There is something unsettling about this garden, everything looks too luscious and well maintained. Each blade of grass, vine, and leaf shine a perfect green, unimaginable to someone like him. Mikel's fingers comb through a few dampened flowers that bloom like their first day.
"Do you like it?" That isn't a question.
He refuses to respond, instead his eyes wander towards the many plump fruits that hang off of their respective trees but even those seem uncanny. They're all perfect, a picky eater's dream come true, even the vegetation is suspiciously well looking.
"Arlon?"
"It's nice." Mikel begrudgingly responds.
It really isn't.
"Do you prefer your chamber or does this farm suit you better?"
"Farm?" Mikel repeats.
"Does this look like a farm to you?"
"No, since you won't be permitted to do any kind of labour in here, exceptions being garden maintenance if that's something you desire."
"What's your name?" His voice perfectly contains the frustration growing within.
"Darling." He smiles peacefully.
"No."
Mikel doesn't know his name and Arlon isn't responding to him either, it's the worst.
After some pacing back and forth he comes to a pause.
—
'It's unromantic and I love every second of it.'
'How is being locked away romantic?'
'It's romantic to me.'
—
His eyes land on 'Darling' who's clearly unfazed and unbothered by Mikel's odd behaviour. His fingers slowly dig into the earth, deep enough to catch Darling's attention.
He didn't switch focus, instead he dug around a few times until his hands got completely dirt covered.
There's no holes…
Mikel helplessly watches all his filth vanish away, hole get covered up, and unwelcomed embrace from behind.
"Are you trying to dig your way out?" It questions with a purr.
I'm guessing Arlon isn't very smart, or else this would've alarmed him.
"Arlon, don't you wanna stay with me now? No one can stop us, you can have anything you want." Darling whispers into Mikel's ear, sending chills down his spine.
"You're too close!" He exclaims with a shove.
Darling didn't budge all that much, instead moving himself away to accommodate this sudden need only after giving him a few lingering glances that would make anyone feel dreadful for their future.
"Whatever happened to you on those streets won't happen again."
Mikel barely manages to turn back when suddenly multiple tables surround him filled with all sorts of foreign goods.
"Let's start by returning you to your old self, I've prepared everything you used to love and more."
Poisoned?
He refuses to budge, instead switching focus on the dirt beneath him. Everything is artificially, well, magically designed into a captive's makeshift paradise.
As good as 'it's not that bad!' can get.
Mikel focuses back on where Darling is supposed to stand but he's nowhere to be seen. His head whips back and forth, searching for his kidnapper who is now levitating above him.
"So your heart still pursues my presence. This one wouldn't dare abandon you once again."
No, this is what I wished for Kemal.
Darling landed just close enough without being able to touch him. Mikel is lost in thought while keeping a close eye on him.
Why am I living out his dream? Should I get him to fall in love with Dragon fucker? Though he looks more like a snake.
Darling tilts his head before posing in a more displayful manner.
"What are you doing?" Mikel leans away, unsure why he's showing off his fancy jewelry and robe like that.
"I was certain you were trying to get a better look." He adjusts himself to come off less flamboyant.
Mikel didn't respond back, it isn't exactly wise to do so. He didn't get to talk with Arlon all that much, how could he mimic someone he's barely grown acquainted with?
After scanning his surroundings he finally turns to Darling who has been watching him with keen eyes.
"Where did my friend go?"
"Your friend, yes. I believe he's left unharmed." Darling smiles faintly.
"Where is he? Did he make it back safely?" Mikel's false concern seems to raise more red flags than anything.
"Why care for this friend? Did he ever do anything for you? Save you? That thing didn't protect your falling body, I did."
Yeah, guess who made me fall in the first place!
"Why be in such a rush to leave?" Darling's hands trap his wrists together.
"I am busy! I'm not the same man you once knew!" Mikel quickly moves to yank himself free with no success.
Instead the grip around him tightened.
"It doesn't matter anymore! Stay!"
Their bodies press together, now that they're nose to nose Mikel's jaw clenches in frustration.
"For the last time I!-" But when their eyes meet his mind fogs, everything surrounding him blurs into one multi coloured blob leaving only 'Darling' at the foreground.
