Yuuma screams as the spear embeds itself into her flesh. It's ironic, watching her suffer the same fate I had during our date. The crimson blood that drips from her wound was flung around as she thrashed, trying to remove the foreign body in her. Somehow, her blood seems dirty…
"What are you idiots waiting for. Let that kid go." The man in charge orders the three, and they scramble to see his words become reality. It wasn't long before I was back on my feet, unbound.
"Sir," The man in the trench coat spoke up. "This boy… look at his left arm. Isn't that 'The Boosted Gear'?"
"I noticed. In fact, I'm shocked you dimwits managed to subdue him, and get him chained up in this half baked dungeon. How did that happen?" I was subtly disregarded as the man conversed with the three, but I didn't mind. I was more drawn to Yuuma's suffering.
I drew closer to her, watching her suffering grow weaker as she ran out of energy. I knew how it felt. Her puddle of blood grew larger and her twisted expression slowly reverts to that of the girl who had asked me out on a date. Except, she had made a face I had yet to see her make. Tears flood her eyes, and she focuses on just me and my presence.
"Issei! Please… Please kill me. I can't take this pain anymore, and I know it's only going to get worse. Just end my suffering, you can do it right?" I see her pleading eyes, but I'm not sure how I feel about them.
"I don't know Yuuma. I know you deserve to die, but I would never kill you." I draw closer to her, and my words seem to break something inside her. "Something I can do though, is hold your hand while you go."
"JUST KILL ME ISSEI!" Whatever was holding back her twisted emotions earlier was tossed aside. "I DESERVE TO DIE FOR I'VE DONE, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST KILL ME!" She unravels into an ugly sight, spewing bloody spit and snot, as her makeup was ruined by her flooding tears, and her hair became tangled and undone.
I didn't say a word as I kneel beside her. I reach out to her, and grab her hand, forcefully keeping it within my grasp as she suffers. Her eyes dart across the room, desperate to find a way to die as she still thrashes about. She looks from me to the spear, to the man who had done this to her, to the ceiling, and to empty space. I wonder what she's thinking in this moment, but I don't care enough to ask her out loud.
Goosebumps rise up all across my body as the air grows tense between us. I notice it immediately. A crazed glint emerges in her eyes, like nothing matters anymore. She pulls me closer, to say something quietly to me, her voice seemingly growing weaker.
"I killed them, you know." Her grin was wicked, showing her bloody teeth. "Your sweet parents couldn't get half as far as you did before I caught them."
The room grew silent. I didn't know it, but the man in charge stopped talking halfway with the others. My grip subconsciously tightens on her hand, and my expression warps, but no words came from my mouth.
"I went to ask them if they knew what your sacred gear was. If you had ever done anything special, something not humanly possible. They were so mean~ Calling me a demon of all things! 'I'm a fallen angel!' I told them, but they just kept yelling, so I shut them up permanently. They were just as useless as you, Issei…" After she admits to murder, her grin grew three sizes.
My grip on her hand grew exponentially tighter, and it began to give under the pressure. Perhaps she couldn't feel the bones in her hand break, but she could see my expression. She snickers… and giggles… and laughs… and howls. Before I could process what was going on, another spear cut her circus short, this one aimed at her head.
Her hand shook for a moment, before going limp in mine, but I couldn't let it go. Her laughter still echoes in my mind, bouncing around on repeat, over and over. The silence is deafening. I don't want to think, to imagine if what she said was true or not.
I wouldn't put it past her to lie to me, she lied when she told me she loved me once before. But my heart fears that this time, her lips speak no falsehoods.
I fall backwards, scrambling away from her. Her limp hand hits the ground like thunder as I turn and set my sights on getting out of this dungeon. Yuuma's compatriots part to let me through, but the man in charge blocks my path intentionally.
"You need to calm down, right now." He reaches out and grabs at me, but what's been festering inside me refuses to simmer down. Rage, like an inferno, a fire that cannot be extinguished. Somehow, the man in front of me reminds me of the dragon in my dream, but I don't care. I lash out at him all the same. I catch him off guard, wildly swinging my left arm into his gut.
"Nngh!" He grunts as he staggers backwards across the room, and trips over his own feet. With the obstacle removed, I sprint out to where I assume the exit is. "Kid, wait, come back! God damnit!"
I know where I am as soon as I manage to exit the building. Who would've guessed I'd be imprisoned in the church of all places? But I strike the thought from my mind quickly. There are more important things on my mind.
My house is a good distance from the church, over halfway across town, but my legs are far quicker than they should be. Whatever awakened inside of me alongside this gauntlet seems to supply me with all the energy I need. Despite that, I haven't eaten in days, and I haven't stood on my own two feet for just as long.
It isn't long before my legs catch fire, and then my lungs. My heart is beating arhythmically, and my mind falls to shambles. I cannot think, or breathe properly, but there is a force driving me forwards. I haven't cried in probably a decade, but my tears show up tonight. I'm having a panic attack.
Eventually, I arrive at my house, only to find the man from earlier once again blocking my path. He's adamant about pissing me off it seems. I don't know how he got here faster than me, but he's definitely already been inside. His disappointed and angry look supports Yuuma's words from before. The door is open behind him, and I'm desperate to get around him.
"Get out of the way." If looks could kill, the man would have died the moment I arrived.
"You don't want to go in there. Just come with me alright?" His arms are raised in defiance of me.
"I've never wanted anything more than this. I'm going inside. Get out of the way, now." I draw closer to him. My nose can smell it now, the blood in the air.
"You can go in, but you need to calm down first. You don't understand what's happening right now."
"JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE CALM RIGHT NOW? I NEED TO SEE WHAT SHE DID!" I've never screamed the way I am now. My blood is boiling, and I'm becoming lightheaded. I barge right through the man, shoving him to the side as I enter the house. My nose follows the scent of blood to the living room, where bloodstains become visible to me.
As I lay eyes upon the devastation, I draw blanks. I'm blind to my own rage, and I'm choking on my tongue. My tears redouble, and my knees give out beneath me. I'm exhausted, and I'm full of energy. The adrenaline pumping through my veins blocks out all the pain, and yet it hurts more than anything I've ever felt before.
My parents died at the hands of that sadistic woman, and I comforted her until she died. My parents were clearly tortured, but she got off with an easy quick death. My mind brings me to the last interaction I had with my parents. I was distraught that they didn't remember the girl I went on a date with, so I had blown them off. I regret it. I haven't told either of them I loved them in a while. They had died because of this thing on my arm. She never would have sought me out if I didn't have it.
As I draw my attention to the gauntlet on my left arm, I notice it's become flesh like. Crimson scales have sprouted up to my shoulder, and veins grow on the gauntlet I can't get off my hand. My fear grows, and I'm thrown in a loop. My panic attack reaches its peak, and I begin to scream.
"Fuck, he can't handle it. Shut him down." I look behind me and see two figures. The man in charge, and a silver haired woman looking at me with disdain and disappointment.
Her arm stretches out to me, and my blood threatens to leave my body.
[DIVIDE]
AN: Vali is a girl. Thanks for reading.
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