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sugarlove-01 · 2 years

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Into The Dark Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

The morning had come bright and sunny with clear skies all across town. As I walked down the street closer to my destination, my nerves began to build up with tension worrying about my interview. Popping a few pills to help the migraine and a can of energy boost began to soften whatever buzzed in my head. Bella dropped me off. Mom believed I was still at work. Dad doesn’t know anything. Doing this alone felt terrifying. I stood in front of the house holding the piece of paper I printed out this morning. The address was correct. In each direction, there was nothing but silence, dead silence. Perhaps this place was a charming friendly neighborhood in the past, but nothing but memories and ghosts lived here now. I proceeded up the steps suddenly jumping at the sound of barking coming from behind the gate. Something large growled and clawed at the gate. It was a dog. A mean dog, too. This person (man or woman) must not like company. Or visitors too much. Gulping, I raised my hand to the doorbell when the door suddenly swung open. I was face to face with a brunette woman, maybe in her 50s, shuffling past me pushing my shoulder, and fixing her handbag.

“Son of a bitch! Rot in hell. Drop dead. Rip your guts out,” she grumbled stomping to her car parked on the curb. She threw her bag in through the window, crawled in, slammed the door, and drove down the block. A rooster tail of exhaust and screaming tires trailed after her speedy departure. It didn’t help with my confidence too much. Mentally I asked myself what I was getting into. I looked back at the open door and peeked in.

“Hello?” I whispered, stepping inside.

It was dark. My nose crinkled. The room felt tight, close, and unaired. My hand reached for a light switch against the wall but it failed to turn on. Pushing back my hair, the back of my nape prickled, and maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. There was no response. Maybe they were upstairs? Feeling uneasy, I began to step back towards the doorway giving the final decision to go home.

“Who’s there…” came a hoarse voice. “I do not want to be preached by the word of God I don’t care how many years you were a nurse. I do not need a missionary! Leave here with your bible now!”

Gulping, catching my breath, I stutter,” H-Hello? I’m not a missionary. That woman just left.”

It caught me off guard. Halting in my tracks, I faced the darkness peering into it failing to locate the owner of the voice. My footfall created a creaking noise in the wooden floorboards as I stepped closer into the living room. The house looked old but still had impeccable charm. Wooden floorboards, white walls, a high ceiling, and a staircase leading up to the second floor. All the windows were covered up by bed sheets allowing a dim glow through the sheets. Cobwebs had completely taken over this man’s house and he was on the verge of becoming a hoarder. Newspapers, plastic bags, picture frames, light bulbs, mason jars, clothes, and suitcases were piled up against the wall. Not to mention a big, green, and mossy stain covered the corner of the living room due to a leak from the ceiling. It looked like the entire house needed some repairs. Something moved in the dark. I blink rapidly, my eyelids matching my heart rate as I see something tall, dark, big, and brooding in the darkest corner of the room. The owner of the home approaches and I can’t believe how big he is. My hand clutches my bag while the other pushes a lock of my hair behind my ear.

“Who are you?” he croaked.

Trying to find the courage to speak was beginning to become hard and to be honest, intimidating. His voice sounded so dry and uneven, like a piece of toast in the desert. The dark figure moved across the wall, slowly, until I could see the outline of a man. I stepped closer feeling the pull of gravity become stronger as I can sense him coming closer.

“M-My name… is Evey Williams. It’s nice to meet you.” I reach out my hand. He doesn’t reach out. I wait a moment longer. Feeling embarrassed I withdraw my hand.

His voice seems to be full of suspicion and judgment. Curious. But suspicious.

“What do you want…”

Quickly I pulled my papers out,” I saw your ad online. We scheduled an interview today about the caregiver position. …”

For a long time, he’s quiet until I can hear his footsteps go across the room in loud thumps. He steps forward and takes a seat in the living room chair and he pushes a chair out toward me.

“Take a seat…”

It’s more of an order than a courteous gesture. Little streams of light poke through the open slits of the curtains and bed sheets illuminating little galaxies of lint flying in the air. I take nearly 3 steps through those galaxies and then I see him in a better light. My jaw almost drops when I see him up close. Intense wasn’t the right word. It didn’t seem close to describing him. Intimidating, yes. He had salt and pepper hair with a beard shadowing his chin and jawline. His whole face was mussed, unruly, and longish. There was a raw ruggedness that attached to him like fire attached to heat.

“W-What do you want to know?” I whispered, looking at him through my lashes.

He exhales, croaking, “You sound young…”

Well isn’t that obvious?

I moved my eyebrows before nodding my head. He moves his head looking at the ground and then up at the ceiling before reaching his hand out across the table towards me, suddenly choosing to look at the wall again. His hands are huge. My eyes run down his fingers with wide strong palms that could squeeze a watermelon into chunks or rip phone books in half. I look at his arms under my lashes and I can’t stop staring.

“Your clearance card… copy of your ID... I need to make copies.”

Reaching for my bag, I do what he says. Everything is pushed forward. But for some reason, his hands reach across the table tapping his fingers everywhere before finding them. This is interesting because he touches each item with precise movements, investigating the thin plastic card in between his fingers. Maybe I should say something. Or would it be rude? Why would it be rude? My paper and card are completely authentic. My tongue runs across my teeth and before I could say something he gets up and walks into the other room (tracing his hand along the wall, I might add) and opens a drawer. In the dark, my eyes can see the silver glimmer of a cane firmly being held in his left hand. He’s limping too. A part of the puzzle pieces together. In heavy thumps, he reenters the room carrying a small book and a pair of keys.

“Write your name here, address, and written consent that you are under my employment of your own free will. The paperwork is very important. I need to know who will be working in my home.”

He pushed a pen toward me, looking at my shoulder, and I gave a face. He was certainly a very careful employer.

“I-I don’t understand,” looking at the papers. “You have my ID and fingerprint clearance card. They’re authentic I promise. You can read it. It’s in my handwriting I swear.”

He looks down to the ground, seemingly annoyed and most disgruntled, but he inhales a long breath regaining his patience, and looks at my shoulder again. The chair he sits in creaks as he crosses his legs.

“I wish I could believe you, but I have to be sure. I like to be %100 sure. I don’t like any loose ends. Have you ever done this kind of work before?” his head tilted to the side.

“Yes, I have. I used to live with my grandmother when I was 13 years old and she needed help around the house. She was diabetic and I helped her with medication and helped her shower. It was for one summer but I learned a lot. She passed away last year.”

“Here you’ll learn more from me. I’ll teach you. But, I hope my schedule won’t take too much time from your husband or children.”

“I don’t have children and I’m not married.”

“You sound young…”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh? May I ask how old you are?”

“I’m 17 years old. I may be young… b-but I can work hard. I can do anything you want me to. If you need me to go shopping I can. I… can try and attempt to cook. If you need me to remind you about medications I can do that, too. I may be young but I’m a fast learner.”

“Ah…” he realizes something, nodding his head. “Good. You’re in high school and you only need this as a summer job?”

Shit.

“Y-Yes, sir. But I can work hard for as long as needed. I can push myself to be whatever you need.”

“Don’t panic. All I need is someone to come in for 2 months. Maybe 4 months. I won’t need help all year. All I need are basic things. Newspaper, household chores, feeding, and walking Shadow. Among other things. I need someone young and strong and stable. Reliable. I need someone to come in every day on time. I need you to show up and be here. Do you understand?”

“Of course.”

“I was recently released from the hospital and I am in recovery.” He knocks his cane on the floor. “That is why I have this. I am weak and in constant pain. My home was broken into and I was attacked.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. That must’ve been so scary.”

“I need you… to be completely available. It’s very important that you’re here with me. I will double your pay if you’re here with me after hours.”

The dark features on his face seemed frozen in half light and half dark, as if he was purposely trying to hide from me. The intensity of his expression doesn’t seem to falter while I squirmed in my chair, pulled my locks behind my ear, and looked down at the middle of the table. It was rude of him to stare for so long.

What’s wrong with this guy?

By now I can feel the pills and energy drink from this morning battle together in the pit of my gut for room making it hard for me not to sweat and squirm in my chair.

“Of course, sir. I can guarantee you’ll be happy.”

“You have an accent…” he noticed, turning his head in another direction. “You’re not from around, here are you?”

I knew he was laughing at me for being so ignorant. My fingers slide my red headband from my head, unraveling my hair down my shoulders and touching my back and the world is suddenly better with the cool air wafting against the back of my neck. It’s not so hot anymore.

I bit my lip,” No, sir.” I pause, for too long, drinking him in. “I live across town.”

Placing my headband back in place I try to remember that this is just a summer job and it’ll be over soon. My hair swoops and falls behind my back as he seems to be dissatisfied with my answer but he looks away and seems to enjoy the color of his living room wallpaper. Something catches his interest.

“Hmmm” he croaked looking at my breasts and I didn’t feel so invited anymore.

Pervert.

My arms twitch moving in sync as he seems to be studying something on my neck and then moving to my shoulder. With each tilt of the head or glance, he moves in a shark-like motion. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Suddenly he moves his upper body forward and it’s a chance to see his face closer. My heart rate flutters when he’s no longer in the shadows. He tilts his head to the side looking at the ceiling, smelling. His neck cranes down, slowly shutting his eyelids, turning his head to look at the floor, smelling, almost as if he’s trying to look for me. The lamplight illuminates his face in a soft yellow/gold hue. His ‘smelling’ chills me to the bone and my body stiffens, clenching my toes in an attempt to hold back my stifled breathing and give me away. It wasn’t too long when his nose caught something wafting in the air between us, stops, smells again, and unclenches his cane releasing the tension in his knuckles and I could’ve sworn I heard him breathe a soft,” Fuck.”

