The fridge was stocked with food. Not the kind one would see in Japan but more like the food I usually have in my home. There were frozen dinners from American brands as well as junk food. The classic Salisbury steak was with mashed potatoes and gravy, a frozen pizza, and mini corn dogs. Gross. However, there was no Asian food. I found it highly odd how this food got here from America. Though if I am considering everything that has happened so far, this should be the least of my worries.

I closed the fridge door and went back to the living room. There Monika was sitting on the couch texting someone… While I was curious about who it was, I knew how rude it was to eavesdrop. Monika promptly set down her phone as I sat on the chair directly in front of the couch.

"Eli and Sayori got home safe," Monika said. I felt irritable knowing that they were probably living together.

"So? I do not care about those two, I just want to get out of this place." I said lying to Monika's face. I wanted to leave with Eli, I wanted to be with him again. I missed him so terribly…

"Both you and I know you're lying. You still miss him, I can tell. The way you feel right now, that's how I felt when you two were together. I was just watching him make you happy, wishing it were me instead. but it was just a wish, I never intended to bring you here." What did she mean by that? Bring me here. She only intended Eli to come here, leaving me alone.

"So you brought Eli here and planned to leave me alone? What is wrong with you?" I said with spite in my voice.

Monika looked shocked, "I never meant to bring anyone here. Yes, I wanted Eli to come, but I didn't want to make him unhappy by taking him from you. I wanted him, but I didn't want him to lose someone he loved because of me. Whoever brought you here, it was not me. I can assure you of that."

I calmed down, getting up from my chair to look out the window. It was still dark and foggy. I was not able to see at least five or six feet ahead of myself. The streetlight looked ominous as it glowed a low orange. The flakes I had seen before were landing on the window and dissipating all the same. I felt chills seeing how creepy the outside looked.

"I am sorry, It is just that everything in this place is getting to me. You, the girls, Eli…" I looked down at my hands. They were as real as ever. "I just need to relax, I haven't been able to ever since I first arrived here. I have not slept. I could not. I have just been staring out the window. All day, all night." I did not hear Monika get up from the couch, I was just suddenly hugged from behind. She wrapped her hands around my stomach and pulled me close, resting her head on my shoulder.

I made an audible gasp. "Monika? What are you…"

"You're so brave, Sonia. If I were in your situation, I would have given up, I would have killed myself knowing my soul mate was with another person. But you didn't. You're willing to survive without him." I do not fully know if I can survive without him. "I can't do much in terms of action, but the least I can do is offer some hug energy." I did not move as Monika did not either. We stood there for a few minutes, with the wind being the only sound. It felt nice.

Monika stepped away from me, "Sorry if you weren't expecting that, I just felt like you needed a hug."

I chuckled, "I did not know I needed one, but it seems I did. Thank you, Monika." She smiled warmly at me, Her emerald gaze piercing my dull brown eyes. I looked back out the window, and for a split second, I saw a person move into the darkness. It looked like someone small like Natuski… Was that real? Was that due to my lack of sleep? I sat on the couch next to Monika. The sudden tiredness hit me hard. My eyes wanted to close, and I was not able to sit up straight.

Monika took notice, "Sonia, maybe you should go to sleep? You said you haven't slept for days. You need to rest." I wanted to sleep, but I still was uncomfortable with Monika around. Even though she seemed nice and caring, I knew not to trust anyone here. Not even Eli. Not after what I saw. He would not do something like that so freely, right?

"You are probably right, I will sleep on the couch. You can take the bed upstairs."

Monika looked slightly nervous for a second, "I was wondering if we could sleep together?" I am not attracted to women.

"Fine but do not get any ideas," I said in a monotone voice.

"Don't worry I'm not into you." She said with a reassuring smile. That is just a different way of saying I am not attractive.

Monika was already in bed before me. She covered herself entirely with her blanket. I lay in bed next to her, however, nearly on the edge of the bed. I tried going to sleep but when I closed my eyes nothing happened. I kept my eyes closed for almost five minutes. I was still awake. I was fatigued mentally and physically, but for the life of me, I could not sleep. I got up from bed and navigated the house in darkness. One thing I enjoyed doing was walking in darkness.

