(Sorry if words are spelled wrong) (Sorry It's late, I promise I love you all very much)

(Warning: Lots of swearing)

Tick's P.O.V.

Wednesday - Present Time: 2:38am

I was sitting outside, with my hands neatly shoved into both sides of my coat. It was raining and the wind had picked up quite a bit, causing my white hair to chase after it.

I was standing outside of the hotel Erza and her friends were checked into. Room 221B was hers, the receptionist had told me a few hours ago.

I didn't know why I was here, standing, staring at the window I knew belonged to the woman who would most likely be the death of me.

Maybe, just maybe, part of me thought of reversing the spell.

Giving her back the memories she'd lost because of...

There's no excuse.

I may have been ordered to do so, but that doesn't quite cut it. In the end, it was my choice wether I wanted to do it or not.

It was cold. The wind had seeped into my bones over an hour ago, but I couldn't bring myself to move from this position. I shivered from it, feeling every inch of my rain soaked skin.

I'm not a good person. I couldn't give a damn if Erza got her memory back or not. The only reason I'm here is because it's better than the guild hall.

After today... I needed a break from that place. I needed a break from Asmodai.

Maybe that's why I was here, at this crappy hotel. Waiting for something- anything- to make sense to me.

Hell, I don't even know who I am.

Guess that's two of us; ain't it, Erza Scarlet?

Three Days Ago

Saturday Morning: 10:13am

"Welcome back," I said sarcastically as Eito and Samuel entered the rendevuz.

It was a run-down barn on the outskirts of town; the roof could hardly be considered anything more than a barred view of the sky, and The wood was so old it had rotted from a brilliant beige to a dusty, aged gray.

"We got ourselves a bit a' company," Samuel announced as he placed a body in a rickety old wooden chair.

The head of the person was covered with a bag, shielding whoever it was from my sights. I could only assume it was a woman because of the body and atire.

"Has Asmodai told you our orders?" Eito asked as he came closer.

I raised an eyebrow, "Only that I'm supposed to erase someone's memories after an interrogation,"

"Rightly so. However," He bat an eye at the limp body, "This is the kind of interrogation you're not so fond of. Perhaps you'll wait outside?"

"Asmodai ordered you both to torture her for information?" I gave a small laugh, "Whoever that is must be pretty damn important."

"Samuel's the one who does the... You get it. I'm just here to ask the questions," Eito sighed and crossed his arms, "I don't know what I've gotten myself into, Tick."

I made my way towards the door, taking the opportunity to leave before things got... Bloody.

"I guess a man will bend to a break for his daughter," I told him as the door creaked open and shut behind me.

What an ugly task.

I lingered for a bit, listening to Samuel prepare his tools and Eito tie the woman to the chair.

"Tick's leavin' the dirty part ta us again? Man's got the wit of a mouse," Samuel told Eito.

"I'm not so sure," Eito lowered his voice, "I heard a rumor that Tick never does any of the gruesome tasks because it messes with his head. Knowing what that kid's been though in this guild... I'd just let him do what he wants."

Do they not have anything else to talk about?

I took a deep breath.

I'm beginning to think my comrades know more about me than I do myself.

I began walking around the farm field, rusty old machines loitering the lot like corpses. Tall grass swayed in the breeze as the sun shone down to grace the area. There was a tall mound of hay that looked exceptionally comfortable for a nap.

I made my way to it and allowed myself to fall back onto it. It's prickly softness welcomed me to stay put and watch the sky.

As a wizard, I've come to enjoy watching the weather. No matter where I am in the world, the sky will always remain the same. It's quite possibly the one thing I can't leave behind. Or maybe the one thing that can't leave me.

I closed my eyes, the sun kissing my pale skin like an old friend. It's not everyday I'm allowed to leave the darkness of that cave for the brightness of a summer sun.

I slowly drifted asleep, my mind carrying me away from the monstrosity of reality.

