Chapter One. KenHil
Enjoy.
In the room of 564, many can hear music from outside the door. Broken love songs, and failed romances, all sung in a ghostly voice that, with each passing day, matches her now wraith-like appearance. And sometimes, if you're of sane mind and there at the right time, you'll hear a name.
In places like these, time has no meaning, only events are marked.
Today was to be one of those.
Today was just another day in the thousands that were to come. But today, something was different. Today there was a man...
He was handsome, you could say. Silky chestnut hair most would die for that fell (maybe a little too much) into beautiful chocolate eyes. His only fault was the oversized glasses he wore.
To be honest, he looked like a normal young man.
He wasn't who most would expect to see in a place like this.
He had completely ignored the staff asking if he needed help, and walked up past the numerous floors. He was a man with a purpose, and he knew exactly where he needed to go.
Another odd trait.
He never knocked (it wasn't needed); the security didn't stop him (she wasn't dangerous); he just stepped tentatively into the room, shutting the door behind him and hardly dared to breathe at the sight before him.
"Hilary."
...No, this couldn't be her.
This couldn't be his Hilary.
This couldn't be the strong-willed spirited girl with the resilience of a rock.
This couldn't be the woman he loved.
She never looked up when he spoke just continued to stare unfocused at the blinding white walls.
"Hilary I..." Where to start? "...I love you." That sounded good. He sat in front of her, ignoring that her eyes were glazed over and probably wasn't hearing him.
"I always have. I never...I never meant to hurt you." He was whispering...He didn't know why, but he was.
"When my father got promoted, he was so important. Everyone knew about how resourceful he was, and knew all about his genius son. They all expected me to do great things. My father...He expected me to as well.
"...I never loved her. You know that don't you? But father, he had risen so much. He had so many people. They would've... He would've... He never cared about my happiness. He only wanted more power. She was power, or at least her father was. He called it a marriage of 'convenience'." He spat at the word. "He said that if I didn't marry her, he would... He would've hurt you. Hilary, I never wanted you to get hurt.
"...But I guess I didn't need to worry did I? You hurt yourself... More than I could ever imagine. More than I ever wanted to imagine. And it's all my fault.
"I should've tried...I really should've stood up for you, for us... I was so scared though. The things he could do. I saw what he could do; I didn't want that to happen to you."
He was crying, sobbing actually. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. She never protested, never said a word, just lay there in his arms unmoving.
"He's gone Hilary. He died. I... I divorced her. I don't think she even noticed. She was too full of those damn drugs to notice...
"...I never touched her. I know that may sound hard to believe, but I never did. I knew nothing was better you. Nothing ever will be better than you. I'll wait for the rest of my life if I have to. I'll never give up on you Hilary. Ever."
He pulled away to take in her face. Her beautiful face. Even in the state she was in, she was still so perfect. Still as perfect as when they first met. Still as perfect as when he first kissed her. Still as perfect as when they first made love.
He could feel his heart breaking again at feeling this. This utter sense of loss. His hand cupped her chin. And he leaned in to kiss her gently.
"I love you... I just wanted you to know that."
He saw something that could be defined as a flicker in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant, and so was she.
He never noticed the tears that were streaked across the guard's faces. Never noticed the looks of sorrow from those at the front. He was too imbedded in his own misery.
He never noticed, as the small flicker returned, and grew.
"Hello Hilary dear."
The voice was familiar, but wasn't. It was almost as if it was from a dream. One that she had forgotten but only just remembered.
The well-rounded woman that had walked in smiled at her. For some reason, her face shifted to an odd look when she lifted her head to look at her.
"Hilary dear?" The older woman was confused.
Her name was Anna... How did she know that? She tested it on her tongue.
"Ann...Anna...Anna." It was hard to form the words, but why? Her throat wasn't dry; it was just as if she had forgotten how to speak.
And why was the woman so shocked?
"Umm...Yes. Hello...Are you quite alright dear?"
"Yes. I'm...fine." At least, she thought she was. It was hard to tell at the moment.
Anna tried to continue on as if this were just another ordinary day. Tried to not so much ignore as decipher why this woman who had been practically mute for so long was choosing now of all days to talk.
Most miracles didn't happen on the day you were first sent to this place.
But then again, this young girl probably didn't remember that.
...Maybe it was the boy.
"The man who came in here was quite handsome...Is he a friend of yours?"
Man?...Yes, she remembered a man. She remembered words, tears, sorrow emanating from him.
She remembered.
She remembered spinning tops (Beyblades), she remembered a blue-haired boy (Tyson), an angry one (Kai), a blonde (Max), and a cat-like one (Ray).
But mostly, she remembered him.
The computer-lover (okay, geek). The one who forever hid behind his hair (until she forced him to cut his bangs). The one who was always stuttering and blushing. The one who, until later on, never had much confidence.
He was always by her side. Protecting her even if she never realized it at the time. He was one of the few to actually like her, even though she was bossy.
Honestly, she never expected him to make the first move.
He was the first to ever say he loved her. In a more-than-platonic way.
His name was Kenny.
He loved her.
And she loved him.
"Kenny."
Oh no. And here Anna thought she was starting to recover. She sighed in resignation.
"Yes, Hilary. Kenny. We've all heard that name many times before."
...They had? Oh... Right. She also remembered that. The feeling of hopelessness. She remembered how singing was the one way to express how she felt, even when trapped within her own insanity. She remembered how, even in that state of mind, she managed to remember him.
"Kenny. That is his name."
"The man's name? The one who was here?" Anna was curious now, and not many could blame her.
"Yes. His name is Kenny. He..."
"Yes dear?" Oh please, please let this girl be healing.
Anna remembered when she was still young (well, younger). She remembered very much so the BladeBreakers. She remembered the fiery one of group. The one who never gave up on her team. She was one of the links in their group. The group that had fallen apart.
And she had fallen the furthest.
She could hear his voice still reverberating in her head. "He loves me... I love him, and he loves me... She's gone... He loves me... That bitch is gone... What the hell am I doing here!"
She jumped up. Or attempted to. Straight-jackets aren't the easiest thing to balance yourself in.
"Hey. Anna. Help me up."
Anna was smiling as she did exactly that.
She could still remember how spirited the young girl was. She could still remember how she had a tongue like acid when mad, but a laugh like an angel's when happy.
She always wondered how the girl could have given up. Could have lost her fight. But now she realized...
She had never lost it. She was born a fighter, and would die a fighter.
She just needed something to fight for.
...The healing had begun.