You're Mine

WEAKNESS

I pull into the driveway and get wipes out from the glove compartment. I wipe away the last few spots of blood on my face before getting out and locking the doors. Entering the house, I heave a huge sigh of relief. I'm calm now, the evidence is gone, and I'm back with Zhongli. Not only that, but...

The phone is still where I left it.

Sliding it into my pocket, I notice Zhongli sat alone in the living room. Why is he so silent? I hang my jacket, take my shoes off and walk upstairs. I'm folding my clothes to go into the washing machine when Zhongli disturbs me by knocking on the door.

"Do you need something?" I ask, pulling a new shirt over my head then throwing the other clothes into the washing basket.

Zhongli walks in, silently. He's fiddling with his fingers. I can see the faint tremble in his hands, and his gaze does not move away from me. I can't read his face. Everything about him screams nervous, but his face was stern. We're making eye contact. Eye contact that does not falter. I'm first to break away when I continue with my clothes.

"I know about the cupboard." he says so quietly, I almost don't hear him.

"What cupboard?" I reply.

"The... the shrine. Of me."

My whole body freezes.

How the fuck did he find out about that?

I feel myself going numb. My brain, my hands, my diaphragm, my heart. There's no way. I had the key. How could he have found out? It's all a mess. It's not supposed to go like this. He's not supposed to know. My jaws's wide open, my clothes are on the floor now, and he hasn't said a word more. The shrine? Is that what he thinks it is? No. No, no, no. It's not a shrine. It's simply a display. Yes, a display. Who in their right mind would make a shrine of someone? Not me. That's just weird. Does he think I worship him?

"Aren't you going to say something? Aren't you going to explain yourself?" Zhongli asks.

I try to speak but it's as if my lips have been sewn shut. I clasp my mouth and inhale so deeply that the oxygen burns my nose. My face is cold. My face is sweaty, too. His face. His face seems relaxed but I can't seem to see. It's all blurry. I'm lost. What do I do? What is he thinking? Does he hate me? Is he going to run away? No, I can't let him go. If he goes, I'll have no-one. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

He must stay.

I notice everything go clear but I still can't make out what I'm doing. I think I'm grabbing for him. He's backing away. It's gone black again. I don't know what I'm doing. I don't want to hurt him.

Not him.

NOT HIM. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

My eyes light up. He's not in my arms. He made it out. Thank God. I don't know what I would've done. I rub my eyes, and I keep rubbing in hopes I can see. I need to see. I need to see him. Where is he? But all I can make out is a figure in front of me. It's tall. Am I on the floor? I look up to try to see more. It's holding something up over its head. It looks big. It looks heavy. Is that Zhongli?

Oh.

He's going to knock me out.

––––––– ??? HOURS LATER –––––––

I wake up again with a headache. The room is dark; so dark that I could mistake it for blindness. But it's not. I see the light shining through around the closed door. I try to stretch, but I'm stopped by tiny bumps of leather on both of my wrists. My feet are stuck too.