Presea watched, frozen with mortification at the scene in front of her.

"Perhaps a dipping back would make enough room for the key crest? Or better yet, some off the shoulder thing?" Of course, at the mention of a new outfit for Presea, Colette and Sheena had jumped at it. They had begun planning before she had even gotten the statement out. Her bright cobalt eyes scanned their group, making calculations as she went. Her gaze stopped on Genis, who was rolling his eyes. He was probably making a sarcastic comment to Lloyd, judging by the older swordsman's bewildered expression. A pang shot through her chest unexpectedly, causing her to bring her hand to her chest subconsciously. She felt horrible, knowing how much suffering she had put Genis through. Memories flashed through her mind: him feeding her despite her refusal, his perseverance in the face of the Ozette people, him checking on her when she was upset, ect. What had she done in return? Allowed him to be hurt. She didn't deserve to even call him her friend. His head moved in her direction, and she adverted her eyes immediately. Presea, the girl who lost her soul. Presea, the girl who is empty. Presea, the girl who shouldn't be alive.

I might've been better off dead, she had once said. A part of her still stood by those words. However... her head turned to face the silverette, I am needed here. She would protect him, and earn the right to be with Genis. She had to. The will to earn her place in this world was all she had keeping her alive.

********************

"H-hi....Presea." Genis' face flushed and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "H-how are you?"

He seemed to be overly nervous again. That was probably her fault. She couldn't bring herself to carry on a conversation for long without the annoying pang in her chest.

"I am...well," she said flatly, her eyes vacant of emotion. The half elf opened his mouth to say something, but shut it and furrowed his brow as if concentrating on something.

"A-are you sure? B-because...you seem...k-kind of..." Her gaze met his and he blushed deeply. "Never mind."

"Genis," her gaze softened as she spoke. "I am sorry if I seem distant. I just need some time to wrap my mind around the previous predicament." Genis' eyes seemed to spark with life at her actually responding.

"O-okay! Just take your time, P-Presea." With that, he walked off and left her in the woods with just her and her thoughts. Presea set her mouth in a firm line and punched the tree beside her with so much force that her fist was embedded up to her wrist. A stinging sensation started, and it seemed to reside in her knuckles. Ignoring it, she drew her hand back and drove it into the tree yet again. The stinging became a throbbing, and this time she withdrew her hand to observe it. Presea stared numbly at the deep crimson liquid dripping off her hand, her mind barely registering she had not been wearing her gloves. Presea couldn't feel anything but the pain radiating from her hand, but her stoic expression remained indifferent. It was almost like the pain was waking her up, reminding her that she was indeed alive and breathing. So she continued, punching the tree until the tree fell over. By the time she was done, her arms were coated with blood dripping off her hands. Most of the skin on the top of her hands had been scratched off by the rough bark of the tree, leaving her hands burning intensely when the cool night air met it. She still remained calm as ever, and began slowly walking back to the camp. The pitter-patter rhythm of blood dripping onto the soft ground became calming. The moonlight glittered off each droplet, but she wasn't shaken. As Presea saw the campfire in sight, a high-pitched scream pierced the air. Colette.

"What is it Colette?" Presea faintly heard Lloyd's voice. She could barely make out Colette trying to get up and run over, but Lloyd grabbed the angel's shoulders and forced her to tell him what was wrong. Raine looked up from her book and gasped, scanning Presea. She stood calmly before them, allowing them to drink in her state.

"Presea, what happened?" Regal asked, absolutely appalled. She stared dully, her eyes flat and empty. Presea tried to take a step, but the blood loss began to affect her movements. She swayed, but stayed upright.

"Presea, talk to us!" Lloyd pleaded. Her gaze unfocused, and her eyes began to close. She slid down onto her knees, and fell lifelessly onto her face, limp as a rag doll. Her systems shut down, like she was drowning in an ocean of freezing cold water.

I'm sorry...

*************** 

Presea blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the morning sunlight streaking in through the tent. She felt a cool cloth on her forehead and the sound of footsteps nearby. Her groggy mind was still processing why she was lying in this tent when she had no memory of lying down here. Then it hit her. The woods. Anger. Blood. Losing consciousness.

