Sonia dragged me out of the door and stopped in her tracks after she closed it. She stood

on the walkway, rubbing her forehead like she had a headache. I wondered what was going on in her head. I did not bother getting close. She barely trusted me, after all. I don't know if there is anything I could say to ease her mind.

She said, "Eli, I want to trust you. But it is just difficult." I had no clue as to why she would not trust me. I wish I could understand.

"Then tell me, why won't you trust me, Sonia? What was so bad that you lost all trust in me?" She looked frustrated, like she was conflicted in telling me. She began walking, and I followed behind, hoping she would tell me the truth.

"Look, Eli, tell me the truth. Do you not remember anything?" I thought back. The last I remember was being with Natsuki before seemingly passing out. Then I woke up here. However, I have to wonder what happened to Sonia. Here she walked before me, right eye missing and hand bandaged.

"I don't remember anything unusual about anything. The last I remember was being in

some weird white hospital."

Sonia said nothing. Like she was lost in thought. It does make me wonder if she had been in that same hospital as I. Still, we continued sneaking around houses and using

them for cover. The atmosphere felt different than usual; it felt packed, like there was pressure exerted on us. Questioning Sonia about it yielded no result as she continued to be lost in thought.

It felt like we walked for hours, but only thirty minutes passed. We found nothing. Nor did we see anything unusual. However, I did question one thing. Where were the other students? I vaguely remember them walking to and from school and being inside it. Where were they now? What caused them to disappear?

I shook the thought when I realized it was making me lag. Sonia was already moving towards the school. I walked faster to catch up. When I did, we entered the school. It was empty. The lights were on but empty. All the doors were unlocked. Nothing was out of place. It was particularly eerie. Nonetheless, we didn't find anything. Sonia seemed annoyed at the lack of any discovery like she was hoping to find something or someone.

After ten minutes of looking, we found nothing.

Sonia yelled out in frustration, "Goddammit, fucking shit, where the hell are those freaks?"

"Sonia, just calm down; maybe they are somewhere else?"

"No, They are here. I know they are; I saw them heading here. I'm sure of it." She looked at me, frustrated. "Where else could they be? Fuck!" She punched a locker.

A window revealed the same dense fog that had always been present outside. It had grown on me at this point. I looked up, trying to find the sun. Nothing, just the mist. Will I ever see the sun again?

"Look, just calm down."

She interrupted, "Calm down? You want me to fucking calm down? I have been through hell and worse, so do not tell me to calm down."

"I'm just saying we need to stay level-headed."

"Oh, shut up with that 'do not let emotions get the best of you' crap because I do not care. You think you have the right to tell me to calm down when the man who ripped out my eye stands before me?"

I looked at her in confusion, "what do you mean? What did I do? I don't remember."

She laughed, "Of fucking course you do not, you fucking liar."

I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Sonia, please tell me what I did."

She looked into my eyes.

"No."

I sighed and paused a moment before deciding to change the topic. "Maybe we should look someplace else before we give up, okay? For now, let's just check back at the house."

She sighed, "Fuck, fine."

We exited the school and began walking back to the house. An awkward silence filled the air. I hated this. This silence between us was unbearable. Sonia loved talking to me about her day, music, and friends. Why is she so silent now? I understand our situation, but we must be optimistic during such times. I have to admit she's finally showing her true colors now. She was completely different when we were dating, and I did not like that.

Before Sonia and I officially started dating, she was a tomboy. She acted more like one than looking like one. She would always argue playfully and curse whenever she wanted. She was rude but with a charm to it. I admit I was in favor of such a personality. But all that changed when we started dating. I saw those qualities fade away. She no longer was the boyish girl I knew. She was now a woman, wearing makeup for the first time and finally dressing like a girl. I still contemplate whether her feminine side was her actual self or to adjust herself to my standards.

Thinking back, I could still recall that night we began our relationship. We were in a bar someplace near her house. At this point, we had been friends for a few months and close ones at that.

"You know Sonia, your co-worker seems like a nice guy. You should let him take you out, no? Free food."

Sonia laughed, downing a shot of whiskey, "Shit, free food, and I will fuck anyone."

I was amazed at her response, "Jesus, I hope you're just joking." She already had a few shots in her system but didn't seem drunk. "But seriously, why not? From what you told me, he seems like a nice guy."

Sonia's expression changed. She seemed serious, "he is known as the man whore around the hospital."

