I FEEL THE CHEMICALS KICKING IN || Maple's Storage

[MysteriouslyMaple]

"You never followed me. After everything we've been through, you just let me walk away. Why?"

Caesar's words cut straight through Atbash. His words were cold, accusing, and oddly enough, hurt. He was upset, which surprised Atbash. She thought he didn't care anymore, that he was just done being with his family. He had lost his mind and he no longer wanted to try to get better. Atbash lowered her head, frowning at her younger brother. She didn't have an answer. She couldn't find an answer. Caesar only stared back at her, his lips curled in a snarl. I'm sorry. Atbash thought to herself, mentally shaking her head. I want to say something but I can't. Her body wouldn't cooperate with her mind. She shook, fighting back tears. She wanted to explain why, she wanted to talk to him, but her body wouldn't let her.

"Answer me!" Caesar hissed, taking a step forward. Atbash flinched, biting her lip. She looked up at Caesar's eyes, catching the look of anger and betrayal on his face. He was angry at her. For what, not answering his question? Why couldn't he see that she was trying? She wanted to, oh so badly, but she just couldn't. Atbash shook her head in response, which only earned a growl from Caesar. "I said answer me!" He snarled, rushing forward and knocking Atbash to the ground. The air was knocked out of her for a brief moment, and once again, she only stared up at Caesar. Her brother raised a paw, claws unsheathed, and she flinched again. He made a movement to strike down, but stopped as Atbash cried out, "I can't!"

Atbash closed her eyes, preparing for Caesar's claws to rake across her. But that feeling never came, and she slowly opened her eyes to see him peering down at her. He seemed to calm down a bit, alarmed at how Atbash answered him. He slowly lowered his paw, frowning.
"I can't, Caesar." Atbash choked out, taking a deep breath. She shook her head before she continued, "I can't answer you, Caesar, I just can't." She cried. There was just no way her body would allow her to do so... Talking right now even hurt. Was it because she was afraid of him, or afraid of what she was going to say? Atbash knew what she wanted to say; she wanted to tell Caesar that she let him walk away because she was ashamed of who he was. She was afraid he would turn on her. He was a monster. Caesar was no longer the brother she knew and loved. He was a murderer, a liar, a manipulator. He manipulated people to get what he wanted, or killed them in the process. Atbash didn't want to associate with that, she didn't want to be around that, period. She couldn't be around that, she couldn't support him if that's what he wanted to do with his life.

So was she afraid to tell him because of his reaction? Yes, for multiple reasons. There were two possible outcomes to that: either Caesar will kill her on the spot, or just injure her, leaving her to die. Atbash was so far from Snowbound, she wasn't sure if she could make her way back to the tundra, nor was she sure somebody would come out looking for her. Caesar was cruel and merciless, and she knew that saying something that would piss him off wasn't the best idea. And no matter how much she wanted to tell him how she felt, she couldn't. She wasn't Vigenere. She wasn't unafraid of Caesar, even if she didn't want to believe the powers he had.

Atbash was too in her thoughts to notice Caesar leaving. The demon let out a snort and a growl before he stalked off, the fur on his shoulder rippling. He wasn't happy with the answer she gave him, but at least it got her to the point where she lived. Atbash shakily rose to her paws and watched Caesar run off, frowning. I wish I could tell you. But he's gotten to the point where every word seemed to set him off and Atbash wanted to keep what little bond they had, in addition to not wanting to be slaughtered. She believed there was still a good person in Caesar, he was just pushing that person away, because he believed putting on a tough front would get him anywhere. And maybe it would, she didn't know. All she knew was that she was ashamed of who he became.