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I inhaled. I had never truly felt the blood in my veins freeze, or my heart, beating somewhere inside my ribcage, seem to stop. The fragments of light Mina’s soul had granted me were fading away, inch by inch, by a dark void.

“Mina.”

I forced my voice to remain calm, but it was impossible against the uncontrollable trembling of her body. Fuck it all, my Mina was shaking with fear. “Mina…” I broke off, with a deep frown, I pressed my palm to my forehead in distress. “Let’s put some cream on first. Please, Mina.”

“I want to sleep, Remi. Just leave me alone.”

I sat back on my chair. She wanted personal space? Well, I couldn’t give her that yet. I had read about what people her age did in situations like this. I couldn’t leave her alone. Not yet.

She rolled onto her side, turning her back to me and facing the wall. And I slowly exhaled, afraid to make a sound.

The thought that someone who had dared to hurt my Mina was still drawing breath was unbearable. I stared at the wall without blinking, my body still while something inside me screaming.

Death would have been too kind for that bastard.

Before her, I used to visit families with abused children, where I had ended the lives of adults who didn’t deserve to be in this world, but it was like a mission. It was a game in which I made children happy and played the role of ‘the hero of justice’.

But this time was different. I had never thought about hurting someone for my own reasons. Never been in a situation where I would have attempted it. But Mina standing there trembling meant the end of the world.

End of me.

I ran my hands through my hair, my legs shaking with stress. I moved silently, opened the drawer, and tore another small piece of paper. I closed my eyes as I snorted the powder. I liked the feeling of going to another world, another dimension. If I hadn’t met Mina, I’d probably have thought these stupid powders were the cure for my soul. But what Mina gave me was much more powerful than all of that. Thanks to her, I didn’t need to go to another world; her presence in this dimension allowed me to find a place where I belonged. Mina’s side. My forever, my addiction… Countless memories of her flashed through my mind, countless facial expressions, countless smiles…

Mina, Mina, Mina. Mina, Mina, Mina. Mina, Mina.

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but when that familiar scent filled my nose, my eyes opened instantly. Mina was staring at me, the sun was setting.

“Remi. I want it too. Give it to me.”

I then remembered where I was and what I was doing. I instantly crushed the paper in my fist, but before I could toss it aside, her trembling hands clamped around my wrist.

“Give it to me,” she repeated, her voice filled with despair. “I need to forget. It’s no fun like this. It’s not cool. I… don’t want to be like this right now.” she added pleadingly, “Please, Remi.”

I interlaced my fingers with hers and gently pulled her close, whispered softly. “No.”

“Why?”

Catching the fragile, hurt tone in her voice. “You can ask me for anything, Mina. But no, not this.”

She pursed her lips. “But why, assistant boss? If you’re using it, why can’t I? We’re partners, aren’t we?”

With that sweet voice, those haunting beautiful gaze, I would have given her anything she desired. Almost anything.

“Forgive me for disobeying you, my love.”

Mina snorted, her cute expression vanished, pulled her hands away from me and took a step back.

“I hate you!” she shouted. “You’re not listening to my orders at all. If you keep this up, I’ll throw you away!”

I quickly threw the paper into the trash, immediately sending a laser beam at the trash, turning everything into ash.

“I’m telling you, Remi! I don’t want you anymore, I don’t love you anymore! You hear me?”

Mina went to her bed angrily, while I kept a blank expression on my face. Her little manipulative games were adorable, but in the end, her place was always in my arms.

No one would leave anyone; I knew neither of us had ever seriously meant it. We’d been living in the same house for more than two years, and would continue to be together. Thinking about the future didn’t delight me, but I would find a way.

But separation? Leaving? Impossible.