Chapter 9

My Little Nightshade

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She shift on the bed as she sits on the edge of it, Melody comb her hair using her fingers as she looks down to the unfamiliar floor. Charlie had insisted that she stays in the hotel, recovering from all the things that had happened. Even though Melody tried negotiating with her so she could go home, Charlie wouldn't budge. She said it was safer for her to be in the hotel than going back to her own house, then what? Put the hotel on danger? That's when Alastor suddenly offered to protect Melody if anything were to happen, Charlie suddenly agree despite Vaggie's disapproval.

Melody turns to the side as she picks up her cellphone on the bedside table, pressing the power button as the bright light shines in the girl's face. Her rich red eyes scan the time to see it's 2AM, she sigh — after Lucifer's reminder which was more of a threat; she couldn't sleep. She always had the feeling that she would end up in heaven, but a part of her wants to see the girl. But what could she do? She belong down here in hell unlike her.

Melody toss her phone on the bed as she stands up and wears the black bedroom slippers as she walks towards the door, carefully opening it in hopes of nobody would be awake. Because of Alastor's offer of help, Charlie made his room right beside hers. Much to her dislike, of course. She closes the door behind her as she walks down the hallway full of doors and turn around the corner but slows herself down when she hears a voice.

They're singing, it's a female voice as it sing not too bad nor was it too good. That's when she realize it's actually Sin's voice. The tone is her voice sounded like as if she's sad over something.

"..I'd rather be a creep, baby follow me into the water.."  She sings quietly to herself. Sin looks down to the sinners of hell from where she is standing, having her crossed arms on the railing of the balcony as she sighs. The sound of the balcony door being slowly open made Sin sharply turns around to see Melody ducking a bit from a punch Sin was about to throw towards her.

"It's nice to see you too, Aratani." Melody greets as she walks over to the railing of the balcony. Sin gasps realising it's just Melody.

"Oh, my bad." She blurts out as she turns back to the railing, it was quiet for a few seconds before SIn glances to Melody who have her eyes glued to the skies. "Why are you up at a time like this - wait, before that, did you hear me..?" Sin widens her eyes as she leans over to Melody. The girl hums for a second as she looks at Sin,

"Perhaps, the whole city of hell heard it." Melody jokes as she watch Sin's panicked reaction.

"What?! Are you serious?" She almost shouted but quieted herself when she remembers the others might be asleep right now. Melody only raised her eyebrows at the girl, making Sin panic even more.

"Geez, I'm joking. Calm your horses." Melody says as she quietly giggle to herself and turns to look back at the skies. Sin huffs in annoyance, she had to panic over nothing. The ombre black purple haired girl turns and looks at what Melody been looking at ever since, only to notice the bright white circle object in the red sky, clouds surrounding it and a big halo around it. Sin frowns as she glances at Melody, remembering what Lucifer has told her. Before Sin could say anything, Melody cuts her right off. "Do you think we'll ever be able to see her?" She suddenly questions, catching the other female off guard. Sin couldn't help but turn speechless as Melody reaches out her right hand to the sky as her left holds herself back on the railing. With the most softest smile on her face that Sin had never seen before ever since she met Melody in hell, she spoke in a whisper;

"You belong up there, don't you ever come down here.." Sin stare at her friend with saddened eyes, oh how painful it is to look at. Without warning, Sin jumps and hugs her friend. Melody gasps in surprise as Sin hugs her tightly, Melody smiles a little as she hugs the other girl back. Sin suddenly pulls away as she looks at Melody,

"Holy shit! Your nightgown is really thin, I can feel yo-" Before Sin could finish her sentence, Melody smacks the girl upside the head. Sin hisses in pain as she holds her head, repeating the same word of 'ow' over and over again. She glances at Melody who have the most disgusted glare in the world, "I'm just saying the tr-" Once again, before she could even finish her own sentence; Melody, this time - punches Sin in the stomach as the girl chokes and falls to her knees in pain. Sin's shoulders shakes as she manages to croak out, "I-I was j-joking.." Melody glares at her as she walks out of the balcony and down the hallway, pulling her hair to the front of her shoulders as she pulls the hood of her silky nightgown over her head.

