Chapter 65 [Bonus Chapter] I’m An Outcome

(William's Past)

"You'll protect me right?"

A short blonde girl was rolled up in the corner of the room. Her uniform was completely stained by tears and blood. The entire classroom was a mess, tables, chairs, stationary was all scattered across the ground, broken and cracked. It was a scene of chaos, although not one that I was unfamiliar with.

"You'll protect me right?!"

Her gentle plea had become a violent scream. Her usually pretty face was now completely covered by despair and anguish. Her messy hair was strewn all across her face, covering most of her features. Her eyes were darkened from the fear.

"William! Help me! Please!"

Her hopeless lifeless eyes begged for a second chance. It wasn't only her body that was bleeding but also her heart. I had had enough however, there wasn't any more I was willing to do for her. The dire situation she had caused for herself was to be completely her issue.

I turned around, slowly making my way towards the exit.

"William...! Don't leave me..."

Tears were flooding down her cheeks at this point. It was the face of true despair. She grabbed at the table legs around her, scrambling to her feet but falling to the ground. She was disconsolate at this point, any 'help' I could provide her would be more harm than good. My decision to leave hurt me more than anything, but for the good of everyone, I stepped foot outside.

I'm sorry Maisie.

I really am.

But it's true, I really do hate people like you.

*

It was the morning of another supposedly normal school day.

Except obviously, it wasn't.

It had been a few days until a parasite latched onto me, its grip however unstable. In the beginning, Maisie was just the girl who talked to me on the bus. I honestly appreciated it, it was the first real interaction with someone outside of the facility.

But now, with the classroom in ruins and a girl bloodied and on the ground, I found myself to be the only other person witnessing this horror.

It all started a few days ago when I was walking around the sand at the beach. I was by myself as usual, I didn't have many friends at the time. I had always wanted to experience what it felt like to walk along the beach so with the new minimum amount of newfound freedom, I felt the need to do it first-hand.

I noticed another girl walking just a few steps ahead of me. The wind was quite strong and I noticed that her skirt was being swept up. The beach was rather populated at the time so I decided to quickly make my way over and stood beside her, offering my jumper. I could feel the glances of many of the bystanders so with the little bit of morality and chivalry I learned at the facility I tried my best to help.

"Huh?"

"The wind is blowing your skirt."

Her face suddenly went red and she quickly grabbed the rim of her skirt pulling it back down to cover herself up. I bent down a little and tied my jumper onto her hip, it was enough to keep her skirt from fluttering too high and revealing too much.

After the aid, she turned to me.

"Thank you."

It honestly wasn't anything, I wasn't looking for a compliment or even social points, it was just driven by pure 'it's just the right thing to do. It was the same mechanism which guided me throughout my life until now anyways, being driven into my brain from my time in the facility.

I slowed my pace in order to create some room between us, however, as I slowed my walk, she also slowed hers so we were still walking side-by-side with each other.

,m "So what school do you go to?" She asked

"Engadin High School?"

"Really? That's the same school I go to!"

"Oh."

"I don't remember seeing you around though."

"I only came recently."

"That makes sense."

It was quite an enchanting environment. The two of us, walked side-by-side, as the salty smell of seawater and the bright comforting sun shone upon the glistening water. This was something I really had wanted to experience. We continued our walk, speaking every once in a while but fully embracing the calming aura around us.

"So what's your name?" She asked.

"William, and yours?"

"It's Hannah."

Eventually, we had done almost a complete lap of the entire beach. Time had flown by, it was to the point that the sun was beginning to set, with the clutches of night slowly but surely crawling towards us.

"Well, it's time for me to go, but I hope to see you at school!"

"Me too."

"Thank you for helping me today."

"It's no problem, don't worry about it."

She smiled and walked off into the distance, I decided it was about time for me to head back as well.