A friend.

It’s been so long… at least it feels like it.

The times when I was happiest were when I was with her. I almost forgot about my memories.

Back during those times… at the research lab, he could remember being so close to her. Back then he took those moments for granted. But, now he realizes that she was the girl of his dreams.

Maybe he knew from the very beginning. He just didn’t understand until she was gone.

Setsuna.

We did everything together.

We spent so much time together.

What happened?

Kain and another young girl could be seen lying against a bed fitted with black velvet sheets. The two of them were comfortable, to say the least.

The girl known as Setsuna was running her soft hands through Kain’s dark locks. In fact, she appeared to be adorned in black from her long silky hair, the choker that was strapped around her neck, her outfit, and even her nails. The only thing that wasn’t tainted with that ooze was her dim gray hues.

Kain was pretty much the same. But, he mostly got his sense of dressing from his friend. She had a real lasting impression on him and he considered her his best friend. Whatever was on his mind he could freely tell her.

However, the strange thing was that Setsuna was an anomaly. She didn’t really care for anything and often seemed as other people would say “dead.” The only person she really tolerated was this boy.

She was seen as a prodigy when it came to the other Genomes. There were high hopes for her once the researchers finished their testing.

“Do you ever wonder what’s out there?”

“What kind of question is that.” She asked… though with her monotonous voice, it was hard to tell whether she was asking a question or not.

“Like out in the real world. I’ve only heard about it through stories… and pictures I got to see from the others.”

“Frankly, I don’t care. That kind of life is something we shouldn’t be lusting for.” Setsuna said while moving her slender fingers to graze against the boy’s cheek. “It’s best you let that stay a fantasy.”

Kain’s cheeks puffed out as he slowly broke free from her hold. “...No. I don’t think it has to be a fantasy.” He soon repositioned himself on the bed so he was facing her. “If we’re going through much to protect humans… I want to experience what they’re like.”

“You interact with the researchers, Kain. Those are humans.”

“That’s not the same! I want to experience what school is like. The whole concept seems so interesting. Besides… I just want to feel like I…” The boy paused for a moment as he shook his head.

“Feel like what.”

“Like I belong. I don’t fit in here… it feels so strenuous. If you aren’t making results then the researchers yell at you and the other Genomes scold you.”

Setsuna gave the boy a deadpan expression before she shook her head. “You truly are special. You aren’t like the others. You… feel too much and that’s why…”

Kain’s eyes widened a bit as he tilted his head with confusion. He soon poked Setsuna on her side. “That’s why…?”

Setsuna took a deep breath. Staring into Kain’s eyes. His eyes… even though they were the same hue they were different. His eyes were full of life… curiosity… ambition… he was so human.

That is what frightened Setsuna so badly. In her mind, the only thing she really cared about was killing demons. But, she also knew that… unlike Kain, she wasn’t special. In fact, she couldn’t even do that job right because…

But, he couldn’t tell him that. She had been his only friend and it wasn’t by choice. One of the researchers told her to become his friend so they could get better results. His powers are highly based on his mood.

“I’m worried you’re going to be taken advantage of.” She lied before getting out of bed.

“You worried? That’s new coming from someone like you, heh.” Kain’s pale cheeks flushed as he raised his hand to ask a question. “Does that mean you like me, heh?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

She remained silent for a moment… not able to answer him. Her gaze slowly lowered and suddenly a single line of blood was starting to slip from her right eye.

“A-are you ok!? There’s blood coming out of your eye!” Kain said in a worried tone.

“I’m fine…” She lied again.

Setsuna went over to her restroom. She closed the door behind her before she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands soon gripped the sides of the sink before she sighed. She soon brought her index finger to lap up the bloody tear.

Setsuna was my best friend.

But, even she kept secrets from me.

She decided to keep vital information from me.

It only got worse and even though I suspected something was wrong…

I was too scared to say anything.

Research Lab Testing Grounds 1-B

It was a simple test as usual. Setsuna was supposed to display her amazing abilities as normal. They wanted to see if this ability had any limits as of right now there weren’t any.

She was truly gifted… she had something that could kill any demon. The ability to cut through anything absolutely. But, that wasn’t the only thing that made her special. Her transportation capabilities were astounding.

She could transport nearly anything a country away. It was a thing of beauty and opened up so many opportunities for them. They were definitely going to use her like a cash cow. However, they were beginning to have less faith in her usefulness.

CLICK! “All right Setsuna. I want you to transport this freight truck. It doesn’t matter where.” The man spoke from the intercom.

