Eating Souls, Act One: The Beginning

47: Leila's past : You're free?

Leila enjoyed her first few months with Patrick. He'd been very polite and sweet, and treated her with respect. They trained together and grew stronger, even though they were unable to resonate properly. Leila cooked meals for him, and her culinary skills improved noticeably.

Their relationship was evolving as well. It wasn't long before they held hands when they walked together, and gave each other kisses on the cheek before bed and when Patrick left for work every day. They were clearly more than just weapon and Meister. However, Leila still slept on the couch. Patrick was eighteen, four years older than Leila. As much as she cared for him and eventually loved him, she wasn't ready to share a bed with him. He assured her that he understood, and he would never pressure her into taking their relationship in such a bold direction. Throughout their entire relationship, he remained true to his promise. Over time, Leila and Patrick became the perfect picture of a happy teenage couple.

One day, however, something odd happened between them. It started with a shopping trip.

Patrick was working that afternoon. Leila was by herself, watching TV, when her stomach began to feel empty. She looked through the refrigerator and the cupboards, but nothing they had sounded good to her. Her stomach growled.

"What's that, tummy?" she muttered. "Hamburgers, you say? What a great idea!" She snickered at herself and grabbed her wallet. She didn't have much, but Patrick always gave her a bit of money from every paycheck, in case she needed anything. Humming to herself, she walked to the store.

"I'm hooooooome," she called out. She entered the dining room and set the groceries on the table. "We're having burgers tonight! My stomach decided, I hope you don't m—" Her voice cut off when she saw Patrick sprint into the dining room. "Patrick, what's wrong?" The look in his eyes scared her. He looked terrified...and angry.

"Where were you?" he snapped at her.

"I-I went to get food...for dinner," she stammered. She'd never seen him this way.

He glared at her for a moment, as if trying to read her, to see if she was lying. After several moments, he seemed to relax. "I just didn't know where you were," he mumbled. He pulled her into his arms, his long green hair draping over her shoulders. "I was worried. Please don't ever do that again."

"I-I'm sorry," Leila replied shakily. She wasn't sure why she was apologizing. She hadn't done anything wrong. They'd had nothing in the cupboards for dinner, and the grocery store was only five minutes away. Still, something in his voice made her feel guilty. "I'm really sorry."

"I love you," he said softly, still hugging her. "I thought you would never come back...if you ever left for good, I think...I think I'd die, Leila. I'd die without you."

Leila's eyes widened. She was touched by his display of emotion, but there was something else there...an underlying uneasiness within her. She still didn't fully understand his reaction, but more than anything, she wanted him to be happy. "I'll never leave, I promise," she said quietly. "I love you too, Patrick."

Their relationship continued to change after that, but so gradually that Leila almost didn't notice. He was still polite and sweet to her, but there was sometimes a subtle undertone to his voice, or a slightly strange choice of phrasing, that would add an unsettling taint to his words and stick in Leila's mind.

She'd tried to confront him about it a few times, in the beginning. He assured her that she was just being a bit irrational, and that she shouldn't worry; all women had their moments. Leila had gotten angry at him for his comment, but the argument had ended quickly, with only one apology. Patrick never apologized after an argument, no matter who was at fault. Leila, however, apologized for every disagreement they had, and when she did, Patrick would simply say "everybody makes mistakes."