Natasha's POV:
My vision was blurring. Even though I kept throwing rocks at him, I couldn't kill him. Despite how badly injured he was…
- Why the hell won't you die?!
A strangled scream escaped my throat. Even though I was giving it my all, I simply couldn't bring him down. A strange sensation coursed through my head as I watched with bloodshot eyes as the hero repelled everything I threw at him. Before I knew it, my fingernails were bleeding as they dug into my hands. The blood, dripping drop by drop, was the only thing moving in my room. Even so, it wasn't something my mind could even process.
- Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die.
But nothing went as planned. The rocks I threw veered off course, collided with each other, or simply flew away from the fire hero.
BANG!
Unconsciously, I slammed my fist against the table where the books I'd been reading lay. Slowly, exhaustion clouded my mind and worsened my control over the plants.
- .....Why?
My voice cracked with that question. At that point, I knew perfectly well that I had entered a vicious cycle.
My mind clouded with exhaustion and frustration.
My control over the plants worsened.
My frustration clouded my mind even more.
And it repeated.
But even though I knew it.
- WHY?!
I simply couldn't stop. I had to keep throwing stones. I wouldn't stop until the hero was simply a pile of minced meat. I firmly branded that conviction into my heart without pausing.
- You'll pay! You'll pay for hurting Grandma and my sister!
Unconsciously, the roots supporting the dome shifted, creating a tremor throughout the place.
- At this point, I wouldn't mind sinking the entire damn city if it means your death.
The roots of the roof begin to move erratically. They tear apart the dome's roof as the hero panics. A grin spreads across my face as I continue to smash the dome's roof.
- Huh?
My vision suddenly goes dark. A large rock crushes the flower I was looking at the hero through.
- No…
I quickly focus on other flowers so I can keep looking, but it's too late.
- You've got to be kidding me! It's impossible that all my precious flowers were crushed!!
No matter how hard I concentrate, I can't get a view of the dome. The feeling of victory fades, leaving only…
- Damn it!
Frustration.
I throw everything that's left on the table to the floor with my bare hands. Then I hurl the table against the wall, smashing the bookcase and the table in the process. Despite this, my anger doesn't subside. Finally, I kneel down, pounding the ground with my fist. Tears stream from my eyes as I pound the floor relentlessly.
- Bad girl! Good kids shouldn't have to push themselves like that.
- What the hell do you w-?
Before I can finish my sentence, an unpleasant feeling shoots down my spine. An incredible amount of cold sweat soaks my back. I could slowly feel it…
- You… you're not my teacher.
I look up, that unpleasant feeling coursing through me. There I find a poppy.
- Hey Nath! Long time no see.
A horrible feeling washes over me as I instinctively back away.
- Oh. I guess my intentions are leaking out.
Those words chill me to the bone. I immediately focus to crush the poppy with the flowers in the pots around me. The poppy is mercilessly crushed by my roots… or so it should have been.
- Huh?
Even though I gave the order and stretched out my hand against the poppy, the plants in my pots remained still. This sight only deepened my bad feeling as I stared incredulously at my pots.
- Did you... try to destroy this beautiful flower?
I flail my arms in panic as I feel his gaze crush me. No matter how hard I try, I'm unable to use my powers. A heavy sigh echoed in the room. My attention returned to the flower in front of me.
- Come on, Nath, I don't want you wasting your precious powers on something so banal and useless, I mean.
An explosion. The poppy in front of me exploded out of nowhere. Pieces of its petals touched my face as I stared in astonishment at where the flower had been.
- It doesn't matter how many times you destroy this flower. I won't even feel it.
A malicious whisper reached my ear. A chill runs through me as I jump up. There, at ear level, was a poppy identical to the one that had been destroyed earlier. Terror grips me as I stare at the flower.
- See?
Another whisper. I instinctively jump and flee to the other side of the room. Where I had been, there were three more poppies. My mouth goes completely dry as I stare in terror at the poppies in front of me.
- …Oh! Looks like I scared you. I'm so sorry, Nath. I wanted to play with you a little, but it seems I went too far. Tehee♪
I didn't know what to do. The flower in front of me filled me with a bad feeling.
- In any case, I've come to tuck you in, little one.
- Tuck me in?
- Children who don't sleep properly… will die, you know?
Unconsciously, I press my back against the wall. I want to escape, but my legs won't obey me.
- It's time to sleep, little one.
Suddenly, something hits my neck. I collapse, staring at the poppy.
- You're a wonderful bud. I can't let you wither away without blooming♪
My already weary mind collapses. With my face pressed against the ground, it's the last sensation I have before I completely fade away.