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That thing is pounding inside Noelle’s chest again.
It feels like it is mocking her.
It makes her eyes swell up with tears.
It is 12:00 PM when Noelle and Susie visit Kris’s house.
It is 12:03 PM when Noelle locks the soul in the bathroom— down in the drawer.
It is 12:05 PM when Kris asks Noelle to talk alone together.
It is 12:07 PM when Kris starts to talk, albeit very quietly.
“Noelle,” Their breathing is uneven. Noelle observes that they are nervous— but even so, they smile at her gently, and she almost has to calm herself down from running away.
“Honestly, I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you all day.”
Noelle nods, almost to signal Kris to keep talking.
“Noelle.. er, about last night.. you told me Berdly was going to get better.”
They stop and look towards Noelle.
She is visibly shaking. Her hands are balled up as she grips the flannel that Dess gave her.
They continue.
“You kept telling me sorry over and over.”
Noelle breathes out. Her breathing becomes uneven.
“And.. you told me—“
It is 12:09 PM when Noelle notices the red soul that glides on the floor like ice. And it is too late when she realizes it is going straight at her- trying to get into her body again.
It succeeds.
Kris continues. “You told me not to mention anything about it again. But look, Noelle! It's just us here. Who would want to eavesdrop?—“
With any semblance of strength Noelle has left— she covers their mouth with her hand. She eyes them, signaling for them to stop talking. Her eyes are bloodshot, as the room around them turns duller and duller.
Kris sighs.
They reach out their hand— and stop Noelle from covering their mouth.
It is 12:13 PM when Kris starts talking again.
“Noelle..”
It is 12:14 PM when Noelle desperately pushes them away.
“Noelle?”
It is 12:15 PM when the soul starts taking over Noelle's actions— one by one.
“Hey— Noelle, your, kinda freaking me out over here..”
Noelle has lost all control in her limbs as the soul forces her to move closer, closer and closer.
Kris shuts their eyes.
And in a few seconds, Noelle can hear their thoughts.
(If you can hear me,)
(Say “green” or “purple.”)
*Purple.
Kris stiffens up.
(Say “blue” or “yellow.”)
*Blue.
Noelle desperately clings on.
(Say..)
(It didn’t burst into flames.)
(Say it didn’t burn.)
There is a tinge of silence before the soul answers for Noelle.
*It happened.
Kris opens their eyes.
Noelle desperately clings on.
Noelle desperately clings on.
Noelle desperately clings on.
*Equip.
Noelle desperately clings on.
“Is that..the ThornRing..?“
Noelle wants to tell Kris to push her away.
Noelle needs to tell them to leave her alone.
*Equip.
“No—“ Kris sighs, this time- it is them that moves slightly closer. “I- I get it. You just want me to become a better version of myself..right?”
Noelle tries to shake her head.
“It's okay, I get it. You would never do that.”
Noelle feels like she wants to throw up.
“You would never tell me to do those disturbing things,”
Noelle is going to throw up.
“Because the Noelle I grew up knowing,”
Kris feels warm, wet, uncomfortable tears that make their way into their eyes.
“Was a good person.”
*You let Kris equip the ring.
*You feel your hands giving out.
It is 12:20 PM when Noelle sees disturbing red cracks come out of the ring— and it fills her vision no matter how much she tries to close her eyes.
And if she focuses hard enough, she can almost hear Kris’s soft “thank you’s” and “It's okay’s” in her ear.
It is 12:55 PM when Noelle finishes brutally kicking away the soul, in the bathroom, as she numbly picks it back up and puts it back in her chest. The red goo of it still lingers on her fingertips.
It is 12:57 PM when Susie calls her back so that they can leave their house to go investigate further.
And it is 1:00 PM
When she sees Kris’s numb smile on the window,
And the ThornRing that encases their finger, and their hand that waves her goodbye.