"Are you awake?" a hesitant voice asked. Presea continued to lie on her back, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts processed.

"Yes." Her voice sounded crackly, and she cleared her throat. Presea turned her head to the side to see the source of the voice, but the cloth on her forehead slid off. Her eyes met those of Genis, who looked like he had not gotten any sleep at all judging by the dark bags under his eyes. He picked up the cloth, rinsed it, and rung it out before walking back over to Presea and kneeling by her sleeping bag. She watched him with rapt attention, pale blue eyes tracing every movement. He moved the cloth towards her forehead and she subconsciously shifted back. He withdrew his hand, looking into her eyes. Presea's eyes held a childlike fear of him, like she was looking at a stranger who was approaching her.

"Presea, please. Let me take care of you," Genis pleaded. She closed her eyes, squeezing them shut tight. He dabbed her forehead with the cloth, watching the lines on her face disappear as she relaxed.

"I'm so sorry, Genis," Presea whispered. She felt him gently, very gently, move her head so he could lay the cloth on it. She kept her eyes closed, helping her focus.

"What were you doing, Presea? Why would you hurt yourself?" Genis asked, his voice choked up. It seemed like he had built up a dam for his emotions, restraining them beneath the surface.

"I am not sure...I was just so angry, and I didn't realize-"

"Stop. You're scaring me. I - we just got you back. I can't...I can't bear the thought of losing you again." He sounded on the verge of tears. Each word weighed Presea down, making her regret everything.

"Genis," she opened her eyes, "I'm sorry I worried you. It is my fault alone for your sadness. Please, cheer up." She brought her hand up and brushed his smooth cheek, watching the first tear trickle down his cheek.

"Don't cry," she murmured. "Don't cry."

Genis simply got up and walked out of the tent without a word. Without Presea even realizing it, her eyes filled with hot tears. Why couldn't she do anything right? Don't cry, Genis. You don't deserve to be upset.

******* 

Genis stepped out of the tent into the fresh air, the tears on his cheeks feeling cold as the cool morning breeze met it. He quickly wiped away the dampness, and began walking to clear his mind. The half elf did not understand Presea. She seemed so distant, but not in the sense she didn't want to be with him. It seemed like she didn't deem herself worthy of conversing with him, and kept herself distracted. Genis knew he just needed to give her space, but it was unnerving. Her actions, such as the most recent incident, were concerning. What emotional turmoil could drive her to cause herself pain, and keep it all inside no less? Presea, you don't know what you're doing to me... Genis ran a hand through his messy mop of silver hair. He had gotten no sleep last night, for he had been taking care of Presea. Or rather watching over her. He had not left her side once while Raine healed her damaged hands, and refused to fall asleep just incase she woke up in the middle of the night or she needed her bandages checked. Above all, though, he was too shaken to sleep. The image of her coming back, blood dripping from her hands but a serene expression on her face, give him chills. Genis' thoughts flashed back to before he left, when she had kissed his cheek and told him not to cry. He couldn't help it; he cared about her. Too much, probably. However, when you're on a journey where everywhere you go you can potentially die, you get extremely close with your companions. Not only are they your friends, but your lifesavers, the ones who have your back in a fight and support you outside the battlegrounds as well. The leaves crunched under Genis' feet loudly as he continued on. His grew deeper and deeper in thought the longer he walked. I wonder what she was dreaming about last night. The image of her lying on the tent's floor, whimpering, choking back screams, and thrashing at times flashed through his mind. What awful things were her dreams filled with? Genis wasn't sure he even wanted to know. Presea, don't cry. You don't deserve to be upset.

************** 

Presea stared blankly at the spot where Genis had been a few moments ago, blistering tears dripping off her cheeks. Her mind raced as she tried to understand. He was...upset because of me...because I hurt myself...why would my pain concern him? Presea sat for a few moments, contemplating.

