CHAPTER 8
The first thing I notice today was the lack of Reina’s presences in the lunchroom. Then came the death glares, but they were more deadly than usual. Why is everyone acting so strange? They all seem to be looking at me like it’s my fault. And I’m not even sure what I’m being blamed for! I have no clue what’s going on. Should I know? I wonder where Reina is today. I’m kind of glad she isn’t here. It means I don’t have to worry about her trying to humiliate me or bully me. I walk through the rows to see if I can get a seat.
“Eri, over here!”
JunJun waves me over to an empty chair next to her and I join her. She smiles warmly at me and I smile back before digging into my plate. JunJun looks from me to the people around us. She feels the strange atmosphere too? I thought I was the only one. I’m surprised I didn’t become paranoid since everyone in this coven seems to be after me or hate me.
“What’s with everyone being jealous more than usual?” she questions
I shrug. We continue to eat together with out a word until we’re done eating and back to cleaning. At least I didn’t have to deal with Reina. It makes my day run just a little smoother. I wish it were like this everyday. Yet, I can’t shake off this feeling that there’s something important going on and I should know what that is.
***
“You’re sure about this? I mean this IS Miki we’re talking about, Aya.” I remind her
“Sayu, is the whole deal with Reina not enough?” Maki replies
I scan the table to the eyes that stare at me in exasperation. Everyone is against me. They’re waiting impatiently for my choice, but I can’t just do that so easily. And I can’t just take anyone’s word. Maki for all I know could be saying this because she wants revenge on Miki for Reina’s server punishment. I can’t trust Maki’s word when she’s filled with such hatred for our leader. I don’t know why the others are against her though. I guess they all have their own reasons. Am I the only one that feels this is wrong? I have to make a wise choice before siding with them. Things are looking bleak for me I must say.
“There is also her sudden shift of behavior when Eri came.” Maimi adds in “She’s become…gentler. To her at least.”
I sigh and lean against the wall. All eyes are on me, waiting for my answer. I’ve never seen them look this serious or this agitated. They all seem convinced this is the only way. That this is the right way to get things done. When I heard Miki was in trouble I didn’t think it would come to this outcome to her troubles. There has to be another way. Don’t they see that this option can affect us? They don’t see the possible outcome to our choice?! I don’t know how they can make up their minds so quickly. I can’t do that so easily. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.
“We can’t do it. She’s taken good care of us and this is how we repay her?”
I keep saying that, but it seems to have no meaning to us anymore. How did this happen? Why did it happen so sudden? Everything we’ve stood for is falling apart. This isn’t right!
“She’s becoming more human. This longer she keeps Eri around the more she will start to feel. This coven cannot tolerate a weak leader.” Aya explains
Everyone is becoming hasty. They’re angry. They were probably expecting this secret meeting to be quick and everyone would agree without any questions. I’m the only one that’s making it hard for them. It’s bad enough as it is, having a meeting like this behind Miki’s back, but to then to put a plan like this into action is even more of a shock. They’re sure about this. They’re willing to do what it takes. Will this benefit us? Will this really help us? How can something tragic become helpful? They seem positive about this. As long as they know what they’re getting into then so be it. I’ve made up my mind.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
I’ve sealed my fate. There is no turning back now.
“So it’s settled. Miki will be killed and I will take her place after.” Aya announces, “She will not make this easy. She’s quite skilled.”
“We’ll have to talk about our plan another time. We’ve been here long enough. Miki become suspicious.” Maimi suggests
“We will meet tomorrow at midnight.” Aya informs
Everyone exits the room, but I stay behind. I’m still wondering what I did is the right thing. What if we’re the ones who are wrong? What if Miki is doing these things because she loves Eri, but she can’t express it well enough? If they are doing this because Miki’s become too much of a human than they should do the same to Ai, Risa, Maimi, Maki, and I’m sure there are other people who should be following the same fate. This whole coven has become corrupted.
***
“What do you think happen to Reina?” JunJun asks me, while walking the halls with me
We were going back to our cleaning routine since lunch was over. I look down at my feet. This is a question I’ve been trying to avoid. I don’t like to think about it.
“I don’t know. I hope she’s ok.”
We continue to go down the hall, but in silence this time. JunJun can tell how uncomfortable I am about this subject. I don’t need to talk about this topic. I get enough looks and rumors about me because of Reina’s strange disappearance. I try to ignore them or pretend I don’t hear them, but I do and they bother me a lot. On our walk to one of the rooms, my blood runs cold when I come across someone else I was praying to not meet since yesterday. JunJun is just as speechless as I am. Her death glare pierces me down, locked into place. She seems angry.
“I’ve been meaning to talk with you.” She hisses “Come with me, now.”
