TRIGGER WARNING - Mentions of self harm, suicidal thoughts and abuse. Please read with caution.


why do the young poets write about Persephone?

maybe it's because we can relate to a goddess,

to being half sunshine

and half grave.


Maka stood there for a while, her breaths coming in short, little gasps as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Okay. No, this is fine. When she has her nightmares, she speaks. From the sounds of it, she says pretty much whatever it is that she's saying in the dream…

Her stomach clenched.

This can't be happening. Soul heard her. The thought that he was just outside her door as she whimpered, and cried… It was nauseating. And he just threw it in her face, clearly trying to hurt her.

Well, that was it. She couldn't face Soul anymore.


Maka had been alone in her room pretty much all day. She would have been completely alone if it wasn't for that constant guard outside the door. Apparently, there had been some kind of commotion on the adult's floor that needed extra hands, and so lessons were cancelled. All patients had to go straight back to their rooms after breakfast and lunch. So, what did she do? She read.

Multiple books were strewn carelessly across her bed, all of which she had finished over the last couple of days. Maka hadn't seen Soul ever since their little discussion, which was a few days ago now. So, Maka read, and now she had finished all the books. And so now, she was bored. She groaned and thought about asking the guard if she could go see Marie, who Maka knew was only outside in the hall since the older blonde was on duty.

Maka had been avoiding Marie, which was something much easier said than done. She was aware that Marie obviously hadn't had any time to speak to Justin recently, since in their private sessions, she hadn't mentioned anything. But Maka couldn't help but assume that if Marie knew about that incident, she would have something to say about it.

Maka nearly smiled. She frustrated Miss Marie and she knew it. Maka knew how counsellors went about their jobs; she knew how they read people. She knew what they looked for if they thought someone was lying and so on. But Marie was very good. The older blonde didn't give Maka any sort of inkling that she had fooled her. She simply nodded along with a blank face and scribbled down on her stupid little clipboard.

Maka pulled her door open to see it was only Marie on duty today – no guard. Marie gave the younger woman a bright smile as Maka walked towards her.

"Oh, Maka! I've been wanting to speak with you about what happened with Justin, he's only just got around to telling me! I was surprised you didn't mention it in our sessions. What happened?"

Maka gave her a dry smile. So, she had finally been told on. Maka let her eyes cloud with distress before hanging her head to hide her face. She thought she was doing a pretty good job.

"I don't know," Maka muttered in an annoyed voice. She was smart enough to know that if she let Marie see her upset, she'd know that Maka was lying. She had to fool her.

"It's no big deal, alright? I just got tired and overwhelmed, and I felt much better once I had some sleep. I just want to go read a while, okay? I was coming over to ask if I could leave my room."

Marie looked at the blonde blankly as Maka held her breath, seeing how pointless the facade was. How could she fool a woman whose job it was to see through her lies?

"If you say so, Maka," Marie sighed, giving nothing away much to the younger blonde's disappointment. "Off you go."

Maka was just about to leave when Tsubaki came from her own room, her eyes widening when she saw Maka. Maka nearly closed her eyes in annoyance. She had been avoiding her too.

"Oh, Maka!" Tsubaki ran up to her and she felt her stomach clench with guilt. This girl was so nice it was nearly alarming. "Are you feeling any better?"

"M'sure she's fine," a deep voice drawled just as Maka opened her mouth to reply. She near enough jumped a foot into the air when Soul's hand wrapped the crook of her elbow.

"Stop doing that!" She snapped as she pulled her arm from his grasp.

"Doing what?" He asked.

"Appearing from thin air!" She exclaimed and Soul just arched a brow. Maka glared at him.

"Whatever," he sighed and looked up. Maka followed his gaze and remembered that Tsubaki was still there, who was looking between the two in confusion.

" Anyway - " Soul began again before Maka interrupted.

"Ignore him," Maka said curtly. "I'm fine."

Soul just looked firmly at the small blonde before squinting his eyes. He was definitely still angry.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked in a taut voice. Maka rolled her eyes.

"I'm busy," she said through clenched teeth and Soul scoffed before burying his hands in his pockets.

"Sure, you are," He held her gaze before sighing in defeat, his shoulders slumped. "Why, where you heading?"

Maka folded her arms over her chest. "The library."

"I'll walk you there."

Now she scoffed and Soul sighed again. He rubbed the back of his head.

"Come on, please? It'll literally take a second." Maka looked at him a moment before turning to Tsubaki.

"I'll find you later," The blonde muttered, and smiled feebly. Tsubaki nodded.

