Past Insanity

***Note: this is an alternate ending***

Supercool story by Ananasz, for real, not horrifying and overly detailed at all.

### **Introduction**

This alteration of the original story plays off in the 1800s, England. All characters, with exception of Dennim, are British.

Mind is an 18 year old aristocrat living in a mansion, together with her servants and parents. She and Dennim share no childhood, but he has secretly followed her around since a young age, while lacking the knowledge of his own roots or why he feels drawn to her. Because of the time period, outsiders are especially critical of Dennim's appearance and he's not even considered a human being by most.

## Story

For months, the staff in Mind's mansion has been decreasing and new applicants rarely show up. Out of desperation, the head of staff accepts a "disturbingly hideous" teenager into the crew, but assigns him to do most of the dirty work. Dennim, the new employee, is seemingly content with the bad treatment he receives from the other servants caused by his unusual appearance and spends his days obediently doing his chores.

Even so, he likes to sneak in peeks at the family's daughter travelling the corridors, and while she is aware of his existence, she doesn't pay heed to the mere housekeeper. *Because her parents don't keep track of their ever-changing staff and have managed to look past the pale Dennim every time, Mind is able to use this fact in Dennim's favour later in time.*

After he has stayed in the mansion for merely two weeks, Dennim gets his first confrontation with the family's scandal that was previously hidden from him;

While polishing the staircase in the entrance hall, he spots Mind's father following his daughter upstairs. Dennim becomes suspicious of this seemingly normal encounter when he notices her expression change upon seeing the man follow her, right before she disappears from sight. When the two family members have officially left his vision, Dennim decides to follow them.

When he approaches her bedroom on the second floor, he hears a man's voice uttering disgusting whispers at the other side of the door. Dennim is quick to draw a conclusion and barges in. He sees Mind's father having his daughter pinned down on the bed, thus Dennim forcefully yanks him off of her, into a piece of furniture. Mind's father, offended by the attack, wastes no time to threaten him with death by hanging, but Dennim fires back a bold response that he deserves the hanging for molesting his daughter. Mind's father growls that it's not the business of a lowly servant and fires another jab by claiming that even the dumbest servants in the house know better than to intervene.

Because Dennim appears visibly unfamiliar with that piece of information, Mind decides to defend him and explains to her father he didn't know the house rules and is new. She tries to further spare his life from the livid man by lying that she appointed him to be her bodyguard, and desperately needs his assistance. When Mind's father asks for the details of her desperation, she explains that men have attempted to get more physical with her during her visits to the village, and that she hired Dennim to protect her. Mind's father becomes alarmed after having learned this supposed knowledge and silently considers Dennim for a few seconds. He concludes to himself that he's too ugly for Mind to ever "cheat on him with", and after having experienced Dennim's strength first-hand, considers it safe to allow him to keep his job and life for his daughter's sake. He gives Dennim a second chance and lets him be her bodyguard, leaving Mind quite surprised over her success.

After the conversation meets its end, Dennim shows uncertainty on what is proper to do next, thus Mind suggests he should leave the room and not come to see her for a while. His face shows disbelief for her request, but he obeys and leaves her with her assaulter.

Dennim decides to wait in the staff room downstairs and reports Mind's abuse to the servants present, but they all confirm to know about the improper relationship. He picks up on their strange choice of words and is quick to understand that most of them think it's consensual. The servants add that he shouldn't get involved, as Mind's father's influence can put anyone to death without needing much of a reason.

The incest, as for the punishments by death, are known facts within the country, explaining why commoners feel unmotivated to work for the family and the amount of already hired staff members keep decreasing. But despite the scandal, the family's overall rich status earns them a free pass for their crimes in the eyes of other aristocrats. Dennim feels angry over people's reluctance to help Mind, but the others explain that those who oppose Mind's father in any way are put to death.

When Dennim notices Mind's father occupying the hallways again, he heads back upstairs to Mind's room. He finds her still stripped of her clothes and barely conscious on the bed. Still, she has the strength to notice someone coming in and starts crying in embarrassment when she sees the servant's eyes directed at her.

While she keeps urging him to leave her be, Dennim continues his journey to her private bathroom and fills the bathtub for her. He then returns to the main room to pick up his raving mistress, and puts her in the water. When she's been taken care of, he decides to change her sheets and places a clean pink dress for her on the bed. Mind is witnessing his work from the tub and feels defeated by his determination to get involved. When he returns to check on her, she tries to regain her composure and asks him again to not come and see her next time. Dennim argues that she should receive help when she needs it the most, and speaks ill about the other servants for not doing the same. She answers that they keep their distance because she asked them to, but Dennim feels nothing for that reason.

He helps drying her off and guides her back to the bed. She silently thanks him for the help, with a small hint of frustration in her voice, and says she can do further without. Dennim figures he's upset the naked woman enough and goes back downstairs to do his regular chores.

After a short while, he sees Mind descending the stairs again, wearing the dress he picked out for her. Mind decides to give him a short-lived smile, but her face makes it clear she'd rather not acknowledge him ever again. Dennim answers to her emotions and moves himself out of her sight. But while continuing his cleaning duty at the other side of the staircase, Mind's father enters the hallway and notices his daughter. He becomes charmed by her fresh appearance and feels once again drawn to her.

While Dennim can't see the two characters, he's able to hear Mind uttering small sounds of desperation, whereafter he peeks around the corner to see what's going on. He sees that her father snuck up on her and tries to guide her back upstairs with him. Dennim uses the time they need to reach the upper floor by speeding off and pretending to be the head of staff calling from the porch. He alters his voice and attempts to summon Mind to join him outside. He quickly teleports the family's horse carriage in front of the windows to complete the act, and keeps calling in order to pressure her father into cancelling his plans. But Mind's father starts shouting back at him that she is occupied and slowly grabs her by the shoulder, as if to call dibs on her. Dennim tries to add to the urgency by informing the two she needs to leave now to get her mother more ingredients for her currently suspended baking.

Mind's father thinks it over for a while and decides to let Mind go. As Mind descends, he tells her not to take too long. She gives him an obedient response and continues the escape.

Mind hastes herself to the porch, where she sees the carriage waiting and Dennim holding the door open for her. She asks where the head of staff went off to, to which he gives a short answer and just urges her to get moving. He pulls Mind inside and pressures the coachman to step on it, whereafter they speed off.

