Alice's Secret Obsession

Chapter Eight: The Truth Binds You

----Back to reality----

I fall down to my knees. My eyes burn as I try to hold back my tears.

Demon Lady crouches down next to me with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. Her blood begins to run onto her hands and down her forearms. Then the Demon Lady cocks her head, gazing at me with curious eyes, as she asks, "You okay?" She then starts poking my face. "Alliicce? Is anybody in there?" She continues to prod my face.

Sarathiel bends down, starts rubbing my back, and whispers, "Everything will be okay. It's okay to cry, Alice." Sarathiel glares daggers at the Demon Lady as she hisses, "I told you." Then Sarathiel stands up, crossing her arms with a stern look on her face, and says, "This is what happens when you are an impatient, damned demon."

The Demon Lady pokes me on the cheek again as she grins and replies, "She was going to find out sooner or later. I chose sooner~."

I hear them talking and feel their touch, but I do not feel like talking to either of them as I process my memories. I push myself to stand, my lips parting as I attempt to speak. "I... I... I did... I did this to myself?" My eyes gaze down at my own arms, "Did I give myself these scars?"

The Demon Lady chuckles as she stands up and replies, "Yes, you did, Alice."

I avoid looking at her as I turn around and glance at Sarathiel. As I study her facial features, I recognize her immediately as the entity that would embrace me and protect me from the pain. Her appearance is unmistakable. I begin to feel ashamed and confused by my interaction with her earlier. She behaved differently than I remember her to act. She was always holding me close, humming, and reassuring me that I would be alright, not crushing me and acting creepy.

"S-Sarathiel...? Is that... Is that truly you? The person who would al-always protect me?" I ask, my voice choking up with sobs.

Sarathiel moves to embrace me, and I initially flinch, but I soon melt into her arms. Burying my head in her bosom, letting out all of my tears, and clutching at her tuxedo is all I can manage to do right now. Sararthiel, like she used to, hums softly while running her fingers through my dark hair. I can feel Demon Lady's dagger-like eyes on Sarathiel and I, but she does not move or say anything...

I can't help but feel guilty and bad, so I try to pull myself away from Sarathiel, not wanting to cry anymore. But once again, I am trapped in her arms, and Demon Lady is quick to notice this. She growls, her voice sounding thick and hoarse, in a painful way, "Let go of her. Now."

With an annoyed sigh, Sarathiel lets me go, clearly wanting to hold me longer. I wipe my eyes as I back away from Sarathiel, shyly looking at Demon Lady. Demon Lady's face is full of anger. Despite her facial expression, I put on a smile, because I feel somewhat important to her. I feel happy that I am somewhat important to her, but it is hard to smile when I am flooded with horrible images and feelings. It takes everything in me to merely stand up... I want it to go away. I want to go back. I cannot bear to remember such horrible things. I thought it was a car crash and a coma... I believed that I got my scars from a car windshield exploding after I pushed Michael out of the path of the speeding car and got hit by it myself, and that is the reason I was in a coma. I do not know where this false memory came from, but it is much better than the truth.

Turning away from both of them, I gaze at the front door. I feel sick as I think about how Mr. Hope would kiss me and I would let him. I pretended it was love because that made it easier. It was easier to pretend for my own safety. I remember all the ways he would touch me... The words he whispered in my ears... The feeling of his...