The familiar scent of coffee and books pulled Trout back to consciousness.
He tried to sit up from the couch but failed. His body refused to answer, staying frozen in place. Failing at finding control over his body, a sharp sensation hit him all of a sudden.
Pain sharpened in his chest, sharpest along the clavicle. His head throbbed. Whatever came after the pulse was gone, leaving behind a headache. He squinted his eyes, closed them tight and endured the pain. His breathing was short and uneven. After a while the feelings were gone, he slowly opened his eyes and looked straight up from the couch in which he was laying in.
Staring at the ceiling was all he could manage. The light in his helmet was darker than before, the colour of his light remained white.
Suddenly he heard coughing from his side, he looked to it and saw Sal who was also looking at him. The two locked eyes awkwardly. Sal rolled his eyes and talked first.
"You're finally awake. You been out for days mate, I was worried if you'd kicked the bucket."
He said and chuckled.
Trout remained silent, he kept staring at Sal, the moment lowered Sal's chuckling into silence. Trout couldn't help but notice a lot of restraints and IV tubes on Sal.
"So... who tied you down?"
Trout asked.
Sal struggled from the bind. He look down onto the restraints that were locking him.
"Ignore it, just know that I only get free time when I need to go to the bathroom. Heck at least she didn't lock my head up."
Trout turned his head up to the ceiling again. He hesitated to talk, yet spoke up.
"So... how's the mission?"
His tone was small and awkward. He tried to move his fingers again yet again no response came from his body.
"Completed, we got some cash and your contribution counted in the contract, you're a grade nine now, congratulations. Haha."
Sal chuckled a little more, his head turned to the ceiling with Trout , the two looked onto the ceiling of the library, Sal closing his eyes slowly while the light on Trout's helmet hummed. The light on Trout's helmet was weaker than before, he changed his focus on the surroundings. The library stayed the same as when they left. Only a calendar and an extra set of pillows on a nearby table caught his attention. His head tried to turn to Sal's direction again but a pain pinned down his neck. His helmet twitched with red and blue again and shut down.
After a while he woke up to some poking.
"Sal..stop it, it's not funny."
Trout snapped his head back down, there stood a person, the figure poking him with a book. Trout startled but his body was still frozen.
"SAL! SAL!!"
Trout screamed. His helmet flashed bright purple, the light caught on the figure, they used their hand to cover up their face. The figure was as tall as Sal, wrapped in layers that looked more intimidating than warming. A fraying long coat hung from their shoulders. Their face stayed almost hidden beneath dark hair and the shadow of a wide hat.
Sal bursts into laughter. He laughed so hard he teared out. The laughter became more dry and and he started coughing while laughing. The figure tossed the book away and pinched Sal's cheek, forcing him to stop.
"En-Blackwell, Blackwell, stop it."
The figure stopped their pinching. They used a finger to tap Sal's forehead.
"Don't do it again, I already tied you up and you still managed to hurt yourself..."
The figure sighed.
"Very you of you. Do it again and you will bleed out at my doors next time"
The figure said, their hand layed down to the knots under the bed and tightened them. Sal gave up struggling, turning to Trout.
"Introducing to you, Blackwell. She is a good friend of mine and even a better medic."
Sal said, throwing his eyes up to Blackwell who sat down next to Sal's bed before anyone could notice.
The figure turned to Trout, her gaze fixed onto him. The eyes showed no reflection of light and remained a hollow dark under her black bangs.
"Yes, my name is Blackwell. I am an unofficial doctor so don't expect things to go so well with your injuries.",
She said. Her voice remained calm, every word that came out had no other meaning.
An awkward chuckle broke the dangerous atmosphere.
"Don't be so distancing, hahah....also release my tie please, I'm itchy as hell right here."
Sal struggled again, Blackwell pinched his leg through the thick pants. The pain caused Sal to struggle even harder. She gave up and slap Sal's leg.
"Your childish act is not hiding anything but only making you look more pathetic. Enough messing around, rest."
She stood up and walked over to Trout. The purple light never turned back to white ever since she was in his sight. Sal closed his eyes and turn his head up, muttering something under his breath. Blackwell stood before Trout.
Reaching her hand into her pocket, she pulled out a small pocket knife. She dipped the tip of the knife into some bottles inside of her pocket then injected the knife inside Trout's thigh. Sharp pain all over his body reactivated, muscles tensed and spasmed over time.
Trout was having a seizure on the couch, Blackwell didn't stop but injected the knife even deeper. Suddenly Trout reached his hand towards Blackwell only for her to dodge it with ease. She took the knife out and cleaned off the blood. Looking at Trout who was sitting on the couch and covering the blood flow with his hand. She put her knife back into her pocket and pulled out a bandage.
Blackwell threw the bandage to Trout, ignoring if he caught it or not as she turned away anyway. She walked toward the table with the calendar and pushed it aside, picking up the small pillow that looked like it was made out of rags. She tossed it towards Trout.
The pillow went into contact with him and knocked him down to the couch along with the bandage on his lap. Blackwell took a glance at Trout, she clicked her tongue and walked away towards Sal. She quickly adjusted the IV tubes and got out of the room, leaving only Sal and Trout inside.
