Darkness, that was all that she could see.
Cold, it was all that she could feel.
Her chest clenched as she let out a breath.
She moved her hands. Something was restricting them. Same as her legs.
She couldn't quite recall what had happened, her mind still hazy. She slowly opened her eyes, letting a dim light enter her vision. Yet, even when her vision was blurry, something felt odd.
The room was smaller than she had remembered. The walls bear a different color, with none of the familiar furniture that she had grown used to seeing every morning. But the most telling was her bed, or rather, the lack of it. She was laying firmly on the ground, and with that, she reached a conclusion.
This wasn't her room.
Her mind fully awake by this revelation, her body jolted upwards. She took in her surroundings with her eyes wide open this time, scanning for any possible clue to tell her where she was. She clocked her head to the right, then to the left, they both were the same texture. She looked back seeing a wall facing her, no windows on any of it. Then she turned back straight, and it was then that she finally noticed…her.
Her body immediately tenses up. She can feel every single hair on her skin beginning to raise upwards, as a sickening chill ran down her spine. What she was looking at was something that came straight out of a horror movie.
There a woman sat, her posture straight and her legs tucked neatly below her. There were no sudden movements or perhaps, lack of any movement. She was perfectly still, a visible smile etched onto her face.
"Good morning, Kiana-chan." The woman spoke, her voice hauntingly cheery in tone. Kiana kept her mouth shut as she kept her gaze on Mei.
"Did you have a good sleep? I hope the cold didn't bother you too much, it is getting a bit colder these days." Mei tilted her head to the side. "Also, I hope you can forgive my rather rash actions last night. I had no ill intentions to hurt you in any way, so I really didn't know what had gotten over me. I pray that we can still-"
"Why?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you doing this?" Kiana spoke, suppressing the intense fear that threatened to invade her every word.
This wasn't the first time she had asked this. Kiana's memory skuttered, bringing back a piece of memory not too long ago. It was about the same thing that she had asked here. So there were really not many reasons she was asking it again, she knew that.
But despite knowing the answer, she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it. She needed to hear the answer again. To confirm that what she had heard was the truth.
The woman gazed at her for a moment, tilting her head slightly. She seemed almost confused by that question, but regardless, she regained her composure, her smile returning once more.
"You don't have to go such a roundabout way of asking me you know? I can say it to you as many times as you like."
"...Why…" Kiana said, though it came out more of a whisper. She clenched her hand, anticipating the answer, silently begging for it to not be what she was thinking.
"It's simple. It's because…"
Please…
"...I love you, my Kiana-chan~"
"..."
No words left Kiana's mouth, as she blankly stared at the woman. She waited, hoping for the silence to be broken. She waited for the woman to suddenly laugh and told her that it was just a joke. That it was to mess with her. Kiana so desperately wanted it to be a joke.
Yet that never came. All that there was was an uninterrupted silence. Yet that silence was all the confirmation that she needed.
Mei was not lying. She had meant what she said. Down to every last syllable. Even now, she can still almost make out the slight red permeated through her cheeks, almost like she was happy to say that. This was no bluff, nor a way to confuse her. This was a confession, one that came from the deepest parts of Mei's heart.
And that terrified Kiana.
The very fact that she was kidnapped did not have anything to do with her parents nor her family, but her. She was the target and the reward, the one and only trophy that the woman so desired. She felt her skin crawl and her stomach churned. She felt nauseous as the unbearable silence continued to envelop the two.
Mei however, seemed perfectly ok. If anything, her smile seems to have grown even wider, as she continued to lock her gaze towards Kiana. It felt like she was enjoying watching her, paying attention to her every move. This only serves to make Kiana all the more scared of her.
Then she got up.
Kiana jolted upon seeing that, a whimper came out from her mouth. She then frantically moved backwards, trying desperately to make distance away from the woman, but it was useless. She quickly hit a dead end, as Mei casually towered over the girl.
She then leaned down, her face only inches from Kianas. She thought of pushing the woman away, but the events that went down last night discouraged her, as she feared for the repercussions that may come from her actions. And so, with no other choice, she held her breath and closed her eyes, fearing for what would happen next.
Click
"...Huh?"
She reopened her eyes, glancing down towards her body. She noticed the ropes on her legs were released, leaving her able to fully stretch her legs in what seemed like forever. Confusion washed over her, as she turned her attention back towards the woman, still holding that ever present smile.
