Virtue

"Because you too are a Virtue, Abel."

Abel found himself speechless. "What...? Stop messing me with me... Now's not the time..."

Axel sighed. "I need you to take a good luck at my arm over there, as disturbing as it may look."

"What...?" Abel looked at the dismembered arm. A guilty feeling overtook him upon looking.

"I know... I'm sorry... I should've done something in the moment to stop him. I didn't think he'd be able to do something like that…"

"No, that's not the point." Axel's voice was becoming a mere breath. "You see that mark...?"

Abel looked at the arm. He was able to observe a blue circular mark on the upper-tricep.

"Those are the marks that were left by the injections we received to be physically strengthened," Axel said.

"By the government?"

"Yes. Now look at the same spot on your right arm."

Abel slid his sleeve up looking near the upper-tricep. There, was an identical blue circular mark.

"Do you get it now?" Axel spoke faintly. "That's the mark all the Virtues received."

Abel paused. He tried to gather his thoughts. He wanted to say something but he didn't know what.

"I saw it when I checked you for injuries following the fight with Greed."

Abel's breathing sped up. He didn't know what to think. "B-But... Why didn't you say anything...? Does that mean you've recognized me all this time...?"

"No... I told you there was only six of us now, right? You must be the newest addition in replacement of our now-gone seventh member. An outcast from our unit. The director only told us of a new seventh member but we never got to meet you. You were just a word among us." Axel's eyes began to dim.

Abel felt disoriented. Things still didn't click in his head.

"I've been a Virtue this whole time...? Why didn't you tell me...? Why didn't you just let me know?!"

"It was an order by the head..."

"An order? Does that mean you knew I'd have no memories?"

"That's what we were told..."

Abel felt triggered. "Why were my memories taken away? What... WHAT DID THEY DO TO ME?"

Axel didn't reply.

"HEY TELL ME!" Abel shouted.

"That's against my order..." By now Axel's arm had nearly drained of all its blood. Life slowly withered from his body.

Abel stood up in anger. He turned away and held his forehead. A sharp pain pierced his mind.

"Please…" Axel whispered. Abel turned back around.

"Kill the rest of the Sins, Forgiveness…" Axel's eyes hollowed out.

"Forgiveness? I'm the Virtue of... Forgiveness?"

Axel remained silent.

"Hey... Axel?"

There was no reply. Instead, Axel's eyes continued to watch the sky, lifelessly. His body remained still. The residual blood left in his arm seeped out onto the pavement.

Abel kneeled next to him in silence. "I'm sorry..."

Abel was now an oddity. He stood among a crowd of the lifeless.

When would the time come that he'd walk alongside such people?

He wondered.