(DIANA POV)
"Arghhhh!!!!!"
"No! Please!!!!"
"Get back!!! Stay away!!"
The quiet and orderly room from earlier had become a bloody and chaotic mess.
People were shouting, crying, begging, and whimpering as they were stabbed and slashed by blades.
Weapons were thrown everywhere, and some of them landed near my feet.
The room was painted in dark red as blood splashed onto the walls and the floor became a pool full of dead bodies and body parts.
I watched it all, my hands trembling and my body intensely shivering at every noise, at every cry.
"Monster..."
As I heard that word, I turned my head to the butler, the soldier, and my father who were seeing the same thing as me.
"HAHAHAHA."
As I heard a laugh, I quickly looked toward the person who made it.
"Me? A monster? HAHAHA, well I think I am, so what if I am?"
Standing in the middle of the room, on top of dead bodies piled in the center, was Doll-san.
Her clothes were drenched in blood, and her skin was splashed with red liquid. Her arms, which had turned into blades, were completely red.
She controlled the room. Soldiers surrounded her, yet they were scared to get close.
They held their swords, trembling while pointed towards her.
...
"Well, enough yapping. Die hehe."
Doll-san bent down and launched herself at a person. The person raised his sword to slash Doll-san, but she was faster and killed him before he could even hit her.
"Next hehe."
Doll-san changed her target and began attacking the rest of the people surrounding her.
She danced and laughed as she slashed the people around her. They screamed, yet Doll-san didn't care or stop.
It was scary... The way she was laughing, the way she was just smiling as she continued moving and killing.
It was different from the Doll-san who patted my head and looked at me with a gentle expression on her face. The peaceful Doll-san who kept worrying about many things.
Yet at the same time...
The way she danced, the way she moved as if nothing was holding her back anymore.
She looked so... free...
It was like she had finally found something and was now enjoying it.
It was scary yet I could not look away.
...
Is this the real Doll-san?
Is this what she truly feels inside?
...
...
I don't know.
How can I think of what's real?
Doll-san had only been with me for a few days. I didn't really know how she lived her life before I met her.
...
But.
If this is the real her, then what?
She is the person who came to me. She is the first person who took care of me. Doll-san is the only person who smiled at me, laughed with me, and talked with me.
The only person who was kind to me.
She is the person who became angry because of how the other people treated me. She is the only person who became worried for me when I was being hurt by other people.
She is the same person who kept thinking about how she would save me and escape this place. The only person who is doing everything for me to become happy and safe.
She is fighting for me... She is fighting for us to become free.
...
So what if this is the real her?
Doll-san is Doll-san. The same person who I look up to. She is the person I want to be with.
If this is her.
Then I should accept it. I will accept this part of her, just as she accepted me.
...
My trembling calmed down, and I was able to think more clearly.
Doll-san is fighting hard for both of us, so what am I doing, sitting here and doing nothing?
I can't make her do everything.
I need to help her...
But how?
What am I supposed to do?
...
I cannot fight like her. I cannot move like her.
If I fight, I might just be a burden to her.
...
I continued watching Doll-san while thinking about how I might help her in any way.
Doll-san had already killed most of the people inside the room. And now, she was looking toward the three people who were initially in this room before she came in.
The big soldier who I watched fight with Doll-san was currently still holding his sword, pointed toward her.
The butler was behind the soldier, and my father was still holding the object that had hurt Doll-san.
"Your turn~"
Doll-san smiled at them before launching herself with both of her blades ready to strike.
Her eyes focused toward the soldier. As she reached close to him, she slashed her sword forcefully.
CLANG
The loud clash of metal rang throughout the room.
The soldier parried Doll-san's sword, and using the momentum, he moved his sword to strike Doll-san back by slashing downward.
CLANG!
Doll-san saw this and parried it. However, this time, she didn't pull back but tried to cut the soldier's side with her leg blade. The soldier saw this and jumped back, with his sword still ready to defend.
The soldier then spoke in an annoyed tone.
"Although your attack became heavier, you are still predictable, like a hungry animal desperate for its kill."
Doll-san replied, running toward him.
"Then let's see who can endure the most!"
She slashed again and got blocked. She attacked again and got parried.
"MOVE YOU PESKY WORM!!!!"
She shouted with a slash that was more powerful and forceful than before.
"Whaaa!"
