Repentance

Loose Strings

It tugs at your frayed ends. They're loose and decaying. It insists and you have to wonder if you still have the strength to pull them together, to keep the loose strings from unraveling. It's slashing at you, trying to break the strings you so lovingly made. Did you make them or did they make you?

It didn't matter when all you felt is searing pain every time it cuts through one, silver and shining with light from within. You don't think you can keep it at bay for long.

Your arms too heavy for the flimsy strings left, fall down. The light shoots out from the open sockets, gentle on the eyes burning to the flesh. It's eating at you from inside. For so long it has been asleep. Why did it wake up now? Something forbids you from letting it get away, something compels you to keep it hidden. You are the prison, the warden and the prisoner. It's all the same here.

It digs into your chest, pulling it apart. You are tearing at the seams. The ground below, you felt it now. You felt the firmness of it, the stability. You feel the fury of the being, the desperation. You channel these emotions and turn them to strings.

Even as it yells, you do not give way.

Even as it tears at your insides, you remain.

You sprang up from the sheets clutching your chest in an attempt to calm down. These nightmares had been haunting you ever since you started sleeping. It was the same setting every time with a slight difference. It terrified you; the prospect of dying in the dream, letting that thing kill you. It felt somewhat familiar, yet you couldn't conjure up any memories relating to it. Not in real life, not in the dream world.

You glanced at the queen. Her breaths were slow and form slumped. She must still be asleep.

The sheets beneath you were a mess. You must have thrashed in your sleep. Your mind remained at a state of unease ever since you met the Hollow Knight. You only ever left to survey the area. Nobody had come to see you in days and you preferred it to stay that way, however today you were scared, very scared and you didn't want to remain alone in such a state. You needed something to take your mind off the nightmares.

You remembered Grimm's offer and wondered if Ghost would want to tag along.

Moments passed with you lying in the mess, mulling over that thought until the silence became too much. It was hard to tell night from day in Hallownest, but you didn't mind. Even if you went up to find no one awake, a walk and some fresh air were still welcome.

You practically skipped all the way to Dirtmouth, never turning to look back, bolting the second you see a shadow out of the corners of your eyes. It would have definitely made you more at ease to have a nail on you.

The noise of Dirtmouth welcomed you, filling all the space that wasn't already crowded with shops and caravans. The houses were a little bit to the back. You didn't know where Ghost lived or if they even lived there. Going alone was an option, but you remembered the vessel's disappointed non-existent expression -how did they do that?- and decided against it.

As you stood in the middle of the many houses staring like a creep and waiting for anyone to come out, you realized just how poorly thought out your trip was. Surely the neighbors would know if Ghost lived here, you thought, attempting to calm your anxiety. The old bug from before poked his head out of the window and grimaced as he saw you. He quickly hid inside the safety of his house, shutting the curtains for good measure. What did the old bug have against you? You were certain you've never seen him before. Maybe that was the problem. Elders can get territorial.

Music flowed from the red tents, not affected by the distance. How loud were they playing? You hoped loud enough to make you deaf.

You heard a bump and then footsteps rushing towards you. You turned around quickly, jumping out of the way and taking a battle stance only to deflate upon seeing the very vessel you were looking for. They tilted their head at your odd reaction. You saw a house behind them with the door opened and you deduced it was their house. They extended their hand almost touching your own but not quite. You let them take your hand. "Uh, hello. Haven't seen you in days."