Fᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ 1, 2024
Phillipeño wakes up to the blaring of the alarm on his digital clock. In striking red, glowing in the darkness of his room, is the time 5:00 AM, blinking. He reaches over to snooze it, groaning in ignorance, but his hand brushes over a piece of paper that wasn't there last night. Frowning, he rolls over and turns on the vintage lamp on his bedside table. The dim light outlines the bits on the wooden surface and there, he sees a crisp, white sheet, folded neatly.
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During the day, security bustles about, interrogating people and digging through Katya and Ryan's old room. By his side, Alexa is numb to everything that's unfolding before her, while he has the paper crumpled in his back pocket. The scenery reminds them of the day they were told their purpose.
That boy who said he didn't want to be a murderer...Eric Walters; in the night, he left with everyone else for their first call. A lot came back, both successful and unsuccessful. There were a few that came back scarred, complaining about their experience. Then, there were some that didn't return. Of course, they could've been dead, but Petro isn't stupid.
The following day after everyone was fully rested and energized, he sent out a search party. Eric was a part of the bunch brought in as strays. In fact, Alexa learnt how much Petro hates strays herself. She ventured into his office once with no reason to be there and if looks could kill... Simply put, they were executed. Petro stated loudly, "Accept your purpose, or DIE." They knew what they wanted the moment they failed to return.
And now, having witnessed the massacre of 12 of his camarades 4 years ago, Phillip is worried for Katya. He hopes they never find her, so does Alexa, but that thought is just floating in the back of her mind. What's at the front, is a question of distraught, "Will Phillipeño ever leave me too like everyone else? I seem to have a knack for that. It wouldn't be surprising." She stands beside him, unmoving, regarding how he ignored her blatantly last night. Her eyes stare into space as people whiz by, chatting about the unknown.
Remembering the slip of paper with Katya's handwriting in his back pocket, Phillip wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her into his side. She leans comfortably against him, unconsciously snuggling. She doesn't want him to go...not yet, not ever.
He's just a blind boy with an unseen past. A person who's one sense less. A human being of this currupted world. She's just a dumb girl with an insane past. A person who stands out very much. Another human being of this currupted world. They're no different from each other. Like how they both wish and hope for the same things, that's all there is to it. They can't control what happens with the lives around them nor theirs, not when they've sworn loyalty to Petro Moskal.
But, there's one thing Phillip knows for sure.
"Take care of her." Are the simple words on the crumpled piece of paper.