Mind and Dennim don't speak to each other during the trip. As she tries her best to avoid eye contact with him, he decides to respect her unreadiness to socialize and merely graces her with a penetrating stare. Soon after, they arrive right outside of the village borders and Dennim silently guides his mistress out of the carriage. But the coachman notices the small amount of people he just transported and becomes worried. He asks if it's a good idea to have Mind mingle with the peasants when there's so little protection offered to her, but Dennim answers he's all she needs. The man is not convinced, until he notices Mind's visibly calm composure about heading into the village with her sole bodyguard. She confirms Dennim's claim and offers the man a warm smile, preventing him from raising more objections. As she heads towards the village, she calls Dennim over. He patters after her like a content pet.

After a few seconds of familiar silence, he decides to thank her for her blind trust in his capabilities. She answers to have greater worries in life than the possibility of being mugged or kidnapped, and is just happy to be away from home. The odd Dennim takes her reply as a funny joke, and while initially confused by his response, Mind decides to also consider it as such and clumsily shares a smile with him.

But after having taken a few steps, her arched back and pained face makes it apparent her abuse from earlier has not left her without consequences, despite her silence about it, and Dennim takes it upon himself to hire a wooden chariot for her. Her wounded body forces her to accept the unusual form of transportation and she is paraded around while looking for the items her mother supposedly needs.

The villagers spectate the rich man's daughter and her arrogant choice of transportation with disapproving faces, but they're even less entertained by the red-eyed Dennim playing her slavish horse. A few men take the opportunity to approach the poorly protected Mind with their complaints concerning her act and her family.

Mind doesn't know how to respond to the sudden threat and just asks them to leave her be, but they are insulted by her "demand" and become even more hostile. Dennim urges them to fuck off, but is then dragged into their roasting; and it's suggested Mind's family made a deal with Satan and have been granted the assistance of his little Hell goons. Mind becomes upset by their persistence to insult her and asks Dennim to take her back to the horse carriage. But the men then turn impatient and intend to push her down and mug her. When Dennim jumps in and pushes back, the other villagers see it as an attack against them and more start to join in.

Dennim helps the startled Mind off the chariot and moves her closer to him, whereafter he gleefully starts fighting the angry flocks of peasants that sprint towards them. With Dennim being a little bit too caught up in the outdoors bar fight, one of the villagers manages to approach them from the side and pushes Mind over. Her noteworthy shriek of pain upon landing catches Dennim's immediate attention, and his anger turns his playful shoving into comatosing punches. The men fall to the ground after their bones sound an unhealthy crunch, and become completely unresponsive afterwards.

The remaining villagers presume they've been killed and become uneager to continue their attack. Dennim takes the opportunity to check on Mind and she tells him she might not be able to stand anymore. Dennim abandons the chariot and casually carries her in his arms, away from the stares still pointed at them.

When they arrive at the horse carriage, he places her inside and instructs the coachman to take the tourist route back home. Mind asks if it wouldn't be better if they headed home right away, but Dennim reminds her that her father is waiting for her.

When the horse carriage starts going, Mind appears especially bothered by its movements over the unstable roads, motivating Dennim to ask how she's doing. She responds that something might've ripped inside her body and doesn't know what is best to do right now. She shares his opinion that going home wouldn't be wise, but medical assistance is needed. Dennim then claims to know a few healing tricks and asks if he can touch her, but she doesn't feel comfortable with his sudden request and tells him this. He lets her know it's nothing inappropriate and argues it's the only thing they can try for now. While still skeptical about his abilities, she agrees and lets him come close with his supposed appropriate help.

Dennim moves next to her and guides his hand under her dress, initially shocking Mind, but he manages to allow for it to move over to her underbelly. He gently rubs the skin and keeps this going for a few seconds, until Mind is baffled to find the pain is leaving her body. She praises his healing skills and wants to know more about its origin, but Dennim gives an unverifiable answer and claims it's a Buddhist technique. Mind becomes intrigued enough to abandon her act of ignoring him and keeps the conversation going. She wishes to know why he didn't become a practising doctor over being a servant, but Dennim answers that people dislike anything that reminds them of witchcraft.

This takes them to the subject of the world's perception of them, giving them more food for thought. After Mind expresses her sadness over the lack of genuine relationships in her life, Dennim reveals he became her servant because of her. He claims to have known her since she was 3 years old, but Mind doesn't recall having ever met him. He explains he was born in the village and his first memory as a child is of her strolling through the streets with her family, when they still did.

*Because Dennim had no caretakers and was spawned into existence inside one of the empty village cottages around the time Mind's abuse made its start, the pale boy mostly kept himself hidden and spend most of his time watching the girl he felt drawn to, but knew little about.*

*Dennim did not know what he was, where he came from, or why he saw Mind when he first gained consciousness. As he found himself mostly uninterested in other things and people, he watched her, and eventually followed the family to their home location, where he'd wait for Mind to appear again.*

His stories about having followed her for 15 years isn't charming Mind, and she notes that it sounds like he's a stalker. Dennim thinks it over for a bit and doesn't deny that he fits the description. He assures her he didn't take the job to watch her sleep, but wanted to know who the girl is he's been following all his life. He believes his purpose lies with her, thus Mind decides not to think ill of the lonely orphan and willingly accepts his excuse, though still ponders his true intentions.

When the conversation seems to have met its end, Dennim starts to express his surprise for having only just now learned about her abuse. He says to have never heard anyone mention this supposed known secret or noticed when moseying around on her property. Mind has nothing to say to the intrusive comment, except that that makes sense, as the scandal was not meant to leave the walls of her home. She knows that it's not a daily subject and people talk about it in whispers.

As Mind is still too bothered to talk about her issues, Dennim asks her why she hasn't ran away from home years ago. She responds her father won't allow her to leave without guidance and considers it normal to threaten her unprovoked. He has always told her he'd chase her down or kill her, and speaks the same way about those who intend to help her. She says to have been well-informed of all the possible consequences of leaving since an early age.

Mind performs a long exhale and then talks about the many sympathetic servants who planned to report her father, run away with her to adopt her afterwards, or had fallen for her and thought their love was good enough to succeed. She explains that everyone who shows even a little bit of interest in her is frowned upon by her father and lead short lives, which is why the current staff hardly dares to look at her, let alone help. She's always tried to save the lives of her defenders, but his is the only one she managed to save in all those 15 years. Mind falls silent and then loudly wonders if perhaps she's just never tried hard enough before.

