First Impressions

Trigger Warning: Domestic violence. Please take breaks if needed.

The gem that was supposed to glimmer in her chest was ripped out. She gasped and stared as the light in her gold eyes dimmed. Her last look was of despair White blood and gold thread rained from the wound. It decorated her pitch black skin and stained the earth. The figure standing in front of her clutched the gem and had a manic smile. His skin was pitch black and he had no hair. Stars were lightly dotted across his skin, and his teeth were blindingly white. His emerald eyes were transfixed on the gem, as if it was the ticket to everything he's ever needed. It was pearl white and the size of his palm, it looked fragile and precious. Instead of holding it delicately, he grasped it like it would run away if given the chance. The bottom of the gem was stained with bone white blood and gold thread, but it made it more beautiful to him.

"Now you'll finally love me." He said in a breathless whisper, eyes transfixed on the gem.

He looked at her with hunger in his eyes. The light slowly came back in her eyes, as if her soul rebooted. She sat up and stared at him blankly with confusion in her eyes.

"Who are you, and where am I? She winced. "Why am I in so much pain?"

He gathered her in his arms, and blood and thread stuck to his chest. Stars shimmered on both their skin as he kissed her forehead. Her eyes widened in confusion. The gem embedded in his chest almost fit the hole that he made in hers. He closed his eyes and smiled. He gently let her go and dropped his arms. They were only a few feet apart on the white stained grass.

"I am yours and you are safe. The pain is gone now." He said and leaned forward. "I love you."

She slowly blinked, but the person in front of her never got more familiar. His touch lingered on her skin and made ever fiber of her being scream in agony. She tried to grasp at memories that weren't there. She sat in a daze for a bit. She just stared at him while the blood flowed slowly out of her chest. She looked at the gem that he was holding, and he hid it behind his back and smiled. 

"This is nothing, my dear. Don't you worry about it."

He embraced her again and she stared at the horizon blankly.

"Yours, who am I?"

He chuckled.

"You are mine."

That didn't ring a bell.

"I don't like that name." She frowned. 

He laughed, it was a hearty laugh but it sent a chill down her spine. That puzzled her. It was a nice warm laugh, but instead of elevating her mood it made her stomach plummet.

"It's not a name, it's something you are." He said.

"Mine?"

"Yes, mine, you belong to me."

She felt like centipedes crawled into her mouth, and terror filled her lungs. She didn't know why but the embrace that was supposed to feel like safety felt like a snare. She pushed him away.

"N-No thanks. I don't belong to you." She projected as much as she could, but it seemed weak and shaky.

He frowned. She thought of the gem and the blood in his right hand. Her eyes widened and drifted to the gem in his chest. It was white and was diamond in shape. She gingerly put a hand to the wound in her chest. At that moment she knew that her chest used to have a gem in it. Clear tears threatened to break free, but showing weakness wasn't an option. She missed the gem even though she couldn't quite remember what it felt like. She didn't have her memories but she still had instincts. She looked at his smiling form. He looked at her like she was a prized lamb that could no longer run from the slaughter. She had to-

"Run? I don't think so." He said darkly.

His smile faded into a dark look. She rose shakily, turned and ran, but he grabbed her wrist so she didn't get far. She panicked and her instincts took over. She bit his hand hard, and he didn't let go at first so she increased the pressure. He yelped and let go, cursing as he cradled his hand with the hand with the gem in it. She saw the gem and dashed for it, but he snapped it out of her reach. He smiled as he held it up as she tried to jump for it. The blood trickling from her chest increased as she jumped but she ignored it, and desperately kept leaping up for the gem.

"Ah ah ah, you can't have this until I say you can." He teased in a way that made her want to cry.

"And when is that?" She stopped, and clutched her chest to try to stop the bleeding.

He smiled.

"You'll see."

She didn't want to stay to find out. She turned on her heel and made a break for it. He laughed as she ran away.

"You can't stay away for long, I have what you need! You'll come crawling back to me." He laughed hysterically.