"I'll make up for what happened yesterday, but first, let's get you a nice warm shower shall we?" Mei says, proceeding to lessen the binds on her hands, making sure that it was still tight enough to prevent the girl from prying it open.
"Of course, I need you to be a good girl for me and don't squirm too much. Can you do that for me?"
"..."
Silence fell on them, as Kiana nervously stared at the woman. But soon enough, she slowly nodded to her.
Mei smiled at that, before saying.
"Alright, then please follow me then." She then heads out of the room, her hands still firmly holding onto Kianas, dragging her along.
Footsteps echoed across the floor, accompanied by silence between the two girls.
One held onto the other's hand, careful as to not tread too quickly, savoring the feeling of their hands meeting. The other quietly and reluctantly followed, her head held low, yet her gaze was slightly erratic.
Kiana glanced over the room they passed. It was big yet so empty, decorated with only the bare minimum of things, suited to be the living room. On the other side was a small and compact kitchen, with a long kitchen stretching along it.
Some doors were left closed, the content inside remains a mystery to Kiana. She thought about where the woman might have kept her phone and her bag somewhere, but quickly came to the conclusion that she most likely had thrown it away already. Which means the only other way to call for help is either through a nearby phone somewhere here….or even her phone.
But calling for help is one thing, finding a way to escape is another. She needed to know where the exit was, and most importantly, when the time was right for her to enact her escape. She needs to find a way out, no matter what.
First, the bindings.
It was made out of rope, so if she could get her hands on something sharp enough, she might be able to cut through it. Though she would need to pick the proper time where she would have ample enough chance to do so, and even more, somehow getting her hands on that kind of object.
Second, the pathway.
She needed to locate the door that leads outside. Luckily, every time the woman would enter the house, she could distinctly hear the door creaking open. From that, she would be able to deduce the distance between them and eventually figure out which one is the answer. Overall, it won't be too difficult.
It's the third thing that she needed to worry about the most. Mei.
Kiana gazed up at the woman in front as she thought. Right now, the best chance that she would have to escape is whenever the woman is not home, but perhaps even more importantly, she needs to let her lower her guard. If she doesn't see her showing too much resistant and be docile enough, she might just let her roam a bit more freely, and perhaps, even let her out of her binds.
Of course, in any normal case, you shouldn't even rely on such an insane tactic, but this isn't normal. Kiana figures that if she could lure her into enough of a comfortable mood, things may become more advantageous to her. Though this may come with unexpected risk, risks that she may or may not be prepared for, but she needed to try either way.
That sinking feeling is still there.
Like a never ending bell ring, Mei's haunting words still echoed in her mind. It was both a reminder of just who she is dealing with and the terror that she may have yet to truly see. She wants to get out of here as soon as she can, for she felt afraid of what might transpire the longer she stays.
The woman's demeanor, her actions and words, her almost nonchalant way of addressing things and the awfully cheerful tone she held whenever she looked at her. All of it can seemingly flip off as soon as Kiana shows an inkling of resistance, leaving only pure emotionless, almost instinct driven conviction in her movements.
It utterly horrified her.
She couldn't comprehend the woman, no matter how she tried. The more she thought about rationalizing her behavior, the scarier the woman became. Yet only now, finally confirming her words again and again, only now that she knows such a horrible action was driven not from any crazed or cruel acts of violence. But through pure and genuine affection to her, and it helped her understand just how bad of a situation she has gotten herself into.
Every moment she spends with this person, her body and mind is in constant stress and anxiety, always keeping conscious of any of her actions. It was utterly exhausting and frequently led to her barely able to keep herself awake, let alone follow through with any kind of plan. She blamed this as being the sole reason why she could not tell how many days had passed since the kidnapping. She can only pray that it hasn't been too long.
Suddenly, the footsteps stop, along with the person in front of her. Snapping out of her thoughts, Kiana nervously looked towards the woman, as she turned her head back to her.
"We're here~" She said before opening the door in front, revealing the inside.
It was a standard looking bathroom, with a shower head placed at the end of the it. There was a slide separating the room, showing the place where the clothes are to be discarded before entering. There was even a washing machine here.
"I already made sure the water temperature and everything else to be perfect, so you don't have to worry."
