Chapter 8: The Doctor
I will be very busy this semester because I took classes for thesis :')
But I will try to update once in a while. I think this story needs its justice. And I've made a side-story for this one, but I'll post it after a certain chapter is up. Because it's... Kinda related. But it does not really affect the plot.
Aaand we finally get to know a new character! Yay! :D
This is my character for this story, tell me what you guys think of him kay?
Disclaimer: I don't own HNKNA or any characters in it, they belong to Quinrose. I only own my characters and this story.
Remy opened her eyes slowly. Did she oversleep? She reached up to her forehead and felt her fingertips brushed over the bandage. It's still there. She sighed. She didn't like this. If she started thinking, it will hurt, and if she starts remembering it will hurt more. She didn't like this one single bit. She sighed again.
"Aw don't worry. It'll heal!" Said a familiar and cheerful voice.
Remy looked at her feet and noticed the monkey man from before closing one of the cabinets. He wass always here when she woke up. Did he wait for her to wake up?
The monkey man came over and sat by her bed. He smiled at her in a friendly way as he asked, "Feeling better?"
Remy licked her lips and closed her eyes for a few seconds. She breathed in and out, then opened her eyes. The pain's gone now, but she knew it will come back when she started thinking. But she didn't want to stay quiet and gave this man a silent answer. That would be rude. This man was nice to her, he helped her even though he didn't know her. Like Pierce. Where's Pierce now—she stopped. No thinking.
She looked at the monkey man and tried to smile, "Yes." She answered briefly.
The monkey man pursed his lips and frowned a bit, but he wasn't pouting, it was pretty funny actually.
"You don't hafta smile if you don't want to you know?" he said in a weird way.
Remy frowned and smiled at the same time. What is he doing?
The monkey man stood and put a hand to his chest. Then he opened his lips.
"ThEeEeRrRe WaS a GiRl~" he off-tunely sang.
Remy instantly laughed. She had never heard such person singing so horrible like this before. And it was only what, the first part? Her siblings were very good at singing. They always sang in a very beautiful way that made her heart skip a beat. Just like those singers and musicians in the TV. They were that good. She herself could sing a few songs with little mistakes thanks to her persistent on learning how to sing. She had been a horrible singer, her sister had said, but she's sure she wasn't this horrible.
He continued his lyrics then, also clearly off-tune.
"ShE wAs SoOoO pReEtTyYy!"
She laughed harder. What was that?! He literally screamed the last part and the already off-tune supposedly pop song turned to off-tune rock all of a sudden. That wasn't good at all!
"AaAnD I FeLl In LoOovVvVaAhH!" He ended it with a 'Vahh!' and threw his hand above him like people dancing salsa.
She cracked harder. Oh no stop! She can't stop laughing! She clutched her stomach and continued laughing.
The doctor looked at the result of his performance and grinned. Soon, he joined her laughter. He knew his voice was horrible. He's a doctor, not an entertainer. That's why he only sang to himself. But he wanted to make the girl forget her wound for a while and he couldn't think of anything she would like because they've just met. So he sang. He didn't know it would make her forget or not, but now he knew it exceeded his expectations. And he had to admit, her laughter was funny and he likes it.
"That was howwable(horrible)." She said when her laughing session was over.
"Ahah.. Eh what..?" he asked, not really catching what she said as he recovered.
She took a second to choose her vocabulary and opened her lips, "That's bad."
The monkey man grinned, "I know! It was horrible right?! Hahaha!"
His reaction made her frown, "Why you laugh, doctor? I said it's bad."
He sat again on the bed, "I always knew my voice is horrible. I just want to make you feel better." He answered truthfully.
Remy blinked. He wanted to make her feel better? Why?
He seemed to notice her wondering and answered without her asking, "You're sad because of the wound, 'ight? It hurts when you think or remember something. I'm a doctor. I know that sort of things." He gave her a simple smile.
She stared at him and stayed silent. She didn't know a doctor was this kind and knowledgeable. Or was it just him? Well he's right about that. Thinking and remembering made it hurt. She tried to think for a bit, that whether all doctors was always this kind or it's just that her last doctor wasn't the kind type. Her mind surrounded the word doctor for a while and she stopped thinking when she felt a pulse in her head. She closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"I told you to stop thinking. Now it hurts again." The monkey man said.
"Sorry." She whispered.