Saturday Evening: 11:07pm

I woke up covered in sweat, my breathing barely able to keep up with the pounding in my chest.

I ran my fingers through my hair roughly, trying to piece the dream together. There was a woman, older than me... But I was younger at the time. She played with me and made me laugh. She baked a lot in a fancy kitchen with a smile constantly on her face- she was...

Who was she?

Something so child like and innocent quickly turned ugly when the house caught on fire. It was a mansion and it... It burned as bright as the sun against the night sky. The woman, the woman who had played with me... She was screaming as the flames caught her once luxurious dress.

I tried running, as fast as I could on my tiny legs but there was... Bodies in the corridor that made it hard to move quickly.

I forced myself back into reality as a sharp cry pierced through the blanket of my imagination.

The woman must've woken up.

Samuel must've started working.

I heard her screaming.

'Such a familiar sound,' I thought but couldn't seem to place where the feeling was coming from.

Then again, maybe I'm just used to hearing people scream.

That's depressing.

I let out a breath of air before reaching into my pockets for a pair of headphones. Once they were connected, I began listening to my music.

It drowned out the screams for the meanwhile.

I didn't want to be a part of this anymore, but it's not like I can leave.

Asmodai has made me a proper puppet of hers, and she's the only one who can give me back what I lost.

I closed my eyes again, listening to the music of my choice rather than the melody of pain emerging from that old barn.

Life is easier when you sleepwalk through it.

Sunday Afternoon: 1:56pm

I'd woken up around dawn and decided to go into town while Eito and Samuel continued working with the woman. I bought myself some candy from a sweet shop and continued on.

I couldn't help that I had a sweet tooth.

I also picked up food for the guys and delivered it to them before heading back out.

I must've been down every road in this town.

Maybe twice, on a few of them.

I was aimlessly walking through the streets, procrastinating as much as I possibly could.

I eventually found myself at a park. I sat on a bench far away from the children's jungle gym and kept to myself.

There was a pair of boys, maybe brothers, chasing each other in a game of tag.

Their smiling faces and high-pitched laughter was entirely a contrast to how I saw it.

I didn't know why, of course, but a sadness formed inside of me, watching them play.

I looked away from them, 'They're just dumb kids. In a few years they'll be nothing more than average people. I don't know why you're acting like such a girl over some damn kids-'

"Hey, Mister?" I felt a gentle tug on my coat. I looked over to see a child's hand gripping the fabric closely, "Have you seen my brother?"

"W-What?" I stumbled, jumping away from his touch, "What are you on about?"

"My brother! We're playing hide and go seek," The kid smiled proudly. He was the same kid I had seen before, only closer this time around, "He's really good at this game. I never find him. Can you maybe... Help me?"

I gave the kid an odd look, "Help you? Kid, I don't even know you,"

"I know!" He quickly replied. His voice was high pitched to match his height. He couldn't have been more than five or six years old, "But you look sad... And I don't like it when people are sad. So I thought maybe I could make you smile... So... Do you wanna help me find him?"

I stared at the kid.

I blinked a few times before it clicked.

"I- uh- No," I told him. I was going to keep it that way, until I saw how sad he looked when I said no. His bottom lip quivered as his eyes watered up, "I mean-- Don't cry! I'll help you, alright? Is that what you want?"

"YAY!" The kid shouted as he reached for my hand. He tugged it forward and I had no choice but to climb to my feet. He kept his tiny hand in mine as we walked across the grass to get to the playground.

When we made it to the wood chips of the jungle gym, we began looking around. Reluctantly, I began searching every inch of the place. Whether it be the tubes or tiny play houses underneath the play set, or the swirling slides and pointed platforms above: I looked through them.

All the while listening to a small child tell me everything he could about his brother.

"He's smart! Like, really smart! He knows how to multiply 90 by, like, five billion! One time, he built a wood boat and it didn't sink- even during a rainstorm! Oh oh oh! And this other time, he caught lots and lots of fish and we cooked it up and ate it and..."