"...how.." Kiana muttered.
"Hmm?" The woman tilted her head, before realizing.
"Oh, you mean those binds? No worries, I'll thoroughly clean you up."
"...huh?" Kiana looked at her wide-eyed, confused following her mumbled words. Fear came next as the woman simply gave a small chuckle.
"You can't exactly clean yourself with your hands like that, right? Then allow me to help you with it. I'll be sure to be as discreet as possible."
"...".
"What's wrong? Why is your face getting so pale, Kiana-chan? Is everything alright?"
The woman's words slowly faded into the background, as Kiana's heart raced against her chest. Trembling, her lips barely closing, she slowly backed away. All to stay further away from her, trying to calm herself down.
She wanted to run. She wanted to scream her lungs out and run as fast as she could, anywhere to get away from her. But doing so would just be a foolish move, for there was no way for her to escape, and she would only be further restrained by the woman, or even worse. There was no other choice but to simply follow her notions.
And so, gripping her hands together to calm down her shakiness, she spoke in a whisper tone.
"...could you…take my clothes off?" Kiana asked, her voice so timid and weak that it felt like she was about to cry.
As soon as she uttered those words, the woman's face twitched, and her lips spread even wider than before. She quickly hid it under her hand however, before facing the girl.
"Of course, Kiana-chan~" Mei says, moving towards the girl.
"Now, where do you want me to start first?"
"...The…shirt please…" Kiana whispered, averting her gaze as far away from the woman as possible.
"Mmm." Mei hummed, reaching her hands towards her. Grabbing a hold of the girl's binded hands, she gently lifts them.
Taking off the small tie around her neck, Mei then moves her hands down. Hovering over to the buttons, she unbuckles them. One by one, she exposed more and more of the girl's skin, occasionally glazing her fingers on the girl's stomach. Everytime the girl would flinch in response, causing Mei to lightly giggle.
She proceeds to remove the last few remaining buttons, reaching her chest. Taking an abnormally long pause, Mei then moved towards the final few buttons.
Unbuttoning them reveals a white bra, modestly strapped onto the girls. It was adorable, Mei thought, as she turned her attention towards the girl. Her face hidden to the sides, yet she could still see the slight trembles present on her face. She was trying her best to stay calm, adding more onto her already adorable stature.
Though, I don't want to tease her too much. I'll just get this done quickly then.
With such thought in mind, Mei carefully held Kian's hands, before untightening her binds. Kiana turned her head back upon feeling her hands freed, before glancing up to meet Mei's gaze.
"It's easier to take these off without it." Mei casually says, before unclipping the girl's bra.
That seemingly caused a reaction to the girl, as she immediately moved her hands towards her chest, preventing the bra from falling completely. Her hands were now trembling, as she began to breathe even harder than before.
Oh dear, perhaps I went overboard? Mmm….unfortunate, but I suppose I shouldn't push her too hard.
"You can handle the rest, Kiana-chan."
"...really?" Kiana says in genuine surprise, to which Mei smiles.
"I don't want to make you too flustered now do I? It's ok, I'll turn this way for you to be comfortable." She then turns her back, letting Kiana to her own devices.
The girl stared at Mei for a long moment, trying to see if this was a trick. But seeing as it was not, she lets out a sigh, her hands untightening. She then carefully took off the rest of her clothing.
Though, deep inside, she prepared for the eventual dread that she will experience, as she enjoys these last few moments of calmness within her.
Water poured onto the white floor tile, as the air around her became submerged with white smoke.
Feeling the warm stream flow down onto her skin, Kiana breathed, some droplets falling down from her chin as she did. The water was cold, so very cold. She could feel her senses getting numb with each passing second.
Yet, that was not the most worrying. She paid little attention to the lack of feelings on her palms or feet. She felt nothing as she held her arms tightly around her chest, her nails digging into her skin as blood began to trickle down. No, she couldn't bring herself to feel it, for her mind was occupied by something else.
Another splash of water poured onto her head, blurring her vision. As the stream traveled down onto her spine, she felt the warmth of another human glaze her back. Her breathing hitched at their touch, as her nails dug deeper into her arms.
Feeling the warm hand move across her shoulders, flinching with every movement. Closing her eyes as she holds her breath, desperately trying to get it under control, yet failing to do so as another pool of water falls onto her.