"Alright," the taller girl said nervously. "But don't fight, alright? Both of you, be nice."

Maka smiled more genuinely. "Of course. I'll see you around."

She turned slowly to face Soul again as Tsubaki finally walked away, any positive emotions fell from her face in an instant. Soul held his hands up in surrender.

"Hey," he warned. "I come in peace. I just wanna talk."

Maka narrowed her eyes. "So, talk."

Soul glared at her. "Alone. Not where everyone can see us. They might overhear."

"Soul, the staff won't let any of us be alone together," She tried to reason but Soul just walked away, not even looking back to check that she was following.

"Where are we going?" Maka asked from behind him. She still felt more comfortable walking few steps behind the older man. He turned back to flash her that cocky smirk.

"Music room," was all he said. Maka frowned.

"Isn't the music room that way?" She asked in confusion, pointing her thumb over her shoulder as Soul chuckled and shook his head.

"Not that music room."


Maka stared in awe at the room that she was led into. The room was dim but huge. The floor was a polished and shiny checked crimson red and black, so clean that she could nearly make out her reflection in it. Blood red curtains covered the walls and made the room seem darker and more isolated. The ceiling seemed to be painted a flat black colour which gave the illusion with was just so high you couldn't see the ceiling at all.

There was a small stage at the end of the room, though it only stood about two inches from the ground. On that stage, a flawless, massive sleek black grand piano sat proudly, the lid stood open, adding to its glorious size. Maka's mouth dropped open at the magnificent instrument.

Soul's quiet sigh brought her from her daze. She turned her head to find his face tense. He almost looked uncomfortable. Maka's felt her own body tense at his expression.

"We won't get caught here," he told her abruptly. He buried his hands in his pockets and walked further into the room, only facing her when he stood a comfortable four feet away.

"They'll look for us," Maka began but the words caught in her throat as Soul shook his head.

"The staff… they trust me more than the other patients, I guess," he told her with a shrug. "I don't know, maybe because I've been here longer or whatever. And I get perks 'cause to who my parents are. That's why they let me do whatever I want."

Maka arched a brow at the sudden information. That was more than he'd ever told her before, and he gave it up willingly. Maka took a small step forward, not missing how Soul's eyes cast down to her feet before flashing back up to her face warily.

"Is that so?" She murmured before looking around the room again. "Well, what is this place?"

Soul grinned cockily. Maka had to ignore the jump in her stomach.

"This is my room, since I'm the only patient who has access and the staff leave me alone in here," he made his way up to the piano and ran a finger over the lid that covered the keys. "Playing the piano was good for my recovery when I finally agreed to do it, and when I did, I didn't want any patients walking in on me. I definitely didn't want them to hear me. So, they gave me this room."

Maka looked at the man in shock, having to collect her thoughts.

"Wait, time out - You play the piano? Since when?" Soul chuckled again before he slumped down onto the piano bench and stared at the instrument.

"Ever since I could press a god damned key," Maka could hear the strain in his voice. "That's not the point, though."

Maka frowned at him. "Then what is the point, Soul? Why did you bring me here?"

Soul huffed.

"I walked in on you doing something you didn't want anyone to see. As glad as I am that I was the one to find you it wasn't all that fair that I pushed my way in. And when I mentioned – About when you sleep…"

He trailed off when Maka visibly stiffened, her arms lifting to wrap around herself. Soul watched and sighed.

"That wasn't cool." He grumbled, his eyes anywhere but on her face. "I shouldn't have said what I said. That was really fucked up."

Maka didn't say anything. She was too uncomfortable to even try. Soul waited a moment before continuing.

"You deserve to know something private about me, then I can stop feeling so guilty and then maybe he wi-" He stopped short, and this time the blonde picked up on the words that he clearly didn't want her to hear.

"He?" She asked and Soul winced. "Who is he?"

Soul let his head hang so that his bangs fell over his eyes. Maka couldn't make out his expression – She almost didn't want to.

"I'm going to give you… a free pass," Soul said in a voice void of any emotion, but his face kept on scrunching up as if he was in pain. "You can ask me one thing about myself. One thing. And I'll answer you honestly. I know you cut yourself and that you do it uncontrollably. And – the other thing. I'd be pissed if someone found something like that out about me, so it's only fair."

Maka stared at him in shock. Was this some kind of trick? The guy who hid from everyone and had more secrets than anyone she knew was giving her a chance to dig one up? The one question itched in her mind as she looked into his reluctant eyes. Maka tilted her head before taking a step forward.

"Why can't you leave this hospital, Soul Evans?"