To most of what he was saying, I gave a simple nod or a reassuring response to show him I was listening.

Eventually, I came up blank.

The kid's brother was nowhere to be found.

"It's okay!" The kid giggled, "We can check the fields and trees near the back!"

"Good idea," I replied as he grabbed my hand once again. What's with this kid and trusting strangers?

I ought to have a word with his parents before something bad happens.

"Hey, look!" The kid pronounced while jumping and pointing across the field, "There he is! There he is!"

I squinted my eyes against the sunlight to make out a young boy and what seemed to be his mother, "'Spouse you're right, then. Come'on, lemme take you to em,"

He laughed once again as he practically dragged me behind him. He was running as fast as he could towards them, bounding about with each step.

"Mama! Ren!" He shouted as we neared them, "I found you!"

"Mama," The other boy pulled on his mother's sleeve, "That man has been stalking and playing with Taka for the past thirty minutes. He's scary, mama!"

"Ren!!" The little boy let go of my hand and pounced on the other boy for a hug. They giggled happily together; leaving me with a concerned mother. Thanks, Ren.

"What did my son just say?" The woman asked me with pursed lips,

"It's not like that at all, 'mam-"

"That accent!" She proclaimed, "You're telling me a foreigner thinks he has the right to go after my children?"

"The hell?" I choked out, "'scuse you 'mam, but I have no intentions of going after tykes. And my accent doesn't have a damn thing to do about my character."

"That language! Look at how you've influenced my son with that tone!" She scolded, looking at me with eyes full of disgust.

"Whatever," I told her before turning and walking back in the direction I came, "I just hope you aren't influencing your children with that tone. See ya around, kid," I raised a hand with a subtle wave, refusing to look back.

"Wait!" His childish voice cried. I heard his footsteps in the grass approaching me, until I was stopped by tiny arms wrapped around my leg.

"What do you want now?" I asked him, my voice semi-kind.

"I just wanted to say," He shuffled around until he could look at me in the eye, "That I'm sorry I couldn't make you smile. But if it means anything, you made me smile!" He grinned.

He was so happy.

I didn't know what to say.

What would you say to a kid who tells you that?

"Taka, get back here!" His mother screamed from a couple dozen meters away.

I watched his eyes, full of hope and happiness.

I pat his head lightly, "Go back to your mum, don't keep her waiting."

He hugged my leg a bit tighter for a moment, before letting go, waving goodbye, and running over to his mother's side. I watched after them as they walked away as a family.

What an odd situation I'd gotten myself into.

I'll have to be more careful next time.

Monday Morning: 12:33am

"Where 'ave ya been, Tick? We can't get nothin' outta this broad," Samuel asked as I walked through the barn doors.

"Samuel's right. She just keeps repeating the same thing over and over again," Eito agreed, taking a step back to look at the beaten, bruised, and bloody leftovers of what they'd done.

"I won't... Betray... My guild..." The voice under the bag croaked. There were too many gashes to count, too many bruises to tell what skin her color was naturally. Samuel had really done a number on this chick.

I couldn't help but be angry.

It was definitely different for me to get angry over something as ritual as this.

"Nice one! How old is she? Eighteen? Nineteen?" I turned to them, displaying my anger with a mocking tone, "She's got her whole life in front of her doing god-knows-what and you lot had to go and do this to her?"

Maybe being around kids again influenced me more than I thought.

"We were doin' orders, Tick-" Samuel tried to speak but I interrupted,

"Doesn't matter! Look at what you've done! She'd be better off dead than look in a mirror! For Christ's sake..." I walked over to her and knelt in front of her, eyeing her wounds more carefully.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Eito hinted with anger in his voice. That was a surprise, because he rarely ever gets riled up over anything, "While you were out touring the town, we had to settle business without you- as usual! Unlike you, Asmodai is holding my child, my daughter over my head. So if Asmodai says 'Ask questions,' You can bet that I'm going to do as I'm told!"

