Broken Bonds and Stolen Hearts (discontinued)

Chapter 7

The traffickers nodded their heads before one of them walked to where Louis was and released his chains.

He was forced to stand before they handcuffed him and dragged him out of the basement. Two men holding each of his sides, his feet dragging along the dirty floor as he felt the world hazy from the blood loss. He slipped between being awake and passing out, between the pain of the injury and vivid dreams. He couldn't tell if the words were coming from his head or from those around him.

He felt everything and nothing at the same time.

"Is the area clean?" one of the voices said, and Louis recognized it as his father's. Of course he would be the one to finish him off, he was never fond of him.

"Yes sir," another voice responded. It was one of the guys who guarded the entrances.

"Tie him to that tree and let's go. The world will do its job," he ordered in a tired tone as if this was just another day on the job for him, but of course. It is.

Louis was thrown against the tree, and his head hit the tree pretty hard. His vision went white from the contact for a second, and he felt it throbbing. He was tied to the tree before one by one, the traffickers made their way back to the base. Only his father was left.

Kevin knelt down in front of Louis and stared at him thoughtfully for a while.
"Silly boy, you should have listened. None of this would have happened if you just followed the rules. Are you happy now that you are going to die?" he hissed as his gaze went from cold to harsh. His black locks fell to his grey eyes, and for a second, it felt as if his eyes were glassy.

"I would pick death any day over living like that for the rest of my life. Don't act like you give a shit about me now. You never did," Louis hissed back, glaring at the man in front of him while breathing heavily. Kevin looked at the ground for a while, as if contemplating what to do next. His attention was brought back when a screech echoed in the forest from a nearby spot.

"Well. That's my cue to leave. You picked your way. I hope you won't regret it," he looked pathetically at Louis before he turned around and walked away.

Three sounds. The screeches, his breaths, and his heartbeat.

That's all that Louis could hear. The screeches were getting louder and closer, and he knew it was the end for him. He closed his eyes and started reflecting on his rather short life that wasn't lived at all.

"Heh... No regrets. At least I know I won't be cooked or used as a spare now," he chuckled ironically to himself.

A twig snapped in front of him, and Louis opened one eye weakly. Two bare, ash feet were stepping on the twig in front of him, and Louis lifted his head to look at the monster in front of him.

Ginger hair reflected the moonlight as black tears fell down his cheeks, his jaw was partially gone, and Louis could see his bones. He knew who it was. He knew who the outfit belonged to.

It was Charlie. His clothes were battered and covered in old and fresh blood and holes. The bitemark on his arm was still there, and yet it looked like he was dead for well over a month with how miserable he looked.

"No... No... No... No..." It felt like listening to a broken tape. He kept repeating the same word over and over again, his dead eyes were glued to Louis. Particularly to his fresh wound. The smell of blood must have attracted him.

"You look rather pathetic," Louis laughed to himself before he closed his eyes and let his head fall down. He was passing out, and soon enough, he will be passing away.

Screeches echoed in the forest, and he felt his eardrums ring from pain as one by one, the monsters sank their teeth into his flesh. It should have been painful, but Louis only felt numb as blood started forming in his mouth. He coughed once before he allowed his eyes to close and welcomed death with open arms.

......................................................................

"Oof, this one's special. Get up bro," Louis jolted awake, feeling cold sweat beads form on his face as he looked around, unable to recognize the area he was in. Wasn't he dead?

"You should be dead, yes," The voice paused for a second, letting out an annoyed sigh.

"Did you just commit suicide by getting infected? You do realize that's like the worst way to die dumbass. Now you won't die at all," His voice grew closer and louder.

"What are you on about? Am I not dead? Where am I?" Louis questioned as he tried to stand up and find the owner of the voice, but it was too dark to see where he is.

"You will understand soon when you wake up again," The voice mumbled before the owner slowly stepped out of the dark and stood in front of Louis.

Black eyes stared back at Louis, Louis? Another Louis? A dead Louis.

"What the fuck,"

"What the fuck to you too," The other Louis? Scoffed.

"I- wha? How the hell? What's going on?" he stuttered as he looked at his dead doppelganger.

"I was supposed to be the one to take over after you *die*. But it seems like we will be sharing now," he sarcastically explained before he sat on the ground cross-legged, one cheek in his hand as he looked at the normal Louis.

"Well? Sit. Let's talk twin," he motioned for Louis to sit as well, and Louis complied, still not sure whether he was dead or dreaming or whatever.

"So... I don't even know what I should ask." He looked over at the dead Louis, who was staring at the ground in boredom.

"You got bit by an infected and got infected yourself, but since the virus operates on your biggest fear. It didn't work for you. Clearly, you were hoping to die for a while now," he explained, and Louis brought a hand to where he was bitten, but there were no cuts or anything. Matter of fact, he wasn't feeling anything in this weird place.

"Am I dead or not?" he asked again, and his counterpart looked at him weirdly.

"You are undead. You are infected. You are a monster. You are one of us," He stood up before he spoke again.

"While you were dead, some guy who looked like you came. He robbed you," He must be talking about Louis's father.

"Robbed me? Of what? I didn't have shit," he scoffed as he stood as well.

"You are waking up. You will see,"