Guess who's back? Back again! (Sorry, I just wanted to do this...hehe!) Hello everyone and I'm so so sorry I took so long! You just gotta love it when your perfectionism kicks in... But you also gotta love it when the news about the show's return appear! ! ! And I'm so excited! And scared! Man, time just can't pass by fast enough... Anyway, enough with me rambling, let's get to the story! Warnings: All the angst (part 2), slight self-harm and emotional abuse.

Chapter 9: Somewhere in the middle

"Just get out of here! And... take him with you. Keep him safe."

"What do you hope to accomplish with that? Once I'm done with you, your palisman will be next. And if the Blight gets in the way, she'll just have to go too. And this will be your fault. You gave it to her. You kept it around in the first place!"

Hunter clenched his teeth, swallowing a scream, as Belos again held him tighter. "Didn't you hear me?! I said go!" He yelled (probably a little more desparetely than he should have) at the Blight girl, who just kept staring at him in shock, while he was still trying to ignore everything. Those words and the poison that dripped from them, the sharp, firm grip growing stronger and this time aiming to break instead of bend.

He had to keep trying. He had to keep taking it. At least long enough for her to leave and get his palisman to safety. After that... it wouldn't matter.

"Oh, Hunter. So much resistence for nothing..."
"...Did you see him too?"

"How much do you think you can endure for that... thing's sake?"
"...Now do you see... anyone behind me?"

"Besides, didn't you hear me before? All of this is nothing but a delay to the innevitable."
"... I'm guessing that now you do...!"

Hunter doubled down and covered his ears, this time unable to stop himself from screaming. He could hear those voices mashed together in his ears. Loud, grating, painful.

Blight was still here! Why was she still here?! Why couldn't she just go?! Why couldn't this sto-?!

"-ey... Hey..."

...!

...

Hold on...

"...Calm down. It's gonna be okay. I... I can help you." ...She was closer. He could hear her voice next to him. And with it, her struggle.

She was unsure. No, she was scared. She sounded like she didn't actually believe those words, but was still trying to. He just didn't know...

"Why...? Why would you help me? Why would you care?!" Hunter spat and turned further away, wrapping his arms around himself in a nearly childish way.

"Because... Because-"

"Because I need this? Because, like your human, you're too nice to just leave me be?! Why don't you get it?! I don't want your help! I-... I don't deserve it. I don't deserve anything. So just... leave me alone." Those last sentences came almost on their own. Without the frustration or the intensity his voice carried before. Instead it was ashamed and resigned...

This time Amity didn't speak. But she reached her hand out for a moment, her face filled with worry and doubt, and her chest hurting at those words. At how familiar they felt. And as she withdrew her hand...

"Oh... Look at that. You tried and it failed. Who can blame him though? I mean, who would tru-"

"Because I know how that feels."

...!

...

And suddenly Hunter was back on that couch. A screaming, tearful mess at the mercy of enemy gazes... and that voice right beside him.

Soft, scared and vulnerable. But still there, willing to try.

He slowly moved his head a little, almost tempted to face her...

"Are you seriously going to do this? Do you really believe she is willing to help you? If that's so, you're even more of a fool than I thought."

...

...And even as his shoulder hurt beneath that muddy grip, he finally looked over it.

"What... are you... doing?!"
"What... are you... doing?!"

Again, her Mother's voice had changed, this time a little more distorted than the first. But that wasn't where Amity's mind was right now.

She felt something heavy forming inside her as she said those words, which as soon as they came out left her almost breathless, staring at the floor.

Her Mother's form looming behind her may have not been real, but that weight, those words, they were. However, she still wasn't sure if it was her who spoke them, or if someone else just momenterily took control of her. This whole thing she was about to do, felt somehow foreign and about as scary as the whole day. For the longest time, she was always sitting on the other side of this type of conversation, with only one clear exception coming in her mind, which was absolutely nothing like right now.

And right now...

The Golden Guard was finally looking at her, his face bearing a strange look. As if he was challenging but also begging her to keep talking.

...

"I know what it's like regretting over stuff you did and feeling unworthy of help. Or of... anything good in your life. I've been there. And if I'm honest... I still kind of am." With every word, her heart was beating out of her chest, but still her voice remained steady and sincere.

"Because you ran away?" He suddenly asked, sounding almost hopeful.

Amity's eyes widened for a moment, feeling her Mother's hand resting on her shoulder.

"Oh. Now that's an interesting question. Well, Mittens? Aren't you going to answer? I would honestly love to know that myself."

She quickly pulled away from her, the cardinal on her shoulder chirping angrily behind her. "...No, actually. I don't regret running away."

At this, his face fell and he turned away again."...Then you are wrong."

"What?"

"You said that you understand how I feel, and I... I wanted to believe you. But it turns out that you don't."

"You're the one that's wrong! Just because we don't have the same regrets, doesn't mean we don't have the same feelings."

