Leon POV

I open my eyes and saw nothing, felt nothing and it was like I was drifting in nothingness. I couldn’t move or see or speak. Where the hell am I? After what felt like eternity of drifting, I could see a small light appearing in the distance and I felt myself being sucked into the light.

I found myself next a woman with long silky black hair and ruby red eyes. She was kneeling down in front of a little boy who had jet black hair and matching red eyes. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this young boy was me.

“Your going to go with this nice man and your going to do what he tells you to do, okay?” She said gently resting her palm on my cheek. I nodded my head. “Okay, mommy.”

I stumbled backwards, not wanting to relive this nightmare again. I tried to run but I found myself back in the same spot again and again and when I realized I wasn’t getting any where’s. I covered my ears trying to block out my mothers voice but it didn’t work.

“Your such a good boy.” She whispered to me before her eyes focused back on the man in the white lab coat. “Do you have the money?” She asked coldly and he handed her a thick white envelope, “more money will be sent to you monthly.” He uttered to my mother as she smiled cruelly, counting the money in the envelope. When she was done, she nodded her head turning her back on me, not even giving the young boy she just sold a second glance.

The young boy cried, reaching out to woman I once called mom and I shook my head, hating myself for crying over that cruel heartless bitch. “I want to stay with my mommy.” The boy cried with tears running down his small face, looking up to the man I will grow to fear.

His black beady eyes stared down at the boy, “sorry kid, your mine now.” He coldly stated, as he held my hand in his. The younger me gazed back into the cold eyes of the man I will soon call Dr. H and at the moment I knew I was never going to see my mother again.

The memories started shifting to another moment of my past and I was now surrounded by strangers in white lab coats. They stripped my clothes and made me bathe in ice cold water and after scrubbing me clean, they cut my nails and trimmed my hair. They dressed me in white scrubs and Dr. H guided me to a metal cub like room.

“Welcome to your new home, kid.” Dr. H told me as we stood in a very clean white room with white walls and floors. There was no windows, no pictures hung up, no decorations, nothing in this room stated that this was a home other than a single twin bed in the center of the room. “You will get three meals a day, no more no less.” He said seriously, placing his hand on my back and pushed me into the room. “Try to get some sleep, kid. Your trial starts tomorrow.” And he shut the white door, leaving me all alone.

The younger me finally crumbled as I crawled under the thin white sheets and cried myself to sleep.

I have done everything in my power to forget these memories and yet, here I am reliving them.

The memories started shifting again and I was now standing next to the little version of myself. I glance around realizing I was in a room I have been in over a hundred times. My arms stayed covered in bruises from the needles they loved proding me with. I was being a good boy like they asked me to as I was sitting down with a dozen IV's in my arms and a woman with dead eyes continued drawing blood from my arm.

“Your not like the other children who scream and cry. . I really hope you survive, kid.” She stated but she never made eye contact with me. She finally finished and Dr. H came to see me. I knew when he personally came to see me that I was going to be in a lot of pain. He guided me to a room that the little me has yet to enter and I felt the blood drain from my face.

I tried to grab the little boys hand but my fingers went right through his. I wanted to disappear when I realized, I couldn't change my childhood memories. I wanted to go back into the nothingness, anything to not relive this nightmare.

They strapped me down to a cold silver table as they whispered among themselves. “His body isn’t strong enough to handle this, yet.”

“It’s to early. He’ll die and we can’t afford losing anymore children.”

“I know this but this kids different. He’s not like the other weak children. I know he can handle it.” Dr. H said and I tried to punch his face but my fist went through his skull. The boy tried to move but it was useless as Dr. H foot steps approached the silver table I was laying on and he leaned down into my little face with a deranged smile. The others all wore mask as they circled around the table and I remember feeling like my heart was going to pop.

“I want my mommy.” The boy cried out loud for the first time.

“Don’t worry kid, if you become strong like I predict you will. You’ll see your mommy again one day.” Dr. H stated. “Now, bite down on this.” He shoved a brown leather strap into my mouth.

“Stop!” I yelled, trying to destroy the loud machine they turned on but nothing changed when I tried to destroy this torture chamber. I tried to close my eyes and cover my ears but all of a sudden I found myself seeing through the eyes of the boy on the table. I cried out struggling against the straps but I couldn’t move an inch as they placed two cool metal balls to my temples. “Clear.” And a sharp pain ran through the course of body. My hearing and my sight was disoriented and I felt numb all over. I tired to open my eyes but all I could see were dark grey shapes and all I could hear were muffled voices all around me.

