『 I Won't Run Anymore』

Part 4 - No

I felt myself being roused from sleep, hearing voices I didn't recognise. My duo coloured eyes opened slowly... had I left the TV on? I faced a ceiling that wasn't my own, silhouettes of people in my peripheral vision. This wasn't my room.

"Wh... what's happening? Where am I?"

As sudden realisation hit me my body went into auto pilot. Sitting up swiftly, launching myself off the bed I was laid on and into the corner of the room like a frightened animal in a matter of seconds. I took in the appearance of the people in the room, there were 4 of them in total. One of them...

"Get him away from me!"

I thrust myself further into the corner upon seeing Amaimon, he didn't spare my distraught existence a glance and merely continued to shovel soft sweets into his face.

"Hey, calm down. He's not going to hurt you. Not while I'm here anyway."

I looked at the male with hair as black as my own who spoke with pride. He wore the school uniform of True Cross Academy, indicating he was a student there. His eyes were an electric blue and-

"T-tail! You have a tail!"

"Huh?"

He ducked his head and looked at the long appendage protruding from his coccyx.

"Rin, will you put that away!"

It was a boy with glasses who spoke to him, making the boy named Rin rub the back of his head nervously.

"Heh, s-sorry."

With a quick lift of his shirt the boy wrapped the furry raven appendage around his abdomen, the cheeky smile never leaving his pale features... the people in the room acting as if it were normal... The man with glasses stepped tentatively towards me, holding out his hand with a soft face as if tending to a wounded animal.

"Please try not to be afraid. My name is Yukio Okumura and I'm here to help. You are Miss Alice if I'm not mistaken."

His voice could melt butter, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of security after hearing him speak. Yet, I still couldn't find my own voice after my earlier outburst. My eyes slowly shifting to the one named Rin, then to Amaimon. I heard Yukio sigh slightly, turning to the 4th gentleman in the room, who I recognised instantly as Mr. Faust. A demon, like his brother...

"Mephisto, could you escort everyone out please? I think she'll be more comfortable with just me here."

The two males seemed to dare not speak for fear of scaring me further. Which I must admit they did correct in. Obviously they have experience in these kinds of situations. My mind was screaming in aggression, yet my body was curled and feebly backed up into the wall; which I'm certain should I push myself further, I will mould into. I relaxed a little once the 3 men had left. I had a bad feeling about one, another attacked me, and the 3rd had a tail... I didn't know how to react to this kind of situation. I haven't been taught this kind of life lesson... I didn't know this kind of thing existed!

"Miss Alice, please try to calm down..."

Only through the young males words had I realised my thoughts had caused me to hyperventilate, hot tears pricking the corners of my eyes. A small smile graced his pale features as he sat back on his heels from his crouched position on the floor.

"Please come out of the corner. It looks awfully cramped."

I felt my mood lighten if only a little, and made a small bum shuffle out of the corner; still keeping my distance from this charming fellow, albeit still a stranger. He seemed happy with my choice in movement and didn't push the matter; fuelling my light mood.

"I understand that you're confused over everything that's been happening. And I'm here to answer any questions that you may have."

"I..."

I had a thousand questions, I was certain I did... I just didn't know where to begin... did I even want to know at all? Could I handle the information I would be given?

"I can know anything? About everything that's happened? About everything that's going on?"

"Of course."

Anything and everything; to verbalise the existence of demons. That I had catered to one, been attacked by one, and just met one...

"I don't want to know anything at all."