Let's kill each other in another world

A wave of relief washed over him as the puppy ornament was reduced to ashes. It was the start of his new life. Juno knew that he a problem, and he was going to work through it. Letting go of that ornament he made all those years ago was a good start. He could finally breathe easy. On his way to the island, accompanied by the scouts, he was told what he need to learn. Especially about the island itself. He wouldn't lie, he thought everything sounded insane. Like really, angels and demons walking the streets with dragons and ghosts? That sounded like a whole other universe, specifically one that belonged on TV. But of course, they made him explain the poltergeist-level of chaos that happened in his room where he got a large shard of a mirror on his chest. To which he had to conceed. On the bright side, if he ended up dead because he followed some con artists that were actually luring him into one of those darkweb red rooms, then he wouldn't have to deal with moving on. Well it turned out that everything the scouts were telling him was true. He saw for himself creatures of myth walking among humans. Or at least what he assumed were humans. It took a fair while to get used to. He was going to be staying in the dorms of the school, which was a great deal considering he had no way of affording lodging, save for going to work. If nothing else, that would be his only option. He wasn't yet officially going to classes for one reason or another, so he simply stayed in his room and in his boredom, practiced with the tarot cards. He never had a successful prediction before, but he supposed it was the only thing he could do since it was already pretty late. He didn't even get to tour the island, but he supposed he had time to do that the next day, so for now this will have to do. He drew a couple of sets, and in all of them, he noticed that Death was always in there somewhere. What were the odds of those happening? He'd done over a dozen, and that always came up. He was slightly worried since the scouts had told him that he apparently has the power divination. Which he couldn't help but laugh about when he considered that none of what he tried before ever worked. Otherwise, he might not have... fallen so far. Packing up his deck, he set the cards aside on the nightstand. And got changed for bed. It was a long trip getting here, and he could use the rest. When morning came, he went out to start exploring the island. Or at least the school to get to know the place. Though before he set out, something peculiar happened. When shuffling through his suitcase, his hand brushed against Marguerite's ring and a stream of images flashed before his eyes. He saw here, saying his name. And then it was him, drawing out his switchblade that he often used to carve wood, and plunging it into her. He felt sick. What the hell was that all about? He must have still been dreaming. Whatever. He explored a bit, but among the crowds of students, he was sure he could glimpse a familiar face. "Marguerite?" No, no way! It was just his mind playing tricks on him. It was over! He wasn't going to think about her anymore! She's gone! She doesn't matter! She's as good as dead to him! As the day went on, he went to the edges of the school to see if he could find a place where he could sneak off to when he started actually having classes. But yet again, another sign of her reached him, this time, he heard her voice from behind a hedge. He wanted to look, but he stopped himself. No, stop! This has to end! There is no way she could be here! Plenty of people sound alike! This isn't her! Stop thinking about her! Maybe it was time to go somewhere noisier and drown out the thoughts and hopefully get himself distracted. He went outside the school, hanging around the gate to decide which way he'd go first. And wouldn't you know it... he saw her. His blood boiled. Why couldn't she just leave him alone?! He was trying so hard to forget, but why does she keep popping up?! He wanted to scream. His chest ached and his heartbeat just raced. He glared at the figure walking away from him. He had to deal with his phantoms. Yes, that's what he needed to do. He'd just confront the woman, see that it isn't Marguerite, and hopefully stop all these hallucinations. So he followed her. And followed her. He was just waiting for a moment to catch her when no one was looking. But the longer he followed, the more agitated he became. Just stop for a minute! Trip! Wait for a bus! ANYTHING! He didn't know how long he was following, but his time was forced when he saw her turning towards a house. It was now or never. He picked up the pace, teeth grinding and hands balled into fists. He walked up to her and was about to say something when she suddenly turned around. His heart again shattered. She spoke his name. His hand brushed against the pocket knife in his pocket. And then she lunged towards him, trapping him in her arms. "Marguerite?" No! This couldn't be! WHY! She was saying things that caught him off guard. She was crying. He was frozen in place. He recognized her scent. Her voice still sounded so lovely. Why did she have to torture him so? What did she get out of this? He was finally free! And now this?! He was taken back to a time where everything was still solid between them, before all the scars and hurt. Back to the time when she cried like this. It felt just like that day. Why wouldn't she just die?!

