Jan. 25, 1942

I was pushed down today in the training yard. I ended up scraping my hands and knees on the dirt and rocks. Most of the other guys were laughing until Adam told them to knock it off. Even then, they decided that Adam was being too soft on me and that he should be careful to not play favorites. He looked like he wanted to say something, but didn’t. He just helped me up and made sure I wasn’t too badly hurt. I was a little afraid that he was mad at me.

One man named Mordecai said that I’m just too soft-hearted and I need to buck up and not rely on my friend so much. He’s probably right, but I can’t think of ever being the one to push away the only person I’ve ever loved.

I want to run away with him.

I think I do have a tendency to be too forgiving. After I’d been excused from training, I went to find Adam. He asked if I wanted to report the men from earlier, but I said I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble. Adam looked disappointed but respected my decision. When I asked him if he was mad at me, he said no. I don’t know that I believe him. I have to start standing up for myself when people hurt me. I know that’s what Adam wants, and I want to prove myself to him more than anything. He’s the only one I have left.

                                                             ~*~

“YOU BASTARD-!” Ashlyn almost shrieks as he grips his arm, his body still shaking from pain.

Eli stands, not bothering to look at the boy on the bed. He turns and walks to the bathroom, listening to Ashlyn’s cries of pain drift steadily into soft whimpers. He returns a moment later, first aid kit in hand. “You gonna lash out when I come over there?”

Ashlyn just glares, his face stained with tears. “Fuck you.” His voice is hoarse from screaming and crying.

Eli shrugs, “I was just gonna patch you up, but if you don’t want me to…”

“I don’t trust you.” Ashlyn whimpers again, closing his eyes.

“Don’t blame you,” Eli sits on the bed, opening the medical kit. “Come here.”

Ashlyn stays where he is, his face fixed in a mixture of fear and hatred. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”

The man sighs and leans down, wrapping an arm around his waist and hoisting him to the edge of the bed. The boy yelps and tries to pull away. Eli manhandles Ashlyn into a sitting position and places pillows behind him to keep him upright.

“Stay still.” He starts to dress the wound, going slow.

Ashlyn squeezes his eyes shut and holds his breath, trying to stop any sounds from escaping his mouth.

After some time, Eli pulls away, “Done.”

The boy stays silent, his dark eyes shooting daggers into Eli. “I hate you.”

“I’d be worried if you didn’t.” He stands, closing the medical kit. “Sleep well.” He sets the plastic box on the ground next to the bed and turns to leave the room.

He’s talking to some of his bodyguards when the door to the hallway swings open. Ashlyn steps through, dressed, other than his shirt. His eyes are still red and puffy from crying.

“Did you get some sleep?” Eli waves his hand, dismissing the men and women surrounding him to do what they please.

Ashlyn stays where he is, injured arm hanging limp and useless at his side. He doesn’t respond. Eli shrugs and walks toward him. “There’s food if you want.”

The boy turns his head, looking to his right. “Can I look at your guns?”

Eli hesitates, thinking through the possible outcomes, “... Sure…” He walks over and unlocks the cabinet, “Take your pick.”

Ashlyn steps to the guns, dark eyes scanning over each weapon. “Are these loaded?”

Eli nods dismissively, turning toward the bar. In one movement, Ashlyn grabs a gun and whips around, pulling the trigger. Eli grips his throat, stumbling forward. Blood flows from between his fingers, dripping onto the floor. He sinks to his knees before tipping forward and collapsing.

The boy stays still for a moment, expecting Eli’s comrades to start attacking, or at the very least to confront him. No one moves. Hardly anyone reacts. Ashlyn slowly lowers the gun, scanning the room for any sign of danger or confrontation. Nothing. After another moment, he snaps into motion, making his way to the door. His hand is almost on the doorknob when there’s a groan from behind him.

The formerly deceased Eli shifts and rolls onto his back, coughing loudly to expel the rest of the blood from his lungs. The hole in his throat starts to close, skin melding to skin, leaving nothing but a trail of drying blood. He pushes himself off the floor, stretching his neck from side to side. Ashlyn can’t bring himself to look.

Eli glances down at his shirt and sighs, shoulders dropping in disappointment. “Man, I liked this shirt.”

The boy’s eyes go wide and he slowly turns to face the man, a chill running down his spine. Eli is pulling his blood-soaked shirt off; he uses a dry part of it to wipe the remaining blood from his now uninjured neck.