Dennim tries to cheer her up by thanking her for saving him and that he'll always be in her debt. She doesn't care for it, but returns a thanks anyway.

The carriage arrives at the house, but Mind stays silent for a while and points her eyes at the floor, as if she's collecting the courage necessary to get out. Dennim stays seated as well and feels unmotivated to open the door to her doom early, but when she announces to go out, he assists her without uttering a complaint.

As she exits the horse carriage, a servant approaches her right away and says she is summoned. Dennim attempts to follow their footsteps without looking too suspicious, but stops when she is brought upstairs. After waiting for a short hour, Mind's father descends and tells the static Dennim he should go to the kitchen and prepare dinner. Dennim is uneager to obey and has his mind set to seeing Mind first, but the man picks up on his slow response and demands him to go right now. Dennim is forced to leave Mind with her potential troubles in order to preserve the peace.

Shortly afterwards, Mind's parents are seated at a large table in the dining room, surrounded by servants. Dennim places cutlery and plates onto the table, together with the other workers, and obediently continues with his good-servant-act when Mind enters the room with a noticeable handicap and gloomy look on her face.

She seats herself at the table and her father announces that dinner can start. Dennim fills up her neglected glass and gently places a napkin on her lap, whereafter he goes back to stand in the row of servants at the side of the wall. Mind's father watched the seemingly unexciting scene with a thoughtful expression, but says nothing and just begins with his meal.

A solid minute of silence follows afterwards, until the sound of a fluid dripping onto the polished, wooden floor is to be heard.

Mind's head then falls backwards for a second, but she manages to regain her consciousness before it's lost. She hold her dizzy head in her hand and looks down, together with the observant servants standing behind her. They notice the increasing puddle of blood under her chair, but all decide to say nothing. Mind becomes alarmed, as for embarrassed by her worsening presentation in front the crowded room, and asks with a trembling voice if she may be excused.

Mind's father allows her to go when filled in on the issue, but urges her to return before the food gets cold, showing no acknowledgement for the seriousness of the situation. Mind gets up, forced to show off her ruined dress, and slowly limps towards the exit. When Dennim plans to leave his position to help carry her out, Mind's father intervenes and orders him to get back in line. Mind too announces she can do it herself and hastily leaves the scene.

Mind's parents then continue dinner like nothing happened and Dennim's face turns faul. He takes his towel and walks towards the blood to clean it up. The other servants nervously watch him.

While focused on his plate, Mind's father suddenly asks Dennim if he likes his daughter. Dennim gives a generic answer and claims to care about his given task. Mind's father desires a clarification on what this task is, and he answers it to be the offer of protection and his role as Mind's personal assistant. Mind's father releases a quiet, sarcastic chuckle. After having finished another bite and some of his refreshment, he starts to ask the pale boy rhetorical questions concerning their subject of interest. He asks if Dennim too thinks Mind's beautiful, and then starts to ramble on about her delicacy and perfections. Mind's mother releases a quick snarl during his preach, but drowns out her own opinion by sipping on her glass of wine.

As it's made clear that Mind's father's only purpose is to express his "care" for his daughter to the room and to subtly threaten Dennim, opposed to hosting a real discussion, Dennim decides not to give the insane character any responses back and just listens to his off-putting compliments and moment of self-arousal. But Dennim's wise silence prevents Mind's father to push him into a corner, and it starts to anger him. His once sophisticated tone and choice of words instantly become crude, and he growls the question "how badly he wants to fuck her", leaving the room shocked by the public outburst.

Before anything more can be said, Mind enters again, wearing a clean dress and oblivious about the conversation at hand. Mind's father's face immediately turns pleasant and his eyes lock onto her during her trip back to her seat, making her think he desires acknowledgement from her. She politely announces her return and claims to feel fine. Mind's father responds to be glad, while giving her a kind smile.

Thinking the situation has met its end, Dennim takes his towel and heads back to his place in line. But Mind's father has different plans, and continues to attack him using Mind, in order to spite him.

While still wearing his welcoming smile, he asks Mind if she knew her servant was planning on getting in bed with her. Mind looks up and shows confusion for his question. He clarifies that he doesn't trust Dennim's intentions with her and finds his behaviour to be intrusive. Mind looks at Dennim, trying to find the reason for this conversation in his eyes, but stays clueless on what to say back to her intimidating father.

Her voice turns mousy, and she says not to understand what he has done wrong to make him worried. He answers that maids have informed him Dennim was present in her bedroom earlier that day, and the both of them left to the village together. As Mind realizes it's forbidden for male servants to be in her room, or alone with her at any given time, she becomes increasingly nervous, but keeps insisting that Dennim's behaviour towards her has been proper. Mind's father stays negative, thus she tries to argue for him once more by revealing he has proven to be an effective doctor and she has a great use for him. But this reveal displeases her father even more, as it suggests physical contact was made. He snaps at Mind and tells her that she's been fooled "again" by a dirty male and it's just a trick to feel her up.

Dennim jumps in by saying it's his rapist attitude that forces him to get involved, as he won't even help his daughter get dressed after he's done assaulting her, showing how little care he has for her. These words hit hard and the room swallows. Mind's father jumps up from his chair and quickly tries to spin around the narrative. He shouts at Dennim for his disgusting behaviour towards a gullible child and the disrespect he has for his superior. He adds to know that the mutated peasant is merely trying to play on Mind's goodhearted nature and wishes to fulfil his own sexual desires with the daughter of a prestige family. Dennim barks back at him by saying he's a hypocrite, which adds more fuel to the fire. Mind's father's face becomes red in uncontrollable anger, and when the shouting becomes louder and the order for Dennim's death has already left his mouth, Mind feels there's nothing left to do but to humiliate herself for her big-mouthed servant.

She gets up and holds her father's hand, trying to gain his attention. While caressing the skin with her thumb, she asks him in a hypnotizingly charming voice to reconsider. She purrs that there's no one else, and she likes to use the beastlike Dennim as a slave, which has always been his only purpose. Dennim watches the act with a strange hint of pleasant surprise, as he never assumed she had the personality or skills to perform these kind of manipulation tricks.

