69 | piercing; an extended contract

Lucas found himself standing in the dark castle again, as if he'd never escaped it to begin with. He supposed the owner of the memories never truly did.

Even if he carried her body out of the castle to bask in the warmth of the light.

He felt the surge of emotions in the slender body his mind sank into, the young girl who lit with hope and a brilliant rush of delight as she saw the door ahead.

'He' smiled with excitement, a vigorous bounce in 'his' tiring steps that thudded against the harsh ground, feet bare and splintered. But suddenly, the exhaustion and earlier dread didn't matter.

'The door is right there! I can't keep Mina waiting!'

'He' was overcome with the memories of 'his' precious friend, an awkward and shy girl who would sweetly smile in conversations, and fidget with the helm of her clothes.

Lucas wanted to close the eyes, the wide, youthful stare that wasn't his, and to turn away from these memories that swirled around his body as if it were his own. To see the death of a person who trusted him—he couldn't.

But that wasn't a choice he could make.

Against his shuddering will, Lottie continued to run towards the seeping light in the consuming darkness.

And 'he' felt it, when the sharp jab of an elbow accidentally bumped into 'his' already exhausted body. 'His' gaze flickered to the widening guilt in the other boy, watching as the other child fell into the room and 'he' didn't.

The flutter of white cloth that resembled angel wing's, flowing around.

Hair that bristled behind 'his' shoulders after coming undone, a heavy weight behind the already falling body.

A slender hand, that in 'his' current gaze, seemed so reliable and strong.

'Ah... it'll be okay. It'll be okay.'

'Because, that man will save me, won't he? I shouldn't worry.'

The image of being saved soothed 'his' worry, dissolving the tension or stress that had risen out of fear. Wouldn't everything be fine—a happy ending was guaranteed.

But then 'he' saw the reflection of the grotesque and twisted monster reaching out from behind, in the startled white eyes.

And Lucas, as the invasive thoughts continued, realized Lottie had known.

'I'm... not going to live.'

'But he looks worried... I'm so thankful. Hey, mister, remember to protect Mina. She's my very important friend. Can you hear me, promise me?'

'Ah... I should smile, right? I want him to remember me with a smile. For Mina's sake, too. My most important friend. My family.'

And to Lucas' horror, 'he' felt 'his' lips curl into a tender smile.

Pain struck in an instant, roaring at 'his' delicate neck before all feelings went numb in a state of disconnect. As if 'he' were there, and yet not there. A twist of fear curled in the pits of 'his' stomach.

'I'm... hurts... to think... help...'

Only darkness filled 'his' blurred vision, and blood filled the air.

'No... this is scary... why... can't control... think'

And then 'he' felt the relief of death, in the form of a cold, sharp blade that swiftly slid against the skin of 'his' neck, and 'his' mind regained control once again.

Lottie was still smiling as she distantly felt her conscious fade. 'Thank you, mister. Please remember to... protect Mina.'

To the very end, she had only been grateful to Lucas.

[The skill of 'Selfless Sacrifice' has been successfully reaped! The ability is as follows:

Description: When the user has reached a true determination to sacrifice themselves, they will gain an increase in strength and will be able to push the boundaries of their abilities by double. As a consequence, should the user survive, the pain and injury will also be received in double.

Additional: The original owner of this skill sacrificed her body to protect her mother, sacrificed to protect her friend and sacrificed to protect her deceased brother. She sacrificed so many times, but nobody ever saved her.]

Tears flowed down his cheeks, hot and burning against his skin. He teetered between waking and unconscious, racked with guilt and despair.

How could she trust him? How could she believe in him?

When in the end, he could do nothing.

A heavy, crushing weight piled up on his body, pinning his unconscious body to the mattress underneath. Panic spread through Lucas' mind, flowing to the tips of his fingers that barely moved.

His closed eyes shook with a stressed fervour, waking from a long nightmare. His mind that knew he was awake, and his body that refused to move.

Stuck, in that murkiness where he felt his entire being drowning.

His chest burned, suffocated by an overwhelming pressure against his lungs, and he struggled to open his mouth and breath, forcing his eyes open and—

—Four innocent and large eyes blinked at him.

