Chapter four: The Color of Meetings

My heels snap against the cold gray tiled floors. Irritation prickles under my skin, burning my movements into sharper, jagged ones. Damn Pretty Cure. They're the reason my mood is so foul. Not only once, but twice I've lost to them. And they've multiplied. I slam my foot down relishing in the empty echo in the empty hallway. The blue one, Aero, was easy to beat, but the partner not so. She was a rookie, it was painfully clear, however when Pretty Cure multiplied so did their power. I feel a feral growl rip out my throat. It wasn't fair. I was nearing the end of the hallway now. The large door to the middle room coming closer and closer.

"Damn Pretty Cure!" I burst into the room with a flourish. The only one in the large spacious room is Tessur. He jumps in his seat and looks my way. I march further inside feeling my rage boil. I circle the white couch and table set and near the other emissary of monochrome. He shrinks back into his seat eyeing me warily over his phone. Before he can speak, I slam my hands on the back of the chair. "Why aren't you angry that we're losing?"

"I am boiling with rage, can't you tell Anneis?" He sounds sarcastic.

"Not like I am!" I slam my hands down again. "We just took down the Land of Canvases themselves. How is it we're losing against two Pretty Cure!?" I hiss the words through clenched teeth.

"We had inside people. Now we don't." Tessur snaps his phone close and turns to me. He looks uncomfortable in the chair. "We'll have them soon enough." He doesn't sound confident. I can feel my anger receding like waves in the sea. Sometime later it'll come back full force.

"Well, what's your plan," I circle on my heel and head towards the couch. Tessur came up with good plans. He was smart like that. I wasn't so smart, even I knew that. I land on the stiff couch with a sigh. Throwing my feet on the glass table, I try to calm down more. I always felt the rage of loss burn heavy in my stomach. Tessur shifts in his seat again and flips open his phone.

"I don't have one, not yet."

"You're absolutely useless, thanks."

Brown eyes glare at me. I glower right back. For the second time in our conversation, he slams his phone shut. He drops it in his pocket and fishes for something else. He pulls out his Pigment. A dull orange light shines from it. It barely illuminates the shiny, white room. I feel a wave of repulsion wash over me. How he could stand to have the thing in his pocket is beyond me. Seeing the Pigment makes my skin crawl and the bile in the back of my throat rise.

"What we know. Pretty Cure use Pigments to transform." He gives the thing a shake. The light bounces over his patchy gray and white skin with the movement. "We take the Pigments. Problem solved." He speaks in clipped sentences. A tell sign that I had pissed him off. But-

"-that's it?" I sink into the uncomfortable couch. Usually his plans had more flourish to them. Something that made the rest of our little unit grin and clap our hands. Tessur grits his teeth and shoves the Pigment back in his pocket; oh thinking about how near it is makes my skin crawl. He grips the wooden chair with so much force that the arm begins to splinter. A shame, that's his favorite chair.

"What do you want to do?" He speaks through gritted teeth. Why was he so angry! The waves of anger are back lapping at my heart. I leap off the couch and coil my hands into fists.

"You're the one who comes up with plans!" My voice rises an octave. "Don't be so pissy!"

"I am not!" The wood gives one final low groan before it shatters completely. Tessur jumps out of the seat with a string of curses. Serves him right. I turn on my heel and start for the door. My nails are digging holes into my palms. Steal the Pigments from Pretty Cure. Easy.


I stretch my limbs overhead. Ever since this Pretty Cure business my body has been feeling more and more worn out. Obscured by my bangs was a large bruise from yesterday. It ran down from my hairline to the edge of my eye. Who knew what other fights would bring.

Lowering my arms I return to the work at hand. Our psychology class was going to have a group project soon. That meant having to work with others. I was trying to see the good points of this, but couldn't come up with a single one. Someone, me, was going to get stuck doing the crappy job and someone else was going to not do anything at all. Group projects just spelt disaster. As if reading my thoughts the teacher claps his hands. The sound effectively catches the attention of everyone in the room.

