Shatter Me (Book 2)

Memories

= Narrator's POV =

Cinder strolled down the dark alley dressed in black. She didn't want to be recognized by anyone right now. She came to a shabby broken building with the windows boarded up. Right above the door hung a lilac colored sign, welcoming anyone who dared to enter inside.

Cinder reached for the door, but recoiled and stepped out of the way as she heard steps approaching from the other side. Moments later it was thrown open quickly by a man who rushed out. He looked quite disterbed and his hair was disheveled.

"Crazy old bat!" he exclaimed, not even seeing Cinder as he scurried away. Cinder couldn't help to smirk at his fear. What a fool. She caught the door before it swung shut and stepped inside.

The room was poorly lit by candlelight and an older woman was doubled over with laughter. She had long lilac hair that was very curly, and an old gown that was torn and tattered. On her head were bat wings, she was a bat faunus after all. Cinder wasnt sure if the wings were attatched to the woman's head or not. She had given up on trying to understand the old woman long ago. But her talents at least, were to be respected. She hadn't heard Cinder enter, and didnt notice her presence until she spoke.

"Another satisfied customer, Batsy?" Cinder asked, getting the woman's attention.

"Eh? Who's there?" the woman demanded, snapping her attention to Cinder. The old woman had an eyepatch over her right eye and squinted with the lilac one on the left as she tried to see through the dark of the room.

"Have you forgotten me?" Cinder asked with a smirk. She knew that Batsy had an incredible memory, especially for an old woman.

"I never forget a face," Batsy scowled, moving closer. Her eye widened as she could now see who it was. "Ah ha! Cinder my child! So good to see you! That man? Just a poor bastard who wanted to forget that he caught his wife cheetin' on him. What can I do for you?" She grinned widely, revealing her fangs.

Knowing that the old woman couldn't see, Cinder rolled her eyes. She disapproved of how Batsy called evryone she was associated with 'my child' despite their age or having no relation to her. Hiding her annoyance, Cinder kept her voice calm and did her best to not sound demanding, knowing that it would help the Batsy do what she wanted. Batsy hated demanding people.

"I need a favor," Cinder said lightly.

"Oh? What's in it for me?" Batsy cackled. Cinder almost reluctantly tossed a black bag that she'd been holding onto a nearby table. Betsy opened it and let out a strangled sounding shriek of joy as she pulled out an apple with her unnaturally long fingers. The bag was full of fruit that was on the brink of being rotten. Batsy eagerly dug her fangs into the apple, loving the taste and how it squished.

While Batsy was distracted, Cinder sneered in disgust. The whole scene was revolting and she hated it, but if it got Batsy to cooperate then it was necessary. She felt her scroll buzz in her pocket so she knew that Emerald and Mercury were ready with plan B.

Batsy finished the apple and rested her hand on her stomach. "Ah! That hit the spot very nicely! Now, where were we?"

"I need you to ise your gift to make someone forget about me," Cinder said simply.

"Ah yes, I love memory manipulation! Show me! Show me!" Batsy said eagerly. She rested a crystal ball on the table and motioned Cinder to come forward. "You remember how this works, yes?"

"I do," cinder nodded. She removed her black glove and rested it on the top of the crystal. Dark smoke swirled about in it's center.

"Show me my victim," Batsy clapped her hands eagerly.