Academy Murder Party

~:Chapter 37:~

Warning: Potential harmful language 

"Do you want to join the family?" The girl whispered into Claire's ear, who, with no hesitation, nodded yes. "Good. Now, you must show me how much you want this." She said, pulling back from Claire. Immediately, Claire missed the sensation of her touch, wishing to be buried in her arms again with that smell. She couldn't help but find it strange how attached she felt to someone she didn't even know the name. She stared at the girl, confused as to what she meant.

"I want you to get your strength back... your independence." The girl said, taking Claire's hands into her own. Claire looked down at her, then up at the girl's smiling face beneath the crimson veil. 

"B-But... how do I do that?"

"Women, such as yourself, have been simply surviving for too many years. With the existence of men, women's power has been robbed for far too long..." She said. Claire raised an eyebrow, signaling her confusion, to which the girl continued speaking. "They're like parasites, sucking your power out... all they do is take!" She grunted with a sudden sense of aggression. "You will never embrace your true potential until you rid yourself of them."

"W-What are you saying?!" Claire looked at her, both confused and scared about what she meant. "A-Are you saying you want to get rid of all men?" 

"Well, that would be a perfect world, but that's unrealistic, see... I want you to rid the world of the men who've hurt you in the past. Took your power away. Made you feel like you needed them."

"B-But I have..." Claire said. "I've done that."

"Are you sure you've gotten rid of all of them?" The girl smiled, hauntingly warm. 

"You mean... Adam?"

"Of course."

"N-No... I can't... do that!" Claire backed away from her, feeling horrified at the request from the girl.

"Can't you see? Your refusal to do so is because he's made you attached to him... He's a parasite, tricking your brain into thinking you need him when that isn't the case. You're strong. Strong enough to where you can realize that he has been hurting you this entire time." She explained. 

"N-No... that's not true." Claire backed away, getting off the sofa. "Adam saved me..." 

"If that's what you think." The girl responded calmly.

Claire stared at her. There was no way she was going to kill Adam, yet, she couldn't help but wonder if what she was saying had some truth to it. Of course, she knew Adam wasn't a parasite trying to harm her, but she couldn't help but wonder if she needed Adam as much as she thought she did.

"He's not a bad person! He'd never try to hurt me."

"Do you know him well?" The girl asked.

"N-No... but-"

"But what? Can't you see, darling, he planted a seed in your brain, thinking he's a hero, he's the person who will protect you when in reality, it's nothing more than a facade." She paused, for a moment, looking up at Claire directly into her eyes, making Claire freeze in place. "How can you be so sure he'd stay by your side... even in the darkest of times..." She whispered.

"I-..." Claire paused, attempting to respond, but that lump in her throat prevented her. She sniffled, thinking about what the girl had just said to her. "H-He won't..."

"You can't convince yourself that the fake is true anymore, dear. It's time to face the truth..." The girl said, rising from her spot on the sofa. "You won't be facing this truth alone." She whispered, taking Claire's trembling hand into her own. "It's time you do what needs to be done."