'Caught?'
Oh no.
No, that wasn't a part of the plan. The monster was supposed to attack the silver streak while she was down, and give me time to escape.
I heard it. I heard her shout about being marked, clearly something to do with "[Predator's Claim]." What else could that possibly mean? That voice said nothing about it, so it couldn't have attempted to claim me as well.
Did I misunderstand it? Is she just truly going insane and making things up in her head?
Damn it. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Now I'm stuck in the middle of a spacious plaza, with nothing to protect myself other than this beaten down shield, and a dagger I have no idea how to use. Not in a real fight anyway.
I'm starting to think this dagger is bringing me nothing but bad fortune. Ever since that trial and the appearance of the sigil, things have only gotten worse. Not only has this mortifying stalker-demon come to haunt the only place I know, causing nothing but brutal death and bloodshed, but I've also been marked for death in my own right by a horrifying woman I've never even met. Beautiful, and yet hopelessly terrible.
Best of all, she will stop at nothing to see my end.
All I wish is that I could understand it. If you're going to dedicate every last bit of your attention to killing me, couldn't you at least tell me why?
I just don't get it. I've never been the "model" human being, but I can't possibly believe that I've accumulated enough karma from the Heavens to deserve "instant execution by unknown silver streak or nightmarish demon monster".
Maybe I should just get rid of the dagger, and pray the curse leaves with it. It's the only logical thing to do... right?
'What the hell am I thinking? Have I gone insane from the stress too?'
I can't. Never.
It's the only remnant I have left of Vina. Curse or not, it's staying with me.
Forever.
I don't care. I'm not going to die. No one is going to take my final breath from me before I make something of this shitty life I've been given.
'Focus. Where is the demon?'
Black dust drifted across the ground in slow, restless currents.
Even my own footsteps felt swallowed the moment they landed.
It was silent, and then some. Almost as if it wasn't just quiet, but as if sound had been completely removed altogether.
Backing up, I clutched my dented shield by whatever remained of the arm fasten on the back, and pulled out my dagger, gripping it as tight as I could with my sweat-ridden hand.
Bump.
'Ow. What did I just run into? I could've sworn I wasn't that close to the buildings behind me...'
I wasn't.
Turning my head around quickly, I realized there wasn't anything behind me at all. In fact, there was a good five feet distance before the closest building.
Swiftly turning back around to make sure I didn't get snuck up on, I used the hand with the dagger to stab at the area behind me.
Bump.
My hand hit the invisible wall again.
Strangely enough, the dagger passed through.
I pushed, but my hand wouldn't budge.
At that moment, I realized exactly what [Realm of the Hunter] was.
A domain. A cage, for whatever the "hunter" pleases.
But, not everything.
'Does it only apply to living objects?'
Risking my protection to prove my theory, I pushed the arm with the shield against the invisible barrier too.
'Just as I thought.'
The shield passed through the invisible wall, stopping only when my arm came in contact with it.
The unconscious body of the silver-haired warrior quickly proved my other theory wrong.
'So not just me...'
'Although maybe she's wanted in the domain too. Damn it. I don't actually know.'
'Fantastic. I can lose my objects, but I can't escape. How useful.'
Still, something felt very wrong.
Where was the stalker-demon? If it trapped me in here so it could kill me, why hasn't it come out yet?
Matter of fact, where the hell even is it? Looking around, I don't see any form of life at all besides the silver streak.
'Wait. Was she the hunter? I can't completely rule out the fact that this could be her domain and not the stalker-demon's.'
But that wouldn't make sense.
If she wanted me dead so badly, and had the ability to trap me this whole time, she would've already used it.
'Unless...'
Was it some kind of faulty defense mechanism that deployed late out of shock to her system? If so, then how the hell do I deactivate it?
'Shit. Way too many variables.'
I could call for help, but if this demon really doesn't know where I am, I'd rather not put myself up on a silver platter.
'Think. How the hell can I get out of here? What could the conditions be?'
Wait.
If this domain was somehow deployed by the warrior, couldn't I just get her to take it down?
'Right. Cause I can just go up to her after knocking her out and ask, "Hey, could you deactivate this trap you set for me, please?"'
Not to mention, she'll clearly stop at nothing to have me dead.
'Damn it! How the hell am I supposed to get out of here!'
Of course, I haven't tried everyone's first instinct.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
No luck.
'Yeah. That was optimistic.'
This is pushing my mind to the limit.
My breathing felt uneven. Too quick. Too shallow.
A metallic taste hit my tongue. Silver blood, drawn from the constant gnawing at my lip.
My thoughts adrift, taking me to a destination I wanted to avoid.
'If this domain really was made by her, why can't you just end her right now? She wants you dead either way.'
'Shut up. I'm not killing her.'
'Then how else do you presume you're going to get out of here? Killing her is the only way.'
'No. There is something else. There has to be.'
'You're an idiot. Look around you. Wherever that monster is now, if it's even alive, it's not coming to save you. Kill her.'
'No. No... I- I saw it. The monster is alive. I saw it with my own eyes. I'm not going crazy. It's you. You're the problem. The demon will come.'
'Why don't you just take a second to think, dumbass. Is your so-called demon savior here? Kill her. Now.'
'Shit... you're wrong. There's no way. You can't be right.'
'You might be-'
'I am. Stop hesitating. Do you want to die? Kill her and get us the hell out of here.'
'But... I don't need to kill her. There's no way to prove that she's the one who made this domain. It could've been the stalker-demon. That's right. It's a stalker. Maybe its just watching us. Right. That's what it's doing.'
'And waiting for what, nimrod? You've been clearly exposed this whole time. If it was stalking you, you would've been easy prey since the beginning. Quit making excuses. Go over there and kill her now. This is the last time I'm going to tell you.'
'Shut up. I'm in control.'
'Clearly.'
Creeping over to her body, I looked for any signs of her faking.
No twitches.
No reaction.
I kicked her leg, and prepped for retaliation.
Nothing.
'Shit! She can't still be unconscious! I can't do this!'
'Hurry up! I'm so tired of sitting here and watching this embarrassing display! Do you want to live or not? You had so much resolve earlier. Where did it all go? Do it now!'
Every breath I took from that moment on was excruciating.
Every breath was shaky and forced. Hands, shaking. Unsteady. Off balance. Beads of sweat ran down my face and gathered at my jaw.
Drip.
My vision was blurry. Mind like a current, colliding, overlapping. Psychotic thoughts cutting each other off as the next hit.
Only one was clear.
I was going to have to kill this woman.
My teeth went numb from the constant grinding.
Unconscious, her lifeless body was laid out in front of me.
Badump.
Nothing to protect her.
Badump. Badump.
No one to see what happened.
Badump. Badump. Badump.
My arm trembled relentlessly, as I forced it to raise to my will. I had to steel my resolve.
'Kill her! Do it now! You have to survive!'
I gripped the dagger as hard as I could, forcing my hand and arm still.
Heart beating its drums violently into my ears, I forced my hand down with all my strength.
The blade inched closer.
Lower.
Lower.
'Go!'
And stopped.
Everything froze.
A voice.
Familiar. Soft.
"Don't use it to hurt people, okay?"
No.
I choked.
...
"Vi?"