"Like the entire hospital?"

"Yeah, he is certainly attractive, do not get me wrong, but I am not looking for a fling. I want someone for the long run."

"A boyfriend then?"

"Yeah, but in this day and age? I'm preaching to the goddam choir. After all, a rowdy girl like me no one wants."

"You know, you and I get along pretty well," I said, hoping she understood my meaning.

"We do. But a guy with your looks, it surprises me you have yet to tell me about your girlfriend." I wondered why she would think I had a girlfriend. It would only make sense to make that clear from the beginning. Why does she think I've been hiding it this entire time?

"I don't have a girlfriend. If I did, I would have told you. Probably for some advice on women."

She laughed, "You do not need advice on women so long as you treat them as friends. They will warm up to you, and it goes on from there naturally. That is what I believe anyway." She downed another shot. I was still on my first can of beer.

"I guess that's true," I said, "treat them as you would treat a friend. That the key to any woman's heart?"

"Not necessarily. You got a shit ton of women who are different and require more than simple affection. Pretty much your 'High maintenance bitches'." She laughed again, "But honestly, I just want someone to love, to value me. Unconditional love is what I am asking for. But these days," She paused, looking at the empty shot glass, saddened.

Sonia shrugged, "I'm trying to find an extinct species."

I didn't know what to say. Sonia was telling the truth. Finding a partner who is committed and dedicated to loving someone and overlooking their flaws is nearly impossible. I'd have known, especially after Victoria.

It was there that I started thinking about her, Victoria. I contemplated telling Sonia about it, especially since she was partially intoxicated.

"Why do you look so sad?" She asked.

I sipped on my beer, "it's nothing, just thinking about the past."

"I know how that feels. I won't ask."

A heavy silence fell between us after she spoke. We both didn't know what to say. Thinking quickly, I reassured her I was single. She nodded and seemed anxious after I told her.

"Yeah, I was looking for a girlfriend. A lovely woman who's just the norm and such. I am not a picky man." I am unsure if my brain was speaking the truth or just me hoping she would confess.

"You deserve one, especially with what you went through."

I shook my head, "well, I don't have one. It sucks, but I'm getting by just fine."

Silence followed once again. I didn't know where I could lead this conversation. I thought about it for a second. Should I ask her how she would feel about us dating?

"Sonia, I-"

"I have feelings for you. I have had feelings for you ever since we met. They were not particularly as evident as they were now. But my feelings are strong now. I can't keep them to myself. Even if you do not feel the same, I want you to know. I just needed to tell you."

In truth, I told her I felt the same way, and I did. However, it wasn't to an extent to how she felt. I was lonely at the time, and some company would be enjoyable. We started dating more, and I developed more feelings till she learned more about my insecurities and mental problems.

It was that moment that began the, as I would label it, the moment I gave her Generalized Anxiety Disorder. We started dating for a month, calls came in now and then, and we'd meet thrice weekly. But she changed after I told her about my mental health in the following months. Now, every day, almost every couple of hours, she'd call, text, and worry. She'd ask me how I was doing and if I was okay or needed anything. I found the whole ordeal unnecessary.

Shortly after, I didn't love her as much as I did back then. I felt like I was being treated like a child. I hated it. I don't know why I didn't tell her I didn't like how I was treated. Maybe I didn't want to hurt her at the time. I couldn't find it in myself to try and fix the problem. I felt she would act this way regardless of what I could say.

Returning to the present, Sonia began speaking.

"Look, I am sorry for that random outburst."

I looked at her with sympathy, "It's alright. I understand your frustration."

Sonia groaned, "No, you don't. You haven't the slightest clue."

"I know, but you won't tell me so; how could I understand? Please tell me if you want me to understand the gravity of my actions. Otherwise, if your words are true, you're letting me off easy."

Sonia seemed agitated but refused to speak further in the argument. Her stride was different, and she appeared more hunched over than usual. The eyepatch was a little weird because it was one of those white medical ones. Her left hand is covered in bandages but still operable. Seeing all the damage done to her fueled my desire to know what I supposedly had done.

I wanted to earn her trust again. I hated the fact that she could not trust me. I may not have loved her anymore, but she was still my friend. At least I saw her as a friend.

"Sonia, look, I just want this constant bickering and lack of trust to end. I want to know what I can do to help with that."

She scoffed and stopped walking to face me, "Elias, there's nothing you can do to help with that."

