ENTRY 5900130

ID 13.180

~°°~

Time was a linear thing. Nothing would change. Everything grew.

First, they were one, built by the hands of cold machinery. Then, they're a toddler, unmoving and alone in a glass tube. Hands would lead toward another tethered world, but this time, of cement.

And now, they stood, gazing at a girl with golden hair and green eyes hiding near the Walls. She passed through the Walls somehow, a girl as mysterious as the world beyond them. Despite what poets may say it wasn't pity, care or love or even friendship. Not even a spark of such. It was curiosity.

This girl couldn't speak the language Eris could speak but she pointed at the used out sketchbook, eyes glimmering at the sight of drawings.

The outsider told them everything through the sketch of a pen. Pretty drawings, pretty flowers. The world darkened. It was night. They were older than before. There's a tree near the Walls, alone, foreboding a warning. The world turned into the edges of the skies and they float aimlessly in the starry space.

A shaky breath, something weaker than a whisper."What was that?"

"It's the truth," the Principal said plainly.

"I..I—" Eris stuttered as their face flushed with anger, a fierce glare cutting through. "Get out. Get out of my mind."

She smiled, hollow. "Didn't you want to know everything?"

"I'm not in the mood to play games, you old knob."

"Not here to play games, no, no," said the mirror of themselves, shaking her head. "What use is that? We are the same person. In a way, atleast."

"No." Eris grinned as if they solved the mystery, an accusing finger pointing at the older one. "It's a trick. You are toying me with your mind powers."

The Principal quirked an eyebrow. "To what possible end? To have the unfortunate chance of having your face?" Her voice was clear, her words blunt and laced with disdain. "It is no trick. We are clones, made to sustain this farce of a peace. Made as some demon food by the order of the Sun." She swerved her head to face Eris, eyes glinting in sincerity. "We both disagree with that, don't we?"

"I don't trust you."

She stood, hands in her back as she circled the smaller clone like a stalking predator. "I commend your idea earlier. However, while demons and men alike are easily entertained, they're not stupid. I know you intend to rely on the other student's Peculiars, but that's nothing against seasoned and bloodthirsty demons. Not to mention, they have Thalamide. You," she cackled. "Need me."

Eris gulped, hanging their head in silence and in shame.

The Principal looked around and plucked a star. "You have a pretty mind space. I had a similar one before I grew. I wanted to reach out the stars." It took root on her hands, growing into a flower. The bud glowed bright like flames. She crushed the flower in her hands and a memory fell off from its bud. It spilled over the crevices of their mind. "Come. There's more to know."

~°°~

The first clue was the numbers. A name signified individuality. A number was nothing more but a statistic. Krey disliked it, more than she disliked the sourness of the fruits and the coldness of the rain.

"We were unwinged beings who managed to reach the moon," Krey said fiercely. "Remember that and want." That was at the time when the days were longer, braids tied into one and my bed softer, not the stiff crevices of a chair. I was warmer and Krey would grip my hands with a shudder whenever the rain would fall.

The day everything changed was the day when the voices began.

That's when I learned I can read and control the minds of people. Although, the former got a tiny, tiny set back.

And well, it told me two things. First, I couldn't stop my Peculiar from reading thoughts constantly. It didn't deplete my soul energy. What did was when I focus on one person, accessing their brains and seeing all their memories.

Second. People's thoughts are utterly disgusting. It was rather shocking that in the world where we're being farmed for demon food it was the thoughts that disturbed me so. A forgotten murder in the depth of the tiles. A professor coming unbidden to a room simply because the student was her lover's clone. Every backstab and every lie.

But it didn't matter. All I had to do was escape. I thought I could fight til the end of time. I couldn't.

I chose to live when the Principal asked for my choice, a demon growling in his side. If I couldn't escape, I would live. I'd live the longest. This was my defiance. Then, I met Madame Silvia who bought me for three hundred coins in the Fostering. The first time we met, she called me not by my name but as the—

~°°~

"She called you that too, in the auction," Eris noted, lounging on the wooden floor. "Liberator."

