[17]

[darkenedred]

...I can only imagine this place makes a concerted effort to kill me on a daily basis now.

Yubel, I issue you this warning only. I don't care, frankly, if anyone else sees it.

Stay away from me. Don't talk to me anymore. Stop trying to understand me, to affect me, to change me. Your efforts are in vain, I can tell you this right now, and they may

Comments

[darkdemonrose]

That won't work.

You're so set on pushing everybody away--something only you believe is right. Who are you to say I cannot do what I want?

[darkenedred]

Because trying to prevent my pushing everyone away will accomplish nothing.

You will get hurt regardless of what I do.

[darkdemonrose]

Yes, it will. Once again you're here, and no matter what you say or do it's always better than losing you to your own darkness.

And I think we've already seen how little you can hurt me.

[darkenedred]

I am not lost. I am Haou, I am darkness.

What makes you think I meant physically?

[darkdemonrose]

You're also a boy. One boy, who doesn't even know completely who he is.

...

And how do you plan to do it any other way?

[darkenedred]

.........

I. Am. HAOU. I am very aware of who and what I am.

...I'm sure you can answer that question on your own. There is more than one way to hurt someone.

[darkdemonrose]

You're a boy frightened by his own power and are trying to push everything away because of it--as if it will change who you are or what you know.

...You're strong, but I am stronger. You cannot hurt me.

[darkenedred]

No. This is the only way.

Physically, perhaps that is so. However... what would happen if I were to disappear, for instance, like those residents who have vanished recently and are being mourned by the others? Or if I were to be gravely hurt for some reason, by my own fault or not?

What would you do then, I wonder?

[darkdemonrose]

No. It's not.

...You will not disappear.

[darkenedred]

It is for me.

I could. There's no apparent pattern to those disappearances. They simply happen at random, it seems.

What if I were to become one of them? What would you do then, Yubel?

[darkdemonrose]

...That has nothing to do with this.

If that were to happen, it would be fate that finally harmed me. Not you.

[darkenedred]

Fate? Do you honestly believe in fate, Yubel?

.............

...Why do you even go through all this trouble? What is the point? Why is it so difficult to just give up?

[darkdemonrose]

I believe that there is a reason we are both here--that we recognized each other and Johan, even without memories.

As you seem to cling to thoughts of running away from yourself, so I embrace what memories I do have.

[darkenedred]

...You claim you knew a younger version of me, and at the same time... you were human. Correct?

And I... I remember you as a spirit, one who did not hesitate to hurt those around me. I had you for a few years, I believe... but what happened after, I don't know quite yet.

Something does not match up. There was someone who speculated that the memories we receive are too well-timed, and that something -- or someone -- could be controlling what we remember, and when. Or perhaps even feeding us false memories, pure lies that they know we'll cling to, as we have nothing else.

Everyone here simply goes about their day as if they were enchanted, living dolls. There's no liveliness in anyone anymore; gradually, this place crushes their ambitions and saps any hopes of remembering and simply forces them to resign themselves to living here like zombiesAll I remember of you is from when I was young. And Johan... I don't really know or remember Johan at all. But I cannot and will not take back any of what I've said about not needing anyone, even

[darkdemonrose]

Three months. Three months we've been here and my desire for my memories has never lessened, save for the week where I was changed. I may be forced to content myself with this slow trickle, but I take what I can.

Even if these memories are controlled, or fake, I will not ignore them. They're the closest to the truth I have.