"Last week we talked about the upcoming project." This elicits collective groans from the class. He grins, "and with my amazing grouping powers, have grouped you already." Oh thank you. Mr. Staley, save me trouble. He begins to go through the class naming the other students. I tune him out, sketching a tiny robot in the corner of my notebook. If you flipped through it you would find many tiny robots scattered throughout.

"Merle, Kai, Jayme, Meena, you're together." Mr. Staley looks up from the paper. He pauses a moment, then continues on, calling more students. Did I know who those people were? I look around the small bare walled classroom for them. I hadn't really talked to anyone in this class; or really any class.

Mr. Staley is done calling names. I flip my notebook close. The class erupts into movement. Desks scrape against the tiled floor, chatter explodes, and someone is yelling for me. A girl with dark tousled hair and darker skin is waving her arms in the air. She yells my name another time, head swiveling like a security camera. I stand from my desk and scoop up my stuff. Who was she? Jayme? Meena? Kai?

Her head snaps and locks onto me. I walk closer. Her arms lower, then like trying to stab me, she throws a hand forward. On instinct I move back, raising an arm to block anything. In the midst of the noise we still. Her eyes blink in surprise and she gives an awkward smile. My arms drop.

"Are you into martial arts or something?" Her voice is laced with amusement. I don't reply, instead I fix my grip on my stuff. How embarrassing. I can feel my cheeks burn. The girl shuffles her stuff on a desk, then points to one next to her. "You gonna sit?"

I take the seat, watching as two more people approach our little area. One of them is a short pale girl with dark blue hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her eyes scan over me as she sits down. The next is a boy. He's medium height with an oversized jacket over his uniform. His messy hair is curling every direction as if it can't pick which way to actually grow. He basically collapses into an empty seat, head lolling onto the wooden desk. He was going to be the one that didn't do their work. I was calling it. The original girl, the one who wanted to shake hands, sits in her seat. She drags her desk forward till it's touching mine. The other two follow her example.

"I'm Meena, just in case you're wondering." Meena smiles cheekily, brushing her dark hair off her cheeks. It's worn in a similar way to mine.

"Jayme," The pale girl introduces herself. She points to the boy next to her, "and that's Kai." The only response is a long, low groan. He doesn't even bother to lift his head. I can relate. Continuing, Jayme pulls out the guide for the project. She flips through the packet, her eyes scanning over everything quickly. "Let's start dividing up the work."

Jayme was efficient. She split the work between us then went straight to work. Jayme was also a little controlling. What she said was law, thus leaving me the job of research. As long as I didn't have to talk to the others, I would be fine. Meena was the opposite. She bounced in her seat and tapped her feet along the tiles. Her mouth would open, then flap close. She was itching to talk. The three of us paid her no mind.

Leaning back in her seat, she shot a look at the other two. Good, talk to them. Leave me alone. "Hey, did you hear about what happened yesterday?" She directed the question to Kai. The boy shrugged and continued to scroll through his phone. Meena continues on, even though no one was really listening, "they say that mysterious things are happening again." Her voice lowers and creeps along my skin. I swallow thickly. Mysterious things? She couldn't be talking about-

"The soccer field incidents, am I correct?" Jayme puts down her pencil.

Meena nods animatedly. "Yeah! Lots of people passed out." She turns to me and waggles her eyebrows. "Isn't that straaange." She drags out the word. She was talking about the Dead-Color incidents. I shrug and return to research. None of my business. No. Correction. None of their business. I would feign ignorance and hope that this conversation blows over.

"Do you think," Kai is talking now. He glances away from his phone, lips pressed into a thin line. "People are gonna start losing it again?" The group falls quiet at his comment. My heart rams in my chest. I don't want to listen anymore. Twirling my pencil, I get back to work.

