They screamed like she knew they would.
They always screamed when they saw her.
Such useless, cowards - worms. That's what humans were.
But, those ones from the other night were different, they had not seemed afraid. No, they had felt... Determined.
It had been over a hundred years since she felt anything, the demon-creature that was now using her body had thoroughly blocked her any access of control. The darkness that had, at first, been an ancient and cruel thing was now the only comfort she found. It leashed her mind, separating it from her body.
She could not remember her name. She only knew that once, long ago, she was human.
Her name had been the first thing she had forgotten when the darkness enveloped her. Then, she had forgotten the names of all of those close to her. All she knew was the demon that had broken through, showing her it's cruel tendencies.
That demon enjoyed when the humans suffered, all while she watched through eyes that were no longer her own. For a while, she enjoyed it too.
It was rare souls escaped her... yet those two somehow broke through. Gene Davis and Mai Taniyama - those were their names.
"I can help you," Mai had told them.
No one had ever said that before. No one had actually begged on behalf of someone else like Mai did for Gene. And now she was with Oliver, and that same determination did not fade. How was Mai willing to give up everything for someone else?
"Please don't hurt him. He was only trying to help me."
The memory washed through her and, when it had happened, something snapped the demons leash, as if a door were open just wide enough for her to sneak in and take control for a moment. It had been so long since she looked through her own eyes. Blinded by the light of freedom, she blinked through the fog and looked at the girl named Mai Taniyama - truly looked at her.
She could hear the girls' name echoing in her head.
Mai.
Mai.
Do not say that name, do not think about that one. The demon hated that name, hated her spirit.
Mai.
There was a feeling that swelled up within her at the sound of Mai's name - something that she did not understand.
Hope.
Mai gave her hope that there was, indeed, a light beyond this darkness.
Enough, do not think of her, The demon hissed. She is hurt. Soon, we will kill her and feed on her flesh and soul.
Perhaps the part of her that had been, thoroughly, devoured by that thing agreed. The hope Mai offered was useless, and it was a traitorous thought to believe in such a false and cowardly thing.
So, she was forced to remain in that darkness - in her own personal hell - as she shared her eyes with something from another realm.
^.^