Predator and Prey

The girl stared at her body, unsure whether she really existed or not.

She was floating in front of me, like a ghost in midnight hour, and her bedazzling state made me unable to turn my eyes away from her.

The dark night lingered on her like a coat, as the shadows hid her body. Only the stars which were brightly shining would give hints of her silhouette.

Still, it was enough for me.

"ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ, ᴛʜɪs ᴅᴏᴇs ɴᴏᴛ sᴏʟᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴘʀᴏsᴘᴇʀᴏᴜs sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴇ ʙᴇғɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɪɴ," she suddenly said.

I knew that of course.

However, take it as a sarcastic joke, my body listened not to my mind and I found myself spellbound, like a mortal would under medusa's gaze, and involuntarily reached out to her.

If I could feel her, then maybe she was real. That thought was what I used to rationalize my actions, but in reality, it was like a black hole that pulled me closer, hands first, and when I couldn't reach her, body right after.

The thin, luxurious blanket which I had wrapped around me fell off, leaving me alone in the cold, but it was not uncomfortable. Rather, the summer night was refreshing on my soul.

ɪ ʟɪғᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʟᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴʟɪɢʜᴛ. ɪғ ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴜᴄᴇɴᴄʏ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴍʏ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʙᴏᴅʏ. ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ.

ɪ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ sᴏᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ sᴋɪᴇs. ᴀs ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴋɪᴅs ᴡʜᴇɴ ɢᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴀs ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛs, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴅɪᴏᴜs ʟɪғᴇs ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪsʜᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴜᴅs, ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ.

ɪ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ, ɪ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ.

ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ, ᴀs ᴡᴀs ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜʟʏ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴅɪsᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴛᴇɴᴀᴄɪᴛʏ ᴄʟɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅᴇᴀʀʟʏ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ, ɴᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴᴛʜ, ʙʏ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪ sᴇᴛ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ʏᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴛʜɪs ᴜɴʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄʜᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ.

sᴏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴍᴇ, ɪ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ. ɪ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ sᴜᴄᴄᴜʙᴜs, ʜᴇʀ ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs sᴇᴅᴜᴄɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍʟᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ.

We both reached towards each other.

Maybe it was because she had not yet learned to control her newfound body, or because it had been too long, but I moved faster.

My hand touched her, and the first thing that connected with my mind was the coldness. A coldness of which the night couldn't compare to, causing me to retract my hand reflexively, as I feared, that I would forget myself in that soothing freshness.

It was a good feeling.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ, ɪ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴀ sᴇɴsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ, sɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ sᴋɪɴ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴅ, ᴀ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ, ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴇssɪɴɢ.

ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ, ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ғᴀʟsᴇ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍs, ɪ ᴠᴇʀɪʟʏ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʙʏss, ɪɴᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sʟᴜɢɢɪsʜ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟʟ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙʏ sɪɴɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ sʜᴏᴠᴇʟᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜs ᴏғ ʜᴇʟʟ, ғᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀ sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴜɴʜᴏʟʏ.

sᴜᴄʜ ɪᴄɪɴᴇss ʟᴇғᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴇ ᴘᴇᴛʀɪғɪᴇᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴜsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɪ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ᴀғғʀɪɢʜᴛ. ɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ —ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ʀɪɢʜᴛʟʏ sᴏ,— ɪғ ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟᴅ sᴛᴀᴛᴜᴇ.

"Eh, weren't you exaggerating a bit too much," I asked her helplessly.

It was the first time that I had ever heard such a detailed description of myself. I admit, at times I may be a bit scarier than others, but I didn't think it would warrant such a reaction.

Ah well, whatever. Couldn't do anything about it.

"ᴡʜᴏ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ," she growled, like a frightened puppy and slowly floated away.

Now that I knew that she had a solid form, I wasn't as frightened as I was before. If anything, I felt my curiosity growing from the sight in front of me. I had for a long time wondered what kind of person the original Agnes was, and I now found myself a once in a lifetime opportunity to verify my hypothesis.

And when I stared at her, I realized that she possessed something awfully cute, a unique charm which I couldn't pinpoint, that just made me want to play with her.

She reminded me a bit of her cousin Raya. No, it was Raya that reminded me of her, as in front of this girl, Raya would seem like a cheap imitation.

ɪ sʜᴜᴅᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀs ᴘʀᴇʏ. ᴡᴀs ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴀᴘᴀʙʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ғᴀᴄᴇ?

ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴛʜɪs ɢɪʀʟ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴡᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ.

She moved faster, but just like last time, not fast enough, and before she could fly away, I caught the girl by her slender waist and pulled her towards me. Her soft and supple skin was stuck between mine.

Again, the crisp cold seeped through her body into my arms and when I held her tightly, I realized that there was a warmth hiding within her.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ ʜᴀᴅ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴍᴇ.

ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ʜᴀɴᴅs ɢʀᴀsᴘᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀɪsᴛ. ᴏɴᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡʀᴀɪᴛʜs ᴏғ ʙʏɢᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴅᴇʀᴇʀs, ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅʟʏ ʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇʟʟ's ɢᴀᴛᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴜɴʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ sᴇᴀʟ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇ.

As gentle as I possibly could, I moved my hands upwards, gliding through her ribs like I was playing the piano. It was like a bit of strength could cause them to snap in half. She flinched, but I continued, with my soft hands, to embrace her gently, imitating a mother who held her newborn.

ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛɪᴍᴇ sʜᴇ ᴘᴀssᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʟᴜɴɢs, ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ғᴏʀ sᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ. ᴀ ʀᴀʀᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴏғ sᴛᴜғғɪɴᴇss ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴀʀʀᴀɢᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴘᴀᴛᴛᴇʀɴ ʜᴀʀᴍᴏɴɪᴏᴜs ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴀɴᴅs.

I felt her bare breasts and drew circles around them. The youthfulness of her petite chest was similar to fluffy bread and delightful like baked cake. Her comforting warmth spread around my fingers and I soon found her beating heart, which pounded fervently.

ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴇᴀʀᴄʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ sᴘᴏᴛs, sʜᴇ ɢʀᴀsᴘᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ sᴘᴏᴛ, ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ, —ɪғ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ.

ɪ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴘʟᴀɴɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ sᴛᴀʏ ᴜɴᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ, ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴘᴀss ᴍᴇ ʙʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs ᴛɪɢʜᴛʟʏ. ʜᴇʀ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏʟᴅ, sᴏᴜʟʟᴇss ʙʟᴀᴅᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴀɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ sʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴘᴜsʜ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪᴛ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍʏ ᴛʜɪɴ sᴋɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪᴘ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ.

I moved closer, until I could hug her completely, my chin embedded into her neck and my hot breath tickling her skin. She sat on my lap, her butt touching me, while I sunk deeper into the silky duvets from the weight she applied on my body.

sᴄᴀʀʏ, sᴄᴀʀʏ.

ɪ ᴡɪsʜᴇᴅ sʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇʀ.

ᴀ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟs ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍʏ sᴏᴜʟ, ᴏʀ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍᴏᴜs ᴠᴀᴘᴏʀ— ᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ sʜᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sʜᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ɪғ sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ sᴄʏᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙʟᴀᴅᴇs ᴏғ ɢʀᴀss, ғᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ sᴡᴇᴇᴘ.

I massaged her tender lips, and pried them open. She tried resisting at first, but I inserted my fingers into her mouth stopping her from shutting it. Lightly, she nibbled them as if tasting a piece of candy.

My other hand slid down her slim belly, like rain droplets on a roof. I reached out for her inner thigh and stroked them with my palms, slowly moving them upwards.

ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴍʏ ʟɪᴘs, ᴇᴠᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴠɪᴠɪᴅ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇʀʏ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀɪʀs ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴇɴᴅ. ᴀ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴏғ ɢᴏᴏsᴇʙᴜᴍᴘs sᴇɴᴅ sʜɪᴠᴇʀs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋsɪᴅᴇ. ɪ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ʙɪᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ʙᴜɢᴅᴇᴅ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ.

ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ ᴡᴀs ɪᴛ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜ?

Everytime I touched her, I felt like I moved another step towards the light, dispersing some of the darkness.

ᴀ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀs ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴍᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss, ᴀ ʜᴏʟᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇsᴛ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅᴇᴅ.

"Hmm, I think your body is certainly real," I said.

"ᴀ-ᴀʜ," she moaned, trying to reply, but forgot that I still had my fingers in her mouth, and I was holding her tongue.

ɪ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ sᴇɴsᴇs, ʜᴇʀ sᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀᴢᴇ.

ɪɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴇʟᴛ sᴏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀs ᴏғ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ. ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴄᴄᴜᴘɪᴇᴅ ɪ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴊᴜᴍᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ. ɪ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ɢʀᴀʙʙɪɴɢ, ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴍʏ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴇᴅ ᴡᴀs sᴏ ғᴀʀ ᴀᴡᴀʏ.

"Hey, where are you leaving to," I asked her, at the same time grabbing her legs.

I did not want to hurt her, but she fell down on her own, slamming her face into the mattress. Thankfully, the many pillows shielded her from truly causing any damage to her frail body.

Using the strength from my arms, I steadily pulled her back, but for some reason she insisted on crawling away, her nails digging into the fabrics, almost ripping holes into them.

In the end, together with a pink frilly blanket, she returned to my side.

"ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ, ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ," she cursed me.

"Calm down, I wasn't really trying harm to you," I told her, but she wouldn't listen.

She was flat on her stomach, while I laid on top of the girl, my chest pressing on her back and my legs entangled in hers.

Like a snake, my arms coiled around her waist and neck, grabbing them tightly. My head leaned onto hers, and my cheeks brushed against hers. I placed my hands on her face and pulled her even closer, her eyes met mine.

The warmth of her naked body enveloped me, a sensuous pleasure permeated into my bones.

"ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ," she uttered and kept struggling, her back would occasionally rise up, as that was the only part she could move. My knee thus unintentionally slid between her legs, slithering through her cushy thighs and pushed on her unclad butt, "ᴏᴡ, ᴏᴡ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ," she screamed loudly, causing my ears to ring, "ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ, ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ, ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ, ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴇɢs ᴀᴡᴀʏ," she kept screaming, but her frantic movements just made me rub my knee on her even more.

"Stop moving, stop moving," I replied in a shrill voice, not sure what to do with this unexpected development.

She bit her lips and her glistening eyes twitched as her eyebrows tugged downwards. She wiggled around, one more time until she lost her energy. Of course, she did not break out of my embrace.

"ɪ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ," she sulkenly said. Her voice devastated.

"I'm sure you will be fine," I assured her.

I did feel a bit bad, but there wasn't a lot I could do, except offer my condolences. In the first place, I didn't really get how she planned on marrying anyone in that form, "I'm really sorry about that."

sʜᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇsᴛ ᴋɪɴ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜɪs ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ. sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʜᴜᴍɪʟɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴅᴀʏ.

"ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢɪʀʟ."

Oh.

Oh no.

She turned her head around, and with a grim expression asked me, "ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢɪʀʟ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ?"

"Whoops," I said and let out an innocent smile.

"ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ," she told me in a deadpan manner. Her eyes lost all luster.

Nope, I wouldn't deal with this. I closed my eyes.

ɪ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ—, ɴᴏ ɪ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ. ɪ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ. ɪ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴀᴅ ʟᴜᴄᴋ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇғᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴅᴇʀ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʟɪғᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ᴠᴇɴɢᴇғᴜʟ sᴘɪʀɪᴛ.

ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇsʟɪᴅs ᴅʀᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ. "ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ," ɪ sʜᴏᴜᴛᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ʟʏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴍᴇ ɢʀᴇᴡ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪᴇʀ, "sᴜʀᴇʟʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴘʟᴀɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏɴ sʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʀɪɢʜᴛ?"

"ʜᴇʟʟᴏ?"

"ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴍᴇ?"

I returned to dreamland.

Another awfully familiar dream appeared.

It was the fork road again, decorated with bedazzling splendor. Jewelry and gold that shone, while I stood between two paths. The rest was pure white.

On one path, again there was Estella, waving for me to come, warm light behind her.

On the other, I saw my sister, smiling silently, while a bright fire burned next to her.

I was caught in another limbo, unable to decide which road to take.

Without me realizing and plagued by the heavy decision, the two paths became time worn and slowly eroded into nothingness.

The gold lost it's shine returning to copper, then to dirt. The clear flowing water dried, and the jewelry disappeared.

Just as I was about to give up, and felt the hopelessness overwhelming me again, lighting struck right between the two roads.

It drew a beautiful blue arc, and hidden behind the flash, I saw the familiar black haired girl with blue, upturned eyes. She stood there, waiting, with dominance that made me unable to refuse, and took my choices from me by mere presence.

The sense of familiarity pulled me towards her, and my feet began walking on their own, and before I knew it, I was in front of her.

She inhaled through her nose and then opened her mouth, "ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ," she pleaded.

No, not yet. I wanted to savor my dream this time.

I sat down in front of her, smiling, while unbeknownst to me, the two paths around me crumbled away.