Shudders: Retribution

Chapter 15 - The Vines

Violence Warning ⚠️
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"Thank you for very for everything." (Y/N) smiled at the older demon as she and Yama walked out the library's front doors.

"It was my pleasure. Gets a bit lonely all the way out here. Your company was much appreciated." Marsol said before he caught sight of Yama who, of course, was just ready to leave. Not giving the older demon any acknowledgment. "Unlike your friend there. Teach him some manners, will ya'?"

"I'll try." She watched Yama walk towards the front gate before she went back to Marsol. "You won't mind if we visit anytime we're around?"

"Of course not. A demon who's civil is welcomed here anytime." The older demon said before he called over to the blond. "You keep this one safe now, son! This world has enough corruption as it is."

"Don't have to tell me that, old man." Yama grumbled to himself.

The girl said her final goodbyes to Marsol, Sorrel, and the library itself before running to catch up with Yama. She was able to keep the book she was reading and two others she found that were still legible. Marsol wasn't much of a reader and the library had too many for him to miss anyways. His gift for her kindness.

(Y/N) gave Yama a disappointed look after she caught up, he noticed from the corner of his eye and looked down at her. "What?"

"You should've thanked him." She stated. "He opened his home for us. Let us stay the night."

"It's a miracle he didn't kill us in our sleep." Yama said, earning another look from the girl.

She rolled her eyes. "He's not like the Elitists. It could be good to have friends in places like these."

"So the next non-Elitist demon we come across you're going to befriend?"

"If they're friendly like Marsol is then sure." She shrugged but he shook his head. Even demons who aren't Elitists can be enemies.

Even after the storm came and went, the temperature went back to its grueling heat once the sun was fully in the sky. But thanks to all of the trees standing tall around them, the shade did help keep the two cool. But it wouldn't last for long once they began coming upon the entrance to the freeway. It had to be noon by the time they reached it and (Y/N) was already dreading having to travel across the hot pavement in the scorching sun for who knows how long.

Yama only pulled out the map occasionally but having studied it for as long as he did helped with knowing where to go and where to avoid.

"Are you sure no one can find your home?" (Y/N) asked, staring down at her old boots as she walked on the pavement. "Is it safe?"

"No one has found it since I found it." He said. "Been like that for years."

"And it's been just you?" She couldn't imagine being that secluded for so long. Having nobody around. Did he really prefer to live like that?

"Just me."

She crossed her arms as she walked alongside him. Would her being there make things different for him? She didn't want to be a burden and have him potentially change his mind. But she does think that he's gotten used to her enough that he wouldn't be too bothered like he was when they first met. It would be pretty unexpected if he was to leave her now. She'd like to think that they were becoming friends apart from being partners. He might not think so.

She hummed to herself while thinking. Feeling a memory coming up. "You know, you remind me of someone."

He did? "That so?"