Failure and Thoughts

"Mary explain yourself!" Demanded Leorio.

"W-what exactly do you want to know?" She asked with a red gleam hidden beneath her right eye.

[What could they want to know? Indeed what could they want to know, Mary?] Laughed a familiar voice.

"Why did you attack us! Huh!?" Yelled Leorio loud enough for some of the other applicants.

"L-Leorio please calm down I swear-" Before she could finish Killua chimed in.

"I swear I never meant to hurt you? Is that all you have to say?" He asked.

"N-no please just let me explain myself!" She said in a panic. "B-but I can't explain right now, not when we're around so many people."

"What do you mean not right now? Now is the only time you have to explain yourself, Mary." Said Kurapika sternly.

"A-alright but please, if I do anything sudden run away as fast as possible." Said Mary in her pitiful appearance as blood was still dripping from the bandaged wound on her neck.

"Run away?" Asked Gon.

[Whatever you do you are not allowed to harm anyone here ok? You have to explain it to them, sister.]

[Hah! And if I don't want to come out? You should know by now, me hurting others physically aren't the only types of games I play anymore, you're on your own right now, I'm having too much fun watching your friendships fall apart, my "dear" sister.]

"What do you mean you won't come out!?" Shouted Mary suddenly.

"Mary, who are you trying to force out?" Asked Leorio as he looked around with apprehension.

"Don't bother looking around Leorio, there isn't anyone other than us and Hisoka is that you know, is there Mary?" Asked Killua.

"I-I'm trying time call out my sister." Mary whispered under her breath.

"Your sister? What do you mean? other than us there hasn't been anyone who's approached you!"

"Guys, let Mary explain, she's still our friend." Pleaded Gon.

"Tsk, I've had enough of this, Kill, Kurapika, Gon, cmon." Said Leorio as he began to walk away. "Also, Mary you owe me a new knife." He turned with a look of disgust in his eyes.

"Hey wait up!" Shouted Gon as he took one last look at Mary.

Mary looked at them walking away with tears in her eyes as even Gon walked with them. [Why? Why...]

[What a fantastic show you've given me! Truly worthy of a standing ovation! Despite how smart you are you really can be incompetent can't you? So what do you say? Let me out and let me have my fun with them dear sister.]

[E-even if they don't see me as a friend I still see them as friends, and I'll do anything to make amends with them.]

[How naive, besides you should never say you'll do anything to make amends, after all would you even be willing to sacrifice possession of your body to make amends? Or would you even be willing to kill one or even all of them? Ooo, in fact that'd be wonderful, it would be a win-win for both of us! I would get to enjoy my games with them and you'd be reunited as friends! Just like that golden teddy bear of yours, besides that's what a doll is! A hollow shell to play with. What are your thoughts on my grand proposition? Sister.]

She ignored her words as she continued to think to herself [Why should I even bother with this anymore? I'm doing this for Uncle! I can't think like that! But what about my friends? I'm still friends with Gon right? Right...]

[Are you? He didn't seem much like a friend while he was walking away. In fact maybe he hates you but can't show it, after all you are an imbecile when it comes to common sense and emotions aren't you? Why couldn't you just have died back in the illusion sister? You would have never had to deal with the pain you're feeling now! In fact why not deal with it in your 'world'? I'll take over for now!]

[I'm such an idiot, incompetent, stupid...] the young girl continued to ignore her.

Silence was all that was left as Mary sat under a tree with her blue, now lifeless eyes, continuously berating herself with insults as Bloody Mary continued mocking her. Yet, at the same time attempting to influence her as well.

———————

After quite some time a voice woke Mary from her thoughts.

"Excellent work, everyone. The Second Phase of the exam will occur here in the Visca Forest Perserve." Sounded the voice of Satotz. "So I shall take my leave. Best of luck to all of you." After he finished speaking he turned back to the Swindlers Swamp and walked out of sight as the large metal gate surrounded by stone towers and wall opened.

The applicants were met with the sight of a large mansion with what looked like hundreds of high end stoves lining the front garden. In the center was a path that, when followed, led to the examiners for the next Phase. One was a very large man in both height and weight who wore a large yellow shirt that was still too small for him and green pants. The other examiner was a well endowed woman with the back of her bright turquoise hair tied into five top knots. She wore a black bikini, covered by a mesh shirt, and daisy duke denim shorts.

"All applicants who've passed the First Phase, please enter!" Shouted the woman.

The applicants walked through the gate, some with wariness, some with excitement, others dragging themselves through. Mary herself walked like a puppet with stiff motions as she looked over to her friends that had distanced themselves from her. Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika didn't even bother looking as Gon gave her a smile and waved to her.

"I'm Menchi, the Examiner for the Second Phase." She said with a smile.

"Likewise, I'm Buhara!" Said the large man sitting behind her.

As the applicants stood there in silence, a loud rumble filled the air as the two examiners had a short chat, with Buhara ending it saying, "I'm starving."

"There you have it. The Second Phase will involve... cooking!"

"C-Cooking?" Asked Hanzo.

"Of course, the only one of us who knew how to cook ended up being a complete psychopath." Muttered a familiar voice from the sea of remaining applicants.

Mary still stood there in a daze, unaware of Gon approaching her with a smile.