A person's worth can be dirt cheap or priceless.
Body, mind, soul.
Together, they might seem ordinary, but separated, their true value shines through.
Barry was a greedy guy—he wanted it all.
At first, he just planned to groom a promising follower, collect some faith, and keep things ticking along.
But the deeper he got, the more he realized how greedy he really was. He didn't just want Maria's faith—he wanted her soul, too.
I'm the big shot of Silent Hill, the acting lord of this place. How can I just have a bunch of mindless monsters as my crew? That's no way to flex.
I've gotta go big or go home.
He craved more. Much more.
So, he changed his plans.
Barry wanted everything. His sharp mind, a binding contract, and just a pinch of sincerity became his ultimate weapon.
I make friends with my whole heart!
Whether in life or death, it's a lifelong deal—he wasn't lying.
Heh heh heh! This is a jackpot.
Barry figured he'd be grinning in his sleep tonight.
Because, buy one, get one free—he didn't just lock in Maria; he got her twin sister, Alan, in the deal, too.
Maybe Alan had been stuck in Maria's body too long. Being identical twins, their souls had intertwined over time, impossible to untangle.
You're in me, I'm in you, forever tangled.
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No wonder Alan tried to stop Maria. Her signing the deal dragged Alan along for the ride.
Too bad. Too late.
Barry was about to be the biggest winner.
"Our relationship's changed so much, but why do I feel so… empty?"
The side effect of having a small piece of her soul taken as a down payment for the deal was hitting Maria hard.
The joy of becoming "lifelong friends" couldn't mask the loss of something vital.
What do I do? My heart feels so hollow.
Maria frowned, clutching her chest, even feeling a bit dizzy.
Barry patted her head, soothing her. "Relax, the dizziness is normal. You're dealing with a lot of emotional ups and downs, and you haven't been sleeping or eating right, so your body's freaking out a bit."
"R-Really?" Maria asked, half-convinced.
"Totally. Would I lie to you? Honesty's one of my few shining qualities."
"But I still feel so empty, so uneasy."
"Oh, I get it. You're just not used to our new dynamic yet. How about we make a deal?"
Barry had a lightbulb moment, his thoughts clicking into place.
"We're lifelong friends, so we should do things regular friends don't."
"Every day, take some time to hold the pendant I gave you, say my name, and pray for our friendship."
"It'll keep our bond tight and make our precious friendship shine even brighter."
"What do you say?"
Barry held out his fist, looking at Maria with sincerity.
"That's kinda weird, but… I like it."
Maria lightly bumped his fist, sealing the agreement.
Oddly enough, after making the pact, the emptiness in her heart did ease up.
Her body felt warm, comforting, cozy.
It wasn't just in her head—when their fists bumped, Barry activated a faint spark of revival energy in the pendant.
That energy slowly patched up Maria's body, repairing damage from her unhealthy diet and sleep habits.
It couldn't touch her soul, but it was enough to create a comforting illusion.
"It's getting late. Time to say goodnight, Maria."
Seeing her perk up, Barry was ready to bounce. He had to tally up his haul—tonight was gonna be a sweet dream.
"Wait, Barry, one more thing."
Maria leaned forward, stopping him as he was about to scuttle back to the ceiling.
She looked nervous, a bit shy, her pale face flushed, eyes full of uncertainty.
"What do you think of me… as a friend, I mean?"
Her soft blue eyes sparkled like sapphires, the timid girl mustering the courage to ask a question that had already been answered, sort of.
Was she doubting his earlier words, or did she just want to hear it again?
Barry sighed, a fond smile on his face.
Strands of straw extended from his fingertips, weaving with precision into a beautiful rose.
"You're like this flower. If I had one, I'd give it to you, because you're just as beautiful."
With that, the rose floated gently toward Maria.
"Alright, kid, any more questions? Uncle Barry needs his shut-eye."
Maria caught the rose, her face lighting up, her whole vibe brighter.
Looking hopeful, she asked, "When I go to sleep tonight, will tomorrow be a good day?"
Barry answered softly, "I'm sure it will be, Maria."
"I'd bet my neighbor Freddy's lifespan on it—tomorrow's gonna be great."
"Because my wisdom, my strength—they're with you."
"Goodnight, Maria."
In the darkness, Barry crawled upside-down across the ceiling, leaving a lingering silhouette.
"Goodnight, Barry."
Maria's long night came to an end.
…
The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The alarm clock blared, vibrating loudly.
Time to get up.
Despite staying up late, Maria woke up feeling energized, not tired.
On her nightstand was a pink diary, their old way of talking.
Out of habit, she flipped it open to the latest page, skimming familiar words, then remembered.
She hadn't written a new question last night, so there was no new answer.
"This… I don't need it anymore." Maria looked at the diary, thought for a moment, and locked it away in the deepest part of her drawer.
"Barry, you awake?"
Standing on a chair, Maria tiptoed to peek at the gap above the wardrobe.
"I'm right here."
Maria spun around. Barry stood by the window, his chibi-style big head flashing a grin. "Morning, Maria. Ready to take on this crappy world?"
"M-Me?" Maria blinked, pointing at herself, still processing.
Barry jabbed a finger at her, eyes sharp. "That's right, you. Recruit Number One, Maria—are you ready?"
Maria snapped to attention. "I'm ready!"
"Who's ready?"
"I'm ready!"
"Nice! That's the spirit."
Barry nodded, satisfied.
"From now on, I'm coming with you to school. Any problems, just call me. I'm your big bro, the coolest one you'll ever have!"
Maria gave a mock salute. "Yes, sir!"
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