Another Bad Situation

We were stuck in that truck for a long time, and we weren't the only ones those men took captive. Besides the two of us, there were three more. Two older men who refused to speak to us, except only to complain about the smell and that I got blood on one of them. I didn't care much to apologize. Roxas thought it was funny, actually, which was entertaining when I wasn't keeling over from the sheer pain. The third was a younger girl, fifteen, she said. Physically anyway, like Roxas, she revealed she was only made a few years ago. Also like Roxas, she refused to name her Host, but she did give a name: Xion. I don't know much about her beyond her name, but she seems nice enough. She kind of reminds me of Namine in a way.

Maybe it's the fragile look they both share. She at least has more personality than Namine. It seems that's the norm among clones, not many remain in their "factory setting." I guess I'm glad about that, or is it just sad? I can't decide. The whole time we were trapped in that truck, I don't really have any idea how long it was, all I could do was bear my pain, and try not to wonder how Ven has been fairing without me there to screw it up. I still want to go home, but at the same time I also don't. It's hard to figure out what I'm needing lately. Mostly, I just want the pain to stop, which I doubt it ever will. This phantom pain will continue to push me until I decide to kill myself just to be rid of it, I'm sure.

I've broken all the scabs on my arms, trying to clean myself up after each episode, which only added to the pain. I used to like the pain, it meant I was alive, but now it's all just too much in tandem as is. I just want it all to stop, just for a little bit. Once the truck finally stopped, we were rounded up from the truck and into a pen of sorts, with large metal bars and barbed wires. Not a warm welcome. I look around, scanning the area as quickly as I can, but I don't see much that could help. There's a bunch of people inside the pen with us, most likely all clones, and a few people in something similar to riot gear with helmets. They're scattered around, but there's more of us than them. Maybe if I can configure an escape plan, I can convince the other prisoners to help me out.

Seeing Roxas for the first time freaked me out, and he seemed to have the same reaction. We just stood there, staring at one another with mirrored surprise. The only thing that reminded me he isn't Ven is his golden eyes. I very much want to know why he looks identical to my Host, but I doubt I'll get any answers. We're both shoved into the flock of clones by our captors and the staring contest ends there. Roxas walks beside me, and Xion comes up on my other side. We're corralled, like cattle. It's disgusting, and I don't like the look of where we're headed. It looks like some kind of encampment inside a giant stone shed. I have a really bad feeling about all of this.

I glance at Roxas, and he's glaring ahead, his expression undreadable. I nudge him lightly, "Think we can bust out?"

He looks at me like I'm crazy and I grin lightly, fighting off the urge to throw up more of my nonexistent guts. He glances around then back at me, "It won't be easy, for sure."

"There's twenty." Xion's soft voice speaks up.

I glance down at her, she's staring at the ground, speaking in almost a whisper, "Twenty guards, thirteen along the fences, the others are near the encampment ahead."

Roxas frowns, "Really? How do you know?"

"I counted." she replies simply.

I open my mouth to speak, but blood comes out instead. I stumble and Roxas and Xion have to catch me in order to keep me on my feet. It gets unwanted attention though, not only did some of the clones turn and look at me, but a few guards started our way. Roxas' grip on my arm tightens, "Vanitas, stand up. Right now."

I stand up as straight as I can, while still hacking up blood. It gets all over my clothes again, and I shudder, groaning softly. Xion starts to steer me away from the guards coming towards us and Roxas gets between me and them, releasing his hold on me, which almost sends me back to the ground. Xion barely manages to keep me on my feet, and I hear the chain link moving. I look towards the guards, but my vision is a little blurry. Even so, I can tell this isn't good. They'll most likely kill me.

"That one's defected," one of them groans, "It's of no use now. Get rid of it."

My eyes narrow, I really don't like being referred to like I'm nothing at all. But, I guess that's just the truth, because I am nothing. I push away from Xion and she looks up at me with wide eyes. Roxas continues to stand his ground between us as the three guards get to him. A few of the other clones are standing away from us, but they're not following the others anymore, they're watching what's about to become of us with uncertain eyes. The nearest guard shoves Roxas aside, and then Xion stands in front of me. It's a strange feeling, seeing these two try to protect me, when they know it won't end well for them. Roxas shoves back into the guard as he reaches out towards Xion and he yelps as he's knocked to the ground. This causes the other two guards to take action, each pulling out a baton. Oh, this isn't good at all. I have to do something, I can't just let Roxas and Xion get hurt because of me.