Chapter II - Ensnared

"Checkmate.”

“You’re too good…” Nelya pouts, dropping her king off the chess board. “I’m bored!”

“You’re bored because you’re not winning.” I sighed, getting up from the ground and cleaning my butt.

“Chess is too hard.”

It was almost time for dinner. We spent the whole day playing the usual, various games. I didn’t study one bit, but that was okay – the next day, Nelya would have gone to school and I could always have caught up.

Also, it was time for her to do her homework.

“Alright...I guess I should leave you alone now.” I stretched my body, looking at her sitting at the desk.

“Yup. But beware…” she turned around, smirking at me. “...I’m not going to be tamed for long. We’re playing hide and seek in the dark after I’m finished.”

“Okay, okay. See you.”

“You’re not...studying?” She asked, looking at me as I grabbed the doorknob.

“Yeah, I am.” I nodded. “I just need to ask William about something I found in the book I’m reading.”

“Oh, alright.” She shrugged.

I closed the door right behind me. The warmly lit, silent corridor welcomed me. I took a deep breath, leaning against the door.

I couldn’t ignore the matter forever. That witch was real, and that night I would have had to talk to her again.

Despite my sheer shock, I could recall quite well what she wanted from me. She wanted me to kill my own family.

I had to do something. I couldn’t let her command me as she pleased.

Despite everything, I will always obey you, huh?

I recalled her last words, right before she disappeared. I didn’t want to stand by them. She was nothing to me.

Despite my nature as her puppet, I wasn’t tied to her in any way.

I had a life, I had a family, I had feelings. All those things...I had to protect them. Somehow, I had to fight back.

I wasn’t going to stand still, to let her do as she pleased.

And so, I ran towards William’s bedroom. He probably was outside doing his usual training.

Since I couldn’t tell him what was going on, I decided to write him a letter about it and leave it on his bed. So that the witch’s spell wouldn’t work.

His room looked and smelled like it was untouched, he didn’t spend much time in it – either he was on duty or around town to help Satomi running her errands and Rosie.

I quickly opened his drawer, finding a notebook he used to schedule stuff when he helped Rosie at the local shop. I grabbed the last page and tore it, placing the pencil right over it on the desk.

Several seconds passed. Then several minutes.

My fingers wouldn’t move. They trembled as sweat droplets fell down from my nose, ending on the paper sheet.

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t write the truth down. That witch was smart...she had thought of everything.

“Ngh…!” In a fit of rage, I crumpled the sheet and threw it out of the open window, slamming the drawer shut after putting everything back. My breath became ragged, my heart beating faster.

What do I do now?! How can I tell everyone about her?!

I stormed out of the room, and then I saw Vance. He smiled at me as he held some painting tools under his arm.

“Hey. You searching for Will?”

“Yes, yes. Where is he?” I replied. I obviously couldn’t tell him I wasn’t, because I came right out of his room.

I must have had something on my face, because he clearly was alarmed as soon as I replied. He tilted his head and furrowed his brows.

“He’s in the backyard, as always. But...are you okay?”

“Yes, I am.” I replied quickly. I walked right past him with an unnatural pace, looking straight ahead.

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I crouched behind a bush in silence as Nelya searched for me. Hugging my own knees, I stared into the void.

I felt hopeless. I couldn’t openly tell anyone in any way, and that was like having a huge weight crashing my whole body.

It was ten, darkness shrouded our home. Nelya loved playing hide and seek in the dark, but when I was younger I used to be scared of darkness. Through the years, I started to fear it less and less, until she finally convinced me to enjoy this harder version of hide and seek.

But at that moment darkness was terrifying once more.

It symbolized her, a dark witch hiding inside the walls of that abode.

Nobody knew about her, and those who knew had to keep their mouths shut.

How long had we lived with her? How long did those red, spiteful eyes stare at our human figures as we went about our days?

Was I ever alone inside my own home?

My guts wrenched at the thought. Nausea kicked in – I swallowed hard and felt my own skin crawl. At that exact moment, I realized how terrifying and brutal my situation was. I had never felt such a great amount of discomfort until then.

Was I going to feel like this for a long time? Maybe my whole life?

My eyes stung, and nausea grew stronger. I rose from my sitting position and I kneeled, ready to throw up like I did in the morning.

“Aha! Found you!”

But then Nelya giggled, hugging me from behind. I swallowed hard and put up a smile, chuckling.

“Y-You took so long!” I told her, rising from my hiding spot.

“Well, yeah! I thought you were at the front.” She huffed. “Okay, start counting. I’ll get my reven-”

“N-Nelya...can we stop playing?” I cut her off, grabbing her shoulder. “I don’t feel well.”

“Oh, what?” She looked disappointed and concerned. “What do you mean?”

“I have a tummy ache.” I mumble, rubbing my stomach. “Can I go lie down in our room?”

“Well, sure! I’ll tell Satomi you don’t feel well, okay? She-”

“There’s no need.” I shook my head, heading towards the back entrance. “Just...I just need some rest.”