I went downstairs into the living room, and it was raining. I had not noticed. Barefoot and wearing nothing but a t-shirt and sweatpants, I walked outside into the rain. It was cold but enjoyable for me. I began walking down the street. I had not seen a single car drive ever since I got here, so I denied the possibility of a car appearing now. My clothing was already soaked. However, I continued walking. I enjoyed the rain. It was tranquil for me somehow. I removed my shirt and threw it on the ground, and I did the same with my bra. Topless and exposed to the rain, I could enjoy it even more now. I laid down on my back, letting the rain hit my face.

This was the first time I had ever done this. I learned of this from Eli. One night, when I was sleeping over, I woke up suddenly because of some thunder. I looked around the bed we were sleeping in. Eli was nowhere to be found. I got up and looked around the apartment. Nothing. I saw the door was unlocked. I took the keys and ran outside to look for him. It was raining, but I did not care. I went outside with no protection from the rain. I began worrying. What happened? Did someone take him? My thoughts were uncontrollable as always. However, as I ran to the road leading out of the apartment complex, there I saw him lying shirtless on the road. Fearing the worst, I ran to him, "Eli! Are you okay?" I asked frantically.

His eyes opened, looking up at the sky, "Yeah I'm okay, sorry if I made you worry. I was going to head back right now."

I looked at him puzzled, "Why did you come out here? You are going to get sick."

"You are too, you know," He said, sitting up and giving me a smirk.

I smiled back, I could not stay mad at him. "You are right there, but seriously, why did you come out here?"

He looked up, "It's peaceful to just lay down in the rain and let it hit your face. Well, it's nice for me. I don't know if it could be the same for you." I looked up at the sky. There were stars just barely visible beyond the clouds. The rain was hitting my face as I continued to look at the stars. It was soothing. He grabbed my hands and held them tightly.
"Sonia, I promise I will never leave you. No matter how tough our lives get, I will be there for you always."

I looked up at the sky. There were no stars, and I was alone. Alone in this fog-ridden town. Alone with myself. I screamed, "You liar!" Closing my eyes, I began to fall asleep.

However, I was unable to. The lights from a nearby house illuminated, and the door to it swung open. There in the doorway stood Eli and Sayori, both under the cover of an umbrella. Sayori began walking towards me without the cover of the umbrella. Eli tried to follow behind. However, Sayori gestured to him to stay behind. She walked out into the rain wearing nothing but slippers, shorts, a shirt, and a raincoat. I sat up, covering my breasts with my arms and remaining silent. Sayori took off her raincoat and covered me with it. She had a worried expression on her face. She hugged me tightly and did not let go. How can she be like this? How can anyone care for someone like this without even knowing a single thing about their true nature?

As they led me into their house, I noticed the address number, Zero, Two, and Nine. Those numbers are my birthday. I dismissed it as a coincidence. Their house was okay. It seemed like aspects of both their laziness combined into one. There were food wrappings scattered everywhere, unclean dishes were on random furniture, and there were clothes clean and dirty in piles. It was bad, but I was used to it. I would always clean up Eli's apartment. I hated seeing him live like that.

Sayori made me sit on the couch. Eli covered me with a towel. I took off the raincoat and used the towel to cover my chest. My long blonde hair was soaked and gave me chills as it tickled my back. Sayori and Eli sat down beside me, and Sayori gave me a cup of water. It tasted like something weird…The water here surely can not be just as absurd as the fog.

Sayori broke the silence first, "Why would you do something like that?" I looked at Eli. He wore a concerned expression on his face. How can he just sit there and do nothing? How can he sit there and love someone else in front of me? Why must he torment me with her?

"I do not know why," I responded, looking down again.

I heard shuffling and felt Sayori hug my arm. "I don't know what's wrong, but I want to try my best to help. Even if it's just a little."

Eli touched my bare shoulder with his soft hands. "I want to help too," he said, giving me a small smile. I smiled back. The last time I saw him smile like that was…I can not recall. Why can I not remember the last time we were happy? I remember things from long ago with us but nothing within the span of the past few weeks. Was it my fault that he was not happy? Was I not able to satisfy him? Was I no longer what he wanted?

