I Am The Truth II

Chapter IV: Leave Me Be

Swirls of blue, yet she sensed red everywhere. How can blood be so prominent when it is seen nowhere? Did the Ardoni before her already know how much of theirs she spilled?

"Ria Sendaris," One of the Sendaris said.

She looked around at all of them, silhouettes with only their blue markings showing through the fog around her. She knew who they were. She was one of them. She was the only one of them left.

"No," Ria spoke. "Go away-"

It was a nightmare. It had to be. She saw these people every time she did sleep. Why couldn't they just leave her alone?

"How long will you continue this way?" The figure before her asked. "How long can you live as a cold-blooded murderer?"

Screams sounded distantly, but Ria did her best to block them out. 

"I am no killer," Ria replied, albeit weakly.

She kept telling herself that this was but the effects of her stress. Her constant working had taken a toll on her mind. Without Senn, she would lose control like this.

"All around you will suffer," The other continued. "You are, but a monster, always spreading your corrupted aura with every step you take-"

"No-"

"Half the world hates you, and soon your friends will too," He continued, his voice transitioning into an eerie sound. "Don't lie to yourself. Even Ataraxia will come to hate you for what you have become."

Screaming sounded again in the recesses of her mind, and she faltered. Those screams... she knew them well.

"You cannot deny it," The Sendaris pressed.

This time, the screams sounded louder, accompanied by a brief image of red energy.

There were tears welling up now. She was shaking her head vigorously, wiping her eyes. She could feel her heartbeat begin to pick up in pace. Her breath was gaining weight now as she struggled to keep herself in check.

"It was an accident!"

This wasn't about the murder case that Val took part of.

"And you were too," The Sendaris said. "Would you like a reminder?"

Within moments, Ria was all alone in a village. She was in front of a particular house built right into the hillside. It was raining heavily, the dark skies overhead complementing the broken door of her home. She slowly entered her home, cautiously peeking around to see if anyone was still there.

"Nobody is here," The same Sendaris said suddenly from behind her. "Not anymore."

He paused.

"Do you still hear the screams?" He asked Ria.

She stared at him for a moment before she suddenly collapsed to her knees. There were screams of terror and pain, anguish and fear, all blending together to form a sound of pure madness that wracked her mind, yet her surroundings were as quiet as ever. She squeezed her eyes shut, her breath shaking from nearly breaking down into sobs. The screams sounded like a horribly untuned violin that screeched far too loud, too scary.

"No... make it stop," She begged.

The body of a Sendaris suddenly became visible before her, sprawled motionless on the floor. The screams were getting louder now, and she felt a pain spike in her heart.

"Stop!" She cried.

"He must have said that too," He said from behind her. "Those words fell on deaf ears however."