The scenery now akin to the Healing Lodge, at the time it was still a cozy escape, with flowers blooming and the smell wasn't as drowning. The Principal wryly smiled as she picked out a flower. "You sneaked in the meeting. Smart. I was wondering where my coat went."

Eris blinked, pink rushing to their ears at the unfamiliar compliment. They scratched the back of their neck as they cleared out their throat. "So, um, anyways. Why does she call you that?"

"Madame Silvia has the Peculiar to foresee the future in a few moments. I believe she saw a vision of me freeing the students that resides in this Dome," the Principal explained, as she twirled the flower until the petals fell. "I didn't believe her yet. I thought she was taunting me."

The younger clone tilted their head curiously. "Taunting you?"

"I escaped once," she chuckled. "Then, I came back."

"Why?"

The Principal's eyes gazed at somewhere so far away as she absentmindedly traced the lines of the scar in her nose. "I wanted to bring someone along with me. She refused. She wanted to save the world." Her eyes flitted to glance at the young Eris Heindell. Now in closer introspection, Eris saw the difference glaring back. The eyes more weary, smile lines more prominent. "I suppose, that's one of the small differences between you and I. I could be content as long as I am with a dear companion."

"Do you still think that?"

"No. I learned my lesson. As much as possible, I will bring along everyone with me," she answered, with a dark chuckle.

Eris hummed. "What if you fail?"

"I don't believe that will happen. Madame Silvia said so. In her mind atleast. My plan will work." There was confidence in her stride, assurance in her words.

Eris followed her. The pathway became a thorny one, sprouting weeds that grew and grew by every second, itching skin uncovered by cloth. "What is your plan, anyways?"

"I plan to make a portal that will bring us to the past."

Eris blinked. "How?"

"Before the golden age of Magic and Science, sacrifices were made." Her lips curled distastefully, nose scrunched in disgust. "The Experimentation Stargate was one of them, heavily exploiting the bodies of people with Peculiars in the name of science. Dome 13 was one of the housings of the said experiments, all of which now resides under its very tiles." The Principal turned to face Eris, a glint in her eyes as her brows set themselves into a stern line. "You're probably familiar with them. You befriended one."

Eris jaw clenched, a sense of apprehension dawning to their face.

The Principal continued, "People have always been looking for a way to fix their fuck ups. That was when a miracle happened. A boy with the Original Peculiar of Time for the first time in written history. And being brain dead and paralyzed after receiving it made people less hesitant on using his body. And so, a portal was made."

"Judging by our current environment, I suppose that it didn't work," Eris cut through snidely.

The older Eris muffled a snicker with her hand. "Yep. It exploded, killing everybody in the vicinity and completely decimated the whole area, according to Rycella. And now it sat in one of the Mirror Rooms, rusting as we speak."

Eris' face turned stony. The confirmation still sat heavy. But that was a can of worms to open in a later time. "And you plan to use that?"

The Principal dismissed them off with a wave of a hand. "I am not one of those rushing scientist who doesn't know what they were doing. I know why it exploded and I have a failsafe," she said sincerely and with all the confidence.

Eris frowned. "So, have you made this... Safe and new portal?"

The Principal halted, sheepish like a deer caught in headlights. "This is where I believe I must apologize to you, my dear."

~°°~

With Silvia's support, becoming the title of the Principal was thrust to my hands quickly. She'd tell me all the hidden histories in the few months she fostered me, beckoning as if I was her multi-talented pet, a shining trophy in a dance. A sly fox, that woman. Pretending to be a demure sheep. She sided with no one but the winning, flattering and fattening everyone as she saw fit.

The Chosen, the Liberator, the Undying. She'd whisper to ears of mine, god of war, god of war, then, butter up the heir of the throne, tugging the Princess to the auction with conniving eyes veiled by a kind smile.

