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My love, I never envisioned our story to culminate in such a way. Your blood stains my clothes and saturates the earth beneath us. Nothing in this world can instill fear in me anymore, for I have witnessed so much death that no fate can intimidate me.
As I stand here drenched in the relentless downpour, the tremors coursing through my hands are a mere physical manifestation of the storm raging within me. My heart is pounding with a ferocity that threatens to break free of my chest. For, just moments ago, I committed the unthinkable - I ended the life of the one I once cherished with all my heart. A love that was once pure and unadulterated had decayed over time, morphing into a toxic blend of bitterness and resentment, until it became an unbearable burden that I could no longer carry. And yet, in my moment of desperation, I made a choice that I now deeply regret. The consequences of my actions, I know, will be dire.
The rain washes away my tears as I try to come to terms with what I have done. Now I must live with the guilt of my actions for the rest of my life. But, despite my guilt, I know that I have done the right thing.
My mind is reeling, and I find myself in a state of utter disbelief. Could it be that I have finally managed to free myself from the clutches of my tormentor? Yes, it is true. I have taken the life of Bondrewd - the very same individual who had kept me captive, subjecting me to unspeakable horrors that have left me scarred for life. The weight of his tyranny had been crushing me for far too long, and I had reached a breaking point. But now, as I stand here, my hands still trembling with the force of the act I have just committed, I realize that my situation is far from ideal. The repercussions of my actions are sure to be grave, and I cannot help but wonder if it was worth it.
The thick fog engulfs me, its near-solid presence making it difficult for me to make out my surroundings. I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me, my brain seemingly swathed in a cottony blanket. I can't help but feel like I'm being watched, my mind conjuring up all sorts of dark possibilities that may be lurking just beyond my sight. The chill of the cold wind sends a shiver down my spine, my gaze darting around as I try desperately to see if anything or anyone is in the distance. Despite my efforts, I'm met with nothing but the fog, its heavy presence making me feel increasingly isolated and uneasy.
Waves of memories drown me as I remember the promises, he made to me. I remember when he said to me, “Come with me. I have so much I want to show you. Let me take you to an unprecedented realm, a realm of the unknown. Come, enter this new world with me. I promise you won't regret it… Let me take you down to the deepest reaches of existence, the 5th layer of the Abyss…”
He wrapped me in promises, and soon I was blinded.
That was the moment, the moment that ruined my life, the moment I realized that even the darkness carried a shadow.
Initially, he showered me with an overwhelming amount of affection and admiration, which made me feel elated and cherished. However, I couldn't help but notice the gradual shift in his behavior, which became more manipulative and controlling as time went by. It was as if he had some sort of ulterior motive for showering me with love, and that was to never let me go.
As the days passed, I found myself getting more and more entangled in his web of love, despite the warning signs that were becoming increasingly evident. He would often talk about the Abyss and how dangerous it was, but assured me that all the answers I sought could be found in Ido Front. I was gullible enough to believe him, even though a part of me knew that something was amiss.
Soon, I found myself struggling to maintain my sanity in Ido Front, as the environment was highly oppressive and claustrophobic. My desire to do something about it outweighed my fear of Bondrewd, and I knew that I had to take action before it was too late.
Now, as I stare at his lifeless body lying in front of me, I realize that I will never again have the privilege of listening to him talk about his latest discoveries or spend long hours with him in the lab, discussing new inventions.
Memories of our happy times together come back, of the days when I felt like the happiest person in the world. The past devours me, while I mourn the future, slowly dying in my mind in the ever-present.
Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture.
The rain continues to fall, and I begin to feel a sense of peace. Though I have done a terrible thing, I found solace in the fact that I have taken a stand for myself.
With a focus on a new beginning, I'm taking steps forward. I look one last time at the body in front of me, which is now almost completely soaked by the rain. While watching Bondrewd, I have a tightness in my chest and a heaviness in my limbs. It feels like needles are poking into my throat. My tears are barely distinguishable from the rain running down my cheeks.
As I turn around, I am faced with the daunting prospect of walking into an unknown future, with no clear direction or sense of purpose. It's a feeling of being lost in a vast and unfamiliar landscape, with no clear markers to guide my way. Despite my uncertainty, I know that there is no other option but to keep moving forward.
Suddenly, a clatter breaks the silence, and I turn around to investigate the source of the noise. To my horror, I see an Umbra Hand approaching Bondrewd's lifeless body, picking up his helmet. At that moment, my mind is flooded with a thousand thoughts, ranging from fear to confusion and disbelief.
