Black Sheep

A Story's Other Half

Hissing through her teeth, she picks herself up, straightening out and trying to mentally prepare herself before opening her eyes again. She was aware of what she'd see, but it still made her stomach sick. Swiftly, her eyes flicked to the floor as she forced her feet to move towards him, her heart pounding in her ears as the voices whispered horrible things that made her want to turn around and flee. She stopped close to him once his lap was in view, and quickly, she tapped his knee with a trembling finger. She thought her hand might crumble the second she touched him, that he would snatch her hand in an iron grip and crush the bones to dust within the skin, shouting at her for disturbing him, but no such thing happened. Regardless, she had flinched away some, looking to the side. She had to keep her gaze off of him.

"P- Phil, please, wake up. We need to talk," she croaked out, her lungs constricting in her chest. She thought she might faint. Upon hearing the gentle and frightened voice, two sets of dark eyes blinked open, feeling rusted shut by the blood lining the lids. He had to rub them with his palm as his sight landed on his sheep. He froze, eyes wide with shock, before standing abruptly.

"Y/N, you're here." Happiness shined in his voice as he stepped forward to hug the woman he had been separated from only for her to release a terrified gasp and stagger back as she met his gaze. Again, he froze as she fell back with a hard thud and turned away from him with a hand clutched over her chest. His instinct was to help her, his claws itched to reach out and ensnare her, but to do that would only worsen it. He hated standing there, watching her cower and cry, looking as though he had beaten her. Faintly, his lip wavered as he brought his hand down and took a step back, frowning deeply.

"Forgive me, I just... I've missed you. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm not going to hurt you. You know I'd never hurt you," he spoke in the kindest words possible. Whimpering, Y/N's eyes skittered about anywhere, so that they would not be on him as her ears blocked out a majority of what he had said, twisting it up to something muffled and ineligible but suddenly paused when she spotted something near the throne.

On the floor was the fallen form of a familiar toy that depicted the terrifying demon in front of her. Had he... been holding onto it? She couldn't recall. She hadn't looked at him long enough, and even when she did, she had been distracted. He had to have, though. Her mind calmed after seeing it. Though it had his face, it was different enough to where the curse had no effect on it. Without realizing it, her breathing steadied.

What other reason would he be holding it if he wasn't thinking of her? She remembered how amused he was when he first saw it, the fondness in his eyes whenever he noticed or touched it. It was a gift she had made for him, and she could tell he treasured it. Even now, those whispers weren't enough to convince her that he didn't like that present. Catching her breath, Y/N mustered up the courage to speak.

"I... I had questions. Y- You said..." She gulps, closing her eyes again and slowing her breathing down more successfully.

'You can do this, Y/N. You made it this far.'

"You said you'd answer them."

"Of course," he breathes out softly, on the edge of his seat, waiting for her to keep going. He was nervous himself. Who wouldn't be when the person you love is acting like this? Seeming to struggle, Y/N picked herself off the ground yet again.

"I want to know... What even is there to explain?" She shook her head, squeezing her midsection to still herself as she added even more distance between them, wide eyes pointed at the carpet that was as red as the blood in that arena.

"I saw you... I saw you killing those people. I watched you drink th- that man's blood. You were laughing, a- and I had never seen you smile like that." Gaging into her hand, she suppressed the vile taste that tried to climb up as she saw that scene again. Phil's heart dropped as he lowered his own head and sat back down on his throne, hoping that it would ease her mind some if he weren't standing. He didn't realize just how much she had seen that day. Still, he spoke calmly, maintaining that soft voice, hoping that it'd get through the barrier laid by the curse.