Chapter 26 - Condition(Part 1)

Point-of-View: X

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Well, I certainly didn't expect this. I just wanted a distraction in order to keep myself from getting bored, that was the main factor in me deciding to approach and talk to Adelmira. Heh, I even thought that I could get her to develop Stockholm syndrome.

But instead, I went and got myself attached to the kid. How pathetic am I, huh? Was I really that desperate for a friend? Yeah, I guess I was...maybe it's not just my body's growth that's been stunted, but also my mind.

Ughh, why am I so hung up over this, anyway? I feel so restless and fidgety, and I'm not even sure why. Her reaction when I told her that she'll have the Condition imposed on her tonight was what caused this...she looked dismayed and horrified, and I couldn't help but empathize with her.

Huh, now that I think it through...am I just overthinking and overreacting because I've never made a friend before and can't understand these new emotions? It's kinda sad that I'm having to even think about this at all.

I was suddenly snapped out of it as I heard footsteps approaching down the corridor, before sitting up and taking out my phone to check the time, as the sound quietly echoed out. Oh, wow, time sure flew while I was up in my head, huh?

I'd been waiting in my new 'room' for the past couple of hours, since I figured it'd be safer if no one knew that I was hanging out with one of the captives for most of the day. There aren't any security cameras here, and since escape is pretty much impossible anyway, they're not really necessary.

The walls of the cells here are made of a special material that nullifies any Skill techniques, plus they're super sturdy, so you can't break them with either of physical strength or Meta-Human powers, you'd need something like a wrecking ball.

I then stood up with a sigh and headed for the door, as the echo of the approaching footsteps drew closer and closer. Sounds like two people. I guess I should go meet them.

"There you are. We'll be needing your Nullification for this, and we're doing it right now, so come on," Remarked Trevor, as I emerged from the room I was in.

He always acts colder to me than usual if someone else is around, though honestly, I don't know if even he himself realizes that. As for the other person with him...it was someone that made my blood boil. His name was Ash Silver, and I'm like, ninety percent sure that he legally changed his name to that, there's no way that's the name he was born with.

Because he had platinum blonde hair that he emphasized with light, silver hair dye. Like, if it just one of his names that was synonymous with his hair color, then sure, it'd probably be a coincidence...but both 'ash' and 'silver' are very close to his hair color, so-...never mind, I'm getting off-topic.

Bottom line, this is the guy who placed the Condition on me, the restriction that prevents me from betraying Eden. He's a Category 0, but a rather unique one. He rarely ever goes on typical assignments, instead was primarily given roles like interrogation. His most notable power is the Dark Skill: Condition. It takes while to cast, but once it's been activated, the person that it's cast upon can't ever break free of it.

In my case, they drugged me with laughing gas, the stuff used in those viral wisdom tooth removal aftermath videos. Once they pumped me full of that stuff, I was basically incapacitated and couldn't even put up a resistance, and he was easily able to put a Condition on me.

"This guy again," I growled, glaring at him.

"Hm? Have we met before?" He responded with an uncertain tilt of his head, a blank look in his eyes.

He had medium-length hair that went down past his eyes in the front, which was neatly trimmed in a straight line across, though only covered his right eye while his left eye was visible. He had short, thick eyebrows, dark grey eyes and wore large, round glasses with a white metal frame.

His face had a blank expression on it, and he always seemed to be staring off into space, daydreaming. It was kinda annoying, even when he looks at you, it feels like he's staring right through you, it's creepy. He was wearing a red t-shirt under an unzipped black leather jacket, along with a pair of denim jeans.

"What? Are you saying you forgot who I-...," I began with a growl.

"Don't bother, his head is usually up in the clouds so he forgets people that he's only met a few times or less," Trevor informed me with a sigh, before adding, "Anyway, I'll leave it upto you as to which order we subdue the captured Outliers in. Which one should we go with first?"

"Hm...the older guy, he's more likely to put up a struggle than the girl, so let's get him out of the way first," I replied after mulling it over.

"Okay, then let's go. Come on, Ash," Called Trevor, giving his arm a tug.

"Hm? Oh, 'kay," He responded with a yawn, following after us with an almost dazed expression.

