I flinch.
My own breath hitches, camped inside my throat.
For a second, it's like I'm watching myself all over again.
With one heavy blink, I saw Rei again.
She takes a sharp inhale in, her narrowed eyes locking onto her abuser. I wanted to step in, do something. But I couldn't.
I didn't know if this was justice, or vengeance re-enacted.
"Jenika, I'm going to keep this short." She says, and it catches her attention.
"I don't like your people."
The words practically punch her. I see her widen her eyes in surprise.
The yellow, older Oni, Jenika, keeps her head low, breaking away from her face.
"Your life makes no difference to me than that of a summer ant. You are not a person, you are nothing more than property. You do understand I can do anything to you, right? Go ahead. See if everyone is here to help. You saw it earlier. They all turned their faces."
I wipe my mouth.
There's no way she's—
Did she—?
Is she actually using what I said on her?
It was weeks ago. How did she remember that weeks ago? Did she not understand I was…no, of course she wouldn't. I was playing the part too good. Way too good.
All the Adult Oni don't stick around for long to prove Rei's point, coincidentally. They look for some time before moving on. Jenika looks around, no one is here to save her.
Just like for a moment, no one was there to save Rei.
And here she is.
Copying my words—
No.
Performing my words.
Word for word.
Cadence.
For.
Fucking.
Cadence.
Her hands slips from her horns, and goes for her cheek. There's an off-putting smile from Rei. It doesn't feel warming, or appealing.
Feels…disrespectful. Uncomfortable to those who see it.
She doesn't say anything, but the next thing I know, a horrid shriek filled the air. Garnering everyone's attention.
Jenika stood back, holding her cheek. I assumed that Rei must've pinched it or something. I didn't see any swinging motion from her arm.
But what I saw instead, was smoke.
Slight smoke, emitting from Rei's hand. She didn't look unbothered…as if she knew what she was doing.
When Jenika looked at us again, and the slight sizzling sound that died down from her cheek, her hands moved, and there it was. Rei's imprint on her cheek.
How…how did Rei do that?
All the adults stopped to look bye, and when I looked at them, they hurried. Scurried on.
We are bringing too much attention here.
"Hey, we gotta go. Proved your point enough." I grab Rei by the poncho, and begin walking back. I can't get myself to look at her. I can't hold eye contact with her.
Because if I do, I'm afraid I might see myself.
We begin our walk back, away from this. I need to talk to her, but not here. Not in front of everyone here. When we get back to the ranch house, I'll decide everything.
Maybe…maybe I can still salvage this. It's not everyday someone remembers word for word something you told them. Maybe…she's just different. Prone to remember things better. Possibly tied with trauma.
But…did I give her trauma? No. I was only trying to scare her. I…I didn't mean to give her some form of trauma. No, I'm sure I didn't. This had to be something else.
I look back towards her, her eyes don't mean mine. Moreso focused on the ground. Her face is softened, relaxed. She looks like Rei again.
Then her pointed ears twitch, eyes widen, and she turns around. Stopped in her tracks.
"What…?" she whispers, head turning like she just caught a whisper I couldn't. Tone soft. Too soft. The kind of softness that always comes before the snap.
And then it happens again.
Eyes narrowed down. Face hardened, voice sharpened.
"What did you say?"
Jenika took a step back, "N-nothing." She reassured.
It didn't get past Rei however.
She took two steps forward, precise, measured.
I stuck my hand out in time and grabbed onto her poncho. She looked at me, as if I was the one who said it.
"You've proved your point, Rei."
She looked back at him, and then at me. "S-she…"
She trailed off, then shook her head. I let go of her poncho. Dropping it for now was the best thing. Because honestly? I don't know what would've made Rei turn around that fast.
I don't know what you could've told her that would make her so…hostile on command.
Nonetheless, we walked away from the many eyes. Continued to walk away until we were massively far away.
I was disappointed in myself first.
And then in myself again.
I could never be disappointed in Rei, not at all.
There still may be time to fix this.
Maybe I'm delusional…or hopeful.
Or maybe, just maybe.
Rei is fooling me as well.