𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆- 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 [DISCONTINNUED]

CHAPTER IV: "I'M OKAY IF YOU'RE OKAY"

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"whatever we are,I still remember the way we were"

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LEIGHTON LOOKED AT THE 90's- ESQUE RUN DOWN DONUT SHOP in complete awe, due to the fact she had yet to be in one nor did she know what a donut was. Like it was a habit Five intertwined their fingers causing the redhead to freeze her gaze drifting away from shop to their hands.

"Is this normal?" She inquired, tilting her head in her usual puppy dog way. "Do normal people do this." Five held in a breath debating in his mind whether he should lie to her or tell her the truth eventually he came to the conclusion to provide the young girl with a bit of both "It's normal for us"

"Have we met before?"

Five didn't answer her question and instead directed her gently inside the crappy shop pulling her to the counter and helping her into a her seat (Leighton had declared she had never seen giant chairs like these and would need help climbing them) before taking his own.

Five side eyed the man next to him as Leighton began to look at the menu in fascination, the waitress entered from the backroom, heading straight to the older man that sat by Five's side "Sorry, the sink was clogged." She chuckled briefly while removing her pen and paper from her pockets "What can I get you?"

"I'll have chocolate eclair." The woman wrote the order down before glancing at the kids next to him "Can I... get the kids anything?" Five's eyebrows pinched as he tried to understand how the three looked like family.

"This kid will have a coffee, black." Five intervened "And the other one will have a jam donut and chocolate milk." The lady eyes flickered between the two casting them a strange look before turning away to get their orders.

Five spotted the freckled girl's frightened look and he remembered she had no idea what he had just ordered, he placed his hand over her own gently "It's okay I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it." His gentle smile allowed his dimples to pop out which led Leighton stick a finger in them giggling slightly as she did so. Five gently removed her finger "These are my dimples they show up when I smile."

He hadn't forgotten how naive she was in this time, he quite enjoyed it. He shook off his thoughts and turned to the handy man next to him "Don't remember this place being such a shithole." He didn't even need to turn around to know Leighton had began mouthing 'shithole' to herself  "I used to come here a lot as a kid."

The man spared him a strange glance wasn't he a kid?. Before anything else could ensure, The waitress returned with the trios food and drinks. The handy man took out his wallet and handed her a twenty "I got theirs."

"Thanks." Five said unsure while Leighton stuffed her mouth with her donut smiling blissfully. Five leaned closer to the man "I need an address."

 

  

UNKNOWN LOCATION
2010
IF ONE WERE TO ASK NUMBER 728 what her first memory was she would have shrugged and said she didn't have one and had been in the lab for all her life. As soon as she opened her eyes she was fairly certain a scientist had picked her up and injected her with a strange substance that elicited painful cries from her.

And so that how it continued for years until she finally made progress, she had glowed. She had glowed and burnt a scientists eyes out, her new discovery quite simply scared the shit out of her. But she had to admit the fear and guilt had disappeared upon entering another part of the lab, as she was walking down the pristine white hallways with her guards she couldn't help but notice several other children like her, each one having an unique quirk.

She distinctly remembered her first ever lesson, she had joined a class with children seemingly her age and a rabbit was placed in front of her. She blinked and asked with complete confusion what she was intended to do with it. "Kill it." was the simple answer she was provided with.

Number 728 was horrified and refused, as she was being drug back into her cell she couldn't help but hear the snickers and giggles that flowed through the small class "She's such a silly girl." One boy had said "Don't worry she'll learn soon" Another girl had answered.

That night no food was slipped into her cell. And every night that she had refused to hurt the rabbit. But Number 728 was only human and after 3 weeks with no food and simply water, the next time the rabbit was placed in front of her she didn't even blink before killing, smiling happily as a bowl of porridge was presented in front of her. She devoured it completely not even caring for the smell of burnt flesh that lingered in her cell

"THAT WAS FAST. I THOUGHT I'D HAVE MORE TIME" Five comment with an easy look, not bothering to look over his shoulder, his hand squeezed the redhead thigh softly. Leighton who was a complete contrast to to Five, her eyes were wide and she personified the word terrified, carefully offered a half eaten donut to the man next to her, glancing at his large gun warily.

"Let's all be professional about this yeah?" The leader spoke up, grabbing the half eaten donut, dropping it on the floor and stamping on it. Leighton's eyes prickled with tears and she felt the side of her mouth delve down.

"I've got nothing to say." Five quipped his jaw clenched as he cast a quick glance at the disheartened girl next to him. "It doesn't have to go this way. You think I want to shoot a kid? Go home with that on my conscious." The leader continued to monologue.

"Well.. I wouldn't worry about that. You won't be going home." Violence ensured after that, Leighton immediately went to hide under a table, sipping her chocolate milk quietly. Only removing herself upon seeing all the big bad men dead.

She crawled over to the older boy who sat tiredly on the floor, a tracker next to him and a hole in his arm "A-Are you okay?" She asked softly only to frown intensely upon seeing his wound "You're hurt" she whispered softly. His own face softened "I'm okay Lei."

"But-"

"Please, Lei, as long as you're okay. I'm okay."