Back to Orange's view.
Me: Who the fuck are you guys? Really. I'd like to know.
Mike: You don't remember me?
Me: I've never seen you before in my life.
Infinite: This is bad. He can't remember you. Do you remember me, Orange?
Me: I don't even know my fucking NAME, let alone someone I JUST met.
Mike: This is a serious situation we got ourselves into, ain't it?
Infinite: Well... he's alive.
Me: I'm sitting right here, in front of you, aren't I?
Mike: Not that this question matters or anything, but have you ever had a girlfriend?
Me: I... I can't remember if I did or not. Maybe. I don't know.
Infinite: Let's start with the basics. You're name is Orange of the Emerald Forest, but it also is Naranja del Bosque Verde, Which is the same in Spanish. You're a 19 year old Inkling boy, with no memory of anything. No friends, no family, no... anything, rally.
Mike: I'm Michael, but call me Mike. It may be a surprise to you, but I'm your brother.
Me: I'll believe that.
Mike: This is Infinite.
Infinite: Not that I'm a friend, but I am a friendly rival. Understand that?
Me: You're not just a friend, but you're also my enemy?
Infinite: Close enough.
Mike: You went on some crazy adventures when you were younger. I'll spare details of it, though.
Infinite clearly whispered to Mike something I couldn't hear.
Me: What are you talking about?
Mike: He... told me something I should bring up to you. It's... about the rest of our family. Just mother and father. They're... ahem... they're both gone.
Me: What? How?
Mike: Well... father was because of what happened during the past with you, and mother passed because she had cancer.
Me: Oh... I didn't know. I... what exactly happened in my past?
Mike: I... Well...
Infinite: I'll tell you later.
Me: Could I know now?
Infinite: In all hindsight, you'd be best off without knowing that until a little later.
Me: The fuck?
Mike: He means he doesn't want you to know.
Me: Thank you. Now, I don't know much. All I know is your names and mine. I have no memories of anything.
Mike: Not even mother or father?
Me: Nope. Not that I can recall.
Infinite: Any friends growing up?
Me: I think I did. A few.
Mike: Maybe if we string enough words together, you may remember something.
Infinite: Two words: rifle bullet.
Mike: INFINITE!!!
Infinite: What? It's the last thing that went through his mind.
Infinite laughed at his own comment, and Mike chuckled.
Mike: Shut the fuck up.
Me: Wait.
I could... feel something. Like... that it was true about something. I clutched my head and shook it.
Me: What's happening?
Infinite: Stop fighting your memory. Let it flow.
I released my hands and stopped shaking my head.
Infinite: Close your eyes. Maybe you can see something there.
I did as I was told.
Infinite: What do you see?
I could see everything that those words reminded me of. A dark room, a rifle in my hand, my other one reaching for the trigger. I just couldn't piece it together.
Mike: Open them.
I did as I was told again. I wiped my brow and took a deep breath.
Infinite: He saw something, alright.
Me: A dark room, my hands on a gun, one reached for the trigger, the other holding the barrel to my head.
Mike: Looks like he remembers THAT.
Infinite: Look, Orange. It's not just like-
Me: I killed myself?
Mike: Is now a bad time?
Infinite: Unfortunately, that was the way you went out.
Mike: Went out with a bang.
Infinite: You fucking prick.
Mike: Sorry. Yeah. You... killed yourself in the abandoned building at the edge of town last year.
Me: Last year, huh? I... don't believe it, but seeing as you brought me back, I'll believe it. Also, I like the patchwork you did to me.
Mike: Now, don't go picking at them.
Infinite: Good news about it, as well as bad news. Bad news, we couldn't fully jumpstart your heart, which leads to the good news. I was able to charge a prototype Phantom Ruby to replace the heart of you and restore your life.
Me: That was...
Mike: Uncanny?
Me: Not really. I was going to say that I'm stunned knowing all this.
Mike: Tell you what. Let's hit the bar. A few drinks is what we need. Don't worry. You're old enough.
Me: 18 is the legal drinking age? Sounds like Mexico, or Ireland.
Mike: So you remember countries, but you don't remember anyone you used to know?
Me: Somewhat.
Infinite: Any music?
Me: Umm... country. Yeah. Country music.
Mike: Any song artists you know of?
Me: A few. Luke Bryan, Cole Swindel, a few.
Infinite: At least he knows a few good ones.
Mike: Try hopping on down here.
I pushed myself off the table and onto my feet. I could barely balance myself, so I leaned slightly on Mike's shoulder.
Mike: A year in the ground did this to you?
Me: Oh, go fuck yourself.
Mike: To the bar?
Me: Sure. Let's go.
Infinite: I'll get the girl.
Mike: She might already be there, Jackal. You know she's been through a lot of pain in a year.
Infinite: Best bet, she is there.
Me: I want to know who this girl is.
Mike: You'll remember her when you see her.
YOU ARE READING
The Crystal Of Darkness
Dobrodružné(Sequel to Once Human). It's been a year since Orange had taken his own life at his hands. Infinite had a crazy idea to try and bring our hero back to life again, and it works. It soon seems detrimentally clear that all all is not well. Orange has s...
