Winter - Chapter 8

"Please don't leave me here," pleaded Natsuko. "Don't leave me here to die!" "Evil has made your heart grow cold," said Matsumoto. "This is a most fitting end for you, wouldn't you say?" Natsuko stopped struggling and her demeanor grew dark. "Have you any last words?" "For this, your punishment will be far worse than mine. You have no idea just what you've done to yourself and to those who've conspired against me." Matsumoto motioned for the others to join him in departing. Natsuko let out a horrendous scream as the group left her to die.

"They sentenced an innocent person to die that day," said Natsuko. Her demeanor became quite jovial. "And today two guilty people have been sentenced to die. It won't correct the mistakes of the past, but it's a good start." "You think my husband and I deserve to die?" asked Miyuki. "Of course you do. Look at why you're out here in the first place. I heard everything he said to you. He brought you out here so he could kill you." "Then he's the guilty one, not me." "So are you saying I should kill him and let you live?" "I..." Miyuki trailed off, not quite knowing how to answer the question.

"You're both guilty of something," replied Natsuko. "Everyone is guilty of something. You think your wretched species is worthy of salvation? You all harbor animosity in your hearts for others and take pleasure only in the suffering of those you don't even know. Why should I stop with the two of you?" "What do you mean?" asked Miyuki. "Once I'm finished with you and your husband, I'm going to cleanse this world. I'm going to cover it in pure white. Not a single one of you will be left standing. You want to hurt others and make them suffer? Then this will be your kind's punishment.

I should have done this a long time ago. To think that I gave your kind a second chance." "You can't," gasped Miyuki. Natsuko began laughing. "Then find a way to stop me," she said. "Be the savior to this undeserving world. Allow it to continue rotting from the inside out." She then motioned for Miyuki to take her leave. "Go ahead, leave. I won't chase you. But know that I will find you eventually. And I will kill you. And I'll kill your conniving husband as well. And when I'm finished, the rest of this world is going to die." * eK