Song inspiration: Dusk Till Dawn by ZAYN and Sia.
Jenny rushed back to the shop, flipping the closed sign as she rushed out back to the greenhouse.
How could she even think about working now? She had only gone and lost someone she cared about deeply. Even though NNY was still alive and well, the NNY she had fallen in love with may as well be dead.
He was gone, and now all she had were her memories of their time together. They would live on inside her, and she would cherish them always.
So long as one of them remembered, then the memories would never be forgotten.
Jenny would never forget. Never lose herself...
She burst through the greenhouse doors, the memory of her time spent with NNY rushing out of nowhere as she squeezed her eyes, fighting back tears.
"Rose, Hyacinth... something bad has happened..."
The flowers didn't respond. Jenny tried again, moving around in front of them. "Didn't you hear me?"
The plants remained silent, and Jenny fell to her knees, crouching in the corner of the greenhouse. It was happening already.
Jenny was fading away...
Soon, she would forget everything, even NNY, and then it would be like they had never met and fallen in love in the first place.
"Why... why is this happening?" she cried, rocking back and forth.
This was the lab's doing. She just knew it. First, they got to NNY, and now they were coming for her.
It was only a matter of time until...
There came a crash in the shop, and Jenny lifted her head, tears running down her cheeks. Someone was in the store.
She grabbed her knife, stumbling to her feet as she crept out of the greenhouse. She entered the shop, moving carefully so she wouldn't make a sound. The display sign was still closed. So there was no reason for someone to be in the shop.
Her heart banged against her ribcage as she stopped behind the counter. The shop was empty. It appeared no one had—
Someone grabbed her from behind, and she kicked and screamed. They muffled her mouth with their hand, drowning out her voice, and Jenny was trapped.
It was too late. They had already found her.
They were going to take her back and perform all kinds of cruel experiments on her again. No...
Jenny was free now. She would never go back.
For NNY, she would fight. She knew that the NNY she loved was still inside of him somewhere. It was only some potent drug that the men in white had given him.
They took away his memories, his freedom, and the very thought fuelled her. With a vicious yell, she grabbed the knife, stabbing the person in the thigh as they stumbled backwards.
She whirled around, pointing her weapon at the brute that had mishandled her, and a whimper escaped her lips.
He was one of the orderlies from the hospital, and he had always been cruel to her. He covered his wound, stumbling towards her again.
Unfortunately for him, Jenny had been hanging around with NNY for far too long, so she stabbed and stabbed, puncturing holes into the orderly's body until he resembled a lump of Swiss cheese.
Blood spilled from the holes as he died before her, but all Jenny could do was glare at his body, gasping for breath. Her heart rang through her ears as she had never felt so victorious.
But her victory soon morphed into horror as she dropped the knife, gazing down at her blood-soaked hands.
The orderly's blood covered her blue dress, her face, and now her hands.
Jenny had killed him, just like any other cold-blooded monster...
She was a murderer.
She had to get away; she wasn't safe at her shop anymore. They would only send more orderlies out to get her, and then Jenny would never live to see the light of day again.
There was only one place to go, the only place she had ever felt truly safe. He was all she had left in the world, even though he didn't even remember her.
If he killed her, so be it. She would rather die at the hands of someone she loved than go back to that awful place.
It was time to return to NNY again.
NNY
NNY returned home once the sun went down, dropping a pair of bright pink pompoms by the door. That cheerleader really put up a struggle, but he still managed to chop off her legs in the end.
Now she won't be doing any more high kicks.
As fun as butchering cheerleaders was, NNY still felt empty inside. It did nothing to relieve the constant ache in his chest, the one that made him feel as if he was forgetting something very important.
NNY knew that feeling all too well. The wall monster took away so much of him, and there was still so much of his life that he couldn't remember.
Yet there was one thing that he was certain of. Jenny was the reason why he was so confused. The crazy, pink-haired woman came to his door earlier, claiming to be his freaking girlfriend for goodness sake.
The horror.
It wasn't that NNY found her repulsive. He just found all people repulsive, but Jenny was the least repugnant person he had met in a while.
