Unity of Opposites

I ran deep into the Forest of Voices, hoping I would run into Mr. Ren or Lady Scarlet. I just wanted to get as far away from my father as possible. I could feel cuts on my bare feet. Still, I ran— ran until I bumped into something, and I fell over.

“Ouch!” The voice said, and I recognised it as that of my younger sister, Anne.

I looked up to see her steadying herself. When I fell, I landed on a plant of some kind. The plant began to grow, and the vines wrapped tightly around me. It felt a lot like the chain that I had when I was back in my room. I could barely move or speak as the vines wrapped around my hands and legs.

“What are you doing here, stupid girl?” She asked, confused.

“I came with others,” I responded with as few words as I could.

“Are they with you?”

“No.”

“I see.” She looked somewhat frightened. Perhaps she was scared. She was younger than me. I had to admit, I felt somewhat scared being in the rift alone. I might run into something truly frightening. Perhaps Father. Or maybe the Maestro.

“Can you help me out of these vines?” I asked her as they continued to tighten around me.

“How?” she asked.

“I have a knife around my neck. If you get it out, you could cut the vines,” I suggested. The knife was useful for things like this. I would get myself out if I could grip the blade, but it was too far. I couldn’t reach it while restrained.

“Why should I?” She asked like it wasn’t just a nice thing to do. I had gotten so used to Lady Scarlet and Mr. Ren offering to assist me, asking nothing in return, that I had forgotten that my birth family always demanded compensation for assistance.

“If you get me out, I can protect you as your older sister,” I said, trying to be brave. Although I was scared, I would protect Anne from the scary creatures. I was the older sibling, after all.

“You know, you’ve always disappointed me. You are a useless big sister. I hasten to even call you that. I don’t want to be associated with trash like you.” She laughed.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous that she knew big words. I was the older sibling, yet she was much smarter and was taught things while I was in my room. She was very lucky. I wish I had that sort of education.

“I’m sorry,” I responded the only way I knew how to.

I had come to the realisation that I did not like my father. I had never felt like my stepmother was my own mother. Anne, on the other hand, was my younger sister. Even if she said nasty things about me, I wanted to get to know her better.

I wanted to be a good older sibling for her. But I had always been unable to be a role model for her. I disappointed her. I wish I could have gotten to know her better and be someone who could have been there for her.

“Everything is worse when you are around.” She commented as she went over to the foot of a tree and picked up a large branch.

“Mother and Father are right; you are absolutely trash.” She looked coldly towards me.

“Anne, why do you hate me?” I asked. I wanted to know why she felt this way. Although Father and Stepmother likely had their reasons, there was no reason for Anne to feel that way.

“Because I simply hate you; it’s not like there is any reason other than that.”

She took a step forward, the branch still clutched in her hand.

Buddy growled at Anne, trying to protect me from her. She stepped closer.

“Stupid mutt.” She commented before adding, “Perhaps I should teach you a lesson as well.”

“Don’t!” I screamed. I could handle a beating myself, but I did not want anything to happen to Buddy or anyone else. I tried to break free so I could protect Buddy, but I couldn’t do anything.

I couldn’t move as she stepped closer to me and Buddy. She had a twisted look on her face.

“Anne, please don’t hurt Buddy,” I begged her.

“Bad dog.” She responded as she brought the stick down on Buddy. There was a thumping noise as Buddy let out a whimpering noise.

“No!” I screamed as I frantically tried to reach for my knife. If I could break out of the vines, I could protect Buddy.

Buddy was lying down, panting and making small noises, and Anne brought down the stick again and again. Until Buddy no longer moved. He lay still in a pool of blood.

Finally, I managed to reach for my knife and cut my way out of the vines. However, it brought little comfort to be free. Especially when being free meant I was already too late.

“Why did you have to kill Buddy?” I asked, although my tears made my question barely audible.

“Because stupid things have no value. I can’t believe you’re too stupid to realise that. You have no value, and that stupid dog of yours has even less value. If anything, I did you a favour killing that stupid mutt. You should thank me.” Anne spoke.

As I clung to Buddy’s lifeless body, my thoughts began to spiral.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why Buddy and not me? I hate Anne.

I didn’t have long before I heard a familiar voice.

“~I can’t believe you did that. Kekekeke~”

I couldn’t see the Maestro, though I knew he was here somewhere. Two shadows appeared in the fog; for a split moment, I thought it might have been the Maestro. But then I noticed it was Stepmother and Father strung up like marionettes. They were both clearly deceased.

“Father? Mother?” Anne called, confused, shocked and horrified. She didn’t have long to react before a claw-like hand went through her head. A gaping hole in her head showed missing flesh and broken bones from where the Maestro’s claw had been moments before. There was a light that faded from Anne’s eyes. The only one that was still intact as she collapsed to the ground.

I didn’t wait for the Maestro; I didn’t even get a look at him. I knew I had no chance of defeating him. My only hope was to find Lady Scarlet or Mr. Ren. So, I ran.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

End Chapter 26

Buddy is gone

This was my punishment for being bad.

Don’t!