Later at school…
"Hey, Zizy! How are you?"
Florence dropped her bag on the chair beside me, smiling so happily — without knowing that I knew.
What she had done to me.
"Ahh… I'm fine," I said, forcing the words out.
I shouldn't blame her.
But I can't ignore the fact that she helped make me forget… her.
"Hmm, little down today?" Florence sat properly in her chair.
"Ahh nothing… I'm just… kinda narrow today," I muttered awkwardly, biting my lip.
"But I think you have something to tell me. You know you can tell me everything!"
"Ah — the teacher is here," I cut her off quickly.
"Huh?" Florence turned around.
"What are you doing, Zizy?" the girl whispered behind me.
"I thought we were going to help her?"
She sighed.
"You better keep your promise. I hated that guy."
(I know…)
I know you hate him.
I'm just scared of knowing the truth.
After school.
"Why are we here?" the girl asked while following me.
"Going home."
"How about Florence?"
"Ahhh later.."
"What later?"
"Let's just go home first..."
"No, we're not going home!"
She sounded frustrated.
"Zizy, what's wrong with you?"
I stopped walking.
I couldn't move.
"Where's the Zizy who told me we'd help Florence?"
"Where's the Zizy who promised to help me get rid of that guy?"
My vision trembled.
My chest tightened.
I know…
But I don't know why I'm so scared.
"I'm scared," I whispered.
"What?"
Suddenly—
CRACK
Like glass breaking.
Flashes of mirrors.
Reflections of my face splitting apart.
Whispers buzzing in my ears.
"Zizy?"
"Zizy?"
Then it started raining.
"I'm a mess…"
…
Raindrops blurred everything.
My mind went dark.
Someone's voice echoed through the noise.
"Hold my hand…"
Blur.
Alone
Blame
Guilt
Shame
Sabotage
Hatred
Selfish
The words repeated in my head, louder and louder.
....
"Sorry… you're just my imagination," I muttered, breathing hard.
"I must be crazy."
I turned away from her.
The girl stood frozen.
Her lips trembled.
She swallowed.
I kept walking.
She watched my back, eyes filled with something heavy.
"You're always like this… so hard to read…"
She took a deep breath.
Then she screamed into the rain.
"HOLD MY HAND"
The sound echoed.
"What?" My heart pounded.
I turned back.
The wind blew my hair across my face.
Rain poured harder.
Everything felt dim.
"You… you are her?" I said weakly.
She smiled.
And suddenly—
A memory flashed.
A girl…
Saving me…
From that incident.
It was her.
"Mi—"
I stepped closer.
"Miku?"
Her name slipped out.
Slowly… slowly…
The dark dust covering her face began to fade.
Like ashes drifting away.
Little by little, I could finally see her—
Her eyes…
Her face—
But before it fully cleared—
Bright headlights exploded in front of me.
A horn screamed.
I couldn't move.
A car crashed into me.
Everything went white.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
"ZIZY!"
Her voice tore through the rain.
But I never saw her face.
…
Somewhere else.
Dark.
Quiet.
"You failed."
"No… I didn't," Florence said, staring at the floor. "I did what you asked."
A person stood in front of her.
Black hoodie.
Black mask.
Face hidden.
Only their eyes visible.
They were holding a phone.
It rang.
They answered.
"Did you do it?"
"Yes," the masked person said calmly.
"I successfully killed Zizy."
Florence's head snapped up.
Her eyes widened in horror.
Her heart pounded wildly.
"What did you do to Zizy?!" she screamed.
"Shut her up. Now."
Hands grabbed her arms from behind.
Another hand locked around her waist.
"What are we going to do with her?" one man asked.
The masked person didn't hesitate.
"Do whatever you want. She's useless now."
Florence struggled, panic exploding inside her.
"WAIT! That wasn't the deal! LET ME GO!"
Her screams echoed—
But no one came.
The darkness swallowed her voice.