Work Text:
“Did you know? Every night, if you go to the music room exactly at 2:07 am, you can hear a muffled scream if you press a certain notes on the piano!”
“What? There’s no way that's true! No one can prove it happened unless it was caught on CCTV!”
“Hey, maybe it happened, just nobody can prove it because they already turned into a note themself!”
“That’s ridiculous..”
You sighed, hearing about this rumor for the Nth time this month. With the uproar or missing students, all kinds of rumors and gossip starts spreading among people. From ghost stories to murder theory, but no one had enough proof of anything.
It’s autumn already and since the first case happened in spring last year, no new leads had been found. Only more missing students from all over the country. Police and authorities seem to be doing nothing against it, just repeated warnings not to stay out alone at night, or being careful when approached by strangers.
Honestly all this bullshit propaganda without real action just flare up the masses, worried parents keep protesting but no one really took action. Maybe it is also because all children that went missing are orphans.
[RING!]
The school bell rang, it’s time for lessons to resume. Students scattered from their group and hurriedly went back to their seats. Not out of fear, but excitement. The class door slides open, then a tall handsome young man walks in. White hair, board shoulder, and chick tinted round glasses that hides the charming cerulean eyes, you would never expect him to be a teacher.
“Good afternoon everyone! How is everyone doing today?” with a bright smile, Kaelix Debonair, their biology teacher greets the class. The whole class responded enthusiastically, clearly looking forward to his lesson. It’s strange people like Mr.Debonair decide to be a teacher while he seems to attract crowds, there’s rumors said he used to volunteer as school nurse from different schools, and end-up staying as school teacher here.
It’s been 6 months since Mr.Debonair started teaching. Kind, funny and incredibly entertaining. His lesson is fun and easy to understand, he gave unique and funny analogies when some part too difficult to be understood by highschoolers. He is also kind and courteous, helping someone without batting an eye. He also still helps out at their school infirmary too.
Almost all girls and boys in school adore him, except You. It’s not like you hate him, You just didn’t bother to have any opinion on him, life is too tough to dwell on something measly like feelings. Keeping score high enough so you can keep your scholarships, working on jobs to buy books and foods, taking care of younger children back at orphanage. Really, at least you knew you can’t be delusional.
But you suspect that you are delusional to some degree.
“Hey ⬛⬛⬛ , could you please come to infirmary for a moment?” After the lesson ended, as most students already pack up and leave the classroom, Mr.Debonair calls you out. Several eyes immediately set on you, ranging from curiosity, disdain and jealousy.
“Okay, Mr.Debonair.” You learned to ignore those gazes. It’s not the first time Mr.Debonair asked you to visit the infirmary. He would gave you regular check-ups, asking about your day, and generally check on your well being. At first you feel uncomfortable, but after some time you feel relaxed a bit. Maybe because he knows you live in an orphanage that he is especially worried about you.
Still it didn’t change on what you felt about him. While there’s gratitude, you also feel a bit resentment because his attention to you cause a bullying from your classmates. You know probably he didn’t mean to cause it, still beggars can’t choose, at least you have a moment of respite in your time there.
“Aw c’mon, at least call me teacher Kaelix! ⬛⬛⬛, you’re still so formal.” Mr.Debonair pouts. Really, sometimes you wonder who is the teacher here.
“Anyway wait for me there yeah? Gotta do my duties first!” laughing at your expression, Mr.Debonair merrily exited the classroom. The moment Mr.Debonair stepped out, the classroom became eerily quiet. You continue tidying your bag, getting ready to leave.
“That Freak get teacher Kaelix's attention again.”
“What does he sees in that Freak? Only notable one is that Freak eye color”
“Maybe he’s interested in studying that Freak, since no one wants to have a child with that eye color anyway!”
“Aw, teacher Kaelix is really kind, feeling pity for some unwanted orphan like that Freak!”