"But it does!" Now he was yelling again, making her flinch. "You wanted to leave! For whatever reason you chose to leave your home, your family, your life and you still stand by that choice! But me?! I didn't-AAAH!" Suddenly he stopped and started screaming in pain.

He had wrapped his arms around him, his fingers digging viciously through his skin, but what Amity noticed the most was his grip on his shoulder. How strong it just got. Even if he was in such a messy condition, it could probably get strong enough to dislocate his shoulder. And it clearly wouldn't stop there. She could already see his other hand moving towards his neck.

She quickly reached out to stop him, (urged further by his worried palisman) before he could hurt himself even more.

"Now you're making excuses? I expected you would at least have some sense of responsibility left in you, but once again you disappoint me."

Hunter thrashed against Belos' grip, keeping his eyes shut for the fear of facing him if he opened them. But as he struggled, he could feel someone (or something) else grabbing him as well. Belos must've been trying to restrain him.

"I'm not ma-"

"Then what about the blast?! You chose to do this! You chose to hurt me! Did you not? Hunter?"
"-ey!... -en to... -ou nee-... -op! ... -is isn't..."
"...-ter!... Hunter, ... -op!"

"HEY! Leave him alone! You obviously deserved it if you treated him like that!"

...!

Hearing this, Hunter stopped moving, opening his eyes in shock. And what he saw after he did, increased it.

The Blight girl was sitting right in front of him with his palisman on her shoulder, both her hands holding his arms. Their gazes were fixed on him, tense with worry, and she was breathing slowly, as if she was trying to catch her breath. And right behind her, wearing an appalled, enraged look, was her mother.

Who just a second ago wasn't there and shouldn't even be there. And actually how was she-

...

Noticing him looking behind her, she slowly pulled away from him, now her turn to look ashamed. As she did, however, her mother's form disappeared.

"Well... now you saw it. So? You still think I don't know how you feel?" She asked, turning to face him only as she finished, her voice (unexpectedly) gentle.

He didn't reply. He just lowered his head, his expression overwhelmed and his thoughts muddled.

Mrs. Blight was there too? But then she disappeared? And this happened after the girl pulled away? And why was she holding him? And what she said before...

"I don't see her now." He said and slowly raised his head again, while the hand on his shoulder was trembling. As if it was unsure of whether it was to tighten or loosen its grip. "But... she's still here, isn't she?"

Amity nodded, not expecting him to be the first to talk. "And so is... he. Right?"

He nodded too, his gaze resting on the golden, goopy fingers, still holding him tight. "Did you run into the human?"

"Yeah." Amity was almost hesitant to reply, surprised at the change of subject. But given the type of change, she had to. "She seemed so... distraught. And she said she was hearing some voice-"

"Did she have a paper fortune teller?"

"She did. I... I used it. I think."

"Where is it?!" He abruptly moved closer to her, as the urgency in his voice increased, but almost immediately he pulled back, wincing.

"I don't know! I must've fainted after I used it. And I didn't have it when I woke up. Luz must've taken it." She replied quickly, making sure to keep him focused on her and their conversation.

"Then you have to find her. Those... things appeared after we used it. Maybe if you destroy it, you could destroy them."

"But what about you? I can't just leave you here like this."

Hunter looked away, suddenly unable to face her. Even though it was keeping him from... "...It doesn't matter. The sooner you find the human and destroy that thing, the better. So go!"

"I'm not leaving you alone. Not after what happened earlier. You could-"

"Look at me! I can't walk! Even with the cruch, I'll slow you down!" He raised his voice, gesturing to himself, but (unfortunately) she remained insistent.

"Then I'll carry you! Come on!" She raised her voice as well, as she tried to pull him up, but (unfortunately) he wouldn't move.

"Why can't you just do as you're told?! You're wasting time! Just GO!"

"Why? So you can keep hurting yourself in peace?!"

...!

This time, Hunter was the one who pulled away. A series of frustrated breaths trying, and failing, to hold back the bitter words at the tip of his tongue. "So what if I do it...? What... does it matter?! You're going to get rid of it anyway, what's a few minutes more? And besides, don't you have your own issues to work through?! You said it yourself, and I saw it! You're no better than I am! So why don't you deal with them and let me deal with mi-?!"

"STOP!" Amity cut him off, her voice tense and just as bitter. "You're right, okay?! I don't deal with my issues! And I don't, because I don't know how! Believe me, I've tried to, even before all this! And I still feel guilty and like a burden, because I think I'm putting everyone in danger! I still sometimes wake up in a cold sweat, from nightmares about being back to the Manor, or losing everyone I care about, or being the person I used to be! And I'm still afraid that one day, one of them will come true..."

The more she went on, the lower her voice was getting. Until she felt a tightness in her throat that kept her from talking any more. She wasn't pulling at the necklace, so why-?