"You love me." His voice rings hypnotically throughout their confined space.
"I…" Mikel's heart throbs.
—
"Love you!" Mike fawns.
"Me?" Kemal raises his eyebrow, catching his now flattened friend.
—
"I love you.." He confesses falsely.
Everything clears up once he does, the beautiful garden, crops, trees, all of it returns to its individual beauty.
Mikel's guard doesn't drop, instead he moves in to embrace Darling tightly while forcing his face into a cold chest showing no signs of hesitation. Now feeling his cold arms return the embrace followed by a demonic chuckle drove him crazy, this can't be real.
"My love, I'm fortunate to have you back." He sighs with content.
Is that what you call it.
It took Mikel a few seconds before responding as cheerfully as he could.
"Uh… Where am I?" He innocently looks around, keeping himself close.
"Ah. It's just our temporary stay, I'll take us home soon! Don't overthink it." Darling laughs deeply.
"I see! Although I.."
Feel dizzy.
His body suddenly goes limp, only to fall into Darling's arms.
—
"Hey!" Kemal panics, barely managing to catch Mike who is now passed out in his arms.
"Brother?" Horu runs closer, only to be blocked off by Kemal's leg.
"Don't get too close. I'll handle it." He scoffs with a whirl.
"Please, allow me to assist." A merman comes swimming through his current only to be ignored as well.
"Let Kier know I'll be in our room with him, he can enter at will." His voice brooking no room for argument.
Kemal finally manages to drop him on his side. Before doing anything he stretches his limbs with a pop.
Multiple sighs escape him as he's pressing around Mike's body and limbs while feeling for any human pulse points.
—
"Busy again? When is this dude ever doing anything but lusting over pixels." Mikel scoffs at his phone.
Fifth rejection this week, no way I'm losing him as a friend, am I?
His eyes land on Mike's phone number, deciding to call him as well.
'Reached my box! Don't know which one- beep!'
"Damn it. On my own again." lifeless sighs fill his dark room.
Every now and then he'd redial their numbers in his blank daze only for multiple knocks to snap him out of it.
"Honey, we're leaving to go shopping, would you like to come with us?" A soft spoken woman calls from outside.
"No, thank you." Mikel shrugs to himself without moving from his spot.
"I understand."
"Hm." His eyes wander left and right, unsure where to land nor settle on.
'The dragon lord and his swan bride!?'
That stupid game he left me.
Mikel kneels to grab it. Once opened he notices a little note attached.
'For bored men, flip for spoilers.'
For spoilers huh?
Slowly he checks its backside.
'King Berndo is gonna try killing you, the hidden chamber has his wife's corpse!'
"I'm not getting that far, although it does sound entertaining enough."
—
"I never really do anything." Kemal explains while lifting up a beaten body.
"So you'll always answer my call? How faithful." Mikel grins confidently, even going as far as kicking away another body.
"I didn't say that."
—
"Creepy.."
"I guess."
His room was filled with posters of lewd dragons and horned beasts, monsters paired with creatures that I couldn't even begin to name without any of Kemal's creepy knowledge. And those figurines…
"I'll take whatever I can, but what's the appeal?"
"What isn't?" Kemal points proudly at its figurine's far too detailed muscular body.
—
"Trust me! He already likes you! If you can manage his bullying."
"Okay! I got this!"
—
"Hey, you promise he likes me? I'm not doubting you or anything!"
All these bruises and you're still here? How annoying.
"Yeah! You know parental neglect blah blah he's a little rough around the edges!"
—
"What's this?"
"I got you a present! It looks super good on you!" Mike beams with his usual wide smile while wearing a school uniform made of white.
This is the most detailed memory yet, due to that fact Mikel managed to catch a red bloodstain at his waist being roughly covered by Mike's arm.
"You got me a ring? With what money, rich boy?" He scoffs with a smile, putting it on without hesitation.
His face turns beet red before answering honestly.
"I asked my mom for some money.."
"How much is some?"
"Around…"
—
"Hey Mikel..?"
"What."
This memory is particularly vivid, but he couldn't exactly decipher their words.
Mike was getting closer and closer, fingers fidgeting more anxiously the less distance they had between them.
Only for his memory to come to an abrupt halt once he's pinned to the bed.