Acacia
★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★
So crappy title as usual, but I hate titles. xD This is all I could come up with; I think I've wrung myself dry D: OH WELL xD
★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★
I supposed they grew tired of torturing me in pointless manners.
Every time they stabbed those wretched needles into my skin, hoping to summon the thorns once more, they failed. I laughed in their faces, but they didn’t care. I was still their prey. I was still vulnerable.
Eventually, they decided that physical pain wasn’t good enough. Forcing me to remember my past, inducing more of those horrible dreams. I lost the ability to distinguish the difference between my nightmares and my waking hours. They weren’t much different.
“At least she’s still retained the poisonous quality,” one of the faceless men remarked. I hadn’t noticed him or the other come in. Who could blame me for being a bit distant?
“Thankfully Cecile actually left notes for that one,” the other said, flipping through the pages on his clipboard. “It should be permanent.”
Permanent. Forever tainted. Forever a monster.
I bit my tongue. Keeping quiet was the key to survival. Speak out and you were punished. Keep your mouth shut and you were punished less. It was basic psychology at its finest.
“We need to move onto phase Beta.” Fastening the top button on his labcoat, the first man moved toward me.
I no longer flinched in fear. The pain was... Expected. Almost welcomed.
It told me I was still alive.
The second man inched forward, too, dropping his clipboard off on the nearest table. “Let’s go for a little field trip, shall we?” He unlocked the cuffs around my wrists and ankles.
What? Something new? I fought against the terror that threatened me. Change wasn’t good. Change was never good.
I remained still. Do not fight. Don’t struggle. Don’t attempt to escape. Their warnings repeated in my mind like a never-ending echo.
As they grabbed my hands, wrenching me from the table, the first man grinned. “Come on. You have a friend waiting.”
★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★
Shuffling down the hallway, I realized just how delusional I was.
My head, light and airy.
Floating.
Screams sounded far away, as if coming from a T.V.
It was like I was in a psych ward, the shuffling feet, the white walls. Everything was monochrome. Almost beautiful. Pristine and perfect.
Snap out of it. Vous devez rester fort. Don’t be their prey. Don’t let them win.
I wasn’t quite sure what my subconscious was trying to do. They’d already broken me. They’d broken us all, if I was correct. That’s what they told me, anyway.
As we walked past, I stared into the small, identical windows in the doors, spotting members of the clubs in their most vulnerable states.
I had opportunities to do something. The scientists didn’t hold me. They thought their treatments would prevent me from lashing out.
Perhaps a few weeks ago, I’d have defied them.
Now? I didn’t do a thing.
“We’re here.” Cold and sharp, the first man’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. I couldn’t be sure of where we were; every door looked the same. “Be a good girl. I’m sure he’ll enjoy your company.”
Puzzled, I felt my brows knit together. Who?
Instead of answering my unasked question, they opened the door, the light passing over a dark form on another table. Before I could make them out, a shove between my shoulders sent me tumbling to the ground.
The door slammed shut behind me.
Shaking, I pushed myself into a more upright position, hiding my panic as I covered my face with my hands.
I couldn’t bear to face any of my colleagues looking as I did now.
Shadows under my eyes, hair destroyed, a purple hue residing beneath my green skin. I was hideous, disgusting.
A monster.
Then, a soft voice slithered into my ears. “Acacia?” It was... familiar...
I couldn't speak before the two scientists burst in again, shoving past me, ignoring me. The prisoner fought valiantly against them, but he was weak, just as weak as I was.
He struggled against his new bonds as they left, sneering in my face as they left, ruffling my hair. "Didn't want you two getting any ideas."
I didn't budge until they slammed the door.
My hands dropped.
“Dante? Are you...?” His wings twitched in response, the movement barely perceptible in the dim light.
“What did they do to you?” was his first question. Before I could answer, he continued. “And... Cecile... is...”
“My sister.” Cecile, you can never torture him again. That’s why I owe Griffin. For saving him.
He shook his head. “No. She... She was Mia. Did you know?”
The girl of his past? Oh, Cecile, if you weren’t dead I would find great pleasure in killing you myself.
“No, I didn’t.”
“It’s not important now, I guess.” There was something in his voice...
“Dante...”
“What did they do to you?” he repeated. Whatever had been evident in his voice before had vanished.
Tears welled in my eyes. “Nothing. I’m fine.” Why I was so hell-bent on lying, I couldn’t be sure. “Did they hurt you?”