What about me? My freedom? I wanted to ask but couldn't. What kind of freedom was dictated by fate?

I had no idea nor the qualms on becoming this 'Liberator'. I made no plan, no escape for once. The voices increased in earnest, each in every year, clamoring for blood. I heard them in the furniture, in my bed, in every crevices of the space. These days I'm unsure if they were just thoughts of people. One day, somewhere in the edge of this little world, a static, paired with the most incorrigible screaming rang. A girl with a skeleton clasped in her hands came. You came.

The night Rycella came, dragging that dead clone to me, I was still unsure of what to do.

("—Remember that and want.")

How much for the ability to change the minds of the entire world?

That power weighs too deep, the Peculiar of the Mind answered. I cannot give it to you permanently.

"Do you think they're worth it?" The book jumped out of my back, its cover wide open, a chain to ground me on the earth. "What if just once? Atleast, just once. Can you do that?"

"Of course, I can do that," the Peculiar of the Mind said, words spilling like poison. "I only require, the entirety of your soul."

My heart beat desperately against my ribcage, begging and molten hot under skin.

Fret not, I will let you live til you see the fruition of your works.

"I accept."

And so, from that day on, almost everyone forgot. Lena Walth was a mere collateral damage from last year's trial. This was trouble for my reputation, but no matter. What mattered was you. I know now what to do.

Professor Helica fell into a deep slumber. So did the rest of the world. I only had a few hours before everything would awaken.

Despite being unable to converse with the elf like girl through language, she seemed willing to draw her wishes. Erratic, paranoid and fearful, but desperate for help. That and the language barrier made it easy to lull her into a deal. I will revive Lena Walth and in exchange, she must do one favor for me as well. And while I didn't name it yet at that time, I made her promise of her compliance through the bind of the Sun.

I had no idea how to revive Lena Walth.

I pondered, pacing, thinking. I rushed to the school's library, bringing the corpse with me while the girl tailed behind. Tearing my hair as I pored on books, half mad under the clock's watchful eye.

It dawned to me. All of the sudden.

The Chosen, the Liberator, the Undying—

(Fret not, I will let you live til you see the fruition of your works.)

I laughed at how everything fits.

My heart sang and beat so terribly. It must have known ever since you came. Without hesitation, I tore out my core, blood running down to my hands. And yet I was still alive, the flesh mending itself, my ribcage hollow. I plunged my heart to the dead girl's chest. I instructed the girl to try and heal Lena Walth again.

The corpse became whole, warm under my palms and the small chest beating. The Peculiar of Life deceived. Slowly however, in the passage of time, I know it will rot from the inside.

I pressed my hands against my face, my skin as cold as marble, both relief and loss washing over me. I never intended in regaining my heart ever again. What use was it to someone destined to die?

"Your will is my will and my will is yours." The girl and I chorused. "To break this promise, grants the scorned revoke."

That night, Rycella Gullerva was made, a student with an Original Peculiar, who have trouble speaking and required tutoring, and learned the truth about the Dome and now worked for me. My hands were never warm again.

Only four remembered; Rycella (of course), Silvia (of course), Krowan and I. The boy dispelled it somehow, but no matter, his knowledge of that day retained a hold of him it seemed, and it worked in my favor regardless. I deepened my understanding of my Peculiar. I learned then how to alter the eyes of the sun in me and others, briefly. I lost two of my ribs in exchange. It's fine. I don't even feel it.

Rycella grew right by my very eyes. From my knowledge, she was unable to when wandering outside under the harsh hold of the Shroud, regenerating flesh eaten away as quickly as it was made. She told to me how it lavished the remnants of her skull, how her bones were the only thing making her trudge forward, how she was unable to think nor to grow, only to survive. I taught her how to speak and to write. I taught her the ways to survive.

