Zèro

Chapter 3

" Oh Sweetie, monsters are real. And they look like humans."
~The Idealist

It had been two weeks since Azura saw the new Special. She had frequently visited her every two days. It seemed that the memory erasing process was finally over as her body had now been detached from the wires and she seemed to regain her senses once in a while. Azura could not help but notice the scars covering her pale skin as she wondered what past must have the red head undergone.

Azura was not the only one with suspicions. The new girl had always noticed Azura too. The few times she was able to recover from her dizziness, she had always seen the young girl observe her while hiding in the shadows holding on to a dirty doll. Azura's eyes seemed to be the only thing comforting her among all the confusion and emptiness she was feeling from the past few days. The only clear memories she had was of a man in a peculiar mask addressing her as ZenonXXX when she had first woken up and the few instances where she caught Azura sneaking glances at her. Zenon was confused, very confused. Everything in her past memories so far seemed to be a blur. Her mind felt like a chasm of nothing.

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(3 WEEKS LATER)

Azura was in her room reading when her door flung open. A tall man in a black suit walked in followed by a familiar red-haired girl. "Miss Azura, I introduce you to the newest resident of the Specials' Unit, ZenonXXX" The man boomed as he lightly shoved Zenon, encouraging her to approach Azura. "So, she's third, huh?" Azura muttered as she slid off her bed. "I didn't quite catch that miss?" The man responded. Azura approached Zenon her eyes fixated on the white ends of her hair. "Oh its nothing, mister. Just a crazy girl's crazy thoughts." She told him now fixing her eyes on him as she linked her arms around Zenon. "Er, well I shall uh be taking my leave now. I believe you can tour your new friend and inform her what is expected and what is not." He said as he quickly bowed and proceeded to leave the room.

Zenon was still quiet as she stared at Azura's small hand clutching her arm. Azura didn't speak a word but she didn't let go of her either. "So, your name is Zenon?" She said guiding her towards the bed. "Um, yeah I guess. That's what the mask dude calls me." Azura smiled as the two sat down on her soft bed. "This isn't the first time we are meeting, right?" Azura said as she glanced back at  Zenon. "It certainly is the first time we are having a proper conversation." Zenon replied as her gaze fell on the pink diary. Azura sensed as her she grabbed the diary and shoved it into a drawer. "Can't a girl have her secrets?" She said as she faked being offended. "Uh, sorry. I really didn't mean to intrude on your privacy." Azura giggled, "I am Azura, officially, I am known as AzuraXX." She said. Zenon smiled. She had been confused all this time she had been awake but she felt a strange comfort with this Azura girl. Maybe she could be the answer to all of Zenon's questions.

"Come on." Azura said as she got out of the bed. "Let's give you a tour of heaven in hell." Zenon got out, the phrase heaven in hell continuously replaying in her head,  as she eyed Azura hopping to the door. "There is something I don't know after all." She breathed as she followed the Azura out of the room.

"Okay, so here are a few things you should know before we go out in the commoners' areas. "There are nine specials living in this whole area, including you and me. The other people you will see are the caretakers, my uncle X and his secretary. We are currently in the basement of a huge hospital - the XEED Mental Hospital. Azura began to explain as they entered a long and dark hallway. "Mental hospital ? " Zenon questioned. Azura smirked as she motioned Zenon to come closer to her. "You see, people like you and me are commonly known as psychopaths. And the nine specials I told you about, we are the top on the most messed up list. " Azura whispered. " Huh.. " Zenon said as she felt dazed. She was a psychopath. A crazy person. But she didn't get it. She didn't think of anything that could be wrong with her or her thought process all this time. " It'll take time, but you will eventually meet the demon inside you." Azura called out to her as Zenon unknowingly stopped in her footsteps.  Zenon came back to her senses to see Azura holding the handle of a huge metallic door.