****Several Years Ago****
Lee
Days have gone by since Karin and Lee had left their home world. Yet, a month or so had passed since that night and neither of them have felt the same. They had spent their entire lives on their world despite being cursed with the wrath of the demon and the rage of the phoenix, yet once the incident occurred, the only place they could ever belong was Eiridelium. Furthermore, it was the only world where they could learn more about themselves. So, Karin decided to stay to learn more about her curse. Lee, on the other hand, felt he had to stay. He had already felt abandoned her once, he couldn’t do it again. They had gotten themselves an old-style Japanese house nearby a lake and down the ways from the city. It was the only place that remotely felt close to home. Karin had proceeded to spend her days on Eiridelium either in her room, at Nelore’ s Academy of Magics, or at the Leviathan Library whereas Lee spent part of his time here and there. He’d study magic with Karin then would spend his other free time practicing swordsmanship or just exploring the world. However, his days felt colorless, as if he were just going through the motions. Neither Karin nor he had ever opened up or talked about that day. Every now and then, Karin would try to start up a conversation.
Karin: Maybe you should learn about your curse too…I…it might help.
Lee: Help what? Figure out what was done that night? I slaughtered dad and Cruella and you burned the evidence. What’s done is done.
Karin: I-I know but don’t you want to learn how to control it? How to cope with it?
Lee: Why? So, I could bring it out like a parlor trick? Fuck it and fuck that thing. Why bother with it anyway?
Before Karin could make another point, she stopped right there. Every conversation started this way, and every conversation ended the same way. What’s the point, what’s the point, what’s the fucking point. She knew deep down, nothing good would come from it yet she continued to pester anyway. She’d hope that at some point, he’d change his mind. Or at least saw things from her point of view. But alas, their relationship was strained, the only things binding the two is blood and their last name. She didn’t want to leave him. He didn’t want to leave her. Lee always felt bad about how the conversations would end but didn’t know how to lighten up the mood.
Soon, he stopped going to the academy and just focused on swordsman training. He wanted nothing to do with the curse placed on him. Like hell would he want to know more about it? He felt as if he did, he’d give it more power. He’d still train in the ways of the sword, felt that it was the only thing that kept him sane, kept him under control. When he reached the advance classes, it was then he was formally introduced to Ken, one of the few people who came to extract him and Karin from the previous world. As soon as Ken recognized him, he ran up to him and reintroduced himself.
Ken: Hey if it isn’t Mr. Lee Von Solari.
He extended his hand to Lee to formally introduce himself. Ken had sparkling emerald eyes and a wild orange mohawk to boot. He almost nearly matched Lee’s height and was decked out with studded earrings, necklaces and rings. God does this kid own a jewelry store? Lee once thought to himself.
Lee: K-ken…right?
Ken: Ah!! So, you do remember me?
Lee: How can I not? Only guy I know who uses dual swords and looks like a punk.
Ken: Wow, so judgmental.
Ken looked around to see that people had already left the dojo.
Ken: Why don’t we chill out together? At a pub. My treat.
Before Lee could answer, Ken was already dragging him along. They ended up in an Irish Pub called the Lucky Leprechauns ran by, well, leprechauns and dwarves. Some were short and muscular while others were just stout. Some were jolly, setting up dance routines and greeting customers with a big ol’ smile that would ease them while others were just plain rude. They were the ones to attend to Ken and Lee. They weren’t fond of either of them. Even after they ordered their pint glasses of Guinness.
Ken: So, how’s your time here in Eiridelium? Made any friends yet?
Lee: It’s been fine and no; I don’t plan to.
Ken: What? Not even with those friendly dwarves?
He started waving at them as they leered back at him.
Lee: I don’t think they like us.
Ken: They aren’t fond of most people. Well, what about me?
Lee: Listen, you’re probably a really nice guy underneath it all but last time I made friends I sort of got burned.
Ken took a huge sip, knocking back about half the glass. Whether it was liquid courage or the need to be frank, Ken didn’t hold back a single thought that ever conjured in his head.
Ken: You know, you’re on a new world. Your past life isn’t going to come back and haunt you. Not physically at least. No one’s going to use you or anything. No one even knows that you’re some rich kid that inherited his wealth from dear old dad and no one’s gonna use you. Watch, hey! Gulliven, you care this kid’s rich?
