Furniture strewn across the room. The dining room table was broken; picture frames shattered. Ears echoing with the sound of squelching. There she sat covered in her parents' blood. White hair-stained crimson eyes capturing the moment in front of her. Engraining it into her mind like a brand.
Hanging loosely was a birthday banner, on the floor, swimming in the pool that was the blood of her family were remnants of her birthday cake. Four candles, unlit and floating. Her voice could not be captured, blurred vision staring at the lumbering man who had not been invited inside her home. Body covered in muscles, face splitting with a horrid grin while his hands pounded downward onto the corpse of her father turning flesh into pulp.
Eyes tearing away she glanced downward. Her mother's eyes looked at her face. Blood leaking from the gashes that covered her skin. Hand marks remained on her neck.
Death was not swift.
She was strangled to death.
Even know she could hear it. The struggle kicks of her mom, the clawing at the grasp. Nothing had worked against the larger man's overwhelming strength. She had no idea as to why she remained alive. At any opportunity the man could have snapped her neck like a twig, yet he just continued to brutalize her father's body.
Why the man targeted her family? Why did he come on her birthday? So many questions yet none answered. The small whimpers that came from her mouth subdued, the tears that dripped down her face joining the pool of blood that she sat in. Minutes which felt like hours passed before the room fell into an almost complete silence. She dared not to look up, hearing the wet squelching as the man's feet drew nearer.
She waited, feeling a hand grasp her head, pressure being applied at the finger tips. The fear that overcame her body was unimaginable and in that fear her entire being screamed.
She didn't want to die.
.
Yorha's eyes opened with a startle. The room she found herself in unfamiliar, almost entirely pitch black. The young girl's cheek pressed against an all-white pillow, slightly moist, tears having leaked from her eyes during her slumber. Her chest, her heart, thumped rapidly, having a nightmare of that day. With a shaky hand she began to wipe her tears only to stop.
There was a noise. It was faint but clear. Turning over with the shuffling of the white blanket layered over her did she saw the cause of the noise. It had only been a few hours since they were introduced, since he had become her partner.
Other than the door, the only other thing in the room was the other bed. On that bed was Jack. Feet kicking at the sheets below him, back pressed against the corner while his non-broken arm covered his face. Eyes searching the room rapidly. It was as if he could not stay still, as if the bed itself had become a sense of discomfort. Breathing rapidly and air sucked through gnashing teeth.
Yorha watched the panicked struggles of the boy, eyes capturing every moment, watching as the white shirt became red and wet with small patches of blood. She did not move until Jack had stopped his own movements.
Jack's searching eyes found a place of rest. His own capturing Yorha's. Emerald staring at blue grey. Bloodshot capturing tear-filled. His struggles stopped, rapid breathing calming slightly, muscles loosening. He watched Yorha's right hand move, palm facing upward toward the roof, the girl giving a light sniffle. Her gaze never left and neither did his.
'You two, take care of each other.'
The words of Solidus echoed in each of their heads. Although their responses were different. Jack's jaw tightened, eyes narrowing and Yorha cried silently. Seconds, minutes, and hours had passed. Neither noticed when their eyes began to close, nor the fact they had both fallen into a nightmare less sleep for the first time.
.
"Wake up!"
A loud voice stirred both awake. Jack's eyes opened rapidly catching only a glimpse of Yorha before his eyes went to the source of the nose responsible. Similarly, Yorha did very much the same. Standing at the door, dressed in military fatigues was Solidus himself. The grizzled man staring at the two. Watching the children stand from their beds after a moment passed.
The sight of them causing a small grin to appear on his face. Whether the two had known or not, the body language told Solidus all that he needed to know. He had heard of Jack's arrival. The way the boy had gone for the kill on a soldier, the fact they had to actively subdue him as they treated his wounds. Yet only after a night the boy stood close to Yorha without so much of an indication of either bloodlust or discomfort.
