The broken gear

Misunderstanding

He started to panic.

As she got closer to him, her nails slowly grew to about 5 inches in length. They started to emit a crimson red glow.

"I, uh, I didn't mean it." He said fearfully.

"You're only saying that because there's consequences."

"I didn't want to cause drama."

"You just did." She paused for a moment. "I feel sorry for you and your family, all caught up in these lies and beliefs."

She swung at Thomas. Thomas covered himself with his arms. He heard a grunt.

Nelle was in front of him.

Nelle threw Thomas' sword at him. "Get ready."

Thomas grabbed his sword and got ready to defend.

Nelle went next to Thomas and did the same thing.

"I knew it, you are just like all the others. You see us as monsters don't you. As beings that shouldn't exist." Her eyes were faintly glowing red.

"That's not true!" Thomas yelled out. He knew talking wouldn't do much, but he could still try.

Nelle was looking conflicted.

"You supported the massacre of my people, you said it yourself, you support genocides don't you. As long as it benefits you, you don't care." She swung at the last word again. Thomas blocked her swing with his sword. Her voice had gotten a faint echo-like effect.

"I already told you, I didn't want to say anything that would hurt you or our families. I thought it was a test of loyalty, I didn't want to ruin my parent's careers." He started to feel his hands shake. Unlike the previous fights, this one was his fault. He made himself look like the one at fault.

"Please, we can talk this out."

Nelle grabbed his shoulder, "She won't listen, they're all like this."

Thomas was shocked, "No, y-you can't say that," he took a few steps away from Nelle. The visitor was slightly confused.

"Fine, go ahead." Nelle said hesitantly. She continued to feel conflicted.

The visitor raised her arm, "Dark mist." A sand like substance surrounded both her and Thomas. The mist slowly turned from a black-like color to a faint yellow where Nelle was.

"Interesting," she said.

She pointed a finger at Thomas and launched a red string. She could feel Thomas wince and grow more panic stricken. She could feel his mental health slowly deteriorate.

Thomas began to show more extreme versions of guilt and fear. He tried to speak but couldn't. Whether it was due to his panic or some other reason, he couldn't seem to know.

She began to launch a few more strings, with each Thomas lost more and more control of himself and his surroundings. He felt like giving up, ending everything, stopping his situation by any means necessary.