Infinity: Rising of the Soul Weavers

*Hoang - Run Back To You (feat. Alisa) *

Opening her eyes slowly, Lizzy felt strangely refreshed, as if everything that has happened has been just a bad dream. 

'Was I dreaming?' she thought before looking outside the window, noticing that it was nighttime. 

Looking around her as her memories become clearer, she realised that she wasn't dreaming. Her being in the hospital was a rather strong clue.

Realising that the crimson-purple haired girl had left her side, she suddenly hugged herself, feeling her body getting extremely cold.

However, that didn't last for long as the door was opened, revealing the soothing crimson-purple hair.

The girl wasn't wearing her hospital gown, but instead had some black leggings that she was wearing under a pair of mini blue jeans-shorts. 

And for her top, she was wearing a black and white striped tank top that was partially covered in a dark soft zipper sweater.

"Hi, you're awake already!" Raven smiled while handing her some chocolate bar snacks she grabbed from the vending machine.

Lizzy didn't know how to react as she felt her heart warming up to that sincere smile and gesture.

"It's alright" she shook her head with a similar smile, her dark locks fluttering in the air. "I don't need food now, since I'm not… you know-"

"Hm, it's ok though," Raven shrugged while insisting she takes the snacks. "Kay here isn't human and her body is not composed of flesh either, but rather of mana and cyber matter, yet she can still enjoy food. Try it!"

Kayla supported Raven with a smile and a thumbs up while drinking her juice box happily. 'If that's her choice, I'll support her," she thought after looking at Raven who seemed rather happy. 'She has never been good at hurting people, doing good is what she excels at…'

"Uhm, thank you," Lizzy smiled as warm tears made their way down her cheeks. 

She would have never expected Raven, a girl that she had inflicted with various pains, to be this kind to her. 

But remembering what happened before she had fallen asleep made it easier to comprehend that not everything is bad in this world, and not every bad action should be treated in a likewise manner.

Some people acknowledge that others are suffering, and what they do may not have been due to their own choices, nor would it reflect their own beliefs.

"Oh, do you really hate chocolate this much?" Raven asked while wiping away Lizzy's tears, referring back to the chocolate bar snack she was holding.

Lizzy understood that she was joking and trying to make her feel comfortable so she chuckled.

Taking a bite from the chocolate bar in her hand, she was suddenly aware that she had lost her sense of taste. 

However, even though it came as a sad surprise, she acted as if everything was ok and continued chewing on it.

'I may not feel the taste, but the feeling in my heart is more than enough to make me happy,' she thought to herself while smiling at Raven. "It's so good, thank you!" She smiled.

"Hehe, happy to hear it!" Raven chuckled. "Um, so we haven't met officially yet… my name is Raven, and this is Kayla, what's your name?" 

"Raven and Kayla…" Lizzy closed her eyes and repeated the names as if to savour the feeling they gave her. 

"You two have some pretty names, I love them!" She smiled happily, her eyes sparkling. "My name is Elizabeth, please feel free to call me Lizzy, or Liz, hehe." She chuckled at this surreal feeling she was having.

"Lizzy… Liz… hm, I like both… haha let me think about it I'll choose one later!" Raven smiled. "Alright, I'm aware that it's too soon, but I'll need to leave for a bit, I'll be back later, promise!"

"You promise?" Lizzy asked, not believing her ears. The girl was so kind to her and that dream possibility wasn't as far-fetched now. 

"Aye, I do!"

"Uhm, ok, I'll see you soon then!" Although it pained her to see her leave, she didn't want to be a burden.

"Ok I want that chocolate bar gone before I come back, you hear me?" Raven said while closing the door behind her with a smile.

Smiling softly as tears filled up her light pink eyes, Lizzy nodded and kept on chewing on the tasteless snack happily.

***

Closing the door behind her, Raven sighed while walking towards Axane's room.

Opening the door, she found Maria there too, sitting on a chair near Axane who was in the bed.

Although they weren't injured physically, they were all asked to stay for further examination.

Plus, the medical care units had wanted them to stay away from home so that they don't keep reminding themselves of the recent incident and the people that they've lost.

"Did she take the snacks?" Maria asked, looking up at Raven.

"Uhm," the latter nodded.

"Did she complain?" Maria asked again.

"No," Raven shook her head. "In fact, she said it was pretty good…"

Hearing that, Maria seemed confused.

"Did she show any signs of surprise?" Axane asked.

"No," Kayla shook her head. "From my analysis… I can confirm that she didn't show any signs of surprise or worry when consuming the chocolate bar...

"I can almost confirm that she just trusts Raven with everything she has..."

Axane's lips quivered, knowing that the girl was in fact a victim of this incident just like the rest of them.

The girls have decided to do a small test. 

The chocolate bar Raven gave to Lizzy was supposed to be extra salty and bitter as they had added some weird spice to it.

The idea was that if she didn't trust Raven, she'd firstly try her best not to accept the snack or fake eating it, knowing that it might be a poison that is meant to make her suffer or something similar. 

And then even if she ate it for real, she'd be alarmed from any strange tastes at least and be concerned about that.

However, if she wasn't faking, but was in fact genuine in her trust to Raven, she would have a genuine reaction for the weird taste of surprise but not worry or concern.

But Lizzy generated a third scenario where she ate the chocolate and didn't even notice the taste, which made Kayla argue that she could not feel tastes in general.

Instead, she was solely happy by the gesture itself, which confirmed her trust towards Raven.

Overall, the girl's didn't know whether they should be happy that the girl was now saved, or sad that she had suffered the fate of having her soul and body violated while killing so many innocent people.