12 of November 2030, just the very beginning of this desolate day
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It was maybe 12 or 1 AM—the girl couldn't tell time down in this more high-end cell she was all alone in with 1204. The sedative was still there, yet enough left to where she isn't completely unconscious; Red was dozing on and off, to and fro, while 1204 seemed to be preparing something a few feet away from the machine she was tied up onto. To be exact on what the man was doing, to put it simple... he was readying up the very machine Red's attached to which will help him reach his goal. The goal to erase her current mind, thoughts, memories, relationships. All of it.
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No one could understand how these new "advancements" in technology work nowadays, but everyone learnt to accept it... as "it is what it is." They all feared it, not wanting their memories to be thrown away for misbehaving dictator orders. But someone had to do something, right? There's always a few in the bunch who don't care about possible consequences, but now Red's facing them. Did she care? Yes. She cared deeply for her memories of friendship, genuine relationships— and her love for Blue. All of these were now rare in this day of age in the South. And all of them were about to float away, out of her mind and seemingly to a place where they'd never be found.
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1204 finished setting up the machine, and only now was Red able to process the situation more clearly. She didn't speak up at all, but 1204 noticed her to be more conscious of her surroundings.
"Seems like you're up... just in time."
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Red was, for the majority, still confused— still kind of out of it, but had just enough consciousness to use her voice now.
"Wh... what?"
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"For the machine I've tied you up on, it's ready for you now..."
He stated to her, his word choices being unclear to her on what exactly it's going to do to her, as she couldn't remember its use nor get a good look at the machine in the first place.
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After taking full notice of her inability to move her body, as she was tied to the machine, she began to become more anxious within seconds.
"W- what the hell is this all for—?!"
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"Well, thing is I can't just tell you, it'd ruin the surprise... that if you end up remembering anything at all, after I do THIS."
He ended his sentence with egotistical triumph in his voice as he pulled down the lever which activated the very machine Red was tied onto.
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Sparks of electricity surged through the futuristic, mind-wiping machine as it snatched her mind in an instant. Her memories were now lost in the digital sea of forbidden minds that were once part of true humans, one's against Hemlock. But there were very few in this desolate abyss, Red's mind nearly the only one there, as the machine has been used on VERY few people other than her. Not many in Hemlock disobeyed as much as Red has, and definitely not to an extent such as Blue did. They were the fire starter after all.
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Red yelped, her screams of pain and agony filled the room as her personality and more were stripped from her identity, soon leaving her as a blank canvas. 1204 finally turned off the machine about 10 seconds later, guessing that'd be enough to get rid of every thought, memory, and relationships against Hemlock.
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1204 had considered shaving Red's hair to a buzzcut, but refrained from doing so because of a sinister thought that occurred in his head just now. Keep Red locked in this room for multiple days, three sounded good to him, then release her after finding Blue's exact location. The man predicted how it would go, the scum would be happy she's back as they would easily recognise her still, but comes to be confused and worried by her odd behaviour.
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Once Red calmed down — after waking up from being knocked out for maybe an hour or so — 1204 initiated the next step of his plan into action. And this step contained teaching her how to conform to society, to be another cog in the machine, and so on. He unstrapped her from the machine and helped her down safely, only because he knew showing kindness was a good way to win someone over.
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But his kindness— it was fake instead of sincere, like it used to be. He wanted to use this manipulation to win her over from Blue, just so he could use the girl to spy on her past love. This'll get him the upper hand on killing Blue, or maybe giving them the same punishment as Red. To make him also forget everything he stood for, fought for, cried for, loved for, and everything in between his silly little feelings. Yet 1204 had already been doing this without help from this machine ever since he was pushed to be an Infiltrator and view the Dictator as a god to follow all he could.
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"Hello, 0822... how are you feeling?"
Kindly, yet with a sinister undertone, said 1204 to Red. Calling her 0822 was all a part of the plan.
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Red— she tried to remember how she felt, but she felt nothing. Her whole entire mind felt like it's been blank for the longest she could remember— which is less than a minute back in time right now.
"I..."
The girl was clearly lost in words to describe how she felt.
