Demonic Boundries

Reminiscing terrible times

 

　

“How long have you lived here then?” Ed questioned as they walked across the park while the Fall sun stained the cloudy skies with yellow.

“Ever since second grade.” She replied while stepping over a puddle then looked up towards him, “You?”

“Since I was a toddler.” He replied watching her hair shine in the bright sunlight.

“That’s a long time to be in one place” Echo observed and stepped over another puddle with a hop, “Haven’t you ever thought of moving?”

“I have, yes” Ed breathed while simply taking his long strides of steps, “But it always seemed to be such a bother to pack.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” She nodded understanding his point of view then spotted a swing so she glanced over to him for a moment then took a turn towards the swings causing Ed to watch her curiously. Making her way towards her favorite playground activity, a rush of memories played through her mind.

Swinging was her only escape. An escape from the other’s stares, an escape from hurtful words. It always bothered her little form. Only being a kindergartner and she already hated life. She hated how life made others judge her so much that she had no friends, she always thought then if you’re young you shouldn’t have any worries, right? Echo hated how the lie plagued her young soul. So swinging was her only escape.

“Echo?” A voice entered her mind causing her to twitch out of her memories.

“What?” Her voice droned then she blinked only to see Ed watching her.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah” Echo nodded curiously, “Why?”

“You just suddenly stopped when your hand touched upon the chain of this swing.” He observed while gently taking her hand away from the chain.

“Oh, just remembering things.” Echo smiled with truth then grasped for the swing again, “Would you like to swing with me?”

“I-I’ll just sit on that bench.”

“Oh.” She blinked then sat on the swing.

“I’m not very good at having fun.” He sighed while taking a seat watching as she swayed back and forth gently.

“I was never good at it either.” Her mutter was heard even from where he was, and his eyebrows furrowed with concern as he watched her gain momentum.

 

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Well, when I was younger” Echo started, “I was always left out, it all started my first day of Kindergarten.”

“You’re going to be okay right?” Her mother played with Echo’s braided hair while her father was trying to stop the bickering boys in the back seat.

“Yes mommy.” Echo smiled towards her loving mother who only smiled with love.

“That’s a good girl, now have a good day!” Her mother waved while the small form of Echo excitedly scampered down the sidewalk towards her new school. She had been so excited to finally go to school, just like her big brother’s. Echo was a big girl now.

“Welcome to Kindergarten class.” The teacher spoke cheerfully while the children babbled with greeting, Echo only sat down quietly for she was slightly late, “And you might you be?”

“Echo Euthisthki!” Echo slurred her last name for she had lost one of her front teeth just yesterday. Everyone looked back towards her and stared, and this caused Echo to become slightly uncomfortable.

“Monster!” A girl shrieked causing Echo to blink confused.

“Now now, don’t say such hurtful things just because of her eye color.” The teacher gently scolded while the children who had been next to Echo scooted away as if she was diseased.

**

Recess wasn’t any better, she just sat on the swing being ignored or watched by the other students. Even the upperclassman looked at her weird. As if she was some sort of circus attraction, she didn’t like it at all one bit. So she just sat on the swing and kept her head down to avoid making eye contact with anyone.

**

Weeks past and the children still didn’t get over her condition, school was becoming something that Echo dreaded. But she kept a positive attitude around her parents so they wouldn’t worry. Otherwise she would probably be sent to another school only to be scrutinized by those students. She was forced to become a loner, a lone wolf. A lonely little girl who found a stupid swing to be her refuge.

 

“They treated you in such a way?” Ed questioned after hearing her childhood.

“Yup, but now since I’m older” Echo sighed, “Little kids love me. It’s scary really.”

“Scary?”

“How age can play a part in things.”

“Ah” Ed nodded in agreement then looked around for a moment, “Shall we return to Classy then?”

“Yeah, I sort of miss her.” Echo replied while hopping off the swing and walked slightly behind Ed to rethink about what she had just said, then thought about Gerade for a brief moment, “Ed?”

“Hm?” He hummed giving her his attention.

“Someone yesterday warned me not to visit Versailles Mansion” She started causing him to peek over his shoulder at her, he was now concerned, “Why do you think they would do that?”

“Maybe for the reasons why I keep strangers out.”

“But you let me in.”

“Technically, Classy let you in” Ed corrected, “There’s a difference.” Somehow this slightly annoyed Echo so she kept her eyes on the sidewalk they were walking on.

“I think I’m just going to go home.” She muttered in silence.

“But I thought you wanted to see Classy?” He looked over to her as he slowed down his steps. Now that he put it that way she has to stay, she only wanted to leave so she wouldn’t have to be around him for the moment since for what he said had annoyed her.

“Right.” She turned back his way and continued walking, this time ahead. Ed could sense something was wrong since she wasn’t as chipper as before, and it frustrated him since he liked it better when she was happy. Has he said something wrong?