Loud unsuppressed whispers and giggles fill the classroom. You tightened your grip on your bag, quickly zip it and walked briskly out of the classroom. It’s fine, you tell yourself, it’s the usual occurrence, even before Mr.Debonair came all kids make fun of your eye color.
Opening the infirmary door and slamming it shut just as quickly, you heaved a sigh of relief. Really, if you can you would really want to change your eye color or at least wear contacts but no, can’t afford it unfortunately.
You gaze towards the room, a simple white beds and curtains, a small work desk, and medicinal storage cabinet. A smell of disinfectant fills your nose, somehow calming your erratic heart. Placing your bag on the nearest chair, you laid down on the infirmary bed. You look towards the window, gaze blank, watching the sundown.
You really wish you can grow up soon, away from this school or responsibility that force into your hand. Maybe you can believe a bit when Mr. Debonair said the day that you will be free will come soon. Deciding to put aside your thoughts, you close your pinkish-purple eyes that reflect the sunset.
~~~
Afternoon sun seeping through the window, a figure with gray-green seafoam hair sitting quietly on the infirmary bed, a book sprawled by their side, hand running over through the text. A white hair young man sits beside them, humming soft songs while nuzzling his head on the other person's lap. The figure close the book and softly combs the white hair in front of them.
“You should go back to class.”
“Nope. It's boring. And you won’t be there with me.” The white hair young man pouts, stubbornly nuzzling closer towards the other person. The green seafoam hair figure sighs at the childish display, but compromises.
“You don’t want to spend more time with your classmates and friends? It’s almost graduation time after all.”
“No. I only need you, and I will always stay with you.” The white hair young man straightens up, cerulean eyes meeting blurry sunset one. One filled with determination, one with complex emotion, mixed with grief, resignation and happiness.
“I will find a way, no matter what, no matter how.” The young man leans closer, eyes blown wide and erratic. Feeling the other went closer, slowly those pair of sunset eyes closed in acceptance.
In the quiet afternoon sun two figures overlap and a silent promise was sealed with a kiss.
-—-
You gasped, suddenly woken up. You feel sweat coating your back, and your breath comes in short huff. With a pounding headache, you tried to sit up, and surprised when you felt resistance. You feel your hands and legs strapped into something, and after seeing clearly, you notice an unfamiliar ceiling, and a whiff of unpleasant rotten smell. You panicked, hands and feet thrashing trying to free yourself but you can’t muster any strength. Suddenly a door you didn’t notice before creaks open.
“Oh, you already awake huh. How do you feel?” Mr.Debonair down in white lab coat, smiling brightly at you.
“W-Wha..? Whe..?” Your tongue feels heavy in your mouth.
“Ah, guess the doze is too high huh.” Unlike his usual polite self, Mr.Debonair doesn't seem to notice your predicament and dismissively comment on your lack of movement.
He walks towards you slowly, cerulean eyes observing you like an object. With a cold and detached gaze, he observes your condition, and pauses for a moment when gazing into your panicked eyes.
“Don’t worry too much, I won’t do anything yet since the ingredients are not ready.” Mr.Debonair move to attach IV drips to your arm, then patted your head in semblance of reassurance. “Now be good, you will be free soon if you do as I said.”
Strapped in bed not being able to move, you can only watch Mr.Debonair- no, Kaelix inject something into the IV drip. With one last look, he left you behind. You tried to stir awake, willing your body to move but alas, sleepiness took your consciousness.
—
It’s been days since you’re locked up. You didn’t really know how many nights or days had passed, since you are locked in a basement kind of room. First few days, you tried to rebel, trashing away, throwing away the foods he gave you, and you did try to bite and punch him at one point. But he never punished you physically for it. He either drug you to sleep or inject you with something that makes your sense doubled, you can hear even your blood flowing, and it makes your body hurts so much. And physiologically? It’s devastating. He would leave the door open slightly, just a tiny bit so you can hear something outside. A semblance of hope, also torture, as you can hear a muffled screams, unknown object falling through the grounds, and sound of mechanical instrument.