"I don't know... uh—... who are you?"
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1204 was delighted the machine worked and gave her a response back, telling what his name is.
"It's 1204. And I have a job for you to do for me, understand? You must do so for the sake of keeping yourself alive."
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"W-what? Uh, okay... what's it you want me to do?"
Red wasn't herself, not anymore. She was confused, afraid— like a child navigating the world all over again.
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"I want you to spy on this vigilant for me. Its name is Subject 1116."
Said the man as he pulled up a hologram of Blue, Subject 1116.
"This idiot has only caused treachery in Hemlock, our city. It may seem like this traitor knows you, but that is only a lie. If others on Subject 1116's side claim to know you, then they are also lying. With this plan, they'll take you in... try to turn you into a monster, but that's your chance to get valuable information for me."
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"Okay... where would I even begin to look in the first place?"
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He didn't think about that... oh well.
"Ah, well... I didn't think that far. But that's fine, you'll be staying here for a couple of days before I send you off to spy on him. In the meantime, I'll go search for that prick."
She only blinked, looked away from his gaze, and nodded uncertainly at her staying here for however many days on end.
"'Might bring you something after I finish searching for now. Don't get too bored while you're alone."
1204 added as he exited the cell and headed out of Deceiver Headquarters.
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Red stood there blankly for a moment as her head hurt. This didn't feel right— her memories, like parts were missing; like a part of her personality was replaced by stupidity. But she couldn't do anything about it as, well, she was now dumb; she couldn't imagine what once was her life before now. Everything was a blur. Tears were begging to fall down her face, yet only a singular one fell down it.
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Three days later in the same cell. The 15th of November 2030, early in the morning
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1204 finally came back from today's night search he'd been on for maybe... some hours, Red wasn't intricately counting the passing time. But the parts of these few days when he was gone, she spent her time sitting in a corner, fiddling with the Infiltrator uniform that part of her body deep down wanted to tear off this instance. She hated wearing it, but felt too scared in taking it off. As the man walked over to Red, she could tell by his manner that there would be news he considered good that he'd inform her of.
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"I have some very good news, 0822! I've found the perpetrators location. All four of them. Now come with me, I'll take you to them."
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For a couple seconds Red stayed how she was, eying 1204 but aimlessly focused on continuing to fiddle with her clothes. Then she let out a faint reply.
"Really...?"
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"Yes... now come on— we don't got all day to mosey on around HQ."
1204 said as he walked to her, grabbing Red's arm to pull her up from the cold floor before having to drag her out of the cell.
"Please, cooperate with me here. It'll all make this easier for the both of us."
He tried to hold a positive composure to continue having Red on his side through more faked kindness straight from his mangled heart. He hoped it was working to his liking.
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The two began to reach the exit of Deceiver HQ soon after Red finally began to walk properly. Deceivers that the two passed by had given her nasty looks, even though they knew her mind had successfully been rebuilt to conform. Her newfound conformity, it made her obey orders of deceiving lies and blend in with a society not meant for her. Yet the liars never would accept her, although she'd been fresh out of the conformity mould— as in the very machine that put her into this mindset.
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Now there were no other faces peering at her in disgust, but it felt like she blinked once and next she was in a car with 1204 driving somewhere. He wasn't open to any attention from citizens walking the street, and how this was an urgent matter in his case— so a car was much needed.
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1204 grumbled as a stop light was taking longer than he'd like, and traffic being heavy didn't help. But he took this as a time to converse with Red, or more so 0822 in his eyes, and turn his head to look at her somewhat. She was being awfully quiet.
"So, how are you feeling about Hemlock, along with the Dictator and all? Do you see what I mean, how it's all great?"
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It took almost a minute for her to respond, having a short of gloomy tone to it as she looked out the window of the car as people walked the sidewalk.
"I... don't know, you've kept me in the same room for three days straight."
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"Well I-..."
He didn't like that the betrayer was right, he didn't like feeling this— that maybe what he's doing is wrong. That he's been doing wrong this whole time as an Infiltrator and now as the stand-in leader for all the Infiltrators. So he pushed those thoughts away, like he always did, and contained himself.
