Chapter 151

  William woke up drenched in sweat but without a drop of blood going where it shouldn't go. Frankly, fewer things were about blood. He didn't feel right either way.

  He looked up in utter shame and anger, realizing what had happened and how Kaufman was looking at him. He was unable to remain calm or find the strength to lift his arms. His eyes exposed nothing good while his breath was still irregular and Ellie was nowhere nearby.

  But the anger?! William thought he deserved something better if this old man wanted something, or nothing because he was insane. Well, that might be dishonest; what one could even expect from meeting Kaufman for the second time?

  Noticing he was unable to lift a finger, a terrible pressure steered throughout his muscles, affecting his motor skill and strength when he tried to push Kaufman's hand away. That was understandable after a rather intense beating.

  Everything hurt. Apart from some solace in his hand and a sense of reason, nothing was well where it should be. That was probably the same for every single person in this hallway right now.

  Close, Kaufman was comfortable and squatting, smiling like an obnoxious old teacher who found a student napping in a class.

  “So, have you seen something? Anything. Around me, you, or... was it something deeper or consoling the control or expertise? Conscience is a big variable in many of our kind and touching that is hard for many. I say it by experience. What've you seen?” Kaufman requested, gently putting William's head down and patting it.

  This time, William was able to give him some answer, even if he wished to slap and verbally unleash his wrath on him without a single regret in mind.

  “N-noth...” He struggled to speak, watching completely indifferent Kaufman who seemed like a wicked scientist. It was the face of a Walker, however. Not science. It was close to matching the appeals of experienced experts, as that was what old people of this era looked like.

  Thus, Kaufman was curious and unhinged in his demands like an actual scientist working with Emblems. Observing Walkers. Peple. Recruits. The world and Darks were an even worse bunch. There were probably very few things in this era that weren't going outside of such Walkers.

  A person of power who was far beyond what William could guess should be exactly like this. William set his expectations low a long time ago, and that came from watching Walkers from a distance. Doing so closer was very different, if not challenging, and pushing interest into his presence. That wasn't ideal, even if the Walkers were soothing helpful peacemakers.

  It changed a little when he met Luke, who talked to him for some time and told him some valuable information. Then they both met Kaufman, which ended up with Luke having similar ideas about Kaufman as William. Nevertheless, some matters were child's play in comparison to this and there was no Luke to help.

  William felt regret and pain, and no longer wanted to curse at Kaufman, even if he felt a deep obligation to do it.

  “Nothing, eh? Well, it isn't so bad, boy, for I can watch and listen. Only a single person like you saw something, and even then! Oh, and I forgot your Emblem position and other matters. I guess I should have forced the hand to begin with, but everything ended up decent. That is fine because it is mistaken. I think. Yeah. You are young broken and rather jerking ravager.”

  “What was this about?” William asked, and by some miracle, moved his right hand and snatched Kaufman's hand away.

  “Oh, so young and fierce?” Kaufman laughed and backed away a little.

  William grunted and pulled himself together. He was kneeling soon afterward and felt even more shitty than in some mornings. Then it hit him; there was no bad one today. The Emblem was still there, where it should be.

  Odd. Maybe today wasn't supposed to be like this, or it was yet to be that shitty. It was that weird mix of feelings that tricked him. A wide-scale exercise, a fall from a large height, or some beating were fine examples. All of those William had experienced numerous times, and sometimes, at the same time. He knew what to expect, do, and think, even if he was wavering and listening.

  “What have you done to me.... and why?!”

  “I said it already. A try. Experiment. You shouldn't judge this much even if you are young or stupid. And you aren't both, I reckon. There is so much worse ahead of you that you have no idea what is right or not, but I don't blame you. If you want to pursue Walkers and Darks, subjectivity lacks its attraction, or would you rather run away instead?”

  William was speechless, while someone else was far away from it.

  Ellie pulled her courage closer than before, hands still trembling, yet her legs still moved. She made yet another move, helping William up in unexpected steps. She made her decision, walked forward, ignored Kaufman, and her arms supported William in no time. He quickly recognized her and felt his weight shift and arm contractions.

  Kaufman saw her and chuckled once more. “You are really something for a simple girl.”

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  “That was... enough, wasn't it? Don't hurt him, sir. He is stressed like anyone would be in his position, and he is still learning the basics. This... was unnecessary. No. It should be... enough. Right? You won't hurt him anymore.” Ellie argued and mixed between him and William. Her hands pressed gently on him and her care was more than real, resembling a warm soft pillow.

  William didn't expect this. Even worse, he was unable to recall or feel her previous actions.

  “What? It was just an experiment and it isn't so rare to do worse ones. Both of you should know it. Again, you don't need to know the details to be right. Almost no one does that stuff anymore these days and any youth has the right mixture of concepts and times. I got intrigued and needed answers before it would be too late. Shame it happened here.” Kaufman said and looked somewhere else.

  Then, he glanced at both of those faces, with his main interest remaining on that crimson arm.

  “Again... Why is everyone so harsh to young Walkers, let alone... how? Does it matter to be shitty and teach or say something meaningful to kids like me?” William blurted out with a clear voice and bravery he collected after a few short moments. Ellie's support was a big reasonable help, while the other was his boiling rage and heat.