Although it was a start it was far from satisfactory. "Follow me." Without awaiting a response Solidus turned his back on the two, walking forward, being their key to survival naturally the kids followed from a distance. Jack slower than Yorha, which was to be expected, after the wounds the boy suffered it wouldn't have been odd to find him completely incapacitated.
Leading the two into the room he directed them to a pair of seats. The room looked like that of a classroom. Desks, chairs, even a large projection screen. Even with this similarity the room was vastly different in every other aspect. There were no colorful decorations, only plain white walls like the bedrooms. The desks themselves were odd. Although it was usually a private desk for each seat, it instead was a long singular piece with two chairs.
Another effort to further acquaint the children with their "life" partners. Sleeping, sitting, eating, training, like Solidus had said before, this would all be done in unison with the children's partners.
Jack and Yorha took their respective seats, the proximity causing their shoulders to nearly constantly be in contact. To pull away would only result in one of two things...
As if on cue one of the children had fallen from their chair to create distance. The result was swift. A nearby soldier armed with a nightstick smacked the child on the back only with his voice demanding the child to sit once more. From then on even Jack had to relent.
Seeing every child seated Solidus barked out two words. "Breakfast. Begin!"
"Yes Sir!"
His authority went unquestioned and through a side door a rolling table appeared carrying trays of what seemed like food. One by one each Soldier grabbed a pair of plates setting them down in front of each desk. The last plate of food personally being carried by Solidus. The gray-haired man waited, holding the plates just out of reach of Yorha and Jack. The projection screen behind him was blaring to life. Room filling with noises of an old war movie. Finally setting the plates down and with one eye trained on both kids he stepped to the side.
Looking down at the tray of "food" Jack's eyes stared at the grey colorless slop that sit atop, steam rising as small bubbles formed and burst. Although to many the sight would have been revolting, it had been the first meal that Jack had in 2 days. Hand reaching upward he grabbed the slop only to drop the contents back onto the tray. His hand stinging with pain, having burned himself, his teeth tightened. Eyes casting a glance only to see that Yorha had not experienced the same. Although he had neglected it, in her right hand was a small plastic spoon.
The slop that sat comfortably cooling with her small exhales of air through her pursed lips. Clenching his hand he attempted to copy the girl's movements, however with the fresh burn and large gash received from grabbing the blade of a knife his effort quickly stopped short. So, he stared at the food.
Yorha too had seen this, her own eyes turning away from the movie on display and hand stopping its action of feeding herself. She watched as Jack's anger seemingly grew, eyes narrowing at the food, clenching and unclenching of his injured hand. Perhaps it was Solidus' words, maybe even his persistent gaze, or none of it. With her free left hand she grabbed Jack's unused spoon, flinching only slightly at the boy's hand grasping her wrist. His eyes focused squarely on her.
Despite the fierce grip she still moved her hand grabbing a spoonful before putting the food before Jack's mouth. He did not bite, only stared, much like before they had fallen asleep the two gazed at each other.
Would they be hurt? Could they hurt the other? Why didn't they?
No answers.
Jack only took a bite.
Yorha only fed him.
.
Soon after breakfast had ended Jack and Yorha found themselves standing in a small room. Solidus, dressed only in a black compression shirt and cargo pants stood. His black steel plated boots made no sound. Why they were brought there remained unclear.
"You both survived that jungle." Before Jack could blink a fist found itself lodged within his stomach. The breakfast he ate spilling from his mouth, air almost completely devoid of air, coughs coming from the boy's mouth. He was soon joined on the floor by Yorha, cheek red, blood dribbling from her mouth as Solidus' fist had struck her across the cheek. "Now you have to survive me. Work together or you'll both die."
Reaching down and unsheathing two knives he tossed the blades to the floor in front of both children. The pain that should have caused both kids to cry caused rather two unique reactions. Jack mouth curled, a small laugh coughing laugh coming from his strained throat. Yorha's eyes closed only opening so that she could grab the knife in front of her. Slowly she struggled to her feet. Followed by Jack, although a spoon had been too difficult to hold, the throbbing of his previous wounds, allowed him to grab and maintain a grip on his own knife.
