(Flashback)
" Jade, that's a beautiful name. It matches those pretty eyes of yours."
Vi's compliment turned Jade's cheeks pink and made her lips curl into a smile.
" And Aristotle, that's quite the middle name."
Jade's face now went full cherry.
" Well, it's not really my middle name though.
But I want it to be! Aristotle was a really smart guy from ancient Greece!"
" Really? Well, that'll make a great middle name for you."
The small thing gave an angelic smile. Vi had to physically resist the urge to grab her and never let go.
It was was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and a breath of fresh air.
That smile. She forever wanted to protect it.
So when Jade's smile suddenly vanished. Her heart started to damage itself.
" Vi? Why are we here? Is this jail? Did I do something wrong?"
Vi's eyes widened into saucers. Air in the form of a gasp escaped her mouth and she got closer to Jade.
" No honey, no! You did nothing wrong! Don't ever think that okay!?"
Her heart was gripped by an invisible hand as she saw tears in the child's eyes.
" Then why did they lock me in here? Why do they hurt me? Why are they so mean to me?"
Vi bit her lip. How could she explain to this little girl the reasons these evil people do such things?
" Uhm. Well... I, " she looked at the big eyes seeking answers.
Then she sighed, " *Sigh* They want to, make things and discover other things.
Things that can hurt, or cure. Things that can do good or do bad and discoveries that could either way.
So to make sure these things work, and to find out what they can discover, they have to test them. And they use us to do that."
" Why? Why can't they just ask people to do that? Why did they take us?"
" Well, they're very bad people. No matter what they're trying to do and, they just, don't care.
Or they just pretend it's okay.
But don't worry, we're gonna get out of here."
" You promise?"
Vi swallowed. She didn't want to but she couldn't let such an innocent kid lose hope as she did. Because once she did she would never be the same.
" I promise."
" Okay, I trust you, Vi."
" Thanks, sweetie."
" *Eh hehe*"
Jade let out a little giggle.
" What's so funny?"
" Umm, nothing. It's just,"
" Just what?"
" I liked it when you called me sweetie. Nobody ever called me that."
She pressed her fingers together sheepishly. Then she covered her face with her hair as if she was retreating back into her own little cave.
Vi got closer to the bashful child and immediately pulled her into an embrace.
" Then I'll call you that as long as you want honey. Whenever you want, you can count me. Okay, baby?"
Jade leaned further into Vi's bony structure. It was a bit uncomfortable but her warmth and her sweet words made her feel safe. Feeling exhausted she let herself become consumed by darkness. With a faint smile on her small lips.
Meanwhile, Vi gripped as tight as her body would allow her to. But her wiry arms only carried so much strength.
" This isn't fair, I already give up on life but then you give me a reason to live again. Are you really up there watching over me?"
Vi looked up hoping to get some sort of sign. But the only thing that was up there was the pale array of lights.
Then she looked back down at Jade and whispered, " Whatever. I promise to never let go of this child. This I swear."
Vi could finally feel her heartbeat that seemed to disappear years ago.
" I swear." She whispered once more.
(A Few Months Later)
The two had only grown much closer.
Jade encouraged Vi to eat by threatening to go hungry herself.
Vi had taught Jade a myriad of things and provided her endless comfort.
And though neither of them said it out loud. They truly loved each other.
Vi saw Jade as her own flesh and blood and constantly gave her kisses and hugs. She even told Jade stories and sung her to sleep.
Jade saw Vi as a mother and a big sister and tried her best to help her.
She helped her comb out her hair, massaged her sore body, and gave her endless amounts of affection.
The two were the most wholesome of families you would ever see.
One day, Vi was waiting for Jade to come back. It was taking longer than usual.
When they finally brought her back they tossed her in like a bag of garbage. Vi tried to approach her but she instantly ran into a corner covering her head.
" Honey? What's wrong?"
" Don't come closer. Please don't look."
" Why? What happened?"
" DON'T!"
" Sweetness please tell me what's wrong. What did they do to you angel?"
Jade let out a sniffle and rocketed to her feet.
Then she slammed right into Vi, constricting her arms around her.
Then she looked up with watery eyes and Vi finally noticed what they had done.
" They made me ugly! *HIC*" Her tears wrenched Vi's heart apart.
They had shaved Jade's head. She was completely bald, even her eyebrows and eyelashes were gone.
Vi immediately dropped to her knees and started to shower Jade with kisses.
" Oh, honey no, no, no. You're not ugly. You ARE NOT UGLY! You're my sweet little pumpkin pie and you are so beautiful!"
" *Sniff* But~ Girls are supposed to have hair. And you said that you loved my curly black hair."
Vi used her thumbs to wipe the tears off Jade's cheeks. Then she placed her hands on the child's soft cheeks.
" Jade, you're beautiful. That's just a stone-cold fact. Okay?"
Jade nodded but tears still flowed pitifully.
So Vi picked her up and sat on the floor with her back against a wall. Supporting Jade's head in her arms and resting her face on her chest.
Jade was more comfortable being cradled, as Vi had gained a lot her weight back.
More weight made her squishy. Squishy humans are better to lay on.
Eventually, she had once again cried herself to sleep in Vi's arms.
When Jade finally woke up, she was curled up in a corner. When she sat up, she rubbed her sore and puffy eyes. Then she noticed dozens of strands of hair on the floor.
