Three

After many awkward encounters time passed by rather quickly. On their seventh day together they had officially been together for a week, but Silla had already discovered a good amount about him. Firstly he was curious, a bit blunt, and brash at times. But he was oblivious of the outside world and unfamiliar with common social interactions. It was almost as if he had never had a friend or even someone to talk to. It made her wonder just how long he had been alone.

Near the books in his pile of collections, she continued reading some of them trying to learn as much information as possible. Eventually, she had lost herself in the books also losing track of Phanes. For his size he was as quiet as a mouse, and she could only assume he left to go find food or look for more strange objects for his collection.

Still, she continued to read, organizing her clothes with some extras that Phanes had wordlessly dropped on her a few days ago. She stuffed her clean clothes in the corner of the room and finally felt content with where she placed her little belongings. Spinning on her heels, she turned and her blue eyes suddenly met deep green orbs. She nearly screamed out of shock but managed to keep her lips sealed.

Immediately her back stiffened, and she had to restrain herself from screeching. What was it with him just watching her? He did it so often. We would just sneak up on her without her knowledge and spectate her every move, from when she ate to when she spoke, even at night when she was peacefully sleeping she swore she felt as if she were being watched. Silla never did catch him with his guard off or sleeping. It was eerily inhuman.

Meanwhile, Phanes seemed to slowly but surely changing.

He constantly felt like he could melt into a puddle whenever he saw the small girl. He secretly always desired to have the company of another to stave off the insanity from constant solitude. He was becoming too attached, and that was dangerous. He had never felt these sort of conflicting emotions and now that he did he just didn't know what to do with himself. This was never part of the plan. It was aggravating, and all he wanted to do was rip his now beating heart out of his chest. It was driving him insane. At first he had thought of destroying the source of the problem but every time he tried it never went according to plan...

Late at night he was restless. His hidden form in the corner looked downward, his face holding a hint of unease. His dark brows were furrowed as he bit his lips while his blonde bangs fell into in his deeply frowning face. He quietly approached her helpless sleeping form and squatted down. He clenched his fist so hard white veins peaked out of his arm and ran all the way up to his neck. Phanes long arms moved to her small fragile neck and his hands slowly yet gently clasped around her neck. All it would take was a bit of pressure.

His feral green eyes were wide with rage, and his face was dark with murderous intent. If he was going to do it; it had to be now. How dare this small pathetic creature do this to him? It was all her fault. He moved in closer almost snarling but when his hands went to squeeze her throat he felt his insides curl up as if someone had stuck their hand inside him and twisted his intestines. His heart beat felt irregular, and it pounded so loudly in his chest he could hear it in his ears. He felt like he could throw up and a cold sweat ran down his back with fear.

He couldn't do it.

Phanes gripped his hair to the point of almost pulling it out by the roots. His hand went down, covering his face as his bright green eyes peaked out between his clenched fingers. Green eyes swelled wildly as he stared at the sleeping girl. She never stirred, and her soft breaths came out rhythmically her chest rising and falling. If she suddenly stopped breathing or disappeared or got hurt, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. At his previous actions he wanted to tear off his hands with disgust. He couldn't stand the image in his brain of his hands wrapping around her small neck.

Attaching himself to her was the easy part; admitting it to himself was harder. For now he would just have to deny it for as long as possible.

_______________________

Early in the morning Phanes groaned when he felt his consciousness begin to awaken, as he was slowly and steadily pulled out of his slumber. His eyes remained closed as he felt the warm sunlight of the rising sun shine on his skin and the silence that consumed the area. Reaching over to grab and pull close the small girl, when his hands landed on a mere spot of empty blankets and pillows, his green eyes snapped open focusing as he scanned the room. Frantically, his quiet voice cracking as he called out in a whisper.

"Silla...?"

Upon not finding her on the makeshift bed next to him, Phanes scrambled around the maze of halls, his eyes scanning the area and searching for any sign of her. Every passing second with no sign of her he felt his stomach churn with fear and dread, so many thoughts flooded his mind and drowned out rational thinking. Where was she? Did she leave? Did something happen?

Where was she?

Where was she?

Where was she?!

His chest unevenly raised and fell in spasmodic patterns, each breath felt like his last as if no oxygen would filter through his lungs. His heart pounded in his rib cage as he began to tremble violently and his whole world began spinning. Parting his lips to cry out for her, he couldn't speak. He couldn't force the words out.