"Just, from what I educated you on about, and your feelings on them. I'm curious how the transition progress with you is going so far."
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What 1204 was asking Red didn't sit right with her but at the same time her thoughts couldn't hold onto that feeling of discomfort.
"I still don't know."
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"What—? Have you not been listening to all I told you of this damn city?!"
Red flinched at the sudden aggression taking over 1204 who'd looked behind his seat more in order to get a clearer view of Red. But then the car behind them honked repeatedly. 1204 urgently sat himself back down in his seat, getting a cold sweat from how much his emotions were changing in such a small period of time. Quickly he had to get a hold of himself, breathing in and letting out a large sigh as he drove off, the destination being Cape Mercy.
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30 or so minutes later the two reached Cape Mercy where Blue was spotted earlier.
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1204 parked the car in a parking lot near the area he saw Blue around, opening the car door for Red who came out almost reluctantly in his opinion. But he wasn't sure if that's just his paranoia crawling on his back.
"The spot's just a few minutes walk away from here. I'll watch as you go up to 1116, alright? Then you'll spy on the traitor, and — what I assume will happen — they'll take you to the others. With that, you'll be able to get some inside info for me, alright?"
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Part of Red, deep down yet again, felt opposed to do this for 1204— for nothing but only for the higher ups to benefit from this and make Hemlock completely a desolate city. But her broken, dumb mind couldn't muster up thoughts like so, at least to where she'd be aware of those thoughts.
"... Alright."
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The two began to make their way to the specific area, Red dragging behind slightly as she mostly paid more attention to the nature surrounding the two compared to her focus on what's in front of her, such as 1204. Luckily she didn't bump into him, considering she was walking slower than him, but 1204 eventually noticed as they neared the spot more.
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The Infiltrator turned himself around to give Red his attention of a confused look.
"Hey, what are you so far behind for? Is walking really too much for you right now?"
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"What...? No. I'm observing nature, that's all."
Red paused for a second, looking away from 1204 then back at him with some kind of dejected look in her expression.
"...Sorry for that, I'll keep up with you now."
And she did so, speed walking until she was side by side with 1204. Now both of them were able to continue on their way to the point of interest.
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Upon reaching the spot, Red was on her own now as 1204 went to hide behind some foliage and bushes of the sparse, deserted forest. Except for a Blue haired individual journaling under a tree, that is. He was deep enough into writing in their new notebook that they didn't notice their long lost lover nervously walking towards him, soon noticing shoes in his vision which caught his attention.
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Blue didn't know who it could be considering the quiet approach from them, but the boots terribly resembled those of an Infiltrator's which made him jump straight up from the grass, ready to protect himself. But instead the boy was... surprised? shocked?... happy? Their emotions were all over the place, his jaw hung slightly open and eyes wide, yet refrained from speaking after seeing the red hair and face of the person standing right in front of him. Of course he'd recognise that face and her hair... of course Blue would. But something felt... off. Although unsure and worried on why he's having this gut feeling about Red's state, the boy swept those worries out of his mind for now, going in for a tight hug with Red.
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"Red- damn it ... I've missed you so much—"
Then he let go of the hug, standing close in front of her as many emotions merged together within him. When Blue spoke again, they anxiously placed his hands in her hands which now were intertwined with each other.
"Are- are you okay...?? I swear if they did something to you—"
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"Um... hi? And no, I'm doing quite well."
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Blue was put off by Red's tone with her 'um...hi?' especially. Something had to of happened to her. But he's been so caught up in despair that they couldn't piece together what had been done to Red.
"W-what...?"
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"What?... Oh, my tone. Sorry, I'm just confused since I don't know you. I was walking through the forest and I seen you sitting here, writing. That's what caught my interest."
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The boy, baffled by the girls words, ignored all she had to say except how she claimed that she didn't know them.
"You... you don't know me? Wh- how?! You can't be well, I don't believe you're okay. Come on, Red, you're coming with me."
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Then Blue grabbed her hand gently, yet she yanked her hand out of his and spoke in an agitated manner yet with a sliver of panic.
"That's not my name..."
