Chapter Text
Once I reached the second floor, I stepped in and looked inside the testing rooms. A woman, plain simple and dirty. I tested out the wave button on her, I watched as water filled the room as she struggled and flapped in the water. It was clear she couldn’t swim, one of the robots beside me translated everything she said perfectly.
I felt nothing listening to her screams and pleas…it was rather calming. The next one, I had the robot set fire too and had a smore. Then testing out a drug that puffed up the body, till test 5? Exploded funny. The next turned purple, another grew extra limps, another’s body turned to liquid.
I had gotten through most of the subjects, I was starting to lose count the next one though made me stop.
“. . .”
“Don’t bring me subjects ages 1-15” I say, without looking at one of the robots. Entering the testing room, and looking down at the child laying on the plush white ground.
Clearly just a kid, six maybe seven? Purple hair, blue eyes with hints of pink, not malnourished but close, very clear open injuries that didn’t seem to be self inflicted.
And yet despite this the child looked as calm as the ocean.
“Are you a new servant? Or my new torturer? I thought mother favored the last.” He says, as if he were talking about the weather.
I sigh “Neither, had you been much older maybe” I say, not even sugar coating it. I just killed a lot of people, due to a minor inconvenience. And I would have definitely done the same to him, had he not been a child.
I carefully pick him up into my arms, he doesn’t even struggle… I sigh again as I walk out of the testing chamber and to the break room, there was a medkit inside my footsteps and the soft hum of the vents were the only sound in the lab.
Once I arrived I set him down on the red couch, and opened a cabinet and took the medkit out. I turned back to the kid, and noticed he hadn’t moved much since I left him.
I sigh harder, how was I meant to take care of a child when I can’t even take care of myself. Even a minor inconvenience made me want to jump off a building, I wasn't remotely suited for this.
I just kneel beside him and take care of his wounds, I would have been bad had I not taken the liberty of researching it.
“If you're not my mothers new toy, then is this a dream Fairy?" He asks, looking at me.
Fairy uhm, technically not wrong.
“Yes, this should be a dream and I’m a Fae” I answered without looking up, he nodded accepting the answer he didn’t hiss or flinch as I worked. Which honestly annoyed me as whatever his M-no that woman did to him must have been a lot, only a handful of people are people who are born without the ability to feel pain.
And I have an inkling that he wasn’t born like this.
“What’s your name child?”
“Achilles”
I chuckled, I felt a small tug inside me and knew he spoke the truth.
“Well Achilles for now you’ll be staying with me until this dream ends, when it does you’ll likely wake up wherever you were.” I say, a guess but I didn’t care if he noticed I was lying he didn’t mention it.
“Will I return the next time I fall asleep?” He asks, as I finish taking care of his injuries. I myself don’t know what happened to the test subjects, there was never really a repeat from what I knew.
But I still said “Yes, yes you will” I wasn’t good at it yet but I called upon the magic in my veins and summoned a plush bunny. Mostly black with white eyes, white bandages around its left leg, and red on the inside of its ear. Then handed it to him, it wasn’t much but he still hugged it to his chest.
I settled beside him then rested his head on my lap gently, and slowly so as to not scare him, unfold my wings and rest one atop him. Then I ran my fingers through his hair, his eyes closed and I continued till he fell asleep once he did his body shimmered away like dust.
That answered my question about what would happen to the bodies, if he does come back that would answer another. I leaned back into the couch, folded my wings, and closed my eyes, eventually falling asleep.
[Far from the lab]
In a dark room with only candles for light sat 10 people, around a long beige rectangle table with white cloth, on green chairs the one the the far right much bigger and grander than the rest with an intricate gold design on the wood.
“Anything else to report?” The man at the head table asked the group, whose eyes remained down.
“Recently there has been an increase in commoners saying they've been having strange dreams, which wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for the fact each one was similar” One said.
“Explain”
“A recent report from the church mentions commoners having a strange dream of a fae, who’s said to have long white hair, green eyes, glasses and wings like diamonds. Others claim to see his shadowy figure through some kind of glass, before dying a painful death in the dream.”
“A fae?” The head says, one eyebrow raised his crimson eyes looking at his advisor Theodore Zephyr.
“Yes, one of the priest managed to gain contact with the fae kingdom, and they also claim not to know who he is but mentioned a few eggs had gone missing some weeks ago your majesty”
“Hmm…intriguing call for pierro, or meeting will be at 3.” the blonde haired ruler says.
[Far away in a different nation]
The door to a shabby building bursts open, as five men step inside four looking like guards while the fifth appears to be of noble birth.
“Search the house!” Ordered the noble, the guards immediately went to work. From behind struggling was heard, a man woman’s yell echoed through the dense forest.
“You can’t do this to me Antic!”