This cycle continued for what felt like an eternity, until suddenly a voice called to her.
"Kiana-chan." The female voice hummed, dangerously close to the back of her neck, causing shivers to run down her spine. Kiana held her breath, waiting for her next words.
"Would you mind turning over here for me? I need to make sure it's all properly washed."
Those words rang like daggers, striking her ears as she bit her lips. There was nothing she could do, she was left with the only choice of obeying the woman's words, lest she wanted to push her to be more forceful in her commands.
So with great delay, she slowly turned around, the woman's face coming into view. Her deep blue hair swayed behind her, as her eyes gazed at Kiana, a sense of fondness and gentleness always exuding from her gaze. Though it did not bring any comfort to the girl, only terror for what's to come.
With a smile, Mei then pulls the showerhead closer to Kiana, letting the stream of water flow onto the girl's body. The two stood close to each other, their eyes occasionally meeting, their face almost close enough to feel each other's breath.
Kiana prayed for this to end. She so desperately wants to run away, to get as far as she could from all this. From her. Yet the consequences of her actions if she were to do so constantly dangled in front of her mind, keeping her in place, not moving an inch. Despite her body screaming for her to run, her mind could not make that decision to do so.
As she tried to calm herself down with steady breaths, something began to touch her arms. Her eyes widen as she looks down, seeing another hand placed on hers. Looking towards the source, she spots the woman still smiling at her, the gentle expression never once dissipating.
"You're gripping a bit too tight Kiana, the water isn't flowing in." Mei says, her hand firmly placed on Kiana's arms.
"...Please…"
"Hmm?" The woman hummed, waiting for the girl to continue.
"...Can you…let me do it myself…?" Kiana asked, her voice trembling. A slight sting was beginning to be felt from her arms, as she waited for the woman's response.
Mei's expression dulled for a second, completely unreadable to her. Even so, it was enough to almost send her into a panic attack, as her lips stayed apart, fumbling to pierce out another word. Yet, in the next moment, Mei's expression returns to that of a cheerful one.
"If you prefer to do it yourself, then that's fine to me. I will be here if you need any help." She muttered before handing the showerhead to Kiana, who hesitated before grasping the handle. She then quickly turned away.
A small sigh of relief washed over Kiana, as her breathing steadied. The woman still seemed willing to let her do what she wants, so long as it isn't too outrageous. This was important. She would need to carefully test just how far this limit would go before making any actual actions.
For now though, she cherished the small amount of freedom she still has, as she began to wash herself away. She finally feels the self-inflicted pain on both her arms, yet somehow it gives a bit of comfort to her. This was her own warmth, not anyone else.
And so, Kiana silently washed the rest of herself away, making sure that she doesn't move around too much. She never noticed the slight frown on Mei's face, as she stood quietly observing her.
"Here, I already prepared the clothes for you." Mei said, rummaging through the nearby stacked casket.
Kiana stood behind her, a towel wrapped around her body. Her hair was still soaked, still not properly dried yet.
The woman then hands her the clothes, before moving towards the doorway.
"I'll prepare our breakfast, don't take too long alright?" Mei says before opening the door.
As the woman finally vanished behind the door, Kiana collapsed onto the floor, taking in the breath that she didn't know she had deprived herself of.
Her body shook and trembled, as her hands shook with every inhale. She squinted her eyes, feeling the mistyness from it.
Her mind was racing all that time that now, she can barely form coherent thoughts. She was exhausted. And yet, she forced her eyes open. She turned her head to her side, looking slightly above.
There she saw a small window frame, its glass muddled. She could still make out the blue sky, trying and failing to lift her body up. Regardless, she wouldn't be able to escape from there, it's way too small for her to fit through.
She looked around the bathroom, trying to find any objects that she could use. Yet she could find nothing, as the room was abnormally empty of any material. The only thing present was a large casket filled with clothes that wouldn't come of any use. She wondered for a moment if the woman had thought about this and already hid everything away, but promptly shook her head. She didn't want to imagine an image of her right now.
She then slowly lifts herself back up, before turning her attention towards the clothes. It was a simple white t-shirt, accompanied by green shorts. She didn't think much of it as she put them on, until she realized something was slightly off.
"...This shirt is too big."