Part of Red, or 0822 in this instance, wanted to run away from this blue haired boy. Not from supposedly hating him, but because of her own uncertainty. She was told everything this subject said about knowing her was a lie. But it felt so compelling to believe so— causing her feelings to spiral on the inside. Is 1204 the one to believe, or is 1116?
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"Okay, you're definitely coming with me. Maybe they know what happened to you."
Blue said as he resorted to pulling her along.
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"Who's 'they'??"
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"I don't trust we're alone, so I won't say here. And it wouldn't be worth it as I fear you wouldn't remember them either."
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Red was only more confused, yet she could understand... knowing 1204 was watching. She knew he'd be following behind the two as the fugitive took the girl to the Cape Mercy hideout where the others are at. It was all falling into plan for 1204.
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At the base
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Only a few minutes later and the two broken apart 'lovers' had reached the base where Green would explain everything...
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Blue knocked on the door, having a growing sense of urgency the more he knocked with no answer— until the door almost swung open to a wary Green. But same as Blue, they were shocked by the appearance of Red out of nowhere it seemed like. And her being all decked out in Infiltrator attire... like back then, just some weeks ago. That was the oddest of all, causing the green haired person's thoughts to go into a spiral of confusion yet on the outside their body frozen with a disconcert expression on their face.
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"Hey—"
Blue began to speak, yet cut off accidently by Green suddenly speaking up.
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"R-Red? Is that really you?!"
Green wanted to give her a big hug, almost doing so but held back after seeing her dismissive reaction to them. With the surprise of Red's appearance, they forgot all about their knowledge of how her memories had potentially been wiped prior from now.
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She yanked her hand out of Blue's, backing away from the two with a slight stumble.
"My- my name's not Red... both of you, stop calling me that! It's 0822."
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Blue gazed sorrowfully at Red for a couple seconds, then looking at Green with hopelessness in his eyes as he needed to grasp onto any help he could get before he'd collapse mentally.
"Y-yeah, umm.... Something definitely happened to her. I can't think what though; I've been so caught up with missing her too."
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"OH-... yes, that. I know what happened, 1204 had shamelessly said what he'd do to her back when we tried to get her out. It's fine you forgot, but uh..."
Green glanced at Red, or as said moreso 0822 in this instance. Both didn't want to think of her with that as her name. Nonetheless, she looked scared, although there was an uncertainty on her part— how to take this all in. When you wake up and stay in a cell for three days to be reconditioned into the "perfect citizen" of Hemlock, you become unsure of what's even real.
"Let's get her inside first."
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With that, they did so and now were having to work together to get Red through the door and into the hideout. It was a struggle as she tried to resist but couldn't choose between letting it happen either as tears flung off her face. Both Blue and Green hated seeing Red like this, but they had to accept reality and be ready for anything... even saving one of their own. They can't ignore that this is her, that the real her is now this, yet to still put in the effort to save her from what 1204 had done to her.
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Now in the base, with the entrance door locked tight, the two sat Red down on a grungy couch— tears variously spanning across it. Ironically, Red was the first to talk right after she'd been reluctantly put on the couch.
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"The hell do you want with me?!"
Red cried out almost, confining herself more into the cushions of the couch as her body trembled slightly while her focus switched between Blue and Green.
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Before Red let her anger out, Green spoke up with some urgency to resolve that anger. To show they understand how she's feeling.
"Woah woah, calm down. We're not gonna hurt you— we're tryna do the exact opposite, actually. I — well, we, actually— know what happened to you. We promise we're telling the truth— so just... hear me out, kay?"
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The girl hesitated as she didn't know how to respond, to accept or not on hearing what the person with green locks had to say.
"I- I don't care if you do. You could be lying either way..."
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Green could feel that this new Red is gonna be tough to get through with. But all they could do was try.
"Okay, sure, you don't care. But we're not lying, I promise. Anyways— the truth is that you lost a good chunk of your memory, yourself."
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Receiving information like this was compelling to Red— almost detrimental to her mind shaped to follow the unjust rules of Hemlock. And she didn't know whether to believe what the two say or follow 1204's word that whatever these fugitives say is false.
