ORGÁNOSI I: Broken Mask

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 20

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 20

ONE MONTH physical rehabilitation was enough for Midnight to regain his motor skills. He can finally walk without support, he can move normally, but he wouldn't be able to win a fight, even against a beginner in his state at the moment. He had to retrain his body again, but he was not bothered by it.

And in that one month, Silvanus was finally able to draw a map of Midnight's memories—the ones he remembers and the ones he forgot because of the treatment.

In Midnight's understanding, Dominick was helping him escape his father in return for looking after Happy, if need be, which was partly true, and his psychotherapy with Silvanus was part of that help. This was part of the Midnight's memories Silvanus tweak, making it real and false at the same time to make it believable.

Because of the treatment, Midnight cannot remember the whole experiment, and if he remembers, they were all vague, as if there was a veil put over it. What was clear in his mind was that his father and a group of people inhumanely trained and experimented on him so he would be similar to his big brother.

How inhumane was he trained? He doesn't remember much and there was a voice at the back of his mind telling him not to bother recalling such an unpleasant memory because it wasn't worth it. And when he tries to push his mind to remember, his head would always feel this piercing pain. It was excruciating.

Through all those horrible memories, his brother did his best to protect him from their father, but his big brother could only do so much. However, even though that was the case, his brother never stopped caring about him.

After these confirmations, Silvanus could now confidently declare that the treatment was a success. But its success in the long run depends on how long Midnight could ignore his horrible, veiled memories.

As long as Midnight wouldn't go looking for those horrible memories and no one would trigger him, he would be just fine.

"It's good that you can finally move freely," Silvanus observed with a smile, seeing Midnight moving around the room.

"Yeah." Midnight showed a small, relieved smile. "I can finally leave the isolation room and sleep in a more normal room. I had enough with these white walls."

Silvanus slightly chuckled. "Yes, yes, you will be transferred to your previous room on the highest floor of the lab, and Dominick will bring Loki to see you."

Midnight showed a subtle, excited expression and Silvanus felt happy and proud to see that. Midnight still couldn't express all his emotions, which was understandable, since even 'normal' people didn't enjoy showing them, but it was a good start.

This was the reason why their therapy was still ongoing even after concluding that the treatment was a success; to guide Midnight to understand his emotions, so he could express them freely.

However, Silvanus noticed some things about the present Midnight. Maybe because the experiment had already taken root in Midnight's consciousness; Midnight had a habit of putting on a mask.

If the Midnight in the past couldn't be read because of his always impassive expression, the present Midnight was still hard to read and it's all because of the smile he always wears—like a mask.

Silvanus didn't know if it was an unconscious thing, but he noticed Midnight smiles like Knight. He had seen photos and videos of Knight, given to him by Dominick, when he was in the middle of treatment while Midnight was unconscious. He noticed Midnight moves like Knight, to every little detail that it makes the hair on skin rose sometimes.

It was eerie and interesting at the same time.

Thus, Silvanus concluded that Midnight may have forgotten eighty percent of what had been done to him, but the skills he gained and the beliefs that had been engrained into his mind from years of experimentation stayed.