I activated my power as we got to the door of the cell in which the older guy was being held in, before twisting the handle and pushing the door open.

"Who goes there!?" He exclaimed in alarm, before his eyes lit up sleazily as I walked in, checking me out as he added, "Ooh, hello, sexy. You're a little underdeveloped, but that's fine, I can make do!"

Bleugh, he's practically drooling over me. I'd be flattered if, you know, he wasn't so repulsive to look at. Guess I ought to restrain him. As he took a lustful step towards me, I shot forward at top speed, catching him off-guard and causing him to stumble.

I then swiftly slipped behind him and slammed my elbow onto the back of his neck, knocking him out.

"Ew, gross, his neck was super clammy and sticky, I think I need to wash my elbow," I groaned in disgust, a shudder running down my spine.

"Why did you knock him out, we need him conscious for this to work!" Exclaimed Trevor with a frown.

Huh? Ohh, so that's why they kept me barely conscious when I went through this, instead of just knocking me out.

"Oh, my bad...but it's whatever, let's tie him up and then splash water on his face or something, problem solved," I suggested with a shrug.

"I...suppose that works," He sighed in response, "Fine, I'll go get some rope and a bucket of water or something, you make sure he doesn't regain consciousness and escape before I'm back."

"Yeah, yeah. Wait, what about him, isn't he going to help?" I inquired, nodding at Ash, who was absent-mindedly staring at a gecko running across the ceiling.

"I mean, you could ask him, and he probably wouldn't say no, but don't count on him to actually do it. He'll forget about it like five seconds later," Replied Trevor dryly.

"Seriously?" I groaned in exasperation, before adding, "Well, fine, whatever. I'll just hold him down till you get back."

"Make sure you do," He responded as he rushed out.

Ughh, this is so gross, I feel like I'm about to puke. This guy's BO is rank as hell, his body is all slimy and slick with sweat-...oh, God, I think I'm gonna puke just thinking about it.

"Ewww, this is so fucking disgusting," I muttered to myself, as the smell made me gag.

Pretty sure he hasn't showered since being brought here, the entire room reeks of sweat. Huh, I don't think I need to be holding him down, he seems to be well and truly out cold. But better not risk it, as repulsive as this is, the last thing I want is to get careless.

But this is seriously torturous, every second feels like an absolute eternity, it's barely even been a minute but it feels like I've been holding down this mass of sludge for years...I could feel a ton of bumps on his back, some of which felt kinda squishy...are these all...pimples?

O-oh, God, I think I'm gonna be sick. Trevor better fucking hurry the hell up, I can't handle this for too long...

After what felt like an endless, hellish eternity, he finally returned, with a bucket and some rope. I let out a huge sigh of relief before dragging the sweaty body onto a chair and propping it up, as Trevor walked over with the rope.

"It's about time you're back, I'm on the verge of throwing up," I complained, as I took the bucket from him and took it to the bathroom to fill it up with some water.

"Huh? What are you talking about, I was barely gone for five minutes. Stop being dramatic," He responded with a scoff.

"It was seven minutes and forty seconds!" I protested indignantly.

"A difference of two and a half minutes is no big deal, quit your complaining. Ugh, this guy stinks," He muttered in disgust.

"Yeah, that's putting it lightly," I grumbled in response, as I finished filling up the bucket, before heading back into the room.

Trevor had just about finished tying him up, and was currently behind the chair, tightening the knots. Guess I should wait till he's done with that before splashing this guy with the water-...huh, actually, on second thought, why should I?

"What the-...!? Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" Snapped Trevor in alarm, as I doused both him and the captive with water.

Heh, his expression right now is hilarious...

"Oops, my hand slipped," I responded with an innocent shrug.

"Huh!? Wha-...where the fuck am I!?" Exclaimed the sweaty pig, trying to wriggle free, but to no avail.

"Damn it, you little-...! Tch, whatever, I'll deal with this later. Hey, Ash, you're up!" Called out Trevor.

"Hm...?" He responded absent-mindedly, before nodding and walking over, before pausing with a blank-faced tilt of his head, "Wait, what am I supposed to do again?"

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