Authors Note: This content will be heavily revolving around Drug Abuse, Depression, Suicide and emotional/physical abuse from loved ones. This story doesn't take place in the world of Remnant but will use names of persons and places. Also, I'm writing this on a mobile phone so please remember that if/when you come across any kind of grammar or spelling mistakes.

Chapter One

"Will it hurt..."

The sounds of machinery clang against itself, air pressure being released from certain pipes as pistons move back and forth. A copper haired young adult stands, hands gloves in shotty cotton that's ripped almost from seam to seam, pinches his hand once more on the newly formed metal.

"Son of a bitch..."

Even though every other worker around him had ear plugs in to block the deafening noise, he still feared to be heard. It was hard for someone like him to hold a job. It felt as though no matter what he did, it would be too easy to be let go. Even swearing has gotten him fired. It was frustrating but he knew why, the unspoken rule against the kind of person he was. Being a disposable 'robot' to people who had the right minds meant that there was no sympathy or passion for someone like him.

This world wasn't meant for the emotional defective. Humans who could not feel or express a certain emotion. It was different for all Emotional Defectives, some couldn't feel happiness, some couldn't feel fear or Passion. But the abuse and societal outcasting was the same for all of them.

His nerves got the better of him however as he looked over both his shoulders, left to right.

Nothing.

A sigh of relief, no one was staring, everyone else just stood at their assigned spots, flipping switches, grabbing metal parts and storing them or cleaning grease and gunk from the traps under the hulking Black and Yellow auto presses. It was easy to pick out who was what, as those who were treated better wore actual blue uniforms that were washed and pressed daily, while others wore street clothes that got riddled with dirt, sweat and the occasional almost boiling water that burst from some of the pipes from falling apart warehouse.

The paranoid man had taken a look over himself, a careless nerve that he never tried to correct. His own clothes were the old ones he had from his last job, technically street clothes but they were a green uniform. It was all he had to work in, it didn't allow him to blend in unfortunately but it did give him comfort. A Green, simple button down shirt that was missing some buttons in the middle and bottom, long sleeves that were torn at the ends. The Green dress-like pants were in no better shape, not even pockets.

His favorite part however, was the key card for his job fit nicely in his chest pocket of the work shirt and the hole on the bottom left of the pocket itself showed a part of his face and name on the card. Sea blue eyes, copper, almost brown hair and dull white skin accompanied with the first name.

Cardin.

Work days always felt longer than they should, it might have been the type of masquerade he had to put on so the other workers would forget who he was and hope they would just leave him be. It was more exhausting than the work itself most days. Even as he worked a low end job that relied heavily on physical labor and being able to keep up with quota's.

Five-Thirty didn't come fast enough for him, when the clock on the wall showed what could possibly be his three favorite digits in succession, he was free to leave. Yet he didn't make it too far when he was stopped by a voice.

"Mr. Winchester."

Cardin froze in his steps, the large green door with the red word 'Exit' just inches away, freedom, fresh air and time alone all now pulled out from under him as exhaustion was replaced with dread.

Not knowing what his manager wanted was the most anxiety inducing thing he has to experience on an almost day to day basis. While turning to face the man, he did all he could to force a pleasant smile on his face as if the manager was some sort of family member.

"Yes sir?" Cardin said, hands in the ratty pockets of his pants, balled up and clutching the fabric with frightened strength.

"As you know..." The man approached him while speaking and Cardin briefly wondered why all managers in that position looked the same. Bigger in figure almost leaning on unhealthy fat, white shirt tucked into khaki pants, clean shaven with short dark hair.

"...There have been a couple of your colleagues who have been..." a moments pause as he literally had to mull over what words he would use as if he cared to be blunt or not "...Involved in some activities that really aren't suitable to speak of here at work. But I'll cut right to the point, you will become a partner tomorrow with someone else whose in need of one."

"A promotion?" Cardin knew what a partner meant, a position at a bigger machine that was more difficult but came with a better pay. Though, he let his excitement get the better of him, he should have known better. As the words left his lips, his manager's demeanor changed almost dramatically.

With what was just a smile and a friendly chat with good news, now became something else as the man before him grew visibly agitated "No. It's only temporary until we get someone more experienced to replace the spot. Take this as experience, this position is expected to only last about a month so don't get too comfortable." His tone was direct, rude and could cut through stone if it were a knife. "This also will change your schedule, instead of coming in a nine everyday you'll be expected to show up at six in the morning and leave at six at night."

It was so much change all at once, this was why he hated talking to the manager. Cardin wanted to floor that fat bastard and take a tooth as a trophy but the job was more important than pride, so instead of getting the satisfaction of making this 'man' cry. He just stood there and nodded, knowing full well he was being played. No overtime was offered and it was certain that didn't change with this move.