Spreading her arms wide, there was still quite an open space flowing through her. It made it difficult to keep the shirt to stay on her shoulders, especially when she was no longer wearing anything else underneath. She couldn't find any around her either.
….Did she…
She didn't continue that thought, or perhaps she didn't want to. Regardless, she got it to work enough, and promptly opened the door, heading out to where the sound was coming from, bracing herself for what's to come.
"You're here! Come, sit down, I'm just about done with everything." Mei cheerfully said, motioning Kiana to sit on the nearby table.
She returned her attention back to the kitchen as the girl moved along, humming a sweet tone to herself as she did so. Her apron swayed back and forth as she glided across the kitchen, putting everything in their neat places, taking her time to make sure everything was right.
Kiana sat in silence, her eyes occasionally darting over to the woman. Everytime she would do so however, she quickly broke her gaze away before being noticed. She needed to put her mind somewhere else.
She glanced towards her side, noticing a door at the far end of the room. When the two were walking over to the bathroom, she had already taken in her surroundings, noting down any possible routes of escape. The only places she had yet to see was beyond that door. She pondered the possibility of it being the door leading to the outside, though it could very well be another room. She recounted what she had seen.
Living room, kitchen and bathroom, leaving only a bedroom and perhaps other places left. If that door leads to not salvation, but another dead end, she needs to make sure she isn't caught in the act.
Again, the chance of her plan ever going to work boils down to the woman's presence, something she had really no control over. She bit her lip, frustrated by this simple thought. Is there really no other possible way?
She turned her head away from the door, her mind still preoccupied with those thoughts. It took a second to realize the woman's face was closed in onto hers.
"Something wrong, Kiana-chan?" Mei asked in a gentle tone, though it still greatly startled Kiana. The girl promptly shook her head.
"Mmm, alright then." She relents, moving to sit onto the chair opposite of her.
"I made you your favorites, let's enjoy our first breakfast together shall we?"
"..."
It was curry again, albeit a different texture. Kiana nervously looks up, noticing Mei still staring at her. She figures the woman won't relent until she takes a bite, and so, with reluctance, she holds up a spoon and slowly digs into the dish.
She gently placed it onto the tip of her tongue, enough to just lick it. Sweetness, with a hint of spice. She then slid the spoon into her mouth.
"How is it?" Mei asked.
"...good…" Kiana softly whispered.
"That's great then~. Well, don't be shy, eat as much as you like."
"Right…"
With that, Mei finally began to eat her portion, as calm silence fell onto both of them. Kiana continued eating little sips, occasionally catching glimpses of Mei looking at her while she eats. Despite still being fearful, her hunger was beginning to set in after the first spoon, and before she knew it, she was well on her way to finishing her bowl.
"...hehe." Mei giggled, catching Kiana's attention.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just really happy seeing you enjoy it so much." Mei chimed, a smile ever so present on her face. "I do wish that Bronya could join us too. That way, the three of us can finally be together again. But I suppose that would be difficult considering our circumstances."
"..."
"Oh well, that time will come in due time. As for now, I just want to enjoy seeing you happy with me~"
"...happy?"
Happy? Together with her? How could she…after all this… how could she…
Kiana couldn't understand even now. Even after three weeks under this roof, she still could not understand the person that is Raiden Mei. She felt confused, scared, frightened and shocked, seemingly through every word or action that the woman made. It gave her painful headaches as she continued to lay inside this house.
And yet, she could never seem to see that. She could never seem to realize how much pain and agony she was putting her through. How her actions tore away everything that Kiana had ever loved and cared about. How she had forced her away from the ones she swore to be better for, to become something more for. Everyone, everything, all ripped away from her grasp, as she is dragged away and into this woman's arms.
After all that, she could still say that she would be happy being with the woman? How? How is that possible? How could she be so utterly blind to not see? Is she intentionally not seeing it? Could she be insane? The possibility could very well be that, but somehow, Kiana couldn't be sure. Her actions were manic, yet never irrational. Her demeanor is frightening and pure terror, yet never once chaotic or destructive. She can act in such terrible ways, and yet still be able to pull off incredibly normal actions and emotions. Human emotions.
Kiana couldn't understand that.
Another thought flew into her head, one that took precedence over everything else. One that mattered more than anything else. It was the thought of the ones she actually loved.