Despite the warmth of the Light Tower, the cold bite of the Shroud stayed. I ordered for bandages to be soaked in Numbing Potions and personally made glyphs for her. It helped a lot in lessening the pain. The dreams of hers, however, I had no way to combat. The hunched tension on her shoulder remained as well, as if carrying the burden of the world. I think I understand; I think I know.

Rycella retained her childhood affection to that 190 version, which was kinda weird for me. But, no matter. Thanks to you, I got a gist of how to make the portal, although I had no exact idea how I will be able to make such structure without the sufficient materials.

Then, one day, Rycella came knocking my office in a panic, pleading, Eris failed, help them, help them—with the same burning desperation on the day she dragged a mutilated body.

That's when an idea formed to my head.

I killed everyone I couldn't trust. Loren Helica was too much a stick up and her damned lover nurse boy would follow her to the ends of the world. Nurse Korin was set up to be caught and fail while Loren was forced to kill him as a duty of the Head Professor. She didn't of course, so I killed both of them in one swoop. It was easy to take out the weeds when you could see the roots. But, a bigger issue awaited.

Not everyone would be bonded by a Peculiar. That was a well-known fact. Version 190 wasn't meant to have one. But what if I forced it to them? While it wouldn't be as powerful as a naturally bonded one, it would be enough. Peculiar bonds were forged by desire.

Surely, if I made them do an action encouraging to that desire, that Peculiar might accept them. So first, I confiscated the invisibility potions Walth made and replaced them with fakes. I exploded that Professor right in their face so that they'd remember; I ordered Korin Hulner to not administer any Healing Glyphs on that fabricated fall in the tree, so that they'd come into the Healing Lodge, demanding for answers and fall asleep with golden eyes.

I drank the invisibility potion and forced them to it, sneaking to the eyes of the clock. Their brain was muddled enough to fool. Still, it took a lot of tries.

"Do my bidding.." I repeated, again and again.

A slurry voice, made clear. "To the ends of the world."

I am greedy enough for the both of us.

Thus, the bond was made.

When they woke up back to themselves, naturally the bond itched to stray. If I were to let that be, version 190 would die in internal bleeding.

(—Remember that and want.)

I ordered Rycella to sneak one Invisibility Potion in Lethe's locker to urge her to sneak outside (I sincerely apologized when it ate her leg. I told her she should have tickled it. She told me to fuck off. Teenagers). I let Lethe Walth come to the Healing Lodge and I let her run. The only thing to be done was for ID 13.190 to reach my expectation, to be greedy enough.

"It's Lethe Walth who burned the Healing Lodge." The strain subsided the moment it was said. The action had proven that Eris Heindell, ID 13.190 was worthy enough to hold a subset of the Peculiar of Greed. But, that Peculiar of theirs were no use if they can't even navigate, so I told Noirin to pretend that the deal was off, and that unless 190 found a way to use their Peculiar safely, they'd be kicked off.

Naturally, that spurred them on.

I let them know, I let them wander, my voice beckoning 190 to come, so that they'd see it. I watched the girl die again, watched them all fall apart and laughed when finally, 190 followed the wisp of my voice and fell headfirst to the damn portal.

It was easier than I thought; everything falling right into place.

Madame Silvia came to confirm what I already knew. "Farewell, my dear Undying."

There's dread, then relief, back to this sinking, sinking cold that I was in ever since my heart was ripped out of my chest. Maybe, it was even before that. But, no matter—I was doing what I was meant to do. After all, I will do anything for freedom. Even if it won't be given to me.

~°°~

A futile silence hang in the air for a long time. The Principal watched them closely, gauging their reaction. They were down in the burrow of the lone tree, huddled in the dim, cross-legged and facing each other.

Eris took a deep breath. "So, I am the portal."

"Yes." The Principal nodded, voice a mere whisper. "You must turn into the portal and after that, I need your consent to control your mind for the failsafe."

Eris plucked the wilting weeds, eyes cast in the ground. "What is the failsafe, exactly? How are you so sure it'd work?"