She couldn't help it. She was always full of questions. But she rarely voices them all out on someone else other than her siblings. She was always talkative back home, with her siblings only. But she was quiet and composed when there were guests and friends, and in front of their mother. She didn't want to be seen as 'not an appropriate little girl' as her mother had said. She was punished once, because at her mother's gathering, she asked too many questions. Her siblings were the only ones who understand her. They would always answer her questions. A lot of it, they knew the answers, but also a lot of it, they didn't. They would tell her they didn't know the answer if they really didn't know, and she would say 'Tell me when you found the answer!'. They did, of course. Many many questions were answered over time, and she was very satisfied. She was always a thinker, that won't change even though she's now stuck here in this... Only God knows where this is.
"I'm gonna be very. Worried. Seriously, stop it girly." The monkey man said, his expression turned sour as he stared at the little girl lying on his work bed.
She looked at him again. Well... She should stop thinking now. She hadn't felt the pulse yet, but it may come soon or later. She didn't want to worry him. He had been so nice to her and it only felt better if she returned the pleasure to him.
"Very sorry sir. Wemy likes to think so much. I can't help it. It calms Wemy." She smiled apologetically.
The monkey man's bushy brows did not stop frowning, "Well stop it for a while. Pain killers are bad you know? You know?" the man pursed his lips again.
Remy giggled. The way he talks is funny.
"Or you want me to sing again? LlAaLaAaLAaA~"
"No no no!" she laughed again.
He chuckled. He like it when she laughed.
"Please don't sing again, sir.. Wemy won't stop laughing..." She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
He grinned at her reaction. "Stop thinking too much and maybe I will stop sSiInGiInG~!"
She laughed again. "Okay! Okay!"
He joined her laughter and there goes our second session of laughter.
"You can get up?" asked the monkey man after they're done laughing.
"Maybe." She turned to her side before getting up. He helped holding her if she were to fall. But she got up okay.
"There. You're okay. Just stop thinking and everything will be alright." The doctor smiled.
She smiled back and nodded, "I'll try."
He adjusted her pillow and added the other bed's pillow above it. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back a bit." Then he ran out the door.
As she made the pillow herself, he came back with a plate and a glass of water. She leaned her back to the pillows as he sat on her bed crosslegged by her feet. She noticed he didn't wear shoes, but his feet are clean.
"You don't wear shoes, doctor?" she asked.
"Hm?" he looked at her. "Ah. Naa~ I wear sandals. Shoes are too boring and narrow. My feet like to kiss air. Here you are!" He put the plate on her lap and took hold of the glass.
She tilted her head. She didn't know what the last sentence meant but she'll take it he didn't like shoes. Then she looked at the plate and saw a sandwich. She didn't know what sandwich it was though. She also can't eat it right away, she had just been in a forest and she's dirty.
"Um doctor?" she looked at the monkey man.
"Hm? What is it? You don't like sandwich for lunch?" the monkey man asked.
"Um.. No... I'm dirty. My hands are—"
"Aahh I get it. Wait here!" he jumped down the bed, put on his sandals, put the glass down on the bedside table, and ran out the room again. What's he up to now?
The doctor came back with a big plastic bowl filled with water. She looked at him as he put it beside her and held it.
"Wash your hands here." He smiled.
"B-But Wemy can go wash by myself in the sink." She said.
"You can't walk yet. You have no energy." He's still smilling.
Well... He's right about that. She felt weak and very hungry. She didn't think she can walk in this condition. The monkey man knew about this and he's very thoughtful to bring a bowl of water to her bed just for her to be able to wash her hands. He's so nice, she thought.
She dipped her hands into the water and washed the dirt away. Careful to not make splashes and she was done in a minute. She smiled at the monkey man.
"Done?" he asked. She nodded. Then he put the bowl under her bed and hopped on the bed again. "Now eat! I got you tuna! I hope you're not allergic to seafood?"
She shook her head. "I like seafood!"
The monkey man grinned, "Eat eat!"
She started eating then.
The doctor put his chin on his hand and observed her from her feet. He was thinking. It must be hard not to think when it's already in you. He himself, likes to think a lot. Especially something to do with experiments, life, the game, and etcetera. He's doctor and a scientist, of course he thinks a lot. Well people think, obviously, even animals think. What he meant by thinking was that it was more than just thinking the everyday thinking. Get it?
This girl thought and chose her words well. She didn't say anything if she wasn't sure. The monkey man could see that she's a careful individual. Clearly she was taught very well. But he never met a girl full of thoughts before. In her age. Never. He met with talkative children at her age. Ankle bitters, talk a lot, ask a lot, the list goes on. But not like her. She's clever, so clever, he could tell.
And he could also tell she's a pretty stubborn little girl. Maybe it's her child nature. Children like to be noisy especially when they achieved the ability to talk a few words. She's like what... Four or five? Yep. She could talk a lot. But she didn't. She stared too much at him before dipping her hands in the water bowl. She was thinking again, even though he told her not to. Delinquent. She rebeled against him. That's why...