Sal closed his eyes and rested while Trout was gripping the pillow, the purple light shift from purple to black gray but turned back to white after a moment.
Trout picked up the bandage and wrapped it around the stab wound in his leg, but when he checked on the wound, it was already gone.
He stood up from the couch after putting the pillow aside, his legs were shaking with a light tremor. The first step he took from the couch buzzed his leg with numbness, he took a few more steps and walked normally again despite the aching inside his chest. He walked up to Sal.
"You...are pretending to sleep aren't you."
He said, Sal's eyes remained shut, his eyebrows moved slightly. The movement was captured by Trout. He barely fit his body down next to Sal on the narrow bed. After sitting down, he looked onto his hands and then looked back to Sal's state.
"You know..... actually nevermind, how is your health?."
Trout said, his gaze changed from his hands to Sal, who was lying on the bed. Sal scoffed and opened his eyes.
"Perfectly fine, but miss doctor didn't understand my words and decided to lock me up. Trout, I need to do the paperworks for the next mission and prepare to leave again to pay off your debt. I promised you no?"
Sal said, before he could continue talking, Blackwell came back from the hall room.
"This is exactly why I tied you up. Not even moving your arm and you are already thinking about running. Those emotional words would've been better if not spoken, I know exactly what you're doing."
She said, she walked to the bed with a syringe, looked down onto Trout and after a short observation, she clicked her tongue.
"Move."
Blackwell said, Trout looked up at her but quickly looked away when he saw her gaze. He stood up and stepped away with uneven steps. Blackwell injected the syringe into the IV bag. She put the empty syringe into her pocket and looked straight at Sal. Her hands tapping fast on her hip. She then back to Trout.
"Do you mind going out? I would love to have a private chat with this guy."
She said, her hands pointed out to the door with her thumb. Trout looked to the door in confusion, his leg moved and he was standing at the door before he knew it. His hand reached back to Sal, but it quickly drew back. He could only nod and walk out.
"Check behind the counter, left drawer. I put your stuff there."
Sal called out right before Trout closed the door. After the door was closed, Trout walked towards the main hall of the library. His footsteps were uneven yet becoming faster and faster over time.
When he reached the hall, he rushed towards the counter and opened the left drawer. Inside were pens and files laying around. Most importantly, there was a small box inside of the drawer that was s laying on top the of the files. He picked it up and closed the drawer, the box fit perfectly inside of his palm, he could feel the gritty and a bit sticky textures on certain spots on the box, but he payed no mind to it.
Trout opened the box.
Inside was a small golden pocket watch and two handkerchiefs. He sat down the chair at the counter, the chair wasn't as soft as he expected and the roughness ached his back a little. He put the box on the counter and reached into it with his hand pulling out the two handkerchiefs.
He could feel the soft cloth texture, his fingers slid on the cloth. He instinctively moved the handkerchiefs closer to his head.
He noticed that each of them had a word sewed to the corner. One with a J and the other with a M. Trout used his finger to brush on the embroidered letter.
His helmet suddenly turned deep blue, his fingers stopped. Tears suddenly leaked out of his helmet, similar to how he eats. The helmet's front face became jelly-like while tears permeated from it like a leaking roof.
His fingers gripped tight but released when he felt the handkerchiefs inside.
"M-my.. precious..."
He mumbled, he used his hand to wipe off the leaking tears but more just came out from his helmet. The deep blue on his helmet hummed. His breathing hitched, he covered his head with one of his hand while the other was pressing the handkerchiefs into his chest.
Trout's sobbing came out intermittently. His chest ached again, gears spinning inside of his head.
The world went heavy, the silence became too loud. His breathing came in extremely heavy and short. He moved his hand from his head down to his stomach. His entire body curled up in the chair.
His vision blurred by the tears and his helmet was soaked in them as if it was going to drown him if the tear didn't ripple out of the helmet. His entire body was stuck in a nameless aching. He gripped the handkerchiefs and inhaled them.
The world shifted back to normal, only him and the quiet library. Alone.
"Why am I... weeping..?"
Trout said, he backed himself up from the chair. He reached his hand down to the table, wanting to put the handkerchiefs aside. Yet his palms refused to let go, his fingers clinging onto the cloths.
His helmet showed a hint of yellow and the deep blue slowly faded away.
Footsteps appeared from the distance, as they got closer, Trout put the handkerchiefs into his coat's pocket. The footsteps stopped a little when he suddenly hid the handkerchiefs. After he was done the footsteps approached again.
"You, we need to talk."
Blackwell's voice entered the place, she walked right into the hall and sat down at the opposite side of the counter.
"I don't want my friend to come back bleeding again, especially if it was caused by you."
Blackwell said. She gazed upon Trout from behind her bangs. She put one of her hand on the counter and pointed right at Trout.
"So, I'll make you a deal. You can die for all I care out there but if you don't and successfully come back then I shall heal you for a cheap price of a small percentage of your payment."
Trout's helmet went straight white. He put both of his hands on the table and crossed his fingers, Blackwell put her hand down.
