Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“I lost,” Hanna whispered. She sat on her knees in the center of the bloody arena for a long time, unmoving. She stared at the scene with wide eyes. All those lives… I did this… I lost control. My friends were counting on me…. and I lost… Hanna felt numb and empty. Like a secret she had been striving to hide was revealed to the world in the worst way possible. No energy or motivation to move. No thought to think except that of failure and dread. I tried to control it… I tried… Hanna looked down at her trembling, blood-soaked hands and armor. Her stomach churned. Bile hit the back of her throat and her eyes stung. Hanna’s breathing was short and rapid, quickening the longer she sat there. Her ears rang. I lost. 

“...Hanna…” a muffled voice said in the distance. 

Hanna vaguely registered a voice in the background, but could not focus on what it was saying or who was speaking. She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching her and did not see the pair of boots that stopped in front of her. All she could see was red and all she could hear was the high-pitched whine in her ears that drowned everything else out. I lost.

“Hanna?”

Hanna blinked as her eyes focused on an outstretched hand in front of her. She looked up to see EDJ smiling back. Not an evil grin or a gloating smirk or even a polite mask. No. This smile seemed almost genuine. He won. He could end it right here and now if he wanted to. Hanna didn’t have the strength or will to fight back. Not anymore. “I think,” EDJ said softly, “You could use a break.” Hanna did not answer. She looked down at the open hand again. “Come with me,” EDJ insisted. Hanna hesitantly took the open hand and EDJ pulled her to her feet. “There we go! You had me worried there,” he said cheerily, letting go once she was standing. Hanna said nothing, but blankly stared at him. “For a second, you looked like you were gonna pass out,” EDJ answered the unspoken question. He picked up Hanna’s sword from the ground and gestured to the open door with a smile. There were multiple guards in the room with them, but Hanna did not notice. Hanna stepped toward the door and EDJ walked by her side. “A spectacular display,” EDJ was saying as he stepped over the expired bodies. “You made quite the mess, but don’t worry about that. You show incredible talent and power. I’m impressed.” 

Talent? Hanna thought, but said nothing. That’s what that was? I let her out. All that evil… All that death… did he know? How could he have known? I didn’t tell anybody. Not even Lui… 

EDJ continued to talk as they walked, but Hanna was not listening. EDJ glanced at her a few times, but Hanna’s face remained distant and cold. Empty. Exhausted. Hanna followed EDJ as he led her through the door and down a hall. She didn’t know or care where she was going. It didn’t matter. Her journey through the castle was over. The enemy had her weapon and she had no strength left. She wasn’t getting out of this alive, that much was certain. EDJ stopped walking, startling Hanna from her numbness. He turned and motioned to an open door in the hall. Hanna stepped inside a small room, the smell of food getting her attention. The room had a table set for dinner, complete with candles and roses, though the table was only set for one. EDJ walked to the table and removed a steel food cover to reveal a plate of steaming, delicious-looking lasagna. My favorite…? How did he know? The brief thought was quickly replaced with doubt. I bet it’s poisoned. 

EDJ pulled out the chair from the table. “Sit. Eat. You’ve had a busy day. I’m sure you’re hungry.” Hanna stood where she was, but looked down at her hands again. “Ah, of course.” EDJ pointed at a door in the room. “You can clean up in the washroom there.” He stepped up to Hanna and tilted his head, observing her. “Would you prefer to be alone?” Hanna nodded. “Very well,” EDJ said, turning to point out a few more things in the room. “If your phones still work, there are chargers along the wall. There’s a minifridge stocked with drinks by the dresser and there’s a bed behind that wall with a set of clean clothes.” He turned back to her. “I’m going to leave you in here alone to rest and recuperate, but I’m locking the door and placing guards outside.” He held up her sword by the hilt and pointed at it. “I’m also going to hold on to this for you. When you feel up to talking, you can use the phone I gave you or let one of the guards know. Okay?” 

Hanna continued to stare off into the distance, unresponsive. EDJ leaned to the side a little to look her in the eye. He spoke softly again when her eyes focused on him. “No hidden cameras. No microphones. Complete privacy. I promise. We can talk again when you’re ready. Okay?” He smiled sincerely. So sincerely it reminded Hanna of someone else. She looked away, but nodded. “Good!” He straightened and stepped back. “Take as long as you need.” EDJ walked around Hanna to leave the room and almost didn’t hear her when she finally spoke up. 

“That was your plan this whole time…” Hanna whispered.

EDJ stopped in the doorway and turned back curiously. “Hm?” 

Hanna glared at him, but her voice was void of emotion. “You were trying to release my evil side this whole time. From the moment I walked in.”

EDJ’s smug grin returned. “And it worked.” He walked out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him. 

As soon as EDJ was gone, Hanna’s wall fell. She inhaled sharply and covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. She collapsed into a ball on the floor and wept.