Quillet

Endless Endevor

        The next few days, Quillet's routine continued as prior. It seemed to influence the movement of time, making it feel like he was sitting in bed for days before the brisk chill of the night finally arrived. His body was constantly sore, and it felt like he couldn't catch a break. He would ask Dan if they could skip out on therapy some days, but he would always insist that this was what was best to get Quillet up and moving again.
        It felt like the respect from start to finish of the therapy had weakened. Though, Quillet wasn't sure in which way.
        Maybe today was different. In the few days, he had been doing this he had managed to sit up and bend both knees. Dan would always remind him how much progress he was making, and especially how impressive it was. It never felt that way, especially since progress was so slow. Quillet had to think about how pathetic he was at the start to feel like he had gotten anywhere.
        Part of him wondered if he would ever go outside again. Though he knew that would happen someday soon, rationality was broken down by omnipresent anxiety. He wanted to see the trees, the grass, hell, even if they were dead. Anything seemed better than sitting in this filthy tent for a moment longer.
        Every second he had to himself, the memories about his life from before came crashing into his mind. It didn't matter how hard he tried to suppress them, they always broke through whatever barrier Quillet had prepared. Shit, he didn't even know if that life was behind him. For all, he knew he could be returned straight to those horrible people as soon as he was better again.
        He found it easier not to think about that. Especially when there was far more physical pain than normal. He didn't want to stack the cake. He only hoped that he could have a normal life... one without endless sleepless nights.
        It was as if Quillet had superpowers because not a moment later Dan walked into the tent. He kneeled down beside Quillet's cot, just sitting there for a second, his eyes searching for something in Quillet's face. He sighed, averting his gaze before he finally spoke;
        "Hey, I know this sucks, but I wanna say that you've been doing a really good job at recovering," he said, putting a hand on Quillet's shoulder. As he said before, Dan was telling him just how good of a job he was doing. Quillet was starting to wonder if he was telling the truth.
        Dan must have noticed the dismay on his face because his hand drifted next to Quillet's shoulder for a moment longer before returning to his side. Quillet stared at Dan's face, searching for something in his eyes. It was almost like there was a violent protest hidden behind the strong doors of a castle. He can hide it as long as he wants, but it's going to be there until you do something about it.
        "So... I'll tell you what," Dan said, looking at Quillet once again. "I can take you outside today. We could stop by the river, and cook something by the fire maybe?" he smiled. Quillet felt an explosion of joy replace the same old-same old feeling from before. It's like I have superpowers! Imagine if that was true.
        Quillet had seen people with special abilities before. The Doctors that took care of him for so long particularly loved these types. It always infuriated them when they couldn't figure out what caused these special abilities to occur, however, the thrill of slicing someone special open was always enough to keep them satisfied.
        "Yes! I love that idea. I'm dying to get out of this stinking tent..." he answered, pulling the blanket off of himself with a sore arm. Dan jumped up to help, offering an arm to aid in walking. Walking would definitely be a challenge, considering he could only lift his legs a few days ago. Slowly but surely, he made it out of the emerald-green tent.
        Outside seemed like heaven after being in a musty tent for so long. It felt like he had spent years there. The sun shone brightly onto his skin, forcing him to squint his eyes as he looked into the sky. Birds soared above the campsite, flapping their wings occasionally as they danced together. The wind blew leaves on the trees, the river trickled through the ditch, and songbirds called out to their companions. All together it created a beautiful song, allowing Quillet to finally relax as he looked around the campsite.
He hadn't realized how tense he was until he heard it and saw it. For god's sake, it was beautiful. Everything about it seemed so much better than the place he had grown up... how had he not known about this before? The doctors had forced him to memorize maps and read select papers, so how come he didn't know how wonderful it was out here?
"You act as if you've never seen the sun before," Dan spoke, hints of laughter in his voice. He led Quillet in the direction of the river, eventually sitting him down on the sandy river bank. The water looked crystal clear, light refracting its way through it to form round wrinkles in the smooth flow. It sliced through the surrounding plains in a curving pattern. It was strange how something so soft could be so lethal. He had learned that the hard way. 
He let his sore feet hang in the water, the soft current tugging gently on his skin. Everything seemed better now, even if it was different. For the first time in a while, he felt happy. Maybe Dan wasn't a bad person after all...
The clear water slid between his toes, and seemingly under his skin. It was refreshing, after being cooped up for so damn long.
Even though the creek was small and shallow, it felt nice to clean at least some part of his body. It helped lift a little bit of the omnipresent dread loaded upon Quillet's shoulders. Even if it was only a pebble's worth, it was a step. He had almost forgotten Dan was standing next to him until he spoke;
"When you get better, we can head into the town near here. It's a trading town next to the Tiano blanket, to stock travelers and traders alike before heading around it," he said, sitting down next to Quillet on the river bed. "That place is a death trap." Quillet looked across the crystalline water. Taking in the stunning beauty for a second longer.
"I remember reading about it.  That rainforest sounds like a hell of a show," he said, resting his arms on his lap. He wanted to see it. He wanted to see the whole world. If the first place he went to was as beautiful as this, he would be satisfied for life. Or perhaps, it would only increase the urge to see the whole world.
"I would love to go to town, even if I look like a decaying mummy." he laughed, shifting to lie down on the soft sand. Letting it run through his fingers as he grabbed handfuls. The sand was such a weird concept. An endless number of tiny rocks and who knows what else, but somehow, it's soft to the touch.
"I think that being outside is an important part of your recovery," Dan said, breaking the blissful hum of the river. "Not only physically, but also mentally." Dan shifted the way he was sitting, bringing one leg up to his chest before resting his arm on it. Quillet hadn't thought about mental recovery. It really seemed like his physical health was more of a concern, especially now. 
