FACADE ( the GazettE Tale )

Chapter Nine : Know Thy Existence

It felt like I was burning. That I was letting the invisible flames burn me into ashes. But I wasn't.

Because I was still on my knees and palms, covering the fragile human below me whose scent was torturous. It was hard to control the thirst, to keep my façade intact when I could quench and end it if I move further and drink her.

But her eyes were starring at mine and somehow, they kept me from doing that. They helped so I could fight the thirst.

Hamasaki Aya blinked, and she squirmed.

I groaned as I closed my eyes. "Don't.move."

"So..sorry." She stayed still then and the only thing that's audible was her uneven breathing.

I tried to tilt my head back but I couldn't, if I did some rocks would fall. There was only one way to get out and I hoped to hell that there's no one outside the rock trap we were in.

"Shut your eyes, I'm gonna get us out of here." I said through my clenched teeth.

With one of my hands, I swiftly pulled her body to mine. My other hand cradled her head, pushing it to my chest as I moved hurriedly.

The rocks were falling to the place where I pulled her off. One last roar, I focused my strength to my knees and pushed us up and out below the mountain of rocks.

I sprinted a few more paces to make sure that we were fine before I stopped.

Grabbing both of her shoulders, I pushed her body away from me. The distance of her body to mine was very dangerously close.

I turned around and hurriedly walk. "Stay there, I'll get help."

It took all of my will to not dash away. There were students in here - I had to be careful more. But how many steps I took or how far I was from the girl, her scent still lingered.

It was strong, too strong my beast growl in anticipation.

I needed Byo. When I was going to take my phone from my pocket, I felt my right hand wet and sticky. I looked down at it and my breath halted.

My hand was covered in blood. The blood my monster was craving and salivating for. The blood I was restraining myself from tasting. Hamasaki Aya's blood.

My hand moved closer and closer to my face. I closed my eyes and inhaled a lung full.

The beast had officially controlled half of my body.

It stuck its tongue out to taste the blood of its favorite scent.

My façade snapped its eyes open and slam the wall of rocks with the blood tainted hand.

I felt the painful protest of the disappointed beast. It demanded to have even a little sample, just as drop. Just something to hype the contorted excitement.

Fisting my hands, I walked out of the cave. When I got out and the light harshly blinded me, I covered my face with my clean hand and leaned my back on a wall beside me.

It was not only because of the sun why I covered my face. My eyes were still red, they were still the eyes of the beast. Smelling the crowd's blood was not helpful, it even made the monster inside me go berserk.

"Matsumoto!!"

"Ruki!"

Different voices called my name. Numbers of footsteps increased their stride towards me, so was the smell of blood.

"Hamasaki... Aya." I said through my locked jaw. "She's.. injured."

"I'll call for some help!" A guy shouted.