Location: Kell Forest
—
The sun had dropped slightly as the day wore on, and the summer heat eased while the boys continued training.
Savien and Jackson exchanged blows, drenched in sweat. Jackson dodged an elbow from Savien while critiquing his form. Savien listened attentively as he threw another elbow, this time with better form and accuracy.
Jackson swiped his arm across his forehead, wiping away grime and sweat. "You're improving very quickly."
"What can I say," Savien said while rolling his shoulder. "I'm just a fast learner."
Omari sat underneath a tree, back against the bark, posture relaxed. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes, letting the shade cool him down. He opened his eyes briefly and saw the two boys sparring. A small smile grew on his face.
"Yeah! Beat his ass, Savien!" He cheered.
Damian sat next to him, his posture less relaxed. He stared at the sparring match in front of him. Every wasted movement. Every muscle spasm. Every potential counter. He could see it all.
He registered every movement, but his mind wasn't focused on the fight. His hollow eyes followed their movements instinctively.
His mind was filled with thoughts of the past.
He had no real control over his life, no real identity. All he had ever been was a weapon.
Nothing more.
All the pain he endured as a child. All the steroids and experimental body enhancements he had to take. All the beatings he took during his forced training. All the people he watched die because they couldn't keep up with the program.
Being bred specifically to become the perfect weapon.
The perfect assassin.
But he still had a choice. A choice to run away from it all. A choice to stop killing people, because he knew it was bad to take another human's life.
James had taught him that.
But did he listen?
Damian sat there, contemplating.
'I killed so many people, yet I was granted reincarnation… why?'
Why did scum like him deserve a second chance even though he took other people's one life?
'Is this some twisted form of punishment for my sins? Making me think I'm off the hook before dragging me down to hell.'
He turned to Omari, who lay lazily against the tree, eyes closed. He envied how calm and unburdened Omari was. He could tell that Jackson and Savien had deep feelings about their past that they didn't want to reveal with just a glance. Omari, on the other hand, seemed to have nothing weighing him down.
Maybe it was the world he lived in, probably filled with luxuries and standards that made it impossible for him to experience what Damian went through. He didn't act like someone who lived a life of misery.
'Or maybe he lived a balanced life?'
Feeling Damian's gaze, Omari opened an eye. "What?"
"…I wanted to ask you something."
"I'm all ears, bro."
Damian stared at him for a moment before he turned toward the horizon, his black hair catching the sun's rays. "Do you… think I deserve this?"
Omari raised a brow. "Whatchu mean?"
Damian sighed and spoke, his voice low and detached.
"I… I killed people, Omari. I killed people for the benefit of others. I killed people because I was trained to. I indiscriminately killed so many people… yet here I am next to you, living a second life I don't deserve."
Omari remained quiet for a long moment, processing his words. He understood why Damian felt this way; it was his one big regret, and he felt he should be punished for it.
Yet Omari didn't agree.
"You know," Omari said. "I lived a pretty mundane life. I never aspired to be anything or to do anything with my life. I just lived a life with no substance whatsoever, wasted potential." He chuckled as he said that last part.
"Now that I've been given another chance at life, I use that feeling of unfulfillment to drive me to be better. I may not be showing any progress now, but at least I'm trying."
He let the words hang in the air.
"So why not do the same? Instead of self-loathing, take this opportunity to improve. You may not be able to give back the lives you stole, but you can work to make sure others don't lose theirs. Use this chance to pay for your sins by protecting people instead of killing them, since you clearly regret what you did."
Damian took a long moment to absorb his words. He considered it. Maybe using his regret as fuel could help him move on from his old life, though he'll never forget about the lives he took. He could still work toward helping others instead of hurting them.
He turned to Omari. "Maybe you're right. I can't bring them back, but I can work toward becoming the opposite of what I was." A small smile flashed on his face. "…Thanks for the advice."
Omari smiled as he stared at the horizon. "No problem, twin. You seemed like you really needed it."
Damian turned back to the horizon. The guilt was still there. The memories hadn't disappeared. The faces of the people he'd killed still lingered somewhere in the back of his mind.
But for the first time, they didn't feel like chains.
They felt like a reminder.
'I won't become that person again.'