Dio carried me in his arms, carefully walking as not to disturb father. This felt so strange. I don't know what it was but this adventure felt almost...magical.

He stopped as we reached a long corridor. I knew this place. We were close to where I'd died.

'Left,' I directed him, so he began turning left, but soon stopped and set me down.

'Is something wrong?' I asked, feeling a bit more worried than I should.

Dio just chuckled. "No offense, but you're pretty heavy.

If I could, I'd blush. 'I'm dead! I'm bound to be decently heavy! My body is just dead weight.'

He laughed even more. "I said not to take offense."

How I wished I could cross my arms. Instead I could only use words.

'You're so mean.'

"I'm saving you aren't I? Be more grateful."

That hurt me a little. I WAS grateful. He might be reviving me. He might save me. If I could walk just once more, I'd be the happiest girl alive. Of course I was grateful!

I blushed on the inside. 'I am...I'm grateful for everything Dio...'

He turned away, his cheeks ablaze and red. Did he have a fever? Or maybe he was...blushing? At me?

"You're pretty troublesome for someone who's dead."

That set me off. 'Excuse me?!'

Dio just started laughing and picked me up again. I smiled on the inside. Whenever he picked me up, I felt like a child again. He just gives me a warm feeling inside. It reminded me of the way a felt after mother made me soup. So warm...

I hadn't realized that I'd spaced out and soon we were at another split. Right or left?

"Aya? Hello? Which way?"

I came crashing back down to Earth. I looked around a bit and determined or position.

'Right. We should almost be there.'

Dio's eye lit up. He was obviously happy to help, but he seemed almost TOO happy. Did he have some other motive for reviving me?

I shrugged it off (figuratively) and continued directing him down the hall until finally, we reached our destination.

All the memories came back to me at once. I screamed bloody murder. A scream that only Dio could hear. And he set me down immediately as I panicked.

"Aya?! What's wrong?!" He shook my shoulders vigorously.

I stared out at the room as the memories flooded in. This accursed room! It was filled with benches, chandeliers, and a table up front. It hadn't changed at all from the last time I'd seen it. It was still stained with my blood...

I screamed out again, even loud and more blood curdling than before. Dio winced as I shrieked. If I could move I'd be shaking, trying to clear my head. I'd also be crying.

Dio didn't know what was wrong, but he found a way to help me. He took me in his arms and embraced me. He held me tightly until I clamed down again. I sniffled in my mind.

"The memories are haunting aren't they?"

I nodded, then, realizing it was impossible for me to nod, I answered. "It's awful. I can't get these thoughts out of my head. Why do they hurt so much? I was never bothered by things like death when I was alive.'

Dio nodded. "I think you change a lot when you die. I mean, if the dead could be revived as we have, I'm sure their personalities would be different. You realize a lot of important things you overlooked when you were alive."

What he said made perfect sense and somehow, his words were soothing. I calmed down, staring out at the room unafraid. But things were still on my mind.

'I was so close to freedom," I thought to myself. But I hadn't thought to myself. Dio heard everything I said.

"I had been close to escaping too."

I looked up at him. What was he talking about?

'Dio? Is something wrong? What do you mean you were close to escaping?"

He stared out in to space, reminiscing. I waited patiently (since I couldn't do much else) until he finally answered.

"You know that your father experiments on people right?"

'Of course. That's obvious. Look what he did to me!'

"He experimented on me to. When he found me...I had two working eyes..."

Dio paused for a short while, then asked me something. "Do you want to hear my story? Before I do, I'd like to warn you that I've had a rough life..."

'I can handle it,' I said. 'I'm strong. I haven't died yet, right?'

Dio smiled a bit. He was about to tell a long story.