I'm actually really excited to upload this chapter. It's very intense, but it was interesting for me to write. Trigger warning: violence, gruesome death, and depressing scene.

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I remained closed in that room, curled up in the corner. Akito was on his way to my location and the others had left to look for him. If the cursed ones found him first, it would all be over.

When I finally decided to get up, there was a meek knock on the door. I went to the door and leaned against it whilst holding the Flower of Despair in my hand. I didn't know whether to trust it was Akito or someone else.

“Ritsuko? Are you in there?” I heard a familiar voice whisper. It was him!

I ripped the chair from the door and everything else from it and unlocked it.

Akito stumbled through with a gun in hand. I gasped and threw myself at him. “Akito, it's really you!!”

He hugged me tightly and stroked my hair, “Oh, you're alright.” He sighed. I chuckled happily, “I’m just glad you came back.”

“Of course I would come back. I wasn't going to leave you.” He patted my back gently.

I pulled away and looked at him. “Did you see any of them? The twins and the others went after you not too long ago.”

“No, I didn't see any sign of them. This isn't Michael's house, this is an empty cabin in the middle of the forest.”

My assumption was wrong. “What? Then why would they take me here?” He shrugged, “I have no idea. The only way I found this was because I spotted some blood on the ground leading here.”

It must've been someone else's blood, because I hadn't bled that much as to make a trail.

I peered past the door to see the whole place was still empty. “I hope they don't find Rin.”

Akito shook his head, “They won't.” He took my hand and led me out the door.

He checked ahead of him while I looked back. That's where I escaped.

I was about to turn when I got a glimpse of something in the crack of the door. “Akito,” I started, tapping his arm. “What?” He whispered.

I pointed to the room. “Someone's in there.” My hand trembled. Akito and I looked at each other then to the door and slowly approached.

Akito put out his hand as he looked through the small crack to see what was in the room. I heard a labored breathing in there.

The two of us pushed the door open, Akito taking his gun off safety and pointing it. We both froze in our tracks.

Asher stared back at us with wide eyes. He was heavily bleeding and his prosthetic leg was cracked and pulled off from under the torn pants he wore. He tried to sit up, coughing. “N-no, please don't shoot!”

“Asher,” I made slow steps toward him. Akito muttered, “Ritsuko…” I held my hand out to Akito, signaling that it was alright.

Asher tensed up as I reached underneath my coat. “Wait, no.” He exclaimed, shuffling back. I mumbled, “It's okay, Asher.” I grabbed the Flower and pulled it out.

I saw the look in his eyes when he saw the Flower of Despair. He was terrified. “Don't be scared.” I assured.

Asher coughed a little and looked at me, “Are you gonna curse me again? If so, I'd rather you shoot me.” I shook my head, “No, Asher, I want to heal you. Healing you was all I wanted to do.” I looked down, “I just forgot what I really came here to Crysolia to do.”

“I should've done this a while ago. This is why its my fault I led all of you to this. I'm sorry….” I sighed. He shook his head at me, “You're not the one who made me do this. I made these choices, now I'm just paying it back.” He gestured at himself and his wounds, bruises, scratches, and tears.

I held the Flower to him and whispered, “Please, let me heal you.”

He didn't refuse when I scooted closer to him and took off my coat, revealing my red robe which I had put on earlier.

I looked at Akito and grinned a little. He put the gun on safety and put it away. He took a deep breath and stepped back.

Asher looked at his leg and asked, “Can you really heal me?” I nodded with a smile. “Of course I can. I'm the Despair Healer and it's what I'm supposed to do.”

“Grab one of the petals.” I ordered him. He slowly complied, seeming very cautious with the Flower. I didn't blame him.

I inhaled deeply, feeling the mark on my back start to pulse. The Flower suddenly sprayed a red substance onto Asher's hand. He flinched, almost letting it go.

I closed my eyes and focused, now controlling the curses of the Flower. Asher jumped when I grabbed his hand, slowly extracting the curse from him. I opened my eyes to see the mark of the Flower of Despair forming on his hand. The scarlet substance was formed into the shape of the mark until it glowed.

