Discontinue

Found a Friend

*Thoughts*

"Speech"

________________________________________________________________________________

Piko was confused.

Fukase hadn't returned. That could be for any number of reasons--none that he liked, but some were understandable...yet some genuinely scared him, fearing for his friend's wellbeing.

Factory workers were coming to him. Since when did they remember he existed? Sure, he'd see them once in a while--usually right when he was on the brink of death by starvation, but those visits were few and far between. They were never apologetic for finding him so late; sometimes, it seemed that they were annoyed that he was still there at all. Yet suddenly, they were coming at least...well, by his calculations, it should have been at least once a week. They seemed just as confused as he was--but how could he reject clean bedsheets? He spent the next few hours after receiving those crying from happiness, after all.

Someone was leaving him food. It wasn't just the standard factory workers--the Factory had specific guidelines for food, after all. And whatever these *absolutely delicious, what are these flavors?* foods were, they directly contradicted several of the guidelines. But the person had returned multiple times--Piko, however, was still afraid, and continued to hide in his bathroom when the visits happened (he felt a bit guilty, but how could he possibly dream of going out there when he quite literally had an attack every time the door opened?).

These were the thoughts that occupied the boy's mind as he lay on his bed; they all had to be connected somehow, but how exactly?

He sat up with a sigh, adjusting and pulling his cord out from between his legs.

*I wish I knew...*

He shook his head, closing his eyes with a sigh.

*How would I even find out...?*

"Maybe if you weren't so stupid, you would!"

Piko flinched, eyes snapping open as he looked around; however, he was greeted with the absence of anyone else in the room.

He sucked in a deep breath.

*They are not here...they are not...not...*

He buried his face in his hands.

*They are not coming back...right...? No, do not think like that...they are gone...they are gone.*

He lied down again, curling into the fetal position.

*Please...never come back...*

________________________________________

Fukase gagged and thrashed, vision littered with black dots; fear flood through his veins as tears began to well up in his eyes.

However, the electricity flowing through him finally ceased, the straps holding him down loosening; the boy struggled to gain several breaths.

"His resilience is remarkable."

"Yes, but his pain receptors not responding is still a flaw..."

"It doesn't seem to have any negative affects. It shouldn't be much of an issue."

"Let's move on to the next test. So far, his brain is reacting to the stimulation as if it's a normal occurrence. Up the pressure."