Airalin

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

I couldn't resist the urge to slowly approach the giggling noise in the corner of the basement, expecting to find Jaime. In this world of silence, it only made sense for me to be able to hear one of my ghostly companions. So I was surprised - a little bit scared, even - when I saw a girl sitting on the floor, head buried between her knees.

Why could I hear her? This was unprecedented - I crept closer, hoping to glean some information from the encounter. "Hello?" I asked, curious to see whether I could be heard, maybe even seen, myself. If so, was it possible that this girl was Vivian?

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

I wandered around my home, reduced to a mere phantom. The cook, Amanda, Erica - none of them could see me. Though the cook worked, the kitchen was missing all of its characteristic sounds, from the clanging of pots and pans to the alarm that went off when the oven's timer had expired. I was completely helpless, and the only way out was to get Vivian to store the necklace away - Vivian, who had once been terrified by it, who was probably even more afraid after what it had done to her. Could she do it? Did I have the heart to even ask it of her?

I kept my distance from the room my body was stored in. When I drew too near, the pain quickly overwhelmed me. Perhaps I would be like this for the rest of my life. The thought entailed a strange combination of emotions - there was sorrow, yes, and overwhelming loneliness, but also a touch of relief. At least here I would have the peace and quiet I had always wanted, the comfort of knowing nothing would hurt me. Surely it would be content to take my body - perhaps it would even get me killed, and finish the job I had started. Whatever I had seen in that necklace had appeared demonic, which only made sense, I supposed. Demons were the sort of creatures who thrived on suffering.

Eventually, my aimless searching brought me to an obscure study. Trying to read was pointless - my vision was too blurred, and I wouldn't even be able to move the books - but I was alone, and would likely remain that way here. So I stayed, mulling over my tragic past, the things that had brought me here. It seemed there would be no healing for me, but at least there was a certain comfort in solitude.

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

I see. o.o But Eva can still hear when the demon lets her, right? I don't know what my character is and isn't allowed to do now. o.o

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

...Don't be too mean. I'm not especially open to poor Eva being disfigured in any way. o.o

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

Playing the character. She's taken a bit too much by now and is completely losing her will to live.

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

Amanda had claimed to be a believer in me. That was one of the most foolish things she could have said. I should never have let Vivian touch that necklace. I had known what a bad idea it was from the moment she requested it. My ability to empathize with her hatred for her family had cost her her health.

Once I cleared off my health, I crept over to Vivian's room and found her sleeping pills. The more time I spent awake, the more I would be subjected to worry and guilt. Vivian would surely be able to acquire more pills at the hospital, so it would be fine if I took these. I needed them. In fact...

If you took too many of these, you died, right?

I returned to my room, bottle in hand and tears rolling down my cheeks. If the necklace wouldn't kill me, I'd have to do it myself. A quiet death in my bed - it was the best I could hope for.

Sobbing, I downed half the bottle.

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

...Emily? Did you mean Erica?

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

I sat up and took a cautious bite of mashed potatoes, my eyes scarcely leaving Erica for a moment. Obviously, she hadn't died with the others - like Amanda said, she wasn't really family. With Vivian gone... no. I couldn't bear to think of her, how battered she had been, all the surgery she would have to go through. Just remembering made me feel sick; I took a long pause before taking the next bite, worried that if I ate too soon I would vomit.

Desperate to distract myself from the thought, I met Erica's eyes, holding her gaze for only a moment before looking away. "Sorry about earlier," I said, "I... things have been really rough around here lately. You're welcome to stay, but... but it might not be safe." I had no intention of telling her about the necklace, of course. The last thing I need was for one more person to think I was crazy. Besides, the house's track record was bad enough to warrant fear in its own right. I was surprised I hadn't been arrested yet. If I was truly the only surviving member of my family, I had to look incredibly suspicious.

Not feeling particularly eloquent, I muttered, "Lots of people have died here recently, so I wouldn't blame you if you left."

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

When I woke up, I found myself unharmed. But Vivian...

Vivian...

I couldn't look at her. I should have never allowed her to touch my necklace. And why was I still alive? I had ordered it to kill me!

"I'll go get help," I said faintly, "Don't tell them what happened, okay? We can say we were attacked, like everyone else in the family..."

Without awaiting a response, I dashed through the door and shut it behind me. "Someone - help!" I yelled, looking for the nearest guard. "Help! Vivian has been badly hurt!"

I directed the first guard I encountered back to grandmother's room, tears clouding my vision. If no one else had died after everything she had been through...

I told you to kill me! Do it! I cried mentally, pleading with the necklace. Surely it could at least grant me the solace of death! I could take any more of this... all this death...

The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

Ugh, this story is actually depressing me. x.x