This was exactly how it was supposed to go, knowing how it was supposed to look like from my practice. I felt the mark of the Flower on me absorb the curse and I opened my eyes. I saw the Flower of Despair glow dimly as the power died.

“Did it work?” I whispered, checking Asher's hand. I felt slightly lightheaded, but I had always felt it when I practiced. The mark was gone on his hand so I looked down at his legs. Yes, legs.

Now Asher had both his legs, fully functioning and real. I gasped with a smile on my face. “It worked!!” I exclaimed excitedly.

Asher seemed just as happy, smiling weakly down at himself as he slipped his hands out of mine. I looked at the Flower and set it down.

Akito approached us slowly. “Wow, you really did it!”

I turned my head, grinning at Akito as he grinned back at me.

“Thank you, Ritsuko.” Asher sighed before I froze at the sound of a gun clicking. Akito stayed still, his eyes pasted on Asher. I reluctantly turned my head to Asher.

Now he was a few inches from me, pulling a gun up and pointing it at his own head. “Now I can pay back what I did with both of my legs.”

My eyes widened as I immediately knew what he was going to do.

“Asher, no!!!!” I shrieked, throwing myself forward. I heard the gunshot ring throughout the whole room.

Before anything else was said, Asher's sat up body fell on the ground. Blood splattered on the ground and sprayed on the walls.

I stared in utter shock and horror at what he did to himself. He killed himself, right after I healed him. He couldn't live with himself with what he did earlier that he wanted to kill himself. I couldn't comprehend it.

I looked to Akito, who wore the same expression, putting his hands over his mouth. I looked back at the dead body that was alive just seconds ago, not even noticing the tears flowing down my cheeks until I blinked.

“Why?” I cried quietly. “Why can't I save them??” I asked, tear drops falling onto the ground as I put my head down. “It's horrible! It's so horrible!!”

Akito kneeled down next to me, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Don't blame yourself, Ritsuko.”

“There's no helping them. The rest will probably do the same if I healed them. Even if I do what I'm supposed to….” I whimpered. Akito brought me to him, stroking my hair. “If you do what you're supposed to, then you're not at fault.”

“I'm a monster.” I confessed. “No you aren't.” Akito answered.

I argued, “Yes, I am.” Akito shook his head, “No, you aren't, Ritsuko! Stop saying that.”

I snapped, “It's the truth!”

“No, it's not!!” He resisted, pulling me away and making me look at him. I furrowed my eyebrows, staring at him with watery eyes.

“Stop lying and saying that this is your fault, because it's not!” Akito yelled. “I saw everything that you've done. You've done everything to try and help these people, to protect the whole village. Maiko and I helped you, trying our best to do everything. You can't do much more than that, Ritsuko. You're only human. I know it hurts to see this happening, but this isn't your fault! You did all you could, and I appreciate that. Don't do this to yourself... I bet if she were here,” He turned his head for a second and looked to me, “Maiko would've said the same thing.”

I frowned, flinching at the mention of her name. I did feel like it was my fault that she was killed.  She was my best friend. I didn't care if she betrayed us because she sacrificed herself in the end for me. Maiko sacrificed herself to save me.

Finally, after a few minutes, I asked, “Why didn't you leave me sooner? Then you wouldn't have had to suffer and Maiko would still be here with us.”

Akito knit his eyebrows together and shook his head, “Because then things would've probably been different between me and you, and I wouldn't want that.” He leaned in and put his lips on mine. I didn't resist, closing my eyes and putting my arms around him.

I felt myself almost go limp in his grip. We held on to each other, however.

We both pulled back for a second, staring at each other.

I couldn't take it anymore and I burst into tears, sobbing and weeping into Akito's chest, gripping into him tightly. Only in his arms, did I feel safe here. Tears fell down on me as I felt him start to cry. He burdened himself almost as much as I did. He sacrificed everything for me, but I didn't know why. I guess he really cared about me.

After a time, we both looked at each other. “What do I do?” My voice was still shaky. He tilted his head to the side and answered, “Whatever you feel the need to.”

I whimpered, “I don't want them to do the same as Asher when I heal them.” My eyes pointed to Asher's bloodied corpse as I exhaled raggedly. “I don't want them to regret this so much they'll kill themselves.”

