Tick, tick, tick, the sound echoing through the dark cellar. The sound Lucien once dreaded hearing. He can still remember every time he was sent here, listening to the clock as it counted down his time in this dark place. He had never considered saying it kept him sane.
He knew very well that he was far from sane.
He discovered a long time ago that some things he enjoys would never be considered a form of enjoyment or relaxation by others.
Lucien could feel the weight of the ropes cutting into my wrists and ankles. He can hear my heart pounding in my ears. The excitement of it all made his body tremble. His body practically vibrated with anticipation.
Being here proved one thing- he was reborn.
He had survived. After everything that happened, he was able to live. He promised himself he would make the most of this new opportunity.
He couldn't help it. He had to laugh. A sonorous laugh filled with the joy he felt at being alive, at being able to see his brother.
Even with the rope binding him, which he was able to untie if he needed to, he lay there enjoying the feeling of simply being alive.
He had forcefully exploded himself to take those people with me. After they killed his brother, he didn't see a point in living. He didn't need to endure the things they did to him. Since his brother was gone, he needed to leave too.
The audacity of it all was that they killed his brother in front of him. It's possible they found something they needed from my brother or from the tests they did on me. Whatever it was, it prompted them to kill my brother.
Since the last time they injected him with one of the many medicines they used, he remained immobile. Not because he was powerless. Whatever it was made him even more powerful. But he noticed that it was what they wanted.
While he didn't know the reason, he decided to play along.
This led to the death of his brother and, inevitably, everyone in that lab, for what they did.
His head pounded. He felt the beginnings of a migraine that he was trying to suppress. He didn't continue to dwell on the past. He needed to dwell on what was in front of him. He needed to know what day it was. The antique grandfather clock ticked away. The only light in the room floated onto the clock, letting him know the time.
Most likely, his brother set it this way. It might be considered a saving grace to know how long he was locked up each time. It can also serve as torture for some. It was torture for Lucien, a kind of torture only he knew.
His brother would be here soon. He had forty-five minutes left before he would see the person he had been longing to see.
Once again, his memories dragged him back to the days when the world crumbled. At first, he thought the time he spent with his brother would be more. Reality let him know that it wouldn't be possible. All because of that woman.
Leaning against the wall, staring at the clock, hoping to watch time pass faster, he thought about what he might have done this time to be caught.
Before the apocalypse, he had lit his brother's study on fire, stolen an emerald necklace from his brother's safe and tried to have that woman killed.
That last one was the most fun, but it also made him suspicious of that woman.
Even though he hired someone to do the work, he was there. He made sure to keep a certain distance, but he was there. It was supposed to be a simple car accident. Nothing that would raise any suspicions.
The moment the truck hit her car, he saw the light flicker around her. He watched her hit her head on the steering wheel and pretend to be unconscious.
Also, how did she know she was being targeted? Lucien was sure she was the one who told his brother about it. Otherwise, there was no way he would get punished.
Things around here only got stranger when the world started to burn. He tried to tell his brother, but no matter what he said, his brother either didn't listen or he was pretending not to know.
His brother, Arthur, has never been a pushover. He wouldn't allow someone to have such total control, the way he did with that woman. There must be something else at play, but what?
Lucien's gaze suddenly became firm. He didn't know what the problem was, but this time, he would get to the bottom of it. He would never allow either himself or his brother to die the way they had in his previous life.
Lost in thought, he hadn't realised it was already four o'clock. His brother would be heading down at any moment.
Although he accepted his rebirth, it didn't mean he didn't have a sense of unreality. The person he wanted to see now was his brother. Seeing him would make Lucien feel more grounded. Hearing his breathing and listening to his heartbeat would reassure Lucien that he was truly and wholly alive.
His heart beat fast, hearing the door creak open. He looked from his position. There he saw him, the man he longed to see.
He watched as Arthur walked down into the cellar, his long legs wrapped in casual pants and a polo shirt. His usual attire when he was resting at home. Lucien knew it was because of his need for control.
"Arthur," his voice, raspy, echoed in the empty room.
Lucien looked at the man as he approached. He and his brother shared a similar build. Both disliked the mass of muscle you see at the gym, opting for lean muscle instead.
Lucien was sure of his own power. He never thought of himself as the strongest person, but he liked to make sure he could hold his own. But his brother is another story.
His lean, muscular build embodied his silent strength. His muscles were defined but not bulky. His every move showed not only power but also agility and precision.
He couldn't help but swallow as he looked at Arthur, his eyes drifting from his chest, the way it hugged his body, to the way his pants complemented his frame. He stopped himself from looking any further before things got out of hand.
His living, breathing brother was right in front of him.
His body, which he hadn't even noticed, was tense, actually relaxed.
This wasn't some kind of illusion; his brother never showed up in any of his previous hallucinations. But let's not get into those at this time. Right now, Lucien is so happy he doesn't even know how to express himself. All he could do was smile.
"Lucien," Arthur's dark eyes pierced into his. Had it been anyone else, they would have felt suffocated. The quiet power in his gaze has made many people crack under pressure. "How else should I punish you?"