"This isn't a dream, Mittens. This is real. I'm here. And I'm not leaving without you. I will always be here, until you come to your senses and return ho-"

"STOP! Just stop! I've had enough!" She suddenly screamed, covering her ears and closing her eyes, unaware of the hand that was reaching out to her.

"What's wrong? Now you care? What were you going to say before? 'Deal with your own issues and let me deal with mine.'? You're getting what you wanted. Let her deal with this herself."

Hunter withdrew his hand a little, shaking beneath that painful grip. But...

...

Those sounds...

One low, another soft. Both familiar.

The Blight girl... she was crying. She was trying to fight it, she was trying not to make a sound, squeezing her eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. But they were still coming.

And his palisman... he was still on her shoulder. But he was staring at him. At his hesitant hand and then his even more hesitant eyes. And there was something odd in his gaze. A plea... and at the same time an encouragement.

Hunter stayed focused on that gaze, which only caused his hesitation to increase, as he quickly looked away (behind him).

"Stop lying!" Amity screamed again, now turning away and curling up in a ball, as a sob escaped her.

Great... Because that was all that was missing right now...

She was trying to keep it together, she was trying to be (or at least look) strong and ignore this, but no! She just had to break down! In front of... someone that wasn't Luz...

"But where's the lie? Hasn't your human left you? Hasn't the Golden Guard made it clear that he doesn't want or need your help? Hasn't the Owl Lady not come back yet? I'd venture that she hasn't, because she's waiting until you are gone... Maybe that's why your human left too...!"

"I said STOP!" She made a move to stand up, but then felt something pulling her back. Something shaky but tight, holding onto her upper arm.

And when she turned around, prepared to pull away, prepared to see her Mother... she saw the Golden Guard.

Worried and lost, as if he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Or even what he already did just now.

"What... What are you doing?" She asked, wiping her eyes and pulling her arm away.

He didn't answer, suddenly looking terrified, the hand on his shoulder trembling.

"Yes. What are you doing? You wanted her to go, didn't you? So let her. Haven't you hurt her enough too?"

"I... I don't know either..." Hunter sighed against his better judgement, feeling like he wanted to throw up. But at the same time, as strange as it was, it almost felt... freeing. "If it makes any difference, I don't know how to deal with... anything myself. Let alone all that's happening right now."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

He shrugged, an unreadable expression momentarily clouding his face. "I guess... because I didn't know if I could say anything else. I'm not very good at... at..."

"Comfort?" She ventured, giving him a surprised glance, which he returned with a slow nod, before turning away again. "Apparently neither am I..."

"Well, for what it's worth... I think you did a lot better than I did."

She sighed a laugh with half a smile, which faded the next second. "Thanks, I guess."

"Don't mention it." Hunter almost half-smiled too, for a short second forgetting everything.

"And I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not being... much of help." The amount of regret in her voice almost made him feel guilty. No one had ever told him anything like that. He was always the one who did to... And she was telling it now. Now that he...

"It's not like I asked you for anything like that in the first place. Don't think about it. I'm f-... I can take it. I always do..."

"Wait, so this has really happened before?"

...!

...!

No...! Not again!

No response. No breath. Nothing. Just instant, crushing regret. A stronger pain returning on his shoulder. And a cold voice in his ear.

"You really can't help it, can you?"

"How many times has... Belos, the real Belos, done this to you?"
"You're ashamed and you have every reason to be. You're a weakling who can't do anything right and even more of a weakling for not accepting it. So go ahead and tell her. Let her know how pathetic, useless and selfish you truly are!"

"...It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!" Hunter kept repeating, as though he was mostly trying to convince himself, the desperation in his voice increasing every time.

"It's okay, it's okay! I'm-"

"Oh, now look what you've done, Mittens. Was this what you planned? You know, if you're still so desperate to help, there's always the choice to get up and leave. It's what you do best after all."

Amity gritted her teeth, exasperated and exhausted of hearing her Mother's voice. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, shaking and already preparing the fire spells. Which were festering with her every breath. But as her gaze drifted to the side...

...

There was this chirp on her shoulder. The cardinal was still there, changing his look from an angry glare to something softer. Something... worried? And it seemed to be towards her. She was certain he was worried about the Golden Guard, but he seemed to worry for her too (?).

He kept looking between the two, and Amity could feel his frustration at not being able to actually tell her what he meant. But yet, she somehow understood. Maybe because, if she was being honest... she knew.

So she moved closer.

"What do you think you're doing?! You're just going to make things worse! What are you even going to say this time?!"

"Hey... I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."

And I end it at a cliffhanger. Again. Because I can. Sorry again for the late update, but I hope the wait was worth it (Side note, thanks for the reviews and for your patience. :) ). Next chapter will probably take a while too, since college starts again for me now, but... you know what, nevermind, I don't want to jinx it. See you later everyone! Please leave a review and stay safe! Byeeee! :)