“Do we have a problem?” the words suddenly leave my mouth and I immediately regret saying anything when his head sharply turns to look directly at me. “Do you want me to leave?”

Then I understand.

His eyes.

Very slowly, he turns his head to the windows, smelling, curling his fingers around the head of his cane. His knuckles pop and turn white he’s clenching so tight. The air became more intense as I watch him use his other senses. The lamplight illuminates more of his face each time he turns his head. I’m breathless when I notice his eyes are two milky white pools. His left eye is scarred, almost burned with star-shaped scars, with a milky white scar across his brow and bridging into his iris reaching his cheekbone. The whole left side of his face is covered in scars reaching to his ear. The other side of his face is smooth and unharmed but the damage has cost him his sight completely. His entire facial feature almost seemed…undead. I had no idea. And that means I’ve been an asshole for the past 5 minutes into my interview.

“You will be working in a blind man’s home…” he croaks looking at the wall, turning his head slowly to the floor and he withdraws back into the shadows. “You’ll do.”

“I-I didn’t mean to-“

“No, you did not,” his voice seemed distant this time. “Here are the keys.”

On a single silver circle were 3 keys and a red label tag on each. Front door. Back door. Bedroom door. I pocketed the keys into my bag, unable to tear my gaze away from him sitting in the dark, fascinated and intimidated all at once.

“That’s it? I’m hired?” I asked.

“The one important…thing…” he croaked, coughing, covering his mouth, and regained himself. “You must do for me… is to never lie to me.”

I look at him out of the corner of my eye and shiver, moving my shoulders. He’s serious. Dead serious. Being in his presence burned something in me. Suddenly the atmosphere of the room shifted from being dreadful and dipped into a peaceful hush between him and me. His head tilted waiting for an answer.

“Of course,” I whispered.

He seems satisfied with my answer, leaning back, taking his cane, and pushing forward the little black book before leaving the room. He limps, turns his head in my direction, then leaves without another word. I look at the empty door frame, the book, and back to the door frame. I reached out and opened the book. It was a chores list of everything that needed to be done and completed in his home in a certain timeframe starting in the morning and ending precisely 12 hours later. My excitement is hard to contain! I finally achieved my summer job duties for the next couple of weeks! I scan through each page as fast as I can before realizing that it’s gorgeous. His handwriting (surprisingly) is very neat, thin, long curved, and beautiful, sitting perfectly on each double-spaced line perfectly. He may have lost his sight but he’s not as beastly as I thought. Before I know it he’s back in the room with me.

“I’ll be here early tomorrow morning. Thank you. I’ll do my best to make your home a happy one,” I smiled, looking into the empty doorframe. “Thank you Mr….”

My face goes red.

I don’t even know his name.

“You do not start tomorrow morning. There are some things that I need to prepare my home for before you arrive. I can’t risk another break-in. You start next week.”

I grab my bag and walk down the hallway and I can hear him thump around in the kitchen opening cabinets and shaking pots and pans, silverware, and silverware falling into the sink.

“Excuse me?”

“I need to prepare my basement before you arrive. There are some things I must do. Then you may begin.”

He turns on the faucet listening to the water splash over the porcelain bowls and heavy mugs clattering at the bottom of the sink. I watch him closely. He stares at the wall while both of his hands scan over every bowl, fork, mug, and knife and turns off the sink water before it reaches the rim. Lathering his hands in bubbles he grabs a rag and begins to rub and finger old coffee stains from a mug. I shrug tucking the book under my arm. He keeps his head perfectly balanced and straight, never once looking down or in any other direction. He’s completely in control.

“I don’t know your name…” I murmur, watching his hands look for a brush. “I’m Evey.”

For a moment he stops, and both his hands grasp the metallic edges of the sink, lowering his head down, listening this time. He turns towards me slowly as if he’s about to say something important. His knee twitches and he tries to hide it, but I can see he’s having a hard time standing on both legs. Limping and half-walking he steps closer to me until he’s standing nearly 3 feet away from me, breathing hard, looking at the ground and to my shoulder. This time I take a better look at his face and his milky white eyes and I’m completely entranced. Complete silence comes between us both and I’m not exactly sure what to do at this moment. My nose catches whiffs of wood (maybe cedar) and a certain musty smell mixed with fresh-cut grass and soap coming off of him. He may be a little older but he certainly doesn’t act or smell old at all. Not like other elderly people I’ve met, which I decided I liked about him. This man, this large intimidating man, uncurtained himself from the darkness and slowly devoured my name one morsel at a time.

“Evey…” he whispers, rolling my name around on his tongue.

He says my name slowly, taking time for him to fully appreciate the sharp and strong ‘E’ and ‘V’ that pronounces my whole name.

Even when he says my name it sounds delicious.

His eyes go to the window as he turns his head to the ground, tilting his head to the side, listening for my presence for as long as he can. In a second I see his hand reach out for mine and my gut suddenly ripples with butterflies looking at the scars across his knuckles and arms. This man has been through hell and high water and it shows. The scars completely covered his knuckles in little dashes and marks crisscrossing over each muscle with soft white tissue. His whole body was a canvas of scars and I wondered what kind of artist was responsible for it. Slowly my hand grasps his (the butterflies turn into sparkles of fire almost melting my insides) and we are finally introduced in a soft peaceful shake.

“Norman,” he murmurs, lifting his gaze to my forehead. His voice is gravelly when he speaks. “Norman Nordstrom…”

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enderpearlgirl1005 · 9 months

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The Artists Game

Chapter 2 Mall

(The next day)

Aika was in the kitchen making herself some steamed rice and tamagoyaki with cheese in the middle when the phone started ringing. She picked it up and heard her mother's calm, and caring voice over the line.

"Hello sweetie, how are you doing?" Aika's mother asked.

"Alright mom just had an interaction with that STD spreader at the store behind our house last night." Aika said, still disgusted by what happened last night.

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that sweet heart." Aika's mom said sadly over the phone, as she knew about Aika's situation with Hinote.

"It's okay mom, I punched that jerk right in the face when he grabbed at me." Aika said, reassured her mom.

"Well I don't like it when you use violence but considering the situation I'll let it slide." Aika's mom said.

"Thanks mom." Aika thanked graciously.

"Oh and sweetie can you do me a favor I deposited some yen for you in the bank I need you to go and draw it from the bank once you're done with what you're doing." Aika's mom explained.

"Oh sure I wanted to go out into town anyways after I had some breakfast and a nice hot shower." Aika explained while flourishing at the thought of a steamy hot shower.

"That's good dear I love you and I miss you." Aika's mom said lovingly.

"I love you mom bye." Aika said, she then ended the call with her mom.

She soon finished cooking the rice and the tamagoyaki , then sat down at the table to enjoy her warm meal. As she was eating the rice and eggs together she got out the notebook and looked through her drawings. Some of them were gory creatures that she made up while others were anime characters she made up as she liked anime, as long as it was horror.

"Man, I wonder how Amaya would've thought of these if she never joined those cheerleaders?" Aika questioned herself about that like always, as she always wondered if they would even still be friends if she had never became a cheerleader.

Before Amaya had joined the cheerleaders she would compliment Aika on her drawings saying that she was really talented. However now thanks to them she now says that their the ugliest thing she has ever seen and now all she has is her mom to say that they're great drawings. Despite her mother not liking violence of gore she still supports Aika as she care's a lot about her only child. Although Aika knew that her mom only says that as it's a mothers job to say that their child's work is great and Aika wants someone else to tell her their opinion on what she draws. Yet she's an outcast in school and barely anyone talks to her at all, not only that but everyone in the school thinks she's a weirdo due to the way she presents herself.

Aika felt tears running down her face, which made her surprised as she didn't realize she was crying. She whipped the tears off her face and decided to watch some TV to get her mind off of ex-friend and her lonely life in school. She grabbed her bowl of rice and her plate of tamagoyaki, along with her notebook, then sat down on the soft couch. She turned on the TV and began watching the news as it helped her feel better sometimes, depending on what was on, and if there wasn't anything interesting on she would switch it to something else, and if it had horror in it she'd watch it.

"And that's the weather for you all." The young and pretty newscaster announced before continuing on with "In other news a group of five teenage boys were found dead in an alleyway, strangely they were all cut perfectly. Live on the scene is commander officer Kaji who will give us a report on the situation regarding the case."

The TV then changed to the scene where the Commander was standing in front of the alleyway. Splatters of blood could be seen on the walls and the entrance was closed off with yellow police tape. Flashing red and blue light's could also be seen flashing off screen as there were still police cars in the area.

"Kaji how has the investigation on this murder been going and is their any clues on what may have happened to these boys?" The news woman who was there at the scene asked, before handing the microphone to Kaji.

"Unfortunately no we haven't been able to determine anyone as the killer yet, but I promise you that this murder will not go unpunished." Kaji stated in a clear, serious tone.

"You hear that ladies and gentlemen commander Kaji here will not rest till the killer is brought to justice." The News woman stated while looking at the camera.

"Huh some boys got killed, never seen that before I wonder who they are?" Aika asked herself curious on what happened and who the victims where.

As if the newscaster could hear her she said "In case you're all wondering who the victims are, Aakar will show you all their pictures of them." It then changed to the news man and the pictures of the boys all popped up.

When Aika saw one of the pictures she was shocked to see that one of them was Hinote. While she didn't like him she didn't want him to die, just to leave her alone.

"What the hell happened to him and who or what killed him?" Aika asked herself scared by this.

While she was into dark stuff she didn't like it when someone died in real life as in movies it's fake. However when someone is killed in real life it's more scary and can show that monsters truly exist in real people. Aika was asking if she should still go out and withdraw the yen for her mom, as their was a potential killer out on the lose and she didn't want to be murdered.

