Meanwhile...

~Jessie's P.O.V.~

        Awareness slowly seeped back into my mind as I regained consciousness.  When my vision cleared, I sat up, but immediately regretted it when my head started spinning.  Tch, my head hurts so much..  I groaned to myself, holding one hand to the side of my forehead.  I wasn't having a fever, but the warmth emanating from the palm of my hand helped with the ringing vibrating in my head.  It was faint, so it wasn't really harming me, but it was still annoying.  Restraints were still cuffed onto my wrists, but at least I could move a bit more freely than I was before.  I glanced over at my hand and concentrated.  Unfortunately, no magic came.  I wondered if that was because of my temporary inability or because of these chains.

        I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts, however, when I felt a presence faintly come towards me. The smell of burnt vanilla wafted into my nose, and I immediately recognized who that scent belonged to.I lowered my head, making my bangs cover both my right and my left eye.  Footsteps were faint at first, but the hollow noise continued to grow louder and louder.  Right, left, right, left.. My mind repeated over and over to calm the heartbeat that I could feel in my throat.  The cell door opened with a loud "creaaaaaaak," and a couple more sounds of boots on the ground came in my direction before abruptly stopping.  I could tell I was holding my breath, but I didn't care.  All I knew was that he was in here, in the same room as me.  In the same room as the person who betrayed him.  

"Awake already?" he spat bitterly.  I could tell from the sound of his voice that he wasn't right in front of me.  I was reluctant at first, but slowly tilted my head up to see a certain redhead leaning on one of the dark walls of my prison.

        "Hornet.." I whispered, my voice trembling against my will.  I still couldn't believe that I was seeing him again, but I knew that it was real.  His now-emotionless eyes still showed the emptiness and loneliness inside him that I've always seen in him since the first time I meant him. It was how we bonded, and why my heart feels so twisted with guilt for what I did to him.  Now, that hole I saw inside of him has grown wider, because of me..

        "The lady will be here soon to see you," Hornet said emotionlessly, his empty eyes darting away from mine when I locked eyes with him.  Saying what he wanted to say, he pivoted around and turned away from me.  My eyes grew wide as I realized that he was starting leave.  No, he can't.  Not yet, not when I haven't said what I need to say yet.

        Desperately, I cried, "Wait!"  I honestly thought he was going to keep on walking, but to my surprise and relief, he stopped and turned around.  It's minute and fragile, but he still has concern for me... I thought thankfully.  "H-how long was I out?" I asked, afraid to ask the real question I wanted.

        "Only a couple hours," he replied gruffly.  Thinking that that was all I needed from him, he walked away, but I stopped him again.  "H-Hornet!" I stammered, nervousness and guilt coming into my voice.  I quickly reached out my hand to grab his, but the chains that were clamped onto my hands stomped me from doing so.  He snapped his head towards me at the loud clacking sounds the chains made.  His eyes were wide with surprise, but they immediately darkened.  

        "What?" he snapped, angry.  I shrank back, and turned my head away.  My heart felt like it was going twist and shatter into pieces.

        "I-I just wanted to say...I'm sorry," I muttered, forcing myself to look into his dark blue eyes.  I really wanted to look down, but I had to look up into his surprised eyes to make sure he didn't think I was lying.  I don't want him to think I'm lying anymore..  

        His face first showed shock, and then turned into confusion for a couple seconds, but then it turn back into a scowl.  "'Sorry' won't help your case, if you're trying to trick me again," he growled darkly, gritting his teeth.  A pang of guilt hit me right in the chest and I frowned.  He still doesn't forgive me, but I shouldn't be surprised...  

        "Y-your son....the one that died in that fire.."  I continued slowly, absentmindedly gripping at the part of my slightly-tattered dress where my heart was. I could tell he was surprised and his eyes darkened even more.

        "What about him?" he growled.

        "Y-you told me once your last name...remember?" I said, smiling slightly at the memory.  I was curious as to what his last name was, so I performed a really advanced spell in exchange for him telling me.

        "Are you trying to make me forgive you?" he growled, his voice bitter and trying to sound poisonous.  "It won't work you know!" My smile grew and I knew small tears were rolling down my cheeks.  God, I'm such a crybaby.