Even though she was clearly insane with her wild accusations of being his lover, she did seem nice.
She appeared genuinely heartbroken when NNY yelled at her earlier, and maybe he had been a little harsh.
Just a tap on the wrist would have sufficed. He didn't have to try and kill her. It wasn't her fault she was crazy.
Sigh.
Well, there was no point in having regrets. Jenny was gone now, and he wouldn't have to worry about seeing her ever again.
She may have been crazy, but it appeared she understood NNY's sentiment. Stay away or I will kill you.
The doorbell rang, and NNY tensed his shoulders, gritting his teeth. His eye twitched. NNY really was popular today, and that's what he gets for being so damn sociable...
He ought to install some lawn gnomes in his front yard, just like that green kid Zim. They shot lasers from their eyes too, and it was pretty cool.
NNY approached the door, and once he saw who was standing on the other side, he took several steps back.
"Jenny?!"
The pink-haired woman looked as if she had seen a ghost, her blue eyes shining vacantly as they looked right through him. Her body shook from head to toe, and something stirred inside NNY.
For some reason, he had the urge to take her in his arms and protect her from something untoward, but the feeling didn't last long once he saw what she was covered in.
Blood.
NNY's skin blanched, and now his heart raced as he raked his eyes over her. Her hands, face, and dress were stained bright red, and NNY had never seen anything so deranged.
Well, unless he was looking into a mirror...
Still, as deranged as she was... she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Objectively speaking, of course.
Before he could protest, she stumbled into the house, tripping over the threshold, and instinctively, NNY reached out and grabbed her.
Her head landed on his chest, and now he stood, frozen, as he held onto the shaking, blood-drenched woman.
She was getting blood on his clothes, but it's not as if a bit of blood had ever bothered NNY.
No, what bothered him was having a complete stranger pressing her head to his chest, and it was all too much. Her body heat seeped into his cold bones, making him feel things that he hadn't felt for a long while, and now all he wanted to do was wrap her up in his arms and hold her...
Why? She was nothing to him. As of this morning, he didn't even know who she was.
"I... I didn't know where else to go..." she stammered. "They... they came for me... at... at the shop... and... and I... k-killed someone..."
NNY blinked, confused by her words. He'd killed someone that day, too. Big deal. But he could tell by her wavering voice that her actions had deeply disturbed her, hence why she looked as if she had seen Einstein's ghost.
Your first kill was never easy...
He shifted his eyes. "Okayyyy..."
"I'm... so scared, NNY. Please... don't... don't make me leave. I... don't want to be alone..."
NNY paused, and now something deep inside of him malfunctioned as her sad little voice rattled through his brain meats, disrupting his perfect programming.
Something warm spread through him, chasing away the coldness of his veins, and what was happening to him?
Who the hell was she exactly? He should not feel this way about a stranger.
Still, despite how confused and downright uncomfortable he was, he allowed her to continue hugging him, shutting the door slowly behind her so that a draft wouldn't get in, and it looked as if she was going to stay after all.
He'd surely regret his decision later.
Jenny
NNY continued to let her hold onto him, even long after he had shut the door, and maybe the NNY she knew was still inside of him somewhere.
He was as stiff as a plank of wood, yet Jenny didn't care. She was just glad to be back in his arms again. Well, figuratively speaking. He kept his arms pinned to his sides, and it seemed he really didn't remember her at all.
Those horrible men in white stole his memories, and it wasn't fair. They had taken so much from him, and from Jenny.
They... they were bastards... Jenny didn't like to curse often, but sometimes, the situation just called for it.
They were out there right now searching for her, and she would never be able to return to the shop ever again. But if they knew of NNY's existence, then they will surely come to his house to look for her here too.
Guilt tore through her insides like a knife, and then she trembled, whimpering softly against his chest.
NNY flinched at the sound, and the poor, gullible thing had no idea of how much danger she was putting him in. Maybe it was for the best that they never met at all and that he remained cold and unfeeling.
He was happier back then, and he hadn't needed anyone. If she stayed, she would only be dragging him into a world of hell.
She shouldn't have come here...
