Symbolic Exchange and Death

If you are the Maestro, then I am the Observer. If you are the deceiver, then I am the herald of truth. Despite our differences, we are much alike. We are both alone, living in this truth of a lie. We both desire companionship. We want a family and loved ones. So, we enact our madness to achieve our desires.

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Perhaps it would not hurt so much if I had such simple pleasures.

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Are you the one who caused this, or is there someone who deceived you? Are they deceiving me right now? Who is my Author, then?

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Were you alone, too? Or were you deceived? Did you deceive me deliberately?

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Did you think our story would end here?

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

I ran until I was out of breath. I hid behind a tree trunk that had fallen. I tried to catch my breath, but I could hear the footsteps of the Maestro as he closed in. He was much stronger and faster than me. There was no way I could escape him. I held my breath.

“~Kekekeke. Come out, come out, little child. I won’t hurt you. Kekekeke.~”

I didn’t say anything. I put my hands over my mouth to try and make my breathing as quiet as possible.

“~If you come out, child, I will give you a present. Do you want sweets? I have plenty for you. Kekekeke~”

I didn’t trust anything he said. I knew he didn’t have sweets. I had seen him kill so many people I knew. Why would someone who was willing to hurt so many people have sweets for someone like me? It was a trick. I wasn’t going to fall for it.

Crack

A tree nearby collapsed. I figured the Maestro must have done it. But I didn’t hear any noise beforehand. Did he bring down a tree with a single attack? If so there was no way I could defeat him.

“~I can smell you. Kekekeke. I know you are near~”

I could hear him get closer. There was a moment of silence. It lasted for some time. Perhaps he had left. Though I was still too scared to have a look. I turned my head to breathe, and in doing so, I came inches away from the Maestro’s face or lack of one.

“~I found you. Kekekeke.~”

A hand almost pierced me, but I managed to roll out of the way just in time. I didn’t spend any time staying around. I ran once again. The Maestro would soon catch up to me. I had to keep running. The moment I stopped running would be the moment I die.

Deeper and deeper down, into the fog I ran, until I saw what looked like a silhouette in the distant fog. Knowing the Maestro was still following me from behind, I ran towards the silhouette. I hoped it would be Lady Scarlet or Mr. Ren.

As I ran towards it, I could see Lady Scarlet’s crimson-red hair. It was from behind, but there was no mistaking Lady Scarlet. It was just on the other side of a fallen tree.

I squeezed my way under the tree. I was only seconds away from seeing her. I climbed up and turned towards Lady Scarlet only to be met with the decapitated head of Lady Scarlet, pinned cruelly to the tree itself.

I reached towards it.

There was no way Lady Scarlet would be dead. She said she would meet back up with me. She wouldn’t lie. This must be a deception by the Maestro. He must be tricking me, making me think that Lady Scarlet was dead.

I retrieved her head. For a deception, this was very realistic. But I knew it had to be a decision. It couldn’t be real.

I felt tears begin to fall.

But I knew it had to be fake. Lady Scarlet would never lose against the Maestro. I cuddled up to the head. After losing Buddy, there was no way this was Lady Scarlet.

I heard a branch snap as if someone had stepped on it. I turned my head towards the noise, though my vision was blurred from my tears.

“Oh, dear God.” Mr. Ren gasped, looking completely horrified. “I’m so sorry kid. That was something you should never have had to see.”

What did he mean? It was a trick. Was Mr. Ren also falling for it? Perhaps he was silly.

“This isn’t Lady Scarlet.” I cried.

“I’m so sorry,” he said as he approached me. He bent down and gave me a big hug.

I began to sob uncontrollably. No matter how many times I tried to rationalise Lady Scarlet’s strength, I couldn’t deny the truth in front of me. Lady Scarlet, my mother, the one who was always there for me, was dead. She was gone. I would never see her again.

“Kid, I know this must be very difficult for you. But we have to go now! That thing is still out there.” He tried to calm me. But how could I be calm if Lady Scarlet was gone for good?

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

“~Kekekeke. I can smell you are near, child. Come out, come out, or I will gobble you all up. Kekekeke~” the voice echoed.

Mr. Ren grabbed my hand. “This is the way out. Let’s get to the Chalice now.”

What was the point of finding the Chalice now? Buddy was gone. Lady Scarlet was gone. Everyone I knew or cared about was gone. Everyone but Mr. Ren. If Mr. Ren was also a deceiver, I didn’t want to know.

The Maestro took everything from me. I no longer could obtain what I desired. He took that from me. Perhaps a reminder of the selfish beliefs I had. The greedy little girl I was. Greedy girls always end up with nothing. I never lost anything while I wished for nothing. Perhaps it was my own greed that caused this.

I am a bad girl. Yes, a selfish, greedy, bad girl.

Mr. Ren pulled me suddenly, leading me away from the forest. His sudden action caused me to drop Lady Scarlet’s head, which I had been cradling, and it fell to the ground and rolled until it thudded against the fallen tree trunk.

I looked back as we hurriedly made our way towards the exit of the forest, back at the face of Lady Scarlet.

Farewell mother.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

End Chapter 27

The Crimson Dawn Won’t Come

Farewell Lady Scarlet

Farewell Mother