Lucas stared, heavily breathing as sweat beaded his forehead and he had to wonder if he were still dreaming of some obscure and strange happening.

If not, then could somebody please explain why there were a pile of small bodies curled up on top of him, beside him, and peering beside his bedside as if the room had a terrible infestation of small humans.

Two children splayed over his chest, explaining why he couldn't move easily, and Rome had curled up at his side while Berry messily lied down on the other side, one chubby leg lazily stretched over Lucas' neck in a way that didn't seem possible.

"...what the hell?"

He stared a little longer, before noticing a shadow that stretched over him.

Swiping his gaze up, he saw Elias, with that infuriating smile that only spoke of trouble, dangling a child high in the air on top of him. The man seemed ready to stack the small child, and add to the growing mountain on Lucas' body.

Lucas inhaled irritably, a sharp intake of breath. Struggling, he moved against the children's whines and propped his elbows on the bed. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"To watch you die under a mountain of clinging children would be terribly amusing, and also horribly unrealistic. It would be my honour." responded the other, gently continuing to place the swinging boy down.

The young faces immediately crawled closer, pressing towards him.

"Mister, you're alive!"

"Wahhh... you're not dead anymore!"

"You came back from the dead!"

Lucas held out a hand to push against one of the children's cheeks, attempting to come closer to the impassive man. "I almost died of suffocation."

His mind was still in a daze, trapped in the memories of death and yearning. Half of him taking in the ridiculous scene of the children surrounding, and Elias' pointless antics, and the other in the mind's of those kids who'd been dead and sliced open, bleeding.

He raised a hand to his head, pursing his lips in a deep frown, attempting to swipe away the throbbing discomfort.

Rome observed him, worried. "Are you sure you're okay, mister?"

"I'm... fine. My head hurts a little, but it's nothing serious."

Elias watched from the side as the children wriggled around, crying out in relief, but his smile lost its amusement. He had an idea of Lucas' ability, granted by Wren.

And if his idea was correct, and considering Lucas' pale expression that had worsened in sleep... whatever had occurred in the Story was morbid and tragic. That was clear enough, with the recently emptied beds in the hospital.

"Care for a distraction, darling?" said Elias decisively, reaching out a hand. However, when Lucas jerked away violently, still lost in his thoughts, Elias pulled his hand back and frowned. "...If you're feeling better, let's fulfill the deal we made earlier."

There was a look of fear, eyes that had seen too much horrific death, that they'd grown scared of it. But it was a look that didn't quite belong to Lucas alone.

Whatever memories Lucas was reliving, it wasn't his.

Lucas furrowed his eyebrows, but nodded reluctantly, gently peeling the clinging children away from him. He checked that they were without injury, and then carefully spoke. "I have to discuss something with that man. I'll be back soon, alright?"

Berry wailed outright in protest. "No! He looks weird! Stay with us!"

The weird looking Elias smiled. "In what way do I look strange?"

"Everything! You're just ugly!"

Elias swiped his gaze over to Lucas, still smiling pleasantly. "Am I ugly?"

"The ugliest." reassured Lucas kindly.

However, Lucas ruffled Berry's messy pile of hair, knowing that the child was especially attached considering everything that had occurred in the Story. Berry pouted, but allowed Lucas to leave.

The two men walked in silence to another room. The hall was emptier than what it once had been, lost to the silence of the deceased. In a state of mourning.

Lucas still felt foggy from rousing, the wake of the memories harshly grating against his skull. He was still shaking away the vivid sensation of dying, trying to grasp on his present, real body.

Once inside, Elias twisted the lock to the door, and the half-shut curtains only allowed for a slight of sunshine to spill inside.

Lucas, not wanting to stand, sat down on the bed with his back to the window, shadowed by the dimness of the room.

"You're ears are pierced, right?"

The delinquent nodded, having done several piercings throughout the years. Some had closed up in his negligence, but the piercings in his lobes remained open, though empty.

He'd more or less done them as an experiment, watching others pierce their ears or their noses. He opted for the former option.

Elias nodded in satisfaction, strolling closer. He bent down, and Lucas felt something press against the thin skin of his ears. The other pressed firmly, calloused hands brushing over.