"No, no— you're both lying. My memories are fine!"
Red cried out again as she stood up from the couch, trying to back away from the two but clambered due to the couch being in the way.
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Suddenly Red was at the door after she hurdled over the couch and ran to where the three entered the base from not even two minutes ago. The girl hurried to get the door unlocked yet failed as Blue grabbed her away from it, holding— almost pinning her against a wall next to the door.
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Blue didn't want this kind of situation to ever occur, yet it's right in his face. Right now. But nevertheless, deep down Blue knew they couldn't just sit idle and watch his lover fade into obscurity. He couldn't let Red become one with evil. So they knew what they had to do; knock some sense into her. At first he thought to kiss her, but right now was not appropriate at all— and Blue puts her consent first. So what they did instead was lean even more into his vulnerable, emotional side— hoping that'll help communicate to her more.
"W-we're not. Please, listen to us. We have proof too,"
Blue turned his head to Green who stood wearily near the side of the two against the wall.
"right, Green? Those journal pages of mine I gave you."
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"Uh— yeah! I got them stored somewhere. I'll go find some that talk about Red."
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With that reassuring news, Blue stuttered out a thanks to Green while struggling to keep Red against the wall.
"Alright— thanks, dude..."
As Green hurried to another room, Blue looked back at the girl pinned against the wall, her giving up on escaping as the two locked eyes. The two usually would get butterflies in their stomachs from a shared look, but this one gave the two conflicting feelings; Red uncomfortable and scared, while Blue is searching through her eyes for anything left of that rebellious girl he once knew.
"Just bear with me here, please. I promise I'll get you to remember. Even if my journal entries don't, I'll do it somehow."
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Red was even more disoriented, and more contradicting thoughts did not fray from conjuring up in her mind; 'No... I- I can't listen! 1204 clearly stated all this criminal says are lies...'
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It was quite clear in Blue's eyes that Red was visibly uncomfortable — agitated and scared — so he quickly thought of something that could calm her down. And speaking in a kind and soft tone was part of that, but also refraining from making any contact initiated by Blue himself. That including having her pinned to the wall; having lowered his arms down and back a few inches away from her, hoping that'll ease this situation.
"Hey, I can understand how you're feeling about uhh,"
He awkwardly made a gesture with their hands, motioning them like there was a ball he'd been holding the bottom of, in an attempt to express what he meant by 'all this' as he continued on.
"all this."
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And just like Blue hoped, Red appeared to be gradually calming down more and more the longer it'd been since he spoke with care to, and for her. She began to trust him more, coming to accept that he means good... although still a smidge uncertain about both Blue and Green.
"W-well, uhh..."
Suddenly Red spoke with an angry tone, all progress seemingly gone as she stubbornly questioned what Blue claimed to understand of her.
"How- how do I feel then?! You're p-probably just— saying shit for the hell of it...!"
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Blue was terribly hurt inside when Red questioned his reliability of understanding her. It was hard to not lash out in multiple different ways; crying, yelling at her, and such. So instead they stood there, staring at her for a couple seconds — face ridden with sorrow, guilt, and everything alike — in attempt to try returning to a calmer state with more control over his actions and emotions. Meanwhile Red was seething as she clenched her teeth and hands, breathing heavily, waiting for a response that never came as Green rushed back in with a few papers, interrupting the close-to dispute between Blue and Red with her obsolete memories.
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"Hey dude, I found two of your past journal entries..."
The green haired person looked up from the papers, giving a glance at both Blue and Red then back to Blue as what they said next was directed towards him again.
"I'm uh, guessing it's not going so well out here?"
The delivery of their line was awkward— having been they'd barged in on the moment the two were having.
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Blue tried to gain back their composure, only somewhat accomplishing so, before replying back in defeat, feeling he failed to make progress towards helping Red get her memories back. But he was a bit happy with the good news; Green had some of his past entries. Hopefully, just maybe, they'll help her remember, or... at least come to accept that of what she's forgotten.
"Umm— yeah. It's not going so well..."
He couldn't stop himself from being deeply disappointed with himself, but they had to try. Try to bring back Red.