"It didn't work because of the wrong power source. I believe they used electricity at that time. A portal anchoring through the Peculiar of Time would follow the rules of Peculiar, don't you think?" There was a knowing lilt in her smile, brow smoothing as she gazed down to Eris. "You, of all people, knows it how works, no?"

Eris' voice hardened. "You're asking me to die."

"No, no," the Principal reiterated, affronted. "That's why I'm asking you to let me into your mind—"

Eris scoffed, nails digging deeper to dirt. "As if you had a hard time of just doing what you want—"

"And I apologized for that, my dear," the Principal said, harshly polite. "How else am I supposed to tell you? You wouldn't have believed me." There's an unreadable glint in her eyes as she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Even if you did, you'd think there's another way. That there's a way to stop the rotting in her fucking thighs. There isn't. There will never be."

"You don't know that," Eris spat, glaring hotly, standing their ground. "You plan to erase our existence! No matter how we're made, we are alive."

She scowled, vice-like grip sinking to a small, hunched shoulder. "Our blood was made to expire. Without the blood resupply from the Great Men red will turn into blue. And blue blood will turn to a sick green. Soon enough brown, then yellow. Inevitably, black. Death. We weren't made to live. We were made to be eaten; to serve." Fervent, the Principal shook the collar of Eris' shirt, dragging them upwards as she stood, snarling. "Do you know how painful it is for your blood to try and escape your skin as your blood vessels decay? Your own organs beginning to fail you? Your own bones weakened like clay?"

The Principal continued, voice mocking while her lips curled into a sneer, "What do you intend to do when you're finally out, my dear? Come, tell me your plan then. Tell me how you can save the fucking world." Eris felt themself turn purple as unrelenting fingers curled around their neck, cold against a beating pulse as their feet wriggled in the air. "There's nothing that await us beyond the walls. There's nothing for us inside the walls," she murmured, finger nails dug into skin, sharp, unrelenting and cutting. "Our dreams are nothing more than dreams and the birds have been dead for a very long time."

"Let—me—go!" Eris grunted out, words choked in their throat. The Principal viciously let them go, and they pant, gasping as they tumbled to the ground, tracing bruised lines carved in their neck.

The Principal dropped a knee, looking at them eye-eye, a porcelain hand placed in a sort of attempt for appease. Eris shivered at the touch. "Look." She bit her thumb from the other hand and it fell apart in ease, like wet mud, blood in a fusion of pale yellow and black. Bones decayed. "There is no other way," she said with a tone of finality. The hand meant to calm became crushing, heavy, a reminder. She shut her eyes for a millisecond and sighed, voice softening. "I ask you to let me into your mind so that I will take the brunt of it. I'm not promising that I am sure it will not take some of you, but I will make sure that I'll take the most of it. A life for a life," she said meaningfully. "For the life that I watched go, I will atone it, I swear to you. For the better good."

Mirroring black eyes looked at it, aghast, chest still heaving for air. A truce silence lingered, waiting, waiting. The tree they were on fell off, the burrow ripped open and gazed down by a starry night neither had ever seen.

"Well, I suppose," Eris said finally, face uncomfortably neutral. "The end justifies the means, right?"

The Principal's eyes glistened, appeased. "I am glad to see that we have found a middle ground."

"Is that what you expected me to say?" Eris snorted with a chortle, shoving her hand off as the smile on the Principal's face ebbed away. "You think I'd trust you because you showed me some memories you could easily fabricate? I'm kind of insulted you think I'm that stupid." They stood tall, hands curled into fists and eyes ablaze. "If you couldn't then I will. I will find a way. I won't stake my life on someone who let an innocent kid die for their perceived better world."

Something dark and incomprehensible flashed to the Principal's face as it hardened. "I didn't though. You don't even remember what happened that night, do you? I thought of sparing you the details, but it seems like you do need to remember." Her jaw clenched, as she jeered, "What did a bunch of kids fight about near the Walls?"