        "No, I'm just glad I didn't forget.." I said, quickly wiping my tears.  "Because now...I know.." 

        "Know what?" he growled.

        "Your son.....he's alive."

~Hornet's P.O.V.~

        "Your son...he's alive."  My eyes dilated with the sound of those words.  I could faintly feel my heart start to race in shock, but I didn't really pay attention to it.  What did she just say?  

        "W-what?" I breathed out, surprise taking over whatever anger I had.  I quickly recovered though.  "How would you know?" I snapped, rage suddenly flowing through my veins.  "You don't know me!  Don't pretend you do!"  That was right, she was the girl who stabbed me, the girl who played nice with me just so that she could escape.

        "I'm not pretending," she insisted.  "He's alive."  No, she's lying.  She wants to win back my trust.   I won't let her betray me again!  But, her eyes, and the desperation in her voice..  I mentally slap myself.  Don't let her fool you again you idiot!  Rage blinding my vision, my body moved on its own and my eyes suddenly gripped around her neck, squeezing it.  She choked out a struggled gasp, but she didn't make any move to fight back.  

        "You're lying," I hissed.  "He died in that fire with Kira!"  Although I was choking her, she was able to slowly shake her head.

        "I'm not....lying Hornet.." she gasped, not able to get air, but I didn't care.  I was so angry at her for trying to trick me by using my most painful memory.  That what I get for opening up to a stupid little brat!  

        "I don't believe you!" I half yelled, my grip tightening around her neck, causing her to gasp in pain.  My eyes widened when a tiny smile crept onto her lips. 

        "Y-you said....Kira....your wife...."  She gasped for air, "named yet didn't name him after you....right..?" she said, her voice sounding more and more struggled.  My grip began to loosen as my hands started to shake.  She remembered everything I had said about this..?  Why? 

        "S-so what?" I whispered, my voice shaking and my emotions getting the better of me.  

        "H-his name...it's--"  She started, but her crystal blue eyes suddenly dilated in fear and she started squirming in my grasp.  "Let me go!" she screamed, kicking me in the chest.  It caught me off guard and I slid a couple inches, but I wasn't really hurt.  Anger was about to surge through me, thinking that she just lied to me, but then I heard dainty footsteps coming towards us.

        "My my, what have we here?"  When I recognized the voice, I immediately bent down on one knee  and bowed.  "I knew you hated her, but I didn't think this much."  I hesitated at first, but then looked up at my lady to see her looking at me with a smirk on her lips.  "Well done."  It took me a second to realize that she was actually pleased, but when I did, I stood back up and nodded.  

        "Thank you, milady," I bowed my head down.  I couldn't help but take a glance at Jessie, who was rubbing her neck.  Noticing a purple bruise around her neck, I forced my gaze away.  She kicked way harder when she was three, so why was she..?  I pondered.  

         But then, it clicked.  

         My eyes grew as wide as plates as I something slowly started to come together, like two pieces of a puzzle connecting.  No way...did she just...save me?  That's when it finally hit me.  Also....when she stabbed me....the wound wasn't that deep...  My legs starting to feel weak and shaky, and my heart was starting to drop all the way down to my stomach.  Am, am I just dreaming?  This feels like a dream.  This connection, it, she...couldn't have..  The feeling to collapse onto my knees grew as more and more things started to connect.  "You may take your leave now Hornet," Lady Hikari said, a hint of arrogance in her tone.  "Your job here is done."  I snapped my head up at the sound of her voice, realizing that she wanted me to leave.  Oh God, what have I done?  I felt sick to my stomach, remembering what she was going to do to her now.  Now, Now of all times, I finally realize how utterly stupid my anger has been.  I  was about to argue when I saw Jessie's pleading eyes.  

        'Don't, just leave,' her gleaming crystal blue eyes seem to say.  'Please..'  Seeing those begging blue eyes, the ones that always seemed to be filled with hope now were now being occupied with desperation and hopelessness. 

        "Y-yes my lady," I replied, silently gulping down the lump in my throat.  I turned around and walked away, holding back the urge to turn around.  