Gulliven: Is the lad gonna buy more beer? No? Then fuck off with it.
Ken: See? No one literally cares.
Lee: So, what you’re the fucking expert on me? Are you going to ask that to everyone we meet?
Ken: Nah, just Gulliven.
Lee rolled his eyes. He drank his whole pint just so he could leave but Gulliven insisted that he drink another.
Ken: To be fair, I used to work at the Dragon’s Nest before I joined the Corps. I read your profile. Left the family at 15, came back to a shitshow at 18. Bounced around from friend’s house to friend’s house only because once they found out you didn’t have any of daddy’s money, they’d kick you out. Abandon you. You were basically on your own for the most part. Karin helped out when she could but she’s like what? Younger than you by a couple of years?
Lee: Two and a half.
He gripped onto the pint glass, tightly. Cracks started forming. Gulliven noticed and glared at him.
Lee: Seems like you know me already. So, why bother trying to get along with me? Pity? My sister set you up to be my friend?
Ken shook his head at all the answers.
Ken: Your file doesn’t tell me the whole story. Just tells me enough that your insecure and refuse to let anyone in your life because of whatever traumatic even that occurred.
Lee: Cool! Did it also tell you that I killed my parents and watched my sister burn our home down!? Did it tell you how I literally let my kid sister deal with domestic abuse to the extent that she just fucking broke into pieces? Or how about the fact that I was never going to be good enough?
The glass broke in his hands, tiny droplets of blood dripping down at the hardwood floor. Ken stopped Gulliven from coming over to kick Lee out. There had been a rule at the bar, no fighting, no breaking glass, no exceptions. But apparently, Ken kinda bended the rules for that.
Ken: It kinda did. Kinda why we came out to get you. But you know, your sister likes to remember you fondly. Never once heard her say shit about whatever’s been plaguing your head. All she likes to talk about the good old days. How you used to cook for her and your mom cause your mom couldn’t cause the disease left her weak and unable to move around much. She’d talk about how you only learned how to play the piano just to fill the house with music, so she thought to play the violin to accompany you. Made your mom happy.
Lee: Did she also tell you that I straight up left her in that hell hole a bit after dad met Cruella? That I left her to suffer?
Ken: Yennoe, she doesn’t blame you for that. She stayed cause she felt she was the last reminder of your mom. She held all of her resemblance; you were like a mini version of your dad. And if you like had any real conversations with your sister, you would know that.
Lee: She should. She should be blaming me for ruining her teen years.
Ken: Why?
Lee: She shouldn’t be so nice about it?
Ken: Is it because you want to punish yourself for what happened.
Glass pierced Lee’s skin causing more blood to spill.
Ken: Is it because you blame yourself for what happened with your sister.
Lee slammed his fist on the table, some of it becoming a demon’s hand.
Lee: Yes! Okay? I wanted her to get mad at me, I needed her to punish me because no one else is around to do so. She’s my only sister and I couldn’t protect her. I couldn’t be there for her. I wasn’t enough.
His eyes teared up a bit. He shook them off then glared at Ken who smirked a bit.
Lee: What the fuck are you smiling about?
Ken: Well, I figured you finally got some stuff off your chest. You kinda looked like you’ve been bottling something up these past few days in class.
Lee: So, what is this some form of pity party?
Ken: First of all, it’s better to talk about things than keep it all bottled up inside. Pretty sure that’s what’s feeding your literal inner demons. Second of all, maybe I’m just trynna connect with you because you and I aren’t so different.
Lee: Yeah? You’ve killed your parents and abandoned your sister too?
Ken: Look, you’re not the only one with baggage. And if you got your head outta your ass for once you’d’ve known that.
Ken took a deep breath and calmly spoke.
Ken: Like, the one of the two blonde girls that was with me? Alexis? Mom died when she was super young. Dad died in her teens on a mission. Ben and Danny grew up in an orphanage. And Terra’s family turned into demons.
Lee: What?
Ken: Yeah. Literal demons. They plague these lands yennoe?
Ken chugged the rest of his glass and requested another.
Ken: It’s why you and Karin are so compatible in this world. More so than the few others. They’ve recently started escaping in little pockets. Started plaguing other parts of the galaxies. But yeah…just one day, all of a sudden, they just turned. Had no choice but to execute them.
