Garrett found himself in a dark void. There's almost nothing here– only a white chair and someone, or something, sitting on it.
He had a humanoid shape, made of dark flames with crimson patterns all over his form.
Garrett could see him thanks to a single light bulb hanging above. Its wire stretched infinitely upward into the shadow.
The person crossed his legs, fingers intertwined. "Welcome." His voice was eerie.
A bead of sweat rolled down Garrett's forehead. "W-Who are you?" He started.
"I am Wrath, and I'm your second soul." The figure replied calmly.
Garrett was speechless.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
Garrett could feel the murderous aura emitting from this person, so he froze in fear.
"Would you like to switch?"
Garrett finally regained his composure.
"What does that mean? Stop talking bullshit."
Wrath chuckled ominously. "It means I'll take over your body for thirteen minutes. I will do good things, I promise." He smiled– inhumanly wide–revealing his crimson teeth.
"No! You're full of shit!" Garrett spat, flipping him off.
Wrath remained calm, still smiling. His red eyes locked into Garrett's.
"Very well. But you will need me sooner or later." Wrath chuckled.
The dark ground beneath Garrett slowly began to pull him down. He glared at Wrath one last time before getting completely engulfed.
…
Garrett's eyes snapped open. The warmth of Mizuki's hug instantly calmed him. "What was that…" he whispered, palm to the face.
He slid his hand down to his chest and glanced at Mizuki. Her breathing blew against his cheek warmly.
She's so adorable, He thought.
Garrett shifted his position and wrapped his arm around her, he rested his chin on her head as her ears twitched slightly.
Mizuki flinched slightly but ended up hugging him tighter.
Seeing this, he pulled the blanket over her. Mizuki let out a quiet purr before nuzzling closer to him.
With that, Garrett's eyes slowly closed.
But his mind was still lingering on Wrath's voice.
I can't sleep…
He shook off the thoughts and hugged Mizuki tighter, hoping it would make him fall asleep.
Didn't work.
Garrett opened his eyes in frustration. If that hadn't happened, he would've had a nice sleep. But of course, whatever happens… happens.
He stroked her snowy-soft white hair. "I'm so jealous that you're sleeping so easily." He mumbled, continuing to stroke her hair for the rest of the night.
Two hours passed.
Garrett still couldn't sleep, it seems like his energy replenished after he got back to his body.
The sound of hard, steady raindrops echoed outside the house and on the roof.
He sighed as the room got colder from the rain.
Mizuki shifted herself against Garrett's chest from the cold. Very normal cat behaviour.
Garrett shut his eyes again–even though he couldn't sleep right now. But he can relax, and this is the best time for him to do that.
The rain continued to crash.
Mizuki shivered slightly from the cold, even when she was already draped in his blanket.
She shivered again with her fluffy tail moving in a slow, lazy wag.
Her eyelids lifted slowly.
Sadly, he got knocked out by oxygen like twelve-minutes ago. So she was on her own now.
She couldn't see anything, because the room was dark and her face buried in his chest.
"G-Garrett?" Shivering and groggy.
"I-I'm c-cold…" her voice wavered.
Garrett's brow furrowed, his eyes barely open. "mmm… what do you want…" he mumbled, foggy.
Just by looking at her shivering body, he already knew what to do.
"Screw you." He shut his eyes.
Her eyes widened. "B-But I'm f-freezing!"
Right after that, Garrett emitted a strange fire-like warmth. "Can you shut now?"
Mizuki pouted, hugging him tighter and drifted into sleep without saying a thank you.
He exhaled–drifting into sleep as well.
…
7:03 AM
Garrett was still asleep. Mizuki already woke up. Guess who's the lazy one now?
"Wake up!" She crouched down and nudged him.
Right then, Shion walked into the room.
He stepped closer to her. "He's still sleeping? He wasn't like that yesterday,"
She stood up and looked at Shion. "What now?"
He shrugged. "Just let him sleep I guess? I'm going to sell kebabs today." Approaching his food stall and rolled it outside.
Mizuki walked toward the door and opened it for Shion.
She went to the kitchen, then out to the backyard.
It was patted with grass, which was already cutted short by Shion.
"Alright… Please work." She stood in front of a tree and raised her hand upward. A tiny fireball formed in her palm, as she could feel the heat building up.
Please work this time…
"Hellfire!"
She swung her hand forward. instead of flames, dozens of white flowers scattered outwards.
"Are you kidding me!" She clenched her fists, fuming.