Mind's father's act changes instantly. He sits back down and smiles that it would be for the best if they let Dennim go, whereafter she lies down her head onto his lap and begs him to let her keep him. She argues she's never felt more safe and he's a speedy worker who keeps his eyes on the job, unlike the amorous boys from the past. She reassures her father that he's merely a workaholic who wants to get everything done and wishes to keep her happy for him. She comments on the long-forgotten pink dress he once bought her and always liked, that Dennim had picked out for her, and the fact she came back from the village untouched after the attack, with her energy renewed. Dennim feels sick after having learned the first bit of information.

Her fairly cheap excuses are taken in like sweet bread, thanks to her flirty approach and soft touches that makes everyone else in the room nauseous. Mind's father gently pets his daughter on the head and sighs while thinking about what to do next. He takes his time in order to drag out his moment with the suddenly affectionate Mind, and then coos at her that he needs to set an example after Dennim has crossed the line with him twice. Mind replies that she should be the one to punish him as his "owner", and he needn't waste his time on what should be her responsibility. She quickly adds an apology for not having kept him in check, flattering the proud man even more with her docile submissiveness.

Dennim notices his downgrade to the role of a mere dog the longer her pleading goes on, but is amazed by how well it works. Mind's father retracts his death penalty now that Dennim is no longer considered a human being by him and supposedly Mind. She gracefully moves her bright-blue eyes to her father's, and thanks him for his final decision. He strokes the side of her face and releases a content smile. He then laments he wishes she always treated him like this, which gives the act a bitter aftertaste, but she tries not think of what will be expected of her in the future and smiles back at him.

She stands up and intends to occupy her seat again, but Mind's father reminds her she is still supposed to punish Dennim. Mind asks him if this can take place at a later time, and argues her dinner has been long abandoned, but he doesn't take her answer and wants Dennim to feel it now.

Sweat starts to develop in the back of her neck, and she tries to hide the tremble in her voice as she calls Dennim over. He complies, as if they had rehearsed it, whereafter she orders him to fall on his knees. Mind then stands up and looks at her father, who watches her with close attention. She raises her arm and slaps Dennim across the face with the back of her hand, whereafter she shouts a slur at him.

Mind's father immediately comments it's not enough and that she needs to use a closed fist. Mind replies not to have very strong hands and that this is the extend of her power if she wishes not to harm herself.

Mind's father browses the table and suggests she uses an object to assault him with. She shows hesitation and doesn't like what he's trying to have her do in the presence of everybody, but Dennim eases her mind by saying he deserves whatever she plans to do to him, and smiles his smile. Mind's father grumbles that she may indeed have at it, as he's obviously a nut.

Mind inspects the objects on the table and slowly picks up her glass, whereafter she empties her untouched drink over Dennim's head and scolds him for having insulted her father. Mind's father appreciates the start, but then orders her to throw the glass on him as well. Mind spectates the object and concludes the glass is too thin to cause real damage, thus follows his demand.

He then tells her to get some plates and drop them on him as well, so she hesitantly collects a few and positions herself before Dennim. Dennim falls onto his hands and presents her the back of his head, inviting her to continue. One by one, she throws the expensive plates onto him, making them violently shatter upon impact. Mind's father keeps suggesting more objects and the assault becomes harder to watch or perform as it goes on.

Even so, Mind's father stays unsatisfied and wants her to use something heavier. He points at the thick stone plate carrying the meat and tells her to smack it across his face until he stops smiling.

Mind thinks it's too heavy for her to reach the force needed for a smacking motion, thus he suggests she stand on a chair and keeps dropping it on his skull until he collapses. She gives a desperate look to her mother, but she looks unsure and uneager to step in.

Mind walks to the center of the table, and lets the contents drop from the large plate as she grabs it. She moves her chair over to Dennim and stands on it, whereafter she hovers the piece of stone over his hunched body. Her body shakes and her fingers refuse to let go, but Dennim again tells her it's fine and he can take it. Mind's father scoffs. But Mind just stands there, petrified.

After a few drawn out seconds, Mind's father startles her with his loud demand of dropping it, and the heavy plate falls down. Dennim takes the impact without uttering a noise and keeps his humble position. Mind's father orders her to repeat it, thus she picks up the plate again and returns to her chair.

She drops the item multiple times on Dennim's head, with fresh blood hitting the floor every time, increasingly upsetting her till her movements become slow and she's sobbing loudly. Mind's father starts asking what she's upset about, as she claimed earlier he's just a dumb pet. Mind's mother then snaps and shouts it's because he forces her to torture a man.

All eyes direct themselves at her, but the room stays quiet. Mind's mother snarls at her husband for ruining their dinner, and angrily exits the room. After she's left, he clears his throat and dismisses Mind and the servants, and calmly follows his wife.

Later that night, Mind is alone in her bedroom and taking in what has happened. She was unable to face Dennim, who she had mercilessly tortured that evening. After her father was gone, she ran off to her room without even giving an apology. When thinking back about it, it fills her with shame. She buries her head into her laced pillow, while contemplating on staying in her room forever.

She then hears soft knocking on the door, but stays silent and waits for a voice to follow. When it appears to be Dennim, she gets a short feeling of relief, until she remembers he too is the last person she wanted to open the door for. But since he took the time to see her, she feels it's the proper choice to speak with him about the dinnertime debacle.

She slowly opens the door and whispers he shouldn't have visited her, as it's made clear the other servants are reporting their every move. Dennim says to have been careful and that nobody in the house is occupied with spying right now. He grins that she and her father caused quite the commotion. Mind's eyes drop to the floor and she expresses her discomfort for this fact. Dennim asks if he may come in and she further opens the door.

Dennim heads over to her phonograph and activates it. He explains they should keep their meeting a secret and speak softly while the music drowns out their voices, in case someone decides to listen in. Mind nods and sits down on her bed.

She starts off by apologizing for her treatment towards him and that she should've done more to calm down her father. She asks if he can forgive her and is able to forget it ever happened, but Dennim replies he'd let her do it again anytime. She doesn't understand his relaxed response and explains with a serious tone that she could've killed him. He says he has a strong head and that the damage is less great than she assumes. Mind thinks that doesn't justify anything and suggests he should have someone check on him, if he hasn't already. He stays dismissive, whereafter she gets up herself and takes a look at his head. Like he claimed, there's no detectable damage and everything seems in order, leaving her surprised and commending his persistence and bodily strength. Dennim, on his turn, commends her on her acting skills and the way she managed to save his ass once again.

