Shattered Path

Prologue: Why Me?

One year... That's how long it's been since Subaru's last visit here. Back then, he escaped the mansion after Rem died from the curse. It was all thanks to Beatrice that he even made it out alive that day.

...

...

...

Not that it mattered. He could've returned by death back then but he didn't. All he cared for back then was to get away from those people who were only going to stab him in the back.

Despite that, here he was back here. It was probably a very stupid idea to come here alone but what did he have to lose? He lost hope a long time ago.

However, he was here for a reason. There Subaru was, standing in front of a cliff with a ton of jagged rocks at the bottom. He was looking down without a care in the world.

It wasn't long before he heard an all too familiar voice. "You must really have a death wish, I suppose."

Subaru tiredly looked over to the source of the noise. Whatever lifeless look Subaru had briefly vanished as he looked in shock at what was before him. Beatrice was standing a few feet away from him.

But that wasn't what shocked him, it was the fact that she was colorful. He could see her blonde hair and her red dress as well as her cute pink ribbons. However, that look faded as fast as it arrived, returning back to his original lifeless look.

"Yeah, I probably do." Subaru bluntly answered.

Beatrice stared at the defeated boy for a little bit before continuing. "You don't look that surprised. Perhaps you were expecting to see me, I suppose?"

"I just assumed that Puck told you already."

Beatrice nodded, confirming Subaru's assumption. "You are correct. Bubby had indeed informed me that you'd be coming. However, Betty is curious to know why you wanted to only see me."

Well, this was it, Subaru thought. He sat himself on the edge of the cliff and returned his gaze back down the cliff.

Before he could even start with his question, Beatrice added, "You're quite the careless one to sit over the edge like that. Especially how hard Betty worked to keep you alive that day. You really are a rude one, I suppose."

Subaru couldn't help but chuckle at how accurate that was. "Yeah, you have pretty bad taste to help such a pathetic person."

Beatrice crossed her arms and pouted. "Don't insult Betty's judgement!"

"..." Subaru didn't respond to that, he just continued to silently look down the cliff.

Seeing the tensity of the situation, Beatrice continued. "So, what was it you came all the way here for?"

Subaru stood up and turned to Beatrice. Upon closer inspection, he looked a lot scarier than she remembered. "Why are you giving me that look, in fact?"

Subaru didn't answer. At this point, this was just how he looked. He doesn't remember when it happened but it happened. It probably started around the same time he lost the ability to see colors.

"You, your mood has changed too, I suppose."

"Back then..." Subaru started, "I was certain I would die. But, because you didn't give up on me, I was able to survive. Thank you for protecting me that day. But... Why didn't you kill me?"

Now, Beatrice was trembling in fear. She had no answer for this. Why would he ask something so depressing? Not that she didn't have an answer but the words were just too heavy to come out. It was as if they refused to escape her lips.