She pulls me by my arm before I can reply. I run to keep up with her fast pace and she walks through a door, leading us to a balcony outside. I squint at the change of light. It’s been a while since I’ve been outside into the sun. I spend all my time inside the house and in my dank dungeon I forgot what it feels like to be out into fresh cool air. It feels nice and I would say relaxing, but I’m still terrified by being pulled here with my beyond agitated mistress. She lets go of my arm and walks over to the railing, trying to cool down. While, I’m still stuck in place with fear, I’m torn between wanting to leave and having to stay against my own will. My hands start to shake. They feel clammy. I haven’t done anything wrong! I swear I haven’t! She turns around, her death glare just a little bit softer than before. It’s still there and it still scares me.
“Do you know why you’re here?”
I shake my head. I’m mute. Maybe if I remain quiet it’ll help me get out of here quicker. She walks towards me, never breaking eye contact with me. Her index finger touches my cheek and gently runs down my face. Her hand cups my face tenderly.
“You’ve caused me more trouble than you think.”
I’m not sure what that means, but I don’t dare to question her or correct her. Like I’ve decided before. I will remain silent. Without warning, her soft touch turns into a strong and painful grip around my face. Her eyes fill back with anger. I whimper and flinch at her deathly hold. It hurts.
“I can’t stand how much of a pain you’re becoming! You’re changing everything that had value to me.”
She’s speaking in riddles. I have no clue as to what she’s saying. Has she gotten ill? Someone should help her! Someone should get her away from me! I try to pull away, but she squeezes my jaw tighter. Her other hand wraps around my neck. I can still breath, but the strong hold on me makes my fear reach a whole new level. She’s going to do something to me this time even if I won’t like it. She’s not going to listen tome.
“F-Fujimoto-sama, I-I’m sorry!” I squeak
It’s hard to speak with her hand around my neck and her other one around my jaw. My eyes feel wet and my knees are weak. She lets go of my face and grabs my hair. I hold back the pain I feel from her grip. She isn’t going to let me go. Something’s going to happen. She lets go of my neck. I can feel it throb and ache. I’ll have a bruise. I’m sure of it.
“You've become such a problem.”
I don’t know what she’s talking about. What could I have possible done wrong?! If she’s angry why is she taking it out on me? Couldn’t she have done it another way?
“Fujimoto-sama, wha…”
She slaps me and I fall down from the strong force put behind it. My eyes flood with tears and I don’t bother to stop them. There’s a copper taste in my mouth. My whole face is burning with pain. I lift up my head and look through my tears to try and see her. All I can make out is a blurry shape. I wipe the blood on my lip. I blink away my falling tears. She’s never laid a finger on me.
“Get up.” She commands, her voice is icy
Quickly as possible, I go back up to my feet. The only thing that comes to my mind to save myself is to beg. So I do just that. I hug her and cry.
“Fujimoto-sama! Please, don’t hurt me!”
My body shakes and I grab on to her waist as tight as I can. I don’t care what I’m blamed for. I just don’t want to end up killed. She stays still, stiff, taken back by my action of affection and to be honest, I am too. I would have expected her to throw me off her the second my arms touched her hips and I would get smacked again, but instead she stays perfectly still almost as if overwhelmed, by such an act of gentleness. Her arm moves and I bunch up ready for the hit, only this ‘hit’ doesn’t hurt. It feels soft and warm. Her hand stroke my hair again and then my face. I pick up my head to meet her gaze. Her eyes aren’t dark. They’re shinning, almost glowing, as if welcoming me. She’s forgiven me? I sniffle and blink back the build up of tears in my eyes. Has she changed her mind? - So quickly? I let her go and step back. She can snap any second. Maybe she just hasn’t progressed this in her head and when she does, she’ll hurt me. She looks to the stone floor of the balcony. Her face fills with shock. She looks back at me. Her eyes darken, but it’s not will rage this time. I can’t tell what it is.
“Get out.” She whispers, hoarse
Her body quakes. Are those tears in her eyes? She bites her lip. I’ve never seen her in such a state before. She looks…defeated. Is it because of me? Did I do this? I-I’m sorry! I should help her. I have to do something!
“Fu…”
“I said leave!”
I run towards the door, my only safety from my now mad owner. I don’t look back. What’s going on? I’ve never seen such a mix of emotions displayed in front of me from her so rapidly. It was as if she was…changing. I rush down the hall, not caring if she’s not behind me or if the other girls are staring at me. I can’t go to my room. She might come there and finish off whatever she was going to do. Where else can I go? No one cares about me. I’m not safe, but I think I never was the day I entered this building. Who will want to be near me?
JunJun.
Topic: The Coven [CLOSED] (Read 17043 times)