④
ｍｏｎｏ
...
Ah. She's not frail as she seems to be.
That's what I thought when I caught her taking down a puppet attacker like it was nothing just as I have grabbed the hammer as a weapon. The more time passes she has become bolder and knowing that scares me.
She's agile in avoiding the traps in school and quick on her feet in finding our way. She's resilient; whatever she faces does nothing to topple her down. As compared to before, she isn't that much afraid anymore to go in front or to walk beside me.
It amazes me, but at the same time, it fears me that I won't be needed. That she will leave if I don't become of use anymore.
"Why do you hide your face with that?" she asks.
She initiates the conversation, which she doesn't do at first. This can be a good sign that she's getting comfortable around me. Or a bad one that she'll continue to grow until she's ready to get rid of me.
ᴶᵘˢᵗ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵐᵃⁿʸ ᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ.
My feet freeze. Then I turn towards her, who is now wearing a yellow raincoat like a drop of sunshine in this somber, bizarre hospital.
I wonder if I really have met her before. It somehow feels nostalgic to be experiencing all of these with her. And this fear... it's oddly familiar, filling me in on my upcoming demise. Is this really a premonition? Something that took place in the past? Or is this just paranoia consuming my mind?
I answer her, "Because it makes me feel safe."
I have a more profound reason for this cover on my face. It's to hide my identity, that I know, but as to 'why' and 'what', I have yet to find those out.
"Why? Does showing your face makes you more vulnerable to dangers?"
"Something like that. Other people find my face -" I pause for the right term "- alarming. They become aggressive and want to get me whenever they see it."
It takes her a few seconds of staring before asking quietly, "I can trust you, right?"
"Of course!"
Don't leave me.
"Don't worry, I'll always keep you safe!" I add in a forced chirpy tone.
You may be strong, but you still need me... I NEED YOU.
"So let's stick together, okay?"
To my relief, she bobs her head meekly.
I grab her hand once again in a firm grip to reassure her that I will keep my word and to convince myself that I'm never going to lose her. AGAIN.
For the second time, I hear a voice in the back of my head that is faint and mocking, which sounds like mine. I don't know if it's my subconscious or my hallucination. I'm sure though that it's not me.
That voice has said, "ᴬʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵘʳᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵃᵗ?"
...
end of Part 4