Survival.
That had become the priority once again. The two rushed forward and although it may have seemed planned to anyone else, it was anything but cooperative. Knife angled towards Solidus' throat Jack aimed to slice the man jugular, his attack quickly stopped. A left hand quickly knocked the knife out of his grip before grasping onto his throat lifting him into the air. Despite this Jack tried to claw with his only able hand.
Yorha's attack did not fare better the steel plated heel of Solidus' boot striking the girl's chest, knocking her backward. His assault did not end there. Right fist raising as he began to strike the ribs of Jack. The boy's face turning red with pain, hand clawing even more desperately than before.
"Didn't I say to work together. Again." Tossing Jack towards Yorha Solidus kicked the boy's dropped knife back. He waited as the two stood once more. Attempting another attack, again, little cooperation seen. Although the signs had begun, fighting together was still too much of a hurdle. No matter, he would break them over and over until they learned. Either that or he would have to find their replacements. Which would be a shame.
Dodging another swipe from Jack, he allowed Yorha to finally close the distance. Her target was much smaller and much more fatal. His remaining eye. Still the attacks fell short. Tilting his head the knife missed its mark completely. With both of their arms extended Solidus grabbed both with his hands. His strength clearly more than enough to take complete control as he forced both of their knives to stab each other. Yorha's in Jack's broken arm and Jack's knife in Yorha's left shoulder.
Their screams filled the room before they were quieted by Solidus. "Sloppy. You'll kill each other before you can even scratch me. Again." Hands leaving their arms he instead grabbed two fist fulls of hair. His right knee crashing into Yorha's stomach causing her to heave up what she had eaten. Jack was put through far worse punishment. The 3 inches of the 8-inch blade that found itself nested in the boy's bicep were ripped out. Knife in hand, Solidus swiped the knife through the already red shirt of Jack and made a new gouge that rested below the claw marks.
Tossing the boy and knife once again to Yorha's side, he watched. Yorha digging the knife out of her shoulder, blood dripping fresh from the wound. Jack's chuckles reverberated throughout the room.
"Hehehe!"
The two looking once at the other before the weapons found themselves in their hands.
Solidus grinned.
.
The process was repeated for hours. The result being obvious. On the floor Jack and Yorha lay still. Both unconscious, multiple shallow knife wounds decorate their bodies. Each attempt was better than the previous, even Solidus had to acknowledge such improvement. His right index and ring finger touching the part of his left cheek and shoulder. Their last attempt causing shallow knife wounds to appear.
Their cooperation was better. Jack's ruthless approach adapting, more feints, more precision, all while Yorha struck at his apparent weaknesses. Approaching from his blind side, stabbing from under and behind Jack's swings. The two were bred to kill. That was an undeniable fact.
"Medic." Despite his voice being lower in volume his clear tone was responded to. Quickly a pair of soldiers rushed in, carrying the two unconscious children onto gurneys.
"Sir?"
Saluting the soldiers awaited his command. "Make them capable of training in a few hours." The bare minimum was all that the pair would receive. This was their life from now on. These two were the soldiers he needed.
He would make sure of it.
.
In the medical room, Yorha had been the first to wake. Her eyes searching the room only to rest on Jack's unconscious form lying right beside her. Both he and she were stripped of most clothing, bandages soaked in blood covering most of their skin. With an attempt to sit up Yorha was forced back down. Pain shot through her body. Although reluctant she laid back down, ignoring the passing medical officers. Eyes squarely drawn towards Jack.
She could see it, albeit slightly. Patches of skin burned, melted, gouged out, and blackened. She would probably never truly understand but her right hand rested onto his left. Was it pity or compassion?
With the beeping of their heart monitors fading into nothing, her tired eyes closing in pain.
It had become clear.
The two would remain intertwined.