The Binding Belief

One day, I ran back to the bridge. Ai-san was sitting on a stone with her bag beside her feet. She had her sleeves rolled up while she painted in a small sketchbook. I looked at her, and for some reason, she seemed ill. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Ai-san," I said, jumping on her and hugging her from behind.

She jerked forward from my weight and began laughing as she ruffled my hair. "Don't scare me like that."

"You got some red paint on your arms." I peered from behind her.

She turned red and rolled down her sleeves. "Haha, I can be clumsy too."

"What are you drawing?"

"This is a scenery; I love drawing these." She handed me the sketchbook. I flipped through the pages. She had drawn many pictures, mostly of a character with short hair. Hair just like hers.

"Ai-san, what's around her neck?" I squeezed my eyes to take a better look.

She slowly took the sketchbook from me. "It's a large necklace." She smiled, then the smile faded. "Is your father still hurting you?"

I nodded.

She hugged me. I don't know why, but she did.

"One day, everything will be okay," her voice was low. "I-if not, then I'll run away with you. I'll work part-time, and both of us will be happy."

I didn’t know if she really meant it. But her body kept shivering. I rubbed her back.

Back at home, every day, he grew madder. Every day Ai-san was there at the bridge. Every day they asked me to wait. I waited and waited. 

One day, on my way back home, I saw Ai-san. She was sitting in a corner, her knees against her chest. Her back was shuddering. I walked towards her, but she stood up and walked away. She didn't see me. She only walked the other way.

I don't know why, but I thought I saw more red on her arms and legs. I think I knew what it was even if she said it was paint.

Then—

Then, in the evening that day, I waited for her on the bridge. I waited and waited, but she didn't come. In the corner, I noticed her sketchbook lying on the stone. My hands trembled as I picked it up. I flipped through the pages back to the girl with a large necklace.

I don't know why, but droplets fell onto the picture. My vision kept blurring. The sketchbook slipped from my hands, hitting the ground.

The last page opened up. I am sorry. I tried.

"The bridge is now cursed," a girl from my class told everyone about the incident. "A girl from nearby middle school died there."

I sat with my head on the table. I listened to them talking. The noise was loud and too annoying. I wanted to meet Ai-san again. I wanted to ask why she drew that girl with a rope around her neck.

I visited the bridge each day. I waited for Ai-san. She never came. 

Days went by, but I still waited. If she were dead, I would wait for her ghost. She told me she would live with me, so I waited for that day.

One day, when I climbed back through the window. The house was dark.

"Where were you?"

His voice came from behind me. I turned. He stood in the doorway. I didn't understand when or how, but he was pulling me by the arm first and then by the collar. Slamming me onto the table. The edge dug into my back. I whimpered as pain shot through my body.

"i-I Am SorRy...." I tried to apologise, but it seemed my words didn't reach his ears.

A strong, nauseous smell stung my nose. He was drunk. I tried to pull away, but I couldn't, even though he held me with only one arm. He was strong. With his free hand, he picked up the iron. The edges glowed red. He lowered it toward me.

I shut my eyes tight, expecting pain. I could hear my ragged breathing. The burning smell of metal mixed with the stinging smell.

I waited.

*Thump*

Wet drops fell on my face. I opened my eyes. Something had struck his head, making him stumble back. He slipped, followed by a rattle from a bottle, and collapsed on the floor.

Silence.

I stayed still, gasping for air. I didn't understand what had happened. I tried to get up, but I couldn't, as my body wouldn't listen. Time passed. He didn't move or make any sound. My heart pounded while tears ran down my face.

I pushed up anyway. My arms screamed, but I ignored them. I had to see what had happened. I rested my body on my elbows and then my hands.

My vision kept blurring.

Then I saw it. Red flowing on the floor.

I blinked. "W-what happened?"

I killed him. Ai-san stood near him. She tilted her head and smiled. I saved you.

How did she... But it doesn't matter.

I fell back in place. My body seemed to have lost its strength. I think that I remember laughing when everything went blank.

There was a beeping sound when I woke up. A light flashed in my eyes. They were all wearing masks, standing around me. I didn't remember much after that. 

Soon I was hurting, and she was there with me again. "A-ai..."

Yes?

I turned. She was standing beside the bed. Smiling. She reached for my stomach. Hovered her hand above it. I flinched.

When I lifted my shirt, the mark was there. Huge, bright, and red. I moved my hand towards the mark.

Don't. I'll hurt.

"What is that?"

We are bound now. That's the binding mark.

I looked at the mark. Then at her. "H-how are you here?"

I killed myself. I wanted to stay with you. Your belief was enough to make me alive again. She sat on the edge of my bed. We'll be together forever.

She was right.

We stayed together for five years. She didn't grow. She didn't change. I did. And soon we were the same age. She is my AI-chan. The only one who cares.

The dark fluid rose to my chest. I let it be. As the room continued shrinking around me.

Sora.

I opened my eyes and I was in my room. On my bed. The sheets twisted around my legs. Ai-chan sat beside me. Her hand was on mine. I could feel the chill.

You were dreaming.

"Was I?"

She nodded.

I looked down at my feet. There was no dark liquid anywhere.

What did you see?

I thought about it, but then I wasn’t thinking anymore. The clock ticked. I looked at her. "Nothing," I said. "I don't remember."

She smiled.