“What are you?” Ashlyn speaks before he can stop himself.

Eli shrugs, walking to the bar to get a wet cloth. “I’m human if that’s what you’re asking.” He drops his ruined shirt in the garbage.

“No you’re not,” Ashlyn forces himself to stay still. “No human could’ve survived that.”

The older man huffs and pours himself a drink. “I don’t know what to tell you then,” He takes a knife from his pocket and runs it across his palm, watching the blood start to flow. “I just can’t die.” The blood subsides and the cut heals itself. “Which also means I can’t age.”

Ashlyn shudders, wincing when the movement strains his shoulder. “So how old are you then?”

Eli thinks for a moment, “Early nineties I’m pretty sure.”

The boy groans and lets out an indignant laugh, “So I fucked an old man.”

“Sure.” Eli downs his drink, “An old man who’s eternally nineteen.”

Ashlyn looks down at the floor, staying quiet to think about what he wants to say next. After another moment, he speaks, “What’re you planning to do with me?”

The question catches Eli off guard, and he realizes he doesn’t have an answer.

“Well?”

“I don’t know, alright?” His answer slips from his mouth before he can stop it. He watches Ashlyn for a moment, before looking away. “I’ll figure something out.”

Ashlyn scowls and turns away, walking back down the hallway to Eli’s room.

It’s already late afternoon when Eli enters his bedroom. Ashlyn is curled into the only semi-clean sheet, with the blood-stained ones strewn about the floor. His eyes are squeezed shut. The white-haired man walks to his dresser and starts putting clean clothes on.

“Can you just leave?” Ashlyn’s voice is thick, and Eli can’t tell if it’s from crying or lack of use.

He pulls a shirt on and moves to the bed to lay down, “I’m tired though.”

Ashlyn does his best to shift away, struggling to protect his injured shoulder. “You smell like shit.”

Eli sighs, closing his eyes despite himself, “It’s probably the sheets. I’ll wash them in the morning.”

“No.” Ashlyn closes his eyes and hides his face in his arm. “It’s definitely you.”

The man turns on his side, his expression indifferent. “You can sleep somewhere else if you like.”

The boy huffs and closes his eyes, “Whatever.” He curls into the sheets, tucking his uninjured arm close to his chest. He’s asleep a moment later, breaths coming slow and unperturbed.

Eli waits a few minutes before sliding out of the bed, going slow to not wake the boy up. He makes his way to their pile of discarded clothes from earlier. Picking up Ashlyn’s jeans, he begins searching through the pockets. After some time, he sets the article of clothing down, holding the item he was looking for: a wallet.

It’s mostly empty, yielding two hundred dollar bills, a few condoms, and an unsigned card. He almost gives up before he finds a small folded up piece of paper. It’s a note. Something like those cheesy little post-it notes a mother will put in her child’s lunch box. Using his phone as a light, Eli reads the note, hoping for a name.

‘Have a nice day today, Koby!’

It’s not signed, but Eli has what he needs.

A simple google search for the name “Koby” brings solid evidence in the form of a missing person report.

M I S S I N G  P E R S O N

Name: KOBY ASHES

Alias/Nickname: N/A

Race: CAUCASIAN

Height: 5’5”

Weight: ~100

Hair: BLOND

Eyes: BROWN

Sex: MALE

Age: 14

Last Seen Date: leaving school Sept 27th, 2014

Report:

Teenaged Koby Ashes was reported missing on Sept 27th after police were called to the house late that same day. The house had been mostly destroyed by fire with the bodies of the parents Beatrice and Thomas Ashes, along with the body of the younger sister Zara found in the bathroom, half dissolved in acid. Being the possible only survivor, and the only witness, police are searching for young Mr. Ashes in the hope of bringing him in for questioning. Anyone with information is urged to come forward and call the tip line at XXX-XXX-XXXX.

At the top of the page is a photograph. A young blond boy scowls at the camera, wearing a white button down and a black tie in a way that can only be a school picture. There’s no doubt about it, the boy is definitely Ashlyn. He looks softer, younger almost, but it’s still him; the eyes give it away. Eli reads through the report again, making sure he has all the information. He closes the browser and shuts off the monitor, leaving the room in darkness. He sits back for a moment, letting all the new information settle in his mind. Finally, he stands and makes his way back to the bedroom. As he lays down, he smiles to himself, excited to reveal his dirty little secret as soon as the boy wakes up.