It takes her a moment to find her mind again through the fog, only truly registering that it's Alfred speaking to her again instead of the monster that has taken over him once she's been shaken a few times. Did he-- did he just try to hypnotize her? On purpose? The thought makes her stomach turn.
"Why-- Why would you--" she whimpers softly, barely audible, tears welling in her eyes. "Y-you're not like them--" she never thought he would ever try to cross that line, that he would ever try to take something from her like so many others had. Countless times before others had tried for her mind, her body, her spirit ... This time, her free will?
Especially when she was already willing to stay?
He's there right now, but how long will this part of him stay? Surely this isn't the person he is now... She'd heard monsters were capable of changing what they were, but... how long would it be like this? Would he turn into one of those creatures too? Like the one who attacked her that night at the carnival? Certainly, he couldn't have been as horrible as the woman who hypnotized her and forced out her memories-- But could she be certain that wouldn't happen to him, beyond his intention or control? Would it only get worse from here?
--not -myself. I feel so strange-- That has to be true, Alfred-- Alfred would never do something like this to hurt her, would he?
She feels him run a hand through her hair, but she can't stop herself from flinching away from his touch, like she's expecting something... worse to happen to her. Even hearing him here now in this moment of lucidity, a part of her waits for the other shoe to drop, for this situation to escalate once again. She keeps her head lowered, shoulders up, as if bracing for impact.
"Is that what you want me to do?" She's getting mixed signals, after all. Wanting her to stay bad enough to hypnotize her, but refusing to let her explain and sending her away to her Master? She can't keep up. Finally, the tears spill over as she speaks, streaking hot down her cheeks. She's managed to make it this far with a brave face, without allowing herself to break, but she feels she somehow knows and absolutely dreads the answer to this question.
"I will go, if that's what you want. But please, understand. I was never trying to leave."
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"Why-- Why would you--" she whimpers softly, barely audible, tears welling in her eyes. "Y-you're not like them--" she never thought he would ever try to cross that line, that he would ever try to take something from her like so many others had. Countless times before others had tried for her mind, her body, her spirit ... This time, her free will?
Especially when she was already willing to stay?
He's there right now, but how long will this part of him stay? Surely this isn't the person he is now... She'd heard monsters were capable of changing what they were, but... how long would it be like this? Would he turn into one of those creatures too? Like the one who attacked her that night at the carnival? Certainly, he couldn't have been as horrible as the woman who hypnotized her and forced out her memories-- But could she be certain that wouldn't happen to him, beyond his intention or control? Would it only get worse from here?
--not -myself. I feel so strange-- That has to be true, Alfred-- Alfred would never do something like this to hurt her, would he?
She feels him run a hand through her hair, but she can't stop herself from flinching away from his touch, like she's expecting something... worse to happen to her. Even hearing him here now in this moment of lucidity, a part of her waits for the other shoe to drop, for this situation to escalate once again. She keeps her head lowered, shoulders up, as if bracing for impact.
"Is that what you want me to do?" She's getting mixed signals, after all. Wanting her to stay bad enough to hypnotize her, but refusing to let her explain and sending her away to her Master? She can't keep up. Finally, the tears spill over as she speaks, streaking hot down her cheeks. She's managed to make it this far with a brave face, without allowing herself to break, but she feels she somehow knows and absolutely dreads the answer to this question.
"I will go, if that's what you want. But please, understand. I was never trying to leave."