Lee: I-I’m sorry.
Ken put down the funds to pay for the bill, and any damages caused.
Ken: Don’t sweat it…just hear me out. Count yourself lucky. You moved to a new world; you get to leave your old one behind. Leave the past behind you. And all the shit that goes along with it. It ain’t easy, but helluva lot better than dragging it all with you. Also, join the Corps. Pretty sure your skills and what not will get you far. Plus, beats living the rest of your days in that castle of yours in a mundane state.
Lee sat there to ponder the conversation after Ken left. He asked Gulliven for a broom and a dustpan to clean up after himself. Gulliven had one of the workers patch him up as to not get more blood on the table. He then gave more than enough to fix up the area. He took Ken’s advice about joining the Corps a few days later. He learned the exam consisted of a survival test: the longer you can survive wave after wave of demons and monsters alike, the higher you rank. He entered in a dome that had many displays and windows all around. Spectators came along to watch as they always did. They came to judge, inspect, and overall, find some entertainment in who was going to end up on the top ten board. Making higher ranks meant high risk jobs and a bit of fame and glory. As Lee stood in the middle of the dome in some armor with a singular rapier, sheathed in its scabbard, he felt his heart beat with a mix of anxiousness and excitement. Before he started, a holy man appeared in Greek robes. He wore spartan sandals and his hair was an amber color, eyes of a sage hue. He extended his hand and introduced himself as Kingdra, the leader of the Corps and co-leader of the Dragon’s Nest.
Lee: It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Kingdra: So, you are aware of the rules?
Lee: It’s basically an endurance test, right?
Kingdra: Exactomundo! But also, not correct! It’s better explained as so: The more monsters or demons you are able to skillfully kill or even evade the higher your rank will go. The more damage you take, the lower your rank goes. It doesn’t end until either I give the signal or until you drop. But, if you drop, you’re basically lowering your own rank.
Lee: S-sounds like fun.
Kingdra: Right?? Anywho! Use anything and everything and good luck! Make it a good fight.
As Kingdra made his exit, he gave the thumbs up letting the proctors know that the trials have started. Lee took a couple of deep breaths as an amalgamation of monsters and demons swarmed in the dome. He patiently stood still at the center of it all, waiting for them to come in.
Inferno Ferrum
He unsheathed his rapier as it was wrapped around in flames. He swung it sideways, flames following the movements. The flames were then redirected towards the oncoming opponents, leaving them in ashes. Creatures with blades for claws pounced at the opening Lee supposedly left but were easily dodged. He danced around the battlefield, as if moving like a leaf in the wind. When the fires ceased from the rapier, he dragged it onto the floor, lifting the earth under him and creating a shell. Footsteps rushed towards him, each monster bashing their entire bodies at the earth. He muttered ancient words under his breath then focused in on every movement felt. Forming the earth all around, he created spikes that then bombarded the surrounding enemies. Blood splattered all around, his killing intent spiked. Each monster or demon he faced and killed caused it to rise higher and higher than ever before. In the midst of the blood bath, he heard the voices. Voices he never thought would come back to haunt him.
Not enough.
Try harder.
Is this the best you can do?
How weak.
You’ll never be enough.
Give up, you will never reach your full potential.
What a waste.
Why are you even here?
He snarled as he pressed on. Yet something was off. The more he fought demons and monsters the angrier he got. He couldn’t tell if it was the endless fighting or the voices he heard. He knew it was theirs. Father’s and Cruella’s. No matter how many lives he claimed or how high he could see his rank reaching, it was never enough. They were berating him, yelling at him. The thoughts blurred his vision. He could feel the demon residing inside of him come out. Claws replaced his hands, his weapon dropped to the floor. As the scenery all but turned to black, he’d seen a girl with strawberry red hair and ruby red eyes staring back at him. As if she whispered to him “enough”. By the time the sirens rang, warning of the end of the trial, the battlefield had ended up a bodily field of corpses.
People were shocked, amazed, and terrified. Ken was the only person who cheered him on. Alexis was fuming as the others had joined the crowd in their mixture of feelings. Even Karin was a tad bit thrown off. Lee glanced at his score and saw what he ranked, he had mix feelings. He could still hear those voices echoing in his head.
You didn’t try at all, did you?