  Ellie didn't back down as well, even when that white object frightened her and she could tell invisible pressure was still around here. It could always return stronger than ever.

  Then, there was Kaufman right before her in all of his glory, looking kind of smaller than she remembered. However, the aura was unmistakable and she defied him and went against him. Perhaps she was asking for a beating herself. Maybe she deserved more ominous ideas. Thankfully, Ellie was safe for the one she grasped, for it was spent.

  She felt lapping for breath became harder just from being this close. It might be either a simple aftereffect of existence or anxiety gripping her heart. Most likely both, but she was fine even after this clash of unlike properties.

  “Young Walkers are one of the most vulnerable folks out there, boy.” Kaufman started.

  “I am not...a bad kid.”

  “No? Simply put, some Darks want young meat, even if it means weak Emblems that are still little. That matters nay to nature nor instincts because some Darks are irressitabel to some tortures of their Madness and anything that is alive. That fact also makes practically no sense, so how come it works that way, right?”

  “Sir?” Ellie wondered why Kaufman began another lesson. She thought it was stupid but stopping him was impossible.

  “It is comparable to the prior world where young calves were seen as fine meat. Still, the truth is tougher because we are no cows or pigs. We are Walkers and you will learn that soon. It depends on your choices more than anyone ever told you, but again! I am not here to teach you if you don't want to, so I will remind you of the truth and my gifts because I feel responsible for my interest. Will you stop me?”

  “Stop you?” William listened more than well and didn't understand his last question. After all, he asked the same last one himself and Kaufman ran around that answer like a dog met with an empty bowl.

  “You can't, right? Living and seeing the beginning feels terrible but also very real. Why? Power, boy. Emblems! Humanity has always been up and coming for what they can or cannot control or do. But they want it. Want it SOO badly, that they get hurt or stupid. I can't blame them. So long as some societies are all about them. Even among the people, power rules like laws but no words or layers of society mean our locks. Walkers are still new and some old fools better get behind the new changes and eras that will undoubtedly come. We shall become history.”

  “Uh... that is... common sense. And... what did you hurt me for? Just to remind me that I am weak or how you have some weird proof for my pain? Sorry, but that is bullshit. I know what I am.” William angrily said, speaking more than well and exactly how Ellie liked.

  “Exactly! It was excessive and unnecessary.” Then even Ellie joined.

  Kaufman snorted at both of them, knowing he was right and they were naive. “Your Emblem might be the simplest answer as it is up to my factors and eyes. Walkers do want to see new answers and questions and new Walkers for many reasons are all about them. It changes the waters and grounds and skies. Generational gaps are typical but most of it is up to Emblems and Rank 0s. Being old and young have their differences, you see.”

  “I don't know what you are talking about.”

  “Eyeless lie. That is good. Alas, the truth is worse because you don't know every bit of age or generation or why some things matter or not. You an Outsider, unexpectedly, so that is that. Yed. For example, how long are you aware of the lines of the living entity within you, or what is it about your Emblem that moves, listen, or does some sort of thing?”

  “Again...”

  “What exactly are those switches between consciences and what is that which snatches? Emblems are crazy sometimes, and you've certainly awoken a beast. How long ago? How? Where?” Kaufman voiced his pondering questions and didn't even answer or take in William's words.

  Part of it was because William knew some answers, but that fact did not put him to rest. For a couple of reasons, it wasn't hard to guess what came closer; his Emblem was once again acting up without his awareness or calls, while Kaufman was a different cause. It was no Dark or weird crisis.

  It was worse. Similar to what had Luke seen before, emotions had some responsibility, but the overall cause was still something else. It was about William.

  Thinking about it was difficult, so William felt wronged and stupid, feeling mistakes lurking in many corners. Warnings? There was no need for them because he was fearfully anticipating the moment it would break him in half or he would live through it again.

  This time in the Federation, something like this could happen in one way or another, so he wasn't too upset. If he was, this floor would look differently. Working or thinking about it wasn't on his mind. There were no excuses either; he didn't know what exactly had he planned to do.

  After hearing excuses closing to more questions, he felt like a fool and backed it up. “Living... Snatching? Why should I answer any of this nonsense?”

  “Because I asked you,” Kaufman stated with an indifferent expression. Hesitating, William would rather succumb to his pressuring look and sleep than care about this talking. If he wanted to do something with it himself, some acceptance was acceptable.

  He didn't notice those crimson particles that disappeared into his right arm, or what that manifestation looked like.

  Half-exposed Emblem was visible, while his overall appearance and mental well-being weren't in his eyes. They were confusing, similar to Ellie, who was way too damn close. William wasn't entirely aware of what transpired after he... yielded. Kaufman was far too savage and like the fiend residing within him.

  Some lines could click together, causing both parties to concede and see eye to eye. Working for that cause was up to words and some understanding, or it might no longer be possible unless the giant gap called Rank 8 fixed what it broke.

  But sometimes, the ego wasn't doing what it ought to do, and Kaufman's experiment caused an irresistible wound.