Rosalyn

Ingrid prepared sandwiches for everyone, and dinner was eaten in utter silence.

That wasn't a bad thing; they were all just tired and hungry. Ingrid said she was going to go shopping the next morning, to buy as much food and clothes and necessities as she could. For tonight, dinner from what was brought in the trunk was served, and nobody was complaining.

But as everyone finished, Rosalyn could see a tinge of something in Malakai's eyes. Impatience? No, the word didn't suite him well. Desire? Closer, possibly. She realized, after testing different words, that she didn't know the story his eyes held.

He cleared his throat. Rosalyn noted how he did that often, but not because he actually needed to clear his throat. It was a small warning, perhaps, or simply because he was shy. It gathered some attention, anyhow.

"Does anyone want to take a walk in the woods?"

Hyemi puffed out an irritated sigh. "Kai. We just got back. Aren't you exhausted?"

Ingrid chimed in. "Plus what did I just say about staying low and—"

"You mean the 'enjoy your freedom while you have it' part?" Malakai grinned from ear to ear, and it made Rosalyn chuckle.

"Even I'm too tired, man." Sebastian stretched as he yawned. "I'm pretty freaking positive you have way too much energy for me to be lagging behind and holding you back."

Rosalyn could barely register what she was doing until it was done. "I'll come."

Emerald eyes lifted and settled on Rosalyn. She didn't know what his reaction would be, but she didn't know why she feared the worst. His eyes were welcoming, and his body stiffened with excitement.

Rosalyn turned to Ingrid. "We'll be careful."

"And we'll be back before nightfall." Malakai added.

She sighed. "Like two little kids. Fine. Be careful."

Malakai jumped from his seat and Rosalyn trailed behind, her heart beating fast. She overheard some jokes from Sebastian and Hyemi about wishing her luck trying to keep up with him, and how she was in for a rude awakening. But that was not why her heart raced.

Malakai opened the door for Rosalyn, and she slipped through awkwardly. Once outside, they both stood there for a moment, scanning the scenery, probably waiting for the other to start walking.

But why was her heart beating so fast?

She realized the answer as the silence settled in both their bones. She had never truly been alone with him before. Yes, she would come into his room, and the talks never seemed too awkward, but soldiers were always near. Now, there was nobody who could overhear them.

It was almost as if Malakai was pondering the same thing. He approached her, less hesitant than ever before, and sighed. "Can we promise one another something?"

"Y-yeah." she replied. "What is it?"

His smile made her shoulders relax. "Can we not—not talk about any of the stuff that's been happening?" Malakai began. "Like no escape talk, no powers, none of it?"

Rosalyn was surprised by this. It made sense; it's been nonstop talk about Malakai's powers, escape, the Capitol, and so forth. It would be nice to take a break from all of it. But what would they talk about?

She nodded anyhow. "That sounds great."

"Good." he grinned. "Really good. Thank you." He nodded, turned around and started to walk, and Rosalyn sped walk to catch up. Rosalyn now understood Sebastian and Hyemi's jokes; Malakai walked fast, almost with a mission on his mind. It was like he was in a completely different world, and Rosalyn wanted to join, to see it all.

As he kept a fast pace, he kneeled down once in a while to pick up a rock. He would toss it back and forth in his hands until he would throw it at a passing tree, always hitting the middle. Rosalyn picked up her own rock and threw it at a tree, skimming the side of the bark. Malakai glanced down at her and smiled.

She wanted to talk but didn't know what to say. Instead, she copied his actions by continuously picking up rocks and throwing them. He began to pick up a few sticks, also throwing them at certain targets. The second where he would kneel down were the moments she could finally catch up to him. Not only did he walk fast, but his legs were long, and his strides were nearly double the length as Rosalyn's. And she wasn't even that short.

His eyes glanced over Rosalyn at one point, easily looking over her head, and he released an excited expression. She paused as he walked past her, breaking a branch off one of the trees. The branch was up to his chest, and he started to walk with it like a cane. Rosalyn had no words as she began to laugh.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Jealous?"