"Oh, save it you old bugger," I spat over my shoulder at him, "If you were so concerned about your daughter, maybe you'd go out and look for her for a change."

The room went silent.

I'd gone too far.

It was quiet enough to hear the beating of my heart in my ears.

I knew I was in the wrong.

I got up off my knee and began to turn towards Eito, "Eito, I went too far. I'm sorr-"

I was met with a right hook to the jawline that sent me spinning. I deserved that, I'll admit.

"You just don't get it, kid," Was all he said before heading towards the door. He motioned towards Samuel to follow, but he signed back that he would be a minute. With a shrug, Eito left the barn.

It was just Samuel, the girl, and I now.

She was shivering.

"W-wait..." She mumbled, "Tick... Is that you?"

I froze.

"How do you know my name?" I immediately asked her, staring at her with an expression full of bewilderment.

"W-We fought. It's m-me, Erza Scarl-let," She managed her way through speaking.

"No way," I narrowed my eyes, reaching for the bag. I quickly removed it from her head, and watched as strands of red hair fell upon her shoulders, "No bloody way!"

I took a step back, the bag absently dropping to the ground as the realization kicked in.

Her pitiful eyes followed me as I did so, never leaving their target.

"You're behind this?" She asked me, her eyebrows furrowing into anger. An emotion I'm so used to seeing being thrown at me.

I said nothing.

Erza... Scarlet?

Asmodai is loosing it... Does she not realize as soon as Erza breaks free she's going to kill us all? Most likely starting with me.

Well, we really cocked up this one, boys.

"I swear," Her voice was far less fragile and much more stern, "On the name of my guild, I will defeat you and your comrades for bringing pain into my life once again. I'll make sure you suffer beyond comprehension,"

I stood, still unable to move.

What the hell is this feeling inside of me?

Almost as if I know her... Or rather, she reminds me of someone who I don't want to remember.

"Samuel," I managed to choke out his name, "Samuel, help me cast Mortem Memoire,"

"But Tic-"

"NOW SAMUEL!" I shouted at him, getting closer to Erza.

"That spell will kill me! You coward!" She screamed, blood seeping from her wounds.

"Hopefully your guild members are smart because I don't want a dead body, I want time," I quickly ranted to her before beginning the spell.

A massive spell circle formed over her head, turning delicately like a mural in the air.

"Abeo vespillo absum mortalis cariosus vespillo," We began to chant as we combined our magic, "Abeo vespillo absum mortalis cariosus vespillo," The air went stale, the wind picked up, "ABEO VESPILLO ABSUM MORTALIS CARIOSUS VESPILLO,"

The entire barn shook in an unnatural was that caused a shiver to run down my spine.

"TICK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS!" Erza screamed over the ruckus.

The spell circle shone with completion, the curse finally being placed.

"That's where you're wrong, Scarlet," I told her as the dark magic flowed from the spell circle into her very being. This was not only a spell on the mind, but a spell on the wizard it was cast upon.

If Erza wasn't as strong as she was, the curse never would've been able to complete.

What she used her entire life to solve problems, or make a name for herself, or protect herself- became her utter downfall.

It was her strength, in the end, that got the best of her.

"Samuel, use your magic to heal her. We can't just leave her here; and her guildmates can't figure out what we've done. Got it?" I directed Samuel as he stood idly on the side.

"Understood," He replied as he knelt over the unconscious Erza. A green healing spell revolved around her, causing the bruising to fade away and the cuts to heal in a matter of seconds.

What used to seem like a gruesome murder scene now appeared to have a happier ending. But if you dig deep enough, you'll find that every happy ending is merely an act to hide a tragedy.

I left Samuel alone to do his work, and decided to wait outside. When dawn came, we'd decide what to do with her. She'd remain in a comatose state until at least Tuesday morning, so that buys us some time.

'What the hell have I gotten myself into, Asmodai?'

Tuesday Morning: 9:41am

Nothing important happened yesterday. We kept watch over Erza so she remained stable and didn't end up in a morgue or six feet under. We ate food. We talked. I left. I came back. The usual routine.

