Elena snapped his whip on my face. My body has now become fatigued and bruises covered all over my body. My right shoulder has turned dark violet in which my cut-offed arm never returned.

I stopped screaming long before. I was afraid that if I scream again, it will only satisfy the witch. I had learned myself to stop crying just until now when he brought her.

"My dear Yakiro. It seems like you've gone hard. I couldn't make you scream, but maybe there's another way?"

I lifted my gaze upon her as my head hung low. Her mask covered in my blood became the image of my fear. Each time I see it, my chest aches.

I hear growling and steps echoing through the chamber. It's approaching me towards us. The screams of the other people could still be heard but I learned to ignore it.

My gaze moved to Elena's right side and there I saw.

The woman I promised to protect and the pet I took care of, looking at me plainly.

".... A... yumi... chan... Ko... Kone... Ko..."

I stuttered, my voice was weak and dry. It was painful to speak.

"Are you still hanging on the hope that this girl will save you?"

Elena squeezed her face by her cheeks. She made sure I was able to see her face.

"I made her gain your trust so that I could just make her destroy you."

Lies...

"Did you think Ayumi cared for you?"

She did...

"She didn't. I ordered her to do that. In order to weaken you so that we can gain your trust."

Stop lying... Please...

My heart began to ache, my head hung low, I tried to speak.

"Please... no more..."

"Do you wanna know who slaughtered the village right next to the town?"

Elena relinquished her grip on Ayumi's face. She came close to me as her breath pa.s.ses by my ear. It felt terrifying.

"Wanna know a secret?" She whispered.

"The person who slaughtered the village?"

No...

"The person who framed you?

Please...

" It was Ayumi."

"No! Stop! NO! AHHHHHHHHHH!"

I struggled as I panic in her words. It was painful and was crus.h.i.+ng my very hope. I don't want to hear this lies. It burns my soul.

She bursts out in laughter as if my screams were a pleasure for her ears. She held her stomach and leaned back as she laughed even louder. She's a psychopath!

I was trembling nonstop and my tears were falling as my soul started to shatter. Maybe it was pointless to hold onto hope.

Ayumi and Koneko were silently staring at me. Koneko was on her Fox Queen form, looking at me.

"Let's go Ayumi, Koneko. Leave this man to rot."

Elena left but Ayumi stayed standing. She was just there standing, staring at me. I looked at her and her eyes were full of horror. Like she just saw her greatest nightmare.

Her skin began to burn, Koneko suddenly reverted back to her cat form and jumped on Ayumi's shoulder. Like she always did to me.

"Ayumi! Come!"

Elena screamed on the other side, yelling at her. Ayumi, with terror twisted in her eyes, stayed as she stares at me.

"You'll only suffer if you don't follow my command! Come, slave!" Elena screamed.

Ayumi took a step backward as she turned her self and began to walk. The burns on her skin began disappearing.

Yes. Leave me. I'm peaceful when I'm alone. There's nothing to fear. There's nothing to be afraid of. I will cower my self.

Suddenly my chains broke releasing me on the ground. As soon as my feet touched the floor, I crumbled on my back. I've lost strength to stand. I was thin and all that is left of me were my skin and bones. I struggled to stand up.

A hand grabbed my left hand as he puts it around his shoulder. He lifted me and I began screaming. I was afraid.

"Shhhh! Be quiet!"

I didn't listen and started to panic. His grip slipped off and I fell on the ground. I started crawling away from him. I'm afraid, I'm terrified.

"No! Don't come near me! Don't hurt me!"

I'm pathetic. Fear was the only thing that contained in my chest.

He grabbed me again and I bit him. He didn't struggle and continued to lift me. I tried punching him a couple of times and even scratched his face. He did nothing.

"I'm here to help you."

He said but I don't trust him. I don't trust anyone anymore.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"Look at me... And tell me if I can't be trusted."

He looks old. His face was full of wrinkles and his hair were white. His beard was of a suave yet her lips were full of sadness. His eyes were old yet strong. I look at him and he smiled calmly at me, with scratches on his face that I inflicted.

"Old... man..."

The next thing I knew was that I had awoken in a different place. Bandages were wrapped in every part of my body and beside me was medicines, tea, and incense. The aroma smelled nice and filled the room. The bed was a futon, soft and comfortable, and the whole place was made in woods. On the floor, there was a carpet made of a wolf. I rose from the bed and cradled my head.

"Ah!"

It was a painful headache.

"You should get some rest."

"Ah! D... don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!" I repeated my words and hid behind the blanket, s.h.i.+vering in fear.

He walked towards me with steps that creaked the wooden floor. I held my knees towards my chest and cowered in fear.

But he only poured tea.

He touched my back and shock ran to my spine. I was terrified.

"You've turned into a coward, Yakiro."

"But I can't blame you. This country, no this nation is to blame."

He placed the tea by the side of my bed.

"Make sure you don't spill it. I'll go prepare some food."

He left. I took a peek, the room was empty and the tea was the only thing left together with me. I felt my stomach grumbling yet I refuse to consume.

He returned and I hid back again in my blanket, s.h.i.+vering.

"I brought some... You didn't drink it."

He walked towards me and pulled my blanket away. I covered my head and curled my knees towards my chest.

"Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!"

"Cough... cough... Please don't..."

"Sigh... I won't hurt you. Look at you! Drink it up! It's medicine!"

"No! It's poison!"

I'm afraid... I'm afraid...

I glanced upon him and I saw him reaching his hand to me. My fear rose up and I couldn't take it anymore. I panicked as I smacked his hand away and ran outside.

"H-hey! Come back!"

I came back and gra.s.s extended the horizon. The house was built on a nearby cliff and forest surrounded as at the bottom. I looked side to side and ran to my left, only to stop when my feet almost fell by the cliff.

This world is cruel. This world is twisted! I can't take it anymore! I can't take it anymore!

I jumped off.

*CURSE: REPENT*

+The user is unable to suicide.

*Curse Rule*

+Each time the curse rules are broken, time will revert back in three seconds.

Reverting time in...

3..

2...

1...

My head rang a static noise, capable of making my ears bleed. My vision was covered with exclamation marks and information. My vision started to blink red just like in shooting games when you get hurt.

I was suffering. Even by my own hands.

Jump!

Reverting back!

Stop it! Jump!

Reverting back!

No! Let me end this!

Reverting back!

I ended up lying on my back with my hand covering my eyes. My right shoulder that had lost its arm was stinging in pain, the same as my vision and hearing. I found my self pathetically crying.

I'm worthless.

I heard someone walk towards me.

"What are you doing?"

"I tried to commit suicide..."

"Then why didn't you jump?"

"I did... Ninety-nine times I did..."

"Let's get back."

He lifted me on his back, I was too powerless to resist and my strength had already lost.

He laid me back on the bed and served me tea.

"Please don't..."

"Shut kid. I wouldn't do this if those girls didn't ask me to. Drink this before I yell at you."

"N..."

"DRINK THIS YOU LITTLE f.u.c.kER!"

He slammed his hand on the floor. I got surprised and I ended up drinking it. If it's poison, then it will finally rest me. But it wasn't. It was tasteful and warm as it slid down my throat.

"Why are you crying?"

"It's delicious..."

I remember who this guy is. He was the one who ran the blacksmith shop. Remembering the blacksmith shop, the image of the other blacksmith popped in my head and I ended up screaming.

The old man calmed me down and made me sleep.

I had my eyes closed and felt his hand caressing my hair.

I heard him say...

"Look at what they had done to you... I hope you'll get better soon..."

His voice was innocent.