The Gaze of Fear

Chapter 10: The Middle of Life and Death

     "Wake up... come to me." A voice stirs Leider's mind, black abyss with purple electric lines cutting through it all meeting his now open eyes. "..." Despite his best attempts to call out for Caroline and Kōkai, his voice is seemingly gone. As he pushes against the black floor he stands in the main room of the house, but in a seemingly different dimension. The couch, chairs, table, windows, and everything else is all black, the only distinction being the moving-purple lines outlining it all. Jiga, Hidari and the others are also outlined by this, but are clearly moving. He can see them walk and cry over the couch but can't hear them. Looking at himself, his body is its usual human form, but made entirely of the abyss. What the hell?

     "Like it? I made it specifically for you. I mean, it didn't exactly take a lot of effort though, I've been here so many times I knew where everything was. I even-"

     Just shut up, where and who are you? Leider thinks to himself, looking around the room to find the source of the female voice. It can't be Caroline, Kōkai nor Widow.... unless....

     "So rough. I created an entire scenario in your head for you, and the first thing you greet me with is an interruption? So ungrateful." The person is clearly smiling as she said this, Leider feeling a hand slowly touch his shoulder. He becomes frozen, the feeling from the hand being different. Warmth and comfort fill him as the others stop moving and his eyes close, the hand making its way down his chest and to his stomach. A second-hand crawls across his left side, instinctively reacting by standing tall and looking up, a small moan escaping Leider's mouth. How'd I go from frantic to- his thought is cut short by a breath right against his ear, a whisper making him shiver and grab onto the shoulder of the person caressing him. "I need you calm. No reason to worry sweetheart." They let go, letting him sigh heavily and lower his head. A hand grabs his chin and guides his face up, his eyes struggling to open after the comforting bliss.

     "You know, I always thought you were pretty cute." In front of him is a female figure, but just like him, all abyss. Her slim and long fingers leave him as she stands up straight, putting her hands on her slim hips. The slim body being outlined by the electricity also shows her long and curly hair, tall figure and nearly flat chest. While she is physically similar to Caroline, the defining feature is her clear confidence. "Now come on. Stand up, we have things to do." Whereas Leider expected her to speak, the faceless figure just stares at him, likely talking to him... in his mind?

     Snapping out of the daze he stands up and shakes himself off a little, refocusing. Alright, you got me. I'm relaxed. So what's going on?

     "You're not going to ask me my name?" He sighs quickly.

     Ayana, I know who you are.

     "Ha, didn't realize I was that popular. And you know when we met last, yes?"

     The bridge?

     "Smart AND cute. I got myself the jackpot." Walking towards him she grabs his hand. It tingles with the electricity outlines touching, catching his attention. She snaps her fingrs,somehow making a sound, and gets him to look up again. "Listen Leider, I know this is all new to you. But I need you to focus, alright? Just imagine that I'm Widow and you're my p-pet." She chuckles on the last word, clearing her throat in his mind before breathing deeply. He can't blush but can feel his face already getting warm, he didn't want to admit it but he WAS her pet. Right?

     "Now come here." She walks forward, pulling him along before he catches up, her grip not letting go. "I'll kill the elephant before it even gets to the room: yes, I made you an osore but not for the reason you think."