[The Shadow In The Darkness] [Valt Aoi]

Part 2

"A hero can't save everyone that's why villains exist." I looked through the chains that kept me imprisoned to see him standing in front of the wall opposite, his arms crossed. I didn't think he'd want to have this debate with me, of all people. I'm the hero in this story. I always was. And I will fight like one. Even if it did make a villain out of me in the end, I will try my damn hardest to be the hero I'm supposed to be.

"You're a villain!" I shouted, and he looked surprised that I had still had room to fight left in me. I can't imagine why. I was the wonder boy. No matter what I go through, I will always find a chance to fight back. It's what I'm here for. To fight when everyone else can't. I'm their final hope, and I will not go down easily. I made a promise, and I will not break it just yet.

"I'm not a villain. You decided to see me as one." He shrugged off my comment with the everyday response. Is that all he has to say after his trail of destruction? Unbelievable. It isn't fair. What about all those lives he's ruined?

"You destroyed my life. Our life." I could cry. Does he not see the damage he did? Or does he just not care? Maybe he thinks he's some self-righteous God. Either way, it's sick. I almost wish I could have saved him.

"I just tried to save you from the ones that influence you badly, but you decided to take another path." That was his reason? Are you serious? That was all he had to say to this? I shook, so many emotions rushing through me right now. I don't know how to feel.

"A villain chooses to become one. Society doesn't, even despite judging them without trying to see the other's point of view, it happens to everyone." I tried to reason with him, despite it getting way past that stage already. There was always a chance; always hope to turn things around. I can do this. I have to.

"In my eyes, the real villain is the society who abandoned me and left me to die, and you're here just to help them kill me, child." His eyes were hard; cold. He had been broken and abandoned and he was finally done. This was how he chose to deal with the pain inflicted upon him. And... I couldn't blame him. I can sort of understand how it got to this. No, I can't excuse it, but understanding it is just as good at this stage.

"Are villains actually created by this twisted society? While it is true heroes save that same society, was it the right thing to do? Wait. I have power! Now let us see, who is the root of all this mess?" I don't know what I was talking about, we already knew who caused this all. Why it had come to this. But there's more to this story, and I want to figure out as much as I can.

"What power could you possibly have?" He scowled at me, almost like he thought I was mocking him. I mean, in regular circumstances I might have been. But not now. I have  people I need to get back to. A community who is relying on me. I can't afford to play around.

"A lot more than people give the wonder boy credit for. Now give me your hand." This was probably the most serious I had been since I had arrived here, and he looked almost surprised at the request.

"Why?" He was back on the defensive, and I didn't blame him. I was known for my tricks and turning things around when I was on the ropes, which I currently was. At least he knows his stuff.

"Just give me your hand."

I touched his hand, and all I saw was pain, darkness and loneliness. The world turned its back on him so he turned his back on the world. If he had to suffer the way he did, so did everyone else. In a way, I understood. I've seen so many people take this route before. But not once have I let it get to this extreme. I guess the wonder boy was too late to save this one.

"I'm sorry." I apologised, taking my hand away. He never deserved what he got.

"You have nothing to apologise for. You're a mere child, there's nothing you could have done." He watched me sit back at the other end of the cell and I gave him a sad smile.

"Oh, how I wish that were true." It was a slip-up, something I hadn't meant to tell just yet. Crap.

"What are you talking about?" He was naturally curious, and I couldn't blame him. I was just a child. I shouldn't be capable of much.

"Do you know why I took on the role of wonder boy?" I decided to go all in, whatever happens happens. I believe in my own miracles.

"No, why...?" He looked almost frightened of what I was going to say. I could come up with anything and it would be believable. But, I am a man of the truth. Liars are the worst kind of people.

"Let me tell you the story of a boy who lost everything he ever loved and then had the world turn its back on him. I promised myself I would never do what you're doing. And look where it's got me." I surveyed him, and he looked like a little kid getting ready to hear their favourite bedtime story. I guess I was never one to talk about my past.

"...I'd rather be in your shoes than my own." He seemed unsure - he didn't know what being the wonder boy entailed. How much I have had to sacrifice just to see them smile and perform these miracles.

"Wait until you get an exposition before making that decision. Not all is as it seems." I have never had it easy, believe me. But that doesn't excuse some of the things that I did.

"You're the wonder boy. You're-" I knew this was going to happen.

"Happy?" I finished his sentence for him. This is all people associate with me

"...and-" He tried to add on more, but I cut him off one more time. I was done.

"Perfect? I know it seems that way, but I worked hard for what I did, what I became. No one will ever be alone, not like I was. Never again. That's what I had always promised myself, anyway. So will you listen to the lowly pleas of a petty prisoner?" I didn't look at him, already knowing what the answer would be. It was the same as everyone else I had chosen to open up too.

"Give it your best, boy. I'm listening." No one could resist hearing the story of the wonder boy. How he get his amazing powers. How he can save so many people while smiling. How he never breaks. Well, let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I have never been good at theme parks.