014's Dorm
Arsenic: She ran into the dorm, and slammed the door behind her. Her chest heaved heavily with each breath, and she was almost smacking herself with her tail with each mighty lash it gave. Her spikes scratched the wood.
It was like her vision was growing dim; or perhaps, growing brighter? She couldn't tell, and didn't care. She stumbled over to the bed-- the bed she used to own-- and moments later did her face bury into those sheets, dripping them wet with her tears. Thank goodness her weeps were muffled, so nobody could hear these pathetic, useless noises.
Arsenic: "Why...why did...sniff..." She spoke into the bed, barely comprehensible through the deadened sobs. "Why was it you? Why couldn't you be here now? Why...?"
She couldn't take it anymore. She thrust her head up, claws digging into the blanket, as she yowled. "Why!? WHY!?"
???: "...Arsenic..."
A whisper on the wind. A small voice, brushing up against her ear.
Arsenic: And she froze. Tears still freshly plopping onto the bed, she looked around, expecting to see another ghastly figure, a mockery of what she once loved...
...But, no. There was nothing. Nothing but the voice.
???: "...I wish I could hug you right now, dammit."
It spoke again.
Arsenic: ...That familiar voice...it sounded like...
"Firestarter?" She whispered, unable to believe her own ears...no, she couldn't believe her own ears. "...How do I know you're real? There's- there's no way you're real! My mind is just..."
She held her head as it throbbed, sniffling. She snarled a wordless curse upon the world.
???: "No need to believe in me. I can't prove it to you." The voice replied. "But...c'mon, I can't bear to see you like this."
...A warm sensation surrounded Arsenic.
"Do me a favor, please. Don't kill her. You're better than this. Burn this last bridge down for me. So you can live on."
Arsenic: She was speechless. Her mouth stayed agape as this warmth bloomed around her, like a touch she desperately craved. The tears continued to flow.
...Before the voice, as it tried to speak again, was suddenly snuffed out. It grew quieter and quieter, saying its last words.
???: "Please. For fuck's sake, I love you."
Arsenic: There was nothing but cold in its wake.
A horrible sensation wracked her body, like pure agony had been shot through her bones. Her vision blurred again, the moment of light drowned out by a chorus of familial voices.
???: "Kill her! Kill her!" Brother said.
"Please, darling! Strike her down!" Mother said.
"You have to do this! For us! Go!" Father said.
Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said. Brother said. Mother said. Father said.
Arsenic: Over and over and over.
By the end of it, when the voices finally stopped and she could see her own hands again, she was curled up on that bed like a scared kitten. Her lips shook, her eyes bloodshot, as an uneven smile was forced onto her face.
There was only one way to make the pain stop.