The time he came to visit you in a bloody lab coat left you scared stiff. It happen on the day you struggle the most, left with nothing to eat as you keep throwing then away and only IV Drips keeping you alive, you mostly can only sit weakly in bed with no straps restricting you. When the door opens, what you first notice was a strong bloody smell, then patches of red on his usually pristine white coat. When he took notice of you staring, he smiled and cheerily greets you.
“Ya-ho! How are you doing today? Feels like eating yet?” He waves at you with a bloody latex glove. You can only stare at him in disbelief, already imagining the worst. Your eyes darted away, trying to avoid patches of blood, only landing on the item he held on his hand.
A cylinder glass tube filled with greenish liquid, and a floating brain with two eyeballs.
Your stomach twisted, instinctively retching. You only puked out clear liquid as you didn’t eat previously. Covering your nose, you try to block the pungent blood smell, eyes erratic with dread.
“Ah sorry I forgot to put this away, oops.” Kaelix sheepishly scratch his head, then walks towards you. His towering height makes him more imitating even with a bright smile on his face. “Well, I keep telling you to behave, right? You don’t want to end up as our friend right here.”
His soft, low tone frightens you more. Your heart hammers in your chest, your breath comes in short puff. You now realize there’s no escape if you don’t comply to this man. Even he never physically torture you, the implication that he can and he will dissect you left you in fear.
“Aw~ Don’t be so scared, I came here with good news!” He dramatically spun around the tube and made a drumroll sound effect. “Jajan~ Our friend right here is finally a successful piece I have, and with a few tweaks, my dream will finally come true!”
Kaelix happily spun around with the tube and stopped near you. With a soft smile, he said, “I promise you, if you cooperate with me, you will soon be free and you can start a new live, away from your responsibility. So do me a favor and be good, okay?”
You can only nod in fear, your throat feels too dry to even speak. Seemingly satisfied by your meek response, Kaelix ruffles your hair like giving a praise, then he walk out the room merrily.
Now you know better, you tried to hold on to your sanity as much as possible. You learn to ignore the screams, corporate when he draws your blood, and act obedient. It’s working somehow, he won’t tie you up when he seems to be going out for a long time.
You know it’s just the beginning, you haven’t given up yet, just waiting for the right time.
And soon your persistence got rewarded. One day Kaelix came to the room, excitedly he is finally almost done, and promised you that you would get your freedom after an operation tomorrow.
“It won’t hurt I promise.” He smiles, eyes erratic with excitement, “You won’t even feel anything at all, when you woke up, your eye color that others dislike would change and you can lead a new life.”
You were skeptical of his claim, but stayed silent. He really looks too excited,
After making sure he’s gone, you smash the lock with the IV drip pole that was left behind in the room. After swinging it until it bends, you finally able to open the door, you cautiously walks out.
The first thing that greets your sight is a long row of organs in liquid tubes.
Surprisingly there’s no blood insight in a spotless dim white room but that just makes things creepier. You hold your mouth, trying to stop your retching. After a few tries of deep breath you finally compose yourself enough to swiftly ran across the room, trying your best not to look at those body parts.
You try frantically searching for an exit, but still cautious enough to also search for something to defend yourself. In your haste, you accidently stumble and fall to a wall. You blindly try to steady yourself, grabbing things you can reach. You accidentally knocked something over, resulting in a door seam that you didn't notice before opening.
Thinking it might be the exit, you cautiously open the door. When you enter inside though, it’s completely different from what you expect. A huge glass of tube attach to heavy machinery was in the room. Inside the tube, a floating human figure can be seen. You can’t help taking a closer look, because the sea-foam green haired man inside was so beautiful.
Slender body immersed in greenish liquid, floating in the glass tube. There’s stitches in few parts but his face which is half-covered with an oxygen mask is so eerily gorgeous. You wonder if he is also part of the Kaelix victims. Your hand involuntarily touches the glass.