" *Phew* Finally, that took a long time."
Jade looked to Vi and gasped.
" Vi you, what did you do?"
" Well, since there are no scissors I had to take all my hair out by hand. And it hurt!"
Vi had pulled almost all of her hair out. Some still remained in rough and uneven patches on her head. There was an eyelash or two and that was it.
" So kid, am I ugly?" Vi asked with a big grin.
Jade began to cry once again and she furiously wiped her misty eyes.
" No~ You're beautiful. You're gorgeous."
" You sure?"
" *Hiccup* Yes."
Jade walked up to her and hugged her leg.
This in turn caused them to grow even closer than before.
(A Year Later)
" Green? Why is it green!?"
Jade's hair had begun to grow back and it was green of all colors.
" It's so gross!"
" Says who?"
Vi had become much healthier and her hair was still quite short but it had the consistency of cotton candy. Making it very endearing.
" Lots of people have weird colored hair. And green is a beautiful color. It's the color of the grass, trees, and money.
Plus it matches those big green orbs."
" ORBZ!" Jade shouted.
" Jade, stop it. I'm serious. And think about it, your name is Jade and now you look like jade. Or green jade to be specific."
" I know but, " she looked at Vi with a serious look. " I still need some cuddles to make me feel better."
She held her arms out to Vi, making a grabbing movement with her hands.
Vi chuckled, " I spoiled you too much didn't I?"
" Yes. So you have to take responsibility." Jade immediately answered.
" Okay, come here."
Jade practically tackled her to the ground while letting out giggles.
" Wow. Feeling better already?"
" No, so you can't let go."
" Ok, my sweet girl." She kissed Jade's forehead and held her close.
More years went by.
The two spent their days going in and out of their room. Their scars increasing along with the pain.
There were days when they spent most of their day writhing pain. Or they just retreated into their own minds to recuperate from their trauma.
The only reason their minds hadn't long become shattered is because they were there for each other.
But it didn't last. It was never meant to last and their world crumbled.
Jade was fifteen. Her hair had grown all the way down to her feet. However, she didn't mind, as playing with it kept her entertained.
Vi seemed to hardly age and her hair was still quite short. But it had doubled in fluffiness making her look like a large amount of cotton candy.
Jade laid on her back while blowing her bangs in the air.
While Vi was finishing up a piece of bread from their meal.
Suddenly, a loud buzz came from the door.
" *Ugh* I thought today was our day off." Jade groaned.
" It's supposed to be, but who are they taking?"
Vi wondered aloud.
Once the door opened two people walked in. They were two men carrying long animal control poles.
" Up."
One of them ordered.
The two looked at each other and wondered who they were talking too.
" Both of you. Up."
The two were bewildered for a moment. They were never taken at the same time before. It was highly unusual.
But they quickly did as they were told. Or else they would be tasered.
Staggering to their feet, their necks were immediately restrained.
They were dragged out of the room like rabid dogs. They walked down the halls with the wires starting to cut into their necks.
They were forced to keep up with the pace of their handlers. And while their pace wasn't fast, it was hard for the women who hardly got any exercise, sunlight, or nutrition to keep up.
But if they ever tripped or stumbled they would nearly be decapitated. So they had power through.
As they walked, the two sent each other frightened looks. If they were taking both of them, they might have acquired a new way to torment them.
When they arrived their destination was an unfamiliar room. With a huge window on the left and an old metal chair attached to the back wall. And he floors and walls, were made out of cold steel instead of white padding.
Jade and Vi gulped. Their unclear plans had their stomachs churning.
Jade was dragged to the chair and she was restrained by leather straps. Jade winced a bit as the belts cut into her flesh.
Then a strange machine was wheeled in and placed next to her. Wires were pulled from said device and attached to her head.
A steady whine came from the weird thing but what drew Jade's attention was the steady click-clack of high heels.
Then in walked a woman with strawberry blonde hair.
She held a clipboard in her hand and her face looked sour. With almost every part of her face scrunched up in dissatisfaction.
" Is everything ready?"
" Almost-"
" Well hurry up! We need to have some kind of results soon or we're getting shut down! Then we'll all be out of a job! So-"
" Ma'am,"
" What!?"
" Uhm, we have completed the preparations."
" Well, what are you waiting for!? Begin the experiment!"
" Y-yes. "
Jade's eyes darted around. Something was wrong, very wrong. The feeling in her stomach started to rise into her chest and thrash about.
She looked over to Vi.
They had released her neck and she just stood there confused and frightened.
" Vi, *AGH*."
Jade's forehead was then bound to the back of the chair with another strap of leather.
Then another was placed around her throat.
So now she couldn't move worth a damn.
Vi looked at her and immediately her motherly instincts were ready to kick in. She was ready to tear every single person in the room apart no matter how weak she was.
But Jade simply shook her head. " It's okay." Jade mouthed to her.
So Vi suppressed the dragon roaring inside. Biting the inside of her cheek and tasting the bitter fluid that was blood.
Seeing Jade tied up had her mind in a flurry.
But, of course, it didn't last.
" Begin."
The woman stated.
Vi looked towards her, 'Begin what?'
" Vi!"
*CRACK*
Jade suddenly shouted and before she knew it a small sting came from Vi's leg and she was flung to the floor.