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I flushed the vomit down the toilet. My whole body trembling as I envisioned the witch’s face. Nelya was right outside the bathroom, I turned on the faucet to avoid her hearing me throw up.

I leaned against the sink, taking deep breaths.

“Ah, finally!” Nelya sighed and stormed inside the bathroom right after I opened the door, closing it shut.

I looked out of the window. The darkness outside pushed against the glass, begging to pour itself inside our room.

Stolen novel; please report.

I will not go. I will not go talk to her.

“Alright. I’m all set.” Nelya hummed happily, stretching her body. “Bedtime.”

“Yes.” I replied, lying on my side of the bed, tucking my body inside the covers.

“Oh? No study?”

Usually, when Nelya had to go to sleep early for school, I would stay up and study at the desk with a candle.

“Yeah, I am a bit sleepy.”

“Hey...since when you became such a drowsy girl?” She turned off the lights and jumped right into bed, whispering at my hear as she hugged my arm. “Sleeping in, going to bed early. Are you finally giving in and stopping being a smarty?”

“It’s just the tummy ache.” I groaned, shaking my head. “Why do you have to point out whenever I do something unusual?”

She giggled and hugged my arm tighter. “Not that I mind. I can fall asleep with you here. I love it.”

“Hm.”

“Can I sing the-”

“No...please, it’s embarrassing.”

“Come on! I never do it. It’s a special occasion.”

“What special occasion?”

“You have a bad, bad tummy ache...and you’re sleepy! Mommy Nelya must bring you to the land of sleep.” She cooed.

“Nelya…”

“Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with cherry on top?”

“Okay, fine!”

“Yay!”

She spooned my body, putting her hand over my tummy and rubbing it slowly.

Her voice started flowing inside my ear, beautiful notes of a beautiful song.

♩♩♩♩

Sleep, sleep and sleep. Sleep in the sea of the flower.

And when you wake up, you will have me by your side, you will not cower.

You will have no pain, no fears.

Just sleep in the flowery sea, and you will shed no tears.

♩♩♩♩

"Come to me."

A shock woke me up, my eyes opening wide. I was drenched in sweat and my breath was ragged. Nelya was sound asleep beside me.

It was when I saw the clock on our wall that I realized what was going on.

“Ngh...no...no…!” I whispered to myself.

Suddenly, my whole body started moving on its own, my limbs moved weirdly towards the door as I fought back my own movements.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to call for Nelya, I wanted to be saved from that nightmare.

Alas, my body moved, moved and moved...I moved like a stupid, unconscious puppet, my strings pulled my someone else’s will.

Tears ran down my face as my bare, cold feet stomped on the red carpet of the corridor, that cursed balcony getting closer and closer.

And then, inevitably...

image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bxivg2njomaq6xtz6wbqg/_furudo-erika-artist_missile228-depth-of-field-best-quality-illustration-am-s-1003655690.png?rlkey=vxjj48lgep4fq388vun07g0jq&raw=1]

“My, why such a scared face?” She chuckled. “Please, sit down.”

I swallowed hard, my legs started trembling as I looked at her. She sat at the same chair of the same table. Her foot dangling up and down as she crossed her legs. Her dark, beautiful dress bathed by the moonlight.

There were two glasses that time, a big bottle of red wine opened standing between the two.

I shook my head slowly, but I gave in thereafter sitting down by myself. I didn’t want to feel my body moving by itself again, I felt way too uncomfortable.

“What a good girl. I see that you grew very obedient since last night.” She giggled, pouring wine inside both glasses. “If we could only stop that trembling...you’d be the perfect, little puppet.”

I stared at the glass of wine, clenching my trembling hands.

“Stop. Trembling.”

I felt a shock running through my whole body in an instant. My muscles paralyzing...unable to tremble freely.

It was at that point that I lost all my hope.

She really had full control of me, and I could have never fought her.

“Ah, better.” She nodded solemnly. “Why don’t you sip some wine, to relax a little more? Then we can start having our chat.”

“I...I don’t think I can drink alcohol.” I shook my head again, spewing my first words.

“But of course you can.” She nodded. “I made you, I know everything of your body. Go! Drink away.”

I knew that if I refused, she would have forced me to drink it anyway. I was at her mercy. I delicately gripped the frail shaft of the glass, bringing it to my lips. After a sip, I realized how sweet and enjoyable the beverage actually was – she was right, my heart started slowing down. I took a second, deeper sip and put the glass down, looking straight in her eyes.

“Good girl.” She joyfully praised me, drinking some herself. “Now, Lillya. I wanted to clear some things up.” She started, putting the glass down and glaring at me. “I noticed what you did yesterday night. Instead of going to your room like I ordered, you ran inside William Rondart’s room and cried in front of him. And this evening, you tried to write a letter for him.”

I hung my head, drinking more wine. It tasted even sweeter, I needed more.

“At that point, I trust that you noticed your inability to convey your feelings to him.”

I nodded after another sip.

