Narrator's (P.O.V)

Narrator...Narrator please.
Please don't leave me. 

I opened my eyes to this hell. I was beginning to hear his voice in my head. My dreams were full of this place, the maze of hurt and fear. I only prayed the lunatic who made it left an exit. The longer I stayed the worse it got. This story was beginning to consume me. I could feel my conscience slowly giving myself over to it, losing sight of the place I'd come from before.

This is not my story. This is not my story.

I repeated it over in my head, trying to shake off the way Protagonist had threatened me yesterday. I hadn't seen Antagonist since then, I'd only been encouraged by the other characters. The ones who wanted me to succeed. To salvage the fragile remains of Antagonist..the little that was left.

They had no idea.

And our relationship. Was this even a relationship? I believed I wanted it to be... I wanted more of this beautiful, turquoise haired boy. His pale skin haunting my every thought. I was obsessed...no. I was doing what I needed to save him. I had to take him from this story, back to the one I'd come from, the one we both came from. This wasn't his story. To convince him of that though...it could cause him to pull even deeper, further out of my reach. Alienating himself from me, the only person that could save him. He could become trapped in here and I'd be without him. I'd have to let him go and I knew I couldn't.

All this time I'd been waiting for him to notice me, give me a chance to become involved in his life. I needed his trust.. wanted his love. I just had to pry him from Protagonist. If I could just convince Antagonist of what Protagonist had done, maybe I could convince him to come back with me, back to our story. I would get him to see the truth, the truth that everyone was looking for. I hated to admit that I was also driven by a desire to know what happened... Who killed the Narrator before me.

I clenched my fist and pulled the covers off my body so I could sit up. A groan immediately left my lips and I reached up a hand to touch my tender neck. Definitely bruised. I coughed and swung my thin legs over the edge so I could stumble into the bathroom. It was much worse than I'd thought, the orange light of the little room turning my ghostly pale flesh varied shades of purple and black. Just looking at it made me wonder if this was worth it, if saving Antagonist was worth my own life. I ground my jaw and gripped the small porcelain sink. Of course this was worth it. I had one purpose. I opened the mirror and pulled a package of ACE bandages from the medicine cabinet before wrapping it generously around my neck to hide the worst of Protagonist's bruises. I could do this. With a deep breath I walked back into my bedroom and looked at each of Antagonist's pictures. How perfect and innocent he seemed.

I reached out to the closest, tracing the delicate line of his jaw like he could feel my tender touch. My throat tightened and I moved on quickly to the next, a more recent picture. His eyes had less light in this one, like he'd lost something. My fingers pulled at the edge of another picture from about a month ago. He was smiling so sweetly, but his eyes were dead. I fought through the sting that spread from my nose to my eyes. I could do this. I came closer to the end, my bare feet shuffling numbly forward. This one was from a week ago. His eyes remained dead and he'd obviously gotten paler, bluish circles hugging his lifeless eyes. The first warm tears slipped down my cheeks and I wiped them roughly away. I could do this. I got to the one taken yesterday and my shoulders shook violently. His face was almost unrecognizable, a shell of his former self from four months ago. Antagonist was dying. I wonder how much of this he realized, how far into his own world had he traveled? He wasn't eating and whatever his mind processed was self-generated illusion.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked the corpse like picture as my voice choked off with sobs. "Do you expect me to give up?!" I yelled.  That unresponsive face. It was like he wanted me to be quiet, like he was patiently waiting to outlive me. I couldn't let that happen..couldn't let him forget me and push me aside. Not when he meant this much. "Don't you dare make me leave you." I sobbed angrily. I couldn't steady myself as the tears came hot and heavy. I suddenly pulled back and punched the wall, scuffing my knuckles. Even that didn't make the lifeless Antagonist react. I reached up and pulled at my white hair. Messing up my stubby ponytail. "I'm afraid Antagonist." I whispered and let myself slip to the floor, crumpling at the foot of my fading love.

My hands wrapped around my knees and hugged them to my thin chest like a child. I wanted to hold something... Warm and solid..like it could be the frail body of a blue haired boy. I just wanted to believe that he was this close, that at any minute he would remember it all and let me comfort him like this. I just wanted to believe it wasn't utterly hopeless.

"I'm so afraid." I sobbed to the room like it could answer. An impossible idea. Just like the idea that Antagonist and I would both make it out of this alive. I clutched the fabric of my pants, angry with myself for not being brave enough. Because at the heart of it, I knew I would make myself save Antagonist no matter what. And I also knew..

I was afraid to die.

................................................................................

I sat on the outskirts of the group, observing them as they socialized with Protagonist. The murderous son of a bitch. I'd never seen anything like it. So many characters totally unaware of the filth that lived amongst them.

One of you is a murderer. I thought to myself. I was convinced it was Protagonist, but I wondered if I was letting my emotions weigh my accusations. It would be too easy after all. If Protagonist was guilty then Antagonist would be innocent and free of Protagonist's grip. He would be mine.

"Morning."

I perked up at the sound of his voice, ground my teeth against the surge of excitement. Yet the whole time, my face remained emotionless. "Morning," I replied. Keeping my eyes set on the place where the other characters had been interacting. The couch creaked and shifted its weight as Antagonist took a spot beside me. I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.

"Love Interest is still upset." he said sharply. I tried not to react.

"She generally is." I replied simply.

"It's you're fault. It generally isn't." he pointed out.

"So it's of special importance when it's my fault?" I asked, finally turning to regard him. Taking in his pleasant expression even though it hurt me. Like seeing the sun when it was usually swallowed by the clouds. He give me a put out look and pouted his lips.

"You know it is." he whined. I offered him a smirk as he quickly began to warm up to me and become less serious.

"Oh yeah?" I said slyly and he puffed his cheeks impatiently. If only he knew how much those cute expressions were killing me.

"Whatever. Just don't do it again. She matters and you know that too." he said before looking down and plucking at a thread on the seam of the cushion.

"Not as important as me." I said before ensnaring his hand in my own. So small, like a bird in the cage of my fingers. His eyes widened and his cheeks blushed for a half second before he turned away and tugged at his hand, but I didn't let go. He turned back to look at me with a frustrated expression that made my heart pound.

"Remember what I said about Love Interest." he warned.

"She's not here." I said, pulling his hand to my chest. I knew this was wrong, that I should keep my distance, but I needed him. Now more than ever.

"But..but she could be at any moment." he protested as I drew closer to him.

"We're supposed to be lovers, but you're so stingy." I chided to make him blush again.

"Well what do you expect me to do?" he said defensively, trying to lean back as I leaned ever closer. His hand was clutching my shirt. He probably didn't even notice, but it made all sorts of thoughts rush through my mind. I knew it was wrong of me, but I really didn't care. I was going to be selfish.

"What do I expect?" I repeated openly, suddenly pulling him by the hand I still held so he couldn't get away from me, his face inches from mine like it had been the other day. But this time I would get what I wanted before anyone could interfere. I brought my face in next to his and brushed my lips against his ear, making him gasp softly. Oh my racing heart.

"I expect you to be in my room tonight." I purred deeply, like those words alone were immensely satisfying.

Then I pulled away and let him go like nothing had happened. "I look forward to it." I said to his shocked face before standing up and walking casually away.

He hadn't even noticed my bandaged neck. I clenched my jaw. I would make him unable to notice anyone else but me.

I knew this was wrong, but I was tired of being good.