“Do it again.” Dr. H commanded.

“But sir. .”

“Do it again!”

“Clear.” I felt the pain again going all the down my spine to the tip of my toes that curled from the pain. I couldn’t think or breath or feel.

“Again. .”

The scenery changed again and I found myself on all fours, choking on the air I sucked in to fast. I glanced up and my watery eyes landed on the boy who was a little to thin and he had dark circles under his eyes. He was a few inches taller and his hair was a shaggy mess. Dr. H put a large black fruit with blue swirls carved into it.

“Leon, I want you to eat this fruit and if you pass the next test. I’ll give you a special gift.” The young naïve boys eyes had a glimmer of hope in them.

“Don’t eat it!” I screamed at myself but I knew he couldn’t hear me when he lifted the fruit up to his lips and took a big bite out it. I slammed my fist on the ground, hating myself for being so weak back then.

“Wake me up!” I shouted at the top of lungs but nothing happened. I was still stuck in the room when they brought a prisoner in. He hands and feet were bound with chains and he wore a black and white stripe jumpsuit.

Dr. H nodded his head and they removed the table from the room.
“Leon, I want you. . to kill this man.” Dr. H told me smoothly and I saw the hope slowly die in his eyes.

The boy shook his head, “no. I don’t want to kill him.” He pleaded with Dr. H but he ignored him as he left the room.

The speaker came on and Dr. H's voice echoed into the room. “Remove his chains.” He commanded and they did.

“Remember our deal. If I kill the boy, you set me free and my charges get swiped clean.” The man covered in tattoos rocked his neck back and forth. “Sorry kid, it’s nothing personal.” He told the younger me as he trembled in fear.

I tried tackling the man to the ground but I went straight through him and his large fist slammed in the boys face. He hit the wall behind him hard before falling to the floor. The man picked him up by the collar of his shirt as his feet dangled off the ground. The man wore a twisted grin like he was enjoying himself and he headbutted the boy in the nose, and I heard a crunch noise as the boys blood dripped on to the floor.

The man laugh sinisterly as he dropped him to the ground and stomped on his arm and I heard the bone snap in half. The boy screamed in agony and when the man had his fun terrorizing the younger me, he placed his foot on top of his head. He couldn’t move or fight back and just when he thought he was going to die, a black ash circled around the both of them. The man started howling in pain as he waved his arms around trying to swipe the ash away from his body but it was to late. He slowly disintegrated into ash until there was nothing left of him.

The boy was unconscious from the torment he went through and I could see Dr. H smiling through the glass. “we’ll do this every two weeks until he is ability becomes second nature to him.”

“You sick son of a bitch! I'll fucking kill you when I get my hands on you!” I yelled at the man behind the glass, knowing good and well that he couldn’t see or hear me.

The memories shifted again and I was in a thick small glass cub. I stared down at the boy who was a few years older now. His eyes were cold and filled with hate as his jet black hair ran all the way down his back. He laid down on his bed, eavesdropping on Dr. H’s conversation with a new voice he didn’t recognize.

I heard the door open and Dr. H and a man the boy has never seen before, stood behind the glass. The boy leaned up on his bed and studied the new comer. He had dark brown soft eyes and sandy blonde hair. I felt tears forming in the corner of my eyes and the boy stared at the man he will grow to admire.

“Why is he behind glass?” Mr. Walker asked looking mortified when he saw the boy. “He killed half the staff when he was only six years old. For everyone’s safety we keep him behind this impenetrable thick glass.”

“I-is that a collar around his neck?!” Mr. Walker shot Dr. H a glare. “It’s not enough to strain his body to the breaking point and isolate him from human contact, you had to put a collar around his neck like some kind of animal?!”

Dr. H hesitated for a moment, “the man made devil fruit has some. . twerks and we can’t seem to get him to control his devil fruit. The collar is for everyone’s protection because we don’t know when his devil fruit will run wild and that’s why they want you to take over this project.”