Her breath heavy as she ran clumsily through the long grassy field, scaring field mice as she went. She saw a forest in the distance and she made that her destination. She constantly looked back to see if he was following but he just stood there and watched her go. His laugh echoed through her head. Crystal clear tears leaked from her eyes as she ran into the forest. Her footsteps slowed and her breathing slowed, and she slowed to a stop. She looked at her surroundings. There were tall trees with a wide range of species, and birds sounded from all over. She took a deep breath and smiled, she felt safe.

She wandered the forest with her eyes to the treetops, and the occasional glance over her shoulder. Even though he made no attempt to follow her she couldn't help but be paranoid. She heard a rustling noise from behind and froze. Her fight or flight got triggered and she bolted. She casted a glance behind her as she ran, and her foot collided with a big rock. The momentum trusted her forwards and her eyes widened as she saw the massive hole that she was falling towards. She fell through the hole and landed roughly at the bottom. All the air was knocked out of her lungs and she laid there breathless. She shifted her body so she could see the sky, and continued to lay there. She gazed at the sky, it was covered by the trees and she found it calming yet sad. The sky was all alone up there so she reached for the sky. She whimpered and tears fell loose and flowed steadily. Her and the sky were alone together, and she felt that the walls were suffocating her. She felt trapped but didn't have the energy to get up. She laid there for quite some time, crying silently as to not attract the attention of whatever was in the bushes. Then a wave of sadness knocked down her outstretched arm. She curled up in the damp moss and her breathing got faster and her crying went from a small whimper to a scream. The smell of moss filled her nose and reminded her too much of decay. The walls felt like they were closing in. She dug her nails into her scalp and her body shook. The sound of her screams echoed off the walls and into the forest. Then she realized that she could be heard and covered her mouth with her hands. She bit her hands as her cries softened to a muffled wail. Pain, terror and crushing despair filled her system. She felt unable to stop even though her voice was becoming raw. It was never ending, but then another voice was heard amongst the cries.

"Excuse me, are you okay?" A gentle voice asked from above the hole.

Her breathing hitched. The voice wasn't Yours but it was masculine and sent her into a panic.

"Who's there?!" She panicked and snapped her gaze skyward.

There was a man. A man with black skin with shimmering stars, and his eyes were a brilliant silver. He wore a red scarf that almost hid the yellow gem that sat in his chest. She saw the brown straps of his backpack, and how surprised he was to see her looking back at him.

"I'm Yew, do you need help?" He asked.

"No!" She screamed desperately. "Go away!"

She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for him to violate her boundary. But some time passed and nothing happened. Curious, she opened her eyes and he was gone. Just as she asked. She wiped the tears from her face, confused. She hesitantly rose off the floor. The hole wasn't so deep that she couldn't pull herself out, so she did. She saw the same forest but something was different. There was a small pile of raspberries on a red and white checkered cloth with a note. She picked up the note and it said.

"Hi! You must be hungry, please take these. From, Yew." 

She stared at the note baffled, then at the berries. She decided that she didn't trust the berries, or Yew for that matter, and left them there on the cloth. However, she took the note with her. She found it a little comforting, even if she couldn't admit it to herself. 

She ventured through the forest. It was illuminated by the glow of sunset, and orange bathed the trees. It was beautifully orange and the trees seemed to be glowing. Her stomach growled and she felt dizzy from the bloodloss. She found some bushes and sat with her back to them. She hugged her legs and stared absently at the orange light fading. She heard rustling and she whipped her head towards the noise and her body tensed up, ready to get up and bolt. It was Yew, and his leg was stuck in another patch of bushes. He struggled against the thorns and then realized that someone was looking at him and he met her gaze with a smile. 

"Oh hey." His smile was full of pain. "Fancy meeting you again. Could you please help me out?" He asked politely. 

She didn't notice it before but Yew's legs were covered in scars. She figured that he's been in these thorny bushes before. There were a bunch of thorny vines around his leg that he couldn't get free. She sat up and rose slowly, and approached him warily. 

"If I help you, in return, you have to help me." She said in a hard tone.

He nodded and smiled.

"It's only fair." He answered. 

She narrowed her eyes.

"Swear it." She demanded.

"I swear on the earth that I will help you after I am free."