Now, however, I was pushing a cart. With a wide-brimmed hat and cheap clothing, I disguised myself as a merchant passing through.

In that cart, under several blankets, was a woman who had no idea who she was.

A woman who I could've scarred for the rest of her life, for all I know. Magic effects everyone differently.

There it is.

I was approaching the drop off.

I pushed my cart alongside a flower shop until I got around back. When no one was looking, I removed the blankets from a sleeping Erza Scarlet and slipped on a hypnotic spell ring.

The spell ring allowed me to hypnotize Erza to a point where she would believe she was sleepwalking; so, for the most part, she could move her own body around.

Which was a double plus for me, considering I don't like making contact with other people and because she won't remember this part at all.

"Get up, Scarlet," I commanded. Her eyes half opened, and she slouched upwards and pulled herself out of the cart.

She stood in front of me now, staring at me- or maybe through me, considering her sorry state- waiting for my next instruction.

"Hold these," I told her, handing her two bouquets. One dozen white roses, one dozen red tulips. She took hold of the flowers.

"Walk around this building, to the front of the shop. Once you get there, stop at the door and face the street. After you've done that, you can wake up completely, and forget you ever saw me. Got it?"

And that was all it took.

She nodded with understanding, and began walking away.

It was easy- almost too easy.

Either way, I'm just glad it's over with.

I'd be having one hell of an argument with Asmodai when I got back to the guild, that was certain.

With a sigh, I picked up the handles of the cart and pushed it through the back streets for awhile.

After I had gotten out of the flower shop's range, I felt free enough to move back onto the main roads.

People we're flocking like animals to shops and carts and basically anything they could spend their money on. This was a capitalistic heaven.

There I go, distracting myself again.

I don't want to think about Scarlet. But I can't help but wonder.

What really happened to her? Did all her wounds from Samuel's torture truly heal?

Was following orders the right thing to do? Didn't we all need to complete the task to get us closer to getting what we need from Asmodai?

Why should what I want or need be more important than what she wants or needs?

Would she be okay?

Would her friends find her and heal her? Would they even know where to begin? Unless they have someone who's highly intelligent in ethernano distribution literature, will they even have a shot at reviving her?

It's a puzzling game.

It's all a puzzling game.

We're all just playing to surviv-

I grunted as someone ran directly into me. Who's the grotty peasant who just-

"Sorry!" A familiar female voice exclaimed.

It was, without a doubt, Erza Scarlet. The very woman I had just left at a flower shop had somehow managed to interrupt my life again. I kept my head low and used the brim of my hat to shield my face from her.

She shouldn't have been able to recognize me, but my heart was racing. Had the spell really worked?

She lingered for a moment, watching me.

But before long, she ran off once again.

Out of sight and out of mind.

Tuesday Evening: 8:42pm

I burst through the guild hall with a loud, heavy, crack as the doors broke under the pressure of my magic.

"ARE YOU BLOODY MAD!?" I spat as I angrily crossed the hall towards Asmodai, "Have you completely lost it, you cow!?"

My boots made heavy thuds as I finally halted before her. She was casually drinking tea, not minding me in the slightest.

"Watch your tone with me, Tick," She calmly reminded me as she set down the fine china, "What's upsetting you?"

"What's upsetting me? The fact you thought it was okay to torture one of the strongest wizards in the entire damn world! And you forced me to cast the spell that'll either kill her or piss her off to the point of no return!" I shouted at her, my teeth gritted and fists clenched.

"You know," Asmodai began, getting up from her precious throne to close the distance between us, "I'm easy on you for a reason, Tick," She coaxed as she ran a finger up my neck, to the end of my chin. She gently tilted my head upwards, as if to flirt with me.

"You're not pretty enough to be this stupid," I instantly smacked her hand away from me, "I don't give a damn about your little crush on me when you're going to get my team and I killed."