“He’s not a project he’s a human child.” Mr. Walker gave Dr. H a disgusting look. “I want the key to his collar. I’m taking him with me.” Mr. Walker said sternly and when he looked at me, the boy saw something in his eyes he never seen before. . compassion.

I walked through the glass and I wanted to hug this man tight but it was enough to just see him again.

“Mr. Walker, I understand your frustration and anger but this child is not like normal children, he’s dangerous. I don’t recommend you take him lightly.”

“I thought I told you to bring me his key.” Mr. Walker hissed, narrowing his eyes at Dr. H and for the first time the boy seen Dr. H sweat in fear.

“Yes, sir.” And he left the room. I couldn’t help but laugh at his braveness as he opened the glass door without a protective suit on and he boldly walked in. The boy growled like a wild animal at him but there wasn’t a flicker of fear in his eyes.

“What is your name, child?” He asked me curiously. I curled up on my bed trying to lean away from the man I remember thinking was crazy. I didn’t answer him and he gave me a friendly smile, “how rude of me. I guess I should introduce myself first before asking for your name.” He took a step forward towards me and I heard a low growl escape the boys throat. “My name is Mr. Walker, now tell me your name child.” I still didn’t answer him and his hand stretched out to touch the top of my head. I lashed out and bit down on his hand, drawing blood.

I regretted biting him but this younger version of me might as well have been a wild animal.

I refused to let go as my teeth sunk deeper into his flesh but he didn’t try to yank his hand away or scream out in pain. He lifted up his other hand and the boy squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for him to strike but the blow never came. His hand rested on top of the boys head and he gently rubbed his head. “It’s okay, I’m going to take you home with me and I’m going to take really good care of you.” He whispered and I remember feeling distrust but at the same time I felt an ease wash over me.

The memories shifted again and I stood next to the boy at the top of the stairs, eavesdropping on Mr. and Mrs. Walker.

“It’s been a year, honey and he still hasn’t uttered a word. He’s cold and distant towards us and we can barely get near him without him lashing out. We need to focus all of our attention on him. We can’t take in another child right now.” I heard Mrs. Walker say.

The sound of her voice brought fresh tears to my eyes. I walked down the stairs and she was seating at the dinning table, running her fingers through her fiery red hair. I smiled remembering she always did this when she was stressed.

Mr. Walker sighed, “maybe this is what he needs. To be around another child and besides, if we don’t take her. They’ll hand her over to Dr. H.”

The smile dropped from my face when I imagined Fae going through the hell I went through.

“She was stolen from her crib and the Government hired the doctor of the royal family to declare her dead. Those. . people aren’t human if they can steal a sick baby from her home and then ask us to make these children into weapon’s. I don’t want to corroborate with these people.”

“I know, honey but you read her profile. She has inherited the Poseidon power along with her sister but she was born as a Water Sprite. The rarest Sea Dweller none to man. To be loved by water and to blessed with The Voice Of All Things. To be honest I have two voices arguing whether or not if this child should live. If she gets in the wrong hands she can destroy this entire world but at the same time she could create peace all around the world and if we don’t take her. She’ll more likely die at the hands of Dr. H or worse they actually succeed in creating the ultimate weapon.”

They were both silent for a moment before Mr. Walker walked behind his wife and started rubbing her shoulders. “She's beautiful and we have the power to help her. We’ll teach her to love life and raise her to be compassionate and kind and I know, you’ll be a great mother.”

“That’s the problem. I’ll fall in love with these kids and as parents, you don’t allow people to use your children as weapons.”

“We won’t let that happen and we’ll figure it all out. We always do and the one thing we haven't done that we have always wanted to do, is raise a family. I want this and I know you do too.” He kissed the top of her head. “Just try to imagine Leon, becoming a strong man and making a difference in the world. I want to shut down all those horrible facilities like the one Leon grew up in and I want our children growing up in a peaceful world. I can’t see the future, honey but I do know we can make a difference by saving this baby girl.”

She sighed, “I like how you’re using your charm to have your way.” She said smirking up at him.

He chuckled lightly, “I can be persuasive when I want to be.” She giggled as he playfully kissed her face.

Mr. Walker adored his wife. She was everything to him and the love they shared was something I have yet to ever to see again.

The memories shifted again and Mrs. Walker was sitting in a rocking chair, humming a melody with a bundle up blanket in her arms as Mr. Walker paced back and forth in the room. “I can’t believe they did this to her.” He ranted in anger, “and to give me such a stupid excuse.”

