…The doctor rubs his temples, "Well, if you find anything, let the police know, okay? Now, I need the two of you to leave. I am sorry, but I still need to do some work on her. You can come back tomorrow, if you like."
Miku was about to retort, but she knew it would be useless to argue with a person taking care of Meiko. As an alternative, she nodded and sauntered to me like a ghost. We both agreed mentally to leave Meiko in his care.
---
Outside the hospital building, Miku asked me if I needed a ride home.
"No thank you…"
"Are you sure? I don't mind, really."
"I'm absolutely sure. But thanks anyway."
When she left me, everything was vague on the way back home. I found myself on the floor beside a wall, hugging my legs to my chest with my head down.
It's all my fault…
This whole thing is my fault. My fault. All my fault.
I should have stopped him. I really should have. I even told myself that something horrific was going to happen once he walked out that door. And now Meiko… the drunken high school senior, who bags on freshmen, is now a vegetable. A vegetable!
And it's entirely my fault.
How can something like this happen?!
Without any warning, the front door creaks open. I slowly lift my head up, seeing a familiar shadow at the doorway. I quickly placed my head back down.
"You waited for me like you… said you would…" he says in broken sentences.
I held onto my legs tighter. Go away… please…
"…What's wrong?"
Go away…!
"I know what will cheer you up," he said. I heard his footsteps pace towards me, and he grabs my arm. I don't even bother resisting. Against a robot, I had no chance of escaping his grasp. He drags me out the house, and I try to keep my balance when we start jogging down the street. When we turned a certain corner, I knew where we were going.
The park.
Is he… going to hurt me too? If he does, I don't care…
When we got there, it was about nightfall. The shadows shrouded us as the crisp night air was blowing in my face was we continued to run. Where is he taking me?
Just as I asked myself that question, we came to a halt at a spot surrounded by unseen trees and bushes. Once his grip loosened on my arm, I drew it back callously. "…Why are we here?" I meant for it to come out as a threat of some kind, but it came out as a feeble whisper.
I couldn't see his face when he answered because it was so unbelievably dark. "The surprise, remember? You wanted to see it so badly…"
Surprise? Oh, right…
He strolled over to the bushes and heaved up a shovel. "Sorry I didn't come home last night. I had to get this… but you were with me anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter…"
What is he talking about?
"I'll start digging now," he says simply as he dug the shovel into the earth.
This is my opportunity. I ought to run as fast as a can… No, what's the point? I'm already out of breath from running over here… trying something like that guarantees it'll fail once I take few quick steps. My eyes lowered, and wonder over to the ground adjacent of me, unmoving. What surprise could he be possibly talking about that is dug underground…? Before I knew it, Len climbs up from the square shaped hole he formed on the land and gestures me to it. "Look look," he says impatiently, out stretching his arm to the said ground.
I blinked at him, then the opening in the soil. I took a hesitant step forward… then another… and one more step, leaning to take a closer look… I can barely see it… I think I see something red… and brown… What am I supposed to be looking at?
The park lamps finally flickered on.
My stomach lurched.
I don't know what it was… it smelled atrocious. I sighted diminutive, tiny, moving things all over it… maggots!? The clothes were stained with old, dried blood, and there's… brown stuff immerged from the center and… are those fingers!?W-Where's the head?! Is… is that a body—
Then I saw it. The very person I've been looking for.
I noticed the traditional indigo scarf he sported every day.
I felt my stomach twist in a way that made me want to vomit. The contents were rising up in my esophagus, and I dared not hold it in. I turned away, and puked violently.
"Surprise!" Len says happily.
I belched one again, and it felt like I was throwing up everything my stomach held. Once I finished, I coughed and I wiped away the remains of any vomit on my face. I slowly glance at him, and his face was contorted in insanity. His once livid eyes were now sinister and wicked, almost snake-like, and the grin he had on his face… it wasn't like before. This one made my hair stand on ends. It was menacing.
I backed away on all fours, not taking my enlarged eyes off him. "W-Why…?"
He threw the shovel into the pit, and started toward me. "You said so yourself, Rin. You were a prisoner. HIS prisoner, and and I set you free from his grasp. You're free to fly, my angel. My angel! Do you like it?"
I couldn't find the strength to heave myself off the ground…! "Y-You're… you're crazy…!"
But he responds angelically, with a voice full of honey, "Only for you."
That's when I finally found my vigor to scamper away.
I kept running aimlessly, running into people or knocking them down. "Get away! Run!" I shouted to them as I passed them by. They gave me looks but I didn't care. How could I possibly care!? He could kill them too!!
I realized that I was running to my house. My mind is in such a daze I really don't know what I'm doing… I yank the door open, grabbing my phone and darted upstairs, skipping two steps at a time. In my room, I slammed the door shut, locked it and jerked open my drawer, looking for the piece of paper…
Oh god, where is it!?
I threw out the contents randomly… frantically, desperately searching for it. I was sure I put it in here!!
Oh, thank god! I found it!
I rushed into the closet and quickly locked myself in. I opened the phone and dialed '91…' then I stopped. By the time they're here, it'll be too late… I decided to text Miku, just in case she could get help, or… I rapidly pressed the numbers on the pad, spelling out:
'Help me'
After sending it, I opened the piece of paper and my eyes directly zipped to where the number is located. 'If your Vocaloid malfunctions, please call this number…' Maybe… maybe they meant something like this, right? So if I call them, they'll come even faster than the police would! I speedily, but carefully, dialed the number…
…
…
Come on, come on! Pick up—
"Yes, this is the Vocaloid customer service hotline! I'm John and I'll be your assistant today! How can I—"
"You have to help me," I spoke in a low tone, my voice quivering, "M-My Vocaloid malfunctioned…"
"Alright, let's see here… we can come fix it three days from now—"
Three days!? "No! Y-You don't understand! You need to come sooner!"
"Eh, sorry kiddo, but that's the earliest we can come. Although you can pay extra for our special speedy service!"
"No no no no no y-you really don't understand! He's been… He's been killing people!"
"Killing… people?"
At that moment, my closet door was ripped open, away from its hinges, and thrown back like it was a toy. I drop the phone, began to breathe rapidly, and froze at the sight of him.
He spoke, with a voice full of sweet nectar,
"I found you."
-
A/N: CLIFFHANGER YEAH
this chapter is full of 'no one cares rin shut up'
wow this is the longest chapter ever oh my gosh
2 more chapters left! that is including the epilogue so i guess thats really one real chapter left ;_;
man i should just wait until august to update i'm doing this too fast (WEEKLY UPDATES? AAHH)
obligatory: i love you guys thank for reviewing and faving yes even those people who never review i love you too i guess
m-more reviews wouldnt hurt s-so... review please ;_;
please ;_;
i should to that "if i dont get up to 80 reviews i aint updating" thing huh
dont worry i wont..... but you should do it anyway