Soul Searching

She started to walk forward again. Didn't want to upset the boy by just sitting there. She shook her head. "Actually... there's only one. But I guess that's better than nothing." It sounded like the boy had a pretty hard life. She didn't want to get too personal, but she would listen if he spoke.

Mark then continued to walk down the path, he walked in a normal pace knowing what it will take some time to reach the city. "Well.. You can add me to that list... That's two. And I am sure that there are a lot more people than you think that care about you." He spoke, finding it strange that he truly did want to protect the girl, even tho he didn't know her that much, but he didn't care. She was more important than Mark, giving the fact that Mark is just a rouge soldier.

She bit her lip. "Alright." She looked over the ground. "Not many people know me. I think it would be pretty hard for somebody to care for me if I don't exist to them." She looked at the boy. Not at his face. She couldn't pull herself to look him in the eyes. They were pretty far from town. She saw the lights, but she guessed her head was playing tricks with her when she thought it was close. It was pretty dark. She almost tripped on a rock... She shut her eyes for a couple seconds. When they opened they'd turned red and glowing. A spot on her forehead glowed a little, too. She could see clearly in the night. She hoped the boy was okay. Blind and walking around at night must be hard...

Mark wasn't having much difficulty while walking, his ability was still active but he deactivated it slightly, giving him vision in his left eye at the cost of almost staying blind forever. While walking Mark didn't trip nor have any difficulty, he was pretty much used to the ground since he walks this path a few times a week. His escape from the world. "Many people can try and not care, but at the end of they day they all see you. You do exist, many people can say otherwise but they are just lying themselves.." He said, hearing the girl's every move, his ability was still active which made his hearing enhance. "Just be careful, there are a lot of rocks on this path." He added not even turning around, wanting her to be a bit more cautious while walking.

The boy's words meant very little to her. People disliked her. They wouldn't care about her. Afterall, in their eyes she wasn't human. She was just an evil creature that had to be killed. Then again, the boy didn't know that. Her eyes were glowing red right now, but he wasn't looking at her, and that probably wasn't enough to give it away, anyway. She looked at the ground. She could see clearly. Very clearly. Night-vision was pretty useful.

Mark looked up at the stars in the sky, there wasn't a single cloud in this very dark night yet the moonlight gave a faint light that covered the area, it was enough so that he can see. "So, what year are you in Darks?" He asked while concentrating on the path, wanting to know more about the girl. Sooner or later Mark will have to leave Darks and pursue his destiny, but until that happens, he would like to know the girl a bit better. The girl could notice a bar code behind Mark's neck, there were numbers "00 00 00 01" and H2O writen under it, also the same there was the same bar code on his left wrist. She could probably see it in the night even tho Mark didn't notice anything.

She focused on the ground again. She looked up at the city lights when the boy spoke. "I'm a sophomore." She didn't really care about what year he was. She looked at him. What he looked like. His skin was pale. So was his hair. There was something written on the boy's neck. She couldn't read it. She can't read... She felt a little embarrassed about it. She should probably learn to read. She stared at the ground again. She felt a little tired. She wanted to get back to sleep.

Mark slightly turned around moving his look at the girl, at that point the girl was looking at the ground, he sighed. "I know I'm a bit boring, don't worry. We are close to the city. There we will depart." He said in a bit softer tone, he knew that he was boring. Living in solitude for more than a year can do that to a guy like him, especially if the guy doesn't trust anyone around him. Maybe it was best if he didn't meet many people, he always would get emotional in some occasions, and seeing his friend hurt would trigger the full extent of his ability which would be dangerous for Mark's body at this time. Mark turned his look forward, his eyes half open, maybe solitude was the answer to his every problem, one thing was for sure, it made things easier for him..

She shook her head. "No, you're not boring..." She bit her lip and looked up to the boy. "I'm just shy." She looked back down at the ground. She took a deep breath. "And, if it isnt too much trouble... Would you mind escorting me to school?" She started to stroke her hair. "You don't have to, if you're busy, though..." She said a lot. She glanced over at the boy a couple times.

Mark slightly turned his head to the side with a soft smile on his face. "It's not a problem, I was just thinking about visiting the school.. I think I forgot something there.. It's okay if you are shy, but you should relax, I mean.. You know? You shouldn't be shy.. Believe me... I'm the guy that hasn't spoken to anyone for more than two years.." He added in a softer tone, he then stopped in his tracks. "It's silly that you are following behind me.. Please, you should walk beside me, if it isn't a problem.." He said with a smile on his face as he waited for the girl to reply. It was really rude that he didn't notice that before, Mark was the type that would always say "ladies first". He was polite, showing that even if he doesn't trust anyone around him he can show kindness.

She nodded to the boy's request and stood beside him. "I can't help being shy. It's in my nature." She stared at the ground. "I would love to relax, but I don't know who to trust in this world. Everybody seems so menacing. Like they're out for me. Hell, for all I know, you're the one that brought me out there." She felt her hands shaking a bit. She was getting a little worked up. She tried to calm down.

Mark patted the girl by her shoulder, knowing the feeling all to well. Specially now, these days Mark always did feel someone watching him from the shadows. The last thing she said was strange, well, let's just say that two years ago Mark was an assasin, and that was his primary tactic. He then though about the goverment.. "What if.." Mark then looked at the girl with a smile. "You need to know something about me.. If I am honest with you will that improve you trust in me?" At this point, Mark was worried about what could happen.. There were many ability users.. Which would result in mass casualties.. But this was just a theory, proven that it could work so many years ago, when Mark was created..

The boy wanted to tell her the truth about something. She looked to him and cocked her head. "I suppose it would... But I can never be sure it's the truth... I suppose I'll believe you, though." She gave a small smile and held her eyes on the boy. She felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't really like maintaining eye contact. It was so hard.