I looked down again, "I had a boyfriend, His name was," Eli, "Julian, He was the sweetest boy I had ever met. He would have moved mountains for me if I asked, and I would have done the same for him. I wanted to marry him, I wanted our wedding to be perfect. But one day, out of nowhere. He told me he did not love me anymore." I felt like crying, "I am questioning if the love he had for me was even real. Did he love me? Or was he just using me and got bored? I do not know the answer, but it hurts just to see him. It hurts so much." I could not hold back anymore. I grabbed Eli's shoulders and dug my face into his chest. I began wailing uncontrollably. I could not stop myself. What made it even worse was that Eli was consoling me as well as Sayori. "Why? Why did you have to leave me?" I sobbed. Eli continued to hug me tightly. I did not want him to console me, but it was nice.

After about four minutes of crying, I stopped and pretended to be asleep, just to stay in Eli's grasp a little longer.

"Is she asleep?" Sayori whispered.

"Yes, the sedative worked faster than expected"

What?

"She did not drink the entire cup. We only have an estimated one hour"

A sedative?

"Affirmative, let us deliver her."

What are they talking about?

I felt Eli and Sayori try to lift me. They did it with some difficulty. Sayori was carrying my legs while Eli lifted my torso. I waited till we exited the house. Once they were walking outside on the sidewalk, I started my attack. I kicked Sayori in the face, causing her to stumble back and give me control of my legs. Then I shoved Eli away from me, pushing me onto my feet. I took a few steps back and faced both of them with my fists up. Both stood together, staring at me. But that was not them. It did not feel like I was looking at two people. It felt like I was looking at two empty husks.

They began walking towards me in unison. I backed up with each step they took. They just stared at me with blank expressions. I kept walking backward. They went under a streetlight, and their eyes had no color. Instead of the usual blue eyes they both had now, it was just an emotionless black. The fear within me quelled even deeper than before. I turned around and started running. I was scared. I could not believe it. I never was scared, and yet…

I kept running till I made it back to my house. I entered and locked the door. I ran around the house frantically, checking every window to ensure they were locked. I ran upstairs to the bedroom, entered it, and locked the door. I checked the bed, and Monika was gone. Where did she go? Did she end up like…? I looked out the window. For some reason, Natsuki was standing outside under a street light. She was dragging something. It looked like…

I froze.

Natsuki, on one hand, held the arm of a headless body on the other…

Monika's head.

Blood was still dripping. From both the head and the body. I had never felt so scared. Monika's lifeless eyes were staring at me from the street. I could feel them on me. I ran back downstairs, Eli stood at the door, with the same dead eyes.

"Do not worry my dear Sonia, everything will be fine, I love you," He walked towards me with open arms.

"Say it back." He demanded. I backed away slowly, looking for another exit.

"Say it back" He demanded. I could feel myself hyperventilating.

"Say it back," He demanded. He was between me and the door to the outside.

"Say. It. Back!" He yelled as he lunged toward me. I knew he was weaker than me but I did not want to hurt him. He tried to tackle me however he was not able to push me down. Regardless of my strength, I was not able to escape his grip on my waist. I punched his back, pulled his hair, and kicked and fought, even though I did not want to hurt him. I managed to hit him in the crotch with a kick and he went down. I could see his face, he was in so much pain. I felt awful for hitting him.

With him, on the ground, I ran to the door. It was still raining, however, it felt like it was coming down harder than before. I did not even wish to look in the direction of where I knew Natsuki would be. I simply ran in the opposite direction. Did I just see Monika's corpse? There is no way it was her. It can not be. My thoughts were in a flurry. I did not know whether or not to believe that I had seen her body.

I kept running, The houses I passed by looked the same, I felt like I was running in a circle. There was one house I stopped by to rest. Its lights were on however all the curtains had been drawn. I ran up to the door and began banging on it. "Is anyone there? Please, I need help!" I wonder what they would think seeing a horrified almost naked woman begging for help.

The door opened after a few seconds of hitting it.

There stood Yuri.