Keep That Smile Up, ok? Part 2 (The Stringless Puppet of The Void)

Time Heals

"Shadow" slowly opened the door to the bedroom, she saw Erwin sleeping in Haru's laps, she wanted to leave because she knew what would happen. But Haru looked in her direction.
-"Shadow", where are you going? Haru asked, her look wasn't... A very happy one.
-... I thought it was better to leave for now, I caused enough trouble...
Haru didn't want to wake Erwin up so she left him resting on the floor with a blanket on him.
-Can we chat a little outside this room? I don't want to wake Erwin up... She looked at his silly face that was snoring
-Okay, just don't start a fight with me, I don't have the energy for such... She sighed
Haru closed Erwin's bedroom door and went in the hall to talk to the creature, that waited crossing her arms, she had a bored expression(?)
-So, what is it? "Shadow" asked
-Why.... Why did you do all these? "Shadow" I thought after everything we've done together and went through, you realised we are your REAL friends... Yes, you made me suffer, I saw everything, a little, just a little part of me isn't mad because of that, but I'm more mad that what you did almost killed the other Soulworkers, Erwin looked more than exhausted, like the life was sucked from him.... And I'm asking again, why?? I'm not mad at you, I'm disappointed in you... If you don't wanna tell me your reasons, then I'll ask Erwin, even when under the child's control I could see everything. Haru looked the shadow in the eyes, she looked hurt and it felt that she struggled even making eye contact.
-...
-Now you won't say anything?
-Kent is the mastermind of this.
-W... What..?
-He forced me to do this, if I didn't I would have died, but I'll anyways probably die in the near future, because I rebelled against him.... To get you back. This is the long sotry shortened... I don't want your pity or simpathy, I just wanted to tell you the truth before I fade away in thin air. "Shadow" explained, it seemed that she was.... Trembling? What? Can a pile of moving desire energy feel emotion? Or... Is she a special case? Maybe she's actually more than a living energy... Shaking...
-I... I didn't know that... When you brought me in that "dimension" with that book, you didn't explain anything very clear, you left me in my own thoughts... If this is really true, why didn't you tell us from the beggining that he was manipulating you? Maybe we could've-
-I heard that phrase before and no, it wouldn't have worked, you can't just withstand a god, plus I'm pretty sure he watches me, I don't know from where or how, but he does do it. "Shadow" interrupted her
-I'm really sorry... It looks like Kent is the mastermind of every bad thing happening and puts his "minions" to work so he doesn't get in trouble... But I won't let him hurt you or anyone! Haru tried to give some hope
-Please don't have pity on me or mercy, I do not care about that anymore, I just want to help you while I still have time, I wanna do something good with the time I have left... Her tone turned quite sad, but it didn't show a tear.
-To be honest, you really act like me at some point, you are too retreated and don't ask for much, it's like you are my lost child or something... Haru gave a small grin
-Don't... Call me that, I don't wanna be your kid, plus that's something Erwin should do for you. "Shadow" frowned
-W-WHAT?! Haru had a blush that covered her whole face
-By the way, maybe you should take care of him, he started to look worse and worse while you were "gone". "Shadow" said in a serious tone.
Was it from that hit that Desire Haru did? Or was it something else? Probably stress also contributed to his bad status, after Desire Haru took over, Erwin thought that he lost Haru forever and there was no way back... Now that he sees her again, makes him feel.... Euphoric? It seems also harder for him to let go of Haru than ever, which... Explains a lot.. Looks like they'll have to help each other heal, because only they know how to deal with one another...
Healing takes time, a common quote... It may seem impossible, but it's not, but they both will need some time alone, to rethink things and... Understand their problems, they'll need to help themselves too, or else, healing won't happen... Just wanting and not working for it, won't bring anything in return, just dreams and thoughts, but that's it...
Coming back to the moment, Haru thought about it and instantly got worried, what if she hurt Erwin while under the desire influence? Anything is possible.
-Can... We talk later? I need to check up on someone... Haru worried
-Sure, anytime, anywhere, I don't sleep anyways. She said
-Okay... That's a little creepy, I hope I won't see glowing red eyes in the middle of the night. Haru looked in fear
-Don't worry, I'm not at home mostly at night, so you won't have to bump into me or anything.
Haru sighed in relief and went in Erwin's room to see how he's doin'.
The shadow then disappeared, she retreated like she always used to.
Haru walked closer to Erwin, he didn't look well either, like he was ill, that alarmed her, it reminded her of her mom, that didn't look well either and months later died because of the vacuum. After everything she saw then, it was normal for her to experience panic attacks, but this one was worse, it made her tremble, looked at her hands, besides trembling, they were also sweaty, her heart was beating faster than ever and she had trouble standing in two feet, Haru tried to balance herself using something near her, didn't matter what it was, a chair, a bed or a table.
The best she could do was to stay in her knees nearby Erwin's bed.
It was just like the moment, she went to check on her mother's condition on that dream like memory thing. That made her stress levels rise which of course wasn't good.
But Erwin felt Haru's shaking hand touching his arm.
-... Hm? He woke up and looked at the blonde girl standing in front of him
He heard Haru say something, but it wasn't very clear, it was fast and silent, she was repeating a name....
An idea came in his mind, he held her hand to get her attention.
-Haru, please calm down... Erwin looked at her in hope for a response
-E-Erwin..? She looked at him
-Right now, you are having a panic attack, this thing cooperates with stress very well, so first, look at me and try to calm down, everything's alright. He tried to get Haru back to her senses
-I-I was just w-worried, because I h-had flashbacks again a-and I thoughr while I was under child's control, I hurt you. Haru's stuttered, she felt like the whole world was falling on her.
-It's alright, that was in the past, you need to focus on the present now, you'll need to learn to move on, you most likely can't right now, but with time and work you'll learn to get over them. And just to make you feel a little better, it wasn't you, it was her, you did nothing wrong to me. Erwin got in his knees as well and held both of her hands now.
-It's... Scary, you know? Always seeing those images again and again in my head kills me, I just want everything to be like before, I-I never asked for this... The girl teared up
-There will come and occasion, when you'll be able to live like before, nothing will be the same, or at least some things... But you'll live normally again, don't be scared, I and most probably the others Soulworkers will help you too, even that shadow might give a hand, you're not alone like you were then. Erwin tried to calm Haru down
-O-okay... I... I'll try.. She took a deep breath
-We'll find a way to fix everything eventually, just wait, it will all be fine... Erwin looked at her and then outside the window at the sky....

I wish I could make a crown out of the stars in the sky, so you, my star, will be the queen of them

Thanks for reading! I tried my best to write this chapter, I hope you liked it! I'm sorry if my writing skills aren't that good too ;-;...
Well see you again in the next chapter :P
Bye bye ^^✨👋