Akito shook his head, “I know it's hard. You've gotta do what's best, okay?” I nodded, standing up.

Akito got up slowly, one of his legs was kind of weak as I could see. I held out my arms for support, but he waved them away. “I'm fine, my foot just hurts. I think I sprained it.”

“Are you sure you'll be fine?” He nodded in response, “Don't worry. Let's go.”

The two of us opened the door and stepped out of the room. We walked into the hallway, checking forward. It seemed like it was only us.

I looked to my left, the door where I hid in that room. I was pushed against the wall with a blade going to my neck.

Rosalina was practically foaming at the mouth, ready to rip me apart. “I finally got you…”

Akito raised the gun to Rosalina before a click was heard.

We both turned toward the source of the sound, Rosalina still holding the knife against my throat.

Dominic was a few feet behind Akito, aiming a handgun directly at him. “You two aren't going anywhere.”

Rosalina stayed still looking at Dominic, giving me the chance to throw her arm off my neck and slam her into the wall. She came back at me, staggering to which I punched her in the face.

Akito turned and quickly shot at Dominic's hand. He screamed in response. Akito cocked the gun once more and aimed.

Alexandra came out from the room instantly, lunging into Akito. I gasped, jumping back. Akito stumbled back into the wall, turning his head to Alexandra.

“Sorry, Akito.” She smiled innocently at him while she held a dagger in his side. “I just couldn't stand by and watch you hurt my Dominic.” She pulled the knife out, letting blood gush from his new wound.

Akito coughed, falling back and sliding down against the wall.

“Akito!!!” I cried out. Alexandra turned the knife toward me, grinning in delight. “You're next, Ritsuko!” She leaped at me, holding the knife. I held her arm up, so she wouldn't get me, falling in the process.

Dominic came at the two of us. I flinched, pushing Alexandra off of me. I grabbed Akito's gun from the floor and pulled the trigger.

The dark haired boy stumbled, looking at his side. He put his arm to cover the bleeding gun shot and pulled out his gun.

I jumped back, getting shot in the ankle. I screamed out in pain, fighting the tears coming to my eyes. Akito stood up and tackled Dominic. The gun fell out of his hand, to which I grabbed it as well.

Akito and Dominic wrestled while I turned to the twins, watching their every move.

Alexandra jumped at me, to which I kicked her back. I barely had any strength to try and fight her. She fell back on the wall. I got up in a rush and grabbed Alexandra's dress, throwing her the opposite side into the wall and punching her in the stomach.

Alexandra’s hand glowed as she put her hand to the wall. She tried to lean on it to stand up, but that part of it disintegrated instantly.

I snatched Rosalina's wrist and threw her into the wall. She had no weapon this time, so I didn't worry about her trying to hurt me. I straddled her, pinning her down with a strength I didn't know I still had. “You're not gonna hurt anyone anymore.” I huffed, panting hard. Alexandra’s eyes widened, “Get off of her!!”

Alexandra, as I predicted, made a mad dash toward us. I punched her and shoved her side, making her stumble and fall into the other room, where I saw Dominic fell into as well

Akito slammed the door shut and he locked it. Now that we had them out of the way, it was just the two of us and Rosalina.

“You little-” Rosalina snapped before we grabbed her and made her stand.

Akito held her in place so she wouldn't get me, holding her hands behind her back and holding her against the wall.

I forced through my pain, “Come on.” I walked down the hall, keeping an eye on the twin.

Finally, Akito and I took her to the room I had been in before, shut the door and Akito let her go.

“What do you think you're doing to me?!” She fumed, lunging at me. I side stepped and let her fall into the bed in the room. Akito looked at me and I sighed, “Not yet.” I turned to her, “Rosalina, look I can help you.”

Rosalina kneeled by the bed, heavily panting. Her wounds were finally starting to affect her. “Shut up.” She coughed. I gulped, “Rosalina, there's no use in fighting.”

She glared at both of us, standing. “Stop!” I shook my head, “Rosalina, I promise, I never wanted it to happen like this.” Akito tensed, eyeing her.