Mind is unwilling to discuss that aspect of the evening, and instead criticizes his urge to cause trouble for himself. Dennim smirks that her father deserves no respect, but she doesn't take his oddly laid-back response well and insists he should try better, for both their sakes. She explains that flattering her father is a rare tactic she only uses in dire situations, and never to benefit herself, as the consequences are that her father will expect this type of devotion to continue in private.

Dennim pauses and then announces they should kill him. The suggestion startles Mind, but she takes it as an off-colour joke and says not to appreciate it. Dennim ignores it and asks why she doesn't consider it a real solution. She replies to think murder is wrong and that her father is the element that keeps the family safe from outsiders ready to rebel. Especially after she was forced to report the fight in the village, thanks to the coachman, her father promised her to go out of his way to make the residents suffer, which will create more strife between the two classes.

Dennim argues she'd be free to run away after his death and not let it be any of her concern, but she worries about what'll happen to her mother, and for the overall possibility of people hunting her down when they don't find her in the home they intend to raid. She confesses to know that many think she is in a genuine relationship with her monstrous father, making her a more important target than her mother. Her death would be a symbolic victory, next to the fact she disgusts the country and they'd rather see her gone.

Dennim thinks she should take the risk and find a new home in a secluded area, and not worry about her mother, as she doesn't return the same feelings. But Mind thinks the outburst she had during dinner to have been very courageous and claims it's the best thing she's ever done for her. Dennim says that to be sad. Since Mind appears unconvinced by his position, he explains that her abuse makes her more susceptible to meaningless acts and she shouldn't mistake them for kindness or care. He assures her that her mother is not part of those who care enough to see her saved, to which Mind asks what makes him think that. He replies that, as her mother, she should've killed her husband years ago. She repeats that murder is wrong and that her mother is a good person and understands that, like she does. Mind says to know that everyone is afraid of her father, but is convinced that the staff wishes to see her happy, despite being unable to help her. She adds that after all the past tragedy it's no longer right to demand them to put their life on the line for her, and believes it should stay her problem.

Her dreamlike description of the mentality surrounding her is far from the truth and remind Dennim of the prejudice remarks some of the staff members made about her earlier that day. Even so, he decides not to muddy his still developing reputation by revealing the opinion of those Mind thinks are on her side. As their relationship is still new, he's rendered unable to convince her into making any life-changing decisions. In order not to potentially anger her with what she'll definitely perceive as a lie, he swallows his words and lets her have the win.

He releases a soft snicker of defeat and says to respect her thoughts and will try to assist her the best he can, without causing her further trouble. She appreciates his changed temperament and thanks him again for cheering her up after what happened that evening.

Before Dennim departs, he asks if she needs any healing, but Mind smiles he should keep his hand out of her skirt for a while. Before he closes her door, she calls after him one more time and informs him that she's heard all his suggestions many times before. Dennim understands the implication and contentedly replies to have at least tried. Mind lies down and says to have missed servants like him. She offers him a warm, yet eerily sad smile and tells him goodnight.

The following months Mind and Dennim manage to build up a noteworthy friendship. They purposely ignore the problem that is Mind's father and spend more time on simple entertainment and other distractions. Dennim sneaks to her bedroom every night, where they play their music and have their hangouts, arranging from discussions about literature, late-night picnics, arts and crafts, and whatever their mind is set on.

Even so, in order to keep her father emotionally calm and accepting of Dennim's role as her personal caretaker, Mind is forced to perform her "backup act" as a daily routine, unbeknownst to Dennim. This causes Mind's father to claim her more often, but also think she has finally fallen for him. While the mood in the house appears improved and an upbeat Mind's father shows more patience for all his staff, Mind suffers more for it.

The abuse towards her has increased immensely, but Dennim's company keeps her from going insane. Dennim himself also shows no concern for the unfairness he faces on a daily basis. Even so, while he gladly plays the role of a cheerful joker, he recognizes that her father's increased obsession for her isn't a good sign and it will come back to bite them eventually. The fact he sees little of Mind during the day and is forced to do hard labour until he can finally claim her late in the evening, increases his disdain for Mind's father, though there's also a strange hint jealousy to be found.

Because the negative facial expressions Dennim tends to offer Mind's father in the corridors are not always subtle, it earns him extra beatings to his daily corporeal punishments; which are always performed by his reluctant mistress. Their horrid lives become such a routine that they never talk about it afterwards, and they are quick to adapt a "forgive and forget" mentality out of desperation for their inescapable position.

Things appears the same as usual, until one day Mind shows reluctance to eat and spends the following days living on an abnormally small diet. One evening her father politely urges her to eat something and keep herself healthy, but she again only manages to swallow half a piece of bread. He assumes fatigue affected her appetite, and suggests she should to bed early that night. Mind obeys and shuffles upstairs, missing another meal.

Around midnight, Dennim knocks his signature knock on her door, but Mind seems hesitant to confront anyone this time. After thinking it over for a while, she manages to lift her body up and moves it to the door. When she opens it, she sees Dennim standing with a food tray. He tells her she should really eat something and enters her room. He turns on the phonograph and puts the tray on her bed.

He tells her they're simple foods that are easy to swallow and digest, for fuzzy kids like her. Mind sits down next to the freshly prepared meal, and while knowing beforehand she won't be able to eat it, she offers him a genuine thanks for his concern.

In order to satisfy her watching friend, she takes one spoon of the sweet-smelling porridge on the tray, but then immediately aborts dinner again. She says that this is all she can muster for the moment, whereafter she lies herself down on the bed and silently stares into nothingness, as if she were contemplating something.

Dennim bends his knees and rests his upper body on the end of the bed. His face turns stern and he inspects her pained face, which she tries to mask with a more neutral expression, and her twitching hands, that appear eager to cup her stomach. He breaks the silence telling her she doesn't have to have sex with her father for his sake. Her expression stays empty and she mutters that she does.

She then covers her face with her arm, while the other hand holds her stomach, and she silently starts sobbing. Dennim looks up, but lets her have her moment. Mind then moans to have had 3 miscarriages in the last 3 months, with the last one having occurred merely 3 days ago. She sniffles that her body is tired, whereafter she breaks down in full tears and cries to be tired of abusing Dennim and tired of being abused. Her monologue ends with a death wish and Dennim is stupefied after having learned about her aborted motherhood. He starts thinking he didn't pay enough attention and becomes visibly angry with himself for having missed the signs. The idea his enemy could've succeeded in fathering a child with his mistress adds onto his bitter look, making it easy for the self-concerned Mind to notice.

