I trailed Beth and her coworkers while hoping to god that the manager didn't ask for me to do some work, of course, the smell hit me when I least expected it to.
Something I was familiar with when just walking around the streets, dogs or cats can get run over from time to time, that's nothing new and the smell that comes from their corpses is nothing short of gross.
IT'S that same smell but amplified by a big magnitude, the logical part of my brain that I usually ignore because I'm hopelessly optimistic told me to walk away and never pry again.
Sadly, my bleeding heart didn't agree and, I pressed on following behind with careful steps until they reached a bloodstained door that wasn't fully close because of a body that was cut in half organs spewing out like a badly done pasta and the blank expression of a man that simply accepted his fate.
...
"There is no way out, huh..." I'm not sure who said that, but I had my eyes fixated on the door that opened revealing even more bodies, but if there was one thing that all of them shared the most was the M armband that I wear too.
...
Someone sighed, "It's what it is, expendable is the keyword of every employee here... even that new guy won't be peppy forever." Hopeless would be a nice way to put the sound of that.
"The incinerator again... right?" That unsure and scared voice, Bethany, is unsure of what they are doing.
One of them scoffed, "You still not accepting it? Just do and be done with it, caring about this kind of stuff is useless anyway." No.
No it isn't.
I walked up and spoke up, "That's her decision to make, don't drag her down along with you." they all turned to me, Beth expression was the one I was focused on.
The same person scoffed again, original, "You can see this and still say that? That requires a special kind of stupid." I didn't even turn to her, I'm used to people telling things like that.
But I don't take the easy way out, I just don't 'stop' letting this bother me "Then I'll stay stupid rather than a spineless bastard that can't even bother to show how they feel".
It's so easy to stop caring, to look the other way, and accept things as they are.
But I care, I'll speak up, because no matter how hard life hits me I'll stand back up with my head held high, knowing that I at least TRIED where others couldn't even bother to think about it.
I'm not a religious person, but I still offered a quick prayer, I wanted to say this was an accident, but the number of bodies made it clear this was routine, change won't come with tears or righteous rage but with decisive actions.
I can mourn for them, even if they don't want me to.
Does it sound selfish to be Good because you feel like it? Probably.
Those that can use their Selfishness to do good can only be called Human, after all.
"And now you are praying? Man, you're hopeless..." A voice full of mirth, but I for once threw whoever talked a look that could only be described as 'plain'.
"Trigger! You shouldn't be bothering with side-jobs while on work hours, do Attachment work with One-Sin!"
Malkuth... she did seem a little off when I met her, I glanced at the room full of bodies and realized that while a lot of people there had the M armband there were many others, but there were obviously more M's than any other.
I patted Beth on the shoulder "Care, because when you stop caring you'll stop trying" I threw one look at the woman that was talking a minute ago, she just was fuming.
"You care too, you wouldn't be fighting me so much on it if you didn't" I took one good look at the black-haired woman with long hair and red eyes, she had a permanent scowl on her face that became more prominent after I said those words and an X shaped scar on her right cheek.
Wish I could do more, but I'm not a miracle maker.
I kept walking with one thought in my mind, 'do better'.
And I will.
When I got back to the hallways containing the Abnormalities chambers, I saw Dakota leaving One Bro's room with a big smile on her face, "I'll admit... I do feel a little bit better, Trigger?" she saw me and stopped while pointing at the room she just came out off.
"Dakota, seems you actually said the truth and got a crown too." I pointed out while wondering if only Rober would never get one.
She nodded but frowned, "You seem less lively than usual, what's up?" I didn't really want to say, mainly because I feel this is normal for this place in general, Dakota herself has that air to her that just people that have killed have.
What a world to live in... "Remembering why I act this way, self-reflection and all that." Dakota nodded at that with an understanding look on her face.
"Yeah, it's always good to remember your roots, why you do the things you do and all that." Seems like she gets it, even if her way of doing things is a lot more crass than normal.
I gave her a thumbs up, "Yeah, never let others drag you down, that just means they are jealous." Dakota grinned at that.
"Guess we both hate Half-Asses." She nodded while giving me a couple of slaps on the back.
Guess we do, "It's my turn with the Skull, give Rober my regards... also don't brag too much about the crown to him".
"No promises."
I snorted, should have seen that one coming, I entered the chamber and took a deep breath, "I don't have any kind of sad backstory or horrible fate that made me act the way I do, I just remember looking at the world and realize how easy it was to ignore problems... so because of a pure stubborn desire to prove people wrong I started to care, until it became my new normal, so I could shout out 'if I can, why can't you?'" I started pouring my heart out.
Maybe my desire to help people isn't selfless, but that's fine, Humans are selfish by nature.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
"So I put an example, do good not because others are telling you to, not because it's the right thing, not because you want the moral high ground, but because you feel like it".
"Doing good has no higher purpose, it's just another normal action of the day."
"It doesn't make you special, and that's fine."
I took a slow deep breath with a small smile on my face and then released it.
Time to keep going then!