AN;; Hey! I think my updates will be a little more frequent. n_n Enjoy this next chap.

Hard Drive Singer

Chapter 14

"Huh. Look at all those stars tonight," sighed a voice, wistful as a January breeze. She rested her face in the palm of her hand, gazing up at the stars above. They glimmered gloriously. Despite being alone in the vast expanse of space, they shone, little men with lanterns weaving through the dark. So full of faith that they would eventually find their way. So unconcerned with the inevitable death that awaited them, fading to cool black. She wished she could be so simple, so carefree. So indifferent toward the troubles of the world.

A voice droned on, a generic female newscaster rambling on about something or other. The twinkling stars were framed by a television, and some obscured by the neon banner that read 'Life on Europa?!'. She honestly didn't care. So she reached for the remote, poised it in front of her, and flicked off the irritating device. Hm, that was better.

It was supposedly night outside of the Database. Teenagers returning from lengthy dates, students huddling over notebook pages. She flung a few Doritos into her mouth, munching on them lazily. It was midday in there, though, and a very hot day it was. She had changed into a tank top and shorts to ward off unnecessary heat. Taking occasional swigs of water to hinder thirst. It was awful. To make matters worse, Miku was to be there any minute. Yes, Miku. The meanest of the mean. The flirtiest of the flirty. The most persuasive of the persuasive. How she was stuck with low pay, Mari didn't know. Heck, the girl could pull raises out of trees.

There was a sharp rap at the door, and she groaned, standing suddenly. "Oh boy, Miku's here," she grimaced, before clasping the knob and swinging the door open. A girl stood there, light teal pigtails rippling. Her lips were freshly glossed, cheeks fairly blushed, and eyebrows plucked to fine strands. She wore a pink sundress. Obviously she had been trying to charm a few boys. And, judging by the drop of saliva that clung to the corner of her lip, she had succeeded.

"Hello, Mari," Miku smirked, stepping inside. She set her pastel purse on top of the coffee table. "What a fine day, hm? Why don't we go outside to practice?" There was the slightest hint of malice in her voice, but she hid it with sugary smiles and polite conversation. She was plotting something, although Mari couldn't decipher what. Something...

"I suppose we could," Mari replied sleepily, yawning. "I could use some ice cream, though. It's boiling out there." She folded her arms stubbornly, her feet set and stationary on the carpet. Miku was supposed to keep her happy. She wanted ice cream. An idiot could fill in the blanks. Yes, these meetings might be to her advantage.

"Of course, Mari. I'll do anything to keep you happy," she grinned wider. Her eyes narrowed, and she too resembled the Cheshire cat. The snake-like venom in her veins seemed to leak through her pores and seep onto Mari. Chilling her mood and popping the cheery bubbles within her mind. Miku was scary.

Mari stared back, confidence pouring out by the gallon. "Um, alright. Can I have an orange ice pop?" she asked. She found herself gripping her arms and biting her lips in a nervous sort of way. Oh, come on. This was Miku. What was she supposed to be afraid of? This relaxed her, and she lowered her arms casually.

Miku had spotted Mari's moment of weakness. "Sure, Mari. You are our beloved Master, hm? Never dreaming of harming us?" She rifled through her bag with newly polished nails, finally snatching out a white packet of some sort. She gingerly ripped off the wrapper, revealing an orange ice pop. Just what Mari had wanted. And yet... "I keep these in case Kaito wants them. You know about his whole obsession," she smiled. She held out the fruity snack, waiting for Mari to take it. "Go on."

Mari held her hand out tentatively, unsure. It seemed alright. It was an ice pop. Just a nice, normal ice pop. It sat in Miku's hand, delicious and cold. All she needed was to reach out and seize it. Run her tongue along it's side, taste the tangy juice. But there was something suspicious about this. Something, although she couldn't put her finger on it. Eventually, her hunger overruled her doubt and she took it.

Mari bit it. Augh, brain freeze. Her head ached from the cold dessert. But brain freeze was only supposed to last for a minute, wasn't it? Why did her head still hurt? It began to throb, and blood leaked out of her wound, staining the gauze with fresh scarlet. All the breath seemed to leave her lungs, all the color from her skin. She couldn't breathe, couldn't see. She was numb.

She tried to blink, but she couldn't move her eyelids. She fell backward onto the couch, head hitting the pillow with a muffled thump. Her insides contracted uncomfortably. She couldn't think. Frozen with shock and lack of breath. Was she dying? She couldn't know for sure. A pressure was making its way up her throat again, but she couldn't fight it this time. Forcing its way to her mouth, parting her lips. And escaping, a dark swirl of energy out to terrorize the world. "Oh," she gasped hopelessly, "no."

Miku was grinning wider than ever. She drew over slowly, light blue hair swaying. "Who's the Master now, Mari?" she snarled. Her words, honey-coated, stung Mari in her half-conscious state. She lowered her dainty hand, each fingernail painted shiny blue. It closed around a flap on Mari's shoulder bandage, and she peeled it off. The pain was excruciating, but Mari was unable to yell, to protest. Miku pulled out something, something she didn't recognize, and coaxed a bit of blood into it.

The beaming girl stepped back, screwing the top back on the object. She then let out a cold laugh, a cackle. She slipped out the door after a moment, leaving Mari on the couch, bleeding and barely awake. Mari stared after her, sight soon fading to black. Mi....Ku....Killed....Her.....

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A light soon appeared in the darkness, a glimmer of hope. She ran toward it, legs pounding on the nothing around her. But it wasn't nothing. It was black and purple and colors she couldn't possibly describe, swirling around her, pulsating rhythmically. They snapped at her limbs gently, attempting to grab them and pull her in. No, no!

She tore through it, harder than ever. Sweat sliding down her pale face. The light grew brighter, was tinted the warmest gold. And the further she went, the bigger it got. But something grabbed her leg, pulling her back. She glanced down. Clutching her ankle was Kaito, bloody and battered, gasping for life's sweet breath. Tears spilled down his smeared cheeks.

"Mari," he sobbed, tugging her back. "Come back! I need you!" Kaito looked up at her, blue eyes dark and glossed over. Kaito! Kaito! She had to go back, she had to save him. Why had he followed her? Had he been trying to save her? Aww, how sweet. She had to go back in. Poor guy was practically dying! "Don't mind the others, we don't need them," he breathed. "Let's just relax, forget about it all."

No! She couldn't do that. Her friends were in danger. But, oh, it was so tempting. To just let go of it all and follow Kaito. Never having to worry about Akaito or viruses or strange psychics. Bliss was so near, so tangible in that moment. Yes. You could forget it all. Yes, no more worries. She could join it. Bliss, my dear. Sheer happiness. But, no. She couldn't. All her friends. And she might never get out again. What about Rin? Gumi? Her family, outside the Database? Forget them. I'll be your family. No.

She ripped her ankle away from Kaito, gazing down at him sadly. "I'm sorry, but no." She then dashed into the light, all her worries fading into nothing. Dark, no matter how strong, was always defeated by light. Yes, she would be free! Moans and screams drifted from the dusk, jabbing her ears like knives. Hauling her back in, but she yanked herself free. At last, the last tints of twilight melted away, and she floated in a golden dawn.

Soon, that too disappeared, and she fell once again into sleep.