Alone

11-A Hug From Natasha?

Vesim:
I climbed a tree and let my thoughts run free. If I was going to do this properly, I'd have to distance enough time between Aster's death, and whoever I planned to kill next. If either one of my two remaining friends caught wind of what I was doing, they'd surely team up against me and I knew I couldn't fight both of them. Let me get one thing straight, killing someone isn't easy. True I wasn't the one dying, but it felt like parts of me were being lost and it was my fault because I was the one intentionally throwing them away. Please don't forget that I do feel guilty more than anything, I've never once before thought about killing any of my friends, I've thought about being in a fight with them, mostly ones I've won. But killing someone is a lot worse then throwing punches and kicks at them.
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. Maybe it was the fact that up until now, there hadn't been much time for me to stop and think about it, but, I was alone up here. So I did something that I don't ever normally do, I cried. I cried so hard. Hot tears made of glass filled up my eyes, warping the world around me. They choked me and my heart sank like a ship to the bottom of my chest drowned by the salty waters that escaped my own violet eyes. My breathing became ragged and sharp, I tried muffling my cries with my jumper sleeve in order to not worry the girls. But the guilt came crashing over me, I couldn't stay afloat no matter how much I flailed and struggled against the waves, it dragged me under, and as my tears filled my lungs, remorse plagued my mind, infected it with doubt and shame. It dawned on me then that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forgive myself for my actions. I was a murderer and would remain one for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my thoughts were slashed through by a sudden phone call from Katie-The Head Of Superiors. Why was she calling? I still had two friends to get rid of before she could accept me as a Superior. It must have been urgent so I answered it and hushed my voice. "hello, Katie, what's up?" She cleared her throat and answered in that ear-drilling voice I dreaded listening to. "Ah Vesim, so glad you picked up, I hadn't heard anything from you I was almost worried you had come to a tragic end!" I could just imagine the fake, empty, snake like smirk on her face as she spoke. I despised Katie and if it wasn't for me wanting to be free from worry, I wouldn't have any communication with her. "No I'm still alive, but Aster isn't. I have successfully ended his life." I almost choked on those words, unable to keep myself steady as I recalled the way I witnessed the colour drain from my friend's face as the elixir's effects kicked in. "Oh that's great, now all you need to do is get rid of Natasha and Katana and then you'll finally be free! How did you get rid of Aster if you don't mind telling me I'd love to know how you applied those skills we've seen in the Orchid!" I took a deep breath and tried to stop my hands from shaking. I cleared my throat and tried my best to sound confident. "I used a botte of Vial Of The End. He died painlessly." Katie paused for a moment and then fell silent. "Katie.. are you still there?" Nothing. Had I done something wrong? She knew that I was supposed to kill them so why was she so quiet now? After what felt like forever, she spoke again "Oh I see.. well its great to hear from you and I hope to see you soon once the other two are dead, Goodbye now!" She hung up quickly. That was strange, she seemed very frantic to hang up. But I didn't really care about her. She was nothing to me. Eventually I dried my eyes and managed to stop shaking enough to climb back down the tree. Natasha was unfortunately the first to greet me. "Who were you talking to up there?" I froze. How did she hear me I was sure to keep my voice down! "Nobody, I was talking to myself." She scrunched her face up and scoffed before lightly shoving me "What a weirdo, who talks to themselves out loud?"

"Yeah well when you've got no family to talk to back home it becomes a rather frequent habit." I turned away from her coldly and began heading over to the sleeping bags, of which Kata was already resting peacefully. But before I did, Natasha grabbed my shoulder and spun me back around. Her expression was different now, it seemed to have softened and she looked somewhat guilty? "Vesim, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." she spoke in a gentle hushed tone, I brushed it off as her just being quiet as to not wake Kata up but, I found it oddly comforting. "Look, I know we don't get on all to well. And I know I've not really been as kind to you as I am to Kata and was to Aster," When she spoke Asters name, she pressed a forefinger to her head, the middle of her chest and her two shoulders in a cross like pattern, it was only a small action but I felt a pang of guilt in my heart when she did. But nonetheless she continued, "But.. if you ever need someone to talk to, I promise I'll listen. Even if we're always at each other's throats, I still consider you a friend."

I was completely taken aback and what was even more shocking was she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into her. I wasn't sure what to do, I had never been hugged by Natasha before, it was awkward, I had placed my own arms loosely around her waist unsure of where else to put them. I'll admit, she was warm and she smelt great, like some type of flower, as well as what I could only imagine to be honey? Either way I enjoyed it, even if she pulled away quickly and walked off towards her sleeping bag as if nothing happened. Don't get me wrong I still wasn't too fond of Natasha, but maybe she wasn't as bad as I've depicted her previously... whatever, it doesn't matter, I still have to do what Katie ordered me to. Whether I liked it or not.