"HE IS SO CLOSE. WHY NOT KILL HIM…? YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO~"
A voice slithered into Eloisa's thoughts, and she found herself succumbing to that urge. But, just in time, she regained control.
"Hah… Ha. Hah," she panted, trying to steady herself as the world seemed to blur altogether.
She couldn't explain it.
This indescribable urge…
It was like the craving of a drug addict after being away from their fix for too long. The want—no, the need—consumed her.
She wanted it.
She wanted it more than anything in the world right now.
To see him scream.
To see him cry.
To see him plead.
To see him squirm and bleed before her eyes.
To see him utterly helpless as she shattered every single bone in his body.
Pain.
If only she could inflict the most unimaginable pain on him… oh, how glad she would be.
If only she could skin him alive, making him watch every agonizing moment, amplifying his suffering a thousandfold until it transcended madness—breaking his very existence.
Her body trembled, barely able to stand. The intensity of her desire surged, a storm threatening to consume her.
She wanted to leap towards him.
To grab him.
He was just so close.
—Tap.
She took her first step, and the distance between them began to shrink.
"YES~ IT'S TIME YOU SATISFY THOSE DESIRES~"
The voice slithered again, making her quake where she stood.
Yes.
Just a little more.
Just a few more steps, and…
…she would have her hands on him.
Her indifferent expression was cracking, barely able to contain the manic grin that threatened to surface.
"ISA!"
A voice broke through her thoughts, and instantly, color returned to the world.
Eloisa turned, spotting a concerned Ariana gazing at her from the front row.
"Sigh…"
She exhaled deeply, finally regaining control.
'He… really is here,' she thought, walking down toward the waving Ariana.
'I thought it was just a dream. But why? Why did he come here… why did he come back… why now?' Her fist clenched tightly, though her face betrayed none of her turmoil. Her expression remained an unbreakable shield, hiding the raging storm within her.
"YOU MISSED SUCH A GREAT CHANCE TO END HIM."
'Your existence is making these urges more uncontrollable.'
"BUT IT IS FROM THAT VERY DESIRE… THAT HATE, I WAS BORN. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MUST DO TO TRULY BE FREE."
'It won't be long before he's dead…' she thought, forcing a small smile as she approached Ariana.
Meanwhile…
"Damn… this is going to be a problem," muttered Lorelle, who was still pretending to be asleep. Well, he had been asleep, at least until he felt that unrestrained bloodlust. It seemed wise not to even glance at who it was.
[That level of hate… it surpasses every emotion I've ever felt. Well, perhaps it's on par with that obsession of yours.]
"Don't even compare it. I know I might be a little obsessed… okay, maybe a lot. But it's nothing compared to how badly she probably wants me dead," Lorelle replied, his tone tinged with nervous humor.
[What exactly did you even do to her?]
"You don't know?" Lorelle asked, genuinely surprised.
[I told you before, I don't know what happened in much of your childhood. I probably didn't have much interest in you back then since I didn't know you'd make it this far.]
"This far?"
[Well… most people with my blessing often…]
"Lose themselves and eventually become cannon fodder?" Lorelle finished, sensing the voice's hesitation to say more.
[... Well, you could put it that way.]
"Sigh. Anyway, let's just say this: I broke her." His voice grew quieter, tinged with guilt or regret.
[How?]
"I… don't want to think about it, so…" He stretched, his tone clearly signaling the end of that topic.
The voice sighed. [But… how did it even happen?]
"Let's just say that, at first, I mistook her for the one I was searching for," he admitted before falling silent.
[That other girl… the one with Ariana. You seem to know her, too.]
"Why wouldn't I?" He scoffed, recalling everything he could about her.
[Is she good or bad?]
"The worst. Beyond that, in fact. She's one of the greatest evils soon to befall this world."