She tries again and again.
It didn't take long for her to create a freaking mountain of white flowers.
"Why," She mumbled, staring at the mess in defeat.
Mizuki walked back into the house looking soulless.
Shion glanced at her moving out of the kitchen, while chopping wolf-meat.
She sat down next to the sleeping Garrett with an exhale. Looking at him gave her a mischievous idea.
She smirked darkly. "What if I… buried him?"
Mizuki reached out, casting that hellfire ability but with a different name.
"White!" she shouted. Flowers burst out, piling on him.
"You're going to clean all that up, Mizuki." Shion walked past her with cut wolf meat in a medium-sized leather bag, not even surprised.
She huffed. Her attention went back to the pile.
"WAKE UP!" She shouted.
A small grumble.
Then Garrett slowly crawled out with a tired expression. "Can't you just let me sleep…?" he laid there on his stomach.
"No! You have to wake up with me!" She shot her hands toward his black-hoodie collar.
Mizuki dragged Garrett to the backyard like a murderer.
She stopped after they were under the tree's shadow.
Garrett pushed himself up tiredly. "What now…?"
She smiled with a slight blush on her cheeks. "I want you to teach me how to use fire-type abilities!" Her voice was softer now.
He finished rubbing his eyes. "Then show me your best." He said flatly.
She stepped back, quite nervous. "Alright, here it goes." raising her hand upward, channeling her energy blah blah, and bam.
A pile of white flowers scattered all over Garrett as soon as she swung her arm down.
He blinked and just stood there. "Is this what you used earlier? I don't see any flames." tried his best not to tease her.
"Of course! That's why I dragged you here!" She clenched her fists.
He looked away. "To be honest," scratching the back of his head. "I don't know how to use elemental abilities either."
Mizuki squinted at him. "You're lying."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not. Why would I lie about that?"
"Because you're you." she crossed her arms. "Acting clueless so you don't have to teach me… RIGHT?"
Garrett sighed with annoyance. "Just in case you don't believe me," He raised his palm forward, and ignited it in a dark flame. "This is the best I can do."
Her jaw dropped at the sight. ears twitching violently, nearly stumbling backward. "HUHH!?"
"Hmm?" He shook his hand to put out the flame.
Eyes shimmering with determination. "C-Can you teach me that?"
He glanced around, then back to her. "Of course no, because that's impossible for you!" turning to the right and sprinting.
"Stop! I'm not playing around with you!" Mizuki followed him.
He dodged her like a pro–twisting, ducking, weaving–until his foot slipped slightly on a stray of white flowers.
"You're done for!" She shouted and lunged at him. Pinning him flat on the floor.
"Get off me! I ain't teaching you!" Garrett tried to crawl but Mizuki was somehow really heavy.
She shifted her weight and laid on his back. "Then I won't get off!" Her arms draped over his shoulders in a stubborn hug.
"Fine!" He frowned, looking away.
"Seriously!? You're not going to teach me no matter what!?" She yelled.
"Isn't that obvious enough!?" He said with mild annoyance and tried to glance at her.
"C'mon, just a short lesson! Don't be so selfish!" Squirming on Garrett, tail flicking.
He closed his eyes and stayed silent.
Mizuki pouted. "Alright… just like what you wanted." She got off him and stood up.
Slowly, he sat up and rubbed his spine. Despite not having any bones. "You're such a fatty…"
She froze. Her ears twitched.
"What did you just say?" She asked, and began to fume like a steam engine.
He dramatically shifted his position to face her. "I said you're a fatty–"
No time for him to finish. Mizuki lunged and sunk her tiny fang into his cheek.
Garrett was pinned on the floor sideways. "OKAY! OKAY!" He yelped and flailed. "I take it back! You're not a fatty! But soft, fluffy and beautiful!"
She paused mid-bite, eyes narrowed. "Really huh?"
"Yes!"
"Sounds like a lie, but I'll let that slide." She let go, crossing her arms and legs.
He covered his wound and sat up cross-legged. I feel deeply offended.
Garrett gave her a side-eye glare "That was painful y'know."
Mizuki glared back. "You deserve it because you called me fat."
They both stared at each other for a minute.
"Whatever." He flopped back on the floor again. arms sprawled.
Mizuki's lips parted slightly.
"Go away, or else I'm gonna eat you." He teased her.
She giggled. "Do it then, you slimeball."
"…"
A flicker of memory flashed through his mind–violence and slaughter.