"Na that wont happen a murder wont be stupid enough to kill someone in broad daylight when everyone's up and out of the house. So I'll be fine to go out for a few hours not just to get the yen but I might also get some lunch and look around the stores for a bit." Aika said to herself then finished up her breakfast.

After she was done eating she got her dress, socks and shoes and headed to the bathroom. When she got into the bathroom Aika took off her purple and black striped pajamas and threw them into the laundry basket. She also slipped off her undergarments and threw them into the laundry basket as well. After getting undressed she looked into the mirror and looked at the bit of hair that was covering up her face in the reflection.

She then got closer to the mirror she put her hand up to her face and pushed her hair out of her face. When she did she had a bad memory from when she was younger come back and she gasped at the memory . She then pulled the bit of hair back to it's original place before backing away from the mirror up to the wall. Aika then slid down the the floor before burying her face in her hands and shook her head violently trying to forget the memory.

"Come on Aika forget about that day, just focus on what's going on now. Just get your shower and go out for a bit!" Aika told herself.

She then got up, opened the walk in shower's door, got in, closed the door behind her, and turned the water on. When the water made contact with her skin she shivered at the cold before she turned up the temperature on it and once it was at the right temperature for her she continued on with the shower.

After getting a nice, relaxing, warm shower Aika slipped her clothes on, got a bag and sunglasses before heading out. She locked the door behind her and headed out to the bank then to the mall. Aika didn't have a bike cause she never wanted one, so she just walked to the city and back.

The area she lived in was about an half an hour walk to the city so Aika could walk there and back. On her way there she saw Amaya standing on the porch of one of the cheerleaders' houses. Aika started speed walking not wanting to talk to Amaya unfortunately Amaya spotted her and started running up to her.

"HEY AIKA I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU!" Amaya screamed angrily before grabbing Aika roughly by the arm.

"Ugh, what do you want Amaya?" Aika asked angrily while trying to get her arm out of Amaya's grip.

"IT'S HINOTE! THE LAST PERSON HE TALKED TO WAS YOU!" Amaya screams angrily while griping tighter on Aika's arm.

"Hey I didn't want to talk to him in the first place" Aika stated, before finally pulling her arm out of Amaya's grip.

"WELL IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ME. YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME YOU BITCH!" Amaya screamed angrily.

"I DIDN'T HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU I HATE HIM! YOU COULD'VE HAD HIM IF YOU APPROACHED HIM YOURSELF!" Aika screamed back.

Amaya got even more angry at that and raised her fist to punch Aika but she was stopped by one of the cheerleader's mother.

"Wowow Hey there, why don't I take you inside and you and my daughter can have some green tea." The mother suggested before bringing Amaya inside to prevent a cat fight from blowing up in front of her house.

As she was being taken into the house she shot Aika a death glare to which Aika just rolled her eyes and continued on her way.

(Half an hour later)

Aika was now in the bank talking to her mom's bank assistant about the withdrawal.

"Okay your mother withdrew 25000 yen and she said that half of it is for you to get food and the other half is for emergencies." The bank assistant explained.

"Okay I guess that's what it was going to be for as we can now save up more yen now that we'd paid what debt my dad's gambling ass got us into." Aika spat the last part out in anger.

"Yeah I know she told me about what happened to him. While I don't wish death upon anyone, I feel like what happened to him was the only way for you and your mom to live in peace in this world." The Bank assistant explained.

"Well I'm glad that happened to him, I hated him for my whole life. When I figured out we were never gonna see him again I was overwhelmed with happiness." Aika said to herself, forgetting the bank assistant.

"Oh I never knew that you felt that way about him." The bank assistant said, surprised by what Aika had said.

"Huh oh sorry I was thinking out loud. I'll just be on my way and head to the mall. I have no other business here." Aika explained, excusing herself.

"Oh no it's alright I understand he was an awful man so I know that you hated him." The bank assistant reassured Aika.

Aika was glad to hear that and she soon finished up what she had to do there. Once she was done there she left the bank and headed to the mall. When Aika went in she saw that as usal on the summer the place was packed with people.

'What did you expect? It's summer and it's the mall. So It's gonna be full of people.' Aika thought to herself.

She pushed through the crowds and went to the accessory shop to see if she could find a new hair clip. When she got there she was disappointed to see the other cheerleaders where in the shop as well.

'Ugh I hate these girls, they took my friend away from me.' Aika thought to herself.

She quickly walked away in order to keep out of sight from the other cheerleaders. She went into the hair clip section to see if there were any hair clips that would speak with her fashion. However to her disappointment all the hair clips were too pink and girly for her as she wanted something black and gothic.

"*sigh* Why do all the stores I go to are out of the things I want?" Aika asked herself.

"Oh I don't know, probably because your fashion sense is ugly as hell." A snarky voice commented.

Aika cringed at the sound of the voice, and looked to her right and frowned as she saw three of the cheerleader's standing a few feet away from her.

"What the hell do you want?" Aika asked annoyed by them bothering her.

"Oh nothing, just some of the yen you got on you." The cheerleader said confadently.

"No way my mom left me this while she's away on her business trip." Aika spat before holding her bag that also had her wallet in it behind herself.

Unfortunately she felt someone trying to yank it out of her hand. When she looked back she saw there were two more cheerleaders, this made her even more angry as she only wanted to have a relaxing day at the mall.

"WHY THE FUKING HELL DO YOU GIRLS HATE ME SO MUCH!" Aika screamed furious, not even being careful with her words while she was pulling on her bag.

"Oh maybe because you are a loner and a loser." The girl who was trying to take her bag away said, while she was pulling back.

"I'M ONLY A LONER BECAUSE YOU WHORES TOOK MY FRIEND AWAY FROM ME IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT FOR DOING THIS TO ME!" Aika screamed angerly and pulled back, but unfortunately the girl managed to rip her bag out of her hands.

Just then the other girl kicked her in the stomach and punched her hard enough that she crashed into the shelves and everything on them to fall off and on to her.

"Oh look at what we got here an ugly notebook I bet she draws ugly art in here just like herself." The cheerleader that had her bag said.

She then pulled out the notebook and opened it up to see and hopefully rip out what Aika had drawn in it.

"Ugh look at this thing it's so ugly my eyes wanna die." The Cheerleader laughed and showed the other girls the picture.

They all laughed as it was one of the anime characters Aika made up and drew into the notebook. They all thought it was ugly as fuck and when Aika heard them say that about her drawing she was about to cry as it hurt her a lot, and brought back memories of her father.

"Ohh Look her wallet lets see how much she has." The other cheerleader said while pulling out Aikas black and purple wallet.

"N-No that's for me my mom gave it to me." Aika said weakly while trying to get up but was stopped by one of the other cheerleaders kicking her hard in the stomach.

"Aww so what, we don't care that your pathetic mom gave it to you, we just want it." The cheerleader said and was about to open it till a hand stopped her.

"HEY FUCK FACE WHAT ARE YOU- *gasp!*" The cheerleader stopped as she saw that a manager, employee, and Haru were standing next to the group and they all had angry looks on their face's.

"Oh M-Maneger! we-we were uuuhhh-" one of the girls tried to explain but was cut off by the manager.

"You girls were just beating this poor young woman up and were about to steal her money. Yeah I think you girls need to come with me." The manager sternly said then took two of the girls while the employee took the other three with him into the back.

Haru stayed with Aika and helped her up and put her stuff back in her bag.

"T-thanks Haru" Aika shakily said as she was still in a bit of pain and was clenching on to her stomach.

"Anytime I guess it was luck that I was here when they started bullying you, and it was a good idea to get a manager and employee." Haru said a bit flustered.

"Y-yeah well thanks I think I-I need to go to the clinic to get checked." Aika said as she felt like that she could've gotten a few cuts from the attack.

"I'll take you there." Haru said then picked Aika up bridal style and walked out of the store with her in his arms.

'Oh my god I'm actually carrying Aika, the girl who I've had a crush on for so long now and now that Hinote is out of the way I don't need to worry about him taking her from me. *sigh* Calm down, Haru, don't be creepy. You've seen enough videos from victims of stalking that it's just gonna Scare Aika away from you so keep it together and don't be creepy.' Haru thought to himself.

Soon the two got to the first aid station and the doctor working there took a look at Aika.

"hmm aside from a few bruises and the scratch on your arm you should be okay." The doctor said to the relief of Haru and Aika.

He then disinfected the scratch Aika had on her arm and got out a bandage to put over it. However when Aika got a look at the design she cringed again as she saw that it was pink and was decorated with rainbows.

"Un sir do you have any other bandages? I don't like the color pink or rainbows." Aika explained

"well we do have regular bandages if you don't want one that's decorated as the decorated ones are meant for younger kids." The doctor explained

"I'd like that, Thank you sir." Aika said graciously.

"Hey It's a part of the job," The doctor stated before putting a plan bandage on Aika's scratch.

Aika and Haru thanked him once again for his services and the two made their way to the food court.

"Hey Aika, would you like some ramen?" Haru asked.

"Sure, I'm in the mood for some shrimp ramen." Aika answered.

"Okay let's go get some." Haru said before leading Aika to the ramen shop.

"One steak ramen please." Haru ordered.

"And I'll have a shrimp Ramen with no mushrooms or boiled egg." Aika ordered with a few changes to how the ramen is made.

The cashier then told them the price for the ramen and Haru paid for both of them.

"Oh thanks Haru." Aika said grateful.

"Hey It's the least I could do after what happened with you and those cheerleaders." Haru said while putting his arm around Aika's shoulder.

"Hey Lovey doveys kiss already!" Someone in the line shouted.

"WE'RE NOT LOVERS SO SHUT UP!" Aika shouted annoyed, with a bit of blush on her face while Haru was also blushing and rubbing the back of his head.

Soon their orders came and the two took their ramen bowls and sat down on a nearby table.

