BBS IS OUT OF SCHOOOOOOL. Summer vacation is such a fantastic thing, guys. But you know what SUCKS about summer? The summer assignments I have to complete in order to take advanced classes in this next coming school year. Yeah. Totally fun times ahead.
Well, it's been a week (sorry!) since I was released from that prison. It only took me this long because I wanted to enjoy a taste of summer with nothing to do at all but be lazy, eat, and sleep. But now, here is the newest chapter! Hope you enjoy. HAPPY SUMMER!
000
The sun was out, but there were still mild breezes that made Allen shiver. He had grabbed one of Lavi's orange scarves, sighing in delight the minute he picked it up and wrapped it around his neck. It would serve as something of comfort for when he reached his destination.
The streets were packed with people on the way to work, perhaps to grab a coffee beforehand. Allen immediately felt unprepared when he realized that he had rushed out of the apartment without a direction in mind. He was lucky that the first person he had asked knew how to reach his destination. He was told that it would take a while to get there, but Allen estimated that he'd return home before Lavi was off of work.
He quickly thanked the stranger, bowing a little before scurrying off to the nearest train station. He'd brought his wallet along with him; he had just enough for a round trip fare. A dull jingle told him that he had a few coins, also. He fumbled with his money, stammering and trembling as he received his ticket. The crowds on the platform were intimidating, but he knew that he had to push on in order to catch the train. Wrapping Lavi's scarf tighter around his neck and chin, taking a deep breath, and murmuring hasty apologies—Allen shoved his way through the crowd and crammed himself behind the automatic doors of the train.
He clutched his train ticket in his hand; he'd need it to get back home. With a low groan and a screech, the train began to move. There were too many people on the train for Allen to be able to sit down, so he remained awkwardly pressed against the doors. When there was finally an open seat, Allen made his way to it before seeing a woman with a small child strapped to her chest.
"Were you going to sit here?"
"N-No, it's fine! Go right ahead, I apologize." Allen would've felt horrible to take her seat.
"Are you sure?"
"Po-Positive!"
"Thank you, young man."
The woman gave him a look of intrigue—his eyes evidently catching her attention. He smiled warmly before another crowd shoved its way into the train, pinning Allen once more into the automatic doors. Luckily, they soon hissed and opened, an automated announcer telling him that this was his stop.
Gasping for breath, Allen stumbled out of the train—straightening his clothes and relieved to find that Lavi's scarf was undamaged and still smelled like…well, Lavi. This was what gave him a last push of courage to stride to the giant concrete building towering above him.
The inside was surprisingly hushed, only a few clanks of bars and the grinding of metal scraping metal was heard. No human voices. It began to unnerve Allen, but he knew that this was necessary for him to move on with a new beginning. After a few minutes of hushed chatting and aggravating security checks and searches, Allen was seated in front of a window that appeared to be made of glass. A few taps with his fist, however, soon indicated that it was even stronger.
There was a small hole at the base of this "window" and another seat behind it. The metallic clanking in the background of Allen's thoughts continued. His head began to spin with the anxiety, his leg quivering under his seat as if ready to bolt out the door.
That was when he heard the clanking of steel and dragging of chains grow progressively louder.
And louder…
Allen shuddered involuntarily, adjusting the scarf and trying to calm himself.
Tyki Mikk.
He was here to see Tyki Mikk.
The man looked absolutely miserable and insane; his golden eyes were now bronze, his hair was frazzled and not in the least the charming curls they used to fall in. He looked thin, worn, and tired.
Yet that unchanging smirk that began to spread on his lips made Allen want to hide under a rock.
"You two will be allowed twenty minutes to speak."
Allen nodded, his eyes widening in minor surprise—he had forgotten there was a guard there too. But now that guard walked back to his post. Thankfully out of ear's reach, yet still close enough to intervene if something were to go horribly wrong.
Tyki was the first to speak.
"Allen Walker, every man's kitten and deluxe play thing has come to see old and tired me. I am truly honored."
Allen gritted his teeth at his old nickname. It reminded him of every single time he'd cry to himself at nighttime. All those strangers groaning his name without knowing him, saying they loved him without meaning it…
"In all honesty, I would have never expected such a grace to befall me. For a while I thought I'd never see my precious kit again. But to think that indeed, my pet has returned to me…"
Jaw locked and eyes ablaze, Allen's fists clenched on his lap—yet the fear of the man that had tormented him his entire life kept his mouth from speaking.
"To think I was almost convinced you'd let me rot in here forever, but no. I knew you couldn't last long without me; the person who was always there for you when everyone else fucked you and left. Ah, surely you remember that. When everything went to hell, I was always your stable—"
"Shut up."
It had been so long that he had to sit there and listen to this man spit lies into his face. So long that he had to bite his tongue when all he wanted to do was scream and tear his heart from his chest. So long that he had to keep this rage inside…
"You were never there. Don't you lie to me, Tyki Mikk. You were never there. The person who fucked me and left was you. Don't try to weasel your way out of the truth."
