Dark. Darker than usual. As if a moon that was reflecting light from its star had suddenly disappeared leaving the night in complete darkness.
Each breath was like inhaling tiny shards of ice. The realization of what had happened washing over her body. Annie could do nothing but watch helplessly as Asuka wept for the death of her friend. With every cry let out by the girl, Annie found it harder and harder to control her emotions. She had never even spoken to the girl, but just watching Amelia and seeing just how positive and kind she was, Annie couldn't help but open her heart to the girl. But now there she lay, smiling even in death.
You know, this has gone a lot better for you than you think.
Annie this time, didn't react when she heard the voice. She remained still seated on the cold ground inside of Asuka's inner world. Despite this, she took notice of how the voice sounded. It was a bit distorted. Definitely less distorted than it was before.There was a hint of child femininity in it as well.
Its contra as well was had increased not only in magnitude and potency as well. It was also for some reason....familiar.
But I guess I can't be too disappointed. Our trinity does have quite the strong spirit after all.
It was then Annie turned her head around and looked into the darkness.
"Our? What do you mean by that? Just who the hell are you?"
There were a couple seconds of silence before the sound of laughter erupted from the darkness.
Those tears, are they truly for the girl or are you sad for the trinity.
"....Why can't they be for both?"
Annie waited for the voice to respond but it remained silent. She then continued on speaking.
"Amelia was a beautiful soul. For her to pass in this way is...," Annie paused before finishing her sentence. She clenched her fists thinking of Annie's abysmal state even before she had died.
"It was infuriating. And knowing Asuka will only blame herself for this infuriates and saddens me even more."
The voice seemed to ignore Annie's words again but soon it gave another laugh. This one coming off more like a chuckle.
A demon showing any emotion apart from the unyielding to desire to kill? I don't know whether to laugh or puke.
Though hidden in the now even more dissolved veil of darkness surrounding her, her gaze shifted into a more calculating one.
"Strange."
Annie then wiped the tears out of her eyes and calmly stood up.
"All demons have different types of emotions. Assuming you're one yourself, I would expect you to know that."
The voice decided to wait again to respond to Annie's words. This annoyed her bringing her a little closer to losing her composure.
I suppose some of you have brains as well.
After this the voice did not speak leaving Annie alone to her thoughts.
"I'll think about whatever that thing is later. Asuka takes first priority."
"Asuka. Can you hear me?"
~
On the outside, the rain was still pouring heavily. It was now deep into the night and Asuka had not moved an inch. Her tears had long dried and a expression of emptiness was all that was left. The corpse of Amelia was still being held tightly in the arm of the trinity. Like a child gripping onto their precious doll.
Contrary to her expressionless face, dozens of thoughts were running through Asuka's mind. Feelings of grief, anger, guilt, regret and many more colored each individual thought.
"...asu...asuka...Asuka..."
Finally hearing the call of her companion, she lifted her head slightly.
"A-Annie?"
"Yes Asuka. It's me. I'm sorry I couldn't reach out-"
"She's dead Annie."
At those words, Asuka's torrent of emotions clashed into Annie's mind. She reeled back and fell to her one knee trembling. She then clutched her head and let out a small groan trying to take in all of Asuka's feelings.
"It's so intense."
"I swore. I swore to protect her. And now...now...."
"Asuka, what happened was not your fault. That demon specifically targeted Amelia to get to you."
"AND IF I HAD SIMPLY NOT TRIED TO BE HER FRIEND SHE WOULD BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW!"
"How would you know that? How do you know that it wouldn't have simply chosen her again as a hostage? And even if that was the case and Amelia did manage to survive, who would have helped her get over her parents deaths? Are you suggesting that it would have better for her live in her while in her delusions?"
Asuka gritted her teeth unable to respond to Annie's questions.
"Listen Asuka, you did all that you could. The situation you were put in was one that should have killed you both. Between that and what could've been, this is definitely one of the better outcomes."
"I know that. But I just..."
Asuka's lips quivered, unable to finish the sentence. She then slowly stood, laying Amelia's corpse on the ground.
"I failed to protect you. There's nothing I could ever do atone this sin. But the least I can do, is let you lay with your parents."
But before that, Asuka picked Amelia up and took her inside. She washed and cleaned her dirty and wounded body. She also created prosthetic limbs for the girl to replace the ones lost. She then dressed her up into the beautiful green dress. Asuka took the body back outside after she finished. She put the girl down between the graves of her parents. With a simple hand motion, a rectangular casket made of rock formed around the girl. It then began to sink into the ground until it was completely covered by dirt.
She then created a head stone, carving Amelia's name into it.
Asuka stood infront of the grave for only a few minutes before taking a deep breathe and letting it out as a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry Amelia. I'm so sorry."
Wiping the tears forming in her eyes, Asuka turned and with slight hesitation walked away from the graves.