Antic just ignored her cries as a child holding a plush was brought out, resembling him in every way. Purple hair, blue eyes with hints of pink, even the facial features were the same as if they were twins.
Antic’s features warmed, as he looked at the unconscious child. Though it hardened once more at the clear malnourishment, thankfully most of the wounds on his body appeared to be bandaged up.
‘Had he been taking care of them?’ Antic thought, before turning to his ex wife.
“For lying, embezzlement, and abusing our son you shall be sentenced to life in Zathburg"
Her eyes widened, as she yelled and struggled in the hold of the other guards. Antic turns back to his son, Achilles brushing away the stray hair in his pale face.
“I’ll make this right, I swear to the goddess of the moon”
[Back on earth, a young girl wakes up from her dream]
I sat up in bed feeling very very tired, I sat up straight like a vampire that had just risen. I felt sick, and tired even when I dragged myself up and showered.
The day went as usual though my mind kept going back to the blade, it was barely noticeable just small wandering throughs. My mind was unusually calm, and it felt as though I didn’t sleep for a month.
During lunch, some quiet guy sat at my table. I didn’t even look up at him, and just rested my head on the table not wanting to use my phone. I closed my eyes for most of it, then looked up at the kid, no guy.
‘I’m getting used to being my other self.’ I thought, I looked at the lunch line tapping the table. After my little stunt last night I’ve been having an annoying ich, phantom pain, and weakness in my limbs. Worst of all I wanted to test it out again, it hurt yes but…it helped.
“Um…hi I’m Victor new to the school” the shy guy in front of me says, and turn towards him silent.
“Scarlett” I responded , voice quiet since I didn't really have an idea what volume I should use. I take the time to really look at him, messy short curly black hair that half covered his eyes, brown almond shaped eyes, round glasses atop his nose bridge, pale skin, a yellow sweater with small black stripes, and brown pants.
“I was wondering do you know where the A classes are?”
“Yes, near the main cafeteria, once you enter, turn left to the stairs and go all the way up. Or go near the B halls and down right, then right again to the stair, the A floors are at the very top”
He nods with a bit of understanding, I want back to keeping my eyes closed as I wait for lunch to end. Later that day, I got ready for bed like usual, and fell asleep after a few hours.
I awake on the couch with the kid next to me awake, my limbs were relaxed as I look into his dead eyes neither of us speak.
Well that conformed my theory, he returned was it because he gave his name? I gave the plush? Or the fact I didn’t kill him. Still so many unanswered questions, but at least it’s narrowed down. I raised my hand, he tensed as my hand landed on his head gently patting his head. He relaxed, the kid- no Achilles looked much better than when I first saw him.
Well rested and cared for, had something changed? I didn’t know but didn’t question it, as long as he didn’t bother me while I worked. I didn’t mind the thought of meeting the kid every night, it gave the lab more life.
It didn’t mean I was going to end my regime of experiments, there was still so many drugs and poisons i hadn’t tested. I wouldn’t mind if he stayed while I did, or left the library would be a good place to let him roam.
Weeks passed and things are going well, I continued experimenting in this world. Then going through my classes in the waking, classes were a bit easier since I had first hand experience with most of the subjects.
(Learned about the world a bit more)
And little Achilles had been following me everywhere, sat on a nearby chair in the control room. Sketching, reading or watching I found myself explaining, helping, and making sure the things I did when he was around wasn’t to graphic.
When ever he appeared in the lab I’d be there to great, change, and carry him around. On days i wasn’t emotionally available or stable, I’d read any book from the library he wanted, let him help me cook meals, play games, tinker with a few of my creations, or play with Mr. Smiles.
When they had first met, Mr smiles had teleported behind me causing him to hid behind me.
It took a while for him to get used to smiles, but when he did he always ran to his side. Which I appreciated greatly, Achilles wasn’t a difficult child I just wasn’t made to take care of kids.
Currently in the library reading a book to him near the fireplace, which him on my lap covered with a large red blanket. As his slowly falls into a deep sleep, body slowly dissolving in my realm. Once he was gone, I got up and placed the book back.
I had been meaning to check the front of the lab, but didn’t want to do it while Achilles was here as it could be dangerous.
I walk into the elevator and head to the first floor, once I reached it I walked down the long corridor. Till I reached to mental door, I look at it then place my plan on the identification.
It hummed for a moment, then hissed open outside was a forest? I take one hesitant step out side, then another and another. Then look back at the door, instead of metal there was a white wooden door. That lead to the lab, nothing beside it? Was the lab in a sub space?
I sigh and just enter the lab again, closing the door behind me. Later…I’m starting to get tired. I went back to the elevator, waiting for it to get back the the third floor. But end up falling asleep, and waking up back in my bed.