Couldn’t even place higher than a girl?
How pathetic can you be?
He accomplished tying in first place with Alexis, but still felt like it wasn’t enough. He’s still not enough.
Ken: What’s the matter?
Ken came up to him after the trial, in the medical tent. The nurses assigned that day were checking him out for a little too long.
Lee: I should’ve been able to take first place, not tie into it.
Ken: Oh, come on, mate! You made it into the top 5! Cheer up.
Lee: For all that damage? It really doesn’t feel like I did good enough.
The nurses left as soon as they saw an annoyed Alexis stomp on in.
Alexis: WHAT!? Not good enough!? You rotten prick you did wanna steal my spot.
Ken: To be fair, you surprised us all when you basically made the ranks a while back. No wonder someone with a cursed, demonic soul, would’ve almost topped you.
Alexis: You wanna say what you’re trynna say, punk?
Ken: Yeah, you’re literally the human form of a demon.
Ken laughed as Alexis tried to punch him. Lee completely ignored the antics going on.
Lee: Yeah, the keyword being almost. I didn’t even place on a rank, I just tied with someone else.
Alexis: Oh my fucking god, just take the fucking compliment and the fact that you are in the top 5. You know what that means?
Ken: Big money quests and mad respect all around.
Lee: Still, what stopped me?
Alexis: You kinda just stopped yourself.
Ken: Yeah, none of us could figure out why you sorta just stopped there. Kingdra just felt that with the carnage all around, you had proven yourself.
Lee: Wait so there wasn’t a girl on the field?
Ken: No?
Alexis: What girl would be there in all that carnage?
Alexis hung her arm around a solemn Lee.
Alexis: Listen, you’re getting off track. Point is, you don’t have to be perfect, you made it. That’s good enough.
Lee sighed loudly.
Lee: Alright, now what?
Ken: Now, we celebrate.
****Several days of celebration later****
Alexis: You guys really don’t want girls around huh?
Ben: It’s not that at all!
Terra: Uh-huh, sureee.
Ken: Look, it’ll give us sometime to connect with Lee.
Karin: Are you sure you’ll be alright?
Lee gave an awkward smile as Danny agreed for him. Lee wanted to try what he could to be a better brother. One who didn’t make his younger sister worry so much about him. He knew she tried so much more than ever to maintain some form of normalcy. He knew she tried more than he did to maintain their relationship. And now that the house he had purchased felt too big for just the two of them was now filled with the friends they made, he needed to put effort in. He couldn’t bare losing the only family he had left. He wanted to respect what she wanted. He wanted to still feel like he had a relationship with his sister. So, regardless of how he felt of the other guys around, he reluctantly accepted going. They took off through the portals all around the offices of the Dragon’s Nest, off to a place where there was no magic, no powers, yet somehow someone was born with the ability to intrude into people’s minds.
As they stepped through the portal, they found themselves on the dirty streets of a major city. Lights went dim as dawn was approaching. As soon as they arrived, Ken gave Lee his official Corp’s smart phone. He called it Yuni as every now and then it produces a female-like voice.
Lee: Does it really work in every world?
Ken: Most worlds. It’s only the one’s that have satellites. We use this as our primary form of communication with each other. The only thing that works on each and every world is a particular magic someone had installed as an app on the phones. It’s what allows us to portal in and out of other worlds back to home base.
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Lee: So, what about the worlds where there aren’t satellites?
Ken: Only very skilled operatives go there. But the Portal app still works, just contacting people is a pain. Most anyone can do is send an SOS signal and that’s about it. But that’s if it’s you that time will rarely come.
Lee: You seem to have way too much faith in me.
Ken laughed as Lee shook his head. Ken furthered explained that the smartphone was used to find anomalies in a twenty-mile area. They split off into groups of two. Ben and Ken decided to cover the areas in the Northern region while Danny and Lee covered the areas in the Southern region. Awkward wasn’t something the situation could be described as. Lee scanned around the area while Danny’s heart race increased every minute he was with Lee. Every time Lee asked Danny a question, Danny’s response was filled with panic. As if he was afraid if his answer was wrong, he’d anger Lee.
Lee sighed.
Lee: Dude, are you alright?
Danny: Y-yeah. Why do you ask?
Lee: Well, it feels like you’re super afraid to even be near me.
