Ladeeda.

oo0o0oo

Erik stared at her for a long time after she finished her story, breathing heavily. They were now on the shores of the lake, where Tori stood in his grasp, shivering.

Finally he let out a cry of anguish and waded into the lake, his hands flying to a long piece of rope under his belt.

"I'LL KILL HIM! HE'S DEAD! I'LL KILL HIM!"

Tori let out a short scream as she sunk to the floor. Her world was now falling apart: all the people that she cared for and trusted were now turning against her, taking little bits and pieces of her until there was nothing left.

"No, Erik! No! Promise me you won't kill again!"

He turned to her, a frighteningly angry expression on his face. "Tori, he hurt you! He went way past the line! I HAVE to kill him!"

"No you don't!"

His expression softened as he saw Tori on the ground, crying. She started hyperventilating and tried, without success, to regain herself.

"Tori, please!"

But she shook her head and stood shakily. After giving Erik a (very weak) glare of mistrust, she staggered off to her room, where she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

---------------

She woke up at around 7 the next morning, lying on her left side. The first thing she heard were footsteps approaching her bed, then she saw Erik sit down on her bed, unmasked and in simpler clothing. The tearstains on his face showed that he had been crying.

"Tori, I-"

Disregarding the signs that he had been hurt as well, Tori gave him another glare, stronger this time, and turned over onto her right side.

She took a deep breath and said, her voice ragged, "You killed him, didn't you?"

Erik put his face in his hands. "No. He's alive."

"How do you know that?"

"...I looked."

Tori faced him again, her eyes wide with anger. "I knew it! You were going to kill him-"

"I. Wasn't."

He reached out a hand for her, and Tori shrank from his touch, fear flickering in her eyes.

"Tori, listen!"

She turned back over onto her right side, glaring at the wall made of rock.

"I would never hurt you. You're very precious to me. I...love you, and I hope that I can help you get over what has happened."

She grunted, still staring at the wall, though her eyes were filling with tears.

"Please, Tori, trust me."

He reached out a hand and, after a moment's hesitation, put it gently on her shoulder. Tori stiffened noticably at his touch and gently pushed his hand away, now crying silently.

"Look at me."

Tori turned on command, and Erik's eyes watered a little bit as he saw the tears running down Tori's face. Reaching out, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. She didn't shrink back or push his hand away, but let him wipe the tears away.

"Tori, don't cry..."

She pursed her lips. "Why not?"

Erik sighed and turned his back to her. "Because you'll make me cry as well."