He could kill her now. This would all be over. She would be out of his life forever. It would be so easy. But damn it, she let go... No, what was he thinking? He couldn't just kill her. Not like this. He couldn't do it like this. If she wasn't looking up at him right now, he'd be shaking his head to get these messed up thoughts out of his mind. But... she would deserve it. Looking at this nice house of hers, she hit the jackpot. But maybe he should have seen it from the ring she gave him. She got lucky, and deemed him out of her league. And yet she had the audacity to call herself trash? Then what was he to her? What was lower than trash? Was that how she saw him? Who would have guessed that this was how she would treat a friend? Yell at her? He wanted to do that so badly. Give her a piece of his mind. Juno couldn't find the words to say at the moment. Would he speak his mind or try to console her? He could end it all right there, just tell her off and that would be the end of it. She thinks she's all fancy now, well he's already moving on! And yet he couldn't stop feeling like he needed to make amends. For old time's sake, let this relationship end on a softer note. She was frail, and he doubted she could take as much as he had suffered for six years. Six. Years. She invited him in, holding him by the hand. This warmth... it felt so... nostalgic... He found himself allowing her to lead him into her house. Why? Just to rub it in? So she could show off what she got? So she could validate her status by comparing it to him?! Juno felt sick in his gut. "Okay," he'd say with a little hesitation. For old time's sake. He had so many questions to ask her. So many mysteries that haunted him to that day. So many... frustrations he wanted resolved. Juno took a breath and sighed. He needed to calm down. His mind was starting to drift to places it shouldn't be drifting to. He told himself before and he was telling himself again, he didn't want to hurt anyone. Least of all her, even though she would deserve it for what she put him through. Why just why did she have to go and cut him off like that? She climbed the ladder and in that climb she threw away his line. She was already at the top, why would she care about him now? He was below her in every single way. He just wasn't good enough.

Her hands were shaking... was he wrong? Was she really trying to make amends? Okay, he'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But only for today. He still wanted answers, but he couldn't get them right now. He'd have to wait until he got the layout of this house. Her family could be here, and he started demanding now and they heard him, they might very well call the cops. What a bastard of a situation this was. He was so close to getting his answers. Juno was lead to a room where he could just sit down for a bit. But she... she just had to ruin a moment's peace, didn't she? She was asking him not to shut her out. A rich request considering she was all too happy to do the same to him six years ago. And yet, she says she'd rather die than know that he hated her? Well luck was on her side this time as well since he could just about grant her that wish. Maybe he'd even make it quick. God, he was losing it. 'You're still the only person who--' Who what? What did she want to say? Just say it! He just watched her as she turned and went into the kitchen. Yet another mystery he'd have to pry out of her. His chest tightened so much he could hardly breathe. This pain was all too familiar. Not again, just not anymore, he was tired of this! He heard her call from the other room, saying that he could watch TV if he wanted, that this home was as much his as it was hers. Best friend priviledges? Funny how she thinks she could just get away with calling him that after what she did. He needed a distraction. He turned on the TV but didn't care what channel it was on. He just wanted some background noise to drown out the silence. With his face in his palm, Juno wanted to do some introspection, and maybe think about what all of this meant. The cards, the strange vision... the way he was feeling right now. He had murderous intent, and he had the tool that could do the job. Again, he found himself thinking how easy it would be, and he hated it. He hated the thought of doing it no matter how much he wanted to. And then Marguerite's shriek pulled him back. He quickly stood up and made his way to the kitchen to see the mess. Did she burn her hand? "What happened?" he asked as he walked in. "Show me your hand." While he still looked angry, he was also a bit concerned. Because no matter how he'd spin it in his head, she used to be a good friend. The only one he had for a long time. He really wasn't in the mood to be playing around, so if she didn't do as he asked, he'd have grabbed her by the wrist so he could see where she got burned. And then he would take her to the nearest faucet and let her hand just bathe in running water, which was colder than room temperature. "Ice should help. If not, the cold water will do." He kept his eyes averted from her face. "What were you trying to do?"