Mark looked at the girl with a soft smile, then he looked at the ground as he spoke.. "My name is Mark.. Known as "Echo" due to my ability.. I was created with one soul purpose, to eliminate any ability user by command." He then moved his wrist up so that the girl could see his "serial number" ""00 00 00 01". I was the first Soldier created... But the problem was that I felt emotions, which was forbiden amongst the generations of Soldiers. My fellow comrades and I became the number one threat for the organisation that created us... If we exposed the true intentions of the organisation their plan to cleanse the planet from the ability users will fall into pieces.." He then moved his look at the sky. "What a monster I am.. Killing innocent people.. Sooner or later I will pay for my crimes.. I should have died two years ago.." Mark added as he sighed, moving his look at the girl, embarrassed of what he once was. "Maybe you encountered someone from the organisation, that has the ability to erase your memories.. Maybe not.. But one thing is for sure.. I will bring the organisation down, even if I have to die in the process." He said with determination, showing his will that he has set his mind on a suicide mission. What the girl though about him now did mather to him, this would show him what kind of person she is, which would be easier to talk to, but if she hated him for his crimes he would just apologize and leave..

She chewed her lip and nodded. He was supposed to kill people with powers... he killed lots of them. A chill ran down her spine and her head started to ache again. She shut her eyes and put her hands over her temples. "Nnn..." Something strong was running through her head. It had something to do with what the boy said. She wasn't sure what part. It started to calm down a bit. She breathed heavily. Her heart was beating harder than normal. "O-okay..." She didn't have much else to say. She felt weak. Her hands trembled.

Mark could see that there was something wrong, the girl's hands trembled, it surely wasn't the though that she was scared.. It was something else, surely she felt somekind of pain. He then grabbed her hands gently and held them, feeling them shake realised that clearly something was wrong. "Are you okay?" He asked as he showed that he cared. Even tho he looked like a monster in her eyes, Mark wanted to show that he has changed, a lot actually. His look was soft as he looked at her, he was worried about her..

She bit hard on her lip. She slowly shook her head. She didn't feel good. She didn't feel good at all. She was hurting so bad. She felt a couple tears dripping down her cheeks. This was really hurting her. Why? Why did this one hurt so much more than before. It didn't make any sense to her. She shivered. She just wanted to be back as school. She didn't want to be here anymore.

Mark then moved his hand on her shoulders as he continued to look at her, he was worried... What was going on? There was something wrong and by the looks of it Mark wanted to know what, his eyes looking at the girl it was really strange.. At this moment it reminded him of old times, she reminded him of Sarah a lot.. He was always over protective.. At that point he just held her shoulders. At that point he was sorry that he didn't know how to help her ease the pain she felt..

The boy held her shoulders. Contact was okay... It calmed her a bit. She reached her arms out and squeezed the boy in a hug. She didn't care who it was, she just needed comfort. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest, drying her tears on his shirt. Her head kept acting up like this. She needed to know what was up with it...

Mark hugged the girl back, holding her closely and firm, he closed his eyes, inhaling the air. He wanted to show her that he cared, even "monsters" like Mark cared about someone. He knew that it hurt her alot, but he didn't know why.. Maybe it was connected to her ability somehow? Mark though as he held her.. "Everything will be alright.." Mark said softly as he kept his eyes closed, the girl was still a bit cold, his body should keep her warm for a little. But Mark still though about what could cause her this much pain? At that point Mark was determined to help her.. Saving her from the pain and suffering was now his greatest desire.

She didnt want to move. The boy's arms were wrapped around her. She started to warm up. She liked this. She pressed her ear against his chest. She could hear his heart. "I'm sorry if I'm being too much trouble... Thank you for putting up with it." Another shiver down her spine. Her head felt a bit better. Just a little longer and it should be better. Well, granted the pain wasn't lasting. She breathed a sigh.

Mark chuckled slightly to her words, it was amusing how they were a bit similar, he would often get a feeling that he is bothering someone even if he is not. "Nah, don't worry.. Really, I'm glad that I can help you in any way." He said softly as a gentle smile appeared on his face, she wasn't any trouble, Mark really enjoyed spending time with her, even tho he didn't know her name, he was glad that he met her. Mark's heart was beating in a normal pace, after a couple of seconds a bit faster. "You know, I almoust forgot what a hug felt like.." He added chuckling slightly, he blushed slightly finding it embarrassing, in his whole life this must be his second or third hug..

Forgetting what a hug felt like? This was the second hug she'd had since she woke up. Well... the second person she'd hugged. She hugged the first person quite a bit. She didn't release the hug. May as well make it last. Poor boy. Hugs were wonderful. She started to smile. Her headache was going. She was much better now.

Mark was really enjoying the hug, it felt so warm, guess he was used to the cold. Couldn't do much about that, all he could do is enjoy this moment while it lasted. But he knew that they had to get to Darks, it was the girls wish. Moments later he released the hug, moving his hands on her shoulder, looking at the girls beautiful eyes illuminated by the moonlight. "We should get going.. You don't want to spend the rest of the night with me in a place like this?" He said with a smile on his face. "And you need to sleep.. It's late.." He added softly moving his look at the road ahead. Mark then moved his look back at the girl waiting for her reply.

She shook her head. She guessed she didn't want to spend too much longer out here. She let go of the boy and faced the direction they were headed. Her head was better now. She took a deep breath. She could relax a bit. She didn't really want to say anything. She still wasn't completely comfortable with the boy, but at least she knew the boy was willing to comfort her. And he cared for her health. She rubbed one of her eyes and yawned. She was going to be pretty tired tomorrow.