True Fiction

Chapter 3: Friends

Ryan stared skeptically at the naive boy he had just taken down. They were still sitting in the bush, with was surprisingly large and spacious for the inside of a bush, without any thorns.

Ashen stared back at Ryan, noticing the change in his attire from what his video-graphic memory showed him. Ryan was much more lean, tan, taller than he was before. His attire although was casual, was all black.

"Yeah, that's me!" Ashen beamed, ignoring the fact that Ryan just tried to kill him, "Do you know any other Friends?"

"I'm sure they'll be ecstatic to meet you. Let's go." Ryan said excitedly.

Ashen relaxed and got out of the bush, extending his hand to the squatting Asian. Ryan ignored the offer and stood up promptly. He seemed to be unfazed by Ryan's unfriendliness. "Let's not go into the house" Ryan whispered.

"Why not?"

"Things have changed a lot since you 'died'." He looked at Ashen with a lost, nostalgic look in his eye. Ashen felt the tension between the two of them, somewhat familiar.

"Regardless, going to my house is not a good idea, let's find the rest." Ryan promptly walked off, careful to avoid the sight of the surveillance Ashen noted around the mansion.

"The rest!?" Ashen said deciding to change the topic, "I have more friends?"

"Had." Ryan coldly said, "Its time to make new friends, I guess. You really don't remember anything?"

Ashen frowned. "You mean they don't want to be my friends anymore?"

Ryan stared at him in pure contempt. "You sad robot boy." He mused shaking his head. Then, they began walking.

***********

The orphanage was a pretty nice building. A renovation had just been done and the walls and floors were all new. Ryan walked right in and eyed the plum middle-aged lady behind the desk. She glared at him and pointed to the elevator.

"The rascal's room didn't change. He's upstairs, emo kid." Ryan ignored the comment and took the lift straight up, Ashen tailing behind in wonder.

Still so confused at the emotions his assumed friend was feeling and the sadness that he had spoken about, Ashen quietly reflected at all the possible incidents that could have caused this in the past ten years. Pain, war, deception. The online cyberspace he could see was merely a facade. Needless to say, Ashen quickly realized how cruel the world could be.

Ding!

The elevator door opened and Ryan knocked on the first door to the right.

"Who's there?" A young voice shouted. "It's me and Ashen," Ryan said.

"ASHEN?" The voice practically screamed as the door violently swung open to reveal a young boy with messy brown hair. He stared curiously at Ashen.

Pointing to him he asked, "Who's that and where's Ashen. Did you trick me?" Ashen waved politely before Ryan flicked the young boy on the forehead.

"Dumbass. That's Ashen." The boy rubbed his forehead angrily.

"RYAN! Wasn't Ashen smaller than this guy?" Wilfred insisted. Ryan flicked his forehead again. "It's been 10 years you moron. How can you be so dumb?"

Ashen and Wilfred exchanged glances and shrugged.

Wilfred extended his arm and shook Ashen's vigorously. "My name is Wilfred Oakheart. It's nice to meet you again Ashen." Ashen smiled at the energetic boy, yet sensing a deeper sadness behind those shining green eyes. It pained Ashen to see such hidden despondency in his assumed friends. What could have happened?