“Shut up!!” Rosalina screamed, running at me. “Akito!” I gasped.

Akito ran in and tackled Rosalina against the bedside. She yelped in pain, growling. “You never wanted to help us! You forgot all about us because of him and his sister. You're not a Despair Healer!” She accused

I marched up to her as she wrestled Akito, though he was stronger than her. “You stupid fake! You're a hypocrite!” She screamed at me. “You hate us! You don't want to heal us!! You only care about yourself you selfish little-”

I finally covered her mouth as she suddenly went limp. Akito still kept holding her against the bed and he panted, looking at me.

Rosalina looked at me with eyes filled with pain, anger and despair. “I swear I can help you, Rosalina. I know that you were only doing this to fix what you did when you and Alexandra were cursed. You felt you needed to force me to heal you and your sister so you could feel better. I know.” I nodded at her.

And with that, Rosalina started laughing. This didn't sound like her laugh before. It sounded like a broken laugh that was only there to mask the tears flowing down her cheeks. I took my hand off her mouth, but she didn't do anything and stayed there.

Akito looked back at me, sighing in relief. He got back from her. Rosalina broke out, crying over her laughter and curling up, hugging her knees. She buried her face in her hands, whimpering and crying.

That's it. I finally made her break. I sighed to myself, feeling exhausted, but I knew the night still wasn't over.

After Rosalina was done, I took out the Flower. “Rosalina,” I shifted toward her.

She put her hand out and shook her head. “I don't deserve it. Use it for Alexandra instead.”

I shook my head, turning her head to face me with my hand. “It doesn't matter what you did right now. I just want to do what I should have.”

Rosalina still refused. “I want Alexandra and I to be healed together. At least that.”

I nodded in understanding. “Okay. Now we have to try and convince her.”

Akito sighed, “Along with Dominic.” Rosalina stood up, cleaning her face, “If I could convince her to do this, I'm sure I could convince her to stop and listen.”

“What about her obsession with protecting Dominic?”

Rosalina lowered her head, “I'll try. She will listen to me.”

We had no other choice but to trust Rosalina in turning her twin and revealing the truth to her.

The three of us walked out of the room. To be honest, I was very surprised to see that the two hadn't broken the door. Akito cracked it open, then paused.

“What? What's wrong?”

Akito pushed the door even wider. “Th-they’re gone!”

He was right. All that was in sight was Asher's corpse from before.

Rosalina gasped, “They killed Asher!” I shook my head, “No, they didn't do that.” I pointed at Asher, making sure she noticed he had two legs now.

“What the-” she looked at me. I explained, “I healed him. But he didn't want to stay alive knowing what he did.” I looked down.

Rosalina frowned, lowering her head. “Michael shouldn't have brought him into this.” I searched the area. “No one should have been brought into this.”

Akito was staying quiet, I knew that he was probably thinking about how Michael had killed Maiko.

Rosalina checked the broken window, “They ran off. Probably to find Michael.”

I sighed, “Then I guess we have to find them.” Rosalina nodded in agreement, picking up a few knives and keeping them.

Akito stopped me before I went out the door. “Ritsuko,” he turned me to him. “Yeah?” He looked at me with a serious look and whispered, “If we do find Michael, we will have to kill him, right?”

I considered the question. Michael was the one who was to blame for convincing the twins, Dominic and Ashes into getting revenge on me this way. If he was really as evil as I believed, he would most likely be too far gone for anything to fix him. There was one option left, but I didn't know if it would work.

“I don't know. I really don't want to kill him. Is that something we would want on our conscience?” Akito looked down, thinking it over. He sighed, “I just hope he doesn't kill anyone else.”

I nodded, “I know, but we have to do what's best at this point.” I hoped what was best was to get him arrested and thrown into prison where he couldn't hurt anybody. But then if I healed him and he was still going to live the rest of his life in solitude, what was the point?

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Okay, I know it's a lot to process. Asher died, Rosalina is now an ally to Ritsuko and Akito and Ritsuko is starting to doubt what they should do with Michael. What do you think is the right choice?
Thank you for reading, once again. I really enjoy hearing from my readers what they think of my chapters, so I appreciate that. Keep an eye out for the next update!