What are they doing? How are they feeling? How devastated must they be finding out that she is gone? Are they still looking for her? Is there any clue or trail that could even remotely give them a chance to find her?
Could she even be saved?
She thought of her family's faces. All their warm faces and happy expressions, lovingly gazing at Kiana with genuine happiness. She missed those faces, she missed seeing them if only ever so briefly. To know that despite everything, she was still loved by them.
She thought about her friends, the ones that continued to stay by her side across her ups and downs. Liliya, Rozaliya, the friends she had made, and who continues to be with her, how are they feeling? Are they heartbroken by this? A part of her prayed that they didn't, as she couldn't bear to think of them being so devastated to not be able to go about their lives.
It's almost funny. She had promised to be better. To get better. To improve herself so that she wouldn't have people worrying over her well-being. To trouble others with her own troubles and to be able to stand on her own two feets, working alongside them instead of behind them. She was so sure that she could do it…and yet, in the end, she is just causing more pain and misery to those dear to her.
She had accomplished nothing but causing heartbreaks.
She had done nothing but shatter their hopes in her.
She had been nothing but a burden to everyone's hearts, weighing them down every passing day that she is gone.
In the end, she is only known as Kiana Kaslana, the one that brought pain to everyone around her. All because she was too dumb to realize the danger.
"...How could I…deserve happiness after all that…"
Kiana whimpered, her voice trailed off into the void. Her heart sank lower than it had ever gone as she lowered her head, closing herself off from the world. She didn't deserve it. Not a single bit of it. For she had done nothing to earn it. This was simply the reality check that she was required to see that.
"Kiana…chan?" Mei's voice rang out to her, the sounds of floor creaking as she did.
"Are you alright?"
No response. Only dead silence enveloped the room…and sounds of sniffing.
Kiana's tears fell onto the chair as she broke down. She could no longer think of anything else now, her mind overwhelmed by her own uselessness to do anything right. Muffled sounds came and went.
She didn't want to think about anything anymore. She just wanted to be left alone. To wallow in her own disgusting self-pity. To despair for no one but herself to see. That is all that she wanted.
And yet, she felt warmth gently wrap around her body. She didn't think much of it, her mind occupied by the tears constantly pouring down. That is until that warmth began to grab ahold of her head, lifting it up.
Her vision blurred, she could barely make out what was in front of her. She tried to push back, not wanting to deal with anything else right now. But their grip was firm, preventing her from escaping. Giving up her futile attempts, she sat and let them do what they wanted.
Then she felt something wet slide across her cheeks.
At first, she thought it was just her tears. But as the pressure started to increase, she realized it wasn't that. It became obvious once that thing began to move upwards.
She wasn't sure how to react to it. Her mind was a jumbled mess, so she only stumbled and let it continue whatever it was doing, until it reached her eyes. And with a long and careful drag, the tears obstructing her eyes were wiped, letting her see what was happening.
"...Salty." Mei whispered, her tongue visible, a string of saliva still attached to Kiana's cheeks. The girl finally realized what was happening, but her head was in a daze to fully comprehend what had happened.
Mei then wiped away her other eye, before gently placing the girl's head down onto her lap. Kiana let her body be swayed, her mind flip-flopping between uncertainty and submission.
Then, Mei leaned forward.
"It's ok. You can rest."
"...huh?" Kiana finally lets out her voice, a surprise tone came with it.
"You have been hurting all this time, haven't you? And yet, you never wanted anyone to see that you are. You didn't want to be a burden to them, so you hid all of it away. But you don't have to do that with me. It's ok. Just let yourself go." Mei softly muttered, her eyes as gentle as the morning sea.
Kiana felt numb to the woman's words, completely caught off guard by what she said. And yet, she felt no fear from those words. Somehow, despite everything, with all that is going around her, she found comfort from those words. Like they were what she had always wanted to hear.
And so, without any more resistance, Kiana rested her head fully onto Mei's legs, her eyes drifting closed.
It's fine, right?
I could rest, even for just a bit?
Nobody would care if I did anyways, so…
I'm so tired…
With those closing thoughts, Kiana finally fell asleep. For the first time since so long, she fell into a deep slumber.
Time moved along with a steady pace, as the bright sunlight began to dim and fade, leaving way for the encroaching darkness to engulf the land.
Mei sat still, her position unchanged for most of the day. Even so, she did not mind it at all, as a little smile spread across her face.
