The Beginning

2112, January 28th, Acheron

Acheron pondered in front of the door to the greenhouse for a moment has his brain wrapped around what Zander had said to him. Taking a deep breath he stepped into green house beginning to weave his way through the greenhouse. As he rounded the tree the sound of Laughter echoed in his ears as he stared at Serenity as His face was lit up with a smile as she laughed tossing a couple grapes for Zander to catch as he missed them all. Acheron cleared his throat causing Zander and Serenity to look at him as fear covered her face. Acheron felt slightly hurt by this but when her face relaxed with the realization of who he was she gave him a soft smile and he returned it. “hello, looks like you’re feeling better.” Acheron said as he walked over and sat down next to them. “Yes, im feeling a lot more stronger then earlier.” She said as she cut into the food taking a bite into her food. “So.. Do you mind if I ask how long you’ve been here?.” Acheron asked hesitantly as he looked at her taking a bite into his food.

“It was my 16th birthday when I came to this place..” she paused before continuing. “ill be 21 next month..” she said as she took another bite of her food not making eye contact with him. He stopped eating as he looked at her in shock. “you’ve been here for almost five years?” he asked surprised. She nodded as she continued to eat “yeah five years…” she said softly between bites of food. Zander stood up as he stood up and moved to sit in the shadows. Serenity had looked and watched him move away. “well is there anything you like to do?” Acheron asked curiously. “The Greenhouse and singing are the only things outside of my duties I get to do… I used to sketch and paint before coming here but not like I get too now.” She said with a sad smile on her lips as she lifted her glass up to her mouth taking a drink of her water. “However I do get to go to one secret place in here once every month.” She said with a smile on her lips. “Oh where is it?” a heron asked curiously. She look up at him holding her pointer finger in front of her lips. “it’s a secret, however maybe next month I will let you see.” She smiled and giggled. “Though there is a catch and a rule that one must obey in order to go into it, so when you find out the rule if you decide you don’t want to go in then you can choose not too.” She said calmly. “What’s the rule?” he asked. Serenity’s slightly pale face turned a red color as she looked away. “I..i.. You can’t find out til it’s time to make your decision.” She said in an embarrassed huff. Acheron chuckled at her response as he smiled. “Alright! Alright! I’ll be patient and wait to find out.” He said care free.

Zander sat back against the wall as he watched the two continue to conversate. He watched as Serenity slowly shared bits of herself to this young man. Zander had came to this place when he was just about 21 and would be turning 26 later this year. Not much older then these college students. His family had been working for the government for generations and his family seen the opportunity for this job as something he should feel proud to be given. The first two years, he had just ignored and just done the bare minimum of what was required of him. Though it changed the night, he heard singing coming from the greenhouse. The beautiful melody which made him feel light and warm was coming from the girl who had been deemed a murderous monster. He had stumbled upon Serenity dancing on her toes as she sang the melody as she twirled and danced as if she were a maiden at a medieval festival. That night he realized no matter the horrors she had been forced to relive daily, they couldn’t change who she was on the inside.

Acheron stood up as he offered to take the trays back to the cafeteria. He began walking down the hallway with a smile on his face. He entered the cafeteria cleaning off the trays and setting them in the tray area. He turned around and Clarissa sttod now directly in front of him. “Hey Acheron.” She said with a smile on her face. “Oh, hey Clarissa what’s up?” he asked her curiously as she stepped to the side hoping to step around her. She side stepped also blocking his way. “why haven’t I seen you at meals today?” she asked her her preppy attitude. “Um. I’ve been eating lunch in another part of the building. Why does it matter?” he stated and asked her? “Well because I want to eat meals with you.” She said with a smile looking up at him. “Oh well sorry, maybe sometime soon, I’ve just been having meals somewhere else. Now if you’ll excuse me Clarissa.” He said as he side stepped around her this time. “Ill see you later Clarissa.” He said as he waved good bye to her walking out the cafeteria beginning to make his way back to the greenhouse. Clarissa stared at him as he walked away from her. She clenched her fist as he went out the door. She then slowly began to follow behind him.

Clarissa began to follow Acheron through the hallways until he disappeared into a room she inched towards the door until she could lean forward and take a look through the closing doors seeing the vast green plant life. She caught the door and snuck through it and slowly followed him through the greenhouse. Soon she watched Acheron disappear around a Cherry Blossom tree and she hid around it peaking around the tree. Her eyes widen as her blood boiled seeing Acheron sitting there with that killing machine. She clenched her fist as she watched them talk. She smirked and stepped out from around the tree. “So this is where you’ve been hiding Acheron.” She spoke to him with a grin spreading across her face. Serenity turned her head away, not exactly welcoming of the new company. “Clarissa, what are you doing here?” he asked, “Well, I wanted to come where you are so that way I could spend some time with you without pulling you away from whatever it was that had you occupied.” She smirked as she looked at Serenity with an undermining glare. “no, I see you’re here with that thing.. I’m surprised you can even stand being near It. The stench of blood and the horrendous color of her eyes. They scream Monster.” She said and then found herself dangling in mid-air.