"So Aika what do you normally do at home?" Haru asked trying to create some form of a conversation.

"I mostly draw or when, my mom's home I do activities with her like gardening or shop for groceries and accessories around here." Aika answered.

"Oh well, do you play any video games?" Haru asked.

"Well we couldn't afford consoles as my dumbass, gambling dad got us in debt." Aika said bitterly.

"Oh what did he do?" Haru asked feeling a bit sad for Aika when he heard that.

"He gambled and owed money to loan sharks. His addiction to gambling made mine and mom's life hell as we could barely afford many things. Thankfully one day it all ended because my dad didn't pay back his debt. The loan sharks he owed money to took him away and killed him. I know this because my mom was talking to a police officer who told her that he was found dead near a ditch. When I heard about it I couldn't help but feel happy as now we could live normal lives once mom paid off the debt. Thankfully her job made it easy and in a matter of years we're now out of debt and living more comfortable lives." Aika explained coldly and a bit satisfied at the end.

"Oh wow I had no idea that you and your mom had gone through that." Haru said feeling sorry for Aika and what she went through when she was younger.

"Yeah, but you wanna know another reason I'm glad he's dead? Because he was physically and verbally abusive as he also had an alcohol and drug addiction." Aika said bitterly and angerly.

"I'm sorry to hear that as well. Man, things must've been rough for you and your mom when your father was around." Haru said.

"Yeah they were but now that he's gone our lives have never been better." Aika said with a slight smile on her face.

"Well I'm glad to hear that. Hey, can I see what you've drawn in your notebook?" Haru asked curious on what she drew in it.

"Oh sure and hey if you have yours I'd like to see it." Aika said as she got her notebook out, even though she was afraid that Haru would say about her drawings.

"Oh sure here" Haru said and pulled his out of his bag.

The two shared their drawing with each other and were impressed with one another's drawing talents.

"Wow Aika you're really talented! I love your art style it looks amazing, much better them my art style." Hari explained while looking at his notebook and drawings.

"Really? I've never had anyone else aside from my mom say that my drawings where good. Those cheerleaders always tell me that my drawings are ugly and it makes them wish that they where blind." Aika explained a bit sad about the cheerleaders, and while blushing a bit at Haru's compliment. "Well I'm surprised that those cheerleaders thought that they where bad, if they think your drawings are bad then they must not have good taste in art." Haru explained jokingly.

"Wow... I don't know what to say... Thanks Haru, that's one of the nicest things anyone aside from my mom had ever said to me." Aika explained.

Haru smiled at that and the two keep on having a conversation about other their likes and dislikes. However they didn't notices that a woman was hiding herself in the shadows with an earpiece on and was talking on the microphone.

"Yes sir, they're here, the last two entries. One of them knows what the notebooks do while the girl still doesn't know what they do. However, you should still make the announcement for the game." The woman said to the person on the other line.

The person on the other side of the line agreed with the woman and told her to head back to base. She agreed and left, but not before taking one look back to Aika and Haru.

"You two better watch out as you'll be in for the fight of your lives." The woman said before disappearing into the shadows.

#anime #blood #creatures #darkthemes #deathgame #drawing #goth #horror #japan #love #monsters #murder #supernatural

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violetrose-art · 1 year

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The Great Mouse Detective: The Vermin Murders - A Crush? (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1334168351-the-great-mouse-detective-the-vermin-murders-a?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=ReillyKuhn&wp_originator=mgymng0m9pVNSQpRbWqm3XtkJwBLoiKi72mjya3OMEVsPEhJBDlObn3Hcg5UirMhNsJ%2BVvkHDe0ar%2BkQY7xtpizelWf8tPcwLbjZ5rmJpDkzKAAmXgyFOfH4ItralFa2 Professor Ratigan was defeated and Mousedom is safe... until a new danger rises up from the shadows. A masked killer called 'Vermin' is slinking through the streets and slaughtering innocent mice in the cover of darkness and it's up to Basil of Baker Street to find Vermin and end this killer's reign of terror once and for all... And on the way, he meets a very special someone.

#adultthemes #basilofbakerstreet #darkthemes #disney #doctordawson #horror #jacktheripper #murder #murdermystery #mystery #originalcharacter #thegreatmousedetective #thriller #mystery-thriller #books #wattpad #amreading

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apocolypticia · 1 year

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⠀⠀៹ ࣪˖ ⛓️◞ · 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 ﹢ ﹢

he collected many things , but never quite enough . . . haunted by a couple big 𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖘 , dents are covered with the way 𝐆𝚁𝙴𝙴𝙳 decorates .

#mvrp #dni #ocrp #darkthemes #18+

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spaghettifarts · 6 months

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dark poems - Close (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1391307174-dark-poems-close?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=curb11&wp_originator=GYBOK5YUBt8dKs961s43yQGvbgAIixiP6%2B6HcDE0%2FBtQNsOqcrUaYqrCjWumcXieG6gTxVYXfRKPcet7QiwmqRrTEuvh%2BluqhQcNwdKQ6365spf1D4CBxSGSe4wzejT4 i really love to write my emotions into poems. a lot of these are dark. please no hate! i only want to share them because i think people can relate and maybe they can help someone. this is my first time writing and updates aren't guaranteed. please leave comments, i would love to hear them. i'll take criticism if you put it into nice words. if you have any requests that you want me to write about, leave a message and i'll do my best.

#dark #darkthemes #enjoy #firstbook #hope #idk #poem #poetry #suicidal #symbolic #symbolism #books #wattpad #amreading #first story

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snarkysinner · 7 months

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𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵.

When I was a child, I heard voices that always said the same thing. 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵. I learned the voices died with me. I remember when I was 15 years old; my bawdy digits held the bottle in my hand, taking a lengthy gulp I put a handkerchief inside it, I lit it with the lighter and I threw a Molotov bomb into a cocaine laboratory and saw how everything was burning.

Staring into an open flame Something in it had a power I could barely tear my eyes away I could stay there for hours. My lips lifted up into a satisfied smirk. As a teenager, I had a brief period of my life where I smelled gasoline on everything, including on my clothes, I knew that something would always rule me. I knew this scent was mine alone. I have two brothers, an eldest one and a twin brother. Both of them are The devil spawn.

When we were kids we used to switch identities and no one could ever notice, not even our mother. College girls love danger, bad boys and having sex with them in the car parked in the college bathrooms, I even had sex in the principal's office with his daughter.

I continued like this until college and that was where my demon released one day in laboratory class. Touching my chin with a wild grin toyed on my lips. My blue eyes like the Devil's water mixing the liquids on purpose and with a cigarette I lit on fire at the table my fascination with fire had no limits. The way the flames light up every lab table, the dancing flames and my blue eyes glinted with pure mischief.

The university alarms went off with everyone running and I stayed to enjoy my work of art, then I leisurely strode out of the lab. The sound of my boot clad feet hitting the ground. I ran my fingers through my blonde hair. calmly while everything burned behind me my lips lifted on classic troublemaker smirk.

The danger gets me high. When I was 21 years old I went to prison. I was guilty in the first degree for what happened in the lab. My twin brother came to visit me once and told me that our brother had gone crazy and that he had killed a girl out of jealousy.

We are sitting in front of each other between the glass of the prison. My gaze pierced into him. I know there’s something he was hiding. My voice is deep. “Did he really kill her?” Perking a curious brow. He started to play with his face with a sadistic smirk toyed on his lips. “I killed her as a matter of fact we both did and took turns rapping her.” They both were sadistic and who needed to be put in prison but I didn’t have proof or how many innocent women they had killed.

They got rid of the body leaving it unrecognizable and mutilated. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙, 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙚

I was attracted to fire and setting things on fire and he was a serial killer. I spent 4 years in prison, the food was horrible and when I had to go to the punishment cell, I was locked up for a week without seeing sunlight. The cell was humid and smelled like sewer rats. When I met Frank, a 50-year-old man told me if I kept looking for trouble like a fighting rooster.

I wasn't going to last long. The first weeks I was going crazy, I missed my mother's homemade food, my father's stories, I even missed my brothers. Being locked up and having that impulse to light something. But I know being reckless and young is not how the damage gets done.

I recognize that I cannot let myself be completely controlled by my broken mind, but I can’t help but satisfy the psychotic need to burn everything to the ground.

The power of the flames entranced me as a child and led me to commit arson.𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡. After that time I joined the motorcycle club.

I had to stop my impulses, but it made me realize that this need or addiction has control over me, and can’t be escaped. Like a scent, it will follow me wherever I go.

To Be Continued…

#darkthemes

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release-by-eileen · 7 months

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Love's Remains

Caution: Delving into Darker Depths 💀

This content may not be suitable for sensitive readers. Proceed with caution!

#Love'sRemains #DarkPoetry #TwistedTales #GothicVerse #DanceOfDarkness #InkAndChaos #MacabreBeauty #VerseOfObscurity #ExploreTheShadows #DarkThemes #ContentWarning #ViewerDiscretionAdvised #DarkPoem

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rotteninpandemonium · 8 months

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My name is Rot

{new pinned post bc y not?}

this is a side blog, first and foremost

secondly, it gets wacky here

no minors!

this sideblog is for me to share and express thoughts, feelings, and such that I don't really want on my main blog, mostly bc of the theme generally.

General TW / CW for this blog

Interests include: vampirism, bl00d, femdoms, posic and objectum, knives, pain, anguish, partialism (for me it's hands, shoulders, teeth, and legs), and more

Dislikes include: anti-k!nk, ED Blogs (especially ones that encourage it), discourse, p0rnb0ts, racists/homophobes/transphobes/the usual suspects, abuser apologists, etc.

Just a second Warning!! -- I will post/rb things with dark themes!!

I will try my best to tag things appropriately!

