ℂorruption➼ Devil Louis & Dark Angel Niall

❉ Chapter 8 ❉

"Scarlett, you need to eat," Janette attempted at persuation for the tenth time in less than five minutes. Wearily, I shook my head. She sighed softly. "What about some soup?"

Almost disgusted, I glared at the hot bowl of vegetable soup in front of me, and shook my head again.

"Please," she pleaded, scooting closer to me as she sat on her chair and I on my bed. When I didn't answer, she grabbed my hand and held it protectively in her own as her eyes searched mine for answers. For anything. But, I didn't make contact with her eyes, even as the guilt ate away at me, tugging at the remains of my happiness. "You could get ill if you don't eat, Scarlett."

"My heart is already ill." I answered in barely a whisper while I stared mindlessly into the fire.

After moments of silence, I gave in, not for hunger, not to end the infinite harshness of the voice in my mind, but so Janette would stop staring at me. It was an uncomforting feeling, someone staring at you. Especially when it's like they're scrutinizing every flaw, every abnormal speck about you. The feeling was intolerably dire.

With a soft sigh, I lifted myself off the bed and drank my soup.

"Do you like it?" Janette asked with a small sympathetic smile.

I nodded, even though I was lying. The soup was very tasteless. Only the heat from it burnt my tongue, but I hid any proof.

Janette didn't want to leave me alone, I could tell. She knew I would not attempt at escaping, as there was no way of getting out, but she knew I would try something unexpected, like the stubborn girl she described me as.

Even if she left me alone in my room, forever, I wouldn't move. I wouldn't move to even refresh my soul from the rot that my body has turned to. I wouldn't move for anything in the world. Not for the corrupting voices in my mind or the devil or the angel. Only to see my brother and father. They were all I needed for reassurance that everything would be alright.

The problem was, nothing was alright.

Soft feet padded back and forth across the room as I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. The sound of clutters and shuffles were almost soothing to me, and the presence of Janette didn't seem to bother me so much at the moment.

"Scarlett, I need to go get get something." I knew the time would come.

Still, I lay there emotionless.

Knowing I was listening, the maid continued to talk.

"How do I know you're not going to do anyting stupid?"

"You don't," I answered blandly while the black screen in my mind was all that seemed to occupy my thoughts. "You just go get whatever you need, come back, and whatever has been done, has been done." I sighed heavily. "You can't change the past."

No sound.

Not even the sound of her shuffling.

Silence.

"Do you think you could get changed into something decent and freshen up? You look like my grandmother in her grave, bless her dead soul." My first instinct was to reply or glare at her. But all in honesty, my energy was drained. I was incapable of doing even the smallest things like giving her a dirty look, so I sighed, and rested my head against the headboard.

"Whatever," I waved her off and she scurried to the door and stepped out hurriedly.

There I stayed, in my bed, with nothing but the sound of the fire to interrupt my steady breathing.

After several moments, I slid off my bed and terrified myself with the thought of the large glass window on the other wall. I struggled to keep myself from glancing towards it, so I padded discreetly to the oak closet before me, and opened it to find a variety of dresses.