Danny: Whaaat? N-n-no. What m-makes you th-think that?
Lee: Well, for starters, you’re walking ten paces behind me. And I don’t know if I’ve gained super hearing as well but, I can hear your heart rate beating like crazy.
Danny fiddled with his fingers, trying to come up with a response. Lee sighed once more, then stopped in his place.
Lee: Listen, just tell me what’s on your mind. Seems like you wanna tell me anyway.
Danny: A-alright look. I wanna ask you something but I hardly know you well enough to even begin asking something like this.
Lee: Just ask.
Danny: Y-you know we’re all moved in, right??
Lee: Yeah.
Danny: Well, Karin wanted me to move into her room. And, I wanted to ask you if it was alright if I can go steady with her with the hopes of someday marrying her.
Lee had a shocked look on his face. How long have they been living in Eiridelium and how often were the two of them talking with each other? Hanging around with each other? How much did I miss from her life?
Lee: Wh-why are you asking me? Does it really matter if I say yes or no?
Danny: Well, she talks a lot about you. You’re her only family left and I just, I just wanted to get your blessing. It’d mean a lot to her. A-And me too!
Lee chuckled a bit at that. A blessing? Really? From her older brother? But I guess since their dad isn’t around that isn’t too far off from what she’d really want.
Lee: Look, man. I don’t even know if I’m qualified for that right now. I haven’t been present in her life. Not when we were living in that world and not even now. I hardly think she really needs my permission, let alone my blessing for you two to date.
Danny: She really does want it you know. She wants a relationship with you, and she wants you to be okay with this. She…she doesn’t want to feel like she’s leaving you behind or alone or anything. I just know it’ll mean a whole lot to her if you’re okay with this.
Lee pondered it a bit.
Lee: I want to support her in everyway possible. Be a better brother than what I was before. If it makes her happy, all I hope is that you treat her better than anyone else ever did.
Danny leapt in joy and jumped towards Lee, hugging him tightly.
Danny: Thank you thank you thank you!! And don’t worry. She’s in the best of care. And I don’t ever want to come between the two of you. You’re still her brother. No matter what.
Lee: Yeah, some brother I am. All I do is worry her and make her feel bad.
Danny: You know, you encouraged her to be a medic. When she found out she had healing abilities, she took a bunch of courses to become a staff at the Phoenix hospital. She says it felt like her calling considering all the times she’s helped patch you up when you would show up to her room covered in bruises and scars.
Lee: Ahh, so she’s probably told you about all the fights I’ve been in.
Danny: Yeah, she’s joked about how she was going to run out of supplies within a week because you’d get your ass kicked every day.
Lee: Oh! So, she’s got a sense of humor! I’ll have you know 90% of the times I won the fight.
Danny: Haha, I believe it. The way you handled yourself back there at the Dome, you seem to be the kind of person who doesn’t lose in fights that often.
Lee: Only when I’m too confident in myself.
They both started to joke with each other. Coming up with quips and the likes.
Danny: You’re not so bad.
Lee: Yeah. Sorry about that. I…it’s hard for me to let people in. Most people just want me for my status or what I can do for them and when I can’t do anything for them, they or I’m not what they were looking for, they end up ditching me.
Danny: Well, if it makes you feel any better, the only thing I want from you is to be your friend.
Lee: I’d like that.
As they wandered around the city, their smart phones started buzzing as an anomaly was coming inching closer and closer to them. They started to become more alert, watching every corner, scanning every street. Passing through the masses of civilians, Lee spotted something unusual. He signaled to Danny that he was pursuing the unusual being. He walked into a store where he had first noted it and saw her. A fairly tan skinned woman with dirty blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and small beauty marks on her cheeks. She looked to be about 5’4” and had amber eyes. She was…breath taking to him. Her eyes met his as he awkwardly stared at her.
Her: May I help you?
Lee: Ah uhm no. Sorry.
She shrugged and started minding her own business. He noticed that the app on the smartphone buzzed like crazy around her. She was startled by it as she stared at him.
Lee: I think you’re someone I’m looking for.
Her eyes widened in panic. She cautiously stepped away from him.
Her: Wh-who are you?
Lee: My name’s Lee. And I-I’m here to take you home.
Her: Well. This is my home and you can’t take me anywhere. That’s basically kidnapping.
