One day before deployment.
Kael sat slumped against the wall, his body nothing more than a collection of bruises stitched together by dried blood.
It clung to his face like paint, like it belonged there, as if the world had decided he would wear suffering as a mask.
His breath rattled shallow, uneven.
A shadow leaned toward him—Noir. The smile on his face was wrong, too sharp, too deliberate.
"Man," Noir said softly, as though savoring the words, "you look bad. Really bad."
Kael's lips trembled. "Please… just leave me alone."
But Noir never left him alone.
He came when Kael was weakest, when silence pressed too hard against his skull.
"What do you want from me?" Kael whispered.
Noir's grin widened, carving deeper into the dimness.
"I want you. To accept me."
Kael coughed out something between a laugh and a sob.
"You can just… take over. Like when you killed those four men."
"Why can't you do it now?"
The grin faltered. Noir groaned, voice sharp with irritation.
"It doesn't work like that. I'm not a parasite, Kael."
"I'm your body's self-defense mechanism."
"I only come when you're almost dying."
Kael's eyes flicked to Noir's hand.
An apple. Red, perfect. Noir bit into it with a loud crunch.
"How are you holding that?" Kael asked quietly.
"That?" Noir smirked.
"That's just your imagination."
Kael blinked—once, twice. The apple was gone. His stomach twisted.
"Oh, come on!"
Noir threw his hands up, theatrically wounded.
"I was eating that!"
Kael's throat tightened.
"If you're my body's defense…"
"Then you grew up in that lab too."
Noir exclaimed with mock grace. "Yeah!"
"But that serum? That thing REALLY messed up your mind."
Kael stared at him, horror pooling in his chest. "If that's true… then you must've—"
Noir leaned closer, grin stretching wide, too wide.
"Killed colleagues?"
His eyes lit with fever.
"Oh yeah! Alot of 'em."
Kael's body froze. The blood in his veins felt heavier, thicker.
"Shit..."
"And the craziest part?" Noir whispered, almost tender. His face grew still, smile frozen in place.
"I KILLED THAT BASTARD'S SON!"
The words cracked through Kael like glass shattering in his lungs. He staggered back, his knees buckling, his breath quickening into panicked gasps.
"Fuck," he rasped. "You had to tell me now?"
Noir only shrugged, as though the admission meant nothing.
"Maybe you should tell Alex. He'll help you."
Kael laughed with a cry , a sound hollow enough to cut.
It wasn't a laughter
It was a cry for help disguied in humour.
"He thinks I'm a psycho. Just like Nila."
For once, Noir's smile dimmed. His voice came out low, almost serious.
"I disagree."
"Alex is the only one who might still pull you out of this."
"The rest?"
His grin returned, cruel and inevitable.
"They'll watch you till you bleed and die."
Noir's voice lowered to a hiss.
"So.."
"Use them."
"Drain them."
"And when they become a burden?"
His teeth glimmered.
"Kill them."
Kael's eyes flickered, fear twisting into something darker. His lips parted, voice trembling, he says with a smile.
"I… I think I'm beginning to understand you, Noir."
Noir leaned closer, eyes gleaming like twin knives.
"No, Kael."
"I'm beginning to understand you too."
His hands touched Kael's shoulder, comforting him.