His hatefulness was turned to mere annoyance when he learned that she was going to make some barbecue for him. So she still remembered that? Why was she acting this way? Why all this effort? Did she actually feel guilty for all those years? Well she should. If only she knew the hell he'd been through just looking for her. It wasn't his intent to burn her with his angered gaze, but then again he never was one who could control how he'd look in front of everyone. But just why did it even matter? This moment, he knew, was only going to be a fleeting one. Once she got what she wanted out of him, then he'd just go back to being this puppet. No this was all an act, he was sure of it. She is talented enough to bend people how she liked. He fell for it once, he wasn't going to fall for it again. He could just give her a smile and it'll all be over. She could go back to ignoring him and he could start pretending he didn't know her. As much as his heart wanted reparations in blood, he couldn't bring himself to draw his knife. She was wrong, this was where he wanted to be. Here, he could choose to make her hurt the way she hurt him. Or he could save her the agony and grant her wish of dying instead of being burdened by his hatred. Marguerite continued speaking, making herself sound like she had been the one suffering. "That's enough." Juno turned to look at her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He wanted to squeeze her so badly, tear her up limb from limb. It took so much effort to keep himself from physically hurting her. If his hands just slipped, he could wring her neck. Snap it in two if he wanted. But no, he had things he needed to let off his chest too. "Six. Years. Marguerite." His words seeped out like venom through clenched teeth. He had to do so much just to keep himself in check. He should be screaming at her right now, but he couldn't. If he started, he knew she wouldn't survive the rest of his visit. "It's true. I do hate you, I've hated you since the day you left. What happened, Marguerite? Answer me this. I've looked for you for six years. Did everything in my power to track you down. All so I could just see you again and apologize. What did I do wrong, Marguerite? You were the closest person to me. You were the only person I've ever felt a connection to. You understood me. So what made you cut me out of your life? Didn't we promise each other that whichever one of us got adopted first, we would still talk? Visit each other? Do everything we could so we wouldn't lose touch? You broke that promise. You broke it! You broke it!" A sharp pain hit him in the head. He released a hand from her shoulder so he could pinch his temples. "Did our friendship mean that little to you, Marguerite? Was your new family so great that you didn't think I was worthy to be talking to you? Let alone see you?" He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the rose gold ring with a thin chain through it. He let it dangle in front of her. "Does this even mean anything? Or did you just see this as charity? A consolation, knowing that you've moved up from me? I tried, Marguerite! I tried to be as good as you! What was I missing?! I tried to make myself better! I tried so you could see me as an equal! I tried so hard but it just wasn't enough, was it?! What did I need to do?! Just what?!" "Please. Tell me why. What was I missing? Where did I go wrong?"

Six years, one month, twenty six days and 5 hours. So she has been keeping track? Of course. He wouldn't have expected any less from her. But that didn't change anything. Facts remained facts. His blood returned to its boiling point as she went about how everything she had had gone to hell. Oh how he wanted to rip out that throat of hers. "I'm sorry! Alright?! All I wanted to do was surprise you! And you just cast me out like garbage!" He felt a sudden pain on his cheek that caused him to drop the ring. It was nothing compared to how hurt he was feeling right now, but it left him stunned, sobered him up enough for her words to get through to him. His ear might have been ringing, but he heard everything she had to say. But it did little to calm him down. And he turned his head back to her, the look of shock returning to anger. Marguerite just hit him, he just realized. She dared to get physical first. He had every right to retaliate, but he knew that once he started, he couldn't ever stop. He fought back the blackness of his vision as his body wanted to hurt her so much. He wanted blood. She needed to be taught a lesson. She needed to shut up. Juno closed his eyes and breathed. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Calm down just a little bit. "Maybe you shouldn't have, Marguerite," he'd say quietly, clearly still fighting with his rage. "Because of you, I've lost six years. You should have been selfish. You were too good for me. I knew that. I never cared about your looks. I never cared about your flaws. I never cared about any of that. I cared about you, Marguerite. You say you loved me, so you set me free? I spent all our time apart trying to get back to you! But it was like you didn't want to be found! THINK ABOUT IT, MARGUERITE! Six years, one month, ten days and twelve hours! That's how long I tried to find you! I only stopped because I was moving, and that there would be no chance for me to see you again! And yet, of all places, this is where you jump back into my life! You tore me apart, Marguerite! And you're telling you kicked me out of your life because you cared?! Think just how much time I spent looking for you! Would someone who didn't care about you spend that much time looking for someone he could never have?! I never cared about what scars you had! I never cared about what flaws you had! I only cared about you!"