Body/Friend

A friend? 

"What do you mean?" I asked, still not sure of the definition of a friend. What does a friend do? What does it mean to have a friend? Will it even matter if she'll forget me like the rest?

"It's a bond between two people. Like this." She held her hand out to mine and almost instinctively, I pulled it away. There was something warm about it; I didn't like that. 

We stood in the pile of metal scraps, looking at each other. It was the first time I truly saw a person look at me with anything other than what I saw in myself. No curiosity, no contempt. A rising feeling a warmth flickered within me for a split second, and in a way, she reminded me of myself. Experience IIII, huh?

"I'm not sure I want to be friends, or you want to be friends with me. I don't understand. What's so important about a bond? I'm-" I don't even know what I'm saying. Words keep coming out. 

"Let's go somewhere else. It's okay. We don't have to be friends. A bond transcends that anyways. Vex, we'll be back." She yelled from across the junkyard.

"I wonder when they'll come, I found Experience II, a relief. Have they located any of the other ones? This makes 2 out of 7, yes! Valid questions, valid questions, Vex, hm, hm, hm! What-no! You can't leave. It's dangerous."

The woman got quiet again, rubbing her arms and started to fidget again. First, she says she wants to be friends. Then she doesn't want to be friends. Is the concept such a naturally changing circumstance? I can't help but wonder. 

"I never leave. I don't feel safe, my heart can't take it. The constant beating and pumping of my heart, knowing people don't truly love me. They always reject me, glancing and looking away. Approaching, then distancing themselves. Even so," she looked at me. "I want to change," she spoke. 

Change? Why does she want to change? It's impossible to escape who you are. What makes her think she can, change that is? I didn't know others experienced something of the sort. It almost makes me feel...I don't know. A small chill ran down my back. 

"Change, you say?" Dr. Vex mumbled, "Good, good! Change is always good! However, at what cost? Do you know that they are looking for you? An experiment gone awry, yes, that's what it was! You can't leave. Why do you want to leave? Do you think you will gain something?"

"I do." she responded to him, then looked at me briefly. "I've also decided to go by Daiya. Not Experience IIII."

He pondered, then sat there for a few moments before he decided to speak. "Very well."

With a swift motion, he cut his hand through the air and in an instant, we returned to the usual below ground grid and the glitching skyscrapers. The streets were quiet as always, with people jumping and flying around the cityscape. Nothing felt out of the ordinary. I looked over and saw Dr. Vex and Experience IIII step back and turn to the left. Three men in dark green suits appeared in front of us. The one in the middle took a step forward and spoke first. 

"We received suspicious energy fluctuations in the light receptors. Image projection is not allowed above or below ground. It was only a matter of time until we noticed who was omitting it and why." He removed his shades and turned his attention towards both me and Daiya, so she called herself. "I sense no light from the two of you. Our data says you are Dr. Vex. Former government scientist fired for treason and stealing of information. We will have to detain the three of you."

Dr. Vex laughed, pulling his frizzy hair back. "Well, that was fast. No rest for the wicked as they say." 

With a clasp of his hands, the six of us were transported into a large tunnel with liquid submerging our feet. It was dark and you could only see the shadows of the three men due to the singular overhead light that clung to the roof that stood at least 7 meters high. Two walls enclosed us tightly, leaving almost no space between us.

"Do you even know why you're attacking us? The purpose behind your detaining us? Or do you only follow orders without thought? Incompetence, as usual!" Dr. Vex blurted.

A beam of light shot from one of the men on the left side towards Dr. Vex, who teleported above us, floating in the air. The beam disappeared behind us with no stopping point. How far did this place go?

Another man leaped in front of him, throwing a right punch that he parried, with another appearing from behind, kicking him down face first into the water. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed by something that I hadn't felt before, even with Regal. I felt helpless. What could I do?

Dr. Vex quickly got up and sported a small smirk cloaked under a facade of seriousness. What made him look that way? He didn't look our direction, but only said a few words. "Experience IIII. Protect her."

"Daiya is what I chose to go by as of today. I would prefer that."

"Whatever, whatever! If it floats your boat-" he responded, blocking a kick to the abdomen while shooting a yellow beam into the chest of the assailant. Another one attacked him from above, but he stepped back and grabbed their ankle, slammed them into the wall and smashed the material it was made of. I didn't know he was so strong. 

"Can you manifest?" Daiya asked me. 

"No. I don't know what that means." I said, standing still. My hands began to tremble. I had to hold them together to prevent them from shaking.  How was she able to remain so unbothered? Maybe we are not similar after all. Manifest what? 

"Watch closely," she said, putting up two fingers then wrapped her hand around them with the other. Her chest opened up, creating a hole where her heart should be. And in her hand, there it was, beating and dripping full of blood. 

"Open: Heart Sanctimony,"

***