3 Years Later

It felt odd.

Heading down these halls, my bat swinging at my side and trying to keep up with my limp, to the execution of 4 people. Like something out of a game, or a surreal movie perhaps? The screen from my helmet seemingly moved to my own two eyes as we bounded down the hall.

"Jake, you take John," Nick whispered out, only giving so much but a side glance to him, "I take Abbs and Shaina takes Ace. We'll deal with Joseph as whenever he gets here."

I nodded, turning to bound down the hall when a hand on my wrist stopped me. My eyes trailing it up to Nick who took a deep breath. His hands tight on both me and Jake's wrists to prevent us from going.

"You make their deaths quick. No sounds, no screams, no pain. You got me?"

I gulped dryly with a nod. My mouth becoming void of any moisture as he let go of our wrists. Slipping his guns into his jacket as he headed on down first without a single glance back. Jake gave me a sorry smile as he did the same. His figure silently making it's way through the halls before it became nothing more than a dark speck in the distance.

Without realizing it, I was already heaving. Whether it was because of my fatigue, my wounds, or the situation was something I did not know. My hands shook something fierce as headed towards the hallway Nick went. We all knew the plan, we all know the reason behind it. To dispose of them as painless as possible. To give them a good end if you will.

Wishes for people who I can't help but feel a surface level of care for. I tried to care more. Tried to feel more. But whatever barrier I have on my memories prevented that. Sure, they were decent enough but the connection wasn't anything big. We, aside from Jake and Nick now I suppose, were nothing but near acquaintances. It's... unnerving to see how detach I am to this to say the least.

With a shake of my head, I focused on the task at hand. Having been down only a few times to go the washroom, I never truly looked at the area I was in. All around were small scribbles and doodles of various kinds on the walls. Some in paint but mostly in pen. Intricate drawings of flowers and willows with beds of poetry connecting each one. It amazed me how much I didn't notice but I had to blame my state of being from the wounds I gathered. Perhaps too tired to give a damn. My eyes trailed along until I find myself reading the few bits I could.

'Wish you were here.'

'Come home safe.'

'Let's talk more.'

'I missed you.'

Tiny phrases that made up more and more of the wall as I went through. I couldn't help but pause and watch as the walls grew darker and darker as it got towards the end of the hall. The main room there was surrounded with black ink from the ceiling down. A cold shiver ran through my back as I wondered how much words and wished laid there.

What was this for...?

Tearing my eyes away, I tried to remember where Ace's room was. Straying from the paths of black ink and towards the walls of splattered paint and what not. This new trail coming to a stop at a quiet doorway at the end. The orange glow that shone out from the room put me at an alarm. It being an indication that Ace was awake.

With a deep breath, I followed through. My footsteps thump-thumping along as I slowly reached the doorway. Peaking on in and seeing a strange mess ahead of me. Unlike Nick's room, this place was more barren. A table, an old tv, and a few cabinets were the only furniture here. The mess part was the bright splashed of colors inside. It felt as if someone has dumped bucket after bucket of paint only to smear it about when they realized their mistake. Yet all it did was cause more colors to emerge.

My breath hitched when I saw a figure in the corner. Their mind obviously focused on grabbing whatever it is they were grabbing from the shelves.

Now was my chance. Just a simple swing to the head would bring her down without a sound. Another swing will finish the job.

As I crept closer, my grip tightening ever so tighter on the run down handle, when a sigh left her. Her body slumping over a bit as a chuckle left her mouth.

"I told you to stay in bed. I can hear your wheezing y'know." She said in a tone that was very out of character for her. Like I was an old friend she was meeting for the first time. Nothing like the numerous visits I had before.

I paused in my tracks. My heart pounding louder and louder as I waited for her to turn around. Waited for her to see what I was planning. Waited for her to scream. Waited for the chance to cut that short with a swing to the head.

Yet it never came. She kept looking forward, kept grabbing and rearranging things from the cabinet, she kept talking for god sakes! Of in her own world of reminiscing as I struggled with what to do next. Sweat trailing down the sides of my face as I tried to keep focus.

"You coming to me means that you remember me in some level!" She laughed as one of her hands trailed up to play with a strand of mix-matched colored hair, "Even if you don't know it yet. I'll help you remember! Heh, it'll be like old times you know?"

I couldn't help but respond back. Part of me intrigued to see what she meant. "Yeah?"

She giggled, nodding ever so slightly.

"Like back in elementary y'know? Not highschool, we weren't exactly the best of friends anymore then..."

My resolve started to crumble as something called to me from inside. A deep feeling of rage began to fill what was empty space as I listened to her words.

"I mean, don't get me started with how many times we argued! Or how much drama happened? With all the back stabbing and god, that whole deal with what's his face?"

The anger roared in retaliation. Without knowing it, I begun to creep closer. My face hardening to a glare as my hands slowly raised.

"Nick...?" I mumbled out in a blind guess but from the way that my stomach crawled, that wasn't who we were talking about. No, this person was someone different. Someone who, just like Nick, made a corner of my heart begin to shake. The way she laughed, the way she acted like everything was fine, made my blood boil over.

"No! F.u.c.k not him, god I didn't understand why you were with him anyway!"

She cackled again, I raised my bat closer.

"No, don't you remember? Come on, you guys were together for f.u.c.k.i.n.g 2 years! Like I know he dumped you on the last day of school but you can't even remember him?"

She sighed, turning around slowly as she continued to speak.

"Well, at least you won't be as mad knowing that we went out afterwards."

Her eyes opened, her face full of excitement and joy, as she turned towards me. A large smile stretched along her face that cracked her lips further. Her hand tugging more on that one f.u.c.k.i.n.g strand of hair.

Then reality crashed back as my bat made contact with her head.