HA\LF: Dead nor Alive

Archie went to the barnhouse with the rest of them. They listened to what he found in there, and what kind of people worked in that base. They found it shocking when they heard that everyone that worked on the experiment didn’t even get bothered by the fact that they were killing people.

Fanheim and Marlon were satisfied with the information that Archie gave them. They both then decided to check on the flash disks that Eve collected from the secret base. Archie didn’t stay there in the barnhouse with them because he wanted to join Eve and Elena.

Archie went to the house and didn’t find Eve and Elena inside. He then looked around the village, but he still couldn’t find them anywhere until he looked down in the forest from on top of the cliff. Eve and Elena were walking in the forest while they were holding hands.

Archie decided to join them and jumped down the cliff.

“What are you guys doing here?” Archie asked as he approached them.

“We are going to the river, I need to wash my body and my shirt. Of course, I’m going to clean Elena’s body as well since she was dirty because of me,” Eve said as she looked at Elena. “Do you want to join us?” Eve asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Archie answered as he nodded his head. “I will grab the towel and find clothes for Elena,” Archie said, and then flew back into the village.

The three of them went to the river, and it was quite far for a kid, so Eve carried her on the back as Eve and Archie had a small conversation.

The three of them bathed in the river, and Eve was really attached to Elena for some reason. It still made Archie curious, confused, and happy at the same time because it felt like Eve was acting as Elena’s mother rather than an older sister or someone who just cared for her. He was even more confused and happy when he realized that he felt the same way about Elena as Eve did about Elena.

Archie lazily rested his head against the smooth rock on the riverbank as he took in the cold, fresh flowing water on his body. He heard a splashing sound in front of him, and opened his eyes to see Elena had collected water in her hands and was ready to splash it on him.

Elena laughed and tried to run away, but Archie grabbed her and it made her laugh so loudly that Eve was smiling and chuckling because it was her idea all along, and so Archie splashed water at her. Eve’s smile and chuckling were contagious, and Elena was laughing so hard that she was splashing water back at Archie.

In the end, they spent half an hour in the river until Elena sneezed because she felt cold. The three of them then walked out of the river and took care of Elena by drying her hair and body like parents would have done for their child. They made sure she was warm and comfortable and got her some rest.

They went back to the village and the sun was about to go down, and so Archie and Eve decided to bring Elena to their house. Archie lit the fireplace in the house, and the three of them were enjoying the evening in the living room with a cup of hot tea in their hands.

It was so peaceful and quiet that Elena started to feel tired after all the fun she had today. She was on Eve’s lap and she was leaning on Eve’s body with half-opened eyes.

Archie looked at Elena with a smile, and then looked at Eve who was also staring at Elena silently. They both got too attached to her so easily, and they had no idea why, but it wasn’t a bad thing so they were fine with it. Archie thought that it might have had something to do with the parasite that lived inside her body, or maybe because of how lovable and adorable she was.

“Archie,” Elena asked quietly as she slowly turned her head toward Archie.

“Yes?” Archie replied with his eyebrows raised.

“I already know the truth about what happened to my parents and the people in the village,” Elena said as she looked down. “It was me who did it, right?” Elena asked.

Archie didn’t know what to say or how to deal with the situation, and Eve didn’t have any experience with kids before and didn’t know how to deal with them. They were left with no choice but to just awkwardly sit there and wait for something to happen.

“I killed them in my sleep and it was the parasite inside me who did it. I had nightmares about it. I thought it was just a dream, but it keeps coming back,” Elena said. “That’s why I’m not scared or hate being in that room because I’m an evil kid,” Elena continued as she started sniffling.

“You’re not an evil kid, Elena, and it wasn’t your fault,” Eve said as she hugged Elena from behind and kissed Elena’s head from behind. “Don’t ever think it’s your fault for what happened in there because the parasite that lives inside you is the one to blame,” Eve tried to comfort her and hugged Elena so tightly.

“I don’t want to be a monster,” Elena started sobbing.

Eve hugged Elena and tried to comfort her as she stroked Elena’s hair gently. Archie immediately stood up and walked toward her. He then went on his knees on the floor in front of Elena.

“Hey, you’re not going to be a monster. I can promise you that,” Archie said as he grabbed Elena’s hands.

Both Archie and Eve shared a stare, and they didn’t know what to do about it because Elena didn’t seem to listen to them at all. Suddenly someone knocked on the door, and the two of them looked at the door. It was Fanheim, and he peeked his head to the window as he waved his hand at them.

Archie opened the door for Fanheim, and then the first thing Fanheim heard and saw were Elena’s crying. He looked so confused, but he immediately walked into the living room and asked about what had happened to Archie.

Archie explained about Elena, and what happened to her family, the people in her village, and why she ended up on the base. Fanheim understood the situation, and immediately walked up to Eve and Elena.

“Sweetheart,” Fanheim said calmly.

Elena sniffled and rubbed her eyes as she slowly looked at Fanheim who was smiling gently at her.

“I’m sorry about what happened to your family, but don’t be sad about it because it happened to Eve and Archie as well. They’re sad because it reminds them about their parents as well,” Fanheim said, and it made both Eve and Archie look at each other with a confused look.

“Look at Archie and Eve, they’re sad now because you’re crying. How about you stop crying and comfort them? They miss their parents as well,” Fanheim asked with a smile on his face.

Elena slowly turned around and looked at Eve’s expression. Eve pretended to be sad, and Elena fell for it so easily.

“Did your parents died because of you too, Eve?” Elena asked quietly.

“Yes, I killed everyone because the parasites inside me,” Eve answered as she nodded her head.

Elena hugged her and buried her face on Eve’s chest immediately. It shocked Eve, but she hugged Elena back as she tried to comfort her back.

“You see, everyone lost their parents and the people they love. So, how about you think about the people that love you? Eve and Archie love you so much, and they don’t want to see you cry,” Fanheim said as he looked at Eve and nodded his head.

“Archie and I love you so much, and we will be here next to you forever. I promise that we won’t leave you alone or make you feel sad because we both have lost the people we love, and we won’t let that happen again,” Eve said as she kept hugging Elena. “Do you hear my heartbeat, Elena? You can tell that I’m not lying to you, right?”

Elena didn’t say a word as she focused on listening to Eve’s heartbeat. It somehow made her feel calm and peaceful. She did could tell that Eve wasn’t lying about it because all the parasites inside her body felt the same way toward Elena.

“You promise you won’t leave me? Both of you?” Elena asked as she looked at Eve and Archie back and forth.

“Yes, we promise won’t leave your side, forever,” Eve answered as she nodded her head with a gentle smile. “We will live together from now on, and we are your new family now. Is that okay if we become your new family?”

Elena nodded her head.

“Alright, since it’s already late, how about we sleep together tonight?” Eve asked.

“Hmm…” Elena hummed in agreement.

“I’m going to bed, so don’t be too noisy,” Eve said to Archie and Fanheim.

They both nodded with understanding, and then Eve carried Elena to bedroom.