Chapter Text
Till
The state of our world is fragile.
Humans. Pet humans. Aliens controlling us.
After Mizi — I mean, the Witch, blew up the Alien Stage, it resulted in a lot of backlash. Us humans aren't treated very kindly now. Lots of pet humans were released, abandoned. All because of the actions of one person. But, still, the Alien Stage goes on.
But what is worse is what the aliens made of the tragedy.
The Alien Stage Museum. 5 children mixed with our genes as a museum exhibit. They know no life outside the glass. Or rather, they used to. Because I saved them.
To understand this, we need to go a bit back.
After Round 7, the infamous last round of the Alien Stage, I miraculously, somehow, survived. I was found by the Rebellion, and I joined their cause.
I became a part of their group. And, so, when I found out we were doing a raid on the ALNST Museum, I knew I had to rescue those children.
Those poor kids. They.. They have seen things. Especially the one with Mizi's genes. She.. She was not treated kindly. She.. She had Ivan's genes, too. I try my best to take care of those kids, but she has Ivan's eyes, and.. Nevermind.
As a part of the rebellion, I can now only hope we can make the world a better place.
But the world is only getting worse.
Currently, we were driving back in the van from a mission.
"So," Jacob began "Till.. What is it with you and Ivan?"
I froze.
"Pardon?"
"Whenever the others mention Ivan, you get all stiff."
"Ah.."
How do I explain to someone the 10 stages of grief Ivan's death caused me and how I only realized I loved him back when it was too late?
Thankfully, Dewey butted into the conversation, replacing my need to actually talk.
"It's best we don't go there. Till's past is.. painful." he said.
Jacob nodded. I said nothing.
We make it back to our base. Thankfully, I have not overthought Ivan's death to the point of near breakdown. Dewey is, well, a life saver.
The moment I go in, I decide to check in on the kids.
I walk into the kid's room.
I am immediately greeted by Yuki. She runs over and hugs me.
"You're back! You're back! I missed you." She says.
Yuki is a unique case. I'm pretty sure she's purely Till's genes, which is weird, because the other kids are mixed with multiple genes. She's also a bundle of sunshine.
"I missed you too, Yuki." I smile.
Now that Yuki has greeted me, the rest of the kids have been given enough courage to come over.
Vina comes up to me. She looks up at me with her big eyes, and for a second, I remember Ivan.
She has Mizi's hair and Ivan's eyes. She.. she's just a reminder that Ivan is dead and she is what is left of him.
But, of course, I don't let my emotions show in front of the kids.
"You were gone foreverr.." she pouts.
"Really?" I chuckle.
"Yes, forever and ever! It felt like 10 million years.."
"Well, I'm back now." I smile.
The rest of the kids, it seems, are too shy to really greet me, besides Suki, who gives me a small wave.
I check the clock on the wall. 9 PM.
"You all should go to sleep, okay? It's bed time."
The kids, thankfully, obediently nod and head off to bed. It took a long time for them to even respect me, so I'm glad to see it.
I, too, head off to bed.
The moment my head hits the pillows, I see Ivan.
I know it's not really him, of course. I'm hallucinating. It's what my brain does to cope, I guess.
I still reach out to him, as if he was truly real.
I remind myself that he's not real, and he's dead, and I'll never see him again.
I cry myself to sleep.