Author's Note: From this chapter on, I'm going to give little peeks into Elena's past. Flesh her out a bit.

And about Pavi, we all know he has it, but I'm terrible at writing accents so I'm going to leave that out. Until maybe when I become comfortable with it. I sure its not hard to imagine that Italian voice when anyone thinks of him.

Chapter 2: Hard To Forget

A good couple of weeks went past since my little encounter with Shilo, and I still hadn't gone back to visit her. Strangely, I found myself a little upset that I have yet to keep my promise. There was just something about that girl, she was like the little sister I always wanted but never got.

I could imagine her disappointment with me, but it wasn't like I was the girl's only visitor. She was probably busy with friends, school. Hell, with a pretty little face like hers, she probably had a boyfriend to take up her free time.

Twisting the key into its lock gained me entrance to my shabby little apartment. There was no real need for a light as I navigated my way though the dark living room. I had long since memorized the layout of the whole place. That and lights cost money, money I really didn't have.

My first stop, after dropping off my bag on the floor, was the fridge. I knew there wasn't going to be anything in there and yet I still opened the door to stare at the lack of food. A single can of beer sat in waiting for me. It was good enough for now, or so I told myself. My stomach growled at me but I ignored it like I had the other eight times its done that.

My feet turned my body, and with the beer in hand, I shambled like a zombie to the bathroom. There I stripped down and plopped myself into the tub, letting the water fill up around me.

" Fuck this whole place," I sighed, sinking down until my nose was passed by the water. I contemplated staying like that and never resurfacing. It wasn't the worst way to die around here. Hell, it was a luxury death.

Ben's small round face came to mind. I can still see his wide and frightened eyes that day a woman I had never seen before walked him up to me.

I was still in costume, having just finished practice for the day. The woman had given me a distasteful stare, and I just assumed she wasn't keen on talking to a carnie. Not a lot of people were.

"What's going on?" I had asked, not oblivious to the fact something was very wrong if my little brother was here and not with mom and Erin.

"His parents were-" She gave the sniffling boy a sideways glance as she picked her words carefully, "in an accident. You're his last living relative and, unfortunately, his legal guardian now."

In any other situation, I would have found the way she was talking to me offensive but my brain had somewhat drowned her words out. My mom was dead? I looked down at Ben as he hiccuped and I opened my arms. Instantly, he ripped away from the woman's hand and latched onto me, sobbing on my shoulder.

I couldn't imagine what he was going through, since he not only lost one parent but two. We shared a mom so that ripping pain in my chest told me I had somewhat of a idea. The last words I had spoken to her had been bitter and hateful before I left home. We hadn't agreed on some things and instead of leaving on a sweet note, I left sour and angry. That was the last impression I left on my mother and now she was gone?

"-But, I don't really think this environment is suitable for a child." Her brown eyes scanned around the dressing room as her look of distaste turned into one of disgust. "If you don't feel like you can take care of him, he can be placed into the foster care system."

"No! No, I can get an apartment. He won't be living here." I'm not stupid, lady. It was true that the whole thing was overwhelming, but I couldn't let them just stick him in a orphanage or wherever. He was all the family I had left.

"Alright, you get yourself an apartment and we'll see from there. You'll also have to go to the GeneCo building to verify a change of address and do some paper work."

Oh, that's right. I almost forgot about the surgery he had to have when he was five. When he somehow punctured one of his lungs. I blamed Erin, his father, ever since. Even with my mother insisting it was an accident. It probably was, but I wasn't about to forgive him for slipping up like that. "Sure, no problem. How about that, Ben? You want to come live with me?" He nodded without pulling away from me and I gently rubbed his back in a soothing motion.

"And I suggest you get a more…suitable job. One that can actually support the both of you"

I gasped as I resurfaced for air, pulling my wet bangs away from my eyes as the water in the tub sloshed around me. I got out and wrapped myself in a towel, shivering slightly as I made my way to my bedroom. I didn't bother changing into any clothes as I dropped onto the worn down mattress, falling asleep almost instantly.

The GeneCo building was somewhat intimidating. It towered over everything else as all kinds of advertisements floated overhead. I felt the need to just leave, this whole place gave me a bad feeling.

But at least the Gentern at the front desk was nice enough. She flashed me a perfectly white smile as I requested for Ben's paperwork so I could change a few things. As I quietly worked, I couldn't help but notice the Gentern was watching me, still just grinning away. I think I saw her glance over the newly written information before she decided to speak.