The soldier, surprised by the sudden strength, stumbled.
Doll-san saw this and was about to move to take the kill, but...
BANG.
Father took his shot and made Doll-san recoil back.
"ARGHHHH!!! ... ... You really want to die painfully, huh? Wait for your turn. Once I get my hand on you, I will make sure you scream loud! HAHAHAHA."
She launched herself, but the soldier had already regained his footing so he quickly blocked her slash again.
...
Doll-san moved with relentless slashes and cuts, but my father and the soldier's coordination was stronger.
...
I watched them go at it, and as I watched more, the desire to help became stronger within me.
... Something, there must be something that I can do.
I then looked at the weapons scattered on the ground.
And then, I noticed a sword on the floor, not too far away from me.
A sword.
I looked back at the people fighting in front of me.
They were all focused on Doll-san.
If that's the case... then...
I took a deep breath and thought of how I would help. As I watched more, I finally got what I needed to do.
I needed to create an opening for Doll-san.
I slowly crawled my way toward the sword.
And since they were not looking at me, I successfully moved closer to it and got a hold of it.
The handle of the sword was covered in blood. My palm shuddered, tainted by liquid red.
It felt disgusting. I didn't like it, but I still grabbed firmly onto the handle.
Once I held it, I looked back again at the people who were not looking at me.
I need to get closer... to create an opening.
I crawled carefully, with my sword firm in my hand. I moved to the back, to the place where they wouldn't look.
And once I got closer, I could see my father's back becoming larger and taller.
...
Stab...
I need to stab him...
That's what my mind was telling me to do.
But my hands... started to shake, my heart began beating quickly.
The sounds around me were muffled and chaotic.
...
There was...
Hesitation and fear.
Budump Budump
I could hear my heart pumping loud.
My body was shivering from the fact that I was going to stab someone.
I was going to hurt somebody... But it's not just hurting somebody... I might kill them...
And the person that I would do that to... is my father...
The father who didn't love me... The father who didn't care for me... Who beat me and didn't want me to leave my room and this place.
...
Ahhh...
Why am I scared? Why am I trembling?
I looked at the sword in my hand. Didn't I say that I want to help Doll-san?
Why stop moving now?
...
...
Am I? Scared to kill somebody? Am I scared to hurt my father?
...
...
I am...
I am scared that he will always do something back to me if I do it.
It's scary…
I can see him doing it right now.
CLANG
Deep in thought, the clash of the swords became louder and clearer, making me look in that direction.
The sounds were becoming more relentless, as if Doll-san was becoming more desperate.
I could not see her from my spot, but I could feel it. I could feel how she wanted to leave already. She was desperate not only for herself but also for me.
She is not hesitating to fight.
For the future.
...
I need to do this.
I need to stab my father...
I need to stand up.
...
The shaking of my hand gradually stopped. My heart was still beating loud but going steady.
...
My eyes focused on my father's upper back. I put my other hand on my sword and held it tight.
...
I slowly stood up, silently and sneakily.
I took my step forward and readied my sword to stab him.
Sorry father...
I don't want to do this but...
I WANT TO HELP DOLL-SAN!
I then bent my knees and launched myself toward him. My sword pierced deep from his back, through his chest. And the blood splashed back to me.
"GAHHH!!!!"
My father quickly looked behind him and saw me with my hands still holding onto the sword.
I looked at him, and when I saw his face of true anger, I trembled.
…
Ahhh. there it is..
…
"YOU BRAT!!!"
The object that shot Doll-san was now pointed at me.
I looked at it with terror. I already knew what would happen.
Ahhh... ...
Everything then felt slow. As if time had stopped.
...
Doll-san.
I am sorry...
I think... something very bad will happen to me.
But... even so.
I am feeling somewhat happy. This is the first time that I fought like this. To do something good for someone.
The feeling of wanting to fight for a future. To fight and act for someone who has done a lot for me.
Doll-san
I was not... completely useless am I?
I then faced the eyes of my father and smiled.
Is this the final end?
Ahhh... I wanted to spend more time with her.
But even so... I am happy. I am glad I met someone like her.
This short but big gift. This is something I won't ever regret.
Hehe.
Thank you...
I hope Doll-san can escape this place.
For me... and for her.
I wish she can find happiness. Just like how I found her.
…
Really… Thank you for everything.
Goodbye. Doll-san
BANG