Laying on her lap was her beloved Kiana, sleeping peacefully. She hadn't seen the girl be so vulnerable and yet calm like this before, so she decided to spend as much time as possible indulging herself, watching over her.
She scanned through every single little detail of Kiana. Every part from her hair to her skin to even down to the tiniest of slight fluctuations between different areas of the girl's pores. She took all the time she had to observe all of it. And right as she was done, night was already fast approaching.
"Mmm, it's so difficult to let you go though…" Mei said, a little sadder that this needed to end. She wanted it to last longer, for Kiana to sleep on her lap for just a bit more, but alas, the girl needed a proper comfortable place to sleep in.
And so, with great reluctance, Mei carefully grabbed hold of Kiana's waist and torso, before gently lifting her up. She then paced herself towards her room, where she would let the girl sleep soundly.
Passing through different corridors, she arrives towards her bedroom. Reaching for the handle, she creaks open the door and paces herself towards the large comfy bed placed in the middle of the room.
"Annnnnd there. Very comfortable isn't it?" Mei chime to the sleeping Kiana, whose response only came in soft breathing.
"You're so adorable~"
Mei brushes against Kiana's hair, feeling the softness of it. After lingering for just a bit longer, she then pulls her hand back.
Now, I should probably clean up the dishes before doing anything el-
Her eyes caught something. Something that she was not privy to witness. She locked her sight on it, her focus intensified.
Weaving between the gaps of the oversized t-shirt, Kiana's chest was slightly visible.
"..."
Mei sat firmly onto the bed, leaning closer to the sleeping girl. She moved her hands towards her, pushing the shirt further away, revealing more of the girl's bare body.
Her expression stiffed, all traces of the cheerfulness that she had once put up were gone, replaced with a sharp, cold stare. It didn't feel like she was looking at another person, but rather, it was more like a predator, finally baring its fangs at its prey that so foolishly let down its guard.
Mei contemplated, her hand still only inches away from directly touching the girl. She has done a good job so far. She had held herself from over exerting herself too much onto the sweet girl in order to get her used to the new environment. Even as every opportunity arises, she patiently and forcefully holds herself from acting upon it, biting her lips to contain her festering desires.
She has done such a wonderful job.
But everyone has their limits that they are bound to reach sooner or later. One can only resist their temptations for so long until they can no longer take it. Especially when that temptation is dangling in front of them, always in reach. Truly, it is a miracle for a person to control themselves for so long.
So it's fine right? She has done a splendid job already, so it's fine to be just a little sloppy now and again right? Surely, just once is alright?
A smile ever so slowly crept onto Mei's face. But unlike every other smile she has given, this one was more genuine, more natural, more relaxed than ever.
It was her true smile.
One born not from any expectations or intentions. No, it was one that came from the deepest parts of her soul, finally being let out for the very first time.
Then came laughter. It echoed through the silent room, growing louder and louder with each passing second. Soon, the laughter began to divulge into a manic cackle, as the overwhelming excitement began to feed into her sanity.
Her eyes were manic. Her pupils dilated as much as it could. She could hardly contain her joyfulness any longer, and she didn't need to anymore. She can finally do what she had always wanted from the very beginning.
Truly, it's good to finally let go.
AN: Ahoy there! And so we are finally back to the present, where things certainly does start to get a little bit more interesting. I hope? Maybe? I'm not even sure really. That said though, it was definitely the longest one to write so far.
I tried to keep a decent pace with my writing but alas, I guess I still need some work on having a consistent schedule. Though if I can't make it in terms of quantity, I'll try to make quality, whatever that means.
I hope that this chapter was able to make you understand each character's minds a little, and perhaps to help understand more of how they operate. It's quite fascinating exploring these unique perspectives in these kinds of situations, as things can go from quite normal to straight terror to the next. Speaking of terror, I hope that I was able to convey even a little bit of Kiana being in this situation is going through and how she feels. If you are able to see Mei as nothing more than a dangerous or a creep, then I shall consider it a success on my part kewk.
With all that though, I sincerely hope that you at least found some enjoyment out of this. Next one might or might not come out sooner, depending on how how I decide to take things to what level. But that is for another time for my future me.
Anyways, I'll see yall in the next one then!
PS: My precious minerals are back. Let's gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-