#pinned post #intro post #again #darkthemes #paraphiles can interact #k!nk #posic #objectum #osor #m@sochist #total wackjob #proship can interact

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sugarlove-01 · 2 years

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Cold Was The Night Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Anne fidgeted with her red locks.

“She hasn’t spoken a word since this morning. She seems to be in shock. Something out in those woods frightened her. Two days ago, Salem endured the worst hurricane on these shores in years. Times are beginning to become more unnatural but one thing is for certain: she’s no agent of the French.” Anne crosses her arms, nervous and somewhat anxious about the occurring circumstances. The morning had been a cold and slow trod for the whole village but she had become restless.

John Alden spies the girl lying in bed, through the cracked opening of the door,” No one appears out of thin air like a ghost, even after the storm. I suspect she is hiding something.”

“She failed to mention where she comes from,” Anne paced in the hallway, weaving her fingers together. “I agree her wardrobe is quite… different. Perhaps she is just lost. Perhaps maybe she and her mother lost their way from Boston.”

“Or she is a sad lonely little girl unable to cope with the fact she has no home, no family, and not but a name…She’s a runaway.”

“How?”

“Look at her. Look at her clothes. Look at her shoes. Look at the red paint on her lips. Look at the paint on her fingernails. Look at what she is and at what she isn’t. And she’s anxious—anxious to speak with me at least.” He strides into another room.

Anne followed him, “We cannot keep her here?”

He shook his head, “It will be impossible. In times like these… with so much going on here in Salem, we cannot stow a runaway. If people know I am keeping this then there will be another scandal. Or worse: a hanging.”

“She’ll have nowhere to go. She has no possessions or family to look after her. You’ll be condemning her to nothing.” Anne took a step toward him, an arm’s reach away, then hesitated herself. “We’ll be condemning her.”

“We?” he raised a brow.

“Yes, you found her in the woods. You could have left her there to be eaten by wild creatures or kidnapped by savages or hunted and killed by witches, but you did not. You chose to bring her here on your accord. Don’t you see? You have a heart Captain Alden and you cannot sit idly by while this beautiful and kind stranger falls victim yet again to this horrid nightmare we call Salam,” Anne smiled at him, knowing she was affecting him with her words, maybe his heart as well. John shook his head looking up at the ceiling; she gained her courage ready to pound the final nail in her campaign. “You decided to make her your responsibility, Captain Alden, and if we just throw her out then she’ll surely starve or worse—”

“She cannot be my responsibility, Anne. I’m sorry. I have far more important matters that I must attend to,” he gazed out the window to the Sibley house, his eyes drawn to those dark windows. Where his mind and heart always reside.

“Captain Alden, why on earth would you rescue this poor lost soul if you would condemn her to the harshness of Salem? If we do not do something now then it’ll be the whore house. If we do nothing then we are the same as those men whom you protest against so much--”

“Anne…”

“She is our responsibility, Captain Alden. Please, I beg of you.”

“Alright! Alright!” he waved his hands in defeat. Dear god in heaven, he hoped upon a falling star he was not making a colossal mistake. “She may stay one night and no more.”

Anne stepped forward to embrace him, hesitated, but only took satisfaction in his gaze of acceptance as a reward.

“Thank you. That is all that is needed.”

The Next Day:

I stood on top of the bed reaching as high as I could holding my cellphone waiting to catch some bars. For the half-past hour, I’ve been trying to catch any signal but no luck. This was impossible! I slipped my cellphone back into my pocket and sulked in bed. I had already cried my tears, said my prayers, and closed my eyes hoping this nightmare would end. After accepting this nightmare was real, I convinced myself I needed to escape. Every sound, every smell, every unfamiliar sound, creaked and moaned in this tiny house and it made me sick to my stomach.

I needed to get out of here and go back home!

Anne offered breakfast like a sweetheart. A breakfast plate of dry-crusted bread with a boiled egg and undercooked beef that looked like lamb brains.

I declined.

But she persisted.

Like she persisted on many other things.

“So, what is your mother’s name? Does she live in Boston? Where were you born? Did you come from London, England? Is your father in Boston?” Anne poured a cup of hot tea into two cups for us both, smiling.

So far, Anne was an absolute angel and she had no trouble keeping me company while the Captain went hunting in the woods. I had overheard some of their conversations from upstairs and the thought of being with him alone under one roof made me shiver. She was the daughter of a very important man in town and the Captain was a veteran war hero who was in love with an unattainable woman. Mary Sibley, the wife of George Sibley. The richest man in the country. At least that’s what Anne had explained to me.

“Um, Catherine, but everyone calls her Cathy,” I replied, accepting her homemade tea. I watched her forehead crease in curiosity.

“And your father? Is he from Boston or New York? Or has he journeyed here from London?”

From Arizona and California, but I don’t think that has been established as a state yet. I bite my lip accepting her cup of tea.

“He’s… not from here, in fact, I haven’t seen him in years. He went off… to explore… the western lands. He’s far away.”

More like 300 years away from my time.

“How brave and adventurous of him! An explorer! I suppose there’s more in the world to explore than little Salem, I envy him. Truly I do,” she complimented.

She sat in her chair for a moment keeping a hawk’s eye on me. I sipped my tea and tried to hide the sour look on my face. The herbs were strong and sour like cough medicine but resulted in a soothing after-feel in my throat warming my belly. But she was happy she was being a good caretaker for my well-being.

“And your mother?” she sipped from her cup, eyeing me the entire time. “I imagine she’s worried sick about you. Is she coming here to Salem as well? I’m sure you’re worried sick about her and I’m sure she’s most certainly worried about you.”

“I’m not sure,” I whisper, remembering her face shrinking into the woods. But my memory was limited. I remember her being swallowed by the fog and disappearing. “But I… don’t think I’m going to see her or anyone I know again.”

“Where does your family come from?”

Lived in California, and moved to Salem when I was 2 years old because my mom was sick and tired of her weird nagging parents and my dad got a better job.

“I’m… from the far west coast,” I lied, feeling my little white lie win her naïve trust. “I don’t know how I ended up here. I don’t know what happened. Everything happened so fast. I really, really, really don’t belong here. I don’t know how to explain it.”

That was the truth.

“I don’t belong here and I don’t want to stay here.” I put down my cup on the tray with a little too much force. “All I want to do is go home. I need to go back! And I… don’t know how to do that. I don’t know how I got here.”

I couldn’t tell her any more than that.

I can’t give too much information.

If I gave her any more information they would find me and hang me as a witch. It’s the one thing Salem is famous for.

“Be calm, Miss, it will be all right.”

Maybe it was cabin fever or dread, but my body was restless. She swallowed, pressing her lips together in thought looking at the little herbs swirling in her cup, trying to find a comforting retort. At the moment she thought of a response, John walked in through the door and gave Anne a quizzical look. He was a filthy wild man carrying three hares over his shoulder tied to a string. He took his furs off his shoulders and kicked his muddy boots on the door frame. His entire outfit smelled like mud, blood, and death. The Captain dropped the tip of his axe onto a wood stump and placed his bow and quiver on the table in front of me. I winced at the blood on his hands and wondered how on earth I was going to convince him I was a normal person. His striking brown eyes captured mine and for a moment; all I could see was suspicion and distrust.

“What’s going on?” I rose to my feet, standing beside Anne. “What’s happening?”

John snarled, dropping the dead rabbits on the table,” Dinner.”

“What!?”

“Ah, how kind of the Captain to fetch dinner at this fine hour. I’m sure, we ladies can prepare the hares and return such kindness. Miss Evey, we can change you into proper dinner attire and cutlery. Then we can fetch the skinning knife?”

“Y-You mean we’re actually going to skin those rabbits and cook them!?” I gasped.

First big mistake.

Captain Alden and Anne stared at me and placed me under a microscope. A thousand voices automatically screamed at me to stop talking and stop being a moron. I could feel the deep gaze of his eyes studying me.

“You’ve never stepped foot in the kitchen, Miss Blackwood? Are you… so below your class?” Captain Alden eyed me once more picking me apart one molecule at a time.

“Perhaps… we can change … your attire… and attend my household for dinner, Miss Blackwood. I have a few ideas of what your place might be here in Salem.”

I shook my head,” Yes, Anne, that would be nice.”

“But certainly, we can change your very interesting… garb. I believe my household has not seen such an expensive, beautiful, exquisite wardrobe and it would certainly put my mother and me to shame. However, my father will be a very interested and fascinated host.”

“Anne…” Captain Alden cut in, looking at Anne with a warning. “Shall we truly believe that is a good idea?”

“One must adapt to survive, Captain Alden,” she smiled in return.

“I do want to survive…” I chimed in.

“Yet, you stray so far from home?” Captain Alden leaned forward in his chair, his gaze burning more than ever. My stomach flipped when I met his gaze. “How is it, pray to tell, Miss Blackwood, you could travel so far from home without an inch of survival instinct in your body? I’ve never met a woman who’s never skinned hares without the exception of being… royalty. Then appear out of thin air on my doorstep, proclaiming you wandered from the woods, yet your tracks tell me a different story.”

Anne gave him a look, “Captain Alden is just—”

“I’ve found many strange things in those woods. Your tracks do not come from anywhere. It is as if you have appeared like an apparition from another world…”

“I… can’t remember,” I simply stated, tearing away from his suspicious gaze and biting my bottom lip.

I couldn’t turn to face him. One look and it would be all over.

He fetched his axe from the wooden stump, fetched his coat, and headed towards the door,” I am not done asking my questions. This will continue, Miss Blackwood. The truth always comes forward, especially when we least expect it. Anne, do as you see fit.”

In three long hard strides, he stomped out the door, shot me a quick gaze, then disappeared to go hunt. I tucked my hair behind my ear hoping to god he wouldn’t come back from those woods. If he finds out that I’m different, then he’ll send me to the noose.

