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“For God’s sake, just leave me alone for once! Turn off, recharge, I don’t care!”

She cried out, before retreating beneath her blanket once more. I offered no reply; I stood in silence and walked toward the door.

One last time, my dear, I will yield to your wishes. But things will never be the same again.

I’d allowed her free will to control her and it had brought her here. I no longer admired that will. I defeated it in this battle; I was the better one. I wouldn’t disappoint my master. I would protect her from everything; even if she turned into a shell, I would nourish her soul. My beautiful Mina would once again be in my strong arms, adorned with the wonders of science, needing only my love and company.

Just like before.

What was the harm in being a little shattered to understand this?

☾

Mina

I felt trapped.

The room where I’d accumulated so many beautiful memories now felt like a prison cell. And I was the criminal who lost all my dignity.

I drew my knees up to my chest, back pressed against the door, curled up. I wrapped my arms around my body so tightly. I wished to disappear. To shrink as much as possible. To become as small and invisible as an ant.

“Eli…” I finally whispered, but it was pointless now. I was summoning a ghost.

Angelica Bernova had died in her father’s hands, and I had done nothing. She had taken her last breath trying to push me out of the room, locking the door and accepting her father’s madness.

And I had done nothing. Nothing.

There were no more silly games. We weren’t spies, nor invincible heroes.

For hours, I kept staring at the wall. I had always been a girl who lived by my emotions, but at that moment, it felt like my heart abandoned me.

She wanted to protect you until her last breath, and what did you do?

“No…” I whispered. Then my voice grew louder. “No! No! I didn’t want that! I didn’t ask her for it! No!”

I heard another voice, low and faint, but for the first time, it was so sure of itself.

If you hadn’t been friends with her, she’d still be alive. You shouldn’t have opened her eyes. You monster. Her father was right, you’re a witch.

“No! No, no, no!”

My vocal cords rose higher and higher, wearing themselves out. I began to tear at my hair, trying to blot out those disgusting voices in my head, trying to purge myself of all that poison.

Why did you do this Eli? We were supposed to run away, right? Why did I come home alone tonight? Didn’t you know I need you and I love you? Why?

“Mina! Open the door, Mina!”

Another voice entered my mind, different from the others; a damned male voice. I could no longer hold back the stomach acid rising to my mouth. I was far beyond caring who was speaking or why. I couldn’t think logically, couldn’t piece things together like any normal person would. Even the most basic human reaction seemed out of reach.

You’re so useless. So useless. So fake.

It was hard to know how many minutes, hours, or days I had been screaming. Sometimes I would lift my head from my lap and slam it against the wall. Blood trickled down as my forehead met the cold surface. Perhaps it hurt, but I couldn’t feel a thing. They kept talking, never pausing, gnawing away at what little was left of my soul.

I want to disappear like Eli. We must always be together. Why am I here?

The door broke, and I turned my exhausted eyes toward it. A light filtered into my room, no, into my cell. Was it execution day? Had the time finally come for me to find peace? I listened to the creaking of the door opening in silence, the most unique melody in the world…

“Mina. You need to eat something.” I heard the words but had forgotten what they meant. “If you don’t eat something, you will really die.”