Lee: Look, you don’t really belong here. I’m here to take you -
Her: Get away from me, you freak!
A crowd gathered around with Danny in it. They were cautious of Lee, attempting to ensure the safety of the girl. When she spotted Danny, she begged for him.
Her: Please help me, this psycho is chasing after me.
Danny gave her a puzzled look. He looked at Lee then back at the girl.
Danny: K-Karin?
Lee: What are you talking about? That girl isn’t Karin.
Danny: Dude, can’t you tell it’s your sister.
She gave a sinister look as her illusion had worked.
Her: Please, please, my brother is acting super weird right now. He’s saying really fucking creepy things to me.
Danny looked around and saw the crowd whispering to each other.
Danny: H-how about we go somewhere else then, dear? I’ll take you away from him right now.
Her: Sounds like a good idea.
Danny signaled Lee to follow him, but at a safe distance. Something was off. Deep down, Danny knew that this wasn’t Karin but somehow doubted himself. He took the girl by her hand and started leading her to a more private area. Lee silently followed along. As they got to a secluded park where no one was around, he then placed his hands on her shoulders.
Danny: Who are you really?
Her: I-it’s me. Karin.
Danny: Sorry to say but your illusions don’t really work if you don’t know the person. Karin never swears. Not once. Trust me, I’ve tried getting her to swear, literally impossible.
Her: I-um-I…h-how did you know?
Danny smiled. In a blink of an eye, his eye colors changed from his viridian green to a dragon’s eye; golden yellow with a black line striking through.
Danny: You aren’t the only one who’s special around here.
She gasped.
Her: Y-you’re like me?
Lee came up to them, huffing and puffing.
Lee: That’s what I was trying to tell you.
Danny: I’m sorry for my friend here, he’s very new at this. My name is Danny, this is Lee, though I think you’ve already met him. What’s your name miss?
She ignored Lee and extended her hand out to Danny.
Her: My name is Alice.
Danny: No family name?
Alice: Nah, just Alice.
Danny: Well then Ms. Just Alice, do you know why we’re here?
Alice: Look, so far, I’ve been the only person who can use this ability. I’ve never met anyone else who could do the same things I can do. And so far, I’m loving it. So, can’t y’all forget about what I am and just mosey on somewhere else?
Lee: No can do.
Alice: And why not?
As soon as she questioned him, both Lee’s and Danny’s smartphones went off.
Danny: That might be why.
Lee: What’s going on?
Danny: Oh, you’ll find out.
Danny sent out a signal to both Ben and Ken letting them know the task was being taken care of. A warning sign started emitting from the phone.
Yuni: Warning, warning. Biomass signs of the following creatures have been spotted in the vicinity. Warning. Anomaly of interest has been spotted nearby. Warning.
Alice’s eyes widened. Her eyes filled with fear.
Danny: Listen, I’ll take care of this one. It’s not a big deal. Not yet anyway.
He looked at Alice.
Danny: I know you both got off on the wrong foot but trust me, he’s harmless.
Danny then took off into the direction of where the monster was spotted. Both Lee and Alice were left alone. Lee pointed at a park bench and asked if she would like to take a seat as being told there were monsters in the area freaked her out a bit.
Alice: Wh-what’s actually going on?
Lee: As I was trying to tell you before, you don’t belong here.
Alice: Wh-what do you mean?
Lee: Like you said, no one else here has the ability you have. You can make illusions, right? Make realities come true? Well, this world you were born in wasn’t meant for you. So you just sort of don’t fit here.
Alice: And what makes you say that? What are you? The ruler of the world or some shit?
Lee sighed. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby to watch then produced a flicker of flame from the palms of his hands. Alice looked in shock.
Alice: S-so you and that guy…
Lee: We’re both not from here. So are two other guys who are with us.
Alice: Th-then what are you people?
Lee: People whose purpose is to protect the balance of each and every world. By doing so, we must extract the any anomalies that appear. That’s why we’re here. To extract you.
Alice: And what will you do with me once that’s done? I have a home here you know! Friends and family that love and cherish me!
Lee: When you leave here, they won’t remember you. And we can find you a new home, a new place to belong to.
Alice: W-will I have to remember them?
Lee: No. Your memories will be erased. You’ll live out the rest of your life somewhere else.
