Author's note: This chapter is focusing mainly on Layla's past! Please enjoy!
Chapter 2: Blue sky stained red
The next morning I woke up before dawn, and stripped off my clothes, wrapping myself into a towel before walking towards the baths. I was still half asleep, but there was no way I could sleep feeling so uncomfortably dirty. When I reached the pools of warm water, I dropped my towel and entered into the clean water. I sat down, and allowed my thoughts to stray into the back of my mind, it all started, thirteen years ago.
"Mama, Papa!" My four-year old self shouted, "Look at this!" I showed them a silly, little drawing of a rose. My mother smiled, "How pretty." My father nodded in agreement. My family lived in a village, around the outskirts of London. I didn't go to school, but I was very bright. It was the afternoon of another sunny spring day, and the sky couldn't be bluer. I skipped around the fields barefoot, my feet tickled by the scrub grass. "Layla, let's go inside now!" My mother called from the doorway, her hair buffeted by a fresh breeze.
I went in immediately. I never, ever, disobeyed your parents. I closed the door behind me, and went inside. My parents were talking together in the kitchen, so I decided to leave them alone and talk to my big sister. She was just like me, but older and paler. Since the day she was born, she was very weak and ill, so I often stood by her. I gave her vivid descriptions of the outdoors, and about what I did outside. Almost everything in my family was perfect.
Not even three days later, my father had disappeared. He went out at night one day, to his dear friend's house that had lost a close family member, and never came back. My family and I were worried sick, for the friend had said that father had returned home. My family mourned for days, and I inherited his leather jacket, that smelled just like him and made me feel safe. Your mother, unable to earn enough money for me and my sister by herself, remarried to a man with red hair and a very carefree personality. I never could remember his name, but because of him, the peaceful life I once lead was over.
At first, he was a nice guy, never getting angry at anyone, but from the way he looked at my sister, I knew that he wasn't all good. He often encouraged me to go out while my mother was working, so he could be alone with her. It wasn't long before I discovered that he had been hurting my sister. However, whenever I tried bringing it up, he would just grin and say, "Well, you don't want your mother getting hurt either, hm?" After two years of this abuse, I found out that my sister was pregnant with his child. I was only six, but I hated him even more. I once yelled at him and even hit his face, and for revenge, he killed my sister, all while his lips formed into his usual smirk. "Now, now, play nice." He did the same to my mother, as if it was no big deal. Blood splattered the floor, making it match his hair. Before killing me, he transformed into a beast, a terrifying monster, known as a Level 4 Akuma.
I braced myself for the hit, but an Exorcist came first. I admired the power that person wielded as she fought the Akuma easily. I later learned that this woman was a general named Klaude Nine, whose monkey fought for her, although she gave commands with a whip, just like the one I have now. Before she could talk to me, though, I had run away in terror. For the next eleven years, I have been nothing but lonely, afraid, poor and weak. But then, you met Komui Lee when he was out, and he talked about Exorcist, and from that day forth, I fought Akuma.
I let out a sigh, and looked at my reflection. I had grown from then, I was really a woman. I smiled and got out of the bath and wrapped myself into my fluffy, white towel, when I heard footsteps as Lavi walked in. Thank god, we both had our towels on. I was blushing madly as I bolted away. Lavi watched me go, "So close… if only I had come earlier…" He chuckled to himself as he slid into the bath.
Author's note: Well, sorry for the shortness… but hopefully you enjoyed it!