"I- ...thanks"
Trout said. His crossed fingers released from eachother and his left hand's index finger started to tap on the table.
Blackwell glared down at the tapping finger.
"So you do do that, just like how he said."
Trout stopped, he looked up at Blackwell. His helmet shined with light yellow.
Blackwell covered her face with one of her hand, looking away.
"Gosh, can you stop those flashes. I still have a lot to discuss with you."
Trout tilted his head down, Blackwell removed the hand blocking her face. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a syringe filled with a strange black liquid.
"This should keep your body functioning. Ask Sal for more supply, he knows how to make this. But remember, do not pull Sal into any of your debt mess. This is your journey of repayment, not his."
She said and tossed the syringe on the table.
"You're nothing more than a mere tool."
She clicked her tongue and stood up. Walking away towards the door of the library. The door slammed shut.
Trout sat there for a while, looking at the syringe. He left it there and stood up, walking towards the room where he woke up to visit Sal. While walking, his head remained looking down.
"Ow."
Trout bumped into someone and got knocked back to the ground. He looked up.
Sal was hugging his stomach while struggling to hold his laughter. Their eyes met, Sal scoffed and reached his hand down. Trout caught the hand and Sal pulled him up.
"So....the woman released you from the bed? I thought she was going to bind you forever."
Trout asked, his helmet went to pure white. Sal did not react to the sudden brightness increase. He chuckled.
"If she could. I'd just break out the moment she's out."
He stopped a little. Sal pushed Trout out to the main hall. He pulled a curtain and hid the path leading to the room. Trout looked up at the curtain, wondering if it was there before.
Trout's helmet changed colour to yellow, Sal only took a glimpse.
The two arrived at the main hall again, Trout got pushed down on a chair and Sal quickly walked to the other side of the table and sat down.
"Did Blackwell say something bad to you~"
Sal said. Trout caught off guard by the new level of unserious in the tone. Trout shook his head. His helmet changed back to white.
"Might have to note what colour means what one day."
Sal said, he stood up and walked towards the counter.
"Aren't you hurt badly?"
Trout asked. Sal turned back only to smile and kept walking. He went to the counter and saw the syringe. Sal froze in place for a moment.
Sal opened a drawer on his right and threw the syringe inside, slamming the drawers shut. His eyebrows narrowed. He took a key and locked the drawer, his face darkened.
After a moment, Sal closed his eyes and opened them. His face was back to the joyful one.
"No.... I'm not at all, I wasn't harmed in the first place. She was only overreacting. Also it's best to pet her little ego by playing along."
Sal said and laughed, he opened another drawer underneath the counter and pulled out a calendar. After looking at it for a little, he put it back and looked back up at Trout.
"Two things, first is that you have a pocket watch or something inside the box you left on my table. Second is that you have 5 days until your debt is due. Let's get some more missions and we should be able to get it."
Sal said, he stood up. Before he could walk out of the counter, his body collapsed onto the table. Trout stood up quickly and ran towards Sal, helping him up.
After setting Sal back on the chair, Trout walked back to the reading chair. He sat down and put both of his hands on his lap, fingers knitted together.
Moments passed, Sal scoffed.
"So...I realised it's not very ideal for me to go out, say I get you a quick and safe mission while I deal with something now? Trust me and your future will be perfectly fine."
Sal said and snapped his fingers, he pulled out a tablet under the counter and started to type in something. After a while , the tablet vibrated slightly and a sheet of paper appeared. Sal picked it up and tapped the counter with his fingertips.
Trout heard the tapping and walked toward Sal.
Sal slid the paper towards Trout. He put one of his hands on the table and rested chin on it. Eyes looking down at the paper.
Trout picked the paper up and read it. There was a long slide of words and policies. He turned to the other side of the paper and saw images of a short figure with a tail with corpses of children around it. Under is a line of target 'investigate and eliminate the night lurker. (Req: grade <9)'
Trout looked up at Sal, his helmet shifted to grey.
"I did tell you that I will not kill right? I don't know why bu-"
Before Trout could continue. Sal lift his head up from his chin and pointed at Trout.
"You speak like a merciful God, or a fateful nun. But question yourself, is it you who won't kill or something else that doesn't allow you. Is the same bind still binding you?"
Sal said, Trout opened his mouth but got shut down again.
"Trout, our body kills cancer cells, cancer cells kills us. So do you feel guilty for those? This mission is to eliminate a threat, not breaking your moral line."
He said again. Sal's finger tapped on the contract paper then loomed back up at Trout.
Trout stayed still, he tried to speak yet failed to form a single word inside his head. After another tap of Sal's figner landed on the paper, Trout nodded and picked the pen up, he signed the contract with a styled T and push it back.
Sal nodded and took the contract. His mouth twitch up to a smile.
"That's more like it, now go read a book or get some sleep, I have things to do."
Sal said, his hand waved out.
Trout stood up and walked away. Sal stood there and analysed the contract. He took out a notebook and wrote something down. This went unnoticed by Trout.
Trout walked toward the reading table again, he sat down and laid his back backwards. His helmet flickered, thoughts drove him into rest. The future awaits..