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Green noticed the down look on Blue's face and body as a whole, stepping closer to the blue haired boy, reassuring him that things will work out.
"Hey, don't worry man. These entries gotta help with this memory situation in some way."
Then Green turned to Red, holding out towards her the two papers for her to take.
"Here, read these. Preferably in the order of 6 to 16. You ain't gotta rush through in reading them, take your time looking through the two. Just talk to us if there's any questions you got about what's written."
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Blue let out a sad, low "yeah" after Green finished talking while Red warily took the two papers from their hand. She went to sit on the couch where she'd read both in the suggested order.
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About 5 minutes later
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While Red was reading through the two journal entries, Blue and Green were busy conversing with each other. Particularly about Red. But it'd been long enough to where Blue wanted to check in with her, see how she's feeling. He waved off to Green before heading over to the girl at the couch who looked to be uncertain about what she's reading.
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Now walking to the couch, Blue sat down fairly near Red but not close to the point of their bodies touching.
"Hey, just wanted to check in with you, I could fill you in on some insight about these two entries. I want to because...well, I understand you might not remember the relationship we had together just from reading them."
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She didn't look at Blue, or up from the papers at all, but acknowledged his presence and offer.
"Sure, I guess..."
She paused for a second.
"It's just... odd reading these considering I'm this "Red" you wrote about. And I don't remember ever meeting you in person beforehand, or that you call yourself Blue over 1116. And now I'm divided between so many things right now..."
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This rawness coming from Red strained Blues heart strings, but it also struck hope inside of him. She's not pushing away from thinking critically on the contents of the writings, albeit unsure on her feelings with the information at hand.
"Yeah, yeah it's okay to feel like that... just don't get so tied up on overthinking all this. Oh, also could I read both of them? All I need is a lil refresher, so I can give that insight I mentioned, yeah?"
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"Yeah... here."
Said Red who reclusively sighed to herself after handing the two papers to their rightful owner. With nothing to read, the girl watched the blue haired boy read what they'd written back in the not-so-long-ago past.
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Journal Entry 6
I met the girl, Red, and she's... complicated, to say the least. But that's what I like about her, and the tree's right; she just needs my help. It's no surprise to me that Hemlock goes as far as tracking their Infiltrators... but I can't let that separate me and my girl. Hemlock won't dwindle her life or mine anymore, not on my watch. I'll write to her about planning the one time we meet again. A night of love, maybe something like a rave. They're extremely illegal in these times—but why not live life a lil' more dangerously with the one you love?
Stay cool!
—Blue
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journal entry 16
Finally my only friends in this shitty world are free from their past mistakes that they did not even willingly do, it makes me have even more hope as the three of us have burned our past, leaving it behind to rot like this city will if we don't do something to save it. And I know Green will keep this safe if anything happens to me and my girl... Red. She's the reason I'm even going through with this thought of changing this gray city to become even better than it ever was before so me and Red's haven won't just be inside this tiny hideout.
Stay Blue...
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It took Blue maybe two or so minutes to read both, as he said— they only needed a good refresher on what these two journals of his were about in relation to Red. And with that done he looked back at the girl beside them, papers still in hand, then placed the two spread apart on the table. He first talked about the 6th journal entry before going onto the 16th.
"So we actually met on a kinda rough note, trying to get away from the past general. But I first saw you on the train and was immediately pulled in by your appearance, and I knew you were the one..."
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"The one for what...?"
She asked skeptically, feeling she wouldn't like what he thought of her by glance. That it would be illegal.
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"Oh- uhh... I know it sounds "unusual" that you would do anything like such, but the one to. Um."
Feeling stupid, he cursed to himself.
"Dammit, this sounds so stupid to say out loud... one part was that you were alluring. Yeah. That's stupid to think just by the looks of you-.."
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Suddenly Green came to the couch where the two were sitting, having another journal entry.
"Hey guys, so sorry to interrupt again but I found one more, pretty sure it was the first you gave to me, Blue."
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"Oh— thanks man... me and her can read it right now, together."
He then turned to look at Red instead of Green now.
"Is... that okay with you?"
