Chapter 3

Lisanna's POV

Slowly standing up, I staggered towards Lucy, collapsed on the floor. Her little body seemed pretty weak and pathetic, just lying there. I tightened my fist. This power... I can't let it go.

"You..." I seethed, pouring my hatred into my gaze.

Brown eyes looked back at me. Lucy seemed calm; there was no trace of fear or pain in her eyes.

You'll change that.

Yes... That is your true darkness...

Ignoring these annoying thoughts scattered in my head, I grit my teeth.

"Why? Why do you get all the attention? What is it with you that makes Natsu..." I stumbled forward. "I'll kill you."

No...

That's not good enough.

Not enough to satisfy this urge.

"Lisanna-san?" Lucy whispered. "What are you..."

Natsu was staring at me incomprehensibly. He doesn't understand. He'll never understand. I'll make him understand.

"You don't understand... This... This girl—her—" I pointed at Lucy. "She... She... needs to suffer."

"L-Lisanna? What are you talking about! She's Lucy!" Natsu yelled. He turned towards Lucy. "Lucy, get away from her! She's somehow changed!"

Natsu sprung up and dashed towards Lucy, who sat up in surprise.

Not fast enough.

Pushing forward, I extended my claws— take over, of course— and tore at Lucy's skin.

More.

Not quite enough.

Let me see the look on your face!

Tearing, kicking, ripping.

Tearing.

Kicking.

Ripping.

Suffer...

"Lisanna, stop!" Faint voices tugged at me.

Stop? Why would I need to stop when I'm clearly enjoying what I'm doing.

I paused.

This wasn't me.

No no no.

This wasn't me at all.

My arms kept moving.

I can't stop.

I can't stop!

Although Erza, Gray, and Wendy were too far away to hear, Happy swooped down from the sky to pick up Lucy and carry her to safety, but he found that he was too late.

The last thing Natsu found was Lucy's dead body, still being torn by Lisanna.

Lucy's POV

Some evil entity is staring at me.

This monster seems to hate me— to a point where killing me is only letting me off easy.

Lisanna...

What happened...?

Was this the power of that corruption mage?

"You..."

I froze, that one word grating against my spine, like a rusty dagger slowly etching itself into my skin. Pure malice gazed down at me.

"Why? Why do you get all the attention? What is it with you that makes Natsu..." Lisanna stumbled forward, her new claws outstretched. "I'll kill you."

This isn't Lisanna.

This thing is horrifying and hatred driven.

"Lisanna-san?" I attempted to whisper. "What are you..."

No clear recognition appeared in her eyes.

So her thoughts are clouded...

Lisanna grinned, looking at Natsu. This creepy combination of an emotionless grin and hatred filled eyes chilled me to the bone. ""You don't understand... This... This girl—her—" Lisanna pointed at me. "She... She... needs to suffer."

"L-Lisanna? What are you talking about! She's Lucy!" Natsu yelled. He turned towards me. "Lucy, get away from her! She's somehow changed!"

I sat up, clutching my shoulder. Of course I'll get away from her. Does he think I'm stupid?

I saw Natsu running to me, but everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Yet, even in slow motion, Lisanna seemed to move as fast as lightning. She sprung towards me, and I felt immense pain ripping my body apart.

It won't stop.

Will it stop?

It feels like it'll never stop.

One after another, I was being torn apart— physically and mentally. A teammate. Lisanna's a guild member.

I don't want to fight back.

I must look ridiculous right now. Torn by a guild member, helpless on the floor.

That's right.

I'm helpless...

I can't even save myself.

My body felt immobilized as Lisanna tore and ripped. Searing pain spread.

I'm numb. Feeling as if I'm far, far away, watching my body shredded from existence...

I closed my eyes.