Chapter 20 – Do I Even Deserve To?

Chapter 20 – Do I Even Deserve To?

Why are you doing this again?!

Don’t do this to me!

...

Please!...

Please not again...

I didn’t know how long I would have been stuck in place, silently blaming everything I could. However, after standing there for only a few moments, my thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sharp screech of metal sliding over metal.

My ears reacted instantly, searching for the source of the sound. When I turned towards where I heard it coming from, all that I could see was a faint light accompanied by an occasional flash whenever I heard the noise.

Is she over there?

I’ll go to you.

Before I could even take a step, my question was answered when I heard a man shouting.

“Come on out already! *Grunt* I know you're back.”

That’s... not her...

...

“Didn’t you hear me?!” The shrill sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the room again, “Get out here and deal with your companion!”

Why should I?...

...

I can just... wait here...

...

That’s right...

I... don’t n-need anything else...

...

I-I waited seven years...

I-I can w-wait some more...

I... I...

I...

...

..

.

Tears started running down my face, disappearing out of sight into the darkness.

Please...

...

“What did you do to that little girl?!”

Raynelle?...

“I *Grunt* told you, I didn’t do anything!” The loud rattle from chains being pulled taut filled the room, “She’s standing right there!”

“Then let me go!” Raynelle shouted, “Let me go to her!”

Why?...

...

Why... are you still here?

...

I-I don’t need you...

...

I...

“...need her...”

My knees slammed against the cold stone floor, but I didn’t feel any pain.

...

Suddenly, I heard the chains clash against the stone floor, followed by hurried footsteps heading my way.

“Kit! Where are you?!”

...

I couldn’t bring myself to respond, although that didn’t matter as soon after, I found myself being lifted into the air.

“A-are you okay?” Raynelle asked, “Nothing happened to you, right? You’re alright?”

“...”

“Just... Tell me... I don’t know what to do for you...” She gently brushed away my tears.

I could never compare to her...

Why would she even want to see me again?

...

A-Aria said... that I could come back...

But...

...

No matter what I tried, I just couldn’t come up with a reason why a Goddess like her would ever want to see someone like me. Just from the pressure that I felt when I first saw her, it was clear that she just didn’t need someone like me. She could have whatever she wanted...

Why would she choose me?...

...

But... I need her...

...

I had already somehow held on for seven years, just hoping that I could meet her again. Now that I had finally met her again, I just couldn’t let her go.

I can’t wait another seven years...

...

Looking around the room, I saw a brush that Ava had brought with her a few days ago in an attempt to touch my tail. I had turned her down when she did, but she still decided to leave the brush in my room, which, at that moment, I was thankful for.

I-I’ll fix it...

I-I’m sure... If I-I look better... She’ll like me more...

...

She has to...

I-I need something...

I picked myself up off the floor and grabbed the brush off the nearby table before sitting myself back down on the floor with my pure white tail resting in my lap.

I guess I just-

“*Yelp*”

Instantly, my hand let go of the brush, but it stayed attached, dangling from my tail. As soon as I tried to run the brush through my tail, I felt an excruciating pain shoot up my spine as it pulled against the fur.

B-but... I-I have to...

I grabbed the brush and kept trying to force it through the fur, this time biting down on my hand to help bear the pain. Although, it didn’t help much...

“*Yelp*”

All it really achieved was muffling my cries of pain rather than stopping them.

Just go through!

As I kept pulling on the brush, tears started welling up in my eyes.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop! Don’t do it like that!” Someone shouted.

I turned around to see a blurry Ava barrelling towards me. As soon as she was in front of me, she grabbed my wrist, which caused me to let go of the brush.

“You’re just going to damage your fur like that!”

“...”

But... I need to...

I tried to pull my wrist out of her grip, but she wouldn’t budge.

“Look, I know you don’t want me to touch you, but please, let me at least teach you first.” Ava continued complaining at me, sounding genuinely panicked.

I need it now!...

I don’t want to wait anymore...

...

Looking at the brush hanging limply from my tail, I knew that there was only one way to fix this problem, but I was still reluctant to do it.

...

I looked up at Ava’s panicked face, then back down at the brush.

...

It’s f-for her...

I-I can do this...

...

I lifted the brush along with the attached tail using my free hand and held it out to Ava.

“Really?!” Ava asked, “Are you sure?”

I silently braced myself before nodding, and her face immediately lit up as she reached for the brush’s handle.

...

It’s for... Ovia...