My hand trembled on Elise's cheek, and I turned away, too weak to witness her final moments. The endless swells of darkness I had kept suppressed shattered my will, violently scouring through me. Sorrow clenched at my heart, twisting and jerking until I gasped, tears streaming down my cheeks. I had known Elise but for a few short months. I didn't know her birthday, her favorite flower, or the members of her family. She was simply someone I had helped.
Why?
Why did it hurt so much?
I clasped a hand to my chest, sobbing. If only I had been there. If only I had been faster. If only I hadn't stopped to help everyone in the city. If only I...I...
"This world hurts, doesn't it."
The voice of the demon echoed in my mind, weaving through my thoughts. My hand curled into a fist, pressed tight against my breast.
"Your misery is... delicious. So much darkness. So much power!"
