The Voidwalker's Tale

XII. (Before the End)

We continued to laugh and smile together, losing sight of the world around us. I let myself fall into Astrid's allure and quite frankly, I don't regret it one bit. Her smile makes me forget all the pain, makes me feel like... a normal person. All the people that were here were now long gone, their blood and tears stained the stone pavement. Even though they saw me as a monster, I don't hold it against them. I do wonder though, if someone had done what I did just now, when I was captive; would I view them as a hero— or a monster?

"So darling, let's get a move on yeah? I'm glad Mira gave us some alone time" Astrid smiled.

My eyebrows rose and my lips puckered. "Darling? I've been promoted- Do I get a prize or something?"

Astrid laughed and shrugged, definitely not taking my proposal for a prize seriously. "You really notice all the little things don't ya?"

"Well of course, those are my favorite things after all" I said.

Astrid gripped my hand, sliding her fingers to lock in place with mine. "I can't say I'm very good at noticing all the little details in things... but when it comes to you, I try my best" she giggled.

We started walking in the direction of the dried blood, assuming Mira went that way too.

"And why is that, my lil' angel?" I smirked.

Astrid, with her face growing slightly red, spouted: "B-because, I love every part of you. My lil' devil."

"O-ho, devil you say? You're definitely the naughtier one of us two" I say, trying to hold back my face from exploding.

"I think we both know... that's just not true darling" she whispered, leaning in close to my ear.

I tried to pull away from her from sheer embarrassment, but forgot our fingers with interlocked. "Now now, no running from the truth love~" Astrid teased.

My attempt to keep composed backfired completely, and now my face is streaming. She got me this time, Astrid, truly a woman that I can't handle.

We continued walking along this street, still with no people in sight. The silence was picking away at my skin, it just didn't feel right. All these beautifully built buildings, streets flowing with shining gray stone, vegetation erupting from the intentionally placed cracks— so much apparent life, yet the air felt dead.

Eventually we reached the top of the pathway, exposing a huge fountain. It was adorned with diamonds with a base of silver, the water and sun made all the metal shimmer ever so softly. My eyes lit up just from seeing it.

"So this is the center of town huh? Incredibly beautiful, a solid nine out of ten I'd say" Astrid said, panning around.

Her eyes stopped at me. "Not as beautiful as you though Reimi, a perfect ten. Definitely my favorite thing to look at."

My cheeks started to heat up. "Shut up you flirt" I said while gently punching Astrid's shoulder.

"You two sure took your time getting here."

I'm not sure how, but both Astrid and I missed Mira. She was sitting on the border of the fountain, staring ahead with her mask on. A bunny mask. I'm still on the fence whether that suits her or not, but then again I have yet to even see her face.

"Sorry, Reimi here was just confessing how much she loved and adored me" Astrid smirked.

"I hate you-"

Astrid laughed. "See?"

Our voices seemed to bounce around this large space. The fountain itself was surrounded by many of the same buildings as before, accompanied by some shops and interconnecting alleyways. It was a wide open space with only us three occupying it; and I still can't say it feels right. Something was definitely wrong but I have no idea what it could be.