Chapter 10: Shadowed Spirit

The wonderful feeling of water quenching my thirst and restoring life to my extremely dry mouth is what brought me back to the real world. I felt very relaxed and comfortable, but I hadn't the energy to move even a finger. I was somewhat aware that someone was getting me to drink water because I know I wasn't doing it myself. I also knew that someone's arm held me up, their hand resting on my shoulder.

I opened my eyes slowly, a small smile on my face to prepare myself to see my rescuer. I figured I'd see prince charming smiling with pearly whites, wearing a sexy uniform of some kind, his polished car or truck behind him ready to take me home.

How I wish that day dream was real, because when my eyes focused and I saw pink eyes watching me, whatever water had just entered my mouth wound up flying back out and landing on my lap. The hand holding the bottle of water jumped away, though the other hand still kept me upright. I tried to back away, but the most I did was throw my arm out to keep me from falling over.

I stared at Cell with horror and mistrust. And I knew he knew exactly what I was thinking by the way he finally set the bottle down and backed away. He didn't look ashamed at what he had done, but he no longer looked as proud as I remember. His eyes followed me as I backed away and hugged my legs tightly. I turned my head away from him and rested my cheek on my knee.

"A bit of thanks would be appreciated," Cell said at last. I didn't answer him. This time I wouldn't give in and start to argue, even if it meant I could tell him off and make him go away. "Don't start any of your games with me, Layrial."

Again, I didn't answer. I heard him moving, towards me I believe, but I kept my eyes focused on the floor. I gasped lightly when his leg pushed me, causing my body to uncurl. My eyes shifted in his general direction, but I still refused to look at his face.

"Why will you not speak or look at me?" He asked and I could easily detect the annoyance in his voice. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

Maybe that's exactly what I was doing, but I assured myself it was unintentional. Cell's hot temper would think of it as provoking, but I was honestly doing it because I was so angry at him. I was even mad at myself for allowing this to go on so far, for letting me get tangled in his web of cruelty. The only answer I gave him was repositioning myself into my upright fetal pose.

"Don't make me use force, Layrial," he said. "I don't want to hurt you…"

My ears perked up at his last statement, which had trailed off as if he hadn't intended on saying it. I glanced at his yellow feet that stood beside me, wondering if that was him trying to be a jerk and get me to speak or if that was something he honestly meant, but wouldn't admit if I asked him to repeat it.

"You already have," was what came out of my mouth and I closed my eyes in silent resentment.

"I know I have," he said. "But you're giving me a reason to continue."

"No I'm not," I replied very softly. "You're allowing yourself to act like that."

"Stand up."

I heard him and chose not to ask him, "What?" since it would be pointless to do so. I returned to my silence and looked away from him again. I would not give him the pleasure of thinking for a moment he had any control over me.

"I said stand up," he repeated a bit more firmly.

"No."

He kicked me aside again, this time being a little more forceful than the first, and I lay on my side with my eyes tightly shut. "Do not tell me no," he said and used his foot to turn me onto my back. I allowed myself to look up at his face, allowing my features to look uncaring and innocent. He placed his foot on my chest and pressed down slightly, but not nearly enough to cause any pain. "I could crush you right now."

"Then do it and get it over with," I said without hesitation.

"Why are you so eager to die? You were afraid of the thought only a few days ago."

"Because I hate all of this," I replied calmly, just like he usually acted.

"All of what?" He asked as if he didn't understand. Perhaps he really didn't.

"This—" I looked around and pointed. "I hate this desert, this arena, and I especially hate you."

For a moment I thought nothing would get him to give up; but soon his foot left me and he turned away from me, taking a few steps towards the side. I must've struck that self-image of his again. I smiled at the thought that I had the ability to do that so easily while I sat up and looked at his backside. The stupid bug…

"What, did I hurt your feelings?" I asked sarcastically. It felt so damn good to taunt him like this.

"My intentions were never to have you hate me," he said. "Fear me, perhaps, but never hate." I think he would've just pretended I wasn't there if I hadn't opened my big mouth again.

"Excuse me?" He didn't answer. I got to my feet. "Are you saying you feel bad because I said I hated you? Well guess what? Its one-hundred percent true! You're a complete jerk! And you deserve whatever bad thing hits you!"

"Shut your mouth," he spat glancing over his shoulder. "I think I've been pretty fair to you."

"You call death threats fair? Wow..." I laughed. "You really are pitiful."

I noticed his mouth give a small sign of a flinch at what I had just delivered, but he said nothing to it. Instead he turned slightly around so he didn't have to strain his vision to look at me. "Is there any way I could persuade you otherwise?"

"What, not to hate you? Not a chance, buddy," I replied. I crossed my arms over my chest and bent my leg so I could tap my foot every few seconds.

"There's nothing?" He said with a small smile and turned completely around to begin walking back towards me.

I stepped back, wondering what the hell was going through that head of his this time. "No," I assured him. "There's nothing—not even giving me freedom would change my mind." I thought I'd throw that last part in just in case he got an idea to try it to get me to say I didn't hate him. Sadly, I received no such results.

Instead I found myself backing up until my heel felt the edge of the ring. It was either getting off or stopping…I wish I had gotten off. He was getting uncomfortably closer, and I could see it in his eyes and smile that he wasn't thinking about attacking me with the idea of inflicting pain. No…this was much worse. He almost looked…seductive, as much as I hated to admit it.

My mind raced quickly to think of a way to get him angry, just because that's the way I was used to handling him—I could go with the anger; but this side of him truly frightened me. "Where did you go the other night?"

"Pardon?"

"Where did you take off to when you left me here alone all bloody night?" I restated.

His smile grew wider. "I went into space to train for a while."

It wasn't the answer I had expected, but it would have to do. "Well then why don't you go back into space and throw yourself into the sun."

"You're insults won't work," he said deeply. "Especially when I know you don't mean them."

"Screw you," I said. "I mean everything I say to you."

"Then I want you to tell me exactly what went through your head when this moment is over," he said and the distance between us was gone. He was only centimeters away and I wanted to disappear.

I decided to take the action of stepping off the ring instead of stopping. I wish I had done that sooner, because just as I started to move his arm wrapped around my waist and held me so I couldn't escape. He pulled my body to his and immediately I stopped breathing. Doing so made me quite aware of the rapid pace my heart was beating, which made me even more uncomfortable.

"What are you thinking right now?" He asked softly as his other hand came up to rest on the side of my head.

"That you're a crazy…"

And it was then I felt his mouth touch mine. My brain shut down and all thoughts were put on hold. My eyes remained opened, as did his, and I watched him gaze at me. I was dead scared and I wished for nothing more than to wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Please…make him stop…I prayed silently. But instead of that being answered, his warm lips pressed against mine a bit more and his hand held the back of my neck. I was trapped in the embrace of the enemy…the biggest murderer of all time…an android of all things.

Thank the Heavenly Beings, though, that it finally came to an end. I was beginning to wonder if it'd ever stop. He released me and took a single step back. My head straightened and I stared straight into his strong torso.

"Well, Layrial, what are you thinking now?"

From Me Again: Yes…evil is my middle name. And I love to prove it. This is a nasty cliffhanger for you guys and I do apologize. Now you can spend the next week wondering about Layrial's thoughts ;)