He paused. “Nothing I can’t handle.” Though his words were meant to sound strong, his voice was hollow.
“Dante?” He didn’t answer. “Dante, please. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’ll be alright, Acacia. I promise.” He sighed. “Don’t lie to me, either.”
At his words, a pain rang through me, needles puncturing my heart. “I... I...” Was I physically unable to tell him the truth? Is that what the scientists did to me? “Dante... I...”
As I struggled to say the words dangling from my tongue, his eyes flashed in the darkness. “Acacia, what the h*ll did those monsters do to you?”
Unable to hold them inside of me any longer, sobs wracked my body, hiccups escaping my lips as if I were a distraught child.
“T-they... I... C-Cecile h-h...” I couldn’t speak. I could barely move. Dante remained silent, seeming shocked by the babbling that poured from me.
“Acacia, shh,” he ordered, tone gentle, loving. “Come here. I... I need to see you. It’s okay.”
A sudden wave of fury washed over me. “Non, ce n'est pas le cas!” He flinched. I rose to my feet, storming over to him on weak legs. “Look at me, Dante. Look at me.” Eyes wide, he cowered into the table, his stare fixated on me. “I’m a monster. This is what they did to me. Je ne suis rien de plus qu'une arme.”
The tears I swore would never fall trickled from my eyes, painting my cheeks and plummeting to the tile floor below.
Trembling, shaking. You are weak. Pathétique. Maybe you would have served a purpose if Cecile had finished her work.
Without my rational consent, my mouth formed a simple saying, repeating it over and over. Echoing. Endless. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Désolée. Désolée.” I was making the situation worse. You used to be so strong, so unwavering. What happened to that?
Somehow, Dante’s hand found mine, clammy fingers intertwining with mine. I fought the urge to pull away. “Acacia, you aren’t a monster. You’re just as beautiful as ever.”
I hissed. “That’s a lie.”
“You never believe me anyway.” He sighed, a phantom smile dancing across his lips. “Please, stop. It’s like you blame yourself for this.”
“Cecile is—was... was my sister. She tortured you. I feel like I led her to that.” Honesty seemed like a foreign concept, a strange taste following its presence in my mouth.
“You couldn’t control her. It wasn’t your fault. It never was.” His words were hypnotic, and I almost began to believe him.
Almost.
Not that he had to know.
I sighed. “I just don’t know what to do anymore. I... I’m just...” My words caught in my throat.
Even without me finishing my thought, he nodded. “I know. I think we all are. Granted I don’t know how the others are doing, but...” He drifted off. For all he knew, they could all have been dead. I hoped they weren’t, but, in my state, I couldn’t be sure.
“What are we supposed to do?” I whispered.
“Stay sane. Stay strong. Stay united,” was his response. “At least... at least we have each other.” The corners of my lips pulled up, a semi-forced smile. Clichés were wonderful in times like these.
I leaned my head on his chest, his rapid heartbeat soothing in a way.
I could stay like this forever. No scientists. No torture. No pain. Just a heartbeat and his warmth. As his wing managed to brush my back, I nuzzled into him. Oh, Dante. I’m so sorry we must be here. Je t'aime, Dante. Je vous aime tellement ça fait mal. I wish we were far away from here. I wish we could be happy.
More tears leaked onto Dante’s bared chest as I trembled, and, though he was tied down, I could feel him trying to comfort me. It was pointless, but I appreciated the effort.
I wanted to remain in that position forever, forget about the world around us, the tragedies we’d withstood.
But, just as my tears had finally dried, Dante’s breathing in tune with mine, the door burst open.
“Come on. You’re done here,” a silhouette ordered, stepping closer. I clutched Dante’s hand, refusing to let go.
“No. Non. I’m not leaving him,” I spat.
He grabbed me, picking me up and tossing me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. Furious, I pounded at his back, too weak to do any damage.
“Lâchez-moi, espèce de salaud!” I cried, kicking, punching, thrashing.
“Acacia!” Dante’s voice was panicked and helpless.
A sharp pain appeared in my shoulder. No, I refuse. I’m not going... to be... a... victim...
As the man carrying me mocked my torment, I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness once more.
Why can’t anything go right? I just want to be at peace... Why must we be their prey? Oh, Dante... I love you...
★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★☽★☾★
Hope that was alright... I'll try and post again before the deadline <3
