"I'm so tired. It's only been two days since I've eaten or drank anything…but…I'm already prepared to just give up on everything and die… I'm so hungry…and thirsty…I don't know…if I can make it for one more day. …But…I have to! I just have to! I can't let Ken win! If I let him win…then…it means that all hope really is lost… I mean, I just want so badly to give up… I'm so tired of fighting him… But what if I do? What if I just let Ken win? I don't know… Sometimes I just feel like I—"
The sound of the door creaking open reached my ears, interrupting my thoughts automatically. I knew instantly by the heavy footsteps that soon followed that it was Ken. I closed my eyes, praying to God that he'd think I was asleep and wouldn't hurt me again. Within seconds, I felt a gentle touch on my head. Ken was kneeling beside me and playing with my hair, moving it out of my face. Thankfully, he bought that I was asleep.
What I heard next left me shocked, I have to say. I could feel his hot breath next to my ear as he leaned in close. "I always loved you, Crystal," he whispered in my ear. Then, he kissed my cheek softly. He laid his forehead gently on the side of my head and wrapped his arms around me for a second to hug me. Then, he released his soft grip on me and I heard his footsteps move away from me as he got up and went to the cell door.
I heard it creak, but then it paused suddenly, as if he had his hand on it but had stopped and turned back towards me. "And…it kills me to know that I can't have you." And, with that, I heard the cell door close gently and lock, and then I heard Ken's footsteps, softly clacking on the floor as he left.
I waited a moment before moving, making sure Ken had left. After I was positive that he'd gone, I sprang up into a sitting position, my facial expression showing complete astonishment. I couldn't stay that way for long, however. The next thing I knew, my head was reeling and I had to lie back down quickly. I was just too weak to do things like that at the moment. Too much effort made me want to pass out.
After I'd gotten my head to stop spinning, I lay there on the cot and thought about it, even though the mere thought of it made me feel just about as dizzy as moving too much. I didn't understand… I had a lot of trouble absorbing what had just happened and what he'd just said… And even after the words sank in, I had great difficulty in really understanding them and then, finally, actually believing them. This was partly because I just couldn't see it actually being true, and partly because I desperately didn't want it to be. "Did…did he just say that he…that he loved me…?"
No! That's what I kept telling myself. No, this couldn't have been happening. This couldn't have been true. It just couldn't! Ken…loved me? Then…then why would he hurt me like this…and try to kill me? Why would he be so adamant in acting like he despised me and wanted me dead if his true feelings towards me were of love?
And then it dawned on me… Matt. Matt was the reason that Ken wouldn't let his true feelings be shown. Ken knows I love Matt…not him. And so…to keep from getting hurt…he's pushing me away and making me hate him. He's afraid of me becoming friends with him; that's it…I'm sure of it. He's scared of the pain it would bring to know that he's so close to me…and yet he can't really have me. He's taking comfort in the fact that, now, since I hate him so much, he'll never have to bond with me as a friend and then have me break his heart by…by choosing Matt over him.
The thought of maybe giving Ken a chance crossed my mind, but I quickly squashed it, knowing that it wasn't what I truly wanted. I'd feel guilty…giving Ken a chance like that… Building up his hopes in that way. I knew that Matt was the one I wanted to be with, and that if I ever did give Ken a chance, it would be out of pity. I just…couldn't do that to him…not matter how much I may have hated him. I just…couldn't hurt him like that… Not anymore than I already had by making it so that he couldn't have me.
"Look at me… I'm sympathizing with a monster…" But even as the words formed in my head, something felt wrong about them…untrue. "But…maybe…maybe he's not as much of a monster as he seems… I could've sworn I'd seen some light in him before…somewhere… Maybe there is some good left in him…somewhere…" I thought about it for a long while, finally falling asleep that night with that thought in my head.
……………………………………………………………………………………………...
"Slave!"
I opened my eyes slowly, even weaker than I was the day before. Bright sunlight shown down on me through the window, stinging my eyes. My vision was blurry at first, partly because of the sleep in my eyes and partly because of the bright beams of light obscuring it. I saw a figure looking down at me, but I didn't need perfect focus to realize whom it was. "Well, good morning, Kitten," Ken said to me coldly, leering down at me as I rubbed my eyes, which slowly came into focus. "I trust you've learned your lesson?"
"Yes, Master," I said in a monotone voice as I sat up on the cot, barely able to manage even that much without getting too dizzy. I kept my head sort of low, half from wooziness and half from sheer embarrassment. He was treating me like a child again. It was humiliating! He treated me again as if I didn't know any better and he was teaching me "my place". And what's worse was that I was actually allowing it without a fight! And I hated him for it, even more than I already did. The way he treated me infuriated me, replacing all the other feelings I had for him with anger and hate.
And then, I noticed the presence of another in the room. I turned my head and looked past Ken. That's when I saw her for the first time—the girl, who couldn't have been too much older than me, whom would be the cause of my destruction. She was carrying a tray of food and water, which she set down on the cot next to me. Finally, food and water! I didn't really give a shit at the moment that it was sushi. All I knew was that I was finally getting something to eat.