"Ok, Six to six. You can count on me." It was hard to be able to keep himself from sounding upset, angry or just sad. He knew he had to play these games and take the punches.

"Good. Six to Six." The man replied as if he were teaching a child, his tone changing back to how it previously was and even smiling with a light chuckle "Now, move along." With a shooing motion and one last little laugh, he had turned away and muttered to himself pleasantly "A promotion." And laughing till he was too far to hear.

Anxiety was still present, Cardin sighed to relieve some stress but it didn't help much. He took his chance to leave out the exit and once the fresh air hit him, he felt just slightly more relaxed. There were people still outside, crowded in the parking lot as a couple of the companies security officers tossed out some boxes filled with junk and a woman clinging and begging with them, tears running down her eyes and desperation in her voice.

"Please! I'm sorry! It was just once, it won't happen again I need this job!" She screamed, even going as far as picking up some of the loose items, packing them back up and attempting to walk back in, trying to doge the large guards but failing and being shoved back into the dirt. Some people found that funny, the people who wore fresh clean clothes were the loudest to laugh. When people believed they had immunity to anything, they become the worst kind of person.

Joining the crowd however, Cardin wanted to see who the woman was. Short Green hair with red eyes and darker skin, she was thin but seemed well enough. Cardin had certainly seen worse but what confused him the most was how clean and nice her clothes were, she wasn't someone who operated machinery but someone who worked in the offices that was connected to the Plant. She wore a black pencil skirt that went just past her knees, a black dress shirt with a white lace undershirt to match and heels. How she ran like she did, he had no clue, some people are just skilled.

"Caught trying to hire a Defected?" Someone muttered to another in the crowed of maybe twenty employees. "Wasn't the first time apparently. Pretty sweet if you ask me, that means there's a opening and I'm looking to take it." Another replied with a low chuckle.

As the woman sat in the spot she was shoved in for a couple minutes, the employees around seemed to become bored of the spectacle, walking away from the group and continuing on with their conversations as if nothing really happened or if they were just watching an animal in the zoo. But it wasn't like that for Cardin, it wasn't like that for the others who stood and continued to watch, those who wore raggedy clothes and secretly, deep down felt relieved that it wasn't them on the ground there.

The woman looked around to see who was left, now with sense coming back to her and adrenaline falling, she was waiting. Who would help? Anyone? Surely the lowest of the low wouldn't mind just helping her to her feet. But time passed, her eyes met everyone else's who stayed maybe twice over, tears falling from her eyes and dripping onto the ground of the parking lot. When her eyes met Cardin's, he knew the feeling of disparity she felt.

The feeling when your reality has changed and the fear of having to adjust and put new effort into something you have no energy for and starting all over again. And after a few moments, her anguish turned to rage as she lashed out suddenly.

"What the hell are you looking at?!" She yelled, knees shaking as she struggled to get to her feet "I'm not the one to be pitied, you are! Leave me alone, freaks!" It was a normal persons worse fear, to be less than a defected, to have nothing but your own name and to be casted aside as someone normal who could fit in among what society casted out.

She had picked up a rock "It's all your fault!" And chucked it at one of the others in the now smaller group of maybe seven or eight, a loud smacking sound was heard reverberating through the parking lot and eventually fading into the sounds of cars moving in the distance.

In an instant the lady had moved her hands to cover her mouth in shock of what she had done. When Cardin looked to see who it was, he himself had taken a few steps back while two other Defected's ran off in fear of being the next target. He could see it was a woman with long Yellow hair, he sort of knew her, she was normally a loud woman who was incredibly happy all the time, well, almost. It was hard to be happy with a broken nose and holding back tears.

"Y-You're fucking crazy!" A man had yelled, coming to the aid of the injured woman both trying to be somewhat heroic but acting out of caution and fear.

"I-I'm so..." But that was all she said before leaning down and taking her heels off and bolting for her car as quick as possible, leaving all of her possessions behind. Cardin had enough and began to hastily make his way home, turning his back on the scene, walking, speeding up and soon just running as he could hear the sound of a car speeding away, tires squealing across the asphalt and disappearing into the distance. But he just kept going, fear motivated him to ignore how tired he was and just kept moving.

Down the long side walks and past the run down church, the abandoned super markets and boarded up homes that housed drifters. Past ally's covered in trash, scum and dealers. Once his apartments were in sight, that's when he slowed down to a stop, leaning on a tree and trying to catch his breath, keeling over a bit and looking up to the complex. A dirty green color splashed across the whole building with white accents to the windows, muddied with wear and tear from the elements. It was a shit hole, but that's all you got when you were someone like him.

Garbage covered the ground of the entrance to his complex, the one building apartment towered as a four story living quarter. His feet traversed through the mismanaged landscaping. Crunching every bit of fallen and dead leaves from the barren trees in the area, the branches swayed sadly in the cold wind as autumn began leaving. Winter was the hardest season for everyone. Electricity was a commodity, overlooked by those who could pay their bills at all. A lot of the times most Defects would room with each other, disregarding fire safety or the rules of the lease in general just to survive.

Even now however, Cardin was having trouble catching his breath and calming his nerves, he was really understanding just how unfit he's become. Getting to the top of the steps he hung to the railing taking deep breaths, confused if it was just adrenaline causing this heavy breathing or if he was still in a panic and moving quickly. Either way, his mind was set on one thing. Stepping to the door marked "301" the blue paint slowly peeling away showing the rotting wood from under, with quick hands on a brass knob he entered and immediately felt safe again.

Shut, lock, and drop. He sat in front of his door, taking a look at the studio apartment he owned for a moment. Worn painted dull blue walls, a counter that once had a granite top but now was covered in burns, scratches and missing the corners from previous misuse or just others moving out of the apartment. It had a sink attached to it however, with running water too. His stove was the nicest thing about the place, all white, fully worked with all four burners. The front room, rather the only other room except for the bathroom, was small, he had a severely outdated tv, a half of a coffee table with the broken half of the table being held up by some old books he had found.

Then there was his bed, red sheets with a ragged comforter that kept him warm during the winter.

Laying his head against the door, he looked up and shut his eyes. "Fuck..." His lips let out the word like it released the stressors of the day and finally let him relax in this small space of his. Another second of solace before he got up, walking into the front room and turning the tv on which was already playing the news. "...In which this new law allows for the recruitment of Defect's, an exciting draft that will give Defect's a new way living so if you or anyone you know is a Defect that wants to serve their country, look to your local recruiter." And that was enough TV for him today as the screen immediately went black.

A sigh leaves his lips as eyes locks on to a picture frame sitting on the half coffee table, two people with large smiles on their faces. An alter, one in a suit and another in a white dress with flowers. It was the best day of his life, grabbing the frame and looking it closer. He could remember that moment so easily, looking in his then wife's eyes, he grinned, her brown hair looked so nice, she was so beautiful but he just couldn't remember the feeling he had back then. It was like a blockage in his brain that just wouldn't allow him to remember those feelings.

But he knew what would help...

He kissed the frame "I'll see you soon." Whispering and putting the frame back, he leaned over, grabbing a small wooden box that used to hold his wedding shoes and opened the water damaged lid to reveal a syringe containing a glowing pink liquid. Admittedly, he shouldn't have felt as excited as he did when looking it over. Letters across the center of the glass syringe said "Love Drug." Of course this was a counterfeit version of the actual drug but it worked and in the end, that's all he cared for. Memories came back to him as he grabbed it and prepared himself.

"Will it hurt?" He remembered his wife saying, concerned and not able to look as he laughed "I'm stronger than I look you know." He would cockily say before injecting around half of the liquid into his arm. Unfortunately for him, he had made the mistake of making a pained noise in reaction and once pulling the needle out he could hear her say in a mocking tone "I'm stronger than I look." With her hands at her hips.

When Cardin came out of his day dream, the needle was already in his arm and injecting the whole liquid. A deep breath, he laid back, taking the needle out and setting it aside.

He shut his eyes again and took one more deep breath. The pain that came was one of the hard parts when he did this, like his veins constricted and crawled up to his brain which gave him a brief yet powerful head pain. The way he dealt with this was counting

"3... 2... 1... 3... 2... 1..." as the pain subsided, he opened his eyes slowly and took a look around his apartment and smiled. Everything was so nice and clean, the walls were neat and everything just seemed so... Bright. He didn't dare to move for a moment, but the feelings he got as the chemicals in his brain reworked reality for him was the euphoria he was looking for. But there was one thing missing, he looked around almost alarmed before he heard it.

"You didn't eat again..."

Then, there she was, standing before him suddenly with that perfect smile he fell in love with, long beautiful long hair that covered her ears and a cute button nose and her eyes, those captivating brown eyes that could catch the calm of the most enraged animal. But what he missed the most, those large brown bunny ears.

The feelings he had for her rushed in all at once, the feelings he had on their wedding day and then just how much he had missed her flooded his being and almost overwhelmed him as he tried to keep the smile on his face while looking at her. Tears easily falling from his eyes as he spoke to greet her.

"Hey Bun."