“I know your upset honey, but what do you expect. They don’t care about her or Leon or anyone as long as they get their way.”

“That’s not an excuse to strip her of her identity.” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “Maybe. . maybe when we make her healthy. . we announce to the world what the Government has been doing in secret.” Mrs. Walker whispered, kissing Fae’s face.

“You know. . we’ll be branded as traitors and we’ll more likely die.” Mr. Walker stated seriously to his wife. She nodded her head calmly, “I know.” A creaking noise at the door, grabbed there attention and the boy with crazy wild hair and distrusting eyes, stood behind the frame of the door, listening in on there conversation and was curious about the baby in her arms.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker smiled, “do you want to see your baby sister?” She asked the boy kindly. He nodded his head and he slowly crept in the room like a skittish cat, ready to run if need be. He slowly leaned in to look at the baby in her arms and I could see my ruby red eyes widen in wonder. Fae opened her eyes like she could sense he was there and when her grey eyes landed on the boy. I remember feeling warmth in my chest for the first time as I gazed down at the baby girl who will become the center of my world.

“She’s really sick right now but we're going to do everything we can to help her. Do you want to help us make her all better?” Mrs. Walker asked the boy and he nodded his head. They both looked at each other in shock before smiling at each other. It was the first time I willingly reacted to them.

The memories continued on and I could see myself slowly changing for the better in my memories. I was happy for the first time in my life. I had a family who cared for me, who gave me all the love in the world but all good things eventually come to an end.

My memories shifted one final time and I was standing next to Mr. Walker who was out of breath from running with me in his arms while Mrs. Walker had Fae close to her chest.

I remember hearing the Marines barging in our home and destroying everything as a man screamed to find us. I didn’t know what was going on at the time but I knew that it was the bad guys.

Mr. Walker hurried an took the backpack off his back, putting it into a small boat as Mrs. Walker let out a wail that only a mother would understand. She held Fae close to her and I could see the pain written on her face as she knelt down in front of me.

“I may not have given birth to you or your sister but you are my children. You are my babies and I love you so much.” The tears streamed down her face when she put Fae in my arms. She grabbed my cheeks and kissed the sides of my mouth. “I-I packed some supplies in your backpack and John loaded the boat with supplies you’ll need to survive out on the sea.” She sobbed lightly, trying to hold herself together but she was a blubbering mess. “Remember what we taught you. Breath in through your nose and exhale out of your mouth and always keep your lucky coin with you.” She smothered us in kisses before moving aside to let Mr. Walker talk to me.

“Listen to me son, we can’t stay together any longer. It’s to dangerous for us to be with you two and I know your still young and it’s selfish of us to leave all this responsibility on you but you’re a young man now and I want you to always look out for your sister and take care of her. Protect her always and don’t allow anyone to harm her.” He reached behind me and pulled out a folded map. “I taught you the basics of navigation and I mapped out a course I want you to take to avoid Pirates and Marines. Trust no one other than your sister and stay hidden from everyone.” His voice cracked as he tried to hold back his tears.

“Don’t ever allow the Government to get there grimy hands on you or your sister. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll become a stronger individual and I know you’ll cause a shift in this world but I want you to remember that your not a tool, not a pawn, and not a weapon to be used for anyone and don’t ever allow anyone in this world to tell you that you are.” He kissed my forehead and I remember feeling confused. I didn’t understand anything at the time or why they couldn’t come with us.

He pushed the small boat into the water and he held his wife who collapse in his arms sobbing uncontrollably.

“I'm sorry, I wish I could have changed the world even if it was just a little for you and your sister to live in peace but I know that’s not possible until the World Government is no more. You will both be considered threats and criminals to the World Government and that’s not your fault or your sister’s but it’s because their scared that you’ll both make changes whether it’s good or bad and that scares the hell out of them. Be careful and remember. .”

.

.

“We love you both.”

My eyelids flew open and Sanosuke was piercing down at me. “I know were Fae is.” He coldly stated to me and his eyes were chilling.

I raised an eyebrow at him, something happened while I was out. He seems. . different, colder, and almost valiant but at the moment I only cared about the information he told me. I was drenched in sweat when I leaned up off my bed, “Where is she?”