The Inky World Of The Ink Machine

Chapter 36 - Liar?

Dimitri

"What the hell do you want to tell me?! Dammit! You literally go on my nerves, freak!"

"I am a part of you, Dimitri. If you want to get separated, then kill yourself. Best for me and you."

"Stop with your suicide tries! I ain't falling for these. Here me, Hujer. I want peace. Freaking PEACE! Is that too much to ask?"

Fortunately Hujer didn't answer.

"Just. Be. Quiet."

Finally I could stop talking to him and not look like I've been talking to myself. I was in the darkest places of the studio. I never was here. I only saw people passing those areas. So I entered them and explored, meanwhile having a fight with Hujer, my golden ink spirit that lives inside me. Until now. Finally some peace and quiet.

I understand that Roxana didn't mean to make him exist. She tried to safe my life, which was successful. I should be more thankful then disgusted that I have her halfway on my side. Sometimes we get in nonsense fights, which is ridiculous. Now that I think about it... I might have been also been the one who escalated it.

As I was deep in my thoughts feeling regret and guilt, I heard two female voices that were... awfully familiar.

"Man, I hate this place!"

"Not only you. I want to get out of here as fast as I can."

"Why did we even try to look for those idiots?"

"Becca! They are our classmates. As well we have to find Roxana. She's our friend."

"But don't you get it, Lucia! It's pointless! You saw those monsters earlier. What if they killed them?! Then it would be only a matter of time before we end up like them!"

"Calm down, Becca. We just need to stick together. And I think you have a point."

"Then let's get outta here!"

I couldn't believe that more of our classmates came down here to find us. Becca and Lucia. They were more like outsiders but still were very nice. Sometimes I had to work with them but it wasn't bad. I came out of the shadows, looking the way I look now 'cuz I don't know how to hide it if it's possible.

"You can't... for now."

They jumped, backing off and stared at me.

"Dimitri? Is that you? You look so... different.", said Becca.

"And terrifying.", said Lucia in a calm voice.

"It is me. It's a pretty long story to tell you in details. But I became like this only because I could have died. Someone saved me."

"And who exactly?", asked Becca.

"None of your business."

"Was it Roxana?", asked Lucia, having this suggestion.

I answer back with an annoyed tone.

"(sigh) Yes, it was her. She made some kind of ritual and stuff. But she ain't the same Roxana we once knew."

"What happened?", asked Lucia worried.

I was starting to lose control over my body. Hujer found a point of my weakness and attacked. He took control for a moment. First Uma, now Hujer. And why me? He said through my mouth:

"She is now an Ink Demon or better known as the Ink Demon's sister. She doesn't call herself Roxana anymore... but Soul. This realm is the Ink Demon's but since Roxana is for him like a family, it's their realm."

"What the hell do you mean, she calls herself Soul?" I ask.

"I heard her say something like it. You have to believe me, Dimitri. This time I am not lying."

"Can you tell me more?"

"Of course. What is really weird that she uses this nickname in front of every Lost One and Searcher, as well as every Butcher Gang member, but not her brother or her friends, like Henry and so."

"That actually seems different... and not like herself. Also very odd."

"I know, I know, I might have been manipulative, but trust me... Uma had her hands in this."

"Hujer? Why do you assume Uma has to do something with it?"

"Believe me. It's a gut feeling."

"I can't just believe blindly. It's hard to trust you. I know you want to show the best side of you... but you have to stop trying getting me killed."

"And what if you'll kill yourself?"

"Shut the hell up, Hujer."

"I can't believe it.", said Lucia, sounding disappointed.

"Me neither. But that's the truth. She helped me, but we are on bad terms. She isn't the kind of person you wanna mess with. You should stay out of sight. Stay close to the shadow, but stay away from the ink. The dark puddles talk to Roxana through her mind. If you touch them, they'll alarm her. I am not sure if it goes about the whole ink. That's why stay as away as possible from it... or from a big amount of it."

"Ok. Thanks for telling us.", thanked Lucia.

"No problem."

I start to leave until Becca shouted:

"You are just leaving us?!"

"Just for now. I'll find you. You can go to the rest of our class who stayed normal. They are at Level 9 in Alice's safehouse. You're gonna be safe there. If something... ask the Lost Ones."

That's when I disappeared out of sight. Finally Hujer gave me back the control over my body.

"Why didn't you tell them to stay out of Uma's and Typhon's sight as well?"

"We have to trust them, Dimitri. Or at least Uma. She has to know something. She has a purpose here. And we need to know it."

Hujer seemed very determined of his plan. Me, who wasn't so sure of it, tried to hesitate but I thought twice. We could get some useful information out of Uma. So I just let it be.

Let me give this liar one last chance.