He likes her. Wait, did he just conclude that? No no. He's a scientist! He doesn't jump into conclusion. Something flashed before his mind. And he thought about it again. He's a rebel himself, but he's also composed if he had to. They're very much alike!
'Emotions are out of equation! Emotions aren't logic!' he thought.
Oh what were you thinking you monkey...
"...you girly." He suddenly said.
She looked at him, still munching on her sandwich. "Hm?" She missed it.
"I said... I like you.
She smiled back. "Wemy like you too!"
He smiled.
Alice and Pierce arrived at the Clover Tower. They stood at the front door and were greeted by the guards.
"Ah miss Alice! Good day!" said the one on the left.
Alice smiled. "Good day. I want to visit Nightmare and Gray." Pierce came up behind her.
The right guard turned his body to the door, "I'll inform them immediately." And then he ran inside.
"You could wait inside, miss. I could walk you to the garden if you'd like." The left guard offered a smile.
Alice shook her head, "No it's alright. I'll just wait for Gray. You have a job here, I can't make you leave it for me."
The guard blushed, "Ah... Th-Thank you miss."
Pierce fidgeted, his head looking around trying to spot a certain little girl with a black dress. He hadn't search the tower yet, he didn't think she will go back here alone. He looked at the guard who was talking with Alice.
"H-Hey... Do you see a little girl with black dress chu? She's this tall... And she has bandage on her head chu." Pierce asked the guard.
The guard seemed to be thinking. "No sir, I didn't recall seeing any little girl during my shift."
Pierce pouted. "Owh..."
Alice smiled at Pierce, "It's okay. Cheer up. She might be inside."
Pierce looked at her and after a few seconds, he nodded.
The right guard came back with Gray.
"Alice. I didn't know you were coming." Gray said.
Alice smiled apologetically, "Sorry for suddenly visiting. I want to ask Nightmare something. It's not long."
"Oh.. Alright. Do come in." Gray welcomed her inside. Then he noticed Pierce and immediately stood in front of him. "Where is she?"
"EEE!" Pierce squealed at the sudden movement. "Wh-Who chu~?"
"The girl. The little girl. You ran away with her now where. Is. She. Now." Gray asked that while looking behind the mouse and outside the door and back to the mouse.
The mouse shrunk at his expression. Oh no... He's going to be in trouble.
Alice stepped in between them. "That's why we're here, Gray. We thought she went back to the tower."
Gray looked at her. Then at Pierce, and his expression turned nasty. "You lost her?" that was more like a statement than a question.
Pierce felt himself shrunk more under his terrifying gaze. He hid behind Alice. "Squeeee..."
The guards looked at them with confusion. But turned their backs at Gray's expression. They didn't want to lose their job.
Alice put her hands on Gray's arm and attempted to sooth him, "Don't be mad at him Gray. He tried. Now come on, I want to see Nightmare."
Gray didn't respond but his expression subsided and his usual bare expression appeared. He turned and walked. "This way."
As he led the way, Alice and Pierce followed him.
He knocked on his master's door and waited for a response before coming in.
"Found her?" Nightmare immediately asked when he stepped in.
"Not yet." Nightmare's face turned grim. "But Alice and Pierce are here." Then his expression changed.
"Alice?" he echoed. Gray nodded. "Let her in. Wait, Pierce?!"
Gray ignored the last part and opened the door for Alice and Pierce to come in.
"Hello Alice." Nightmare masked his face. He couldn't let Alice knew there's another foreigner here. She shouldn't know there's an injured foreigner here. His eyes glanced to Pierce for a second before returning to Alice.
"Hello Nightmare." Alice greeted back.
"Pierce." Nightmare glanced at Pierce.
Pierce looked scared, "H-Hello chu..."
Gray closed the door and stood by his master's side. Nightmare was sitting on the couch, so he invited them to sit on the other couch across from him. Once they've seated, he parted his lips.
"What brings you here Alice?" he could read her minds, but he's currently not in the mood.
"About the little girl." Nightmare blinked. "I want to meet her."
"Sorry Alice... She's not here at the moment." Answered Nightmare.
"I know. I thought Pierce took her to you already." Nightmare looked at Pierce. "BUT—" Alice said in a hurry. She knew he would react like Gray. Then this girl is important to them somehow.
Nightmare turned to look at her again and waited for her to continue.
"He lost her in the woods and can't find her. We met on my way here and I thought she came back here. So here we are. We were hoping she's here." Alice said.
Nightmare read into her minds and he could read Alice doesn't want him to be mad at Pierce. He looked at the mouse, who looked away when their eyes met. He lost her. In the woods. Injured. How could he not be mad? He was waiting for her to come back and even finished all his work so that they could play once she returned, but all he got in the end was a bloody notification that she's still missing. Nightmare didn't know what he should say at the moment that would not have venom in it. Then he vomited.
