I could feel something intruding my eye. Something sharp and thick swirling into my pupils and slowly it felt like something was being pulled out. I could feel it thread and pull against the back of my eye, I could feel it touching my nerves and my brain felt like it was being played with. Then everything went still and a sickeningly sweet smell wafted into the air. Time seemed to pass and I had the urge to throw up. I couldn't see anything, I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't feel anything. All I could smell was just that horrible scent.

Then my ears slowly began to pick up on something. It was like being pulled out of water, slowly sound began to return like a rushing wave. I felt a breath on my neck. "I'm so happy you're here." The voice was sweet and kind. "I can't wait until you provide me with Saeyoung. I can't wait to have him here with me as one bii~iig happy family. A new family…a better family." Then all sound faded as if I was being emerged back into water.

Time seemed to pass quickly. I felt as if everything around me was on fast forward while I was just stuck. I could think and that comforted me. So I occupied my mind with the RFA, with the party, with Ji Sung. Ji Sung…I hope he's okay. It was fuzzy but I remember screaming his name. I remembered Melody mouthing that 'we are independent.' I clung to the words. We are independent. We are independent. We are independent! I repeated those words over and over again until my brain tired from it. Slowly I let myself slip into complete darkness becoming nothing but an empty shell with only one thing ringing in my mind. We are independent. We are independent….

I opened my eyes to a familiar scene. White walls, white beds, and a giant TV hanging from the ceiling with the words Mint Eye spinning rapidly before slowing down and ingraining the words into my eyes. Then it spun rapidly, then it slowed, then it froze ingraining its message. The only difference from waking up in this room was I could move. I sat up and saw another person laying in one of the beds. "Melody…" I managed to croak out. Slowly I walked towards her relieved to see she was peacefully sleeping. There was another person in here. The boy who was taken to the Healing ward by the Priests, the one who chased Ji Sung and I into The Underground. He slept quietly his face turned towards the wall. Slowly I walked towards him and peered into his face.

"A-aa! aa-!" I tried to scream but nothing came out my throat was so dry. The boy had no eyes. None. Just empty sockets with small threads of vein's hanging loosely, like a cavern with red vines. I backed away and ran toward a wash bucket throwing up nothing but bile. I trembled as I looked at his sleeping body…how was he still alive? Why did they do this to him!?

I stood up and ran over to Melody trying to shake her awake. "Pl…ease…" I croaked. "Wa….ke…up…" Melody turned over slightly.

I had to get out of here. I shook her harder and slowly she opened her eyes. "Mm?" She blinked. "Where am I?" She mumbled, though with her it sounded more like a person speaking at a normal volume.

"Me…" I swallowed the aftertaste of the bile still on my tongue. "Melody we need…to go."

"Okay." She yawned and stretched loudly waking herself up. Slowly she got up, completely ignoring the boy. "I felt like I had great sleep! Did you!?"

"Now's…" Again I tried to swallow. It felt like I was swallowing chalk dust. "…not the time. I…n-need water…" I glanced at the boy. Should we take him? Was there even a reason for him to keep living?

!?

What was I thinking?! Of course there is, he's just a child but…but… they…they took out his other eye and just left him there like that. Why? And did they not think of us waking up and seeing him? Well…only I saw him. Melody didn't even look at him once.

"Water? Okay…"

I tried to speak but my throat ceased up. Water, once I get that I'll ask her if she saw the boy. As if nothing had happened she happily walked down the hallway looking around at the rooms. I kept my stare to the floor avoiding the flashing signs and watching our distorted reflections in the pure white floors. Every step I took felt heavy and a part of me just wanted to go back to bed and sleep.

"Oh!" Melodies voice seemed to be back to normal. "It's Belial!"

I snapped my head up and looked to where she was pointing. It was him! He was asleep in one of the healing wards. We hurried into the room and I gasped. Large sections of his skin was nothing but a dark purple, his face looked swollen and one of his eyes was branding a deep purple shiner. I felt rage boil inside me. Why!? Why are they doing this to these people!?

I reached out and carefully touched his cheek that wasn't beaten and bruised.

"…Mel…ody, ple-"

"Water! I got it!" She ran out of the room.

