Accessories, that's all there were-- Hats, to necklaces... Necklaces to rings. It all varied, there were even lamps.
At the front sat an older lady, just a few years older than Melinda. Of course.. That's just a guess, appearances are deceiving in this world.
"Poach another customer?" The lady inquired in a loud voice; a huge contradiction to her appearance which looked soft. "Honey, you know that's not a good idea. You are too pushy sometimes."
The man let out a laugh and stood just ahead of me. "Haha... Yeah yeah. Your dad kept tearing into me about it.
However..." He turned to the side, letting his wife see me. "I noticed this young lady was having an eye issue."
"Huh?"
I felt my body move back, and my heart started to go. "My- my eye's fine..."
I just need Da- James to look at it- Why did I agree to come here?
"Let me take a look!"
E-Eh?
"Honey, there's nothing we can do."
"Eh? What about the eyepatch?"
"Hah..." His wife forcefully turned my head. "See that eye?"
When did she pull me down-
She held my eye wide open.
"W-Woah…"
Both stared at it; each keeping their mouth hung.
"Can you grab the ointment— Young lady, have you been taking care of your eye?"
Ointment? I couldn't stop his wife from holding my eye open. Every muscle in my body stayed locked. "I-I have…"
At her request the man hurried into the back.
"Listen, "
Her hands gripped onto my face. Why do so many people like to grab onto my face?!
"Young lady, you need that eye to be taken care of."
Yes! I know!
I don't need a doctor to tell me that. And for gods' sake can they not call me young lady…?
"Your eye… Can you see out of it?"
"I can't, I'm blind out of it." I finally found the courage. "Can you let go of my face?"
The man's wife retracted her hands; her eyes widened.
"Ahem… sorry about that." She made an exaggerated cough before straightening her back. "Your eye is swollen, the white in it is a deep red."
I can feel it.
I rolled my good eye then snapped my blind eye shut. "My dad can heal it."
She looked dumbfounded— her eyes were wide.
"Can you let us put ointment on your eye?"
Why?
"Don't give me that look!" The lady exclaimed with a huff. "You need that eye healed! Leaving it to fester is a bad idea!"
… I shook my head and tried to turn around. She grabbed my hand and yanked my entire body back.
"Young lady, stay here."
"I'll be fine!" I exclaimed. She held onto my hand firmly. I felt an urge itch in my hand to throw a fireball right at her. "Let me go!"
Just let me go please! Why are you so pushy?!
Should I just claw her hand?
"Honey! Here-"
"Let me go!" I yelled before pulling my entire arm back. This clingy lady nearly fell flat on her face. "My dad can heal it!
I don't need some ointment, nor do I need something!"
"H-"
"Hold- Young lady-"
"My dad can heal it."
"You- you have a father?"
What-? The fire in my heart became extinguished. A thousand questions swarmed my mind by his words.
"We- we thought you had no family…"
"...I said dad a few times." I retorted before crossing my arms. I want to leave.
"H- Ah, honey do you know where that eyepatch is?" The man asked whilst scratching the back of his head. "Listen- I'm sorry, Young- Wait, what is your name?"
"...What eyepatch?"
"...Hon, you do know we sold that eyepatch to your friend?"
"... Ohhh… right…"
Eyepatch…? Really…? What's so special about an eyepatch? My left eye is already done for. I don't want to look like a crooked pirate.
Not long after, they apologized— both bowed at me. When I got the chance I ran out of the shop.
Why did they do that..? Wh- why?
Why did they try to treat my eye? Even when I denied it-
I-I-
Once- once again I tried to block out the voices—
"I wonder-"
No-
"Is that-"
Yes- Yes I am-
I need to go home— I can't be out here- I want to go home. Where am I?
Everything was blurring together— I didn't know where I was— Retaurant-
My legs kept going, running— Yet I never could shut out the voices. I pressed them againat my head. Stings…
Nothing got quieter. Each hiss, breath boomed in my head.
"That's actually a wolfkin- is she running from-"
"Should we call house Gabri?"
Why- why- why-
I get it- Wolfkins are rare…I do-
Just stop- stop staring at me… Please…
Everything- everything's so loud— my ears are being torn into. I can't shut the voices out—
I can't…
My legs, I can't— The ground tore into my skin. It felt like my skin was being grated.
Everything was beginning to spin, and my breath was being trapped.
Why c- Please just-
Why can't you just look away-
I can't- I don't want to be the center of attention—
You should've gone with them.
Please- someone help-
Your fault.
Someone-
You caused this.
"I don't- Dad… Mom…" An explosive pain started to shoot from my chest. Every one of my muscles contracted— I couldn't move.
The ground stayed as a rocky grave. Where I was stuck, my body wanted to explode. Every bone in my chest felt like it was shattering.
"Maybe… we should leave her alone…" A voice echoed in my head.
"Poor thing… We should contact House Gabri."
Shut up- shut up-!
"..."
Silence… the voices, went silent. Footsteps surrounded me— past, in front and away. It echoed, it kept echoing. My heart rattled inside my chest as each passed.
Something lingered, and… Someone, someone please take me away-
"Yukina…"