She asks him if he's alright, to which Dennim responds she's mad for even asking him the question. He hisses that her father needs to die, but Mind intercepts his tantrum once again and wants none of it. He growls how that's even possible, and in his heated moment, boldly asks her if she has feelings for her father. Mind is hurt by the assumption and shouts that she refuses to accept any more deaths in her home.

Dennim attempts to regain most of his composure and presents her the question if she'd take a life if it saves more lives. Mind falls silent and is unable to come to a satisfactory conclusion.

As she refuses to answer, Dennim thinks it's best to end the discussion for the time being and take on a more consoling role after his rough insult. He offers a familiar, defeated smile and says she should at least let him heal her. He clarifies that there's no benefit in making herself pointlessly suffer if it can be helped. Mind answers to fear her father will sense or know she's been touched somehow, and Dennim answers that indeed to be the characteristic of a traumatized person. He smiles that they're already disobeying the rules by meeting up and would've been in trouble by now if her father knew of it. Mind thinks his logic over for a second and is inclined to agree.

Dennim guides her back down on the bed and reassures her he'll leave her thinking the past months never happened. She welcomes his promise and tries to calm her nerves as he moves his hand over her legs up to her stomach. He then lies down next to her and announces it may take a bit longer than last time. Mind shows understanding for the claim and his changed practice, and Dennim's hand begins to occupy more space of her body. She feels an increased feeling of relief taking over her once aching abdomen, and lets out a polite sigh of appreciation. She comments that he should really become a paid doctor, to which he gives her a cheery and cartoony thanks in return. Mind smiles and then closes her eyes.

Dennim watches her face intensively during the procedure, until he detects no more damage in the area he's covered. His hand then slowly moves to the side of her body, over to her right hip. Mind looks dozed off, but releases a satisfied moan. She mutters a thank you, unintentionally giving him a mental green light to try and take his healing elsewhere. He carefully pushes his large hand between her legs, but the move instantly wakes her back up.

With fear in her eyes, she asks him what he's doing and leans her torso away from him. Dennim casually presents the argument she could use a full treatment, all things considered, and shamelessly positions himself even closer against her body. Mind stutters nervously with the hand still resting on her genitalia, but his touch slowly erases the once lingering pain she's never been a day without, together with the angry words she wasn't able to find in the first place. Dennim moves his hand up and down, and at this point I realize I'm writing a porno, get ready for it. With every stroke, Mind is released from the chronic aches that haunted her joints and muscles since childhood.

Feeling refreshed, she gives him a well-deserved sigh of relief and closes it off with another meant thanks.

But Dennim stays suspiciously quiet during his second round of treatment. Mind feels uneasy by his reluctance to speak, and decides to look up at him in the hopes he'll get the hint and crack a bad joke to break the awkward silence with. But she sees he already has his eyes piercing her face, carrying a calm, yet strangely determined expression.

Dennim then raises his hand slightly and enters her underwear. Mind's body flinches in response and she is left baffled by his unsolicited, crude approach. But words again refuse to leave her mouth, as uncertainty fills her mind over whether or not this is part of the procedure and she should boycott her own chance of experiencing full alleviation by causing a ruckus. Dennim offers no explanation, causing Mind's cluelessness to freeze up her body and lie there stuck with an arched back and a mouth hanging half-open, without knowledge on how to finish her own animation. But 4 short seconds later, her body has officially reached its top health and a different sensation takes its place. It is as unfamiliar to her as her repaired health, but Mind still can't decide on its appropriateness.

Dennim slides his other arm under her body and gently holds her during his overstayed treatment, whereafter the feelings grows more intense, till the point she is able to guess what is going on.

The first thought that enters her mind is of her father yelling at her. Past claims start ringing in her ears; how everyone who shows compassion only wants her for this, and nobody will ever love her better or more than he will. Mind never looked down on other men, she didn't believe these stories, she was more worried if she had any worth to take. Nevertheless, she starts recalling the moment her father shouted at her for playing Dennim's patient and when he reported Dennim had made it his personal goal to get with her. She didn't buy it back then, but when she remembers Dennim's stalker story, accompanied with the fanged, flirtatious grin pointed at her right now, she can't shake the possibility her father might've been right and that his intentions with her had always been set in stone. She just told Dennim about her 3 recently lost children, yet he immediately took the opportunity to abuse her vulnerability like this.

A feeling of shame washes over her as she lies on the bed and lets Dennim have his way with her. Despite the close friendship they shared, the exchange of awful jokes, the many nights, and the torture they endured for each other, Mind doesn't know how to respond to Dennim's stimuli and takes the growing feeling of pleasure as one she needs to be disgusted at. Her uncertainty about his sincerity becomes more prominent and the thought that he might be playing with her causes her eyes to water.

While she hasn't responded with full excitement to his efforts, Dennim is taken aback by her sobbing and asks if he's no good. But Mind ignores the call for approval and asks him to release her. He retracts all hands and inspects his love interest. He guesses she might've let her thoughts run loose just now and says she can talk with him about anything. Mind sniffles to know that, to which he responds that not to be the case, as she kept her terminated pregnancies to herself.

She then turns her teary head his way and asks him what it is he wants.

Dennim gets right back into it and purrs that he wants her, while he parks his nose behind her ear and strokes her arm. She's not satisfied with the answer and places a serious hand on his shoulder. She requests a "why" from him, but considering the months they've spent together, it leaves Dennim confused. While he finds the presence of her doubt senseless, he recognizes he won't benefit from her self-denigration and answers to live for her, and that there's probably no reason that'll satisfy her for why he started following her in the first place. Mind ponders his answer and tries to form an opinion, until Dennim switches the interview around and asks her if she likes him.

He smiles to appreciate the level of trust she has for him to have let him go this far, but doesn't want to think she just stayed put out of fear or not to hurt his feelings. While Mind is still taking in the first question, he adds not to be offended if the intention was to stay friends or if she plans to demote him to a mere servant again. But this answer rubs her the wrong way and she mistakes his willingness to let her go for a confirmation to her earlier worries. With disappointment in her voice, she asks him to leave and removes herself from him by sitting straight up. Dennim raises his eyebrows and is surprised to have not gotten any answers from her before getting sent away.