I ran my tongue over the bottom of my gums. I needed to accumulate some saliva. Barely getting more than I drop I quickly swallowed, whatever it'd have to do. "Ji Sung?" I croaked.

He didn't move.

"Ji Sung….please…wa..ke up." I lightly caressed his face, the rage boiling more and more every time my eyes landed on his beaten skin. "Why…why did…they hurt…you?" My hands moved to my waist. I felt myself barely smile. "…I…have the….sash on."

He breathed in deeply but he didn't wake.

"Got you some water!" Melody rushed back in holding a cup.

I took it and drank greedily. I felt my body starting to wake up and the sluggish feeling I had seemed to disappear taking in the nutrients of the water. I drank the water as if I would never have another cup again and gasped. "Thank you Melody."

"Now that's a happy voice!"

"Will he wake up?"

"He looks pretty bad! I'd say he needs more sleep!"

His eyebrows furrowed and I could see his eyes moving rapidly behind his eyelids as if he were having a nightmare. "Then…" I swallowed wetting my pallet once more. "Let's just let him rest."

"Yup! We better go find Irene!"

Irene…? I gasped. Why had I forgotten her? I felt a pang of guilt tighten my chest, "Ya. Let's go see her."

Melody left first. I gently touched Ji Sung's hair. Wow, it was really soft. I wasn't sure why but I thought it'd be coarse or dry. When I first met him I thought he was absolutely insane, I thought he was just like the rest, but now…he knows this place isn't Paradise, it's hell. I don't know if he wants to leave, but I think he'll have my back. "It's okay Ji Sung. I'll be back. And…" I looked around and leaned in to whisper into his ear. "Together we'll get through his."

He breathed in deeply again and his body seemed to relax. I hope he heard me.

I turned around looking back three times almost afraid that if I looked away he'd be gone…or he'd be just like the boy.

Melody was standing in the corner of the hallway looking grim. "What is-" She grabbed my arm and pulled me into her chest. "Wha-"

"Shh!" She glared. I hadn't seen her like this before, what's wrong with her? "We don't have much time. The system is rebooting so I'll say this quickly."

I looked around. All the flashing lights and spinning logos were off. Suddenly my mind felt clearer.

"We need to get out of here. I don't know how but I-" she looked around "I know a Descendent. All four of us need to leave." She pressed her lips into a thin line. "We are independent. We can do this."

A sudden rush of joy rose to my chest. I wanted to cry, to hug her and say 'I knew it! I knew it! I knew I wasn't alone!'

She continued. "Tonight meet me in the garden, do not be seen taking care of Irene. Not yet anyways."

"Why?"

"I heard voices when I slept. I heard the boy screaming," so she did see him, "and I heard, 'As long as she doesn't remember who Irene is then we don't have a problem.' The voices were coming from your direction. Play dumb for awhile. I'll watch over her okay?"

"Yes."

She grinned. "The system is coming back on, let's go."

"Okay!" I felt myself smile. Yes! Yes! Now I had someone who wanted out just as much as me! Irene, Meoldy, Ji Sung and I, we're getting out! Determination coursed through my veins. Outside these walls is Paradise!

D-E-F-E-C-T-O-R

The day went on without too much trouble. I could see Arc Members observing me closely and twice did I see a Priest walk by and observe the garden. One of them held a large golden cane with a red jewel in the hand rest. He was gripping it as if it were a weapon more than a something to help him walk. From the corner of my eye I could see Melody help Irene with watering the flowers. Irene had the same vacant stare with her mouth hanging slightly open.

"Hello." I jumped thinking I had been caught by an Arc Member. No. It was just a woman…wait…she was one of the women I saw with Charle. I shuddered.

"H-hello."

"Mind if I sit with you?"

"No…please do." I scooted over giving her more room.

"Lovely day out."

"….It is."

"So…something's been a bit…mmm," she glanced around eyeing the Flock playing Catch the Defector's, "a bit weird." She lowered her voice.

"W-weird?"

"Yeah…like something is missing." A flicker of hatred flashed through her eyes. "Or someone."

"I see. I don't know, I've been resting and I really don't know anyone here."

"I know what you did…" She hissed. "Charle's dead and it's all your fault."