There was something foreboding in her tone that had Eris itching with dread, stomach somewhere down and cold. Eris faltered, unsuccessfully smoothing the tensed and cracked facade, taking a step backward.

"Why are you backing up now?" She mockingly chuckled. "Step forward. Sit," she ordered distastefully. Grinding their teeth, Eris sank to the dead grass, sitting in their heels.

"Let's jog your memory, dear. Lethe was always a skeptic, no? Mistrustful and disliked Rycella the moment they met," the Principal drawled, continuing. "So was Krowan, but he was more so Boreas' friend wasn't he? Helen wanted to bring Thalia with her. You and Tatiana just wanted to get out. But, Tatiana does what Lethe wants, doesn't she? And Kai? He was a kid too, not a parent for seven kids and despite his prodigious potion making, nothing could change that. And it was the first time you called someone yours. It was bound to be a disaster."

Nails dug to the skin of their knees.

"You were rash, impulsive and quick to anger. The first person to take you seriously and they mistrust her. What did you said again as you climbed on the fence and begged them to come?"

"Shut up," Eris said hotly, glaring to the dirt.

She laughed and it rang everywhere like a haunting phantom. "You said that it was safe, and Rycella goes and shows she could pass through. But, Lethe still doesn't trust it. You took it personally. So, you fought. And what happened at that fight? Surely, you remember now."

Blood seeped in the tips of Eris' fingernails as they sank deeper to their knees, blood roaring in their ears while eyelids shut close, lip bitten to tears. A cold hand grasped the side of their head, forcefully tilting it forward. "How can you fight your way through the world if you can't even face a memory?" The Principal murmured to their ears as she pried their eyes open. "Look. Look at what you started."

And Eris did. They were on a barren field, the spot where the tree would grow. It's Lethe, the forgotten eight year-old version of her, bloodied head, shredded hair and voice that screamed. "What did you do?"

Eris unable to turn away, the hands on their head like steel claws as the memory came unbidden, the undying dream revealed; little hands splayed out, not reach but to push. "Don't you see? This is the way for you to fix your mistake. Come now, my dear." The voice was silky, smug and won. "It's time to wake up."

It's the real world now, Eris could feel, limbs longer and graced by exhaustion. Chest heaving—fueled by dread, the world dulled by colors. The Principal standing, with a shredded forehead, wiping it with her hand in a smooth motion.

"Life for a life," she said eyes shining with fire, a feral smile in her face. "Tell me you can finish what you started. You saw my mind. You know the words." The Principal offered a bloodied handshake, liquid blackening as seconds go. "Do my bidding.."

And Eris Heindell took it with blood-shot eyes. "To the ends of the world."

~°°~

"What kind of liberator is also called the god of war?" I remembered asking Madame Silvia, locked in her insipid mansion, clutching the book and the teddy bear she had given me despite the chains in my wrist. I was seventeen.

"What kind of liberator doesn't have blood in their hands?" was her mere answer.

Tonight, gravity began to cease as the portal formed. Such a sight it was, bending space and time to its will as it grew, flesh mending to metal. I didn't mind reschedules. It'd be grander if Version 190 came at the Graduation but I suppose I must be content.

Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to tell everything. That version of Eris Heindell was too young, too green to understand. Two lives wouldn't be enough for such a thing. It needed more.

A thud came from the east side of my room, near the mirror. They were late. My voice echoed on the tower ten minutes ago. I fixed up my suit as I heard steps coming my way.

"Oh, the kid got you," Professor Noirin snickered, patting his trousers while Professor Jhlor frowned at the wound in my forehead. "The kid actually got you. I was wondering why you weren't answering."

"Shut up," I hissed, kneeling as I opened a secret compartment hidden by the mess of clothes and hauled the bag. A resounding knock pounded in the door, making the three of us freeze.

"Already?" Noirin grinned darkly. Professor Jhlor looked grim as the other Professor opened the door.

