HIM

Brainwash

Akio wakes up finding himself in a puddle of sweat and over-whelming thoughts. He glances over to the window and sees that the sky is pitch black.

What are these thoughts? My head is killing me and It isn't even morning yet!

"Help me..."

"What the?" I whisper

"Come home..."

This voice- it sounds familiar. It feels almost nostalgic but I can't seem to figure out who it could be or where I've heard this. 

"Agh. Who's there!" I shouted

Not being able to determine the voice was frustrating. I decided to take a walk to clear my head.

The streets were desolate. Devoid of any commotion whilst storefronts were free from any displays which was just as well, because not a single person was there to admire them. Cars sat empty along the curb, collecting dust and the only source of light was from the old, decaying and dim streetlights that flickered continuously. I walked into a narrow, gloomy alleyway and observed my surroundings. No one seemed to be around yet I heard unsteady breathing. Suddenly, a girl appeared besides me.

"Excuse me?" I said

"..."

"Uh excuse me?" I repeated

"Just my luck." she scoffed

I noticed bruises that covered her arms and legs and open wounds that were bleeding profusely. She appeared to be treating her own wounds.

"Do you want me to help with that?" 

"What. You think I'm not capable of putting on a bandage?" she responded, glaring at me.

"N- no that's not what I meant!" I stuttered

"Gosh, you're really dense. I was joking." she replied

"Anyway, what are you doing in an alleyway in the middle of the night?" she asked

"I could ask you the same." I answered

The girl was wearing tattered clothing and she appeared to be hurt however she was paying no regard to her agony.

"Hey. What's your name?" she asked me

"Akio. And you are...?"

"Oli- Olive!"

"Nice to meet you Olive!" 

Suddenly, as Olive attended to her wounds, a group of men cornered both me and her. They were oozing with blood-lust and their fists were clenched, we had no hope of escaping, not in this confined alley.

"Oliver... we finally found you! You can't run anymore." One of the men called out laughing.

"Oliver?" I said to myself

"And who do we have here?" another guy said glaring at me.

"Leave the boy out of this! Your problems are with me, not him." Olive replied 

The men walked closer and closer towards us until they were nothing but an arms length away. 

"How about we make a deal then boys." One guy stated, "If you agree, we will let you go unharmed, how does that sound?" He asked, grabbing Olive by the arm and stroking her pale skin.

"L-leave her alone!" I shouted.

"Her?  Oh my, looks like we have a feisty one on our hands. Take him in!" The man commanded.

"What- stop let go of me!" I pleaded

"Akio no..." Olive cried "You guys are in for it! You do not hurt my friends and get away with it!" 

"What are you going to do, save him with the power of friendship?" The men laughed.

"Precisely!"  Olive declared.