"血まみれの地獄。(Chimamire no jigoku. / Bloody hell.)" Melody's fluent tongue cusses out as she huff in anger and walking down to the lobby. When she arrived down, the lights are still on as she notices Husk still by the bar. But instead of being awake, he's knocked out either from exhaustion or from the amount of booze he had drank. Possibly, it could be just both. The girl decided not to disturb him as she walks into the kitchen and make herself her usual strawberry vanilla milkshake.

Once she was done, she scoop up a vanilla ice cream and drop it in the drink as she picks up a straw and jab it into the glass, bringing it with her to the counter as she sits herself on the stool. She rests her elbows on the counter as she leans forward, staring off into space as she drinks her milkshake. Suddenly a red puff of her own smoke appears as something drops directly on her hands, she looks at it to see a black envelope with a red seal.

Immediately knowing who it's from as she opens it and reads the contents inside, with her usual, blank face — she blinks twice as she sets the letter down and sighs.

Sin holds her stomach in pain as she leans on the railing of the balcony, still in pain from the punch she had received.

'It hurts but it feels so damn good-' She thought to herself as she grins, though — Melody seems like the type to not hold back when it isn't necessarily needed. Sin's lilac eye looks up to the light object in the sky, looking at her. Melody was never like this before, actually — she would never hurt a fly.

The loud noises of children screaming and laughing as they run around the orphanage home annoys a girl in the corner of the room. She tries to ignore it as she plays with her dolls, most would think it's the cute and pretty dolls girls would love. But instead, these dolls that the girl is playing are porcelain, creepy dolls. Dark hair, dark clothes and everything just dark. The realistic face on the dolls makes it even creepier, the kids made fun of her for it but she paid no mind to it even though their words are actually slowly eating away at her.

"Kids! We're going to the park!" A maid shouts over the loud rackets the children in the orphanage home is making. After she said that, the loud screaming only got worse as kids runs out the door. Our little girl who was playing with her dolls, perk her head up from the word 'park'. She sets her dolls down carefully as she runs out to the park, like always — she stays on the swings as she slowly swing herself. Even though she still doesn't play with the other kids, she loves being outside and away from the caged room full of chaotic children screaming.

An old man sees the girl as he walks towards her, sitting by her on the bench. She looks at him which he smile at her, she was confused as she only stared at him.

"Dear, what are you doing here all alone? Are you lost?" He asks, with creased forehead from his eyebrows of worry. The girl shook her head,

"Nope! I'm not lost, I had permission to go out!" Her squeaky voice replies, the old man nodded but another question popped in his head.

"Your parents let you wander around wherever you'd like?" The girl shook her head again, making the old man confused.

"Well, mommy and daddy aren't around. They left me at an orphanage when I was a little baby." She frowns, making the old man mirroring her. "I don't like it there, people treat me horribly! They call me weird and creepy.." she whispers the last few words in sadness as she looks down to her shoes.

"Well, dear. People can be mean sometimes, but you have to understand that you would never change yourself for them. Always be who you truly are and never give up, alright?" The old man brightens up the little girl as she smiles widely.

"Wow, mister! You're so wise!" She giggles, making the man smile. "Um, why are you here alone?" She asks with a tilted head. The old man chuckles as he leans back on the bench, looking around.

"Ah, the park is a wonderful place to clear your mind. I come here everyday and sit on this bench all the time, saying good morning to everyone, even the birds and the flowers." He smiles, now that she notices it — there's birds cheerfully chirping their beautiful melody and beautiful flowers bloomed around the park's garden. The girl's eyes shines like glitters as she smiles,

"Wow, you're so kind! I'm starting to like you already!" She giggles as she smiles cutely to the old man. The old man smiles upon her brightness,

"Say, dear — what is your name?" He asks as he looks around the park, children chasing each other and other adults around.

"My name is Ava Forest and I am 4 years old!" She reply with a proud tone as she puffs out her chest to make herself look prouder. The old man chuckles,

"You're pretty smart for a 4 years old." He points out, Ava puffs her cheeks.

"Heyy! What's that supposed to mean? I can count all the way to twenty-five and say the ABC's, I taught myself!" She once again boasts her confidence.

"Well, Ava.  I believe you'll do great things in life." He smiles, Ava's eyes shines in excitement as she jumps off her swings.

"Really, mister?—" She was cut off as the maid calls the kids back inside the orphanage as the sound of sad 'awwing' came as a response. "Oh.." she trails off.

"What's the matter?" He asks, Ava turns to him with a sad face.

