Saint's Prison - Chapter 71

Following the footsteps…

A slender arm wraps around my neck as if clinging on.

Sweat drips from me, trickling down Amal’s smooth, firm skin.

Watching this, I lean over her, pressing down on her soft body.

– My ears are ringing.

A sweet sigh echoes in the room.

A high, yet not unpleasant, crystal clear voice.

Guided by that voice, I overlap my lips. While exchanging our hot, melting tongues, I hold onto Amal’s frail body tightly. Despite my body passionately thrusting into her, my mind was strangely hazy.

– My ears are ringing.

It’s a ringing I’ve heard somewhere before. It shakes my brain, assaulting my ears. I can’t think of anything. I simply devour the girl before me, savoring her. Driven by a violent impulse, my thoughts drown in pleasure.

My eyes flash.

My limit is near.

Breathing heavily, I muster up the last of my strength.

And then… at that moment, the world stopped.

When I come to, I can’t hear Amal’s sweet moans or even my own harsh breaths.

My body feels dead, unmoving. No, it can’t move. Even blinking is beyond my control, as my eyes remain wide open, frozen. Fear rises up from my throat, unable to comprehend the situation.

– Hehehe.

I hear laughter.

It was a voice that sounded thoroughly delighted, as if it couldn’t contain its joy. The laughter filled with pleasure echoed throughout the space.

– My ears, they’re ringing.

I am abruptly pulled forward.

Glowing crimson eyes. A too beautiful, almost artificial face spreads before my eyes.

Amal, no, she…

As if delighted by this realization, the girl gently embraces me.

And then, she whispers in my ear.

“―――Find me.”

＊＊＊

“Hah…haa!”

I wake up.

My whole body is drenched in sweat. I breathe heavily. I feel sick. Roughly ruffling my hair, I let out a deep sigh.

“Was it…a dream?”

It was a strangely vivid dream.

I hold my chest to calm my racing heart. After taking a deep breath, I manage to regulate my breathing.

“Hmm…Andy-sama?”

“…Amal, sorry, did I wake you?”

“Andy-samaa.”

Ignoring her attempts to cling to me, I get out of bed. I fumble for the candle and light it. I take a cloth from the dresser and soak it in the pottery filled with water on my desk. Using the cloth, I wipe my face, neck, both arms, chest, and stomach in order.

The cool sensation makes me sigh in relief. My heart calms, and my pulse returns to a gentle rhythm.

I soak the ball of cloth in the water again and wring it out. As I’m about to use it to wipe my back, a thin, white hand stops me.

“…Andy-sama, I will wipe your back.”

“Amal…alright then, thank you.”

Amal takes the cloth and gently, carefully wipes my back. It feels good. Refreshing.

Once she’s finished wiping everything, Amal lets out a hot sigh.

“…Andy-sama.”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“Hehe, Andy-samaa.”

Amal gives a shy smile. She hugs me from behind, pressing her body against mine. The soft sensation of her chest feels good. The sweet scent of her body tickles my nostrils.

“When I’m in Andy-sama’s arms, I can forget everything.”

“…Amal.”

I gently unwrap Amal’s hand that’s twined around me and turn around. Facing Amal, I hug her again.

“Andy-sama, I love you. Please, always keep me by your side.”

“Of course. In fact, even if you said you didn’t want me to, I wouldn’t let you go.”

I deliberately joke.

Amal laughs.

“Amal, do you have any siblings?”

“…Why do you ask?”

My words were met with an emotionless voice. A mechanical voice, just like when we first met. Hearing that voice gave me an image of something crawling out from the depths. My throat made a gulping sound.

“Well, you know, we haven’t done a proper greeting. We’re dating and living together, considering the future and stuff.”

Even to me, it sounded like a desperate excuse. Why did I even try to deceive her in the first place? I didn’t know, but I felt I had to.

“…I see. I’m happy. You’re thinking about our future.”

“Yeah, of course.”

In the darkness, I couldn’t see Amal’s expression.

“…I do have a sister.”

At her words, my heart trembled. I instinctively held my chest. Calm down. I consciously take a deep breath.

Amal has a sister.

So, that girl is…

“But my sister…”

She paused for a moment, then continued.

“…She passed away shortly after she was born.”

There’s no need for any greetings, Amal muttered.

I felt as if I had been punched in the gut. A chill went down my spine. I swallowed hard.

The ringing in my ears was still there. I’m not sure if it was because of the shock or the cold.

The room fell silent.

In the silence, I could hear the sound of the night breeze and the faint rustling of the sheets. It was as if time was standing still.

I looked at Amal’s face. Her eyes were closed, and she was sleeping peacefully. The innocent expression on her face was a stark contrast to the words she had just spoken.

She had a sister. But she died shortly after she was born.

I wonder if that’s true.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the doubts that sprung up one after another. I don’t know what to believe anymore.

But one thing was certain.

The girl in my dreams, and Amal’s deceased sister―――

They were somehow connected.