"Do you remember now?" the blue-haired girl with peach-colored eyes asked, staring directly into mine.
"…I do."
I don't.
But at this point, I've reached my limit. I can't bear this torture anymore!
We were both seated on the elevator floor. I had no idea how much time had passed—an hour, two, maybe even four? I couldn't tell. All I knew was that she had pummeled me so much that I could barely see straight.
I was sprawled on the ground, my head resting on her insanely soft and comforting lap as she combed my hair with her fingers.
"Really?" she asked again, her voice dripping with a mix of hope and suspicion.
I forced a nod.
"Crap!" I almost cried aloud when she hugged me tightly, her ample bosom pressing firmly against my face.
Damn.
I couldn't even breathe.
Sigh.
I've come to one conclusion. This girl is a psycho.
I had no idea how I even ended up in this situation, and it's driving me insane how powerless I feel against her.
[Wait… Who is she exactly?]
Sigh. You know the type of people who thrive on chaos for no apparent reason? The kind who would laugh even as they're being stabbed through the heart?
[So how did you end up involved with someone like that?]
I don't know. Well… something's coming to mind, but I really hope it's not her.
"So…" she said, pulling back slightly. Though I could finally breathe, I felt an odd pang of… loss?
Weird.
"Why?" she whispered. "You promised you'd come back for me, but you never did. Why?" Her voice wavered, and I could see unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
Yep.
It's her.
Why?
WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HER?!
"I… tried," I said, scrambling for an excuse. "I really did. But I was so weak back then. I nearly died so many times. It was… difficult to come back. And when I finally did… you were gone."
That was the best lie I could fabricate on the spot.
The problem? She's absurdly smart, and adding more details would only give her more holes to poke through.
"Really?" she asked, her smile broadening.
"…Yeah."
…FUCK.
BAM!
"Christ!" I yelped as her fist connected with my stomach, and flashes of my life flickered before my eyes.
"Why are you lying to me?"
"I'm not lying!" I shot back.
I shouldn't have.
BAM!
"AHH!" I cried out, feeling my strength wane.
"STOP LYING!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
How dare she cry?
I'M THE ONE GETTING BEATEN TO DEATH HERE!
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I WAITED FOR YOU?! DO YOU?!"
"I said I'm not—"
BAM!
"Stop it! I'm not—"
BAM!
"I'm not—"
BAM!
"Wait! Yes, it's a lie! I never came back for you!" I confessed, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, possibly death.
[This… is hard to watch.]
'Then help me, you bastard.'
[You're that desperate? Well, you know what my help entails.]
'…Forget it. I'm not merging with it.'
[Your choice. But how did you even meet this psycho in the first place?]
'Two years ago. I was traveling around the empire and got into some bad situation. I was kidnapped. In that place, I met her—this girl who didn't seem to care about anything, even though everything around us was dire.'
[And then?]
'She was just a child. I was there for two months, watching as they sold people off as experiments for crazy scientists or straight-up slaves. I had a hunch this girl wasn't normal. She had secrets. She didn't talk at first, but after a week, I got her to open up. We became friends. Over time, I convinced her to leave. She was strong, and I used that.'
[You used her to escape on the promise of returning?]
'…Yeah. That's about it.'
"Did you really see me as a friend, as you claimed? Or was I just a tool for your escape?" she asked, her eyes glinting coldly.
Sigh.
This is it.
The question that will either save or kill me.
But deep down, I already know.
I'm going to die in here.