“Well, shall we go Anne?” I asked, breaking the tension.

“Perfect. But I must warn you about… my father,” she spits, rolling her eyes. And then I understand. Anne sees the realization on my face and smiles. “He’s a magistrate of Salem, and he’s so keen to bring the whole town to ashes because of this witch panic. But he is the one man in this whole town to help you find your roots and make Salem your home. I will see to it that he assists you. It would also certainly relieve Captain Alden of such a wonderful guest in his home. He will be utterly devastated to see you go.”

“Yea, I’m sure he’ll hate to see me leave…”

When I heard the word witch my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. This is the age where everyone thinks women are a bunch of crazy bitches. The abuse, the violence, and the cruelty towards women are unfathomable. It’s the worst century ever! Especially for young girls whose time traveled 300 years to the past! Hot panic rises. Anne brought me to the back and changed my whole wardrobe. I put my Halloween costume in the closet with my boots. She fixed my hair into a braid tucked into a bonnet. Then I’m suddenly wearing almost 3 layers of clothing with a skirt and new shoes. When we were done I hid my cellphone underneath my bedroom floorboard. Anne walked with me out into the courtyard and this was my first real outing. Salem, 300 years in the past, was everything I thought it was.

“My house is across the courtyard. You can see my father there.”

“He’s your father?” I whisper, looking out the window at the man with silver hair and wearing a broad square hat. His long black cloak swishes against the cobblestone steps of his home greeting his wife waiting for him at the door. Maybe I need to stay on his good side. To me, he seemed like a strict man, full of power and ignorance. I trembled, my hand tracing to wipe the hot sweat from my brow. These psychos fucking hang people! What happens when they finally see that I don’t fit in? Will they think I’m a witch too?

“Anne? What do they do to people who are… different?”

“Different? In what way?”

“I’m just new to town.”

“It’s all right, Evey, fear not. You do not deceive me, I dare say, in some way or other, of which I formed the idea that you weren’t being completely honest with me. But I completely absolutely forgive you. We are friends. New faces of people have misrepresented themselves, changed like the face of the moon when they are running away from their past.”

“What?” my face dead-panned.

“While I can have a morning to myself,” Anne said walking towards the foot of her door’s entrance. “It is enough—I think it is no shameful sacrifice to join occasionally in my own fantasy that I do not belong here in Salem either, and I live another life somewhere. And I profess myself a secret imagination that I am someone else. And I know now that you are imagining yourself as someone else, right now.”

Earth to Evey! She’s telling you she has your back! This is the first homegirl you’ve made that’s from another century!

“Okay…” I replay everything she just said and reorganize every word. “You caught me. I’m a runaway. What do they do to runaways? They don’t brand them, do they? Do they go to jail?”

Or hang!?

Anne squeezed my hand,” Fear not! The whore house is not for you! Nor a jail cell! Nor the noose. Come! You must find your place here in Salem, lest you be living on the streets which would be most unsuitable for a darling young lady like yourself!” Anne pulled me into her home. “And I know just the thing! It’ll be perfect! Come along!”

1 Hour Later:

“Father, you are not listening—"

“Lovely to meet you, Evelyn Bankingwood, such a pleasure, Anne, dear, I have to attend a meeting tonight and I am running late. Stay with your mother after you introduce the new Headmistress and please be sure to come straight home, your mother will have my skin if you are not put safely in bed.”

“Father, you have not gazed upon our guest. She is—”

“Tomorrow we shall discuss more of this matter. But for tonight, Anne, please stay out of my affairs, I have plenty on my plate as it is. This witch panic has my entire focus.”

“Father—”

“Good evening my daughter. Good evening, Miss Coalwell…” Magistrate Hale didn’t even look me in the face.

He seemed like a busy man. He didn’t even look me straight in the eye.

“It’s Blackwood, actually.”

He slammed the door leaving his daughter and me standing in the hallway. That went a lot better than I thought it would.

“As I was saying before my father rushed out and did not attempt to know your name… my friend, Bridgette Bishop, was a midwife and she was a dear friend of mine. She’s lived here in Salem all of her young life. They hanged her for being accused of being a witch,” she whispered, holding up her drawing book to me.

The portrait of a woman seemed to affect Anne, her face darkened. They seemed like they were pretty close. It made me sick to think so many people would sentence her to death; she was an innocent woman. She looked like my 4th-grade teacher. She didn’t look like a witch at all.

Now she was dead.

Anne embraced her book to her chest, “The townspeople saw it fit to loot the orphanage when their headmistress was… removed. They tore everything apart and after they left my father hired Captain Alden to renovate and repair the house in hopes of reviving the orphanage. The children here are in dire need of a new Headmistress…”

“They hanged her for being a witch…”

Oh my god, those poor kids.

“Yes, it’s madness! It’s all insanity!” Anne pulled out a large chest from beneath the bed and opened it, pulling out coifs, waistcoats, petticoats, and aprons with shoes. “She was taken to trial and judged by the selectman and—and it was Mary Sibley who cast the vote for Mercy Lewis to judge her.”

“Mary Sibley? John Alden’s ex?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean… his former love interest?”

“Yes. Mary Sibley, the richest woman in all of Salem and the country rules behind her husband and fears no one and loves no one, certainly in these times. She and I share… no similar opinion and I don’t care what mother says; she is a vile and loveless woman. But an attentive neighbor she is true, she is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference. Beware of her husband, he has the most influence over the whole village.”

Oh my god, the 1600’s had their own Regina George. They love to hate her.

She tied her black coif around her head and stopped to look back at me from the doorframe, smiling warmly at me as if I had a halo above my head. Anne could see me do no wrong. She saw the good in everything and everyone. Especially when we both shared… a clean and unique point of view. All in all, we were equals.

“I’m so sorry, Anne… sounds like you’ve been through tough times.”

“Thank you, Evey, I know you will make a great new Headmistress with such a head for compassion and loveliness. You will be a great success. Thank you for everything, I’ll be back tomorrow to check on the children and you. Then we shall begin your training into the perfect little secret runaway.”

Whatever you say, Miss Queen of Goodness and Charity and Mercy.

“No, thank you, Anne. At least now I have a chance.”

I smile unclipping the cloak from my back and hanging it up on the chair before turning to look back at her, squeezing my fingers together against my stomach, trying to figure out what else to say. I don’t know if I would survive in this place without her.

“Thank you again, Anne,” I said before she left. She stopped at the doorway. “You know… for giving me a place to stay and not telling anyone about this. I bet there are people who are scared of… different.”

300 centuries of different.

“I would never!” she smiled her biggest smile, stepping closer. “We all have a choice and a destiny. Yours is right here, in Salem. You were meant to become our new Headmistress. Can I speak truthfully? Your past is history, but it is just that, history, and do not consider me now an elegant female, intending to plague and pity you, but a rational girl, speaking truth from her heart that you and I are the same. You are splendidly charming! I am persuaded to introduce you to the whole Council in church this Sunday if you could join us. The people of Salem would love to meet the new Headmistress, Evey Blackwood!”

Everything happened so fast and I couldn’t be more grateful. I looked at the pair of keys in my hand and immediately felt the responsibility on my head. But this was also a chance to find my way back home as well. I embraced Anne thanking her one more time and felt a cold shadow loom over me again. I felt cold. Or maybe I wasn’t used to so much girl-bonding time with someone besides Tina. But I guess it couldn’t hurt.

“Yea, sure...” I smiled. “I’ll be there.”

Anne walked me to the building where I would be residing. It was a tall two-story building made of dark wood sitting against wild ferns, weeds, and sunflowers. Large bushes were strewn all over the walls and had grown onto the windows. A thin tall white tree sat on the side of the building with a string and a wooden board attached to the highest branch where the children could play. A functioning water well lay rooted like a barrel beneath the white tree attached to a pulley system and a bucket. The pine door had been broken in, the windows smashed, and all of the furnishings had been stolen or destroyed. There were no children here but their empty bunks were proof they had resided there. The bunk beds sat side by side on each side of the room for at least 20 children

The whole upstairs was completely dedicated to the Headmistress, which was me, and it was just as robbed and destroyed. The floorboards bent down in the center of the room due to a large hole in the floor created by a fire. A bed cot had been the only thing the people of the village hadn’t taken.

“This place is absolute trash…” I whispered.

“Pardon?”

“I said ‘this place is absolutely… lovely’” I grinned with a fake smile, kicking a bucket across the room. “It just needs a few touchups.”

“Captain Alden will be here tomorrow to finish the roof after it caught fire. Sadly, when the orphanage was burning the children fled for their lives and hid in the alleys and crevices of the town. They fear that if they return they will face the same fate as their previous Headmistress. When Miss Bishop was burned as a witch, no one dared to search for them, or else they land in the stocks.”

“They just ran? They didn’t come back?”

“They simply disappeared and no one has seen them since. I pleaded with my father and other men to go into town and search for them, but he insisted they would be in god’s hands.”

“That’s stupid,” I whispered under my breath. “That’s just an excuse not to face the consequences of their actions. People here preach about being pure and good but judge others for what they’ve done; judge not lest ye be judged. When they realized that she wasn’t a witch when she was being hanged no one searched for the children?”

Anne frowned,” The men in town were afraid they would be thrown in the stocks, receive a branding, or meet the other end of a rope. Then Captain Alden volunteered to look for them to bring them back home, but they are rather good at hiding”

“Well, that’s even worse. Who told the people that she was a witch?”

“Our very own Reverend Cotton Mather, son of Increase Mather, a world-famous witch hunter.”

“It’s completely idiotic. If people know that when they burn a woman and she lives; she’s a witch. But if she dies because she wasn’t a witch, she’s innocent, then why wouldn’t anyone go looking for the children after realizing the big mistake they just made? They were innocent, too.”