"Shhh, hush now kitten, we wouldn't want—."
"I AM NOT YOUR FUCKING K-KITTEN."
Allen's voice echoed throughout the cold cement walls. The guard gave Allen a glance, but looked back away in understanding. He had been notified of the circumstances.
Allen's fists hurt from being pounded against the small countertop that held the window in place. In his fit of anger, he'd stood up—his knuckles white against the dingy concrete.
"Now Allen darling, listen to me, I know of no such lie—."
"No! You listen to me! You don't deserve to talk right now! You will sit there and listen to me speak." Allen seethed, glaring wholeheartedly at the man behind the window.
"You," Allen had to take a breath to steady his shaking voice, "you have done nothing to me but abuse me. And what about all of my friends—the ONLY friends I'd ever had? You murdered all of them. You lied to me, you deceived me and damnit that was my fault but it's my time to tell you that you don't own me anymore. You never owned me.
"You never did a damn thing for my benefit. All those sleepless nights, all those days of me hating myself because of you. I am not your pet. I am not yours. I don't belong to anybody. Get that through your damn brain, Tyki. I am human. I'm not that kid that will believe your shit anymore."
Tyki sat still, his face blank.
"And you know what else? I'm happy now. I have someone who will always be there for me. Someone who treats me like I deserve to be treated. Someone who isn't a sly piece of crap who'd sell me out for drugs and money. I have someone you'll never have. No one will ever love you after they read those articles in the paper about the horrible things you've done, the crimes you've committed, and the people you have hurt."
"On the contrary—"
"Shut up, Tyki. Shut up." Allen growled—slamming his hand back onto the concrete counter.
"You've hurt me, you've degraded me. You killed me inside. Everything you did and said to me only made me want to inch closer to dying. You made me feel as if I weren't human; as if my existence was solely to please you."
"But guess what;" Allen hissed through his teeth, "I want nothing to do with you. I never want to see you again after this; I never want to hear you. I never want to listen to your name be spoken until the day they find you dead in your jail cell. I have never, ever, hated someone as passionately as I've hated you. You make me sick. I hope you rot in here forever. That's what you deserve. You sick bastard, I hope you rot."
There was a moment of silence of Tyki simply sitting there and Allen's chest pumping up and down as he tried to slow his harried breathing. Another moment of silence passed as Allen slowly sank back down into his chair. Tears of anger were already clouding his vision beforehand; they just hadn't fallen until that very moment he sat down.
"But most importantly," Allen inhaled—quivering, "I came here to tell you I forgive you. And that I thank you."
There was a spark of shock in Tyki's eyes, although it was very subtle. But Allen knew. He'd known Tyki for years; he knew what every facial tic and expression meant.
"I forgive you for everything you've done to me and my friends. I want to let all of this go and leave it behind me. I have a life to live now. I have something to live for again.
"Thank you, Tyki. For being such a miserable prick," Allen smiled bitterly, "for being such a selfish jerk. Without that, I would have never found my salvation. If it weren't for the hell you put me through, I would have never discovered my heaven."
The spark of surprise had dulled; Tyki's face was still blank, but it told Allen that he was nevertheless listening to every word that left his lips.
"I'm going to be a model now, Tyki. Someone out there thinks I'm beautiful. Many people, in fact. I'm sorry that it wasn't you. I'm sorry I was never pliable enough for your liking, I'm sorry it had to be this way. Who knows—if we weren't in this situation," Allen leaned forward, his head ducking down to make eye contact with Tyki's downcast eyes.
"Perhaps we might've even become friends."
Tyki's eyes widened just a fraction for just a fraction of a second, but that too, was caught by Allen who smiled warmly.
His eyes then darted to a large old fashioned clock on a nearby wall. He looked at the guard who looked at him and nodded—signaling that their time was over.
"Good bye, Tyki."
No answer.
Tyki's face was still blank—not from a lack of emotion, but from a tidal wave of emotions that he couldn't explain for the life of him.
The fury, the joy, the confusion…the remorse.
A small "clink" broke the still air as Allen stood. He had taken a coin from his wallet and placed it under the small opening in the window. He slid it over to the other side.
"A penny for your thoughts."
With that, Tyki's eyes widened in unveiled shock, his eyes focused on the gleaming coin as the sounds of Allen's footsteps grew farther and farther away…
He lifted his heavy head just in time to see the boy's silhouette walk through the penitentiary doors.
000
For those who didn't catch it, reread chapter 30 to find the line that was repeated.
Allen just got eeeeverything off his chest. Isn't that a wonderful feeling? I know from personal experience, it feels AMAZING to tell someone just EXACTLY is on your mind.
You guys should try it some time. :D
As long as it doesn't turn into an illegal crime, of course.
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