The heat caused a shiver to run through Lucas' mind, a lingering tingle where the fingers grazed. When Elias pulled away, he raised a hand to feel the smooth gem in his ear.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "A gift?"

"A collar." muttered Elias through lowered eyes, rich blue eyes remaining on the pretty blue stud decorating the other. "So you'll never betray me."

If Lucas had any protest, he didn't share it.

"Obsessive."

The fingers grazed against the lobes of his ears carelessly. "Understand, I'm quite used to losing things, so it can't be helped. You're not allowed to take it off."

"That's ridiculous—"

Then, another dull throb pulsed against his ears as Elias clamped his fingers over, eyes drifted away in some faraway thoughts. He traced Lucas' skin with a shameless, yet distant smile on his face.

It wasn't a lie when he said he was used to losing things, losing things to death or betrayal. And that trusting Lucas wholeheartedly was something he couldn't do.

But in memory of the temporary present, he wanted to leave a mark. Ridiculous or pointless as it might be. Elias wanted to confirm that Lucas wouldn't forget him, whatever became of their relations.

"You're not allowed to, alright, darling?"

There was a look of defiance in Lucas' irritated expression, before he sighed in exasperation and nodded. He did agree, after all, to fulfilling Elias' request.

Surprisingly, Lucas then asked, "Then, where's your collar?"

Elias blinked in surprise. "What?"

Lucas crossed his legs impatiently, scowling. He agreed, sure, but it wasn't fair if he was bound by some odd collar, and Elias was not.

While Lucas' reasons were entirely different from Elias', the latter found them greatly amusing and felt around in his pockets. He had an extra pair of earrings, white gems to match Lucas' eyes.

Not to mention a simple self-piercing gun in case Lucas' ears weren't pierced, or had closed up. Elias was thoroughly prepared.

"Should I pierce mind for you?" wondered Elias with a sly grin on his lips, raising his eyebrows to stare at Lucas.

The other returned the look blankly. "What?"

"I'll let you collar me, darling. Your special privilege."

"You're ridiculous."

"I'm absolutely serious."

Lucas watched quietly, tilting his head as if to think. He felt as if he were playing to the whims of this irritating man, and wanted to do anything else. But at the same time, if only he wore the earrings, he felt as if he were losing.

Finally, he accepted the device that Elias waved in the air, ready for use. He examined the object, before looking at Elias.

"Get on your knees."

Elias almost choked before remarking, "Not that I'm unwilling, but think about the time and place—"

"I'm not going to stand up," interrupted Lucas matter-of-factually. "So you'll need to get down. Get down, damn weed."

Then, the properly dressed man laughed, and lowered himself to the ground, brushing his combed hair behind his ears.

Lucas lowered his eyes, carefully lining up the device. Elias wondered how uneven the piercings would be in Lucas' indifferent hands, that clearly didn't care for aesthetics or preciseness.

And yet, the man didn't seem to care, trusting himself in Lucas' moving hands. The latter spoke softly, or perhaps the softness was an illusion from waking. "Then, I'll pierce it?"

"Pierce away."

Then he added, "Be gentle."

"Be quiet." replied Lucas promptly.

As he spoke, he pressed down carefully and felt the man underneath tense slightly. The corners of his lips unknowingly curve as the needle goes through.

"A businessman like myself, wearing earrings to appease their lover." Elias shook his head. "Can you imagine it?"

"Don't get carried away." sneered Lucas, smoothly moving to the other ear. "I never agreed to any titles."

"Then what do you agree to?"

The snow-white earrings firmly sit in the lobes of Elias' ears, and Lucas pulled back to admire his work proudly. What did he agree to, in Elias' poor confession that was less a confession of love, and more of mild intrigue?

"I'm agreeing to see what happens. That I won't entirely resist it." said Lucas finally. "I'm agreeing to extend our contract, and to not betray you."

At the last words, Elias' smile widened under the mess of his hair, but he said nothing, only quietly remaining in his position. What would happen at the end of time was unknown, and what feelings they had were also uncertain, but there was a clear fact.

They were partners, now marked and embedded in their skin, and they would remain allies in the forsaken apocalypse, to the bitter end.