Her hand shook as she reached for the door handle. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Violet didn't know how she got here. Almost as if possessed, she'd risen from her spot on the ground and stumbled through the mansion, striving towards an unknown goal.

Finally, she'd arrived at this door, and her hand was already turning the handle before she realized what was happening. She yanked it back, holding it to her chest as if she'd been burned.

What am I doing?

Though she wanted to run, something in her heart told her that she needed to pass through this door. Something important was on the other side. Something of grave importance. It was almost as if she'd been born for this moment.

And so, against her better, logical judgment, she reached out, grasped the old handle in her hand, and opened the door, stepping into the room beyond.

Nothing jumped out at her. Nothing attacked her the second she stepped through the doorway. It was a fairly ordinary room, with a bed, a desk, a cabinet, and a darkened window.

Almost as if her steps were choreographed, her feet led her to the desk on the wall opposite the door.

A familiar book laid on the desk, opened to the last page. Her fingers caressed the parchment as her eyes scanned the penmanship of the mysterious author.

I knew you would come back.

You came all the way through this house, just for me.

So, now I know you really love me.

So, this is what you want?

You have a new body now, right?

So, now, you don't have to be mad at me anymore.

Do you remember?

Do you remember me?

.

.

.

Viola?

Viola.

Her mind whirled, and she stumbled backwards, tripping over a crack in the wooden flooring.

She landed flat on her back, pain thudding throughout her body.

Violet gaped, wide-eyed at the ceiling.

Her sickness returned with a vengeance, her skull feeling like it was going to crack open.

Green and gold. Eyes and hair. Of a girl….

Pain. Betrayal.

That's not love.

Aaauuugh. It hurts.

Purple hair, like her own.

A black cat.

A knife.

Blood.

Gha….. gv….bck…

Give it back.

Dha…..di…..

Daddy.

Bang! Bang!

At long last, she realized the truth.

I am Viola.

"You're not mad, are you?"

Violet's hazy eyes picked up a moving form out of the corner of her eyes. She lifted her head feebly to look at it as it came closer.

"Be careful – just rest a bit. Your body and mind are tired after a revelation of such astronomical proportions."

Violet didn't know what astronomical meant, but that didn't matter right now. Her eyes focused, and she took in the image of another girl approaching her.

Hair darker than night fell down to her shoulders in two braids. One was perfect and neat, while another was knotty and unkempt as if it'd been done years ago and left alone since. A frock of simple design adorned her thin body, also a deep, dark black.

But what really drew her attention was the girl's skin.

It was red.

Blood red.

Offset by the dark eyes, as equally black as the hair, the girl looked terrifying.

Violet scrambled away on her hands, her back bumping against the wall as she stared up, scared, at this girl. Was this the owner of the home?

Don't trust her, don't trust her! A voice inside her screamed.

Violet paused upon seeing a look of uncertain fear and pain in the girl's eyes.

"Hey, you're aren't really mad, are you?"

Violet didn't reply. She couldn't seem to find control of her body.

"Wh…who are you?" She finally managed.

She looked surprised by the question. "You don't remember? Well, I guess that makes sense since you may not have fully recovered yet…"

She looked directly into Violet's eyes, startling her with the steel resolve.

"I am Ellen."

Violet's eyes widened.

KILL HER!

Violet didn't know what motivated her to do so, but in a moment she was flying through the air, her arms, hands, and fingers outstretched, wrapping around the girl's throat.

She had committed great evil. Unforgivable sin.

The girl gasped as Violet collided with her, but before they even hit the ground, she grabbed Violet's arms and whirled around, slamming her body into the wall. Next, she threw her to the ground.

Not missing a beat, Violet leapt back up at her, only to have the girl tackle her, landing on top of her. Grabbing Violet's wrists, she slammed them into the floor.

"You'll have to forgive me, but you didn't let me finish. You need to calm down."

She ignored her, fighting to escape her grip, angering the girl attempting to hold her down.