“Don’t touch him.”
Surprised, you turn back. You see Kaelix standing at the door, with a cold fury you have never seen before.
“You shouldn’t be here, you know that right?” He slowly walks towards you. You notice a dragging sound as he walks, and saw a metal pipe in his grasp. You feel the danger, slowly inching back and hoping to find a way to escape.
“I’m really hoping to see you again sometime after all things are done, but it seems like I can’t anymore.” You frantically search for something that can distract Kaelix, if you’re caught it’s game over for you!
Your hand caught something quite heavy, and immediately throwing it towards the glass-
[TWACK]
Kaelix, who had been advancing steadily towards you, immediately threw his body to shield the glass. You froze for a moment, but immediately ran. But unfortunately for you Kaelix caught up quickly and tackle you. Things from the lab scatter to the ground from your scuffle.
“You! How dare you!” Kaelix is furious, his hands now choking your neck. “Not only you tried to touch him, now you tried to hurt him!”
You tried to pull Kaelix’s grip on your neck, but it’s no use. He is too strong for you to overwhelm him. While Kaelix’s distracted, you tried to grab something quickly to escape!
“I really don’t want to kill you, you know?” Kaelix said as he tighten his grip on your neck. “Your eyes keep reminding me of him, and the way other people treat you almost the same, so I feel pity for you. But now you know to much, I have no choice-”
[STAB]
You manage to grab a scalpel scatter on the ground and stab Kaelix's side. While he is writhing in pain, you quickly run away. You finally saw the exit, it seems it was left open when Kaelix went inside.
You emerge from the music room to your surprise but paid no mind. Since you now know you are in school, it’s easier to navigate to escape.
You ran, ran and finally almost reaching the school gate. And almost relieve wash over you, you quicken your step as your head filled with desperate shouts of help.
Help me! Help me! Help me!
Somebody please help me!
Helpmehelpmehelpmehelpm-
[WHACK]
Your feel intense pain, and your body slump down from the impact. You feel trickle of blood from your head, vision blurring. The last thing you saw was Kaelix, holding bloody metal pipe and shirt soak in blood.
“Freo, it’s time for you to wake up.”
~~~
A somber air spread on school ground. The day where students supposed to be happily celebrating their graduation turns heavy from heavy rain. Each student quietly listening to principal speech for their graduation.
A white hair young man stands in front quietly, different from all student in there, he wore a black suit and holding a white lily. He had a cold, detached aura around him, making nobody can approach him.
“Finally, Kaelix Debonair, please come up to the podium.”
Hearing his name, the white hair young man lifts his gaze up with those cold, hollow cerulean eyes .The Principal can’t help but shudder being gazed by those eyes.
Kaelix didn’t move for a moment, then he slowly walk towards the podium. Beside the sound of rain, the silence in the room makes his step sound so much heavier. When he arrives at the podium, looming tall in front of the teacher, he looks more like a mannequin rather than a human with those blank expressions.
“Congratuation on your graduation, Kaelix. As the best graduate, please say a few words for our fellow classmates.”
Standing there, Kaelix stayed silent. It stays long enough making the teachers and students feels uncomfortable. Can’t stand the silent stretching longer, one of the teacher steps forward and tried to grab the mic.
“Thank you Kaelix for-”
“He is the best.”
Tension spread as Kaelix words was heard. With a heavy tone, he gazed coldly. ”He should be the one standing here. Not me.”
With that Kaelix walk off the stage, nobody stop him as he walk towards the exit.
The sky outside was dark and heavy with rain, but Kaelix didn’t stop walking. He walk faster, faster, until he ran. Clutching the flower in his hand like a life line, Kaelix keep running, until he arrive at a tombstone. He slows down, and his legs gave up, his knees hit muddy land, flowers scattered on the ground.
