Chapter 12: Past
"It isn't much to say, but I want you to know, and I need to know some things," Add said as he sat on the bed.
Elsword followed suit. "Okay, I'm listening," Elsword said.
"I've already…told you about Eve but…what I didn't tell you was…" He gripped the side of the bed. The memories of that day made him furious and depressed. "…that a long time ago, Ran also…killed my family…My mother…I miss her so much…I wasn't there, I was at the park. I remember seeing smoke in the distance. I ran there…hoping it wasn't my house…but it was. Everything was in blazes. Not only my house but neighboring houses as well. I heard screams for help…none that sounded like my mother. The stench of burning…corpses…houses…trees…were everywhere. I wanted to run into my flaming house but there stood Ran…blood dripping from his rapier. I was scared…he had such a malicious stare. I couldn't run. He was coming closer…and then I was apprehended by strange men in white coats. I remember his hand on my head. I was so terrified. He said something about me being capable. I was locked up and tossed into a van. It drove father and farther away…I was screaming for my mom." Add felt Elsword's hand on his shoulder. He was on the verge of crying but that contact halted the tears. "I was then taken…to some…lab I believe. That's where I met Eve. They were…doing horrible experiments on people. I think I was sixteen then. Me and Eve…they did terrible things to us too. They were interested in Eve because she was such an advanced technology. They wondered if they could do that cliché shit of turning her into a weapon for their own use. However, they believed she had too much emotion which they believed evoked free thinking and decided to slowly wipe away her feelings. As for me…I felt so…detached…as if a void was in the center of my chest. I didn't care what happened to me…I let them do whatever they wanted to me…because I complied they never did more than necessary like beating me up or treating me badly." Add covered his left eye. "That's how I got this accursed eye. I don't know what they did…they could have implanted a chip, shocked me with something…I don't know. I was ready to give up…but Eve…before all her emotions were entirely gone, told me not to. That it would be lame if I didn't have any dignity. She knew what was happening to her. She's the one who said that we should escape. So we did…three years later…and so the events of Eve dying…was when I was nineteen. Then I think I've been stuck in prison for three more years…ha…what's with all these threes?" He looked at Elsword who had a worried look in his eyes. "So I was meaning to ask…" He touched Elsword's heart. "This…did they take you too?"
Elsword turned his gaze downward. It was something he never wanted to remember again. But, Add was telling him his secrets…so he will tell him his. "…Yeah…two years ago…" He shuddered. "…First it was my dad…then it was my sister…It was a strange call on the phone…They told me to wait at home. I waited…and waited…and waited…they never came back home. I tried to trace back the call. I asked the police…but nothing came up. I looked all over the internet until I thought I found a lead. It was dangerous, I knew this…but I also knew that I had to save them. It was like they knew…those lab people. I was on the train and when I exited and turned into the street, they pulled me in the alleyway. I tried to fight them off but they were too strong and I blacked out. When I woke up…I was strapped to a table. There were scary looking…machines…and tools everywhere. I tried to get out. But I was stuck. I remember screaming. Like you…I wasn't sure what was happening. I just knew it hurt. I think they were trying to brainwash me somehow. I always fought back and they got mad at me." Elsword touched his back. "Which is where…these came from. They beat me a lot. One day, to get me to do what they said, they showed me my sister. I felt devastated. She had…become insane. She was laughing maniacally and her eyes were so…lost. I lost my will to fight back. Eventually, I got over it and I just wanted out. My sister, she went haywire one day causing panic to all the lab people there. When she saw me, she gained a little of herself back. She broke the straps that were holding me and in her eyes I could see that she wanted help. She couldn't stay sane for long so the two of us quickly tried to escape. Our dad didn't make it. Once outside, she told me to run. I didn't want to…but she was starting to lose it. So I ran…I ran as far as I could and never looked back. I hated myself for a while for leaving her. I swore that I would find her again one day. After that, I stayed with a friend, his name was Chung, and kept hidden. He was…going to have his wedding not that long ago to…Aisha…and…and…" Elsword's head hurt. "Sorry…I can't remember the rest but, somehow after that I got here. I only remember bits and pieces like Ran, blood on my hands, and my sister."
"Sorry…I think I just…made things depressing."
"No…it was good to talk it out. Besides…we learned more stuff about each other."
Add leaned his head against the wall. "This just confirms that they are corrupting people for their own entertainment and money gain. Ahhh…I hate them even more now."
"Anyways…that last match…that was cool, Add. They couldn't even see the string."
"Hmm? Oh yeah. It's not strong but it works. The hooks it came with was handy too…" Add yawned. "I'm…tired…we should sleep…" Add tapped the space facing the wall on the bed.
"Oh…umm…is it…really okay? I mean…you won't feel weird or anything?"
"Hmm…no…you're warm anyway…" Add was too sleepy to think anymore. "Hurry…I'm tired…I want to sleep facing the outside…"
"O-okay." Elsword laid down and faced the wall. With a thud, Add fell asleep on his side facing the other way. Soon, Elsword fell asleep as well. However, since he moved around so much, his arms were flung over Add and his legs intertwined with his.
It was the warmest and safest they had ever felt in the prisons.
End Notes: I'm starting to feel embarrassed now, haha. I honestly didn't think anyone would read/review/comment (I was hoping though!) .; But nonetheless it made me ecstatic to see people say something and even more actually like what I'm writing…ahh…thank you very much.