        When I left the dungeon, I headed straight for the exit.  Unfortunately, a colleague of mine started walking towards me.  "Heh, how did it feel?" the bald man asked, a smirk curled on his lips as he adjusted his black sunglasses.  "Good, right?  That bitch deserves her pain, am I right?"  I didn't say anything, but a nauseous feeling started to accumulate in my stomach.  

        "Yeah," I say quietly as I try to suppress the urge to throw up.  I continued my walk out of the guild, but I was stopped yet again by the tattooed man when he placed a hand on my shoulder.  

         "You okay dude?  Look a bit pale."  His smirk grew.  "Gettin' cold feet?"  

         "...." I stayed silent, but his hand on my shoulder prevented me from walking away.  Not noticing my strong intent to get away from this place, he continued to spit words.

         "Don' worry 'bout it, it's just a phase," his lips shifted to form a crooked smile.  "S'just guilt you feel at first.  It'll be gone after a while.  Or, did she say something about--" He didn't even have to finish his sentence for me to know what he was going to say, and that was the last straw.

          I glare daggers down at him, my expression particular more sharp and malicious.  "You want to continue that sentence, Hebi?" I asked, my voice low and sinister.  Said person immediately shrank back, his hand bolting away from me.  I gave him one more death glare before finally being able to walk away.  I opened the doors of the Skull Knights Guild, the dark guild, my dark guild, and into the forest.  

          After a couple seconds of aimless wandering, I found a good tree trunk that had no moss growing on it, but was still big and strong, probably enduring several years to survive.  I walked up to a bush beside it and threw up whatever I had in my knotted stomach.  I wiped my mouth on the sleeve of my red-brown coat and rested my body on the cool trunk of the tree. A deep sigh fell out of my mouth and I slowly let my body slide down the rough bark of the tree.  I looked down to the grass, thinking about what Jessie had just told me.  It was true that I've had a burning desire for revenge these past 16 years, but now, now that the pieces have suddenly gotten together, I find myself having mixed emotions.  Why would Jessie tell me something so uplifting?  Why did she save me??  I thought back to that day.  The one where she betrayed me.  I made sure to remember every single detail of that day, but how could I miss something so obvious?  She wasn't actually trying.  The way she held the dagger was wrong from what I taught her and she looked hesitant.  Now that I think about it, if she really asked me to, I might have actually helped her escape, which would've cost me my life.  She saved me not once, but twice...

        An empty laugh escaped my lips.  "How idiotic," I breathed out.  I tilted my head up to look at the sky, but most of its blue color and the fluffy white clouds that danced around in it were covered with the leaves and branches of trees.  Our guild was made under the protection of these trees so that it could not be found easily.  This guild, huh... I thought to myself.  Another low laugh rumbled in my throat.  "Kira, oh Kira.." I murmured to myself.  "I wonder if you'd still love me.."  I looked down at my hands.  How many sins have these hands committed? Did I ever count? I can't remember.  I felt heat at the back of my eyes, but I didn't care.  Tears slowly streamed down my cheeks and my voice cracked and trembled as I said, "if you, my d-dear, knew..how many people I've harmed.."  I rested my head on the stalk of the tree and let the tiny droplets of water drip down my chin.  I let my trembling hands rest against the sides of my body and just continue to look into the small cracks of light up above.  

        "Would you hate me now? Do you hate me now?"  I wanted a response, I waited for a response... but none came.  Something in between a sob and a laugh erupted out of my throat.  "Are you even... watching me right now?  I wonder i-if where you are..is better than where I am."  I quietly chuckled.  My vision was starting to turn black from the emotional exhaustion I've felt in just a couple minutes.  With the little energy I had, I focused onto a ray of light that shined from beyond the darkness. The darkness that I've been living in for so many years now.  "Hey, if you are watching.." I muttered.  "What, Jessie said..is she right?"  I waited for a response once again, but the only sound that I heard were the leaves susurrating with the light breeze.  I couldn't help but grin as the darkness in my vision continued to grow.  "Heh..you always loved suspense.."  I mumbled.  I then let the darkness consume me, and I could no longer feel anything as my consciousness slipped away from me.