For a brief moment, things clicked into her mind. It was as if she forgot the loved ones who’d miss her dearly. As if, none of them mattered.
Alice: Alright, I’m in.
Lee: But what about your loved ones? Are you okay leaving them like this?
Alice: What loved ones? No one cares about me on this world.
Lee looked at her in bewilderment. Gears shifted inside his mind, as if she were controlling them. Removing essential pieces that fit the real narrative and replaced them with the ones that fit hers. The ones that she could go off on.
Alice: You don’t get it. They don’t love me! They never cared for me! Once they found out what I could do, they told me I brought shame to the family. That I could never be the kid they wanted me to be. That I was nothing to them.
Lee: They treated you like you weren’t enough for them?
Alice: Yeah. They did.
Lee: I know what that feels like. To never be enough. To always come out shorthanded.
Alice: To always be the one to shoulder everything even though you can’t carry much?
Lee: I know exactly where you’re coming from. And listen, you don’t have to live here. You don’t have to be here. We can take you away from here.
Alice: And find me a better home?
Lee: Exactly.
Alice: Awh, geez Lee. You sound like you’d do anything for me.
Lee: Yeah, of course. Anything for you.
****Present Day****
Monique
She walked around Lee’s home and noted how big and tall it was. She wasn’t used to such buildings being someone’s home. Then again, she was comparing to her previous homes being that of the great outdoors where she was dumpster diving and had a bit of a bedding behind cell walls… and other things she couldn’t possibly remember. But that was probably it. The memories escaping her. She wandered around the entire estate, looking for signs or clues as to where she could find him, where she could find Lee. She stumbled upon a hallway of memories. She stopped at a portrait of him fighting a mob of demons and saw herself staring right at the beast’s eyes who stared right back at her. For a brief moment, she was mesmerized by its stature and movement, but when she realized how odd it was that the creature stared back at her, she immediately kept moseying down the hallway.
She then came across memories of her. The girl who haunted him. The girl who couldn’t let him go. Alice. The trickster. The manipulator. She saw how swiftly Alice’s poor me story changed from how her family loved and cherished her to how they would be better off without her. How carelessly she treated others, as if they were just pawns to utilize however she pleased, especially Lee. It clicked in for her, how rapidly she can manipulate this entire situation into her favor. So, when two boys whisked her away to another world, all she think about was who was the easiest to use, the easiest to sway. How cruel was it? She’d take the small joys Lee ever had in his life, instinctively piecing away his confidence and bright attitude. She’d keep him away from his friends and only family only to toss him aside when he was no longer useful. She convinced herself that God gave her powers for a purpose. That pursuing the best life she could ever get was that purpose. No matter the cost, no matter who she screwed up or how far she ruined a person. Even when the dust settled and she moved on with her cunning ways, he was still left with a bitter aftermath to clean up: friends who have no idea how to commune with him, a sister who has become more and more estranged, and a long, long, string of memories that felt so rotted and twisted he felt as if there was no undoing.
Monique continued walking down the hallway, glancing at portraits of his memories. Of his time with her. Laughter was heard down the hallway, her laughter. Monique investigated the sounds to find Alice watching as she duped Lee, again and again.
Alice: Oh, you should watch this. The exact moment I left that dreadful world.
Monique stood there, silently. As if watching her every move.
Alice: Come now, you can’t expect someone like me to fall for a freak like him? The minute I wandered into that mind of his I could see that ghastly beast. That thing. Horrid, isn’t it? Oh, but you haven’t seen it have you?
Monique gave no response.
Alice: Ho? Not a talker huh? No worries, even though I’m just a fragment of what’s left here, I can still read your mind. Though I can’t necessarily make anything into a reality, I still can pick apart your mind.
Monique: And what would be the point?
Alice: Hmm?
Monique: You got what you wanted. You used him… right? You got him to give you free rent, free everything. Anything your heart desired he gave to you. And I honestly don’t know what happened between the two of you, but from what I understand was he loved you. And you took that all away the minute you left. So, why bother staying? You got what you wanted. What else could you gain from staying in a place like this?
Alice broke out into laughter. She cackled so much, she started snorting and found it hard to catch her breath.
Alice: God you’re such a fucking goody too shoes. Don’t forget, dear Monique, I can also see the newer memories he’s created. The ones with you in it. You and I are quite similar, no? You’re using him just as I used him. You just want a better life for yourself.