Soil wet from the rain, and looks freshly dug as no weed grows on the land. The stone crave in elegant red gold cursive, there it reads In loving arms, Freodore xxxx - xxxx.
He can’t bring himself to move. He still can’t believe it. Just yesterday they are still together, they promise to-
(“It’s really unfortunate.” The doctor explained. “If only it was discovered early we could treat it better. People seem to think he moved slowly because of his blindness, but his muscles are deteriorating fast.”
Tapping the report casually, the doctor continues, “a slight concussion all it took to break all the cells, it really a fast acting tumor that never been discovered before. If you allow me, we can make a study of-”)
Why would they dismiss his presence like that? It’s not his fault he is sick! And why won't they want him to be known? He is the best in their school despite not being able to see, why no one appreciates his beautiful, talented Freo? Is being a perfect human all they care about? But that’s okay since Kaelix will have Freo by himself. But now he left him.
He can’t leave him alone like this, they promise to be together forever! He promised to find a way to cure him!
Don’t leave me! Don’t leave me! Please! Don't leave me! Dontleavemealonedontleave-
(“Kaelix.” Freodore softly pat Kaelix's head on his lap. His unseeing eyes cast a foggy sunset, “Promise me, whatever happen in the end, find your own happiness, okay?” )
Yes. Promised. He made a vow that day. So it’s his responsibility to uphold it. Freo only asleep for a moment. Until he find a way to wake him again, he will do his best. He will give him everything. He will make sure when Freo wakes up, he can see him by his side.
…
Thunder roars in the distance, Kaelix went back from the cemetery, hands muddy from soil but so gently and carefully carrying a covered up body in his embrace, leaving behind a dug out tombstone behind.
-—-
“Did you know that Teacher Kealix was actually an alumnus from our school?”
“Yeah! I heard he was the one who renovated our school. Can’t believe he is actually The Debonair heir, I thought he’s a branch family or something since that family is huge”
“Aw but we won’t be able to see him anymore now at our new school since he resigned before school renovation starts.”
“One less eye candy to make our days better I guess.”
“Ah, speaking of him, I think I saw him a few days ago across the street.”
“Really? Where?!”
“Near the train station! Although I’m not sure it is him, since I didn’t have a proper look on his face and only half of his body is visible from where I stood. And that guy is in a wheelchair!”
“Eh~ Did Teacher Kaelix resign because he’s hurt?”
“Maybe, but ah, there’s another person behind Teacher Kaelix pushing the wheelchair. He kind of stands out because he had unique hair color, and looks pretty too!”
“Really?! C’mon don’t leave us in suspense, tell us~”
“He’s whole head shorter than Teacher Kaelix look-alike, had a pretty green-seafoam wavy hair, and peerless white skin. Also his monochrome clothes really look fashionable too~ Although it is a bit strange that he is covered up from head to toe since it’s summer now.”
“Aw, I wish I could see him too.”
“Ah but his eyes kinda remind me of That Freak.”
“Yeah?”
“The sunset-like eyes? Kinda look alike it but a bit brighter and sharper, I didn’t see it closely tho since they’re gone when I manage to get where they are..”
“That’s too bad… Speaking of which, where is That Freak anyway?”
“It’s said that guy got scholarships or something a week before our school renovated.”
“Lucky~ I also want to get scholarships without studying~”
“What? Are you day-dreaming?”
The sound of laughter drift away as the girls walk further, a piece of newspaper carried by a wind lands at the school gate. A row of doctors and businessmen can be seen on the big photo in the newspaper. Big bold letter said “New breakthrough! Corporation between scientists and Debonair Co.!”
A hand picked up the newspaper. Red liquid drops on the paper. A figure wearing a school uniform standing near the gate. Slowly they turn their head towards the gate exit, with two missing eyeballs. Blood dripping from that empty socket, resentfully staring at the freedom they would never have.
Suddenly a strong wind blows. In the midst of falling leaves, the figure disappears.
END