I was in a daze as I left Gateau in my wake. He had confirmed that which I had already known. Carrot died of a heart failure, indeed, only a stupid moron would believe such a story. Especially since, Carrot was never sick a day in his life. Now if it had been Marron that would have been another story, but not Carrot. I knew better, but I just didn't want to believe it. I just couldn't believe it, until I heard that sad sob story from one that I knew must have heard it straight from the horse's mouth. My right hand curl into a fist as my legs grew weaker with every step as a sob threaten to escape my throat. So powerful did grief wreck my body that my entire frame shook, but I refuse to cry, to let the sob escape my lips. I didn't deserve it. I had failing again, Apricot and my son, it was my fault that they were dead, and once more I could do no more about it than a fly could stop a spider from eating it once caught in its web. No, this horror would hunt me just like the horror of what happen to my wife would haunt me. The truth of this matter will once more be mine alone to have to suffer with.
God, I could remember so clearly the day that I return home to find my world in disarray. My wife forever lost to me, and my sons confused and afraid about everything. They knew that something bad had happen, and Carrot immediately figure that it was his fault. Yet, my heart was so in pain that I couldn't tell him otherwise, as I just hug them both to me. Carrot was as stiff as a piece of wood as I held him, and I figured it was from shock as I release them both. Then Marron ask a question that would forever haunt me in my dreams," where is mommy?" I almost broke into tears as I answer his question as best I could," In heaven, Marron." "Your mommy is in heaven waiting for us." Even as young as he was, Marron understood the significant of what was said and started to cry, but Carrot just look at me coldly. As if he was trying to show me the depths of the hell in his soul. Yet still I made no effort to confront it and comfort the pain that rest in plain view. No, instead, I slip into a deep depression as I blame myself, and completely neglected my children.
Yet, as a testament of Carrot's strength, he quickly moved on and got over it. Though, he really had no choice in the matter, because with me always away on hunter business, he had to grow up quickly in order to take care of his younger brother. After that, years later, I too recovered, but it wasn't because of some epitome. No, it took a deep betrayer that nearly claims the lives of my children to wake me up from my depression, and finally we became a family again. Carrot, I guess once relieve of his duties as head of the household slip back into childhood, and for the next nine years live was good, but now….
…Now it was happening again! My life was being torn apart by a terrible tragedy, and as I drop down to my knees beside Carrot's coffin a tear fell from my eye. Yet, this time it would be different, I would make this time different.
"This time the murderer will not get away," I sneer underneath my breath as the music started, and Big Mama slowly appeared from the underground stairway.
Open wounds inside my heart
Never shall they part
Inside my soul
Open wounds control
Never again open up my heartCoughing, sputtering, Carrot watches as Big Mama leaves. His heart wrench in pain as his body cries out in relief as he felt a stream of blood flow from his nose. If she had continued just a few minutes more, he would have died, and Carrot knew this. Yet, he wasn't sure whether or not to be relieved by the fact that she didn't finish the job or terrified. It was obvious by the spell that she had used that it was meant to kill him, and since he was still chain up he doubt that she wasn't going to try again. This thought made him cringe as his soul remember the pain of being dismantle only to at the last second be allowed to put itself back together again. He couldn't, wouldn't be able to stand that type of pain again. His head drops as a small voice hiss in his ear.
"Ssssee what I meant." "Help me end thisssss, and all that thissss represssssentssss." The snake's voice resonates in his head and seeps down into his heart. "Help ussssss sssssstop thisssss and end the pain thisssssss world bringsssss." The words seem to wrap themselves around his soul, and slowly seem to squeeze the point home causing him pain as dark memories of his past flutter in front of his eyes.
"Jusssssst closssssse your eyesssss, and call usssss forth." It smile seemingly with fangs uncurl.
Even through the pain and the sparks of painful memories Carrot resist the snake's plead. There was still so much good in the world, and what about his friends. Even if they had abandoned him, he would never turn against them. Death was better than that… anything was better than that.
"Releasssssse yoursssssself to ussss," the snake hisses even louder. "We will make all your pain go away, along with thissss world" "You will only sssssee their deathssss if you wisssssh."
"No," Carrot replies voiceless and the snake disappears in the wind.
"Then we leave you here a little longer, ssssso you can ssssee the true ssssside of thosssse you hold dear."
With these words, Carrot felt the mask on his face loosen and then drop to the ground. The chains that held him crumble, and Carrot found himself able to move again. Slowly he wipes the blood from underneath his nose in disbelief as he looks at his own red blood smeared on his own hand. Now was the time to leave, and Carrot didn't waste anytime getting to his feet.
…To Be Continued!!!!