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Red visually looked overly uncomfortable with looking any further into these journal entries and what it may mean in terms of her and the fugitives' relationship that she just couldn't remember anything of. But still, she accepted- not knowing why, as it was this gut feeling in her to hear Blue out.
"...That's okay with me..."
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Blue gave her a soft smile, internally telling himself that this is progress towards her remembering, accepting— what she'd forgotten. And with her consent, Blue held the paper between the both of them so they could read together.
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Journal entry 5
After five months I can finally write in here again—it feels like forever that I've been blocked from this outlet of mine, no—this power of mine. But what's more important is that today I ran away, and now I've found a hideout in a wonderful spot. There's this tree outside my window which I've found to enjoy sitting underneath, it's the only area where the temperature I can exist comfortably in. And another thing, there's a red haired girl I saw on the train. I swear she's the one; I'll get her to join me in setting fires against the government in hope to destroy it.
Stay cool...
—Blue
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Both finished reading the paper, with Blue leaning more into speaking warily about this entry— as they knew the topic at hand was making Red extremely uncomfortable.
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"Uhh, yeah- just thought you looked like the kind of person to be like... me..."
Said Blue who was refraining from verbally saying the 'destroy the government' part. As with her memory loss, she was the exact opposite of Anarchy to Hemlock.
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"You think I would... destroy the government? With you...? I- I need to process this... sorry, I'm going into another room for now."
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Without a second to mutter a response, Blue was left in the dust as he lifted his hand- trying to grab her, but lowering it and sighing before Green leaned forward from behind the couch.
"Hey, maybe we could all still go to the rave together. Well... it's tonight, but hopefully we can get through with Red in time. And tomorrow's your birthday, dude! Wish things were better than they are now, but it's not like we can't change that."
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Blue looked at Green in a daze for second before laughing weakly.
"I almost forgot that rave was today, and that tomorrows my birthday... But yeah, maybe taking her to it will help... thanks."
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With Red in another room of the bunker-esque hideout
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In a corner of some room the troubled girl went into, she sat there — back pressed up tightly against the corner — as she cried silently, yet loudly screaming inside her mind. All this contradicting information was hurting her brain, overwhelming her. While she was having her moment, both Emma along with Lee had been informed by Blue and Green of what happened to Red- the couple standing in to check on her.
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When reaching the room Red had been hiding in, the two didn't see her at first- but when they did, it seemed like the girl recognised the two. The mind eraser must have not counted her relationship with the two. And as she sat there, even more discomforted and alarmed, her mind patched itself up a bit— that green haired person from earlier, they were familiar; someone she knew; a friend, her best friend. Maybe the machine was faulty, or programmed poorly as 1204 didn't fully know who the other three people were on the fugitive's side with Blue and Red. Hence why Red only remembers Green as her best friend and that's all, not why they're best friends... at least, not all of it. And the girl she felt a friendship with too... but the other guy, she wasn't sure, although the two together made her uncomfortable, like seeing herself and Blue... together, like it's normal.
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Emma walked a few steps forwards to Red, hoping to not make her hyperventilating worse, as by the looks of it she didn't look well at all while sitting in the corner, alone.
"Hey, mind if I sit by you?"
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When replying, Red wasn't really all there— millions upon billions of thoughts rushing through her mind; too many emotions, too many of everything.
"Umm— w-why??"
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"Why—? You look in need of some cheering up, is all."
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"What— I don't need..."
Red paused, as she hated speaking to these traitors. Or... maybe they weren't. Maybe... no. She can't think like this, but she couldn't get herself to push away everything that made her uncomfortable.
"ugh, fine. You can sit by me, or whatever— you too, I guess."
Red said, giving the permission of sitting by her to both Emma and Lee.
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And frankly Emma didn't take Red's attitude to heart as she knew what the girl had gone through; her mindset, memories, and morals were all malformed to fit the mind of a loyal Hemlock citizen. With that in mind, the nearly dirty blonde haired girl sat next to the red haired one with Lee following shortly behind.
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Red grumbled as she looked down and away from the two who sat to the right of her.
"What is it that you want now... seems like everyone wants something out of me."
