MOBA Game Apocalypse

"Huh…?"

Adam's mind went blank for a while after that. He stared at Louis, and the only thing that was left inside his head was the Hospital. Sylvie and Clementine's cousin… was part of the Hospital?

And all of a sudden, his blank mind turned wild, and a thousand thoughts popped up at the same time.

How did Louis know? Was this all a trap? Did Sylvie know? Was Clementine in on it? Had they been playing him this entire time? Were they going to hand him over to Dr. Aniston? Was this why they brought him here—to this isolated castle where no one could hear him scream?

The hallway suddenly felt smaller, the walls seemingly pressing him in. His breathing quickened as panic flooded his system.

Everything went quiet for Adam. He couldn't even hear his own heartbeat as his mind stripped away everything… only one thing remained.

The thought of escape.

He looked at Louis, his hand slowly rolling into a fist. The familiar weight of violence settled into his muscles. As much as he didn't want to hurt people, he wasn't going back to the Hospital.

Never again. He could just knock Louis out—but where would he even go? Should he tell Clementine about this? But what if Clementine already knew?

And as he was once again lost in his own thought, Louis raised both palms in surrender.

"Relax, Monsieur," Louis said, slightly chuckling awkwardly. "You'd kill me if you struck me. I'm just a normal human."

Adam stared into Louis's eyes, searching for any hint of deception. Although, at this point, he was starting to doubt whether he was even qualified of judging whether someone was deceiving him or not.

And so, the only thing he could really do right now… was to ask.

"Are you part of the Hospital?"

"Well, yes and no?" Louis kept his hands up, speaking carefully. "I own the land and building for one of their research centers here. Nothing more."

Louis glanced down at Adam's clenched fists, pointing at them while still chuckling nervously. "Do… you mind? I know you're just a veteran creep—but even a level one of you can kill me, I think."

Adam only backed away, his eyes still scanning Louis. "Are you going to take me?"

"Pft. Me?" Louis's sudden peal of laughter echoed off the marble walls of the castle. "No. I was just curious, you see. The Americans approached me personally just yesterday. Told me all about you... and how you must be shipped back to them."

Louis's words once again turned Adam's mind into turmoil. His wariness returned, and his fists that were starting to relax balled tight again.

Should you trust even a single word that comes out of his mouth? No. The fact that you're even deciding whether or not to trust him... means you're getting too comfortable with people.

Remember, Adam. You were safe. You were safe when you didn't try to mingle with people—remember what happened? Remember the moment you wanted to open yourself up to the world? Dr. Aniston found you.

He'd let his guard down. He'd allowed himself to feel safe, to consider he could… even have relationships with people. Grace's voice echoed in his memory, her final words about finding love, about trusting others.

This is wrong. Very wrong.

Adam's jaw tightened. He'd made the same mistake again—believing he could have something normal, something good. The Hospital's reach extended everywhere, even into this ancient castle on a completely different continent.

Why…? Why can't you just have something good for once, Adam? Do you really need to be miserable? But… why?

Adam closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe. When he opened them again, Louis was still standing there, hands raised, that nervous smile still playing on his lips.

"Please…" Adam's voice came out quieter than he intended. "Please... don't involve Clementine and Sylvie in this."

Louis stared back at him, then suddenly burst into laughter while shaking his head. It was louder this time, and Adam was sure that someone else in the castle would've definitely heard it.

Adam was about to say something, but Louis finally lowered his hands to the side as he sighed.

"You know…" Louis tilted his head, leaning closer to Adam. His eyes that were staring at Adam's fist now stared at his face. "This… Hospital told me you were a monster. But looking at you now... I can't see that at all. You're just a scared kid begging me not to hurt the people who helped you. If you're a monster… then what does that make people like me?"

Adam… was confused now. Just what exactly was happening right now?

"Look, it's your choice whether or not to believe me," Louis continued, his voice turning serious. His lips also twitched as he spoke, scoffing in between his words. "But I'm not giving you up. Something about the way they said to ship you back to them... it irked me. And it wasn't the fact that it sounded like a demand."