"No," Rosalyn said. "Embarrassed for you."

He stopped in his tracks and stared at her, leaning against his cane. "Those seem like words from someone who is jealous."

As Rosalyn was about to reply, he reached up for another branch and yanked it off, measuring the height as he looked at her.

"No, I don't want—"

"Here." Malakai shoved the branch into her hands.

Rosalyn scoffed. "We look ridiculous."

"We look like professionals," he clarified.

He walked again, even faster this time, using the cane to bring himself forward and lengthen his steps. Rosalyn tried to follow his rhythm, but the cane was only a nuisance to her. She tried anyways, stabbing the branch into the ground at each step.

He moved with such ease, it was almost comical how normal he looked. "You look like some nerdy tour guide."

He didn't even turn his face back. "Maybe that's my calling."

She was almost worried she was laughing too much. His witty remarks and innocent words couldn't help but make her heartbeat rise and her lips tug into a smile. It didn't seem like he noticed, anyway.

As he walked, Rosalyn took note of his scars. Old ragged pink lines of all shapes and sizes danced throughout his skin, covering a large percent of his body. His skin had also developed recent scars, mixing with the old, riding up his arms and vanishing under his shirt, only to return around his chest and neck. She knew they were from the shackles, Vivienne, and probably more hurt she didn't know. It brought shivers across Rosalyn's skin. What had he gone through with Benedict? How could one be that hurt?

Nonetheless, as he walked, he looked fresh, happy, young. He was in his element, it seemed, and Rosalyn could see more of his true colors. She could see past the scars.

"Do you know where you're going?"

"I've never been here before, Rosalyn."

Her chest tightened as he said her name. Had he ever said it before? She didn't even remember, but from her reaction, it was very few times. She sighed at his response, nonetheless. "Do you know how to get back, at least?"

Malakai stopped in his tracks, wrapping both his arms around the cane. His eyes scanned the woods. "I mean, probably."

"Probably?" Rosalyn blurted.

"Probably," he confirmed. "Trust the tour guide, will you?" He looked around the area, his eyes moving up and down, and he smiled. "Oh!"

She watched as he approached one of the trees, looking straight up at it. He leaned his cane against it and started to wrap his arms around the trunk...

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to climb this thing," he said casually as he jumped, surprisingly high, onto the tree. "It's got sturdy branches."

He looked funny; long and lanky arms and legs wrapped around the bark, slowly inching his way up. The boy's brain seemed to be moving so fast, and it all could only make Rosalyn laugh. "You're the oddest tour guide ever."

Malakai grabbed a branch, pushing himself upwards. Rosalyn watched as his muscles moved and shifted through his shirt; he was lean, but it was obvious he was strong. And when he finally crawled onto the branch, about to reply with some snarky remark to her, it snapped and fell onto the ground.

And clumsy, she added. He was definitely clumsy.

"Sturdy branches, huh?" Rosalyn snatched his cane, holding it out to him.

He rolled her eyes at her. It was one of the first times he was rougher with her, if you could call that rough, but it was like a blanket of comfort to Rosalyn. She wanted him to be comfortable around her; she wanted to be someone he could trust, could lean on. Not only that, but she wanted to know him better. She knew barely anything, except from what she could gather during interrogations or exchange of words with Sebastian and Hyemi. She wanted to learn, to understand, who he was.

He welcomed the cane back into his hand and continued the walk, this time slowing so Rosalyn was next to him, without having to catch her breath. They stayed silent for a while as Malakai walked with a purpose and Rosalyn scanned the area for any potential threats. There was no life out here, but disappointing Ingrid was the last thing she would ever want to do, so she stayed alert.

Both of their steps slowed as they came across a small opening in the woods, occupied by a small swamp. It nearly looked like the painting Rosalyn made, and by Malakai's wandering eyes, he knew as well. The sun was setting, the hue of orange and yellow reflecting off the dark water. Rosalyn took a few steps before sitting down, and Malakai followed suit, sitting down next to her while settling his cane next to him. They got comfortable and sat in silence for a few moments.