Finally, she had one of her wrists free. She reached up, fingers extended, and –

A hard slap was delivered to her face.

"Stop it."

Pausing, she brought her hand down to cup her stinging red cheek, the slap still ringing in her ears. She glanced up in shock at the girl on top of her, who was glaring down into her eyes.

"I was Ellen, and I was unloved. I did what I had to fix that. You gave me your body, and I was Viola. But then, my mind darkened, and the body grew to reflect the soul inside. I was called a witch, and cast out from among them. I searched for a long time, but every one feared me. They ran, screamed, cried, and yelled. They tried to kill me, shooting me, burning me. But they didn't understand. No one did. I was born cursed. I have no name anymore, I am simply titled 'the demon', a legend told to instill fear in the hearts of those told. I am hated, scorned, by all of humanity, demons, and living creatures alive. I am a wretched soul."

Violet was left in shock after the girl's speech, and even more so when the girl began to cry, and her darkened tears landed on her face.

"But then…" the girl paused, and stared down at Violet with a strong an passionate expression she couldn't discern the meaning of, "I remembered who came to me when I was alone, and cared for me and stayed with me, and who was my friend. She gave me her body because she felt so sorry for me, she wanted me to experience what life was like without a disease, a life with love. She saved me."

She smiled, and her eyes were happy, but with a hint of hysteria and desperation. Violet wanted to squirm away from that almost twisted look, but she was still pinned to the ground.

"And so I knew, eventually, that if I waited long enough, and was patient, you would come back. The second you came in, I don't know how, but I knew it was you. And by all of this, by you going through the house again, and facing all of that, you must forgive me. Because you still love me."

What?! What is she talking about?!

Violet felt an uncomfortable feeling growing inside of her, and she knew she had to get away.

She's confused. She's upset after everything that has happened to her.

She began to squirm, trying to free her wrists from 'Ellen's' hands, but the girl just squeezed tighter and pretended like nothing was happening.

"And so now, I rebuilt the house, see? Just for you! So now, now that you've come back, we can be together!"

Violet abruptly froze, her mouth agape in shock, as she stared up in disbelief at the girl.

"Forever!"

She couldn't believe it. After everything, after all that had happened, she wanted her to just forget everything and move on as if nothing had happened?!

She'd betrayed her! Betrayed her trust, friendship, everything! She lured her in like a moth to flame with stories of her loneliness and disease, and used her empathy to manipulate and trick her into turning over her body.

But… still. Ellen had never been loved. Her mother abandoned her, her father never saw her, she was left alone to rot by those she loved and trusted the most.

Her first friend had fled, screaming in fear, after he'd seen her true form, her body with the disease.

Viola's father had left her after learning that she was not his real daughter.

All others she encountered shunned her, hated her, shouted at her, tried to kill her.

All she wanted was to be loved.

What should she say? What could she say?

What could she say to the one who had betrayed her?

Should she give her a second chance?

Would Ellen finally be happy if she stayed with her? After all, that was all Viola had originally wanted, wasn't it? For Ellen to be happy?

She looked up into Ellen's hopeful, black eyes.

She opened her mouth to reply, letting out a ragged, shaky breath.

.

(choice 1)

"Yes. I'll stay."

(chapter 5)

.

(choice 2)

"After everything you've done to me?! No!"

(chapter 6)

.

(choice 3)

"I'm sorry… but can't! I have a life, a family…"

(chapter 7)

.

(choice 4)

"I don't know…"

(chapter 8)

Whichever choice you choose, go to the chapter listed below. There are four different endings.

As there's a chance not everyone is going to read all endings, I'll go ahead and say what I'd like to say now.

I'd like to thank all of my followers and story reviewers for your support and feedback on this story. I was only expecting two or three reviews total, and you guys surprised me with all of your follows, favorites, and reviews.

Thanks for sticking around, an I hope you enjoyed But She Loved Me.

Merry Christmas to everyone!