"Enough talk. Get to work." Jayme finally finds her voice. She shoves Kai lightly in the shoulder. The boy gives a wry smile and goes back to his phone. Jayme hits him again, this time harder. "Real work." I smile at their antics, but can't let go of the feeling of dread gripping my heart.

Those incidents, the school practically outlawed talking about them. For good reason too, students started spreading rumors that destroyed the school's reputation. Teachers, students, the principle, they all left when the rumors got out of hand. Yet, it kept its sublime illusion alive with well-tended fields, lush trees, and neat insides. There was still students, too many for my taste, but there was no doubt the school wasn't what it used to be. It was no problem to me however, the school was getting back on its feet. There was nothing to worry about.

Except alien people coming to turn this world gray.

"Hey, stone wall? You in there?"

I look up. Meena waves a hand then points to my work. "You almost done there?" Stone wall? She couldn't be referring to me, could she? I force a smile and give her the papers. She eagerly grabs them and begins to spout more nonsense to the other two workers.


"Tessur is an idiot." I growl under my breath. Kicking at the stones littering the streets, I march on. I had left in a flurry, blistering with rage, and announced I would steal a Pigment. But, now that it came down to it I had no idea how. "Tessur how could you let me leave!" I shout to the blue skies above. Ugh, it was a disgusting hue. Gray skies filled with clouds, like the ones back home, were beautiful.

I was beginning to draw attention now from this planet's inhabitants. Some were whispering behind their hands, others leading their children away. Why? I changed my appearance to look the part this time. I was wearing colors this time, the most subdued colors, but still.

Moving along the street, I give a sigh. All this bravado and nothing to channel it to. I pass stores presenting their latest fashions, grocers, restaurants, but nothing catches my eye. Billboards fill the skies along with telephone wires. They loop high above the street looking more like cage wire than anything else. There was so many differences compared to The Land of Shade. I shake my head. My hair, the part not tied up in pigtails, slap against my cheeks. There was no point in homesickness now. I had to defeat the Pretty Cure and help Lord Monochrome in his quest.

I continue on again. My eyes dart for anything that can be of use. Posters about concerts? Maybe if we dealt with sound. Posters about upcoming roads and buildings? No use. A poster about a photography installment in some museum? Perfect. I can't help but laugh. It's a harsh sound lost in the bustling of people around.

My shoes squeak as I run down the pavement. I would definitely get those two this time.


It's after school now. The sun beats down heavily on my dark skin. I feel like I'm baking in this heat. My hair is plastered against my sweaty skin. Clancy is beside me, but isn't even complaining. She looks perfectly content in this weather. Because she's from a desert planet? Possibly. "It's hot."

Clancy nods and stretches her arms overhead. "It's nice." She gives a hum. Nice isn't the word I would use, but ok. She drops her arms and pulls out a folded up paper. Unfolding it, turning it right side up, and finally she holds it up like a banner. "Merle, I found a photography exhibit going on, would you perhaps… like to go with me?" She chooses her words carefully. Photography exhibit?

I reach for the poster. My eyes scan over it. Each line I read makes my head pound. I turn the paper, examining it at each angle. It can't be right. It just wasn't possible. Clancy is beginning to eye me strangely. Her mouth is fixed in a small smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Merle, are you okay?"

"Where did you get this?" My voice sounds squeaky. Clancy drops the fixed smile and frowns.

"It was on the ground." She picks at her shirt. "I thought someone was littering and picked it up." Her face brightens again. "But it looked interesting, so I thought we could go!" Her fingers tangle in her shirt. "You know, together?"

"Of course!" The words rush out. How could I forget! I smack the paper against my face. "Actually, the featured photographer is my mom." The paper muffles my confession. It doesn't muffle the gasp that comes from Clancy. I feel her side bump into mine as she rips the paper out of my hands.

Her mouth is a line as she concentrates on the paper. Finally she looks up. Her eyes shine with new found energy. "Let's go!"