"Looks like I have to go. Hmm, can I come visit you everyday? I enjoy your company and I'd like if you could teach me different things!" She smiles at the idea, the old man chuckles as he nods.

"Of course, dear! I come here around 5 in the morning. Remember, I will always sit on this bench. Just look for the big grand tree over there and the swings and you'll surely find me." He smiles, Ava giggles as she waves at him and was about to run off but stops as she turns to him,

"Wait, Mister! I didn't get your name!" She remembers as she looks at him, the old man smiles at her as he introduces himself.

"Just call me Mr.Brown." He says as Ava nodded repeatedly.

"Mr. Brown? I like that name! See you tomorrow!" She was once again about to leave but the old man stops her, she looks at him with raised eyebrows as he pulls out something from under his coat.

"Before you leave, may I give you something?" He says as he looks at her, Ava tilts her head as she looks at what he is holding. Her eyes shined, "Here, have this."

"Sure-! For me?! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She takes the stuffed teddy bear from him as she hugs it tightly and thanking the man repeatedly. She looks at the bear she smiles, "I'm going to call you, Mr. Honey!" She giggles at the name and hugs it again. Ava looks up as she runs and hugs the man, "Thank you, Mr. Brown! Goodbye!" She smiles as she runs off. Before she was too far, he shouts a reminder for her.

"You're welcome, don't forget to be true to yourself! Don't let anyone change the real you and always treat others with kindness and love!" He managed to get the girl to hear as she turns around and nodding, waving at him as he did the same. The man watch as she disappear from sight, he sighs as he looks up at the birds.

"She's a bright one, but I worry for her." He whispers to himself as he slowly frown.

As days goes on and on, Ava will always visit the old man and he would teach her a lot of things. From flowers, languages, medical assistance, and everything else you could ever think of. When Mr. Brown was young, he used to travel the world around and met a lot of great people. He became very wise and wants to pass it down to others, in return the little girl would give him small gifts of gratitude.

But all beautiful things eventually get ugly as the bullying in the orphanage home worsen. Because of all the harsh treatment, Ava had turned tough at the age of 6. She had to protect herself, even though she try to bottle all of her emotions up in fear of hurting someone even though it was obvious she couldn't hold it in anymore.

The girl scoffs as she sits on another swing far away from the one she used to play. Ava stares at her shoes in boredom, but her guard goes up as small little hands softly push her from behind as she slowly swings forward.

Her first instinct was to literally kick whoever it was as she turns around but immediately everything washed away in a second when she set her eyes on the little girl in front of her. The little girl looked like something out of a doll collection, her beautiful short black hair decorated with a red bow as her dress is a beautiful Victorian red. Her skin is pale and her eyes, it was inhuman and unusual but Ava loves it.

Her rich red eyes shines up at the taller girl as the she smiles like a child in a candy store. When Ava looks at her, she felt ashamed. She wore a very beautiful and clean clothing, when all Ava was wearing is a rag out plain dress.

"Konnchi'wa! What's your name?" Her high pitched cute voice calls out, Ava was shocked that a little girl like her would even talk to her.

"Ava Forest.." she mumbles out, her eyes shines as she smiles widely.

"Ohh! Forest! I love the forest!" She squeaks and Ava couldn't help but smile. "I'm Kana Katzuki, nice to meet you!" She smiles as she holds out her hand, Ava stares at the small outstretched hand as she holds it into hers. They shook hands as Ava could feel the coldness of her skin as they pulls away. It was that very beginning, Ava had hope again. The two began talking non stop until a man walks around, calling a name.

"Kana? Kana!" The man shouts, Kana perks up as she stands on her tippy toes, even though she still looks short and waving her hand towards the man.

"Daddy! I'm right here!" She calls out, the man notices as he walks over.

"Oh sugarplum, let's go home. Your mother is making your favourite for dinner tonight." He smiles, Kana's eyes shines like rubies as she gasps in excitement.

"Oh, oh! Takoyaki?!" She squeaks and the man nodded, she cheers as the man takes a hold of his daughter's hand. Kana turns to Ava as she waves, "じゃあまたね (Mata ne/see you later), Ava-San!" She bid her goodbyes as Ava waves at her, sadly. She watch as the girl walk away with her father. Kana was another level, she had parents and the most beautiful features. She was perfect unlike herself.

Ava frowns as the teachers call the students to go back home.