"Novah and I used to go to this swamp near our house," Malakai began. "We would walk a mile in the woods and spend hours and hours cleaning it out. Eventually it was clean enough it was almost like a swimming pool."

Novah. That was his older sister, she remembered. She watched Malakai carefully as he shared his story, wondering if he would be triggered while thinking of his family. But that never happened. She recalled him telling a story at the gas station. When he talked about he past, he did it with a smile. It never made him sad, thinking of the life he used to have.

"We made a sign, too. Called it 'swimmin' in a swamp'. A dumb name, I know. But we took care of that swamp like it was our job."

"Did you have swamp pool parties?"

He smiled and nodded. "Novah had a few, but I never told anybody. I wanted it to be something special for just us, but she told me that I was being selfish."

"I don't think that's being selfish—"

"But I'm the younger sibling," he began. "And we listen to our older siblings instinctively, without even knowing sometimes. Sometimes."

"That is true," Rosalyn replied. She recalled moments with Vivienne, and how she would listen to her. Maybe it was just instinct, like Malakai said, or maybe it was respect. She didn't know.

Malakai chuckled softly. "I surely didn't listen to Novah all the time, that's for sure."

Rosalyn recalled some moments with Vivienne, and she felt the same.

Vivienne. How was it that Malakai could talk about his sister that he hasn't seen in three years with a smile on his face, while Rosalyn was borderline devastated while thinking of Vivienne, who she just saw that morning? It made no sense to her.

Words spat at her. Weak. Ungrateful. Selfish. How could a soldier feel this way?

And all of a sudden she was crying—hard. Sobs wracked her body, forcing her to visibly shake. Hot tears ran down her burning reddened cheeks, and she hiccuped at each cry. She covered her face with her hands, embarrassed, because she hadn't cried like that in years. Her body did not stop, and her mind couldn't stop thinking about her family that she left.

Weak. Ungrateful. Selfish.

But only a short moment after, arms were wrapped around her body, gently tugging her close to a sturdy chest. Malakai hadn't even questioned her; instead, he tucked her head comfortably between his collarbone and neck, and one of his hands wrapped around her body and settled on her chest.

Rosalyn's heart sank as Malakai's hand pressed firmly against her heart; a move Sebastian always did to him when he was in distress. She sobbed even harder.

His hug was tight, secure, and Rosalyn couldn't help but sink into it as she cried. She wanted to keep him close, to feel his warm skin and take comfort in his care. But another part of her wanted to push him away, to remind herself that she didn't need to take comfort from someone who needed it more than her.

"I shouldn't have brought up my sister," he spoke softly through the pause of Rosalyn's sobs. "I'm sorry for that."

"No—" Rosalyn could not form words, but she wanted to tell him that he had done nothing wrong. If he wanted to talk about his sister he missed dearly, he could do it. Rosalyn felt so utterly weak, and the feeling felt odd in her body. She took pride in not being weak, but now, it swallowed her entire being.

She welcomed the physical touch she believed she once hated. She rested her head further against his neck, and settled her clenched hands towards his chest, gripping and wrinkling his shirt. She felt his arms nearly double-wrapped around her body; one hand against her chest, the other around her shoulder so she was pushed even closer to him. He seemed oddly calm, and she knew it was to keep Rosalyn's emotions at bay. She felt the steady rise and fall of his chest, and slow drumming tickled her shoulder as he moved his long fingers. They sat there for a few moments, and Rosalyn sobbed until her body grew exhausted and she could only release quiet cries. Her tears soaked Malakai's grey shirt as she repositioned.

"I—I feel s-stupid." Rosalyn managed to spit the words out. "My family. I—I just s-saw them today, while, while you—"

He stopped her right away. "It does us no good to compare and compete our pain," Malakai said, the hum of his voice vibrating against Rosalyn's body. "I don't know what it's like being a trained soldier. I don't know what it's like to take the painful courage of leaving your family for the sake of others. I don't know the pain, but you are allowed to have yours freely. Please, Rosalyn, I don't want you to hide it from me because of that."