She smirked.

"You play so hard to get!" She let out a laugh before raising her hand. With the smallest movement- perhaps the twitch of her ring finger- my body became paralyzed. There was nothing I could do as she leaned into me as a demonstration of dominance.

She pressed her lips to my neck in a sickly sweet way that made me want to vomit. She then proceeded to whisper in my ear, "It's a shame for you that I'm the type of person who wants what they can't have."

"Oh sod off, you coffin dodging oxygen theif," I didn't even bother to fight her spells anymore. They were too powerful nowadays for anyone to fend off.

The only thing I could do was piss her off like she did to me, "Have you gained weight? Or is it just all the ethernano you've eaten like a pig from other wizards?"

"You really know how to please a woman, Tick," She stated sarcastically before playfully biting my ear, "However,"

She finally started to walk back to her throne with a pleased look on her face, "You're forgetting that it's me who can restore your memories. So you do as I say, got it?"

I held my ground the best I could, still planted in her spider's web. She was a manipulative problem that I'd gotten myself into. When I met her, she was so different. I can't begin to describe the pretty- no, maybe even beautiful- personality she'd had so long ago.

I was angry about a lot of things.

She'd told me if I completed a job for her, she'd pardon my punishment from before. I was bored in the darkness, so I figured, 'Why not?'

What a load of shit.

"Why are you the way that you are?" I managed to ask her through a fit of rage, "I hate so very much the things you choose to be."

She picked up her tea cup again and took a large swig before setting it back on it's plate.

"Mm!" She exclaimed before swallowing, "That's the thing, love. I don't need to impress you, or anyone for that matter, until my goal is reached. Until then, you'll have to put up with this front,"

"Front?" I asked her. A tint of hope lingered in me, wondering if there was something inside of her that was still remotely recognizable as the girl I once knew.

Then again, she was still a two-faced chav.

Nothing could take back what she'd done.

"Don't worry, my heart's as black as they come, darling," She laughed loudly.

Oh, I know that all too well.

"So I suppose this is who I really am, not just a front," she released me from her spell within the blink of an eye, "The apocalypse will be raining down on us, this continent will be burned to a crisp; and you know what? Even when it's over, I'll never change one bit. So if you want to leave, then do so. But your memories will be mine to keep,"

I shook my head in disbelief.

To think I could ever have even the slightest bit of hope in a person like her.

"It's a shame," I spoke quietly, my boiling anger calming down to a disgusted simmer, "It's a damn shame someone with such a pretty face could be such a cold-hearted bitch."

With that, I dropped my head to the ground and gave out a scoff.

The worst part of this, was that I expected this to happen. But I clung to that faith once again, and it brought me nothing but more pain.

She can keep my memories. I'm done trying.

I turned and took my leave, walking away and out of the doors I'd just broken.

'What a waste of a lifespan,' I thought to myself bitterly.

The only thing I couldn't quite place, was whether that statement was directed towards her-

Or me.

Wednesday - Present Time: 2:50 am

The rain still battered me.

Almost as much as the questions inside my head did.

Is this the guild I really wanted to be a part of? For so long I've told myself that I had to be to get my memories back- to know my past and understand who I am.

But are my memories worth all of this? Or is it better not knowing to live a guilt-free life?

Maybe I'll never know who I am.

Maybe not knowing who I am, is who I am.

The streets began to turn into streams as steady water crossed it's smooth surface with ease. I looked down and saw my reflection in the moonlight.

That white-haired, bright-eyed, expressionless face stared back at me. My eyes looked so empty. They looked as though they had no depth or perception at all. Somewhat like looking into the eyes of something that's dead.

My eyes lack that spark of life, like the bubbles on the inside of a champagne glass.

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. But what does that say about my soul if my eyes are as heartless as this?

The rain had completely soaked my hair, causing it to turn a shade of silver.

I removed my attention from the water below and instead directed it towards the window that protected Erza Scarlet from the true threat outside.

Not the storm, but me.