Setsuna nodded slowly, a faint purple aura surrounding her. This energy soon spread from her until it reached underneath the large vehicle. It soon formed a portal that swallowed the machinery to kingdom come.

“Easy.” Setsuna muttered before immediately feeling pain shoot out through her body. She lost the link with her portal and soon she started to cough up blood.

Upon seeing this the man shook his head before speaking again, CLICK! “Setsuna… your condition is getting worse. You know what that means right?”

“... I know… I can still be useful… I’ll overcome this.”

“No one has been documented to have survived their degradation. You are so gifted, but the truth remains. Your cells are dying at a rate faster than the others. You don’t even have a month to live.”

“...” Setsuna stared at the man protected by the tempered glass.

“We’ve decided if you didn’t make any progress this time that we would just terminate you.”

“Terminate… me…” Setsuna froze up as she heard this. Even though she still had time to fight and prove them wrong they weren’t giving her this right. Well, she wasn’t human so it probably didn’t matter.

She was a tool to be used and if she couldn’t perform her role then what was the point of her life?

“I understand…”

“You had no other option but to understand. You aren’t human, so it doesn’t matter what happens to your kind.”

Soon the doors to the testing room opened and two guards walked in and violently grabbed Setsuna, escorting her off the premises.

She knew what was coming next… she didn’t care. She didn’t care about anything. “Sorry, Kain.”

Once they escorted her to a secret room… BANG, BANG, BANG! The sound of gunfire could be heard.

…

Later that evening.

Kain was seated in the cafeteria room, in the corner seats where he and his friend Setsuna normally sat. But, it was odd… she wasn’t here.

Something was bothering him… he had this terrible feeling that something bad happened. He decided to look for her, but her whereabouts were unknown.

Eventually, one of the researchers brought him to his room and sat him down on his bed.

“Timothy… your friend Setsuna died.”

The moment he heard this his body tensed up. He was stricken with unbearable pain. He had lost someone who he cared about very deeply. The one person who could see him. The one person who could understand him.

“No… you’re… lying…”

“She was degrading. Most of the Genomes aren’t able to keep their bodies stable and they start to decompose. The process normally takes half a year, but she was barely holding up.”

Kain couldn’t fight back the pain any longer his eyes started to overflow with water. He was crying about the loss of his friend. He soon got down on his knees and started to clutch the researcher’s legs.

“Please… please bring her back! Please!!”

The researcher stared down at the Genome with eyes of disdain. “How are you able to cry…? You’re supposed to be a tool… nothing akin to an organic robot.”

“This is what humans do!! They cry over the death of their loved ones! I’ll do anything just, please… I need her… I need my friend!” Kain cried out.

“She’s gone… just get over it and focus on being useful to humanity.”

Upon hearing this Kain’s eyes lost any form of life in them. They became empty… and he closed himself off from everyone… “Is… that all I’m good for…?”

“Yes… now get yourself together.” The researcher said before kicking Kain off of him and walking out of the room.

“I’m worried about Subject # 666.

He has been less responsive.

He doesn’t talk to anybody and it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking.

Ever since she died…

He’s been different.

Hostile…

We need to keep him on a tighter leash.

I’m worried he will do something to lash out.

He’s too emotional.”

Kain was seen sitting in the corner of his room… his eyes lifeless and enlarged. He was too stressed to blink and he was seen hugging himself as he tried to remember the affection he got from Setsuna. He kept on muttering to himself… in a frantic state.

“I’ll kill them all.”

—------------------------------

“I’m so sorry that happened, Timothy~. It’s okay… I’ll be there for you… I’ll replace what you lost.”

Kain was in the monster’s main chambers… seated on her bed with the woman’s arms wrapped around him. He was half naked with his pale torso exposed. The boy might have had a small frame, but he was rather toned from all of the experiments.

His eyes were filled with emptiness and deprived of life. He appeared helpless under the woman’s clutches and she soon whispered into his ear.

“I can be your friend, your mistress, your mother. You’re special Kain… everything was leading you to me. I’ll grant this wish of yours… I just want everything from you.”

The woman soon sunk her teeth into his neck like a ravenous fiend. She didn’t care about the pain she was causing the boy. Tickles of blood slid down his neck as she started to drain his blood.

Kain moaned softly as he merely sat there and took it. He had no more fight left him… he didn’t even know what to think anymore.

Once she had her fill she licked his wound before licking the excess blood on her lips. “Delicious~. Your body, your soul… it’s all mine. I want more Kain… enough to feed all of us. You will provide for us won’t you?”

… “O…kay…”