the sun in the sky | gojo satoru ✔

the origin of fear

Akiyama- san had summoned her again.

Hina couldn't push the fear down, as each step made her want to run even more. She wondered, what for? What reason, this time? Had she done something wrong again?

You have, A small, crippling noise in the back of her head snarled. You have not felt fear for a while.

She has not.

Again, she had been too complacent.

Fear came and went. It crept up from the shadows, ready to taunt her every breath—but cowered away as soon as the light hit. It was unpredictable.

Her hand paused on the door. She breathed, once, twice, thrice.

She opened the door.

"Akiyama- san, you have summoned me—"

Hina froze.

Plit. Plat. It chimed like the seconds of a clock.

Blood. There was blood. Sparkling, crimson, and reflective. Dripping from a broken vase. The girl. The same girl, the girl with the long, beautiful abyss-black hair. The same girl who was punished the night Hina was assigned to serve the Young master. Blood was also dripping from her chin, creating crimson pebbles on the tatami floors.

The bleeding girl whimpered.

Hina did not dare to scream.

Akiyama- san stood over her crumbling form, eyes piercing and grasp tight around the neck of the vase. It had a peculiar design, colors and flowers that didn't mix well together.

"Ah," Akiyama- san's eyes found Hina's shaking form. "There you are, child. Perfect timing."

Hina felt every limb in her body tense up, fearing to even make the slightest movement.

The bleeding girl's breath shook.

Akiyama- san turned her attention to the girl again, momentarily. Her elderly frame bent down, hands striking the girl's hair. "Hush, now. Shh, shh. You disobeyed me, so you must understand, don't you? You must."

The bleeding girl cowered. Was she crying? Hina could not tell. Every fiber of her being yelled ' do not cry, do not be foolish like that'.

You can save yourself that way.

Akiyama- san looked stern. "Brat."

She hit the girl's face.

Hina flinched, and without knowing she unconsciously took a step back.

That was a mistake.

Akiyama- san's attention was on her again. She had made a sound. "Trying to run, girl? Now, now—don't be so rude. Come here, closer, will you?" Her voice was dipped in a silent poison.

Hina had no choice but to obey. She closed the door behind her, then slowly and carefully made her way closer to the scene. Her eyes didn't know where to stay—the bleeding girl, or Akiyama- san.

"Don't be frightened, child." Akiyama- san stood up, dusting off her robes. "Being frightened will make you want to leave, and," Her wrinkly hand found the top of the girl's head.

She knotted her hand in the girl's black strands, pulling them roughly. "And run."

Hina heard the girl whimper again. She stared at her, face painted in absolute disbelief and shock.

She had tried to run away.

Run? Run?

The term was unfamiliar to her. She knew what it meant, of course—but to actually do so?