His words stemmed from wisdom. While his statement was true, Rosalyn could hardly fathom it. Around him, she felt as though she couldn't complain about a single thing. He had torn down that thought immediately. She was allowed to be sad about leaving her family, and Malakai would be there to listen and mourn with her. It was an odd feeling.

She tried to compose herself quickly, like she had done so many times as a soldier, but she fell limp in Malakai's arms. She felt conflicted. "It's getting dark. Ingrid—"

"Oh, I've already been thinking of excuses. We're covered."

Between her sniffles, she slightly laughed and settled deeper into his arms. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her body. As she listened to the steady heartbeat against Malakai's chest, she couldn't help but wonder about him.

Rosalyn finally stared up at Malakai with stained tears on her cheeks. "H-how did you—get c-captured?"

He gently cupped his warm hand on her cheek, bringing her back down to his chest. "Another time, Rosalyn. I'll tell you another time."

"Promise?" she asked, her face pressed into his shirt. Her voice came out muffled, but she could hear the hum in his body.

"I promise," he said. "I'll tell you everything I can remember."

-

When they returned, way past sunset, Ingrid was at the door waiting.

Malakai came up with an elaborate explanation about getting lost, but one glance at Rosalyn's puffy eyes and Ingrid most likely knew the truth.

Rosalyn ignored her, grabbing her small bag and slowly walking into the room her and Hyemi shared. She was already laying in bed, pushed to the edge, hardly awake. When Rosalyn got ready for bed and slid in next to her, Hyemi stirred and rolled away from her. But Rosalyn couldn't stop herself from speaking.

"Hyemi?"

"Mhm."

Rosalyn took a breath. She knew Malakai had promised she would tell him everything, but she was so curious about every little thing. Plus, emotions were still running high.

"Why—what made Malakai have the title of Subject Zero? Why is he the only one with a special name? And why did Benedict Lee pick him to claim the title?"

Hyemi rolled onto her back, her dark eyes opening, Rosalyn thought, but the room was too dark to clearly tell. "He never told you, huh?" she sighed. "He wouldn't mind me saying—"

"Are you sure? I shouldn't have asked," Rosalyn said. "It's okay if—"

Hyemi replied anyways. She seemed fairly awake now. "Kai was the first one to be kidnapped by Benedict. He was alone with him for an entire month, until Miriam finally came and it was just the two for a few more weeks. The rest of us came fairly quickly after that.

"From what I knew, and seen, Benedict was infatuated by Kai. He was his first victim, so he shared the bond with Kai quicker, stronger. You would think if he liked Kai that much he wouldn't have put him through the extra hurt of making his power so torturous and painful for Kai, but it just goes to show how twisted the man was.

"I can't explain the bond to it's full extent. But Benedict loved all of us, he truly did in his own sick and twisted way. But, Kai came first."

Rosalyn held in a breath. "How did he—survive, I mean—"

She heard Hyemi release a sigh. "That I don't know. But he was a lifesaver for the rest of us. He knew the ins and outs of how Benedict worked, and he told and taught us as much as he could when we were afraid. He suffered through the worst so he could forewarn us. We are all indebted to him, truly are."

Rosalyn could barely take in all the information. Malakai was captured first, and an entire month he was with Benedict by himself. It made her heart wrench with discomfort. Hyemi took the silence as the end of the conversation, so she rolled away again.

Rosalyn wanted to cry again, this time for the trials of Malakai's life instead of her own.

•••

Chapter song: Bandito // Twenty One Pilots

A longer chapter! Hope you didn't mind!

Sometimes I just sit and wonder how the HECK people are reading this book. Like, dang. So THANK YOU! Truly, y'all. You're the reason I keep writing!

Whew, this chapter was whirlwind of emotions. What do we think? How are we liking certain character traits? Anything you like in particular? Hate?

More Rosa & Kai time :) I hope that's a plus!

Vote, comment, you know the drill. No pressure fam.

Until Next Time,
Grace