Her trembling gaze never left me.
"Y-you… forgive me… r-right?" she asked again, her voice like the crack of glass about to shatter.
I didn't answer... not yet.
I was still thinking about which 'choice' would be the correct one.
And in that silence… something twisted.
Christina's breath hitched. Her eyes widened slightly, trembling, before narrowing in a strange, broken way.
"...You're not answering," she whispered, her tone uneven, almost sing-song, but underneath it a trembling madness.
"Why aren't you answering, Aestrea? You… you're not actually thinking of not forgiving me… are you?"
A bead of cold sweat ran down my temple.
Her arms tightened against me, too tight, like iron chains disguised as an embrace.
I honestly could snap it off, but it would probably fuel the fire more...
"That can't be it… no, no, you wouldn't… right?" she went on, her voice quickening, almost frantic.