"You know, we're hiring if you're looking for a job." I had glanced up, slightly taken back by the offer.

Me? Work as a Gentern? "Is the pay any good?"

Her lips curled up further at my question. "The pay is great! And you get a 40% discount on all surgeries."

I had no interest in that second part, but I could definitely use the money. It would certainly impress that social worker more than working at a circus. But I had heard some bad things about Genterns, especially how expendable they were.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I nodded and she cheerfully pulled out a application for me.

It wasn't even a week later that I got a call back for a interview, and even shorter time after that that I was handed my uniform. The white dress and matching heel were exactly what I was expecting from a Gentern uniform. I wore a extra pair of white shorts under my uniform. Most of the women there could be comfortable with the extremely short dresses, but I really wasn't. I didn't have that kind of confidence in myself.

I spent several months working there, doing my best to blend in with the background and just do my job rather than try to get in good with the higher ups. Too many women tried and died getting comfy with the Largo brothers of all people. I had to help drag out the bodies. It was never pretty.

It wasn't until one especially gruesome fight between the spoiled three that a fellow Gentern I had become comfortable with had been stabbed several times by the eldest brother, Luigi, as an example. A girl and myself were told to get rid of the body when Luigi looked at me, and I made the mistake of making eye contact with him. He snapped his fingers at me and told me to instead go fetch him a new shirt, since the one he was wearing was covered in my friend's blood.

When I brought the shirt up to him on a hanger, he started grumbling to himself as he unbuttoned his filthy shirt while Pavi, the middle child, berated him. Amber quickly became bored with the whole situation, and with a roll of her eyes, she left. I didn't even notice her departure because I was busy watching the anger start to build up in Luigi's face, his skin actually turning a cartoonish shade of red. His hand suddenly shot out and I would have thought he was trying to hit me if it weren't for the glint of metal that caught in the fluorescent lights. The lunatic was trying to take his anger out on me, I guess, since I was the closest and he simply could. My hands moved just as fast as I snatched a pan that was meant for organs off of a nearby cart, causing surgical tools clanked loudly to the ground. The pan acted as a shield as his knife just barely broke through. I let go, leaving him with the damaged piece of thin metal, taking several steps back so he couldn't make a second swing at me.

For a moment, the room went quiet. Fellow Genterns stared at me in awe, I suppose because I had the balls to actually dodge Luigi instead of becoming another victim to one of his temper tantrums. Luigi himself looked surprised until Pavi's voice broke the silence. The younger brother gave a manic laugh before clapping his hands and unwrapped himself from his two current Genterns of choice.

"Ooh, Bravo! I like this one! The little bunny is quick on her feet." He practically giggled.

Shit. Should I have apologized?

Instead, I just stared wide eyed at Luigi. He clicked his jaw, seemingly trying to decide what to do with me. I was surprised, but thankful, when he simply turned and left, tugging his new shirt on as he went. Everything went back to normal once he left the room, everyone just went back to work as if nothing happened. I tried to do the same, even with the still frightening shivers running through my body.

Pavi made his way over to me and wrapped an arm around my bare shoulder, pulling me against him. He gave me a smile that sent shivers down my spine, but I attempted to smile back. I had to be a good little Gentern so I wouldn't have a early death. Escaping death for a second time in one day was a little too much for me.

As charming as Pavi liked to make himself out to be, he was just as dangerous as his brother…if not more. He was more discrete when he killed people, preferred the whole 'pleasure before pain' thing, or so I heard.

I stared at his human mask, wondering if he was wearing the face of anyone I ever knew.

"Why have I not seen you around here before?" He purred into my ear, his fingers gently running over my arm. Was he trying to lure me into some false sense of comfort? Pfft, good luck with that.

"I mostly work on the lower floors, Sir." I spoke simply, trying to keep my eyes trained on my feet. I think he mistook this for me being shy because he chuckled. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me, eyeballing me like a piece of meat. And really, in that moment that's what I felt like.

"You are quite the quick little bunny, la mia bella." He grinned when I looked up at him in confusion. Did he just call me something in another language?

"I guess I am…" I finally spoke before peeling myself away from him, "I should get back to work."

He chuckled as he watched me move for the door in a quick pace. "You do that, little bunny. I'll be watching,"

His words did more than scare me for the rest of the day. I guess I looked visibly haunted because Ben had asked me what was wrong over dinner and I had to reassure him that I was just tired. Even then his words were whispering in my ear 'I'll be watching'.

It was my first encounter with the Largo brothers and they were every bit as frightening as the stories made them out to be.