While his nature would make him obey despite this, Dennim is overcome with a rare moment of self-concern and feels unfulfilled by the current events. He stops halfway and keeps his back to her as he utters the familiar word "why".

Right before it seems Mind is not going to respond to his question, she mutters to have always felt like a plaything for others to use and never a human being for others to love. She then smiles to have enjoyed his friendship, but just wished he cared enough to stay with her. Her observation hits like an insult, but he accepts her answer as a valuable piece of information.

He replies to have never said to leave her, just to let her decide his role in her life. Mind's eyes move to the floor and show slight regret of having misjudged his answer, but Dennim notices she still shows unwillingness to retract her thoughts.

He repeats the question if she loves him at all, to which she eventually admits to have never thought about it. He suggests that she should think about it now, and turns his head to show off a cocky smile. Mind sighs at his persistence and leans back on her hands.

Her mouth then forms a small smirk and she comments he smiles alot, despite everything. She says to be jealous of his carefree attitude, but appreciates it that he shares it with her. Dennim turns around and gives her a casual thanks. She continues her thought process and says he's not as ugly people make him out to be. Dennim takes a step closer and jokes he's very much an abomination that deserves to be hated on sight. Mind releases a silent snicker and argues his colour palette is odd, but there's objectively nothing wrong with his face. He gives her another thanks and happily bears his set of intimidating fangs at her.

Mind wipes away her tears and chuckles. As she becomes increasingly relaxed, Dennim decides to take another step closer while she returns to constructing the anticipated verdict of his character. She starts lamenting about never having made a friend before, and that nobody in her life managed to survive as long as he did. She wonders what she would've done if he wasn't so supportively disobedient and stubborn. Dennim winks, but reminds her his presence didn't improve her life by that much, as she cried she wanted to die not long back. She acknowledges her outburst and pauses.

Mind then looks him in the eyes and asks him how he manages to be so pleased with his existence. She says to know he's had a lonely childhood as well and humanity is still unfair to him, which makes her wonder what makes him pull through. At this point, Dennim has managed to sneak up on her enough to bend his knees and get to her face level in close proximity.

He answers he's never been a day of his life without her. Silence follows after his short statement, except for the sound of a growing heartbeat.

Mind's joints tremble after the sugary sweet response and her eyes slowly widen as the two stare right into each other's pupils. A tingling feeling inhabits her chest, while an intense heat grows in her lower body.
The two then launch themselves into each other and their mouths aggressively merge together, as if trying to catch up on months of neglected passion. But their panting during the wild kissing session is far from quiet, and Mind nearly gets a heart attack when someone starts knocking on her door.

Their faces quickly disconnect, and when Mind's father's voice is heard booming through the door, asking what she's doing listening to music this late at night, Mind starts to panic and whispers to Dennim he needs to hide. He hesitantly strolls to her bathroom, while pointing an impatient, furious look at the door on the way, until he stops at the entrance. Mind keeps signalling to him to please keep on moving, but then Dennim turns around and makes a throat slicing-motion with his hand and points at the door. While she tries to hold off her father by saying to be on her way, she shakes her head and violently waves her arms at him to coax him into entering the bathroom.

Mind then collects her composure and opens the door. Her father asks her again what she's doing, and she smiles to have had trouble sleeping, but will now and shall turn off the music. He buys into the excuse, but the man isn't planning on turning around just yet and expresses his worry for her. He asks her how she's doing, while he enters the room and subtly inspects it. Mind answers to feel much better, but says to be exhausted and repeats to be going to bed soon.

Mind's father then notices the full tray of food on her bed and comments on it. Mind quickly answers to have gotten her appetite back and she was planning to catch up on dinner before concluding the night. Mind's father then sits down next to it and looks at the food for a while. Mind smiles nervously and breaks the silence by saying one of the servants were gracious enough to cook her something and she was just about to start. He responds by giving the cute girl a warm smile, but then diverts his attention back to the tray.

He moves his hand to the porridge and touches the side of the bowl with his fingers. As Dennim had brought the food some time ago, Mind's father observes that it is cold and asks Mind who the servant was that brought her this, so he can punish them for her. Mind is reluctant to answer and insists not to be concerned by it, when keeping in mind the late hour she requested the meal. But her father disagrees and feels offended for her. He then asks her if it was perhaps Dennim, but she quickly reassures him that she doesn't feel safe having a demon-like character like him visit her at night, and it was one of the maids.

Mind's father then pulls her down next to him and caresses her cheek. He tells her she shouldn't have to fear her servant, as they've trained him the best they could. He continues that Dennim is more intelligent that he lets on and knows better than to try anything, and calls him a dog that's all bark. Nevertheless, he asks her if he should dispose of him if she's that fearful, but Mind smiles that it isn't like she distrusts him; but he is mistakable for a scary ghost lurking in the shadows, which will just feed her fear for the night.

Mind's father responds not to have known she was afraid in the dark and starts to apologize for not having catered to it. Mind smiles it's not an issue and there's not much to be done about it, anyway.

Her father then starts to massage her leg and says he could stay with her from now on. His suggestion hits like an electrical shock and the growing feeling of paralyzing panic starts to take over. Before she's officially dug her own grave, she silently swallows, and laughs that to be unnecessary and he should really stay with her mother. Mind's father then violently hisses not to care for the woman and that she has nothing to say about their love. Mind quickly argues for the facade they're supposed to uphold for the outside world, but her father responds to know that everybody knows about them already and says to not care about their opinion like he used to. As she's a grown woman now, he believes it to be publicly acceptable, strangely ignoring the fact she is his daughter.

None of Mind's excuses hit and her father keeps coming closer with his intentions. She is unable to think of anything that would make him turn around peacefully, as he revealed not to care for her mother, or Mind's desire to sleep. Her mouth futilely opens with the intention to create more desperate arguments, but her father places his on hers and starts to passionately make out with her. A few words manage to escape during the forced kiss and she begs her father not to abandon her mother, but he ignores the request and moans that she shouldn't call him father anymore, but "Mark". Knowing the situation will only escalate and Dennim is still present in the room, her eyes start to water, but her father moves his face in her neck as he undresses the both of them, leaving him unsuspicious.

