Denise POV:

Sonia had left me downstairs in order to explain the situation to Holder ahead of time. I waited patiently till the trembling of my arms stopped, and Sonia reappeared.

“I did what I could, but it looks like the news of you being here already reached Margaret...”

“It’s alright... Thank you Sonia...”

I smiled brightly while holding her hand. Her eyebrows quivered as she smiled back.

“There’s no need to thank me. This is what friends are for.”

She let go of my hand and rubbed my shoulder gently before walking off. A few seconds later, Margaret appeared with a stern expression on her face.

“Let’s get going, Denise.”

I nodded my head as she took me to the room I woke up in. Holder was already there; his face turning in my direction once he noticed my presence. I saw his head nod slightly while he smiled.

I sat on the bed as Holder leaned forward in his wheelchair. He fanned out his fingers, activating his ability in order to scan my mind.

“Well? How does she look?”

Margaret probed him for an answer. She looked visibly displeased by the state of my condition. I was positive I looked fine from the outside, but Margaret seemed to see right through me—it was strange.

“...She's fine. There’s no noticeable damage beyond what she initially suffered.”

Margaret stared at Holder for a few seconds before parting her lips slowly.

“And you’re sure about that?”

“...Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Margaret shifted her gaze towards me, performing her own inspection instead.

“You can go now, Denise. Please remember to be careful.”

I nodded my head while I noticed a glint of sadness in her eyes as she let me go.

“...I will. Thank you both.”

I bowed my head and glanced at Holder, who faced me with a thin smile.

‘Thank you, Holder.’

I turned around and left the room.

***

I stood in front of the mirror and adjusted my clothes. I wanted him to think that I was beautiful, that I was attractive. I wanted him to turn his head when I walked past him, to want to hold me close and let everyone know that I was his.

My head throbbed while I stared at my reflection. I have to do this now to make sure he has this memory of me.

‘There’s no time...’

I left my apartment, reaching the hallway quickly. I made my way to the empty office and waited by the doorway patiently.

I knew he thought I wouldn’t show up tonight, but it had to be tonight. The almost inaudible sound of footsteps drifted into my ear as I shifted my gaze from the office to him.

“...How are you feeling?”

I continued my act by furrowing my eyebrows as I walked towards him. I didn’t say a word while I reached his side.

I saw his hand move against his will, and I smiled inwardly as he tried to stop it from holding onto my arm. My hand swiftly grabbed the sleeve of his hoodie.

“Come with me.”

‘I want you so much.’

I tugged at his sleeve, refusing to look in his direction.

“...Alright.”

I let go slowly while I struggled to calm my beating heart. I walked on ahead, and he followed after me from behind. We made our way down the floors of the main building.

We exited the building and headed towards the hospital wards in the other Complex C. I wrapped my fingers around his wrist, pulling him closer to me.

A few more minutes passed by, and we stood outside of the room I woke up in. I placed my hand on the door handle, pushing it open as we both stepped inside. I let go of his wrist while he closed the open door.

I moved to the front of the window, standing in the moonlight while clasping my hands behind my back. I ignored the sharp pain stabbing away at my mind as I made eye contact with him.

“...Why did you bring me here?”

My lips curved into a wide smile; my cheeks burning up as I readied my mind once more. I looked at him with seductive eyes while emphasizing the parting of my lips.

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“The location doesn’t matter. I just wanted to talk with you.”

I sensed the confusion within him as the pain in my head intensified.

“Then what did you want to talk about?”

I unclasped my hands from behind my back, spreading them open wide as I looked at him with loving eyes.

“Come here.”

“I... Don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I wasn’t the slightest bit deterred by his response. My long eyelashes fluttered while I slowly brought my hands to my face.

“Then... Take. It. Off.”

I bit my lip in a seductive manner while mimicking the action of removing a mask. I winked at him, knowing that my feelings penetrated right through his facade. I couldn't help the corners of my mouth from rising as his back hit against the closed door.

“You thought of me all day, yet you don’t want me to see your face?... I’ll do it for you then.”

His body froze while I approached him. My hand stretched forward slowly as the gap between us shrunk.

“You shouldn’t.”

He lightly grasped my wrist, causing my eyes to widen as a surge of pain washed over me. I ignored it and nimbly broke free from his grip, interlocking his fingers with mine.

“...Don’t be afraid.”

I whispered lightly, unable to talk any louder due to the stabbing pain constantly assaulting my mind nonstop. I placed my hand over the mask and finally removed it.

My eyes lit up as tears pooled within them. I couldn’t stop my body from trembling while I gently put the mask in his other hand.

‘Brunaulf...’

I turned my head away, the pain multiplying to an absurd degree as I pulled him towards the centre of the moonlight. Tears rolled down my cheeks endlessly while I tightened my fingers around his.

“I missed you so much...”

I watched him bite his lip as I faced him directly.

“I missed you too, Denise... I never stopped thinking about you...”

My eyes focused solely on him. We gazed at each other intensely for what felt like an eternity as butterflies danced around my stomach.

‘Ngh...’

I abruptly turned my face away, slipping my fingers out of his hand. I took a seat on the elevated bed, unable to stop myself from crying.

I was approaching my limit.

Even if I didn’t see his face, this probably would have happened sooner or later. Once I remembered everything that happened that day, the end result was inevitable.

