Aru Shah and the Chamber of Lies

The Truth Hurts

"What?" Aru asked, her heart thudding in her chest rapidly. "What do you mean?"

Evil chuckled. Dear child, why do you think your father, who loved and cherished you and your mother, turned into the Sleeper?

"No," Aru muttered, coming to a horrible realization. "No, that can't be true."

Evil laughed even harder. But it is!

Aru shook her head furiously. "But-but he recognized me! He-he was still himself! He had his memories and everything!" She frantically tried to come up with more convincing points, but she felt like her brain was lagging like the school wifi. 

Evil clicked his tongue pitifully. Well, you're partially right. I wasn't able to take him over completely, thanks to that horrible necklace from the yaksha. But I was able to amplify his feelings of hopelessness and negativity just enough to... Evil snapped his fingers and placed his hand on his cheek. To at least influence his decisions, he continued.

Aru felt like she was running out of air to breathe. "So-so he only became like that...because of you? But, you're obviously still alive...so that means..."

That means...prompted Evil with a cruel grin on his face.

Aru felt like she was falling into a deep hole, that only became even larger when she came to her conclusion. "That means I killed him...for nothing. Everything that happened...was because of you?"

Everything seemed to go silent. Aru couldn't hear Evil anymore over the sound of the ringing in her ears. Her breaths came in short gasps and she collapsed on the black-tiled floor in her dream.

She managed to get only one more sentence out. "W-why?" she asked, her tears streaming down her face. "Why would you-"

Tell you that? Evil finished. He curled a piece of dark hair around his fingers. He shrugged. Just to see your reaction, I guess.

Aru screamed, and she shot up to her feet and advanced on him. She reared her fist back and practically pounced on him, but instead of hitting Evil, she fell right through him and landed on the floor. She howled with pain as she twisted her wrist awkwardly on the floor. How was that even possible in a dream?!

She growled, and tried again, and even though she knew it was fruitless, she kept attacking him, failing each time. A little voice in her head told her to stop, but Aru didn't listen to it. Not that she usually did, but right now, she was much too angry.

"How could you!" she cried.

Evil easily dodged another punch from her. I mean, I am basically 'Evil'. It's in my nature.

Aru dropped to her knees, exhausted.

Evil sighed with pleasure. Ah, the taste of hopelessness is truly something amazing. Then, he got a strange glint in his eye. Aru backed away nervously. It was the kind of look that she saw in psychopaths in movies.

Evil approached her slowly, but dangerously. I wonder if I can...

He put out a gnarled hand out towards her forehead. Aru tried to move, but she was glued in place.

"What are you doing?!" she shouted. "Get away from me!"

Aru squeezed her eyes shut. His finger was only centimeters away from her forehead, when he suddenly paused.

Evil seemed to have come out of his little daze and smirked again. No, I should wait a little more, it seems. It's not the right time yet, he mused mysteriously.

Suddenly, Aru was able to move again. She furiously wiped away her tears and glared at Evil again, who all of a sudden made a more sympathetic face.

He opened his mouth, and in Suyodhana's voice he said, "Aru, my morning star. You killed me! Your own father! What kind of daughter are you?! I'm sure Krithika just about hates you now!" He sneered and glared at her.

Aru's eyes widened and she took a step back. "M-mom doesn't hate me. A-and I had no choice but to kill you," she said, her voice trembling.

Her father scoffed. "But it wasn't even truly me! Just you wait. Everyone you love will soon come to scorn you, my dear Aru!"

At those words, a flurry of images rushed through her mind. The picture of her betraying her friends. Aiden looking down at her with scorn evident in his expression. Kara shaking her head disappointedly. Mini and Brynne pointing their celestial weapons at her. Even an image of Rudy glaring at her.  And...and her mother gazing down at her unhappily and turning away from her, to leave forever.

Aru screamed.