My eyes narrowed. "My-" No play dumb. I gave her a confused look. "Wait who? I don't know a Charle.

"W-when you don't have an access you make one." Was this woman really agreeing with Charle's actions? "Th-that's," she glanced at the Flock again, "the Descendent's code. Charle took that to heart. He didn't have an out so he made one." She glared harder. "You can act like you don't know what I'm talking about but I know you did it. Because that woman over there sure as hell didn't! You had no right to kill him!"

"Hey!"

The woman nearly shrieked.

"Melody." I smiled in relief.

"Saw you were making a new friend!"

The woman bit her lip. "You…"

"What?!" Melody smiled.

"I've never seen you here before."

"Well I've never seen you here before either. Melody!" She stuck out her hand.

"Patricia." The woman looked at Melody's hand in disgust. "What do you want?"

"Was just checking up on my friend! Wanted to make sure she was doing okay! Oh!?" Melody squatted down and lifted the woman's sash.

"What are you doing?!" She tried to smack Melody away.

"What's this?!"

"Stop! Don't touch there!"

I could see the Flock watching, a look of excitement on their face. They were ready to call a Priest at any moment.

Melody gasped. I froze. A gun… "Well…you were trying to hurt my friend weren't you?!"

"I- I…I have no-"

"DEFECTOR!" The kids yelled. The woman shrieked and jumped up. "We see a Defector, trying to sway away, we see a Defector, you cannot run away~!" They sang. "Hahahahaha! Yay! Yay! You must learn! You must learn!" One took out a whistle and blew.

The other Paradisian's were all watching now. Suddenly the doors to the Civilian Ward opened and two Priests walked out. The woman started screaming and backing away. The Priests walked forward, the sun reflecting into their dark goggles. The Il Dottore mask making them look like menacing crows ready to pick at some flesh.

"We see a Defector, trying to sway away, we see a Defector, you cannot run away~!" It was like scene out of a horror film. Patricia was backing away screaming and yelling at the kids to shut up, the singing grew louder and more distorted, the Priests were stalking up to her ready to strike at any minute. Four Arc Members emerged from the balcony and ordered in their mechanical voices for everyone to watch the TV. Melody placed the gun down making a face that said I should do what they say.

The moment they turned on the TV a soft melody played from it's speakers, everyone at once looked over and crowded around the TV. Suddenly the music was ringing all around, the TV was flashing numerous colorful lights. Melody squeezed my hand as if to say 'don't get brainwashed now.'
"Paradise. Mint Eye. NO Pain. Magenta. High Priestess. NO Hatred. Paradise. Mint Ey." The soft music, the woman's screams, the kids laughter, and then

BANG.

No one flinched, no one even seemed to notice. Melody squeezed my hand tighter. I squeezed hers back. I wanted to turn around and look. I wanted to see what had happened but I kept my eyes on the wall, avoiding the screen. The kids were roaring with laughter and cheers and they started to sing louder. We stood there for a good five minutes. More than once did someone have a stroke of some kind but no Arc Member or Priest or anyone else for that matter seemed to care. Then the TV turned off. People blinked and shook their heads and then they went back to what they were doing.

Melody grabbed Irene's shoulders and looked at me. She nodded just barely and left to the Civic wing. Slowly I turned around. The Priests were gone, and so was Patricia. The Flock were dancing around in a circle before yelling "Catch the Defectors." They ran off screaming and laughing.

I wanted to walk over there so badly and see what had happened. But no one else seemed to have the same curiosity. Sheep. They're all sheep. I sat by one of the flower beds and watched the Flock play.

We are independent….we are independent…

I had to keep repeating that over and over in my mind.

By lunch I went back to Ji Sung's room and saw him sleeping soundly. "Hey…" I whispered. I didn't want to be caught. "Guess what? This woman tried to kill me today with a gun." I touched his hair, it really was soft. I wonder what he uses it wash it. It suddenly hit me. Ji Sung was human. He ate, and drank, and slept just like any other person. He took care of himself and did normal everyday things. He was still a human and I…I felt like I had been thinking of him as nothing but this thing that spouted out information whenever I asked. He was going out of his way to make sure I was being brainwashed by him and not by the Arc Members or the rest of Magenta. Whenever I asked a question he'd answer. Why? Why was I under his supervision so much?