Well, if you saw him all bloodied up, wouldn't you be a bit upset, probably even shaken? said Presea's consciousness. Cold guilt washed over her like a bucket of ice water being dumped on her head. Her stomach dropped as the unpleasant feeling spread, and she gripped the coarse sheets in her fists. Her legs, as if by their own will, stood up and led her out of the tent. She was seeking...what was she seeking? What was her body looking for that her mind did not yet comprehend? The guilt from her earlier revelation still churned freshly in her gut, causing her extremities to go numb. She caught a flash of silver hair in the corner of her eye, and it made sense. She was seeking Genis. Now that her mind was in touch, she walked towards the woods that Genis had been walking along. He seemed very deep in thought, and she had to clear her throat delicately to get him to look up. His head perked up and his eyes held pain as his gaze met hers.

"Presea..." he started, but the pink-haired girl shook her head. She tried to form a word, but her voice failed her. It felt like she had swallowed a rock and it was still lodged in her throat.

"Presea, why are you crying?" Genis asked gently, staring at her tear-streaked face in confusion. Presea immediately lifted a hand to feel her cheek, and her glove came back damp with tears. She hadn't even realized she was crying.

"I-I'm...s-"

"If you're going to apologize, I don't need to hear that again. I just want you to be alright," Genis told her, cerulean orbs flashing with concern. Presea took a shaky breath.

"I am...unharmed."

"You know that's not what I meant."

Presea averted her gaze. She felt a light pressure on her head, and gasped before looking up. Genis' head was angled towards the ground, his hair obscuring all his facial features except his mouth that was set in a grim line. However, his hand rested softly on the top of her head.

"I know there's a lot about you I don't know. I know you don't feel like you belong anywhere, and I know you suffer every day from pain that I don't understand. Even so, I'm trying to be here for you, but you're pushing me away, and...and I don't know why. What did I do?" He never looked up once, but he removed his hand. His voice was choked and cracked, as if speaking was an excruciating experience. Except it wasn't. Presea knew she was the excruciating pain. She was what caused him to be so upset. This time, she had no words. Her mouth instantly dried, and so much guilt was crushing her she thought she might vomit. Presea's mind went into overdrive. What do I do? What do I say? What have I done? This is a mess! I...I need to get out of here! One word shone bright in her mind: Flee. So, like the coward she was, Presea ran away from Genis. His heartbreakingly passionate words still replayed in her head as she came to a stop by the tents. Her chest heaved up and down, not from physical exertion, but from the jumble of emotions running through her head.

"Presea...are you okay?"

Presea turned her head to come face to face with Lloyd, his warm brown eyes sparkling with concern in the morning sunlight. She swallowed, trying to rid herself of the lump lodged in her throat.

"Let me rephrase; Are you really okay? Don't try and act stronger than you are," Lloyd warned. Presea tried to regulate her breathing before responding.

"I am...horrible. I left Genis by himself all because I'm...a coward. Despicable," Presea spat. Lloyd furrowed his brow.

"Hold on...what happened?"

Presea explained everything that had happened from when she woke up to current time. Lloyd listened carefully to each word.

"Listen...I may not be too much help for a lot of things, but Genis has been my friend for as long as I can remember. He isn't mad at you, he just feels like he's...failed you. Genis has this sense of loyalty that ties in with his pride, and he's hurting right now because you don't seem to want his help. You just need to talk to him and show him that you do appreciate it and that you care about him as well, because that's all he wants to know." Lloyd ruffled Presea's hair slightly in reassurance.

"Thank you Lloyd." The young swordsman simply brushed it off.

"No problem."

So, the young ax-girl set off to find the young mage whom she had emotionally wounded and reverse the damage she had done. However, something felt...off. She just didn't know what it was yet.

***********

I know, it's so short. I've hit a bit of a dry spot in my story, or, in other words, writers block. Also this update is long overdue, and it's a bit anticlimactic. Updating for two stories is quite stressful. Anyways, I will plan on making the next update much longer, but life can be crazy. Oh, and a quick announcement! If you could check out my new story "Hold Me Again," I would be so grateful. I worked really hard on it. Thank you so much for reading, please vote and leave a comment (I love your comments, I check Wattpad everyday to see if anyone has left any new ones!). Love and darkness,

BE