Chapter Text
Pitch black. Darkness. The only things I can see.
There is some water under my bare feet. It is ice cold.
I take some steps in the murk. The cold air is tickling my cheeks. I look around me. Nothing but the gloom.
And then,something holds my shoulder.
I turn back. I see a grey hand on it. It looks familiar.
I raise my hand to see who it is. The only one I see is a shadow, taller than me. I don't see their face.
And then,two red fires lights on where his eyes are.
I scream. I am scared. The figure takes off their hand, turns back,and goes away. Without saying a word.
My heart beats fast. The dusk is slowly disappearing.
I wake up.
---
I woke up.
When I looked around me,there isn't any of the haze.
I'm lying on a bed,with a warm cover. My shirt had been taken off,and my pants too. They are on the ground,all clean and neatly folded. My shoes and items were here too. I smell something fresh. The biggest part of my wounds have been cleaned,also because I saw a small tub of water. There were other furnitures in the room,like wooden shelves and a fireplace.
"Hello!",a voice suddenly says.
I turned back in fear. The young girl who talked had a smile.
"Oh,sorry. I didn't wanted to scare you."
She put a tray on the table next to me,and sat on the ground.
She had grey skin,just like mine. Her hair was black too,and she had...was it...horns...? (I put my hand on the top of my head,and became a bit less surprised finding horns too.) Her eyes were olive green,and she had the fanciest blue hat I've ever seen (though it's the only one I've actually ever seen). And her smile...was just beautiful. In one instant,I saw something strange. Exactly the same way I remembered my name.
At the girls place,was now a beautiful woman,with long hair,and the same horns and smile. Her eyes were the purest green I've ever seen.
This vision suddenly vanished. But around the girl was still this expression of happiness,this sort of aura emanating from her. And a name.
"D...Dis...ciple?",I asked.
It was the first time I talked,and it felt like if I haven't for an eternity. I was afraid I forgot this too.
The girl raised her eyebrows in a pure surprise.
"What? Oh,I'm sorry,you must confurrse me with someowne else. My name is Nepeta Leijon."
Leijon. How...familiar. I were sure I heard it before.
"What is yours?
-Oh...Karkat. Karkat Vantas. I...think.
-Oh? You aren't sure of your name?
-I'm...er...I lost my memories. I could just remember my name and this very nice smile of yours.“
I didn't wanted to say the last part. And it was not my voice. It was like if...someone was speaking by my mouth. In front of me,Nepeta was surprised,but not much than it.
"Th...ank you,Karcat...
-I swear I didn't wanted to...
-You look cute too when you blush."
That's true. My cheeks were hot,but suddenly,Nepeta's smile faded.
"Did I...do something wrong?",I asked.
"No...it's just... I have troubles to believe you are...you know...your...blood...
-What? Has it something wrong?
-Oh,right,I furgot you were amnesic. Let me explain to you."
She explained to me. The Hemospectrum. Something about a special palette,a tyran tyrian queen and a 'meowtation' I was one of the near-inexistant ones to have. My red wasn't allowed in this world. But Nepeta didn't care.
"If they discover I hide you here,I'd be culled fur sure. But I know you are in danger outside. So you can stay here as long as you want.
-This is so nice of you,Nepeta.
-Don't worry. And don't furget to eat."
She gave me the tray. There were a plate full of fish,a glass of purple juice and a half loaf of bread. I tried to reach the food,but my arms were numb. So,she took a piece of fish,and put it just in front of my lips. I shyly licked it,before take it in my mouth. It was so tasty. I have forgotten about the taste of the food. She giggled,passing a finger on my chin while I was eating. I didn't care,letting her do. She did the same thing again,but this time,I gently chewed the tip of her finger. And felt this mind lightning again.
I was holding the hand of the green woman,putting a small kiss on her fingers. But it wasn't my hand.
The feeling got out. Nepeta saw this strange face I was doing again,and stopped the finger game. She let me eat when my arms got better,and went outside.
'What the fuck is going on with me...',I whispered.
While negligently laping the juice (something that ends with -berry,I was sure),I made the point on my mind-patchwork.
My name is Karkat Vantas,age and origin unknown. I was lost in the middle of nowhere until Nepeta Leijon found me. Being with her recalls me of a woman who looks a lot like her. Also,someone unknown left me a not talking about meeting him/her again. I've got voices in my head,I have once dreamt of a man with scary red eyes. And you got candy-red blood. Yes,true...wait,who said that?
"I'm insane."
I put the empty tray on the table. I took my shirt on the ground,and found it smelling like... I don't know what is this smell,but it is very nice. I felt something coming up. Bingo: flowers. Carmine red roses. A whole field of roses. My hand in her hand,my eyes in hers. I gather a rose and give it to her. She smiles. She takes the flower and hooks it on my cloak. I smile too. Woah,this one was pretty clearer than the others. I dressed myself up,and suddenly caught a glimpse of my reflection.
It's a nice mirror,hung on the wall. In it,there is a boy. He has black messy hair,small colorful horns,yellow eyes with grey irises. He looks lost and nostalgic. Lost because he doesn't remember anything. Nostalgic because he begins to remember. He is asking himself questions; Who am I? Where do I come from? And why do I have these visions? He stares at me. He is all like 'Don't stay here like a defenseless wiggler! Try to remember!'. But suddenly,his lips moves. Mine don't.
"Karkat."
My hand moves,and touches the mirror. His' don't. And suddenly,he changes.
He is taller. His horns are the same as mine. His eyes are red. His clothes are grey. I recognize him; he is the man in my dream. He smiles at me.
"Karkat.
-Yes?"
Great,now I'm talking to my reflection. What a progress.
"Who are you?"
He doesn't answer at first.
"You know it. Look into yourself,and you will find who we both are.
-Thank you,whoever you are."
He vanishes,and in the mirror is now Karkat. Just Karkat.
And he had a rose on his shoulder.
---
Nepeta brought some meat home. Which means a whole carcass.
To thank her for the service she does for me,I gave her the rose. She blushed of a cute green,especially when I hooked it to her hat. She had a small kitten purr.
After eating,I sat outside with her. There wasn't any other houses at this forest borderline,so we could put on a fire. The haze disappeared at this place; the stars were shining bright. The fire light was creating moving shadows beneath the rocks and trees. Nepeta was asleep,her head on my shoulder,and my eyes on this fire. I didn't like these menacing flames,I couldn't tell why. This could be something I was scared of remembering; I raised my head,and saw them. This one is Cancer,and next to it is Leo. They were nice,together.
But when my gaze falled down to the fire,I saw something else. Between the twigs,my symbol was shining of a red metal light. I shook my head,and this vision disappeared. But inside me,I could feel another memory. Which didn't showed up.
'What the hell am I...?'