I continued. "I think…the Priests shot her. There was this bang. I wanted to go look at where she was but the Arc Members are making sure I don't talk to Irene so they're watching me like a hawk. And it would be suspicious if I started looking around to see what had happened. Melody…I know you don't like her, but she's going to help us. She wants out of here just as much as I do. And you do to right?"

Of course he didn't answer.

"I'll come by after dinner. If I stay too long I might get us both in trouble. Again…" I wiped away the sweat from his face and gently kissed his forehead. "It'll be okay." I moved to his ear. "We are independent."

I-G-N-O-R-A-N-C-E

I watched as Charle's friends, or whoever they were, look at their food with grim faces. It seemed the Flock was watching them more closely as they sat right next to them laughing and playing with their food. I watched as Melody held up a spoon to Irene and slowly helped her eat porridge. I watched as the Arc Members looked at me. Even if I couldn't see their faces behind the goggles, their gas masks placed aside so they could eat, I felt as if they were saying 'I know you. I know what you're trying to do. I know what you're hanging your last bit of sanity on.'

I forked the potatoes watching the butter melt and absorb into the white mush. I wasn't hungry. The only thought I had was to go see Ji Sung. Talk to him.

Because…

Because. I thought back to when I was asleep. "I can't wait until you provide me with Saeyoung. I can't wait to have him here with me as one bii~iig happy family. A new family…a better family."Saeyoung…who was that? Somehow I felt that Ji Sung was trying to get this Saeyoung. What would happen if I ask him? But no, not now, not when he's sleeping. He needed words of hope and encouragement. Not words that would tie him to this place even more. Words that made you want to leave your mind behind and just live in a dream. I looked at the others. People were stiff in their movements yet they talked amongst each other with happy smiles. It was like watching a glitch. For a few seconds it was as if Paradise was experiencing an error. Waves of fear, or hatred, or doubt would wash over them for only just a second before Paradise would reset and the same glazed look replaced the surface of independent thought.

After dinner I made my way back to the Healing Wing. I sat by Ji Sung's bed and touched his hair. I didn't know what to say so I told him about my favorite foods, my favorite books and games. I told him about me and what I missed. "And then I got this broom and started hitting him over the-"

The door opened. I shot my hand away from Ji Sung.

"What are you doing here?" The distorted voice of the Priest filled the room.

"I'm…I wanted to keep him company."

"Trash like him doesn't need company. Go. Before I change my mind."

Change his mind? More torture? I wanted to whisper to Ji Sung that he needed to fight their propaganda. Slowly I walked away, the Priests dark goggles reflecting the TV light watched me closely. 'I know what you're trying to do.' That's what they must be thinking.

I went back to the Civil ward and Melody ran up to me. "Hey." She spoke lowly. "Here." It was another spray bottle. "I'm sure they took yours away. Use this to keep that damn smell away."

"Whe-"

"Shh. Okay! I need to shower! Can you put Irene to bed?!"

"S-sure thing." Melody handed off Irene to me before waving and running off. "Come on." I spoke gently. We got to her room and carefully I put her to bed. There was a knock at the door. I opened it. I looked down, a tiny Flock looked up at me.

"Hello!" She squeaked.

"H-hello…"

"This must be her room." She turned towards the hallway. "Okay!"

The door to the Garden opened. "Joseph!" I gasped.

"Stupid guy!" The kids smiled. "He couldn't handle Paradise!"

"Gouged his eyes out."

"All while screaming 'Irene Irene!'" They laughed.

"Stop laughing!" I yelled. "What did they do to you!?"

"I am…tired." He murmured. "I need…sleep."

"Please move!" The tiny one squeaked. "This man is registered as married. Let him sleep."

The other kids glared at me. "Know this, Paradisian." One said. "This man has been cleansed. He has been rightfully punished for thinking or doing bad things that the outside world does. In order to keep this place a Paradise, some sacrifices has to be made. And we won't hesitate even if you have the Loved One's eyes."

And for a split second that error, that one glimpse of who these children really were, occurred. And they were all terrified.

I glanced at Irene my eyes landing on the TV. For a moment I thought the words on the TV said 'You cannot escape' but no. It had to have been my imagination.