Holding Everything

Chapter 9: Tears Revealed

While waiting we suddenly hear one of the tables creak, we walk toward the tables, wondering which one made the sound. I watch their faces for any sign that their expressions changed, but all that results in is me getting weirded out by how dead they look.

"Is there no way to see what's going on in their head right now?" I ask, beginning to feel restless, "since they're making a decision, is there a way to see what they see at least? I just hate not knowing what's going on with them."

"Unfortunately no, we do not have that sort of thing, though it would be convenient." He shrugs his shoulders and we take our places against one the wall, leaning against it as we continue waiting once again. I figured it was unlikely, but I can hardly accept standing around and waiting as the fate of their lives are at risk like this.

"Nnh...K-Kou..." I look up when hearing my name, and see Lillya's eyes stay tightly shut and her face contort slightly in discomfort, like she's having a nightmare. I stand beside her table and wait for something to happen.

"Lillya...?" I whisper, almost afraid of how she'll react to my voice. I decide to hold her hand, thinking if things are looking tough for her, then as her Handler I should comfort her if I can. Her hands tightens around my grasp, giving me confirmation that this was the right thing to do; I start to feel sleepy again and decide to lie my head down beside her, before I know it, I'm asleep.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! STOP IT!!!"

I'm jolted awake by the sound of someone screaming, unsure of where the scream was coming from I look all around. I notice I'm no longer in my grandpa's basement lying beside Lillya holding her hand. Although I feel like I'm on the ground using my palms to sit up, I can't see a floor, everything is pitch black, I can't even make out the shape of the room I'm in. I begin to wonder if I'm in another illusion like when I first went to visit the Council, but this feels different in a number of ways. I look around more, trying to make out anything that might be around, when I suddenly see something above me, a person floating above me, their naked body glowing slightly making them the only visible object I can see. Their back is to me while it seems as if their legs, arms and hair are dangling.

"U-Uhm, hello?" I ask wearily, unsure of anything at this point.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! STOP IT!!! I'M SORRY!!!!"

I jump again at the loud screaming, looking around the darkness I'm still unable to place where it's coming from; I stand up and reach for the floating person, and pull them down by the foot once they're within reach. Once I see their face I realize it's Lillya, her eyes closed and fresh tears streaming down her face, but her face shows no sign of crying, only the tears.

"Lil-" Her eyes spring open and she takes in a gust of air and lets out a blood curdling scream, her whole face distorts in fear and I can see the redness in her eyes from endless crying.

"STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!!!!" her body bends back as she draws out the last 'it' in her spasm. Suddenly I hear a loud smack and her body is thrown to my left and I lose my grip, her body rolls and I run after her, cradling her head in my lap, then I see it; a bright red hand print on her right cheek. Her nose begins to bleed and her face begins to swell, I look down at her limp body and suddenly bruises begin to appear all over her, some in the shapes of hands where she might've been grabbed and manhandled, others just large black and purple spots.

My breathing becomes unstable and my body trembles, I can't make sense of any of this, just a second ago she was floating unharmed and now she looks brutally beaten. I suddenly hear the loud slap again, but her body stays put in my arms, my attention is caught by a colorful screen floating in the air in front of me, though it's bright, it illuminates nothing around me. I watch as a man and women yell back and forth, I can't hear them but I hear a child crying. I hear the same words being screamed as the man and woman fight and argue, then when I hear the drawn out scream of the last 'stop it' I hear the loud slap once again, but along with it I witness the man grabbing the child from the table and slapping her hard, the force of his hand sends her body yards away and the woman pushes him aside to try and save her child. As I watch the same scene replay I begin to recognize the small child, Lillya.