I beckoned, "Sonia, there has to be something. You could tell me what I did. I'd genuinely react because I haven't heard anything about it."

"I doubt that. You'll probably fake a stunned look and act all apologetic."

"Sonia, at this point, I do not care anymore. I want to know." I exclaimed.

"No! Fucking no! Don't you get it? I am not telling you because I don't think you can handle it! The knowledge of what you did would be too much for you!"

She was screaming at me.

"You weak-minded fuck, I can't tell you because then you'd end up scratching your wrist harder than you are now!"

I looked down to see I had instinctively begun tearing at my old bandages. Sonia did not stop.

"Can you not understand that I still love you? My love for you is why I won't tell you, you fucking idiot."

I held back tears.

"What you did to me was fucking torture because I love you. I had to see the man I love rip my eye out of its socket and almost kill me!"

I fell onto my knees.

"I had to go on with the knowledge that you were dead! But here you are, alive. But is this man, on his knees, crying the man I love, or the one who almost killed me? That's why I do not trust you."

She crouched down to my level.

"Some people have feelings like stone, and some don't. I can't tell you, okay? I'm sorry, but I don't want you to know something as terrible as that."

I don't know if she realized that she inadvertently had already told me what I'd done. She said she wanted to spare me the knowledge, but she failed to do so. I'm guessing part of her genuinely wanted me to hear it. She wanted me to know that I hurt her. I tried to kill her. But I had no memory of that. Why would I do that? I wish I had known what exactly caused me to do that.

Thinking back to the conversation about the third eye, I wondered if that's what caused me to attack. Yuri can be possessive about the one she loves, which is unsettling since it's me. While she could have caused me to attack Sonia, I doubt from what I've seen from Yuri that she'd do such a thing. I recall she had been a victim of the attack. However, it was then I realized another crucial detail.

Sonia had mentioned that Sayori and Natsuki were also aggressors in the incident. The thought of either of them hurting their closest friends disturbed me. There is no way they would do that out of their own will. The same could be said for me. We must have attacked because of some supernatural force, but that seems hard to believe. However, considering our current predicament lost in this fog-ridden nightmare, it is not too far of a stretch to be left out of consideration.

I couldn't speak. I felt my throat dry. Part of me wanted to say something to Sonia. To apologize and ask for forgiveness. I knew I wasn't going to be forgiven so easily. After what I put her through, I don't deserve it. But I just wanted her to know that I didn't mean to do this to her. Even though it was out of my control, I still felt it was my fault she was like this. It was my fault she suffered.

Another part of me just wanted to stay quiet and say nothing. To remain silent and not worsen the situation more than I already had. Silence would be the best option, but Sonia knew me for relentlessly apologizing. If I had remained silent, she might think I was the man who hurt her, which is just myself. If I said nothing, she might be suspicious of me. The thing is, I want nothing more than to earn her trust again. But I don't know if I could ever do that. I don't know if she could ever trust me again.

I looked up to her. Sonia had a stern face. I stood up and had an emotionless expression to give the impression I was not affected by her words.

"I understand. Sorry." is all I said. Sonia looked confused, as if she was not expecting me to recover so quickly from her torrent of words. I had stopped scratching my wrist and hadn't done any damage to it, at least. I continued walking, not even checking to see if she was following. I heard her footsteps behind me, yet she refused to say anything. I still felt terrible, but I hoped she'd think I was more potent and could handle this world and its mental toll. Perhaps I could gain her trust like that. If she confides in me about what happened and how she got those injuries, it might lead to trustworthiness.

However, I suddenly lost my train of thought. The ground was shaking. It was like an earthquake; however, I'd never been in one. The houses around us were crumbling and losing support. The streetlights began falling, hitting the ground at different speeds. I could hear Sonia shout an expletive and hold onto me for support. I steadied myself and held onto a nearby stop sign. As the ground shook, it seemed to shake away the fog. Oddly enough, the sky was still gray, and the sun was dim, as if it were still foggy. The fog disappeared, and I began to understand the reason behind the earthquake.

Rising from the ground was a colossal spherical structure made of flesh. It looked like an egg. And It was coming from the house. I looked back at Sonia; she was just as in awe as I was at the structure. The ground slowly ceased its shaking as the egg-like edifice ended its ascension.

"Fuck me," Sonia muttered as she let me go. I motioned her to follow, and we went to the egg.