Anne stayed silent for a moment and was about to respond but another voice entered the room.

“Because people are losing faith in finding good in each other. When people stop finding the good, they learn to thrive in the bad. Then they become the monsters they were taught to fear and hate,” Captain Alden appeared in the doorway.

Anne beamed at his sudden presence but I was the absolute opposite. She pushed her hair to one shoulder while he approached and stood in the door frame of the bedroom. He could definitely make his existence known without even saying a word. She took his presence with great, great, great importance. He brought in wooden boards under both his arms for construction and dropped them against the wall before politely taking a bow. A proper greeting in Salem, I’ve come to learn.

“Captain Alden, what a surprise!”

“Peace be upon you, Miss Hale,” he greeted politely, turning his gaze toward me. “Can I have a word with our new… Headmistress?”

This should be good.

Anne, though slightly disheartened, politely bowed and obliged his stern request and exited my new living quarters. Captain Alden stood in the doorway, axe resting on his broad shoulder, while I carefully stepped into the kitchen to sit at the table. This shouldn’t feel this scary to be near a man like him, but it did, it really did. I could feel his heavy footsteps trail slowly behind me and he took a seat too.

“What have I done now?” I started first. My voice shook when I said it, and I hated that. I sounded weak. I’d never wanted to sound weak in my entire life.

It was such a desperate cliché question. If these were to be my last words, they felt like stupid and unimportant ones, but I had to know. I had to know what he was thinking. My life may depend on it.

“I just need to know…” he whispered,” I need to know who you are.”

“My name is Evey—”

“I know your name, Miss Blackwood. My question is: who are you? Anne is convinced you are no agent of the French and I agree that you are no spy. I’ve seen you stalking around town. I can sense you truly do not belong here. The people here may see you as an outsider, they can feel you are misplaced. We can all feel it. I… can feel it.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong…” I remember thinking this was how spy movies often started with sensory deprivation; the first step to getting the intruder to spill her secrets.

I had no secrets. I was just as stumped as he was and maybe that was the problem. The table between us groaned as he stood up once more to build a fire in the fireplace. I sat in my chair, helpless. He knelt down and placed a few logs, got a match, and bingo! Flames were burning in less than a minute which I was grateful for, I didn’t know how to start a fire. The floorboards beneath his weight creaked exactly like they do in scary movies. At least now I knew what kind of scary story I was in, no sense fooling myself about it now.

Why had he chosen me? Did I send out a vibe or was he just obsessed? Was there something about me that screamed victim? Or witch?

“I just need to know if you truly desire to be the Headmistress of Salem orphanage. Anne and her father may have placed that title on your belt, but nay, I believe you’re running from something. Your story does not connect and it is a damn lucky coincidence that you are Headmistress now that Miss Bishop is dead—nay, murdered. The timing is too close. The orphanage, all of Salem, and I—we don’t need another imposter pretending to be something that she is clearly not. I’d like to tell you all the ways that I can dismember a wolf pretending to be a sheep in thy home, Miss Blackwood.”

His thumb swiped at the blade of his axe and my eyes roamed over his large hands. I could only imagine all the damage he could do with those hands… and all the good too.

“But… if you are in danger… then let it be known now. If you are in fear for your life, then perhaps, under the circumstances, I will help you. Even protect you from whatever you fear.”

I sigh, biting my bottom lip.

He notices.

“If not, then I will surely get to the bottom of this mess you have brought. I will discover your secret, Headmistress… When I do discover your secret, I cannot protect you or help you. Neither can Anne and I will bring you forth into the light.” Captain Alden had been itching for an answer.

Any kind of answer.

But the truth was still blurry.

“As I told you before, I don’t remember…” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t remember how I got here.”

“Very well…” he sighed, looking disappointed. Agitated, even angry, he was nowhere nearer to the truth. “We shall see what brought you here, won’t we, Headmistress Blackwood…”He disappeared into the darkness leaving me in my new little orphanage house. His exit allowed me to hyperventilate, almost suffocating to breathe, and I ached for comfort. I moved my cot closer to the fire and covered myself with my cloak. The blankets were itchy and filthy. I slowly drifted off to sleep, not knowing, a single solitary woman stood in the corner of my room in a long black cloak with eyes as black as midnight.

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enderpearlgirl1005 · 9 months

Text

The Artists Game

Chapter 1 Notebooks

A girl was sitting in art class waiting for the end of it so she could head home to try and spend some time with her mom before she left for a important business trip. Aika, like many people living in Japan, enjoyed art and watching TV with her mother. However, she didn't like to converse much with other students leaving her to ultimately sitting in the back of her classes. Her attempt to use her hair to cover her face on the left side so people didn't notice her was a fail. While listening to the teachers lecture before the bell rang for summer vacation a certain someone started talking to her.

"Hey Aika!" A boy yelled, making her look up from her note book.

"What is it, Haru?" Aika asked looking at the boy who called her.

"You're free tonight right? I got a new game and I thought we could have a good time." Haru suggested.

"Sorry, but I can't, my mom is going away on a business trip and her rules are to not go to anyone's house while she's gone," Aika explained with a frown.

It seemed like no matter how hard she tried not to be noticed, Haru's attention seemed to always fall on her. She'd rather it not be like that, trust issues is a little thing she picked up after past events when she was young. It kind of started to seem like Haru only talked to her because he was also a bit of a loner. Not that she was (At least she wouldn't admit it out loud).

It was obvious he was disheartened, but chose to stay quiet and go back to the teachers boring lesson. The school bell rang, it only took less than a minute for everyone to file out the classroom. Aika knew Haru was hurt from her decline to hang out, but spending time with her mom was more important. Plus it was the only person she truly felt comfortable around.

As the students were leaving, the teacher yelled " Id like to remind you that I'm teaching summer school! Last chance to sign up!"

*Yeah no. I'm not doing that. I have a perfect idea of my summer...spending time with my mom and my drawings* she thought smiling to herself

Once out the classroom, Aika went to her locker to collect her things. It was bluntly interrupted by the throb of her scalp as her hair was yanked on.

" Look who it is, the loner " the familiar voiced called out in a snarky tone.

Aika rolled her her eyes knowing well who it was and really didn't want to deal with her right now.

"Hello Amaya, what do you want?" said Aika

"Oh I just noticed you dyed the ends of your hair to purple, I really don't know why it wont make a difference " Amaya spoke while dragging Aika's hair along her hands.

" Why do you even care Amaya? " Yanking her own hair back behide her, Aika rolled her eyes in annoyance.

" I wouldn't any other day but I have to look at it and I'd hate to ruin my eyes with the sight of your hair. So why don't I do you a favor and fix it! " Quickly grabbing a pair of scissors from her pocket, she yanked Aika's hair to where she almost fell.

Tears peaked at the corner of Aika's eyes as the chances of getting out of this were slim, Amaya would've hit her if it weren't for the very angry male voice calling out to them. Both of them turned to see their principal standing there, presumably glaring at Amaya.

" Amaya. My Office, now " He spoke sternly.

She let go of Aika's hair with a mumble, stroking her hair trying to calm herself. Aika watched them both walk away but not before she caught Amaya's death glare.

(Aika's POV)

My name? Aika. Age? Fourteen years old. I live with my mom, I would say I have friends but I don't. I used to though. Until Amaya got accepted as a cheerleader and decided I wasn't good enough for her....I haven't made another friend since then. My drawings are all the social connection I need. That and my mom.

Besides Amaya, there is only one other person that makes my school experience a nightmare. Hinote. The captain of the football team. His huge ego and determination to get with every girl in the school has made me a constant target. It doesn't help that Amaya also likes him. She thinks I like him as well but that just makes her as dumb as she looks.

" Hey Aika~ " Apart of Aika wished she was invisible or could teleport.

(3rd Person point of view)

Aika turned around and saw Hinote leaning against a locker with a flirty smile on his face.

" What do you want, Hinote " she said turning to him.

"Hmm I want your heart," Hinote said while winking at her.

" I'm sure you do " Sarcasm coating Aika's voice " My answer is still the same, no! " She turned trying to leave.

Hinote grabbed a hold of her arms and whispered in her ear, "Aww you're still playing hard to get I like that in a girl."

Managing to pull out of his grip a lightbulb went off in her mind.

" Hey Hinote, ist that the girl on the swim team? The one with big boobs? I think she's still in her bathing suit. "

Just as he whipped around to look for the girl, Aika made a mad dash for the school exit doors. By the time he turned back around she was gone.

(Outside the school)

Aika, looking through her bag to make sure she didn't leave anything let out a sigh of relief. Walking up to the trash can she dumped all the study packets, the endless sheets of notes and anything else that was now useless.

* Finally, school is over! At least for three months * Aika said to herself.

Putting her bag back on she headed back in the direction of home. After a daunting fifteen minutes of walking she made it to the door unlocking it with her set of keys. Aika made sure to set her shoes with the others slowly making her way to the living room that connected to the kitchen.

Unfortunately the house only held her as Aika's mother was no where to be seen. Knowing her mom left already made her heart throb slightly, but work is work. She'll be back within a week so it didn't hurt that much. Besides, she's been left home before and was trusted with not burning the house down.

That and the low crime rate for her neighborhood, the occasional candy bar stealing or a bag of chip. Giving no more attention to the empty house, Aika locked the door and went to her room to get out of the discomfort of the sweaty clothes she had been wearing all day.

Aika opened the very well loved purple and black painted door entering her room. Switching on the lights she was relaxed seeing the room she would be in for the next three months everyday day. The purple ish black wall adorned skulls and many other things most people would see as Gothic. She didn't really care though.

Aika then took her back pack off and hung it up on a hook attached to the wall before taking her school uniform off and threw it to the ground.