She could feel his heart pounding inside his chest, and he was clearly nervous and uncomfortable with her holding him, but she couldn't help it.
Jenny was terrified, and she just needed to be close to him.
It was best she left.
In hindsight, she was glad the men in white took away his memories. Now he wouldn't miss her when they took her away and locked her back in her old cell.
She squeezed her eyes shut, indulging in his warmth for a little longer, and she would remember this moment for the dark days ahead.
"I'm... so sorry, NNY. You don't deserve this. I'll... I'll g-go now. You... won't have to worry about seeing me again..."
Finally, she let go, feeling her heart-shattering piece by piece. The tears came in earnest, but still, she faced the door, leaving him forever.
She couldn't even kiss him goodbye, because he would most likely react negatively and kill her. But maybe that would be for the best. She would rather die at the hand of someone she loved than spend a lifetime locked in a cell.
But that would be terribly selfish. NNY had sworn off romance entirely before they had met, and now that his memories of their relationship were all gone, he will have returned to his old mindset.
Jenny had been the exact same way once. It was easier, to close off one's emotions to the world.
That way, you can never get hurt.
But she would never obliterate her feelings for NNY; she would cherish them always. They will be her shining beacon for the rest of her miserable life.
Before she reached the door, NNY rushed forward, blocking her path, and the look in his eyes alone could tear her organs out.
He wouldn't even need a knife.
NNY gritted his teeth as he backed her away from the door. "You're not going anywhere. Not until you tell me who the fuck you are, and why you are here..."
Jenny's heart deflated. He really didn't remember her at all.
She sighed, gazing down at her boots. Her hands were trembling. "As I told you, my... my name is Jenny, and... I own a flower shop in town. We first met at the CD Cesspool. You asked about my flowers and the different kinds of movies and music that they like, and then things developed from there. But then the men in white took your memories away, and now you no longer remember who I am..."
Silence fell over the room. NNY didn't speak for a while. Jenny was too afraid to look up, to see what kind of face he was making.
She hoped he believed her...
Finally, she braved a glance. His face was twitching, and it appeared he was trying his hardest to remember her, yet he was drawing blanks.
He reached a shaking hand up to his forehead, and Jenny took that as her cue to continue. "But it's okay if you don't remember, NNY. At least then you won't miss me when I'm gone. I... just want you to be happy..."
He stopped rubbing his head, staring up at her spellbound, and it seemed her words shocked him. His eyes grew twice their size as they wavered in the light.
"H-happy?"
She smiled. "Yes. Before I leave, I just want to thank you for everything. You... were the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'll never forget you. You'll... always be in my heart..."
Now she had stunned him into total silence, and it appeared her words struck a chord with him. Still, she didn't want to be a bother anymore.
The kindest thing she could do for him now was to leave. That's what you do for the ones you love. You let them go, even if it hurts...
Now NNY would never know another day of sadness.
She moved towards the door again, but then the sound of his voice stopped her in her tracks. "W-wait..."
Jenny glanced back at him. He was rubbing his temples, and it appeared he was summoning all the strength in the world for what he had to say.
Finally, he opened his eyes, and he no longer regarded her with hatred. In fact, he almost resembled the NNY she knew before, and her heart lifted.
Was he remembering her again?
"You... don't have to leave, J-Jenny... It seems you are telling the truth. Well... your truth, or what you perceive to be the truth. It appears you genuinely believe that we had some kind of... relationship, and I can't fault you for that. I see now that you're not doing this out of malice. You're just confused and lonely..."
Even though his memories hadn't returned and he still couldn't remember her, Jenny smiled.
Besides, it took her back to when they'd first met. He was almost identical to the NNY who approached her at the CD Cesspool. There was genuine curiosity, and once again, he seemed intrigued to talk with her.
Sure, he thought she was crazy and lonely, but she'll take it. She was just happy to have some semblance of her old NNY back.
"Thank you. I appreciate it, but... I can't stay. They will only hurt you too if I do."
He narrowed his eyes at that remark. Then he stepped closer, gazing down at her intently. "Hurt me? Who, exactly, is after you, and why are you covered in blood?"
He gestured to her clothes, and she heaved a sigh.