"I already said yes." I sigh. One hand rubs at my temple. I feel a headache coming on. What were the odds that she would find a flyer for my mom's photography? My luck is diving towards 'bad'. We continue walking down the school path.

The large golden gates are coming into view now. The trees that line the edge of the school fence sway in an unfelt breeze. The cobblestone path beneath our feet changes to pavement. I can feel the heat bounce from below and seep into my shoes. It's not a far walk to the gallery, really just a few streets down, but it feels like hell walking in this heat. Not many people were outside. The usually busy streets were quiet; sounds stifled with the heat. Clancy and I continue on.

We pass short square buildings, tall buildings, and other varying styles of rectangular buildings. We pass the building where we defeated that one octopus Dead-Color. It's sporting a new mural of surfing people where the Dead-Color had crashed into. It's not like were anywhere close to the sea. Or a river. Our city was pretty much landlocked. Clancy picks up trash while we walk. She goes out of her way to pick up a stray bottle or a paper that clings to a gutter. Pursing her lips she drops another bottle into a trash can. "Littering is terrible. Merle you should help me."

I don't bother with a worded reply. Just a grunt. Litter was just a part of the world. Clancy looks like she's about to run off again when I grab her sleeve. She jerks to a stop; one leg still in the air. "We're here."

"Oh!" She lowers her leg. We enter the gallery. Immediately, ac hits my blistering skin. I let out a sigh of relief and relax. The trip is over. Like outside, not many people are here. A few older looking people scattered throughout and a young couple that look confused. They probably jumped in here to avoid the heat.

"Merle!" A high pitched voice whistles through the air. I can barely look to my right before someone is barreling into me. Taking a few steps back, but still losing my footing, I am enveloped in a warm hug. Long rich black arms are squeezing me close to a thin tall body. "I'm so glad you came! I was worried you would forget." Her comment melts into warm laughter. I can feel some air escape my lungs, the sound could resemble laughter

"Mother." I wheeze the word out. With that she lets go and stands to full height. I was tall, nearly half a head taller than most, but my mother was a giant. She was half a head taller than I, but with the heels she had on made her even taller. Her smile stretches across her face.

"I know, I know." She gives a pat on my shoulder. Her gaze lands on Clancy. Her mouth forms an 'o' briefly, then she gives another smile. "Who might you be?" My mother's eyes flicker between the two of us.

"Clancy, I'm Merle's friend." The warrior looks tiny, only coming up to my mother's shoulders. My mother's eyes widen and she looks my way. 'Friend,' she mouths the word at me. Gritting my teeth, I look away. There's no reason to be so surprised. Well, there is, but she's my mother and shouldn't be.

"It's nice to meet you Clancy, I'm Merle's mother, Grace."

"A pleasure to meet you." Clancy shakes my mother's outstretched hand.

"Merle can be a pain, but I hope you get along." She gives a wry smile and side eyes me. I snort and look away. Clancy gives a laugh.

"We get along just fine."

"Are we going to block the door all day?" I grab Clancy's wrist and pull her towards the room. I continue to march onwards, ignoring my mother's comment of 'talk to me later', dragging a willing Clancy. We head straight for the gallery ahead. Passing a directory and a shelf full of pamphlets, Clancy's arm shoots out and grabs one. The whole shelf shakes and almost lurches forward, but doesn't tip fully over.

"What kind of photographs does your mother take?" I let go of her wrist. She matches my pace and flips through the pamphlet.

"You'll see." I let out a sigh. She gives a chuckle.

We stroll down the bare white hallway. Turning at the corner the hallway feeds into a large room. Pillars are strewn throughout the room, their usual bare surfaces filled with pictures. The walls are the same. Large posters are lined up, each one showing a new scene. Some pictures are of random scenery. One an alleyway, the next of a canyon. Others are of people. One shows a small girl standing in the alley between two buildings, the one next to it shows a woman with a sullen face. The woman looks like she's been caught unguarded, as if she's changing between two set personalities.

