5:30.

The clock always read 5:30, in that black text.

He can’t take it much longer. The incessant buzzing of the pure white lights burned through Calix’s eyelids, and never gave him a single bit of darkness. Atleast he could see, he presumes. It was definitely better than living life in pure nothingness.

Five used to be his favorite number. Don’t ask him why, but it was just something about it that caused him to like it so much, Calix thinks of it as the perfect number. Maybe it’s just because it was the first thing he learned on the times tables, too, that’s why it really stuck.

Huh. Now that Calix thought about it, why is his favorite number five? He remembers nothing of his life outside this “hospital,” yet he knows for a fact that he arrived here last year, when he freshly turned 24. Now, he’s about to go 25, and Calix still knows nothing of his place… But why does he remember how the number five was the first thing he memorized on his times tables?

Argh, his head hurts just thinking about it.

He glanced at the clock, the clock that always reads the same time, the same numbers. Despite his numerous questions about that clock that seemed to be stuck in time, the nurse never replies. Heck, she never even spoke to him before. Calix doesn’t even know anything about her, or this confusing place that he’s never stepped foot out of.

The man glanced at the camera in the corner of the brightly lit room. He really wanted to flip it off, but the restraints that bound his body stopped him from doing so. Too bad it was only ever removed during meal times, when others are watching.

In a normal situation, Calix would wonder, “Where am I?” “Who brought me here?” and “Why am I here?” “**Who is that nurse?” is another question as well.**

**…**

He stopped wondering just about last year.

Friday, July 18th, 20XX, the calendar read. Atleast there was something he could rely on. The stoic nurse that comes into his room every morning and afternoon changes it for him. Though she never gave her name, the nametag read,

“M. Julietta, “Julie”

Assistant Nurse”

Calix wonders if this “hospital” is even legal, honestly, or if this “Nurse Julie” has a degree for her job.

The man laid there as he always did, breathing in the sterile air. That was when he realized something felt… off.

He glanced at the clock. The red text continued to read 5:30, as it always did. But the tingling in his spine is making him a little anxious. His gut is rarely wrong, so what was going on?

Calix then jolted in his restraints, black eyes widening as he turned to the clock once more. Red text? Is was always black. Calix is sure of this, he’s been staring at that clock for a year straight!

A series of clicks were then heard from the door at the end of the bare room, then the soft beep of an ID getting scanned. Oh, Calix has some questions for the little Miss.

As soon as the “Nurse” stepped in, Calix called out to her with a hoarse voice. Gosh, he hasn’t used his voice box in a while.

“Hey!” A small cough. “Nurse Julie! The clock’s text changed, didn’t it?…” Calix’s eyes then focused on the person in front of him. He wasn’t even a woman.

“…You’re not Nurse Julie.”

The mystery man raised a brow, a gloved hand fiddling with a clipboard. “…Y’know, maybe this check-up was really overdue, if you managed to think someone of my stature looked like Miss Julietta.”

Calix honestly agreed.

His eyes examined the man in front of him. He just looked like a handsome doctor, there wasn’t much to note about him. The man was blond, with bright eyes and an equally-as-bright smile. He was tall—maybe even taller than Calix—and wore the standard white coat every stereotypical doctor has.

Then his brain-turned-mush caught up to the situation in front of him. Ah, right. This guy was the first person he’s seen in a year, aside from Nurse Julie. Time to repeat the same questions he’s been holding in for 365 days.

“Wait, who the heck are you??? Why did you bring me here??? Where am I??

The mystery man merely smiled. Calix doesn’t like that smile. It looks too perfect and fake and it instantly sent a shiver up his spine. In short, Calix immediately has a bad feeling about this man.

“Ah, Calix, is it not? You’ve hit your one year anniversary here, and it’s been long due for a check up.” He glanced down to his checkboard, where he flipped through a page. “Half a year, since you were last scheduled.”

Calix blinked. The heck was this guy yapping about? There hasn’t been any checkups, hasn’t there? Or did he misunderstand the strange man’s words?

“And you are..?” the man strapped to the hed started.

It was mystery man’s turn to then look confused. He blinked a few times before letting out a light laugh. Sheesh, even that scares Calix. “Ah! My apologies, my dear. I am Mister Helios, but you may refer to me as Doc. Helios, Sir Helios, whatever you prefer. I really don’t mind!”

“Nurse Julie-“

“Oh, and as for the matter of Miss Julietta,” Doctor Helios suddenly cut in, “She’s gotten into an accident, so I’ll be with you for your upcoming days.”

Doctor Helios then turned around, and once he faced Calix, had a steaming plate of food in a tray. Calix didn’t even realize the doctor brought anything with him, aside from the clipboard.