Phanes managed to reach the other hidden areas of the warehouse when there he saw the darkest pathway with the dusty curtains open. He hadn't ventured there in years, and it had remained untouched in all the time but now it was open. Stumbling through as quick as he could but his legs felt like jelly. However, upon making it past the curtain and into the space, there he saw her. Immediately upon sight he dashed to her and practically threw himself at her.

He had previously believed that he could just ignore and deny it but once he lost her, he realized he couldn't anymore.

Silla gave a frightened gasp and went rigid as strong arms clutched her and squeezed her for dear life. She could feel his uneven breaths and every inch of his body trembled as he stuttered, repeating words in unrecognizable phrases she couldn't comprehend. Phanes quickly spun her so she faced him. Finally, it seemed as if he had calmed down after minutes of tense silence, he frowned and his eyes flashed with anger as he screamed,

"DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T EVER LEAVE ME! YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO- YOU CANT!"

The girl shrunk back, her eyes going wide at seeing him in such a state. She had never seen him so expressive, and with how shaken she was and how unhinged he seemed, she was terrified. His booming voice was so loud for once, it echoed and bounced off the old walls. Squeaking out pathetically in a meek voice as soft as a whimper, "o-okay... I-I won't leave..."

He brought her as close as possible, until it was almost painful and difficult to breath in his crushingly tight embrace. He inhaled her intoxicating scent that filled his sense of smell and provided as another reassuring sign that she was right here with him. His vision became a blur as his eyes began to water, so he squeezed his eyes shut and merely sensed her warmth and felt her flesh against his and underneath his fingers. Phanes found himself able to calm down quicker with her in his arms, he felt whole with her once again. If she always stayed with him and never left his side, then everything would be okay, as long as he had her. He knew that he couldn't hold it back any longer and he couldn't deny what he already knew to be the truth. Whatever these emotions were, he knew that she was at the center of them and that there was no stopping it.

Maybe... Just maybe...

It wouldn't be bad to indulge in these feelings. Maybe it was just better to except them... Maybe he could just-

No. No. No.

That was too much.

He could feel the madness of such thoughts swirling inside him. He could never act on such emotions... Selfishly Phanes would just keep her as his own. That way he could keep her safe. That way he could groom her.

Before her, life was nothing. He only woke up, guarded, scavenged, and slept. Again, and again, and again, only him by himself and no one else. It was cold and quiet...

Then she came.

She was a curious being that brought warmth to his cold life. Silla was an overwhelmingly shiny brilliant light. He wanted her to stay with him. He liked her and her beauty so much. She was made of pure white light so blinding and intense. It was unbearably hot to the point he felt like he was being consumed by it.

She was the sun.

He wanted to see more of that light. It was different from the moon or the city lights. He wanted to trap it and contain it so only he could have it. He didn't understand what he felt yet he knew it was his. These feelings for the first time made only one thought pop into his mind. Something Silla would say often as it was one of her favorite pieces of literature from the old world.

A moth would always follow the light.

There was no need to distinguish between the two. She was his light, and where his light was, he would follow. Without his light, life would return to the darkness it once was, and it may be even more difficult to endure. Thinking of this he remembered a poem Silla had shown him from his collection of books.

Had I not seen the sun

I could have borne the shade

But light a newer wilderness

My wilderness has made

Phanes couldn't figure out what this meant, but part of it resonated with him. He only knew that he could not do without his light like the wildlife could not live without the suns light.

Without the light he would die.

Without her he would die.

It was at that one moment that he had finally decided. This would change everything. Nothing would be the same again. He would forcibly change her fate and mold her with his own hands.

_______________________

Day by day passing the strange boy had become considerably closer. He kept watching and following her as always but sometimes she'd catch a soft smile on his face and he was slightly more talkative. Always he was touching her in some way, whether it be holding onto the fabric of her shirt or a strand of her hair, grasping her fingers or even holding her in his arms, he loathed being separated for even a single minute. He had become clingier and followed her around like a lovesick puppy. Silla couldn't understand why he was like this yet openly welcomed it over his previous behavior.

Then one evening the boy suddenly, stood in front of her. Noticing he was tugging on her sleeve she slowly got up and allowed him to lead her through the maze of doors and hallways. Using her free hand, she rubbed her tired eyes and yawned, "Where are we going?"

Following blindly the girls footsteps were slow and careful, so she wouldn't trip over the uneven and hole infested floor. "Phanes, where are you taking me?" She smiled up at him as he looked at her rather nervously confusing her. Something about his gaze looked almost sad and full of guilt.