* Ugh, finally out of that thing * Aika said to herself, just relieved to be out of those clothes.

She then went to her dresser that was right next to her bed that was on the right side of the room that was facing outwards. She opened it up and began digging through all her dresses and soon picked a dress that was sleeveless, black on the top, with a black corset in the midsection, the skirt was purple.

She slipped the dress over her head and slipped on, once it was on she grabed the clips that held the dress up and cliped them on the back of her neck. She then pulled out a pair of knee high purple socks that had black bats decorated on them. After she was done changing, Aika opened her backpack and pulled out her note book along with her other drawing utensils and went back down to the living room to draw and watch some TV.

(Several hours later)

Aika was so deep into drawing that once she was done with the previous one, there were no more pages. Glancing at her clock she watched it flash 9:00pm as the sky outside matched it.

* I don't wanna cook...that store has a restaurant in it though, and notebooks. I guess it's worth the trip * She thought to herself while getting up.

Heading downstairs, she walked to the back door after putting on her shoes. A deep black colored the sky, the flashlight that hung from one of the hangers caught her eye. Grabbing the flashlight she made her way to the store.

Looking at the wooden porch and newly cut grass with the painted fence, she smiled at herself. Aika and her mother had did it last week together, it was fun. Aika walked across the yard opening the fence gate making sure to lock it once she passed through it before making the two minute walk across the road to the store.

When she entered the building she looked, curious on how busy it was at this time of night. However no one seemed to really be in the store aside from a couple that was obviously not from Japan...probably American.

* Man, they must be pretty well grounded to come here * She thought

Aika's excitement for a new notebook was cut short when she saw that they were unfortunately out of stock. She groaned in annoyance at her luck, being reduced to having to watch horror movies and anime. To Aika, drawing was her one way to block out and escape her miserable life while her mom wasn't home. Her mom was just- if not more important than drawing to her as both things were a light in her life. The only light.

* This is just fantastic, knowing the system here they won't have a new stock in a week- dammit! * She thought angrily.

" Whatever, I'll get some food and take my butt home " Aika mumbled to herself before going up to the front to scan the menu.

"Oh Hey Aika." A familliar male voice said.

Aika looked at the worker quickly recognizing him from school as they were in the same class, the only student who ever actually talked to her.

" Haru?! You work here now? " She asked surprised.

" Yeah I just started last week, this place is awesome! " He exclaimed happily, Aika could tell he loved his job

"Oh cool, I'd like some takoyaki with no sauce and onigiri grilled with tuna in it to go please." Aika said, placing her order.

"Okay your total is 300 Yen." Haru said.

Aika pulled out her purple wallet with a white skull on it, taking the total out for the order. She handed it to Haru and he placed it in the register before disappearing back into the back. As Aika waited she heard a voice that made her head ache...the last person in the world she wanted to see right after summer started.

" I didn't know the store had you in stock~ " Hinote said seductively.

"Oh my god why are you here?" Aika asked angrily.

"Oh my dad was taking me to see a friend of his and we stopped by to get something. He's in the car because his feet are hurting so it's only me here babe." Hinote explained in a flirty tone.

"Well get your things and go back to your dad, I'm just here to get some food and I don't want to be bothered." Aika explained in an obvious tone that would let anyone know she doesn't want to talk anymore.

"Oh well, why should I go so soon? Since you are here why dont I stay a little longer?" Hinote asked smiling like he just won the ultimate prize.

" You said you were here with your dad? Go back before he drives off without you, it's late and I don't want to be bothered " She spoke. Aika's angry slowly reaching it's breaking point.

Without warning he wrapped his arms around Aika, grabbing onto her chest. Her fast reflexes caused Aika to whip around and landed a punch right to his face. Hinote met the ground with a loud thud.

"DON'T TOUCH ME YOU FREAK!" Aika screamed angrily.

" You get what you deserve. Leave my store, now " A man's voice said calmly with a hint of anger.

The two looked towards the side of the store and saw the manager. He had witnessed everything from Hinote walking in to him assaulting Aika. He knew her mother, they were regulars. Loved by him, he knew well that Aika only acted out of discomfort, reflex, and defense

"B-But she punched me!" Hinote exclaimed.

"Because you grabbed her, so let that be a lesson for when you grab a woman without their permission. Now get what you need here and leave before I make things ugly by calling the police and reporting you for this inappropriate behavior. My store has cameras so it'll surely have what you did on it." The Manager firmly said letting Hinote know that he wasn't welcomed there for much longer.

So Hinote got up, glared at Aika and the manager, before getting the item he needed, paying for it and left the store in a huff.

"Thanks for that." Aika said to the manager.

"Hey it's just my job and I promised your mom that I'd take care of you while she was gone, so if you need anything let me know." The manager said before heading back into his office.

Soon Haru came out with a bag that had Aika's food in it. She then took the bag, thanked Haru and waited in the the store, to allow Hinote to leave the area as she didn't want to deal with him anymore today. She soon saw his car leave and saw that his father wasn't in it, so she guessed he was off to cause trouble with his friends. Once she saw that he was gone she started walking out the door just wanting to get home, eat, and rest after what just happened.

"Hey Aika wait!" Haru called out.

Aika stopped, turned around, and asked "Yeah what do you need?"

" I saw you looking in the art section and forgive me if I'm wrong, but it looked like you were searching for the notebooks. I know they keep them on those shelves " He explained as his face displayed his flustered expression.

" Yeah I do, as an artist I use them up alot. The ' no friends ' thing doesn't help either. Why does it matter though? I know they won't be in stock for another week " Aika admitted still frustrated at having to wait.

" Oh! Well...I don't need it and I don't mind giving it to you, so here " Haru said holding the notebook out in front of him.

" Ha, it's the same design as the walls in my room. The book, I mean. "

" Oh! Really? I just got this and another one online, the website I bought them off asked if I want to join the artist game " Haru explained.

"Oh I wonder what that meant?" Aika asked, confused.

"I don't know it might just be an art contest, anyway here I've seen what you've drawn and it's really cool." Haru happily said.

"Thanks I really need this while my mom is out." Aika said while taking the notebook and leaving.

* Hinote...I won't let someone like you who spreads STD's like wildfires have Aika * Haru's face contorting to a scowl and the previous assault incident flashed in his mind.

He then got out his notebook and started drawing in it under the counter, he couldnt help but smile a little as he knew what he was going to do. He was going to make Hinote regret what he did to Aika and for all the bullying he put Haru through over the years.

(At Aika's house)

When Aika got in she took her shoes off and didn't bother putting them away properly since she was tired, mostly from the encounter with Hinote. So she just left her shoes where they were and went to the kitchen to eat her food. While she was eating she decided to get out the new notebook and start drawing in it. When she opened it she saw that the notebook had a purple pen in it and a little text that read "write your name and home state to enter the Artists game."

Confused, Aika didn't take it as anything. She wrote her name and state in the box. She started drawing characters and creatures unaware of the consequences, she just entered herself into The Artist Game.

(Somewhere else)

Hinote was hanging outside with his friends in an alleyway. They were smoking and conversing about what happened back in the store.

"Wow, I can't believe she punched you, must be playing really hard to get." One if Hinote's friends said.

" Yeah. I'll get her soon, all the other girls have fallen for me and she will too " he said confidently while taking another puff of his weed.

The metallic almost plastic like sound of cans was heard by the back of the alley. All three boys stood up peering into the cold dark void that was the alleyway.

" Hey! Who's there?! If it's one of you homeless fucks I promise you'll feel pain like no other! " Hinote yelled trying to sound aggressive, he could hear the fear in his voice which didn't help.

Fast swift footsteps began to aggressively approach them, they all stared in fear as a tall, thin black monster emerged from the shadows. It wielded blades, not for a normal weapon like a knife...but it's own hands.

The boys all screamed for their mothers as they tried to run away from it. Their effort would amount to nothing, the creature being too fast for them to outrun it sliced through their bodies killing them. The alleyway walls and ground now coated with a fresh crimson color. It loomed over their bodies for a minute until it shriveled up like discarded paper and torn apart.

Just then a woman walked by the alleyway. The strong scent of blood and death pulling her attention. Scanning the alleyway, she shrieked in horror as she saw the mutilated bodies of the unlucky teenage boys.

Their shrieking attracted the attention of the people in the apartment complex and convent store nearby. Some other people rushed out and were horrified when they saw the horrific scene. Some people fainted, others threw up, and another man was calling the police.

They soon arrived within a few minutes after receiving the distressing call along with an ambulance and a cleanup crew to care for the bodies and fainted people. The chief of police was looking around the crime scene for a murder weapon - just anything that could point them in the direction of what did this.

"Sir we didn't find any weapons, all we found were just shreds of paper." The officer told his commander and showed him the said paper shreds.

"Still someone had to have done this. After all people don't just split in half for no reason." The commander said angrily.

"I know sir and we'll figure out what happened, don't worry." The officer said, trying to reassure his boss.

The commander thankfully calmed down... till he remembered that he would have to tell the parents of the boys and that's something no one wants to do.

(In Haru's house)

Haru was in his room looking at his notebook with a satisfied look on his face.

* I knew my creature wouldn't let me down. Ah, I love this game * Haru said to himself

"Haru come down dinners ready and your fathers home!" Haru's mother called to her son.

"Okay mom coming!" Haru called out before closing the notebook and hiding it under his mattress so his sister wouldn't take it.

He then pulled out a picture of Aika from under his mattress and looked at it for a bit before kissing it.

" Aika... you're so beautiful, don't worry that bastard won't ever bother you again. I'll make sure that no one will EVER hurt you again " Haru spoke softly before putting the photo back under his mattress and heading downstairs to join his family for dinner.

#anime #blood #creatures #darkthemes #deathgame #drawing #goth #horror #japan #love #monsters #murder #supernatural

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