Xian Xi

Everyone around me is affected by whatever has been passed around. Black fluid spills out of their broken skins.

"If you plan to die, untie me then. I don't intend to share the same fate".

I glance at her over my shoulder.

"What makes you think I'd take you with me?"

She scoffs.

"I won't even want to go with you. You seem intent on dying - if not here, along the way".

"So be it. But you are staying here".

The sound of snapping bones sends a chill down my spine.

"At this rate, you won't make it. You need me. I can fly you across the sea."

I meet her gaze. There is no trace of sincerity in her features.

"How do I know you won't dump me in the water?"

"You don't. You just have to trust me, don't you?" She says, flashing a wicked grin.

The more time I waste talking to her, the harder it would be to get away.

With a final glance at her, I start sprinting away, as fast as I can.

I dash along the path, leaving a trail of dust behind. Wind gushes over my face, tossing strands of my hair into my face.

I look back once, then again.

She's still standing where I left her.

Why had I bothered to save her in the first place?

My thoughts race. The reason is clear - Arya thought she could be redeemed. I had been trying to uphold her beliefs. But maybe, Arya was wrong. Arigana may still be alive within her, but its only Dove that lives now.

And Dove is nothing but trouble.

I run down the hill, pulling in deep breaths with every step. I listen for vibrations - for any sign of a battalion of demons coming behind me.

I hear none. Nothing. The silence is so heavy it's mocking.

Then, I halt, summoning a whole fog of dust as my feet drag along the ground.

When I look back, all I can see is the slope of the hill. There's no sign of her.

She's probably dead.

The ground begins to shake beneath me. All I can see is layers of dust.

Staggering, I turn on my heels and start running.

Dove was right - at this rate, I'm as good as dead.

No weapon, nothing. This is not the way I hoped I'd die - torn limb from limb and left to rot on an Island in the middle of nowhere.

I can make out the path before me perfectly.

A loud roar cuts through the echo of thundering hooves.

I catch a glimpse of broad wings and red eyes.

Dove? She's still alive.

She flies above me, laying low enough for me to see her.

I keep running, even though I know it's a wasted effort.

She roars again, turning back.

I watch her from the side of my eyes. She's coming back?

She circles above me.

I gulp. The idea of her saving me doesn't even cross my mind.

But, she descends lower, pulling me off the ground with her claws.

With another roar, she flaps her wings, moving higher with each calculated beat.

I look down, the monsters are very close now.

One of them lurches forward, claws outstretched. My eyes widen in shock as the huge beast comes into level with me.

Dove swings to the side, but not quick enough.

The monster slashes at me, sinking its claws through the flesh of my right thigh.

She ascends even higher, until we are almost at cloud-level.

I watch the beast fall into the sea of other beasts, growling and flailing.

I can feel blood dripping down the length of my thigh. I suddenly become light-headed, unable to focus on a single thought.

Chilly wind washes over my face like a lingering caress.

My eyelids start drooping without me realizing it. I'm losing too much blood.

The sound of the monster's growl keeps ringing in my ears.

Fighting to remain conscious, I bite my lower lip until it bleeds. But, it's all to no avail as the darkness closes in, pulling me deeper into its sanctuary.

I can't trust my fate in the hands of a Demon, but I have no choice.

---

My eyes slowly drift open. I had dreamt that I was with Yumi - that she had never died.

Then, it all comes back to me - the monsters who had been people, Dove saving me, the monster attacking me. I take a sharp breath as the vivid reminder sinks in.

I'm still alive.

I rise to a sitting position, glancing around inquisitively.

It's dark - I'm still in the Demon Realm. All around me is weathered rock - a cave.

I lean forward, lifting the torn leather on my thighs to peer at the damage.

I still feel pain, but it's nowhere as excruciating as before.

To my utmost surprise, smooth skin stares back at me.

"Welcome back. I was really hoping you'd die". Comes a familiar voice at the entrance.

She walks in, an annoying smirk on her face.

She slides down the wall until she is seated beside me.

I shift slightly.

"Why did you save me?" I ask.

Her grin widens.

"When you left me to die? I don't know".

Her response earns a glance from me.

"You don't know? I doubt that. There must be a hidden motive behind it".

She laughs, a shrill and gut-twisting sound. I inch away from her.

"Maybe, I do. I'd hardly save cowards like you even if my life depended on it".

The remark stings, but I do my best to remain unfazed.

"Then, let's hear it. You have a habit of volunteering information without being asked".

"I do? When?" She asks, arching a brow.

"You kept rambling about my inability to save everybody even when your opinion was clearly unwanted".

"You needed some motivation". She says.

"Motivation? You urged me on! Those people died! It wasn't part of the game, it was real".

She looks at me, unmoved.

"Are you trying to blame me?"

"What does it sound like?"

She laughs again.

"I wasn't wrong. I thought I was, actually. My aim was only to provoke you, not to rouse some heroic and selfless act. You're a coward - you can't take responsibility for your shortcomings, preferring to shift the blame. I saved your life, but you don't see that".

I rise to my feet, needing distance from her and her provoking words.

"You're right. I'm a coward. You could've just let me run. All those people would still be alive."

"And then what? What would happen next?"

"They wouldn't be dead!" I yell through gritted teeth.

She rises to her feet as well, inching closer. Her red eyes are glinting dangerously, instantly reminding me of Fang.

"Either way, they would've died. They weren't alive while they were playing the game. They were... living corpses until now".

"What difference does it make?" I ask, steaming.

I clench my fists at my sides in an attempt to stop myself from grabbing her and shaking her.

"Because they trusted you to lead them? Is that why your disposition suddenly changed?" She asks, poking deep with her words.

It's as if she can see through me.

"Yes!" I yell at her, deciding to admit the truth.

She wouldn't give up either way, she'd only keep prodding until she hears whatever she wants to hear.

"Did it feel good, or was it a burden?"

The question hangs in the air between us.

As I think on it, I realize it actually felt good at a point. But I had been burdened by the uncertainty of our mission.

They had trusted me to lead them, and I had gone back to save the very cause of our problems - a demon.

I don't reply. She searches my face with a smug expression.

"What did you get out of being a hero?"

I look at her, a puzzled expression on my face.

Why all the questions?

"I think we both know the answer - nothing. You thought that it may be your chance to finally become someone, that's why you gave in. So you see, you didn't change, you just evolved the situation to suit yourself. You're still the same selfish man who had wanted to escape alone. Don't you dare toss the blame on me".

I take a step back. She doesn't follow, but her gaze does.

"There is no distinction between you and me. The only difference is that my kind is not blinded by useless values - values that are not even upheld."

"That's where you're wrong, Dove. Demons are diabolical creatures. The distinction between the two species is so clear that it can't be mistaken".

She scoffs. "Won't you kill to gain power for yourself?"

"No, I won't".

"You won't know until you find yourself in such position. And the answer might just surprise you".

I scoff, folding my hands across my chest.

"Stop trying to find similarities that don't exist".

"Says the man walking around with demon blood in his veins".

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