Clancy leaves my side heading towards the other side of the room. More scenery pictures are lined up there. I drift around my side. I linger near the pictures of people. My mother had a way of capturing people when their guard was down. Capturing them when they were truly them. Somehow, I found them a little haunting. The atmosphere of the area amplified these feelings. There was no noise. Clancy's footsteps do not reach my ears.

I stop in front of the picture of the little girl again. The rich colors of the bricks accent well with the shadows that drip through the background. "Boo." A breath wisps against my ear.

I bite back a yell, and spin on my heel. "Mother!" My voice is mix between displeased and angry.

She gives a titter of laughter and holds her hands up. "I just wanted to see if you're enjoying the gallery." I cross my arms and shrug. She gives a good-natured sigh and reaches a hand forward. Her fingers play at the tendrils of hair near my shoulder. "Merle, I'm glad you're reaching out more."

Her voice is soft. Her fingers continue to play with my hair, twisting it over and over till it slightly resembles a braid. I feel like a child again. I feel like I'm sitting in her lap letting her do my hair before school. "Remember to put effort into this Merle." She gives my cheek a pap and then crosses the room. I'm left standing there, people stuck in photographs staring at me.

My mother is talking to Clancy now. She points to the hallway and leads her out. I can only hope she doesn't do anything weird. The room is only silent for a second. A ripple courses through the air ripping into my body. I let out a gasp and stumble backwards.

Between two pillars, Anneis has appeared. She crosses her arms and gives a howl of laughter. "It worked! I knew it!" Sharp brown eyes bore into mine. They're lit with animosity. Unlike before she's draped in colors. Her gray hair is now black. Her gray skin is now a pale white. Her clothes are in the dullest blues and reds I've ever seen. "Now!" She points a finger towards me. "Hand over your Pigment."

I clutch a hand at the smooth blue stone. "No."

Anneis snorts as if she knew the answer already. "Fine! I'll!" She rushes forward. In a blink I can feel fingers digging into my shoulder. "Just take it!" My back cracks against the wall. Pain blossoms between my shoulder blades.

Anneis is too close for comfort. The color seeps away from her body leaving her gray. Her head dips to where we're eye to eye. Her free hand roams towards the Pigment. My hand grabs at her large wrist. With all my strength, which isn't much, I try to hold her back. Her other hand digs painfully into my shoulder.

"Precure Prim-"

I can't finish the incantation. The hand I'm holding back snaps against my mouth. Rough callous fingers brush against my cheeks. Anneis' mouth pulls into a frown. "There will be none of that. I am, as Tessur would say, nipping this in the bud." I struggle more. My nails dig into skin, and I rake them down. She doesn't even flinch.

She lets go of my mouth. I suck in a deep breath feeling my lungs ache for air. I feel a tug at the necklace, and with a snap it's gone. I sputter and reach for the stone. She moves it barely out of reach. The Pigment swings towards me, then like a pendulum swings back. My fingers barely brush against its smooth surface.

"This is mine now." Her usually boisterous voice is quiet. She leaps backwards, releasing me, and lands between the two pillars. The jingle of her bracelets mix with my ragged breaths. No. No this can't be happening. I've only had it for a week. The Pigment begins to flicker like a dying flame. On shaking legs I start forward. My heart is ramming. I can hear blood pulse through my ears. I can't let this happen.

My feet fly beneath me. Anneis' face is lit up in delight. Her eyes look hungry. "Come at me you little bug!" Her feet slid beneath her and she takes a fighting stance. I bend my knees lower and launch forward. I'm not fast, or strong, like when I'm Aero, but I had to do something.

She creates a fist and throws it.

I bend lower. Shooting to the side.

I can feel it clip my ear.

My hand shoots on its own. I grasp the dulling Pigment. I can feel the coarse thread between my fingers.

