Phase 19 “The Unknown”
“Of course. What is it that I had been up to all this time?” As Kaien began to tell Allen about his history, Allen nodded. After his town was overrun by S.M.V., and everyone else turned into zombies but him. He was the only one who survived. How he sought retribution for his loved one and eliminated those creatures on his own. What motivated him to go out and eliminate these monsters on his own was the need to ensure that no one else had to go through what he had, no one would have the same cursed fate like him.
When Kaien sobbed and soaked Allen's shirt, the horror, the fear, and the scar were all still present in his deepest heart. The other man could only provide the broken man the best possible support and do his best to help him.
“I couldn’t save them! I couldn’t save my parents in the past and in our last mission, I... I couldn’t---”
“You did your best, Kaien, stop blaming yourself,” Allen stated.
“Allen... Please... don’t leave me... I’m sorry I yelled at you... I’m...”
“Shhh... It’s okay. You’re not alone anymore, Kaien,” Allen said softly. “I’m here. Not only me, you’ve got Dominique, Nathan and Benji too.”
It took Allen five minutes to get Kaien to stop weeping, and then another five minutes to get the man to calm down. Allen could not help but have a sly grin on his face as he thought about the fact that Kaien had started to open up to him. He felt relieved to be able to help Kaien express his feelings and console him.
“Kaien,” Allen called the man, who’s leaning on his shoulder now. “You should be thankful, you know, at least, you get the chance to know your parents and they’re good people. I know they really love you. Even now, they must be watching over you.”
“What do you mean?” Kaien asked as he looked into Allen’s eyes.
“I... I don’t have a chance to know mine since my mother abandoned me from the first day I was born,” Allen forced a smile. “Luckily an orphanage was willing to accept me and bring me up.”
Kaien went silent as he thought hard of any words to comfort Allen but he found none. He could only gazed into Allen’s glisten eyes as he tightened their connected hands.
“It’s okay, I want you to listen to my story.” Allen smiled tenderly as he continued, “When I was fifteen I ran away from the orphanage, not because they’re mean but because I didn’t want to be adopted. There’s a family that wanted me but I didn’t want any family. I thought I was too scared that they would also abandon me. I dropped out from school and studied on my own because I needed to work.”
“I somehow got a scholarship and it was a miracle how I could study and graduate as an oncologist,” Allen slid a tear out as he leaned on Kaien’s shoulder, hiding his face. “Moreover because I knew who my biological mother was on the first day of my final exam.”
“Allen...” Kaien caressed Allen’s back, making a circle as he let his arms secured the man.
“I searched for her, trying to get an answer. But I stopped when I knew who she was. I didn’t want to meet her or have any connection to her when I knew she was a common prostitute. I mean... She had to think of me as a disturbance in her job. I was lucky she didn’t kill me when I was in her tummy... At least, she gave me a chance to live as a human being in this world... And if you’re wondering about my father, he’s probably some unknown customer she had...”
“Allen. It’s okay, you’re also not alone now, you got me,” Kaien reassured as Allen smiled.
[FLASHBACK]
That all happened so quickly, yet the pain made it feel like it lasted for an eternity. Allen made an effort to take a breath, but he was unable to do so. He let out a piercing scream that continued on and on. It seemed as though the entire world had turned its back on him and deserted him in the same manner that his parents had done. He was unwanted by everyone, and the fear alone crept through his spine.
'Don't leave me! Please! Help me! Take this pain away! Please!' He tried to scream, but all that came out of his mouth were raspy screams. It was impossible for him to estimate how much time had elapsed before the discomfort subsided. While he lay helpless and perspiring, he gradually regained some of his senses, and the first thing he saw was that someone was holding him closely and protecting him. He opened his eyes and cast a swift glance in that direction, and realized it was Kaien, his savior.
His partially opened eyes caught Dominique on the opposite side of the cramped space. He was unable to speak or move, but he heard Kaien asked Dominique to get them out of there. Once an oxygen mask was placed over his face, he experienced a sensation of floating. Soon enough, he became aware of the icy water surrounding him at the same time that he saw several of the monsters. They were shot by Kaien, protecting him from them. There was a sense of familiarity to it, as though it were the sentiments he had been yearning for in some strange way. Maybe that was how it felt to be a child being shielded and protected by his parents, safe and at peace.
As soon as Allen closed his eyes, it was as though time had stopped once more. He sensed some force propelling and tugging him forward till he emerged from the other end of the tunnel. He opened his eyes and saw a cloud covering most of the sky in a dreary grey color. He saw the paramedics tending to him as Kaien was holding his hands.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
“Kai,” Allen wiped his tears. “Thanks for saving me back there.”
“You’re welcome,” Kaien gave a smile. “You’ve also saved me, Allen.”
“So, I guess we’re each other’s savior then?”
“Sure. We’re stuck with each other anyway.”
“Be sure to drink your strawberry juice then or I’ll leave you,” Allen playfully threatened.
“Yah! How dare you blackmail me?” Kaien tickled Allen a few times as he stopped. “Okay, I will. But I wonder, how can that chocolate-tasted-like infected blood taste like strawberry juice on your tongue?”
“Then how can it taste like chocolate to you?” Allen frowned.
“I don’t have any idea...”
“It’s an unknown mystery then, at least for now till Benji or Nathan find out why...”