I

Cringe

As long as she could remember there had been an anchor tied to her leg dragging her further and further down into the abyss. It had seemed to only get worse as she grew older, and yet in spite of that weight, she held her weak head up as much as she could manage. She bit back her tongue and kept walking forwards even as her weary body grew more tired. Why she did that was the question that she never knew the answer for. It simply just happened. It happened as simply as her existence did.

To live was to fall.

At least, it felt as though that were the case. Be it the pain from her recent losses to death, or the pain that stemmed from digging yourself free of the grave you dug for yourself; It seemed as though humans were meant to feel the misery that came from heartbreak and grief that came with death of a loved one, just as they were meant to feel the wild breeze in their hair on an afternoon and joyful tears that might come from love and friends. With nails digging into the palms of her hands, Lila seemed to accept that pain and joy went hand and hand.

As nihilistic as it sounded to most, she was earnestly trying to work on that point of view to make it less like a somber melody and more of a happy tune. She had taken her bad hand she had been given by her parents, her family, her loved ones, her friends, even her own failed relationships, and tried to create something from that misery.

Lila spent hours in her studio with the balls of her palm pressed into against a canvas pouring out all of those feelings into things that she considered herself proud of. Even if others didn't see the merit in what she was doing.

At the very least, that's Unknown could see as he read through her files.

"What a naive princess she is. It almost seems too easy to go to the trouble to bring her to paradise," he noted, for the fifth time that hour with a sigh against his lips. Nevertheless, it was his dictated job to take care of and he had to go to the effort of bringing her to paradise no matter how easy or difficult he made it out to be. The Savior had told him how important it was to make sure that he brought her to paradise, and that she was going to be very crucial in their mission to remove the world of any trace of the RFA and its members.

When she lay the path of her plans in front of him he really didn't need to think all that hard about it. Dangle this princess on a string to the RFA and they will whisper all of their weaknesses. The kind of helpless and soft look in her eyes would be enough to drag man and woman to their knees. She was supposed to go straight to the apartment and stay with them until the time came for the eternal party.

That was how it was supposed to be. It would happen slowly and then all at once. Once she was brought back to paradise it would all make sense. Her rightful place was beside him and the Savior in paradise... and as the time came for him to make his next action to set these plans into motion, it became harder and harder for him to imagine letting the princess be amongst those traitors. It was unbecoming for her and felt a sour taste in his mouth. He wasn't going to admit it but he wanted to keep her all to himself.

It would be a lie to say that he wasn't absolutely enamored with this mysterious woman. After all, he had spent so much time and effort learning about her and everything that made her click to relay to the Savior, and all that effort could be for nothing if he didn't do it right. It wasn't a guarantee that she was going to listen to all of his commands because she was far too kind for her own good. So why place it all on a bet when he could cement this instead? All of his hard work was going to bring about a new age for paradise but that alone was not enough to satisfy his dark desires.

No, he wanted more... oh so much more from all of this. That couldn't be a bad thing, either, since the Savior was always telling him to be bolder and stronger then he was the day before. If he wanted something then he had to revel in his dark feelings and take what he wanted for himself. But he had to do what he was told. So, when the time came, he went through with the plan that had been handed to him, that is to say... he went through with the first part of the plan.

But oh, oh, it was such a shame that Unknown didn't want to share his princess with anyone.

Unknown has entered the chatroom.

Wisteria has entered the chatroom.

Unknown: Hello?

Wisteria: ...?

Unknown: Can you see this?

Wisteria: Um, yeah.

Unknown: Thank God. I thought I would never get an answer from anyone.

Unknown: You see, I found this smartphone at the subway station, but the only thing that it had on it was this messenger app.

Unknown: I really want to find the owner but I don't really see any other kind of contact information.

Unknown: I've been trying to text through this app but I haven't been able to get a response.

Unknown: Until just, I guess.

Wisteria: I'm a bit perplexed myself. I don't remember downloading this app on my phone... haha;;

Wisteria: Must be from the jetlag or something bending my brain.

Wisteria: I'm afraid I don't know whose phone that might be, either.

Unknown: That's a shame.

Wisteria: I don't mind helping you sort this out but I don't think I'll be much help. I'm not from this area.

Wisteria: My name's Lila... what's yours?

Unknown: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even introduce myself, did I?

Unknown: That's rude of me.

Unknown: My name isn't really all that important... that's kind of why I left my username blank.

Unknown: I'm Korean, and by your own words, I'm assuming you aren't.

Wisteria: American... actually.

Unknown: Wow, you came from a long ways away.

Wisteria: To clear my head, if that makes sense.

Unknown: Sure. I can understand.

Unknown: I'd hate to bother you anymore and I figure you're probably really wary of strangers in a foreign country...

Unknown: I'm not all that great at talking to people... or reaching out... but I really want to find the owner of this phone.

Wisteria: You could take it to the police station, you know.

Wisteria: Or the lost and found at the train station.

Unknown: Yeah. That makes the most sense but... ah.

Unknown: I've got really bad social anxiety when it comes to stuff like this.

Wisteria: Oh...

Wisteria: I understand. I have the same problem.

Wisteria: Don't you have any friends that accompany you?

Unknown: Ah, no. I'm pretty new to this area since I came here for my studies.

Unknown: There is an address in this phone but that's really about it. I didn't want to just pop into somebody's place out of nowhere without being able to speak with them first!

Unknown: You wouldn't happen to want to go there for me?

Unknown: Would you?

Wisteria: Just pop up to a stranger's place to tell me this person found their phone but they're too nervous to give it back themselves?

Wisteria: You're joking right? lol

Wisteria: Don't put me in that position too!

Unknown: It is strange to suggest, isn't it?

Unknown: lol

Unknown: I'm kind of trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Wisteria: I'm gonna kick myself for this but if you're in the same area as me then I might be able to come with you to drop it off with the authorities. What could it hurt?

Wisteria: As long as it's in a public area.

Unknown: Really?

Unknown: Oh, man, I never thought someone would be so nice to me like that.

Unknown: [address]

Unknown: I'm in a very open space right now. So if you don't want to go through with helping me then you could turn around and I'll try to figure out how to not be a coward on my own.

Wisteria: That's not all that far from me.

Wisteria: ...Well, okay.

Wisteria: I'm trying to do good things for others lately.

Wisteria: This'll be my good deed for the day.

Unknown: Thank you.

Unknown: I can't believe you'd trust me.

Wisteria: Don't make me regret it now.

Wisteria: lol

Unknown: Of course not.

Wisteria: See you in a moment, I guess.

Unknown: Yes.

Unknown has left the chatroom.

Wisteria has left the chatroom.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Well. I could not help myself so now I'm going to start another fanfic with my MC. This is an alternate universe in comparison to my other fic with my MC, and it follows a different path. Let me know how you feel about it so I can keep writing!