As we left the mansion, I thought I heard a faint cry.

But that was surely my own hallucination, for everyone there should be dead.


Mother, Father, Oliver, Lenka.

They are all dead.

Everyone who caused me pain, I killed. The source of my anguish and suffering is now gone from this world. All that's left is myself, my haunting memories, and my lingering emotions. Truly, it is all buried deep in the past.

Yet now that there is no longer an outlet to my rage, what do I have left? All of my life has been consumed by catharsis and vengeance. When they are taken away, there is nothing much left of me. I suppose it's because I lack any emotion other than pain and anger, or maybe it's because I have simply lost everything that once motivated me to live and fight. The storm of my life has finally cleared, but there is no blue sky, only a blank space where the storm once resided. My mind is clear and I feel empty, void.

What do I do now?

Once the battle is over, there is nothing to do but wallow in the outcome and accept the cruel realities. The brief moment of hope upon reuniting with my sister is long gone, and I can only realize that I've lost more than I had to begin with.

I actually want the madness and pain to return. I'll endure it all once again, if only to fill the hollow emptiness of my soul. Even agony is better than nothing. Just something to fight and struggle for, something to give my life meaning. I don't feel anything anymore. The burning fires that once erupted in me are mere ashes of what used to be. Ire, grief, obsession, they have all dissipated.

It's eerie and unsettling. I want it to stop. I need something to warm me, fill me, distract me.

There's a soft knock on my door. A petite girl with a childish bow and shimmering hair enters the room, carrying a tray of assorted foods.

"You should eat something, Len." Rin gently chides.

How many days has it been since we've returned? It shouldn't be more than a few, since I haven't died of thirst yet. Eating is probably a good idea.

She sets the tray down on the nightstand and sighs. The dress she has on is short and reveals her bare legs and arms. They remain smooth and snowy white, just like how they looked on the day we met. The throbbing, pulsating desire I felt for her is strangely absent. In its place, there is a sense of serenity and fondness. I don't understand it. What is this? Is this love? I need to find out.

I slowly rise from the bed and encircle her, cornering her against the wall. I shift closer, closer, until our bodies threaten to touch. In the small space of tension between us, we can feel each other's heat but not flesh. On the dangerously thin boundary of anticipation and satisfaction, it's only natural for excitement to surge. My feelings for her must be reaffirmed; I'll make the passion return.

"L-Len?" She gasps.

With each increasingly frequent exhale, her hot breath tickles my neck. Her large and watery eyes plead innocence, while the blossoming blush underneath her cheeks says otherwise. With a hard yank, the flimsy fabric of her dress tears and reveals her lacy undergarments. The soft, trembling curves of her teenage body practically beg to be defiled and sullied with my essence. I feel my mouth begin to water with craving. Say, why don't I take a bite of your enticing flavor?

I snatch the bowl of pudding off the tray and tip the creamy contents on to her. The luscious, moisture-rich tendrils spill all over her chest and stomach.

"Kyaa! What are you doing?!" She cries out, but I easily pin her down and shove her on the floor.

I smirk. "In that case, I'll eat YOU up."

I catch the dripping drops of sweet custard with my tongue, taking my time to carefully savor every intoxicating mouthful. The taste of vanilla blooms as I lick and bite the gooey goodness off her body. I'll devour this sugary treat to erase the bitterness.

"S-Stop...!" The salty tears spill out of her wincing eyes, but it only makes the pudding taste even sweeter in comparison.

"What's with that face? You can't trick me, I know you want it." I tease.

I scoop up a bit with my finger and offer it to her.

"Here, try some. Open your mouth." I command.

Rosier than ever, she squeezes her eyes shut in embarrassment and complies, sucking the milky droplets off my index finger. Her cherry red lips and tongue pucker and salivate with every slurp. I'll save the cherry on top for last, after I finish the buttery aphrodisiac.

"Good girl." I praise.

Will drinking this warm milk help me sleep tonight? I want the acrimony to end. If I'm empty inside, then I'll fill myself up with her sweet, stimulating desserts. If you're the only I truly love, then please help me. I'm starving, there's a hollowness in me. Satisfy me.

My tongue laps up every inch of the treat, exploring all her different parts. Through her stifled moans and quivering, I easily detect her most sensitive places and take extra time to nibble and suck at the flesh. I inhale the tantalizing aromas wafting from a blend of the pudding, the soaps and shampoo she uses, and her natural scent.

I frown a little as I come across a faint mark of her bullet wound from the fight at Oliver's mansion. Although it has healed, the memory still lingers and the scar becomes visible at the slightest touch.

Reacting to my pause, Rin feebly murmurs "Len?"

"Nothing." I reply.

I gently kiss and lick the scarred area with just enough force to make her loudly gasp with exhilaration. I'll replace whatever memory that mark holds into one of me, until she flushes with embarrassment and excitement whenever she sees it. It will serve as a constant reminder of my presence, my love for her.

I attack her relentlessly, with immediate consequences.

As I work my way through the layers of cream, I come upon an area with melting syrup. The silky cloth separating me from the peak of indulgence is soaked with her fragrant honey. Suddenly eating is not enough. I'm still hungry. I need more.

Piece by piece, the scraps of fabric fall from my body. Shedding the outer layers, I allow the beast inside me to take over. I'll take her everything, and make her mine with more than a mere mark.

For a brief second, our eyes meet. Fear, shyness, lust; her irises spell out what her lips fail to say. There's an understanding that doesn't need words, a spark of shared affection and heat. This time, she obeys me without resistance. She nimbly unhooks her bra, allowing it to fall to the floor. I spend seconds, merely taking in the sight. She shivers without the protection of her clothing, and I quickly pull her against me for warmth.

No more waiting. I stand up, holding her close to my chest, and walk back to the bed. Once there, I immediately toss her onto her back and jump on top of her.

In the orange glow of the late afternoon light, we dance and intertwine under the concealment of the sheets. She shudders and whimpers in pain as we become one, but even the sound of her bright and sharp voice only entices me further. I caress her several other pleasure spots with my fingers, and encourage her to continue accepting me. We meld together and match our paces, carefully working towards complete harmony. Sweat, saliva, and other fluids are exchanged as we open all our boundaries and allow the connection to flow freely.

The mounting heat swells; I can't restrain it any longer. In a burst of ecstasy, it explodes and blocks out all other emotion with an overpowering high. The screams and shrieks follow involuntarily, but fall upon deaf ears. Together, in a shared trance of bliss, we can only rely on instinct to keep our bodies moving.

"Len...I...I love...you.." She chokes out in between pants.

The simple phrase strikes a chord in me and my throat tightens. To finally hear her say it is far more impactful than I had ever expected. My spirits rise astronomically and pure joy expands in my chest. She loves me. I am the one she loves. I grin like a fool. I can't help it.

"I mean this from the depths of my heart when I say that I love you back, more than you could ever imagine." I state.

She somehow manages to blush even deeper, and lets out a relieved smile. With the sorrows of the past behind us, the two of us embrace in our own world of pleasure.

The exhaustion that follows is numbing, but relished in contentedness and satisfaction. As we return to our senses, the only sound to be heard is our ragged breathing. Muscles relaxing, she nestles snugly into my arms. I feel her sink into sleep, completely worn out.

Even if it's temporary, even if the emptiness comes back to haunt me tomorrow, this moment is enough to warm me for a lifetime. Maybe I don't need the anger and insanity anymore. Maybe I can find other emotions to fill the void. I close my eyes and wait for a different tomorrow.