I couldn't speak not because of the fear , but because i had no answer. My whole life was covered in the questions.
It cut deeper than the blade.
"To give everything up."
She waited.
"I lost everything. Family. Home. My past. It vanished. I thought… what's left?, but regardless i ran away from what i should've protected , comforted".
I swallowed.
"I destroyed what i loved, i made a choice which i couldn't change."
Sorry to disappoint you but my identity as no meaning, because i don't know who i am or what i should be. Am just one if the numerous survivors which lost meaning in surviving.
Her hand struck the dashboard.
"Shut up."
She wasn't angry as i thought she was but something worse.
She was broken, i thought she was just upset of what i said but those were lies.
And for some reason, she hated seeing me reflect that same fracture. Maybe i had reopened a wound which should have been kept closed.
"You think you're the only one?" Her voice cracked. "The only one who's blamed themselves?".
Her eyes—glassy, trembling.Slowly filling with tears, her scent was becoming more toxic. I could feel the air thinning around her.
"I did that. I lived it. I lost more because I couldn't forgive myself.But i found that even if i didn't forgive, i would always forget it."
The pain is what gave me the urge to grow stronger, to survive through the deaths and misery.
I didn't want to cry.
But I did.
"…Thank you, Rose."
She didn't reply
The toxic scent was replaced in an instant with a sweet scent of roses.
But as the car swam in the scent of roses—
I slept.
---
I woke in quiet.
A coat draped over my shoulders.
Warm.
Rose stood among flowers. Alone in a field of bloom.
"Sleep well?" she asked, voice soft.
I nodded.
" I was wondering how you were able to keep calm when i was releasing the poison, but it seems your just calm."
I was a bit surprised that the toxic smell was poison but i tried my best to hide that fact.
I looked at her again and asked.
"Where's the Academy?"
She hesitated.
I can take you there but,
"I can't come with you."
She pressed a rose into my hand. And whispered.
"Don't take this as a threat, but its best you grow stronger in those few weeks, or else, i can guarantee you won't survive the scape"
"It was nice meeting you, Night."
Then the world blinked out.
And when my breath returned—
I was standing before towering gates.
The Academy.