Louis's jaw tightened, and he looked to the side.

"You don't ship people." He pointed down the hallway toward one of the paintings hanging on the wall—the same one Clementine had glanced at with disgust earlier this morning.

It was a painting of another ship. But unlike the La Fiducia, that particular painting had no signs of being maintained or taken care of.

"See that? That's proof our family once traded slaves. Built part of our fortune on it, centuries ago. I'm not going to be the one to revive that particular family tradition."

Adam followed Louis's gaze back to the painting—the ship, and on it were figures in chains, wealth built on human suffering. The same kind of suffering the Hospital had inflicted on him.

"Oh, and besides…" Louis's tone lightened again, and he shrugged with a slight grin. "…there's no profit in it anyway. Also…

…I don't think the matriarch sisters would appreciate that too much."

Adam noticed Louis's eyes shift, looking behind him with sudden nervousness. Adam glanced back to see what he was looking at… only to see Alfred at the corner pointing a rifle directly at Louis.

"Oh, Louis, Louis." Clementine emerged from the same corner, her cheeky smirk painted on her face. "Don't lower the rifle, Alfred."

She kept her eyes locked on Louis as she approached, her steps slow… and menacing.

Adam could hear Louis gulp audibly, and his nervous chuckles returned as he once again raised both hands up in surrender.

"Ah, ma cousine..." he uttered.

Clementine scoffed, her lips curling in disgust. "I knew you were up to no good, coming here unannounced like this. But to think you wanted something with my sister's guest?"

"No! Nothing like that," Louis said quickly, sweat beading on his forehead. "I was here to warn you about the Hospital. These… these Americans—they're serious people, Clementine. You should be careful."

Clementine's eyes narrowed, and she took another step closer. "You should be the one being careful, Louis. Sylvie is a world-famous individual and one of the strongest Heroes in the world. The fact that the Hospital is acting through you means they weren't just going to do something rash."

Louis nodded frantically. "I know that. That's exactly why I chose to be on the side of family."

Clementine glared at Louis for several more seconds, clicking her tongue while shaking her head again. Then she turned around sharply, her blonde hair whipping behind her.

"Dinner has been prepared," she said curtly. "Eat, then fuck off."

She looked at Adam next, sighing and shaking her head in frustration, "Just what exactly did my sister get into with you? I know you're special… but are you that special?"

"I'm… sorry." Adam could really only scratch his chin. "Maybe… I should leave now. I think I've caused you and your sister—"

"Shut up." Clementine looked at him with pure disdain, her eyes flashing with irritation. "If you wanted an excuse not to train, you should come up with something better than this. Just one day, and you're giving up?"

She walked away, almost stomping the floor. "You should also eat, especially the bouillabaisse."

"Ahem."

"?!"

Adam looked back, only to see Alfred behind him. Once again, he didn't even notice him move.

"The bouillabaisse, Monsieur," Alfred whispered, leaning closer to him. "It was cooked by Mademoiselle Clementine herself."

"Alfred!" Clementine's voice echoed from down the hallway, her words stuttering. "S-Shut up!"

But Alfred doubled down, a small smile playing on his weathered face. "She was smiling while preparing it. Like a maiden in love."

"ALFRED!"

Adam watched the three of them walk away—Louis still with his hands partially raised, Clementine stomping ahead with her face flushed red, and Alfred following with a smile. The rifle had disappeared somewhere in the exchange.

And now, he stood there… completely confused.

Were… rich people like this?

One moment, he was panicking about being discovered by the Hospital, the next… he was about to have dinner with someone who was connected to the Hospital.

But for now… maybe he could actually relax?

His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the plane. Whatever bouillabaisse was, it smelled incredible from here.

He was still confused, but he could be confused with a full stomach. Unbeknownst to him, however…

…his training was about to get harder. Much harder.