It was time to tell him about her past.
NNY
NNY stared at the small, pink-haired woman, flabbergasted, once she finished telling him her sad story.
She had escaped from some fucked up facility where they had performed all kinds of cruel experiments on her, yet despite all of that, she was still kind and gracious.
If that had been NNY in her place, well, he'd have turned into a homicidal maniac...
He couldn't even remember a thing of his own past, but at times he could recall sitting inside a room.
His old room...
Maybe NNY had escaped from some fucked up facility too. It would explain why he was so... abnormal...
Silence trickled through the room once she finished, and it was the most uncomfortable five minutes of NNY's life.
Finally, she met his eyes, a small, sweet smile crossing her lips. NNY's heart skipped a beat at the sight. How she could muster the strength to smile after everything she had been through truly did inspire him, and she really was pure.
Could she be telling the truth? Were they, indeed, an item?
Maybe the people who'd hurt her really had come around earlier, stealing NNY's precious memories, and a splitting headache tore through his skull.
Shit. He hadn't felt this confused in a while, and it was almost like the time when he was under the control of the wall monster.
But he had flushed that thing into oblivion. It was gone now. It no longer had any control over NNY. He no longer had to worry about being a slave...
Still... her story just seemed so preposterous. NNY, falling in love? Ridiculous.
Well, he hadn't always been so heartless; he did care about someone once, but he'd promised them that he would eradicate all of his feelings for them, giving them his 'nothing'.
It had been for the best. NNY had wanted to be the optimal being. One who could function without need, want, or desire, just like that fucker Mr. Samsa.
Stupid cockroach.
Emotions were one thing, but to have his memories taken from him too? After all, memories make a person who they are. NNY had only ever wanted to be cold, but that didn't mean he wanted to forget who he was.
He knew all too well what it was like to forget things, and he would be damned if it happened again.
If Jenny's story was true, then someone had stolen his entire identity.
When he thought about it hard enough, he couldn't remember the last few weeks. It was all a blur, and all he wanted to do was butcher the bastards who'd potentially stolen something precious from him.
He glanced at Jenny. Had she been precious to him? While she was a little on the pink side, NNY didn't find it all that hard to imagine that he could have fallen for her...
Any person would.
The world had been cruel to her, yet she was still so kind and sweet, and again, it moved him. Maybe he had fallen in love with her, and he just couldn't remember.
Fuck.
She gave a sad little laugh next, twirling her thumbs, and something came over NNY when he watched her on the couch.
She was the saddest little creature he had ever seen, and she didn't deserve any of the shit she was going through. If those men in white wanted someone to fuck with, then they can fuck with NNY. Hell knows he deserved it.
His eyes bugged...
Would he really be prepared to sacrifice himself for some girl he had just met? Well, if her story was true, then he'd actually known her for a while.
"I'm... sorry you had to go through all that..."
He truly was. And it surprised him. Empathy was not a strong trait of NNY's.
Jenny sighed. "Thank you. But... such is the life of a former wastelock. No matter how much we try to deny it, in the end, we're always slaves. We... lose control of our own destinies..."
Everything came to a screeching halt. NNY jumped to his feet, making her gasp in fright.
"What is it?"
His vision swirled as he tried to get his bearings, calming his rapid breaths. His body trembled, and his flight or fight response had been triggered.
"What... what did you just say..?"
Jenny shook her lip. "A-about what?"
"A wastelock..."
She shuddered at the word, letting out a breath. "It's someone who—"
"I know what it is!" he yelled, startling her. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I... I just want to know what it has to do with you..."
She opened her mouth, staring at him in horror. "You... know about wastelocks?"
He narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth. "Yes, unfortunately... I was once one too..."
Jenny's skin turned five shades lighter, and then a tense silence followed. Now the only sound NNY could hear was his raging heart, and it looked as if he had some hunting to do.
NNY will kill those bastards.
Whether he liked it or not, he was a part of this now, and he had no choice but to hunt those fuckers down and murder them.
Not for Jenny's sake, but his own. Only NNY controlled NNY now. No one else.
Time to get even. Time to get his memories back.