Gray instantly gave him a napkin.
"I'm sorry!" Pierce exclaimed.
Nightmare looked at him again.
"I-I was trying to lose that guy chu! He was chasing us! I don't want to hurt her! I don't want him to hurt her! P-Please... Believe me chu!" Pierce tears streamed down his face.
Alice gave an expression and patted Pierce's back. She turned to Nightmare and thought, hoping Nightmare would read it.
'Poor guy was already crying when I met him. Don't be hard on him, please.' She thought.
Nightmare read her thoughts and thought on his own. He wiped the blood with the napkin and turned to Pierce again.
"So she's missing." He began. "This is not good." He tried to stay calm.
"Sorry..." Pierce muttered again. He wiped his tears with his sleeves.
"Is her injury that bad?" asked Alice.
"Yes. Her head was swelling up when I tended her last time." Gray answered with a frowned face.
Nightmare looked away as Alice looked at him. She knew that they care about this girl, but he was glad that she still didn't know if the girl's an outsider too. He thought he could use that and just act like the girl's pretty important to them. He could say that they now value life more and—well that's lying isn't it? But he just couldn't imagine how Alice would react if he wasn't telling her that there was an injured outsider in his territory. What would Alice say? How would she react? Nightmare couldn't risk be hated by her. He loves her. Everyone does right? Because she's an outsider... He came back to his senses when Alice called to him.
"Sorry Alice. I was thinking. You were saying?" Nightmare said, averting his gaze back to her.
She sighed. "I asked you, why is she so important to you? You guys don't really care with lives, but you're worried about the girl. It's not that I'm asking your humanity, it's just that... It's strange. And I'm curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat~" Nightmare smiled.
"Don't give me that crap." Alice shot back.
Nightmare sweatdropped and looked at Gray, who looked away and not intending to help him answer.
Pierce looked at them and then to Alice. Isn't it obvious? Because she's a foreigner too. "I-Isn't it obvious chu?" Pierce said.
Nightmare instantly looked at the dormouse. He knew! That mouse knew she's an outsider. This is bad. He needed to step in or Alice will find out.
Alice looked at Pierce. "What?"
"Yes. Isn't it obvious?" Nightmare interrupted as Pierce opened his mouth.
"What?" Alice frowned, clearly didn't like getting left out.
Nightmare carefully chose his words, "Because lives are important. You said it yourself, Alice." Nightmare smiled, this was only a disguise. Come on, believe it.
Alice stared at him. Is it true? Did they value lives now that she had returned? They seemed to care less about the people in this world before, role holders or not. But she heard Nightmare, crystal clear. Did her words finally get to them?
Gray glanced at his master, a bit confused at his reasoning but he got the code and decided to stay quiet and wait for his cue.
However, poor Pierce looked back and forth between Alice and Nightmare, clearly missing the code. He didn't understand... Why did Nightmare say that? They don't value lives. They can't change. They only change because there's Alice and Remy, the outsiders. The change only happened around the outsiders. Their inside, themselves, cannot change. Right?
"No chu. Because Lemy's a foreigner too." Pierce spoke.
Nightmare was too focused on preparing the counterattack if Alice were to ask his reasoning. He didn't focus on Pierce's mind as the mouse thought about the fact beneath the statement he just muttered. So when Pierce voiced out that certain fact he was trying to cover, he vomited.
Alice looked at Pierce and blinked several times. She could not believe she will repeat this word for the third time. "What?"
Pierce looked at Alice again, missing Nightmare who vomited and now wiping his lips while sending him a murderous look.
"She's a foreigner just like you Alice." Pierce gave a simple smile.
"What?" the fourth time. "Wait wait. I thought I'm the only foreigner here?" she looked at the three of them.
"Well now there's one more chu!" Pierce said.
"How could you be so sure she's a foreigner? You just met her once." Gray tried to rebuild the wall.
"We slept together and I listened to her heartbeat!" Pierce exclaimed innocently, unconsciously kicking at the wall Gray just built.
"You what?!"
"Yes! It was thump thump thump..." Pierce happily stated the details.
Nightmare vomited again.
Pierce cringed at the sight.
Alice snapped. "You lied to me?!" she shot Nightmare a furious look.
"Wait Alice—"
"We weren't sure—"
"Nonsense!"
Nightmare vomited again.
"A-Alice chu.."
"S-She was hurt—"
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Nightmare fainted.
The three of them gasped.
"Master!/Nightmare!" they yelled simultaneously as the incubus fell limply on the couch.
NIGHTMARE! D: