"It's the last one"
I figured out that on specific pages of the yearbooks, starting from the 21st edition, the pages were thicker and had a slight shine. It was a single page, one where the same three people were. 039079 Henry, 189039 Ben, 2990129 Ayla. But by the 25th edition, Henry stopped showing up, probably dead and by 27th edition, Ayla was the only one left. I borrowed all editions, desperate to find something that might help and to investigate the strange occurrence.
In the 21st edition I found my mother- The lovely lotus Mikado used to call her, and that Nico person she spoke of once. Ayla started appearing in book 14 and stopped book 30. I started appearing in book 22 up until the latest book which is book 37, mom stopped appearing in book 25 which was done before she died. During the time between edition 18 and 30, especially between 21 and 30 the thickness of any page with all three people ( except when they started dying ) changed. The page had a slight gloss and was obviously not meant to be that way, recent editions don't have it, and it was likely Ayla that did it, since it continued after ben and henry died.
During that time I was staying with my mom, and after she died I was left in a kind of solitary confinement. I trained alone, only coming out once in a while to the dining hall to pick up something. I had access to a lot of tokens and was paid more so long as I complied with whatever they gave me. I would never have known her.
I checked the pages again, the thickness and shine was from a plastic of some kind. I carefully removed it from the page only to see a thin piece of transparent plastic.
Why would someone go through all this trouble to bleed, die and hide a clear piece of plastic?
"For the plot" I forgot she existed. My hallucination.
"The quiet was horrible while it lasted" She giggled.
I removed all of them and they were all the same. Clearly some novelty ink was used here, but the material is plastic,
" Obviously~"
so heating is out of the question. And getting a UV lamp might raise some suspicion on me should I ask a roman. "You were actually considering asking those-"
Mikado, even though he is canonically an addict, will pick up on it if I ask. My options are slim. "OOOOOh you're ignoring me i see"
"You're driving me mad"
"Correction, you are driving you mad" She laughed again. God i should just kill myself.
" Yeah kill yourself, i'm sure that solves all our problems. Fucking stupid bitch"
"WATCH IT! " I yelled. Only to hear footsteps.
"There's a roman at your door."
" Yeah i can tell" His scent gave him away, but i didnt notice it's already dawn. I am to be at the training ring today.
I quickly got into position, hiding every piece of evidence in various positions.
"179019 you are needed at the-"
"I know, get out of my way" I barged through the door, it locked automatically, and I followed him down.
The halls were dark and mostly empty, but people still walked about. In the Asylum we have more hours of day. We wake earlier and sleep later. As we were trained to be more efficient.
I came onto the training ring, the place was dead quiet, but it was full of people.
"Ahh there she is, my darling girl"
"Cut the crap, what are you on about?" I spat
" Don't tempt me girl."
" Just tell me who the unlucky bastard of today's duel is so I can get on with my day" I said stretching. I'd already worn combat gear before I went to the library this morning but I dreaded this part of the day the most.
" Damn girl that's yo daddy chill "
"..."
" I'm the unlucky bastard, you ungrateful little bitch i thought you smarter than that! Couldn't you tell? The set up?"
I smirked in answer, my fangs on display. I got those from him, and I would use it to mock him every chance I got.
"Oh... I see... it was intended… a mockery? Sly girl, i taught you well"
"eww kill him"
" gladly" I smile, ready to hunt. I began circling my prey, and he began circling me.
I've played these games before, hunting, killing, it's like a dance to a symphony only i can hear.
A chant, a song of death, it sings in our ears…
"Kill, kill, kill ,kill kill"
"My what a painting you'd make Father" I spat
" Oh, I'm honored you finally decided to call me dad" He smiled so cunningly. The bell rang, the beginning of the fight.
Mikado launched a fist at me which I dodged on instinct, landing a jab to his core. "Left side is open Suki"
He kicked there and I landed on the floor. "Come on, I taught you better than that, are you giving up so soon? Get up and fight!"
But I only smiled further. "Bitch if I lose a duel to this bastard I'll drive you mad for at least a week," my doppelganger said. "Patience… the seeker has to be patient." I replied.
"What are you on about brat? Fight!"
I got up, and took a stance, I knew what I was doing. As per usual rules of duels weapons are not allowed, but Mikado forgets that our combat wears are full of hidden blades.
I dodged each hit, throwing blows of my own, the fight drew on, Mikado was getting tired, I could smell it. "Attack him fuck it, kill him, there will be no need for the map if we end it right here.. Kill him"
" I will, but not now" I said, landing a kick to his face, he stumbled.
"-that scent… is.."
" The most beautiful color in existence, blood" My copy said smiling.
I smiled as well. Such an intoxicating, enchanting, lovely smell. A color worthy of a painting. Mikado's is unusually dark due to an addiction with drugs and a lot of dahlia among other flowers pumped into his blood stream. It's mesmerizing.
"Kill kill kill"
" Well, Mikado, it seems your time has run out, this game is over for you. But I can help you out, I'll give you a 10 second headstart, I'm sure my fellow mutants can help us count now can't they?"
He covered his nose, staring into my eyes, he got up. "What do you have in mind?" He almost looked excited about it. His nose seemed to heal as he took his hand off, but the blood was already there, in its full glory.
"Run, run and keep running, if I catch you I will tear you limb for limb. Let's play…"
...Hide and seek"
"Hide and seek"For once, my copy cat and I are in sync.
The counting began, Roaring in the stadium. I was met with an expected punch to the face. Mikado is a self centered cocky bastard with pride bigger than all the 6 continents combined.
"7"
Another punch." you little brat"
"6"
"5"
"4"
He punched until he was tired…
"2"
When the count down ended…
"1"
It was my turn.
Boom!
My face had already healed by the time I kicked mikado into the concrete pillar, my eyes now fully shifted into their purple state. I haven't been like this for this long since I lost Kage.
He got up bones cracking back into place, he looked up at me laughing.
"There you are, The little monster the lotus gave me"
I ran after him, only now did he run, Oh how i love this game.
"I'm so sorry, I'm cheating, I didn't count for you." I put my hands in front of my face, 1, 2, 3, 4, I counted. I heard him shuffle around, I could smell the fear, the blood. "10, ready or not here I COME" I pounced on him from behind, my arm over his throat choking him.
" Kill him, KILL HIM" she chanted.
" How did I do father?"
" Lovely" he chuckled, still choking on my hands. He began clawing at me to let him go. " Let me go you Fucking demon!"
The other children watched silently. No one moved, until the bell rang and a roman shot a dart on my leg. "Finish it, finish him, rip out his throat so the children can claim the retribution they deserve. Do it… DO IT" she beckoned. A second and third dart landed on my arm. But I didn't do it. I got up and left.
" You IDIOT" she screamed.
" I am certain the ASYLUM has more branches in other countries, if I kill him the others will figure it out and exterminate us. We must remain sane, until we have a solid plan. We need the map. We need to figure out what is in the yearbooks."
Only then did she calm down a little, but I know this is far from over, I will kill him myself.
For my mother… for the children, and for Kage.