She nodded in acknowledgement and bent down to free his ankle. She fiddled with the thorny vines. It took awhile and the thorns nicked her a few times, but she managed to get him free. He smiled wide and studied his ankle. White blood leaked from the wound.

"Thank you! Ah, it feels so good to be free. I was there for awhile." He thanked her enthusiastically.

She blinked.

"What were you doing in that bush anyways?" She asked, curiously confused.

He smiled, embarrassed, and pointed past the bushes. There was a bunch of raspberry bushes in the center. They were all different colours. Red, orange, and black bushes were clustered in the middle. 

"I gave you the last of my raspberries and the forest spirit likes to hide the good berry bushes so I decided to try to conquer the secret stash."

She was surprised.

"You gave me the last of your raspberries? Why? Also, is the forest spirit gonna be mad that you tried to steal their food?"

"Nah, the forest spirit just likes to give the mortals a challenge, that's all. This area is just called 'The Secret Stash.' " 

"Oh."

"Also," he smiled, "I gave you my favourite food because it seemed like you needed it more than I did."

She looked away, she felt strange and warm. This was different from how she felt when Yours talked.

"Okay." She said.

"So, what did you need help with?"

Her smile faded, she looked back at him, eyes serious.

"My gem was stolen from me, from someone who claimed to love me."

He looked baffled.

"I was wondering where your gem went but it was stolen?"

"Yes."

"Okay but did you want me to treat the wound? I know some first aid and have some gauze and rubbing alcohol in my backpack."

"What?"

He pointed to the gaping hole in my chest.

"I can also help you with that."

"Oh, okay. Thanks."

She still didn't trust him but she felt like she was going to faint, so she didn't have much of a choice. She sat down heavily and sighed in relief. He crouched down and she immediately tensed and stared at him intensely. He put his hands up in peace and slowly took off his backpack. He rummaged through it and mumbled to himself things that she couldn't hear.

"Ah, HA!" He exclaimed and took out a bundle of gaze and the bottle of rubbing alcohol from the backpack.

"Are you okay with me dressing your wound?" He asked gently.

She looked into his eyes and nodded. She knew that he'd help her, but she kept her fists clenched just in case. He nodded back at her, and stood up.

"Okay, I'm going to walk closer to you, okay?" He told her.

"Okay." 

She squeezed her fists, waiting for him to hurt her but he just did exactly as he said. He walked a few paces towards her and then stopped. Unlike what she thought, his hands didn't move from his sides. She gave him a confused look, and he just slowly held up his hands. His left hand gently held the gauze, and his right had the rubbing alcohol. He slowly crouched down, and then kneeled down lightly on the grass.

"I'm going to put rubbing alcohol on the wound, it's gonna sting." He warned.

She gritted her teeth and nodded. He poured rubbing alcohol onto a little bit of gauze and dabbed the wound. Pain shot through her chest, she hissed and squeezed her eyes shut.

"It's okay, you're going to be okay." He said in a calm, soothing tone.

After a little bit, the pain turned into a dull throb. She let out the breath that she was holding in.

"See?" He said, smiling. "It's all okay now."

She weakly smiled back. He slowly and gently wrapped the gauze around her chest. She winced when the gauze went near her wound. He kept wrapping it until it was all covered. He sighed in relief and tied it off.

"There! You're all good now." He told her. 

"Thank you." She said.

She meant it. She didn't believe that some fabric and a bottle of liquid would help, but she does feel better. He scooted away from her and then relaxed in a starfish on the grass. That made her smile. She found him goofy and not threatening, but she still just met him.

"I don't trust you." She said seriously.

"Why?" He asked with his gaze to the treetops.

"Because I just met you."

He nodded in agreement. 

"Yeah, trusting people is hard."

She scoffed.

"Someone as carefree as you would never know."

His expression sobered, and he didn't answer. She felt guilty for the look on his face. She watched as he silently looked at where the sky would be if the forest wasn't so dense. Part of her wanted to be a little bit as carefree as he was, so she scooted away from the bushes and laid down slowly in a starfish. She stared at the mock sky, and sighed in content as a feeling of serene entered her mind. Her guard slipped enough for exhaustion to take over. Her eyes drooped and she fell into a heavy slumber.