“D-Denise... What’s wrong?”

He sat down on a chair in front of the bed and reached for my trembling hand. Brunaulf stroked it lightly, but I couldn’t answer right away.

I bit my quivering lip as my shoulders shook. I didn’t want to say this, but... I couldn’t let him suffer anymore.

“Let’s break up.”

“What...?”

I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see the face he was making because of me. Right now, I was hurting him in order to liberate him from the bond we had developed.

“D-Denise... I-I'm sorry if I did anything wrong... No. I know it’s my fault I didn’t spend time with you. I know I didn’t act the right way. I can do better... I’ve changed. Please, don’t do this, Denise... I need you...”

‘You didn’t do anything wrong. Nothing is your fault. I watched you fight with everything you had... I watched you reach death’s door with your arms open wide refusing to let Storm take a single step past you.... I watched your blood splatter across the ground as he hit you again and again and again...’

“This... is for the best, Brunaulf.”

My whole body shook as those words left my mouth. My eyebrows curved inwards, hating the reality that was pushed onto us.

“Y-You don’t mean that...Right? L-Let's stay together... Please... Give me one more chance... I can do better...”

‘I don't mean it at all! I want to be together with you... You don’t need one more chance because you never did anything wrong...!’

I sobbed as I watched him stand up in a frenzy. He tried to convince me. He begged me desperately not to do this—not to leave him.

“...”

‘It hurts so much...’

I got to my feet and placed my hand on his chest as the moonlight shone more vibrantly than before. I moved it upwards slowly, resting it against his cheek.

“Silly... Don’t you know how much I love you?...”

The trembling of my body grew significantly worse than before as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“...You are my... everything...”

“!”

‘Never forget that.’

I tilted my head slightly while pressing my soft lips against his. My pupils dilated as I showed him my love. I squashed my breasts against his chest, pushing his head deeper into the kiss.

‘I love you so much...’

My shaky arm grabbed his and lightly placed it on my hips.

‘I'm yours.’

His instincts woke up, and his hands wrapped around my waist. He pulled me in closer as a soft moan escaped my mouth. My lips brushed against his cheek, kissing it gently. We looked into each other’s eyes briefly, finally bridging the gap between us.

We kissed passionately under the moonlight. The temperature in the room only heating up further when I pulled him over to the bed.

‘I love you...’

He got on top of me as my head fell against the pillow. I bit my lip; my heart pounding loudly while I observed his lean body. We made eye contact once more, and I flushed intensely.

‘I love you...’

I stretched out my hands, caressing his cheek and pulling him in close. We were about to kiss again when something sharp tore through my mental barrier, making me wince in pain.

“Denise...”

He placed his hand against my head lightly. My eyebrows curved inwards as I failed to stop my whole body from shivering violently. I smiled at him while trying to ignore the pain as best as I could—I didn’t want this moment to end.

“...Did you think... That wearing a mask and changing your voice would make me not recognize you?... Silly... Brunaulf...”

My breathing became erratic as I kissed his hand softly. I saw him bite his quivering lip, struggling to hold back the tears that peeked through the corners of his eyes.

“It’s my fault... I’m sorry, Denise...”

‘It's not your fault...’

I shook my head slowly. I could feel my strength slipping away. I had to tell him now; otherwise, I would never get another chance to.

“...Brunaulf... I’m moving to the outskirts... Of District 4... I won’t be... Getting involved with the Organization... anymore...”

My vision started to become blurry as tremors from the side of my head made me recoil in pain. I would no longer be a part of the Organization. I planned on secluding myself away from him... It was the only way he could be happy.

“...Don’t come and find me... Next time...”

‘I’m sorry...’

I knew he didn’t want to hear those words, just as I didn’t want to say them. If only things were different, we could have been together...

“D-Denise...”

I felt his hand tremble while the sadness in his eyes magnified. He was hurting again... How could I watch him go through this process repeatedly as he tried to be with me?... I couldn’t do that to him... I knew he would never stop unless I pushed him away...

“Margaret! Margaret!!”

Brunaulf yelled for Margaret, the nurses and even Holder, but no one came. I turned his face towards me and smiled brightly.

“For you... I could go through... This... Again and again... But... I refuse... To forget you...”

‘I don’t want you to suffer anymore...’

My voice grew weaker as blood started to trickle out of my nose.

“...Brunaulf... You... Deserve happiness too... In this life... I can’t be... The one... To give it... To you... But I... Will love you... Forever...”

The blood drained away from my face, and my eyes became unfocused. I mustered up what little strength I had left and gripped his hand tightly.

“Please... Don’t forget me... And please... Be happy... I love you, Brunaulf...”

‘I’m sorry I was a useless girlfriend... I’m sorry I couldn’t support you... I’m sorry I made you suffer so much...’

I gazed at his handsome face. This would be the last time I would see him. I wish... I could hear him say it...

“...I love you too, Denise...”

“!”

My eyes widened as the blood gushed out of my nose. My stiff lips spread into a wide smile as my eyes curved upwards.

“...You... Said it... Thank you... And Goodbye, Brunaulf...”

I could no longer fight off the heaviness of my eyelids as the light was firmly cut off. I plunged deep into the darkness while one final thought passed through my mind.

‘Don’t cry... Brunaulf... And... Please be happy...’