"Kitten, there's someone I want you to meet," Ken said, gesturing to the girl, who came up next to him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "This is Candace Smythe, or 'Candy' for short." And then, he smirked coldly at me, a look that automatically sent a chill down my spine. Then, in as calm and casual a voice as ever, he told me, "She's your replacement, little one."
"Replacement…?" What did he mean by "replacement"?
"Yes," he said. "See, it's simple. You had me for a little while, you denied me, and now you've lost me. I've found someone else…someone better than you! Crystal, meet your new mistress." Candy smiled menacingly at me, and I instantly knew that she was just as bad as Ken. The sound of Ken's voice brought my attention back to him. "To you, she's 'Mistress', not Candace, not Candy, 'Mistress'. You are to show her the same respect that you show to me. Is that understood?" I nodded my head. "Good girl."
"Don't worry, Kitten. We'll have fun." Candy said to me, taunting me as she leaned forward and placed her fingers under my chin like I was a child. She smiled at me just the slightest bit wider and suddenly pushed my face lightly to one side. Then, she stood straight again. Just as I'd thought…she is just like Ken. I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of another Ken. Now that was a scary thought!
Seeing me tremble made Ken chuckle cruelly again. She smirked down at me mercilessly. "I knew you two would get along fine," he said to me in a taunting manner. He chuckled again and then held out his hand to the side. Candy took it daintily in hers and then they walked out of the cell. The cell door slammed shut and locked. "Eat up, Kitten," I heard Ken say to me before they left. "We wouldn't want you dying on us now before Candy here ever got a chance to play with you." Then, they're spiteful laughter rang in my ears as they left.
After they'd left, I looked down at my food. It wasn't the best thing in the world, but at least it was food. I ignored the awful taste and ate it all, savoring the relief I got from finally being fed. Although, in the back of my mind, I was constantly thinking of what might've been to come. That girl, Candy… She was definitely bad news. I knew it. What I didn't know, however, was just how bad that news was going to be.
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A/N: Ok, I think I'll leave it there for now. We're nearing the big finish! There are only about two more chapters to go. (Thunderous applause and people shouting.) Yes, yes, I know. I can't wait either! I just hope you all don't end up hating more for the totally sad, tragic ending I've thought up along with a lot of help from my friend, Lady of Life and Death, a.k.a LLD (applause), then you no doubt already do for taking so long (Looks at Piedmon and LadyLuck, who both turn away and whistle "innocently"). …Then again, I hope it doesn't end up absolutely sucking either! I really hope you like it!
midnight breezy: Oh, I'm sure they'll love it, Diva'sDream.
LadyLuck: Hey! Wait a second! How'd we get here, Piedmon?
Piedmon: (Shrugs) Dunno…but I say everyone will love your ending, Diva'sDream.
LadyLuck: Yeah, me too. Just don't take to long on it!
(Puts hands up defensively) Ok, ok!
midnight breezy: Man, and we thought Ken had a bad attitude!
LadyLuck: Hey, where is Ken, anyway?
Everyone: (Shrugs and then goes looking for Ken)
Ken: (Comes out of nowhere and tries to attack Diva'sDream with another almighty brochure of doom) Grrrrr!
(Smacks him in the head with a dictionary as he gets too close) Smart move, Cape Boy.
Ken: (Falls unconscious)
Everyone besides Ken and Diva'sDream: 0.o …
What? (Sees readers staring) What! Oh, just get out of here! I'll have the next chapter up soon! Now go on and leave the voices and me in my head to finish our masterpiece! Go on, shoe! (Shoos readers away)
Everyone besides Ken and Diva'sDream: (Gets up to leave)
Not you guys! (Glares at everyone else)
Everyone else: (Immediately sits back down)
Thank you!
LLD: (Gasps and comes running in) Oh no! What'd you do to my poor Ken? (Hugs Ken and pets him)
Everyone: 0.o …
LLD: (Sees reader) …Um…Oh, hi! I'm Diva's friend—the one who's been helping her with the story. Credit for the ending to this story goes to me!
(Clears throat)
LLD: …And partly to Diva. (Eye roll)
Thank you! (Sticks tongue out at you)
Ken: (Wakes up and sees LLD) Hmm… (Looks at Diva'sDream and smirks)
Wow…I'm surprised LLD's helping you after what you did to Bakura…
LLD: (Asks as Kens behind her waving his arms like crazy) What about Bakura…?
Ken: (Sweatdrops) Oh, nothing! We really don't need to go into that right now!
Oh, yes we do! (To LLD) Apparently, Ken went after Bakura yesterday with a sledgehammer. That's why Bakura's been home all day with a killer headache.
LLD: (Shoots death glare at Ken) You…WHAT!
Ken: (Starts cowering) …Mommy… (Starts running as LLD comes after him) Ahhhh!
LLD: (Running after Ken) Come back her, Cape Boy! (Makes Ken unconscious again)
(As everyone else watches on in horror) Ooh…! That's gotta hurt! …Well…see ya!