His right arm was in a sling, but it managed to get a little better since it broke. He didn't even know whatever bones he broke, he just knew he broke a lot of them. One of his legs was in a brace, the other seemingly only harmed on skin and muscle layers. That fall... he didn't want to think about how all this happened.
He felt like he could stay here forever. He had laid there for who knows how long already. He would be fine with never moving from this very spot ever again. Well, maybe he would move if he had some roast duck just outside his reach, begging to be eaten.
He stretched his left arm further out onto the riverbank, feeling the touch of the webbing between his fingers. His arm wasn't harmed hardly at all. In fact, all it got was a huge purple bruise... amazing how it "survived" considering what happened to the rest of him. He was surprised he didn't have any brain damage! Damn, what did Dan do to prevent him from being critically disabled?
Dan really was a strange man. The burning questions from before resurfaced in his memory, begging to be let out. After all, this was the perfect opportunity, and Dan seemed in an especially good mood. Now was the time, if at all.
"Hey Uhm, Dan?" he said, pulling himself up off the ground and back into a sitting position. Grains of sand fall from his back and out of his hair as a light breeze whirs by the two of them, bringing a grateful chill to the summer air.
"Yeah, what is it, Quillet?" he responded, smiling in his direction.
"I know this is kind of an invasive question, but where did you learn all this? And why? Medical care, I mean."  Dan seemed to pause, looking out over the water, a sad smile spreading across his face. He seemed lost in the water, silently racking his brain for a way to respond.
        "I decided to learn these things for personal reasons. I figured it would help with my job." he finally answered, eyes still glued to the water.
        "What's your job?"
        "That's beside the point," Dan said, putting a hand in the air as if he was holding an invisible wall. His other hand was on his forehead, rubbing his brow. "At least you're alive, right?" Quillet nodded, taking the hint. He wondered how many other lies Dan had fed him. A few moments of awkward silence passed, filling the air with an uncomfortable whiff. Finally, Dan stood up.
        "Well, it's getting closer and closer to sundown as we sit here. How about some dinner?"
_______________
Steaming water pours into his mouth, burning his insides like a roast over a fire. Tears stream down his face as he chokes, his jaw held upwards by an unforgiving hand. Their uncut fingernails sink into the tender flesh around his neck as they hold him up, feet trying desperately to touch the ground.
The water only digs further into his lungs as he coughs, unable to breathe. Water streams out of his mouth along with his tears as he gages, praying, begging for air. Finally, they let go, and he falls to the ground, coughing as the searing liquid finally escapes his body. Water spills onto the floor as his aggressive coughing slowly subsided.
How could they?
"These lessons of yours will kill him someday."
"You think so?"
"He didn't even last half as long as last time. And Guildan says he has potential." they let out a short pitch of laughter.
They tortured him for even the slightest of mistakes, telling him it was for the best. How can this be for the best? It pained him to know this was all a waste of precious time... time he desperately needed.
"He's far better than the other one. God, what was his name again?"
"Quillet, If I remember correctly."
"eh? You hear that?" they said, lifting his head off its place on the ground by his chocolate hair. "Your brother Quillet gave in a long while ago. Just tell us your name already, you fucking twit." they dropped him back down onto the floor. He stayed silent, unwilling to share. As long as I can....
"That won't work, Nathe. Here, let me try." an annoyed sigh filled the air as shoes shuffled on the floor. He felt a hot breath on his neck.
"Hey, Bitch. Since you're too smart to talk, why don't we ask your dear brother instead?" his breathing stopped. They... they couldn't. No no no no.... 
A smile spread across her twisted face as she continued.
"I'm sure he wouldn't want to reveal his precious brother." they paused to let out a quiet laugh. "Ah, I can already imagine all of the things I'm going to do to him." His fists tightened on the floor. He could feel his muscles tense up as she spoke.
"His eyes are just so pretty, aren't they? Reminds me of fine jade." a hand curled around his shoulder. "His hair would make a wonderfully soft pillow. A perfect shade of black. I wonder if he would mind me taking it." her voice seemed to bounce off his skull, her words repeating in his head. I can't... but what will they do to him? If only I weren't so greedy.
"Y-" he coughed again when he tried to speak as water that lay silent in his lungs stirred up again. "You can't." he heard mocking laughter coming from the darkness around him.
"There's nothing stopping us. Even if you give in and tell us, it would still be fun to see what's inside him."
"We've never had children like you two before, you know." a different voice chimed. More muffled laughs came from the surrounding abyss. If only I could see their faces...
"He's endured more than any others his type before. I would love to learn what makes him so... different."
"We can't, Guildan specifically said-"
"Shush! They retain more information than you think." the woman next to him glanced down at Quillet with an irritated expression. "So shut up alre-
"Quillet... don't hurt him!" he choked, tears soaking into his mouth and onto the floor. The woman talking in his ear finally stood up, talking to someone from the crowd as she walked off, anger lingering in her footsteps.
"Let's go, leave the kid. He would be dead if it wasn't for..." the voices trailed off as the other people in the room followed the woman out. He felt a final kick from one of the doctors before he was finally alone, left on the floor to wallow in self-doubt.
I'll kill them. Every last one. When I get out... I'll make them all pay.
But instead, he stayed crouched on the floor, his body too weak to move. He wanted to see Quillet, and make sure his little brother was okay. All he could do was cry until his body had nothing left to expel. He was useless. Useless. No wonder they did all these things to him. They knew he would do nothing about it. Maybe telling them his name wasn't the worst thing he could do.
All he wanted was to prove them wrong.