It was that new Professor, still on his pajamas. What was his name again? "The Trial is supposed to be a week away—" he was saying until he took the scene before him. Eyes narrowed, lunging with the languidness of a cat, electricity buzzing his skin as the swing of his foot grazing the side of Professor Jhlor's head. A fist narrowed down to his liver, face crunching as he took it.

He jumped back, as if realizing he couldn't apprehend them all, hand reaching for his pockets only to stop, frozen. Noirin's Peculiar truly was a great help. Seemingly puppeteered, new Professor walked and sat to the corner of the room.

"I thought you gave him a Sleeping Potion?" Professor Noirin said, looking at Professor Jhlor who was massaging the side of their head.

"I did!"

"I was made to be resistant, sirs," Professor New Guy answered through gritted teeth.

"Oh, shut up." His mouth clamped shut. "I told you we should have just killed him," grumbled Noirin.

"He's just a kid," Professor Jhlor objected.

"Are you forgetting what we're about to do? Fucking angel."

"... Please don't kill me, sir."

Rolling my eyes, I opened the bag, grinning as the skeleton was unearthed. I made my way to the controller, connecting a wire to the tip of the boned finger. The portal lit, gravity fell, plunging everything to the air and blue, my own body as light as a feather. I was enveloped by the wave of clothes, my computers floating from its desk, chairs pounding against the roof.

"Holy shit, I'm flying," Professor Noirin said excitedly while the new Professor cried out, "What's happening?"

Then, gravity rose and everything fell, the light dying; my kettles, plates and cups shattering, my computers got wrecked and there's the sound of creaking as the portal plummeted to my bed. The ground shook.

I stood up, tossing away my sleeve coat, ignoring the screams of the new Professor. "I will stabilize the portal." I gestured at the hunk of metal, sitting under the wrecked ruin of my bed. "The blood must spill. Understand? The blood is needed not the bodies. Protect my body when I'm not there."

Professor Noirin did a mocking salute. Professor Jhlor looked green but nodded. "Don't worry, angel, I'll make sure you won't sully your hands." Noirin patted them in the shoulder.

He was promptly ignored. "The Tower might fall," said Jhlor tersely, looking at the shaky ground.

"Let it fall, then."

~°°~

There was a crash, a rattle somewhere coming from the eastern side of the mansion. The servants and I rushed to the sound of intruding only to find this small, curious, four-legged thing with bushy tail and black fur. It was afraid but little claws were still ready, tiny white fangs baring under the flowery curtain.

Madame Silvia looked amused despite the fact that glass, from my knowledge, was worth six hundred coins. "It's a stray cat," she said, looking at the snarling thing, hiding in the curtain. "Must be your first time seeing, no? They're kings of the garbage. Well, queen if it's... You know."

"Can I keep it?"

Madame Silvia turned to me. "As long as it lets you, my darling."

And he did. I promised then, that he would be a king in a world worthy of him.

King died quicker than I did.

It's in their nature, I supposed.

"I wonder if you ever cared something about me that isn't about my brother's skeleton. I wonder if you ever cared about anything."

I thought of the girl, afraid and awaken from a dream. I thought of a small box, burned somewhere hidden, left no trace. I thought of the slant of my hand as I wrote my name in a wall, cursive and all, of the time I wanted to escaped, the hand offered but declined as the silhouette goes back to the grasp of the Wall. Save everyone.

I do, I thought of saying but never did. I love every each of my children. Even you. Yes, you—even if you were just mere bones. I wished I could love you all normally, in a world where we weren't made to die.

But, that was not so. Just as you were meant to write this, I was meant to kill. There were footsteps clambering up the stairs, opening the door. One of them would be a girl who bore her face. I thought of screaming, of pleading that they go back to sleep and dream. And of course, I never did.

God of war, the voices sang as blood splattered and the portal shone its brightest. God of war, god of war, they rejoiced.

~°°~