Monique: You’re wrong. You don’t even know me, yet you make pathetic assumptions. I’m not using him for a better life. I just –
Alice: You just wanted to get away from that ex of yours, right? You just wanted to leave the life you had because it was oh so bad. So, now you’ll use him for a new one?
Monique: No.
Alice: Oh, why not? You’ve already started.
Monique: I-I’m different from you! I fucking actually care about his feelings! I’m so fucking awkward about living at his place for free and it’s only been a few days! It’s not like I plan to live there forever. If I had it my way, I’d be camping out in the woods or some other shit. But he wanted to be nice to me. He wanted me there. And I don’t fucking care about the fucking beast! That’s his business. He didn’t ask for it. He didn’t want it! So, I suggest you fucking get out of here before I make you get out of here.
Alice: And how are you going to do that? You have no power here! This is his mind, not yours! And FYI, if you fuck up any of these portraits, there goes his memories.
Lee: ENOUGH!!!
His voice echoed down the hallway. They both turned their attentions towards him. She finally saw, for the first time, what his curse was. Half of his human body was reformed into a hideous looking thing. A curved horn sprouted on his head as one of his eyes turned bright murder red. Sharpened claws laid on the ground as one of his arms were overgrown. He stomped down the hallway and reached the two of them.
Lee: Get. Out.
Alice: I was here first. She should leave.
Lee: Both of you. Get. Out.
Alice’s eyes widened in fear. She shook her head.
Alice: N-no. I’m staying here and you can’t get me to leave.
Lee: OUUUT!!!
He slashed her diagonally, from her right shoulder to her left thigh. No blood came out. It was as if he exorcised her from his mind. He then turned to Monique.
Lee: Leave.
She stared at him in confusion and horror. Yet, deep down, she wasn’t terrified at all of his demonic form. She was instead terrified of how scared he sounded. How wounded he must’ve felt knowing that something he didn’t’ want her to know got out like that.
Lee: Now!
Monique: Okay! Okay! I would but I don’t even know where the exit is.
The moment she said that, a door appeared right behind her. She then entered it, leaving Lee behind. She found herself where Lee had left Lilith and Ezekiel. She stared Ezekiel down. If she knew how to kill people just by looking at them, she’d have already killed him a thousand times over. However, she found comfort in the fact that he was literally behind a cell. A cell in which she had power to keep him locked up forever.
Ezekiel: Oh, what are you going to do now princess? You have me tied up and locked up in here. But only time will tell when I actually get out and cause more havoc.
Monique: Any chance I can get rid of him?
Lilith: I’m afraid not. Unfortunately, all of the memories this fragment of the real Ezekiel locked away are under his control until you can find a way to overcome it.
Monique: How can I overcome it if he’s still here?
Lilith: A few ways. I can help guide you for starters. Another way is through information gathering which is something we are already on.
Monique: So, after all of that, then can I get rid of him?
Lilith: You can do whatever you want to the cretin.
Ezekiel: I’m still here!
Monique: Unfortunately.
Lee walked through the doors and ended up where they were. He was fuming. He angrily stared at Monique.
Lilith: Uhh is everything okay?
Lee: What the fuck were you doing in there?
Monique: Looking for you. I got lost, don’t fucking blame me.
Lee: You had no right to look in there!
Lilith: What’s going on? Lee, you knew better than anyone else what it meant when you decided to come in Monique’s subconscious.
Lee: That doesn’t mean she had any right to go in there! Those were my memories! You had no right to waltz in there and look at them!
Monique: It’s not my fucking fault. You led me in there! Or whatever that was of you outside! You fucking led me into that house of yours and your fucking ex was just there messing around with parts she shouldn’t be messing with.
Lee: You’re one to talk.
Lilith: Can you both just take a deep breath?
Monique: Fuck this and fuck you. Lilith how do I –
And on command she woke herself up to find herself back where it all started. In the hospital. Lilith and Lee followed soon after.
Khan: Ah, you guys are back!
Monique: You’re such a fucking asshole.
Monique ripped every cord that was stuck onto her and stormed out of the room. Khan and Lilith called after her.
Lee: You idiot, I’m your ride home!
Monique flipped him off as she teleported herself home.