I froze as I found Hime and Dino injured and on their death beds.
“YOU SAID YOU WERE JUST GOING FOR A QUICK LOOK!” I sobbed, “You lied…”
“Like you lied about everyone else’s deaths?” Dino asked.
I paled.
“Chero…we got the key…” Hime said, holding a bloodied hand out to me.
“Amore…you have to escape…we did this for you…”
“I can’t! I won’t leave without you! I’m staying here…with you.”
“Mother will give you a beating if you don’t listen…” Hime said.
“Eeesh…She will make it worse if you don’t go…”
“I’ll run…and then Hime will chase after me…because I misbehaved….” I said.
“I’m so tired…I think I will rest….” Hime said, closing her eyes.
“Hime…? Hime….?” I asked, shaking her.
She would not move or wake.
“HIME!” I sobbed, hugging her cold body.
“Amore…” Dino said.
I pulled away from Hime and looked at his wounded body.
“I can heal you!” I sobbed.
He shook his head and pulled me close with what strength he had left, “You have to live…Promise me…”
“I promise! I promise!”
I leaned in and kissed him. He smiled.
“Te…a….mo….”
Dino went limp, his arms falling from me. I closed his eyes and backed away.
“DINO! HIME!” I sobbed.
Even when I followed different paths…no matter what I did…They still left me…If only I hadn’t heard the rumor on tumblr…if only I hadn’t told Jenny…No. This is no good. I’ll just have to try harder…
What was I supposed to say next again? Whose life was in danger next, again? What…do I have to do next?
How many more times will I be allowed to make mistakes? How many more times will I have to lie? How many more times will I have to see my friends die?
I made them so many promises…But when we met next…they had forgotten all about them. We had bonded and grew closer…like a family, but when we met again…Things were back to normal. I don’t want them to forget…But…What can I do? What do I do? How can I get them all out of here?
It’s…hopeless…I feel like my head is going to burst…I want to try harder…and harder…but….I am so…very tired…