Rice, stir-fried veggies with meat, a small bowl of miso soup, and water. Black eyes stared at the meal, and it was only then Calix felt the slight growl of his empty stomach. God, he had a weak spot when it came to food.

Calix eyed the blonde man carefully, scrutinizing his being. He really has a bad feeling about this man, but at the same time, he doesn’t really seem that bad. Helios just looks to be a man that really likes his profession.

“…Alright then.”

Doctor Helios then looked around the small room, eyes flitting from Calix’s height that was so similar to his own, to the dark eyes that he realized were almost identical to his, yet were without the life that was shining eternally.

Lastly, Doctor Helios’ bright eyes landed on the stagnant clock. “Hm. You want me to change that? It isn’t 5:30 at the moment.”

And thus, half a year with Doctor Helios went by.

While the days started off slow, Calix found himself gazing at the clock, waiting for the cheerful man to come into his room every 3:30pm for him to conduct various experiments on the patient’s body, or merely chat.

Unlike his previous Nurse Julie, Doctor Helios enjoys talking, but also acknowledges Calix’s personal space, quieting down as well when he knows the man needs it. Calix really likes that about Doctor Helios. Deep down, he wishes he could be like him, so bright and cheerful.

Eventually, Calix had learned to enjoy the man’s bright presence so much to the point he forgot all of his questions from the very beginning. The man so bright his smile rivaled the Sun, the man so happy that his joy spread into Calix’s gloomy life. Helios, the Sun. Calix thinks of it as a really befittimg name.

**[Who are You?**

Why am I here?

Where am I?]

Slowly, he made up his own answers, day by day, week by week, and month by month.

**[The man is Doctor Helios.**

I’m here because of Doctor Helios’ bright presence.

It doesn’t matter. Doctor Helios is here.]

[…]

“Ah, Nurse Julietta! How are you today, my dear.”

Julietta’s dead-pan gaze flickered over to Helios’ before sighing and shaking her head.

The blond let out a hearty laugh, reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. “Ah, Nurse Julietta, such a party-pooper, you are. Y’know, your little boy that I’m visiting lately-“ “Has your procedure worked on Calix?” Julietta suddenly cut in, adjusting the medical mask as she swatted Helios away.

Helios could only breath out an amused sigh. Julietta being Julietta, co-workers are just co-workers, and when you’re in the lab, you act like it. Or maybe it’s just because it was Helios.

“Yes, yes, it’s working. The poor guy already looked exactly like me! I’m just working on his personality, then we could do a few test runs before he’s all set!”

Julietta glanced at Helios, a knowing look in her eyes. Man, Julietta always knows something. Sometimes, Helios feels like she knows more about himself than he does.

“Don’t get too attached to the boy, Doctor. You know this. They’re only your clones, not your friends.”

“…” Helios remained silent, before letting out a small murmur.

“…Yeah. I know.”

[…]

“Hello, Doctor Helios!”

The man in question walked in, surprised to see Calix already waiting for him with an enthusiastic expression on his features. Helios hates it. Hates how it feels like he was looking into a mirror.

Hates how Calix’s changing personality means he’s going to go away soon, like the others. If he could just stop his curse, he would. It’s hard to be staring at yourself at all times. It always happens. He can’t get too close with people without them slowly retaining features of himself.

That’s why this damned institute took him. To make clones, and clones, and clones- And Helios doesn’t even know what for! They’re always threatening with his pay, saying how they’ll stop sending the money to his Ma, and Pa.

…

Let’s just get this over with. It’s just one person out of the hundreds he will face. It’ll be just like looking at yourself in the mirror.

“Heeello, my dear Calix!” Helios said with a smile. “Sorry I was late today, I had some urgent things to attend to. **Say, you want to head out to do some more tests with me?”**

****

**Calix glanced at the clock, which read 5:30. Huh, he didn’t even realize it’s already that late. No matter. Doctor Helios was here now! Hooray! He bounded to his feet, and was immediately by Helios’ side.**

****

**“Of course, Doctor! Y’know I’m always up anything as long as it’s with you!”**

****

**Helios let out a light laugh, patting Calix in the back. “As for you, Calix. Now come on, I’m bringing you to a new place this time.”**

****

**“Oh? Bring it on, then!”**

****

**Helios felt a part of him break as he watched the indifferent man he first knew turn into a mindless puppet, a perfect replica of his own being. He won’t even remember his time here.**

****

**But Helios just has to get over it. He always has. Plus, it was already 5:30. He’s thirty minutes late to the testing.**

****

**“Ah! Calix! We gotta hurry, I forgot we’re late!”**

****

**“Aye aye, Doc!”**