Walking behind him she saw how much her form was completely covered by his. Most males were on average one hundred and ninety centimeters tall. Of course over the centuries, human evolution caused us to change. Some of these changes being larger eyes, different skin tones, and height. Human limbs were much longer than ever before and their bones structures had changed too. Now the human race was taller than they would've been a few centuries ago.

Although such things were also featured in trans humans, they seemed to be extremely exaggerated and amplified beyond that of a regular person. The boy in front of her had almost alien features. He wasn't much taller than her, his form was lanky and skinny, much like that of a skeleton. Though his thinness was due to extreme malnutrition.

Eventually, the boy led Silla to another entrance this one much larger and much more sinister. She could sense the familiar humid air, the same rotting smell, and worst of all the god awful screeching sound of nails on metal. Or more specifically broken nails trying scratch their way through walls to escape.

They were back where the slave traders were.

She turned to run back from the door, but a harsh and powerful hand had suddenly shot out and roughly clenched around her wrist. Her whole body was yanked backwards by a strong grip and her arm almost popped out of its socket from the velocity she had gained when turning. The formerly still boy was standing in front of the shut door. Turning his cold green eyes to her, she paused. He had never looked at her like that in nearly four weeks.

His unremorseful blank glance was even worse then when she had first saw him. The way he stared at her like he had never seen another human before. What had she done wrong?! Why was he being like this?! His face remained the ever present dark and cruel look, terrifying her. She was paralyzed to the spot, the menacing aura holding her in a tightening grip.

He was giving her back to the traffickers.

At the realization her eyes became blank almost hazed and fogged. They were a glassy blue like a dead ocean. Silla's entire form stood still and she clenched her fist until it was white. How could she be so stupid?  Why would he ever care for someone like her? She had actually thought that they were friends. But yet again she had been reminded of the hard lessons of life.

No one cares about you.

No one wants to help you.

No one wants to befriend you.

No one.

This time she wouldn't be able to escape the mistake of forgetting it and at this the large iron door screeched open- Terrified didn't even begin to describe what she was feeling. The betrayal that seemed to seep through her skin burned into her heart like acid. What came first was the white-hot anger but it was only masking how she really felt. She took two small steps backward shaking her head trying to deny the situation. The only sound was her pulse beating in her ears, blocking everything else out. Her mind screamed at her to run but she could not longer control her body. She couldn't even control her hands that seemed to shake in an odd trembling manor.

Soon Silla could feel the flight response kick in, increasing her heart rate, flooding her with added adrenaline. All around her shadows and echoes played, invading her senses, warping shapes and sounds aside from her heartbeat.

Hundreds of people in cages stared back at her their eyes seeming sad and accusing. Though it wasn't their eyes that bothered her. It was the cold emotionless ones that enjoyed inflicting suffering onto others. The very eyes belonging to the ones who first put her in a cage. At the entrance their greedy gold teeth selfishly glared down at her. They probably couldn't wait to put her on the market.

Immediately she shuffled away from the boy she previously had trusted and befriended. She had somehow managed to twist her wrist enough to escape his harsh grip. Silla whipped around, desperately attempting to make a break for it. Though as she scrambled to get her footing Phanes had blocked her pathway. His cursed long legs made it easy to move faster and maneuver himself.

It was unfair.

He was so unbelievably quick that it looked like he was floating instead of moving. The boys humanoid limbs shot out and latched onto her own, trapping her as she struggled. Both her arms and wrists were held tightly as he glared down at her as if testing her to see if she would try to run again; almost daring her to. It wasn't long after that that he had gone behind her and soon she felt a sharp but quick pain in the back of her neck sending her into unconsciousness. Falling into him, she whimpered and her legs collapsed underneath her.

She fought to keep her eyes open but even as she lay on the floor horrendous visions started to take over. Everything was doubled but she could make out the gaunt pale bloody, bruised faces staring back at her from the hundreds of iron bars. But this time their eyes were all white like a ghost their pink blood vessels looking as if they had popped. Now the whites of their eyes a blood shot red. All their eyes were rolled into the back of their heads. It seemed her mind had conjured up a nightmarish daydream and was now taunting her.

Tears freely came from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks and leaked onto the floor. From there on the sight only got worse.

Thousands upon thousands of faces wailed in agony as bloody tears rolled out of their eyes. They ripped at the flesh on their faces howling in agony. They choked on their own blood as it spilled out of their mouths and dropped down their chest. Cold and lifeless white eyes as they howled deathly screams. She too wanted to scream but all that came out was a soft wheeze as more tears slid down her face. Silla laid silently on her side too mentally and physically exhausted to continue anymore. She thought it was over but once again she was proved wrong.