“And that is because I forbid you to tell anyone about me or about what’s going on. Your programming stops you from doing or saying anything that might cause them to discover about me.”

I finished the whole glass in another gulp, slamming it on the table and standing up. At that point, I couldn’t resist anymore. Every trace of fear I had transformed into frustration and anger.

“You...wretched witch!” I shouted, standing up. “What do you want from me!? Why are you doing this to me?!” My whole body trembled again, my eyes started to swell up.

“I would advise you to choose both your words and manners.” She said. “Do you know what you just drank, my dear? I see that you enjoyed it very much.”

“Huh?” I looked down, the empty glass shone under the light of the clear moon.

She was right - without even realizing, I started gulping down the whole thing without a worry in the world.

“Did you poison me?” I asked her, looking up at her again.

“Are you perhaps stupid? Why would I kill my dear puppet?” She chuckled. “No. But now, inside your body, there is something that will make you even more obedient.”

“What...what do you mean?”

She then snapped her fingers.

It started from my feet. I collapsed on the ground right after a sharp pain generated from my toes. It immediately went up my legs, spreading across my whole pelvis. Then, after a quick jolt, it went up my chest, my shoulders, my throat...and then my head.

After mere seconds, my whole body suffered a constant, burning pain. It attacked every fiber of my being. I felt as if my blood was boiling, my brain frying and my muscles burning.

My trembling hands clutched the floor of the balcony, desperately dragging my body in a random direction. My throat was closed shut, yet I could still breathe...although my voice was muted.

My mind started to get hazy, but just before I could pass out...something awoke me instantly. I couldn’t faint, I couldn’t die, I couldn’t stop the pain that was violating every inch of my body.

And then, everything abruptly stopped.

I coughed and shook on the floor, tears streaming down my face. I looked up…

"Kyahahahah!"

She was cackling delightfully, staring at my squirming figure. “This is a little gift I had to give you. Since your bad behavior had to be corrected.”

I immediately knew it was the wine. I put two fingers inside my throat and gagged. After another attempt I coughed loudly, throwing up on the floor. It was a dark, reddish liquid. I successfully threw up her stupid poison...that I thought.

I shakily stood back up, cleaning the corner of my mouth.

“I am...I am going to-”

She snapped her fingers again. My whole body jerked. The pain started again. I almost fell on my own vomit, trembling again. Luckily, that time lasted only a couple of seconds.

“I really suggest that you sit back on that chair and shut your mouth, you impertinent, disobedient puppet!” She shouted, slamming her hand on the table.

I whimpered silently, my chest compressed by strong feelings of sorrow and fear. I sniffled and mewled as I sat back on the chair, my eyes fixed at the center of the table, staring at the void.

“As I was saying. If you do decide to act against me...trying to circumvent your programming, this pain will start…”

She leaned forward, lifting my head with two fingers under my chin. She smiled again, her red eyes piercing mine.

“...and the next time, it will not stop.”

I cried quietly as she held my face in an almost motherly way.

“If you will appear distressed, sad or will show any type of emotion that could stir up some trouble...such as your family worrying about you and your mental health...I will punish you.”

“Ah...I...I can’t-”

“Yes. You can.” She gripped hard my chin with her two fingers. “You are a puppet. Not a human. You can mimic any emotion you want. Disobey my order, and I will punish you. Do you understand? Answer me.”

I immediately nodded.

My mind was a mess. I was basically forced to stay awake and lucid. If it wasn’t for her, in fact, I would have fainted out of fear way earlier.

“Good. We can move onto the next topic. Your mission here.” She sat back again, changing her crossed leg. “You are going to kill every single person that lives here.”

I kept crying silently, but she didn’t seem to care. At that point, as long as I could hear her words, she was satisfied.

“Since I want to win this game neatly and without fail, we are going to approach a silent, slow and steady method. You will kill each person following my instructions, thoroughly. If you get caught, hint at the danger and make any of your family members leave this place, I will withdraw your soul and put you in that suffering you just experienced for eternity. If you try to kill yourself, I will do the same. If you don’t follow my instructions or take too long to carry them out, I will do the same.”

She explained it to me as if I was going to plant some flowers in her garden. Her calm voice was instructing me on how to kill my own family.

“Now. There is one person you should be careful of, and you shall kill her only when I say so. Erika. She has a sharp mind...as you might have noticed. She can sense me, and she is sensing me right now.”

I widened my eyes.

Then...maybe she’s coming here! If she sees us, it wouldn’t be my fault, right? The witch wouldn’t blame me, right?

I wanted to buy some time, so I started asking a couple of questions.

“W-Why do you want to kill my family…?” I asked.

“You sly scoundrel.” She chuckled. “You’re not going to keep me here and let Erika see us.”

A shiver of sheer fear traversed my body.

“That wouldn’t do anyway, she cannot see me. She would see you here, all alone. A puddle of puke on the ground. So the quicker we are, the less time you stay here...hence, the chances of your body going through that pain again getting slimmer.”

I gave up.