"Precureprimerandgloss." I speak in a flurry. Who knew if this would even work! I can feel the energy flow from my fingertips. In a burst my uniform appears. Anneis gives a shriek and throws herself backwards. One arm is furiously rubbing at her eyes while the other has let go of the Pigment. It soars through the air then lands in my outstretched hands. It's still dull in color.

"The Color of the Unforgiving Earth! Cure Aero!" My hair falls into my eyes as I deliver my tagline. Wait. My gloved hand pulls at my hair. Dark brown, almost black, strands meet my eyes. "Ahh!" I drop the hair. My other hand pulls at my crop top. It's ungloved. I clench my hand and hold back a scream. No, no, no, no. This couldn't be happening. I look down to my toes. The ankle boots are there, but so is my school skirt.

"Wha- What?" I sound breathless.

"Your transformation?" Anneis sounds as confused as I do. I lock gazes with her. Her mouth is agape. But, a razor sharp smile flits onto her face. "Ha! You look terrible!" Thanks captain obvious. Anneis shoots an arm to the side. Her bracelets bang against each other. "Strip away your soul!" She twirls her arm to point at many of the paintings. "Rise and be reborn! Dead-Color!"

Waves of gray crash over me. Static fills my ears, but I don't feel unstable. My feet dig into the carpet. Letting out a breath I move forward. The air whistles around me. Vermillion wasn't with me. I would have to deal with this alone. My gloved fist arcs through the air. Anneis shoots to the side. I land and pivot towards her. Feet crunching the carpet beneath, I attack again. My punches connect with nothing. Over and over again. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Anneis weaves through the room always an inch away.

She ducks beneath my latest punch. Her arm slings forward. I bend backwards. I can feel her knuckles brush against my chin. I stumble back. My bangs fall in my sights again. With one hand I push them up, the other redirects one of Anneis' kicks. Her leg smashes against the white pillar to the right of us. The wall shatters, plaster dust and wood splinters soar through the air. Now. I don't do a fancy spin like Vermillion does, but do a front kick. The heel of my boot connects with Anneis' abdomen. Her leg jerks in its prison and she slips downward.

She releases a curse. She's now awkwardly laying on the floor. Her right leg is lifted up and stuck in the pillar. Her hair is a gray fan behind her face. Her teeth are grit, eyes wild. "Dead-Color now!" I spin on my heel, but I'm not fast enough. A gray toned punch hits my face. I fly backwards, back snapping against the now broken pillar. Anneis' laughter rings out. One of my arms is on fire. Cuts litter the skin, some dripping blood, the others not so much blood.

"Aero!" I turn my head to see another gray scaled person launching forward. Vermillion connects with her midair. Her knee high boots are dug into the person's side. With a spin, her overly large braid wrapping around her body, she kicks them away. She lands with a muffled crack. Her braid shifts over her arm and returns to its rightful place. "What happened to your transformation?" A gloved hand wraps around my bleeding wrist.

"Anneis." I wheeze out the name. "Took my Pigment." Vermillion frowns, her hand clenching tighter.

"Try to defeat the Dead-Color." Her voice is low. Deadly. She lets go of my arm. In a blink she's gone. A second later and I can hear the sound of a wall being torn apart. I turn, watching as Vermillion's punch sinks into the area where Anneis once stood. She dances to the side, her own fist ready.

Vermillion could handle this. I turn to see the Dead-Color. No, Dead-Colors. The people in the portraits are standing before me. The woman; with her guard down, a man; a sullen look on his face, and the kid; a bright smile on her face. They aren't human, they aren- The man lobs a fist forward. I block it with my gloved arm. Despite the block, my body moves back. His legs pulls back, as if readying to kick a soccer ball, and kicks forward. I dodge to the side.

Sweat dots against my skin and my breaths are getting heavier. My arm shakes as I try to punch the man. It would be all right to hit him. He wasn't real. Despite these thoughts, my hand betrays me. There's no force behind the punch. I give the Dead-Color a light tap. He returns the tap with an uppercut. Luckily, I don't bite my tongue. My head snaps up, stars dance in my vision. I stumble backwards.