A familiar bloody face came up nose to nose and spoke to her. It was a woman. She was beautiful and at least thirty years of age. However, her beauty was ruined by the horrific image depicted. White bloodshot eyes rolled into the back of her head as blood freely ran out of her eyes and down her face. Her now pale chapped lips coated red with blood as it ran from her mouth to down her neck.

"Look what happened to me when you left." Her hoarse voice cracked out in a whisper.

It was Selena.

"M-Mom..." Silla sadly cried out before it all went black. Deep down she knew all of it was only her mind playing tricks on her but it was horrifying, nonetheless.

_______________________

It was sudden when she came to. A slight silent gasp escaping her parched lips. She slowly blinked her crusty eyes open. She was dazed, and her vision was doubled as her head laid sideways against the floor; her entire view lopsided. She was now in a cage. It's iron bars long and thick. This cage was a bit smaller than the other ones she was previously in however now she was alone. Only she took up the space of the cage as cold cruel wind blew through the bars sounding like screeching metal and a wind chime as it flew through the bars.

Through her glass like eyes she viewed a scene that brought only pain to her mind. Phanes stood as tall as ever except this time he wasn't alone. The boy stood next man who was rather unsightly. The much older man had greasy clothes and a pot bell. The boy seemed to be talking to another trader; this one being rather disgusting. Every now and again she could see them glance towards her while they were conversing. Silla pretended to be unconscious as to not attract any unwanted attention. She couldn't read lips well, but she was able to pick up a few words here and there. It was likely that they were talking about selling her. It was to be expected, but that didn't take away the betrayal she felt.

After a few minutes of talking the boy pulled something out of his pocket as the bald mans eyes glimmered with greed. This action confused her. What could it be? At closer expectation she now clearly saw that he had handed over one of the many collective items from his pile and in return was given a key.

...But why? Why was he trading such precious items? What could he possibly get in return for a rare object like that?

Turning the boy looked at her and upon getting caught wake she panicked, starting to sweat as he came closer and closer. When he came to the front of the bars, she scrambled backwards but it didn't seem to matter much since the key he was given or more or less bartered for could open the door.

Opening the door to her cage, he gently bent down and grabbed her hand. Silla was so very confused. Why was he being nice again? When Silla first saw he was given a key in return for one of his precious items she was confused. When she learned that it had been the key to her confinement, she came to a sudden realization.

The trade.

A key and a rare treasure.

He had bought her.

It all made sense. She had her suspicions but never did she think that he would buy her as his own...

Phanes gently brushed her hair out of her face and observing her freezing state his gaze seemed to soften. All her emotions of confusion, rage, and a hint of relief hit her at once. Her face contorted multiple times as her brain tried its very best to surmise the situation. Demeaning as it was to be a slave she was glad that at least she wasn't going to a stranger. Although Phanes just might be worse.

Once outside, Silla meekly followed him out, knowing the punishment for runaway slaves was one hundred barbed lashes. Silent she sat obediently as he gently placed the thick metal around her neck. It was a bit heavy but it quite quickly latched onto her with a click. The black cold inner metal illuminating a light blue and automatically adjusting to the size of her neck; a slave collar. Silla still wasn't sure how to feel about it and perhaps she never would but for now she would endure.

When they made their way to an uneven hidden crawlspace, she felt him move behind her, she wondered what he was doing. Looking back she saw him with his large jacket open. Before she could say anything he had encased him and her in it and zipped it back up; her body instantly shrouded with warmth. His long gray scarf wrapped around her neck. It was quite warm, and she enjoyed its fresh scent.

The logical part of her brain told her she should be concerned about this traitorous boy. But she couldn't seem to focus on anything except his body against hers. She was just glad she wasn't in a cage with the other slaves regardless of what he might do to her in the future. Tilting her neck to rest, Phanes moved her head to his shoulder, and the sensation lulled her into a state of tranquillity. Whether it's the possible lack of food giving her hallucinations or not, she heard a faint murmur from him in response.

Looking up to the barren ceiling Phanes finally understood the meaning of the last two lines of the poem that he could never understand before.

Had I not seen the sun

I could have bore the shade

But light a newer wilderness

My wilderness has made

She was the salvation in his life. She brought him warmth and light. But because he had not seen the beauty of the sun, he could never return to the loneliness and darkness. The light couldn't save him from the darkness, instead it made him want the luxury of its warmth and light even more. He knew when he saw her that she was his. From the moment he saw her eyes sparkling like a thousand stars in the now nonexistent midnight blue sky.

______________

To be continued...