Ethereal Madness

Chapter 39- Reality Check

Huh? Where am I?

For some reason, I was in alleyway, and a sketchy one by the looks of it...wait, don't I know this place? It was all extremely familiar. I put my hand on my head to calm the aching headache I was experiencing, when I felt something wet on my palm.

"It's red," I muttered, glaring at my hand. I caught myself as I nearly fell onto the floor. My surroundings started blurring and sitting up was becoming more difficult.

What is...going on?

Somehow, someone suddenly stood before me. I glanced at them, squinting my eyes and trying my best to get a good picture.

"...Mary?"

She had a bat in her hands and an expression that was far from friendly.

What?

A hand was placed on her shoulder and my father appeared behind her. The walls around me turned red and the floor disappeared, a dark nothingness now below me. Mary rose the bat up and all hope faded from my heart.

I closed my eyes and shielded myself, but nothing came. I opened my eyes and I was sitting up in my bed. I clutched my heart and tried my best to slow my breathing but I felt like I was gonna have a heart attack.

Was that a dream? Couldn't be. But Ória told me that she—Miss Mya's words rang in my mind, reminding me how little I actually knew about her—there's no way she returned my nightmares, right? Regardless, I need to talk to her. I don't want to have to suffer through this again.

Ória! I called out. The only time she responded to me was when Tucker and Ami wanted to visit her, but considering she returned my nightmare to me, maybe that's a sign she wants to talk.

I waited and nothing happened. I sighed. So she still doesn't want to talk to me.

I blinked and I was in her room. As usual, it was warm and cozy. And also as normal, was her asleep in her bed.

How does she even teleport me here? She is actually sleeping, isn't she? I stared at her face, really trying to see if she was faking, but if she was, she was really good.

Her face was so innocent. Could she really be a monster like Miss Mya says?

Her eyes slowly opened, her strawberry irises gazing curiously into my eyes.

"Arthur?" She mumbled.

"Yes?"

"You're so close." Her words came out like a whisper.

I wondered what she meant, and then it hit me. I panicked and backed up from the bed.

"S-s-sorry."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "It's fine. I didn't have a problem with it. I was just surprised. I thought you didn't like me."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

She stood up and walked up to me. Her small hand pressed against my shirt and I held back the urge to jump. "I felt it in your heart. You hold fear, don't you? Fear for me."

How could I not? After what Miss Mya told me, I don't know what to believe anymore.

She clasped my hands. "You don't have to be afraid of me Arthur. I'm not going to hurt you."

Her gentle hands were warm and comforting and part of me wanted to believe her words, but the images of my father holding Amazon women snapped me back to reality.

"But you already did," I looked down at the floor. I couldn't make eye contact with her. If I did, I know my stance wouldn't hold. I'd break.

"I hurt you...?" There was concern in her voice.