Mike's Shattered Bonds

I woke up in my deathbed. No, I wasn't dead but I wish I died. Back then, we were about to escape. All of a sudden, Rik pushed me to the portal. The last glimpse I managed was seeing her falling down - away from me, out of grasp. Dan had filled me in on the details two days after I finally opened my eyes. We were missing for six months, how was that possible? We spent less than two weeks in Satyro's home. Another mystery was me getting back sooner than Dan. He entered a portal first but somehow came later. He also told me of Rik's notes that he found. That brat. Always trying to look cool. She clearly knew that's my job. I'm older and stronger. Did she think I would be too stupid to survive the demon world alone? Why did she not say anything? I was there - beside her. Why did she have to push me in? Traitor. You betrayed me.

I couldn't help getting hurt about it - about her decision. We've always been together. We were partners in crime. I confided in her about everything. Though she never told me much about how she really felt on anything, she always came to me in times of need. We've faced countless troubles together. I thought we were close enough. I thought she trusted me enough. She abandoned me. She did save me, but the grief I'm feeling must be worse than death itself. How can you do this to me, Rik? The confusion was driving me insane. My first few weeks in the hospital was torturous. I've never felt so useless and pathetic. I couldn't move around and was covered in bandages. My shoulder injury was severe and I was forbidden to get out of bed without anyone supporting me. Ris was surprisingly there, saying she had a lot of free time. She came almost every day - bringing food and a few interesting things to keep me out of boredom. I bet she was trying to distract me. She was probably worried I'd do something stupid because of what happened. She wasn't wrong.

Nine weeks after I woke from the coma, I did try something foolish. I was depressed and lonely, so I sneaked out of the hospital and went to the western woods. I was thinking I'd be able to find at least one portal big enough to transport me back to the demon world. I spent hours looking for one. I didn't find one. When I was finally exhausted - physically, mentally, and emotionally - I decided to go back to the hospital. Dan, Ris, and a few other soldiers were already waiting for me by the forest' entrance. That Dan, nothing slips past him. Somehow, he knew where to find me. He knew I would do what I did. He must be as anxious as I, though he never showed it. He almost dragged me back to the hospital and warned me not to do anything like that again. After that act of recklessness, there were soldiers outside my door - guards. It made me feel even worse. The feeling of helplessness was slowly eating me up. Ris has been doing her best to cheer me up, but I just couldn't smile. How can I smile not knowing whether Rik is safe or not?

Rik. I punched the wall in frustration, feeling the slight gash in my knuckle. Just what were you thinking? Have you forgotten the promises you made to yourself? You said you'd protect everyone in the orphanage. Liar. The grief I was feeling turned into rage. I was mad at myself, mad at the world, mad at the monsters, and mad at you. The next time we meet I'm going to smack you in the head. So come back soon, okay?