He slowly rolled to his side, facing away from her. "No thanks… I'll wait for dinner."
"No thanks?" She said softly. still cross-legged, she scooted closer and placed her hands on his. "You're acting kind of weird."
"Go away, I'm not weird…" he said with a sluggish tone.
"No I won't. Want me to kiss you better?" She rested her chin on his upper arm, tail wagging.
Garrett groaned dramatically. "That's disgusting."
"Too bad, I'm doing it anyway." Mizuki leaned on his wounded cheek.
His eyes widened.
She pulled away. "Feeling any better now?" she asked, rubbing against him like a cat.
He turned and lay on his back. "Answer it yourself."
"Uh-hmm?" She murmured, lying down beside him.
Garrett glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
She grinned wider.
.
.
Suddenly, the main door slid open and slammed into the wall with a loud thud.
Shion walked in, casually tossing a small bag of platinum coins in his palm–up and down, with soft jingles.
Mizuki turned to look at Shion. "Was it successful?"
He smirked. "Absolutely."
She smiled and turned back to Garrett. Only to see him… asleep.
"Hehe, Sleep well." She rose up slightly and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Then, quietly, she stood and brushed her hair behind her ear. Approaching Shion.
He chuckled. "How lovely."
She raised an eyebrow. "What's so lovely?"
"You," Shion said, tossing the coin bag onto the table with a satisfying clink. "That kiss on your boyfriend."
"Not really my boyfriend, he's just…" she looked away biting her nail.
"Hm? Just what?"
"Just shut up! You're making me uncomfortable!" Mizuki yelled at him, fist clenched.
"Alright." he began walking toward the kitchen door. "Come if you seek cooking knowledge."
She narrowed her eyes with burning red cheeks.
"Relax." he slid the door open with his shoulder. "I'm just teasing."
She huffed, stomping after him. "You're the worst."
Shion could only smile at her silliness as they both entered the kitchen.
…
"Welcome back."
The familiar voice echoed. Garrett opened his eyes in a jolt of fear.
"Look who it is." Wrath said, sitting on that same chair–in this same void.
Garrett lifted his whole body up. Just to lay down again because of the sticky void goo underneath him.
"Why do you keep pulling me back here!? What's so special about me!?" he asked him with anger.
"Tomorrow. Who will die first?" Wrath clearly avoided his question.
Gritting his teeth, Garrett lifted his body up with all his strength, tearing one arm off the goo. "What are you talking about!? Answer my question first!"
The monster stared at Garrett blankly while he was pitifully tearing off the goo on his other arm.
Finally breaking free, he stumbled forward, fist clenched. "I'll kill you!"
As the invited–nothing could easily be done here. The goo tentacles rose up and restrained him completely, making him unable to move. Except his head.
Garrett grunted, attempting a futile escape.
Wrath stood up from his chair and materialized a bloody spear in his hand. "Surely you will understand."
"What?"
The monster's expression didn't change. His grip tightened on the spear–raising it beside his head.
"You'll see."
He hurled it towards Garrett.
SKRCH!
…
"AHHH!" He screamed, bolting upright. Sweats clung all over him.
"Garrett!?" Mizuki rushed over and sat beside him. Placing a hand on his shoulder.
His breathing was rough–shaky and uneven. Fear surged through him stronger than ever.
Without hesitation, she pulled him into a hug.
Garrett's breathing slowed down, therefore his heartbeat too.
Gently, she loosened her hug. "Let's eat, maybe talk about it later."
He gave a small nod.
She stood up and held out her hand. "Come on, I'll get you to the table."
"No need," he said, slowly pushing himself up. "I can walk."
Still a bit unsteady, he followed her and sat down on the floor by the table.
"That nightmare was rough huh?" Shion said, sliding bowls of vegetable soup toward them.
Garrett lifted his bowl and chugged down everything in one go–without spilling a single drop.
A quiet laugh escaped Mizuki while she sipped her soup.
"Slow down kid." Shion watched him with a small smile.
He set down his empty bowl.
With that, he stood up. There was nothing else to do, so he might as well sleep it off.
She watched him laying on his futon and curled in his blanket. "I… don't think that was just a nightmare."
"Don't worry, he'll get better eventually." Shion said, as he gathered the bowls. "You may as well go to sleep."
"Yeah… goodnight then." Mizuki stood up, walked over to her futon, and laid down. In Garrett's blanket.
Shion stacked up the bowls, headed to the kitchen, blew out the lanterns, and went upstairs to sleep.
Another day off…