Note: I lied this chapter's pretty short too.

Chapter 2: Reckoning

The sun is shining now…it's bright and warm. I hear birds outside chirping and people walking laughing cheerfully. Then I'm back at the great seal being torn into by Erebus my skin being torn apart, his mocking laughter in my ears. Then there is pain, my legs tremble, my arm becomes numb, my heart stops. It's hard to know if I'm alive or dead. Am I just a husk? With only some magical forces keeping me alive? Or do I still have my life? If only this were all some horrible dream. Maybe I should go outside for a bit to clear my head. No sooner than I head to the door than the voices come back. Shrieking at me to unleash Nyx, to end their pain and suffering. They pull me down again, down into their darkness.

[Minako…I am here.]

{Lies Bitter Cruel Lies}

[Minako, listen to me.]

Is this a lie? It…sounds like Orpheus but…they all vanished before. They were torn from me…

[Time has been reversed to a time where none of that occurred. That is why we exist.]

{So…you remember everything?}

[Thou art I…and I am thou.]

They know everything I know…but why didn't that work in reverse? Why did I not now everything they did? I ask this to Orpheus.

[We are not bound by time…and we are parts of other individuals than just you.]

{I don't understand.}

[You will. Given time.]

Time. I had plenty of time. Time left alone to suffer…alone.

[I am sorry. If there was anything I could've done I would've.]

{You could've told me the truth!}

[And what would that have solved? Would you have believed me? And even if you had would you have chosen to not fight Nyx?]

{I…} would I have? Would I have sacrificed everyone? No. I still would've fought.

[You have a chance here. A chance to set things right.]

{And what exactly am I supposed to do!} I feel tears flowing freely now. {I'm a wreck! I can't even walk outside! What use am I to anyone?}I can't stand anymore. I can't take this anymore!{Why do I have to go through so much suffering? This…this isn't fair!} I can't help the sobs that escape me. {Why do I have to pay this price?}

[…] Orpheus is silent. [Life isn't fair Minako.] I find myself crying harder. [But…you've been given a rare chance. You shouldn't squander it.

|Minako?|

{Ryoji?} I…

|We promised right? That I would be your light?|

{Yes…we promised.}

I feel warmth on my back as though someone is holding me tightly. I don't see him…but I can sense his energy somehow, blue and black swirls of energy.

|Thou art I…|

{And I am thou.} No sooner than I finish those words than do I feel warm. The same warmth when I received my ultimate Personas…Ryoji…he is with me again. I can't help but smile even with tears still in my eyes. I can't just give up…Ryoji is counting on me.

So time went on, day by day I practiced, relearning my abilities and the discipline Tatsuya had taught me. The nightmares, the screaming, the pain never went away but I learned to live with them. Erebus…I will not allow him nor Nyarlathotep to weaken me. Nor will I be Philemon's tool. I shall depend on myself and only myself and I won't allow any of my friends to be hurt.

And so…a month passed.

4/5/2009

Two days before I return to Iwatodai. Two more days until I have to change the past, to make sure no one is hurt and that Erebus' plans are foiled. It would probably be a good idea for me to go get something to eat while on the train. My bags were mostly packed and I couldn't help but mourn the loss of my weapons from before. Well they could be regained or rebought. Finishing with the last few bags I grabbed my wallet and headed outside. It was pretty dark out but the store should've still be open. As I walk down the street I hear footsteps behind me. …Two men were following me from behind, two more were to my left. I ignored them as I travelled the dark alleyways neither quickening nor slowing down my pace.

"Hey!" One of the men behind me called out, I turned to face him. "What's a pretty girl like you doing out here so late at night eh?"

"..." My voice…I haven't used it at all. There really was no need for me to. Everything I needed had already been provided for by Tatsuya and neither my Personas nor Ryoji required me to actually speak.

The man beside him chuckled. "Aw don't be shy now!"

"…" The two men to my left had begun to move in. They surrounded me on all sides this…this was odd. This hadn't happened before yet I had left at the exact same time and gone in the exact same direction. These men hadn't been here. Why were they here now?

[Something as simple as butterfly's wings can change the course of time. And I'd say you being here with full knowledge and ability of what occurred before is far more than just a butterfly.]

"Come here girlie…we won't hurt you." Hm…I was overdressed for a fight. I had worn a long coat of all things. This is going to be a pain. "Well?" I charged at the first man and jumped I could hear Tatsuya in my mind telling me hand to hand combat was just as important as knowing how to use a blade. Without really thinking I kicked the man as hard as I could in the face. There was a sickening crunch and the man hit the ground still.

"What…what the hell? What did that bitch just do!" One of the men stared in horror at his down friend.

The man who had been next to the man I kicked knelt down. "He's…he's dead." Yes that sort of occurs with a kick strong enough to crack your skull. The voices in my head the ones that constantly scream for death have quieted for a moment in anticipation I suppose for the next kill.

"YOU BITCH!" The second man charges me. "You'll pay for that-urgh!" My body moves and I jump far higher than I should've been able to. Without hesitation I stomp as hard as I can on his skull, he falls to the ground, another sickening crunch and I flip neatly off of him. Another…what pointless wastes of space, to think I suffered so for such filth.

"Crazy bitch!" The third guy takes out a gun and points it at me.

You'd think the fool would've run by now.

"AHHH!" I sense it…a new Persona I received. There is no need for me to use an Evoker to summon it yet it only serves on purpose. "What the hell are these things?" The black goop grabs both men and drags them into it the last thing I hear are their terrified screams before complete and utter silence.

What pathetic excuses for human beings. I turn away as the shadow goop engulfs the two corpses. At the very least that should keep it satiated for a while.

Now I really need to get something to eat.

End Chapter One