Before I can even process what is happening, the Umbra Hand takes Bondrewd's helmet, triggering a sudden and dramatic transformation in his body. My legs feel heavy, as if they are rooted to the ground, and a scream gets caught in my throat. It's a moment of sheer terror and unbelievingness, as I watch the unthinkable unfold before my very eyes.
Finally, I snap out of my state of shock and turn around, running as fast as I can. It's a desperate attempt to escape the horrors that have befallen me, and to find some semblance of safety and security in the midst of chaos and confusion. Despite my fear and uncertainty, I know that I must keep moving forward, even if it means facing the unknown.
A sudden constriction grips my throat, and my heart races with an unparalleled intensity. Despite the overwhelming urge to press forward, I hear a low, guttural growl behind me, forcing me to pause in my tracks. "You should not have tried to kill me," the voice hisses, its tone laced with a menacing edge. Every fiber of my being screams at me to ignore the voice, to keep pushing forward. However, my better judgement prevails, and I reluctantly turn around, bracing myself for the worst.
As I face the source of the voice, a towering, dark figure looms before me. The realization that this was no mere nightmare dawns on me, as I come face to face with Bondrewd himself. The man whose life I had taken, is now standing right in front of me. My mind reels, trying to make sense of the impossible situation. How could he be alive? I had made certain that there was no way he could have survived.
My entire body seizes up in terror, leaving me utterly paralyzed. With each slow, measured step he takes towards me, my breaths quicken, coming in short, sharp gasps.
“You have accomplished a great deed. You have shown the strength to hurt me, a lord of the Abyss and a White Whistle. Impressive… Very impressive. You have my respect for that. I find what you did both disrespectful and insulting, but quite remarkable.”
Bondrewd is now standing right in front of me. My words come back to me a bit and I manage to whisper, "But...How...This should not, this should not be happening.... How are you still alive?"
“The Abyss has provided me with all I require. I may die many times, and I will always return, no matter the cost. Do not doubt me. Your strength has allowed you to hurt me, but you will not be the one to bring my life to an end. Do not worry, I will never leave your side.”
There is only fog in my head, and I feel like I'm going to pass out at any moment. This can't be real. It can't. My surroundings appear distorted and blurred. I finally thought I was free of him and now he is standing in front of me, pretty much alive.
My mind continues to buzz with questions about why he is doing all of this. Why can't he leave me alone?
As I notice his presence, a question escapes my lips, "What do you want?" I make an attempt to sound composed while masking the palpable sense of discomfort that has been triggered by his unexpected state.
"I want to talk to you," he replies, taking a step closer towards me.
"I don't want to talk to you," I respond firmly, taking a step back as I do so. However, he advances towards me again, and I sense my heart racing with apprehension.
"Listen to me," he implores, his tone softening.
Despite my inner reservations, I remain rooted to the spot, feeling as though I don't have a choice but to confront him.
"Why did you try to kill me?" he inquires, his voice calm and collected.
I avert my gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "You know why," I respond, my tone barely above a whisper.
"I don't understand why you would do something like that," he continues, inching closer towards me.
"You were always so controlling," I reply, my voice rising with palpable frustration. "I couldn't take it anymore."
"I was only trying to protect you," he counters, his voice turning firm.
"Protect me?" I scoff in disbelief. "You were suffocating me."
Unsure of whether to believe him or not, I look at him with a mix of suspicion and trepidation. Is he really capable of changing his ways or is this just another ploy to manipulate me?
As Bondrewd takes steps even closer towards me, I feel a sense of fear take over me. My heart is racing again, and I can feel the adrenaline pump through my veins. With each step that he takes, my anxiety increases tenfold. His eyes are fixated on me. I brace myself for the worst as I feel something cold and sharp touch my side, just below my ribs. It is small-scaled yet sharp enough to pierce through my skin.
"Do you think I enjoy hurting you?" his voice is deep and menacing. I can feel the fear taking over me as he presses the shard against my skin. The pain is unbearable, and I can feel the blood trickle down my side.
"My love, you are mine and only mine. You are a possession of mine, and you will remain that way until the end. We are one, one in soul and one in body, and one in the Abyss." His words send shivers down my spine. I always knew that there was something off about him, but I never imagined the extent of his cruelty.
"If you have any thought for me, you would give me back my peace," I try to reason with him, but my voice is low and shaky.
"There is no peace for us, darling. Only despair and greatest happiness," his voice is deep and calm, as if he is trying to reassure me. But I know better than to trust his words. I begin to realize that I can never leave him. He has a hold on me that I can never break free from.
A tear rolls down my face as I ask him, "How many times can you break my heart?"
"As long as you love it," he replies nonchalantly. His words are like daggers to my heart, and I know that I will never be able to escape his grasp.