I can hear the punch coming. I cross my arms and block it. One arm stings. The other doesn't. Pushing the Dead-Color off, I deliver a side kick. It connects with the man's side. His face contorts, displaying agony. His body slams against the ground. My heart shudders.

Before I can cleanse him, the woman is launching forward. Her usual down face is angry. She snaps a knee forward, but I dodge backwards. Pushing off I spin in the air and extend a leg. The woman drops down. Her hands are balled into fists, nestled right by her chest. She shoots forward, one hand extended to punch. I grab her fist, feeling a shocking coldness seep through the glove, and redirect it to the side. My foot connects with her cheek. She goes down.

Landing on the carpet, I sway on my feet. Sweat dribbles down my forehead and the back of my neck. My breaths are ragged. I'm shaking. I feel like throwing up. Even if they were Dead-Colors, they looked like people. It wasn't right to hit people.

Piece by piece my transformations pings off. The shoes are first, then the shirt, and finally the glove. I sway more on my feet, falling to my knees. I'm so tired. Why… am I so… tired? It hurt to even think. "Aero!" I can hear Vermillion's cry but, have no energy to lift my head.

Something whistles through the air. I can feel hair slap against my upper arm. "Merle? Are you ok?" Vermillion sounds panicky. Like moving through honey, my eyes meet her. It's a haunted red gaze that I see. "Merle, you need to transform." She gives my shoulder a shake. Her head shoots up and in a spin she blocks a kick from Anneis.

"Were not done you coward." She hisses the words through clenched teeth. Vermillion stands and pushes Anneis away.

"The Pigment that blazes within the heart!" She chants her spell. "Pretty Cure Vermillion Spiral!" Circular red paint splatters against the floor between the two. Ribbons bubble up and spread throughout the room like bullets. They stick towards the walls, wrap around the pillars, and tie up the Dead-Colors. "No one's hurting my partner. Never again!" Vermillion gives a cry.

Anneis struggles against the ribbons. Her arms tremble as she raises them. She gives a bark of laughter than breaks through the two that hold her down. "A weak attack like that could never trap me!" With one last laugh she shimmers and is gone.

"Merle, I'm going to cleanse the Dead-Color." Vermillion drops the paintbrush. My eyes feel heavy. I slump towards the floor, eyes growing heavier and heavier.

"The Pigment…" My ears feel like they're stuffed with cotton. Whatever she's saying makes no sense. I feel a wave of heat rush over my body; a refreshing warmth like the sun.

"Merle? Are you ok? Can you hear me?" Clancy shakes my body again. I give a groan. Whatever was making me feel like shit before is seeping out of me. My eyes blink open, eyelids feeling light again.

"Clancy." I choke out her name. Her face breaks into a relieved smile. Her short blonde hair falls casting a shadow. She gives a small laugh and reaches a hand towards mine. She gives a squeeze. Turning my hand I give a squeeze back.

My chest feels oddly light. I give a tired laugh.


I stomp through the door to the middle room. Tessur hadn't moved since last time, lounging in a broken chair. His eyes follow my every movement. I circle the table and fall face first onto the couch. Tessur gives an audible sigh, along with the click of his phone.

"I'm going to hazard a guess that it didn't go so well."

I give a long groan in reply. Sinking further into the couch, I wish it would swallow me whole. I would be a disappointment to Lord Monochrome if this continued on. My insides feel empty. No anger, no sadness. Just empty.

"There's ice cream in the fridge." Tessur offers. The creaking of a chair draws my attention. I can't see anything through the curtain of my silver hair. Footsteps sound from behind me. "I'll make you a cup."

"…Make it a bowl."


Afterword: *sets self on fire* School is starting soon. This might be the last chapter for a while. Also while writing I practically listened to the first (and best) bleach opening on repeat.

Anyways, leave a comment, review, constructive criticism or whatever. I'd love to read it!