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Emma felt remorse for the girl who only huffed at the attention she's receiving unwillingly.
"Well, we all mean good in it—"
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A sudden vicious upbringing came to Red as she growled her words at Emma directly and indirectly to Lee and everyone in this base as a whole.
"How when everything feels like... like a lie!"
The troubled girl fell deeper and deeper into a mess of confusion, anger, and sadness as she curled into a tight ball and cried away into her legs.
"I just... hate this. Being forced to believe a side..."
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"I get you, and we're all extremely sorry to make you feel this way. But... if you don't mind me asking, who is it you're believing? And why are you so stuck on their side that only wants you to hate the good?l
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"It's... um..."
Unsure whether to tell who it was that brought her to these ideas of certain people, Red accidentally stayed silent too long.
'Should I tell... ah, I don't know! Although... these people are way nicer than 1204... and it's not like he could hear me right now.'
"1204, that's who told me to not believe any of you..."
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"Oh— that makes sense, but outside this hideout... why did you come up to Blue in the first place? If you're so stuck on believing someone with no solid proof... why come up to the one you've been told to hate?"
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"Because I- I was told to by 1204... he wanted me to spy on all of you, to get the upper hand... and if I fail, then- then I'll die."
Her sobs grew in intensity and soaked the part of her pants she'd been shoving her face against while curled up again.
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Both Emma and Lee didn't know how to respond to this information, but they'd swear she wouldn't die under the watch of them and the other three.
"Well, how about you just... don't go back to him? And we'll all keep you safe— the five of us."
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The girl couldn't stop her cry's so quickly, but as she lifted her head they softened ever so slightly as she focused on the two sitting with her.
"Really...?"
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"Yes, really! You're a friend to all of us here, especially Blue. How about you come along to a rave tonight? All of us, except Blue, were part of a big group working to make sure this rave happens. We wanted to do some kind of... rebellion connected to the community. Maybe going will help you accept the true you, or even remember something— if anything at all."
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"I'll... think about it. But I'm still a bit confused, and even scared by all this I've... forgotten?"
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"Confused on what?"
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"Well... the relationship me and 'Blue' had, things I used to believe. Everything is the opposite of what I believe now, and what I feel now. So seeing you two... it makes me queasy, like I'm seeing myself with Blue. And I don't understand any of it, why anyone would 'love' like that. Especially me."
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"Ay, she said I'm like Blue!"
The mostly silent boy said, breaking his silence built off of precaution with a joking tone.
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"Lee..."
Grumbled Emma as she lightly elbowed him with her right arm.
"Right now is not the time to be like this."
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"Ah... sorry about that. I gotta do better with reading the room; and thinking before I act. Anyways, love... yeahh, It's real shitty how Hemlock banned it- all because it's stronger than the power they contain. And even every kinda art form as that too is something powerful that connects us. So that's why when everyone comes together at the rave, there's no doubt we'll be unstoppable. At the rave we'll all be free of rules, free to be ourselves. You get what I'm talking?"
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"Y-yes... I think I understand now. 1204 isn't the one to follow, and the Dictator surely isn't too, but instead follow the freedom of being myself...?"
The girl lifted her head up at the end of her sentence along with a lightened tone from the idea of being herself… whatever that was, before her memories had apparently been wiped.
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And with that, Lee gave a quite casual word of confirmation that she was indeed correct, although going further into the topic at hand.
"Bingo. Don’t believe anything that comes out of the higher up’s mouths. Especially that damn dictator, yeesh; I hate even thinking about him! Plus— just imagine how many Infiltrators and even Deceivers have been, and must I say, ironically deceived by the dictator. Not all of them could have been who they are now, it’s just not plausible.”
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“Yeah…”
Said Red who’s head lifted up enough that showed there was a spark of confidence in her now, and hope for the other two hearing her talk as it feels like things are back in the right direction.
“The both of you, thanks for helping me in, um… opening my eyes again. While I can’t remember being like you guys, I want to try becoming who I was before.”
A faint smile coming from the girl, having been tired from such an exhausting, contradicting morning.
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and then Add to home screen.