The room fills itself with compliments and lovestruck noises coming from the delusional man, while he rubs her chest and places himself inbetween her legs. Mind tries to position her head in a way that'll prevent her ignored tears from falling onto his bare skin and then sees Dennim has abandoned his hideout.

His expression is hard to describe. His eyes are wide and heavily focused on the disgusting display he is cursed to have the worst point view of, and his mouth is small and neutral. By the way his back starts to slowly arc into their direction, Mind can only assume he is one thought away from ripping her father in half, and mouths to him that he needs to go, while pointing her eyes at the still ajar door. Dennim stays unresponsive, thus she repeats her order, but instead he picks up a letter opener from the desk behind him. Mind lets out a small gasp in response, that happens to please her father, giving her the idea to directly speak to Dennim through him.

She quickly places her arms around her assaulter, decreasing the chance he'll get up unannounced, and places her head on his shoulder in order to get in full contact with the rabid Dennim behind them.

She says to love him and to enjoy every moment he spends with her. Dennim holds his position and takes in her confession, but Mind's father believes she's addressing him and interrupts her heartfelt speech by increasing the pace and moaning her name. This angers Dennim, whereafter he continues to approach them with the fancy-looking weapon. Mind understands this might've not been the wisest thing to have started off with, and switches over to apologizing for her weak personality and says to simply want the best for him. Her father responds to feel the same way and starts to ferociously kiss her neck. Before the miscommunication pushes Dennim into uncontrollable insanity, she goes on to say not to worry about her all the time and she'll manage as long he stays with her. The idiot between her legs promises to do so, as he pets the blonde head lying on his shoulder. Dennim's upper lip raises and his teeth start grinding.

Mind knows her next words matter and quickly closes off reminding him that he knows what she wants him to do. Dennim's expression shows pained annoyance, and his hand trembles in unfiltered rage, but then relaxes in the blink of an eye.

Mind sees he has abandoned his plans and breaks eye contact with him, insinuating the conversation is over, whereafter he steadily paces out of the room. But her father reads into her finish as a request to be his sexually aggressive self, and Mind finds herself alone in a worsening situation with no hope for a better outcome. The same pain Dennim had taken away just moments ago returns all at once, and her father's once gentle hand starts to grab and pull her hair in an act of dominance. Her mouth twitches with every movement and the physical pain, in combination with the emotional, starts to pile up on her. She tries to swallow the cries that develop themselves inside her lungs, but her sobbing becomes harder to keep in check.

In order to stabilize herself, she attempts to reuse an old trick and zones out, but has trouble clearing her mind this time. She figures she needs more positive thoughts to distract herself with and starts thinking about Dennim and all the fun stuff they'll be able to do after the horror is over. She reminds herself of his strangely effective healing abilities, and as consolation, downplays the current damaging assault by knowing all her aches will once again be taken from her, anyway. Mind's tactic appears a success, and her once tense body starts to display indifference the more her beloved Dennim occupies her mind. Her fantasies become wilder and she starts to imagine a non-existent future for the both of them, including all the romantic moments that would come with it.

But realizing this can never happen, she's again brought into a more depressed state of mind and can no longer control herself. With her father's discomforting hand having moved to her throat and still holding it, all her delayed tears stream down at once and she loudly cries out Dennim's name.

Mind's father shoots up, after which she realizes her involuntary mistake. Time seems to slow down as his shocked expression gradually changes into one of pure rage. But before he is able to speak, a white hand grabs him by the face and forcefully pulls his head backwards with one swift animation. A horrifying crack is to be heard, whereafter the head is released, and the once double folded neck springs back forward.

Mind's eyes widen as her father's dead stare meet hers, but before she can scream, Dennim swiftly throws the body to the other side of the room and places his hand on her mouth. She starts to cry loudly into his hand and this continues on for a few minutes, until she has calmed down. She looks at the corpse on her floor and then at Dennim lying on top of her, showing him she is able to determine the situation. He slowly removes his hand and waits for her second response.

She just stares at him and pants, but uses the time needed to catch her breath to collect her final thoughts. She then sniffles to be very disappointed in him, whereafter she embraces him tightly. Dennim returns the hug and says to be glad to not have disappointed her in that sense. Mind releases an emotional grin and gives him a grateful set of kisses on the cheek. Dennim meets her back on her mouth, but as he seems a bit too shameless about making out in the presence of a man he just murdered, Mind pushes him back and says he needs to run.

Dennim insists she should come with him, but she reminds him of the fact she is a candidate for public lynching. She says that there's now nothing that'll protect her from all the spiteful people that suffered because of her family, or those who are convinced she should be punished for lying with her own father. Her presence will only take away whatever future he is still able to have on his own, and she believes he's better off running after his crime and let her deal with it.

Dennim raises an eyebrow and asks her if she's already forgotten what he looks like. He clarifies that people already like to throw rocks at him, making the two of them the best pathetic couple in existence. Mind chuckles through her remaining tears and replies to be lucky to have fallen for such an undesirable man. Dennim smiles he could've been the most popular guy in school and still wouldn't have let go of her. Mind lovingly pets the sides of his face, but then whispers to be afraid to go outside. He responds that he'll be taking over her shitty father's job of protecting her and will do a better job at it. Mind says nothing and just offers him a look of adoration. The corners of her mouth keep going up, until she is reminded of her mother.

She tells him they can't abandon her, especially after what her father said, and asks him if she can come with them. Dennim sneers, but then jokingly responds he's too shy to join a threesome. She sighs and urges him to take the issue more seriously. He answers she should really just find a new mother, but will allow anyone to come along for her.

Mind rejoices and excitedly kisses him on the mouth, and Dennim follows. At the same moment, Mind's mother appears at the opened bedroom door and witnesses the outlandish mess in front of her. She sees the ugly servant, who she only knows as her daughter's slavish personal assistant, on top of the naked Mind and making out with each other, without concern for the dead body of her husband dumped on the floor. She asks them what they think they're doing with ominous disbelief in her voice. Mind gasps in surprise and quickly tries to convince her it's not what it looks like.

Mind's mother then places her hand on her face in frustration, and starts to sob softly not long afterwards. Dennim gets off Mind and hands her a nearby bathrobe, while she is forced to acknowledge her broken mother. But Mind is drenched in humiliation and unsure what to tell her. She then notices the blade in her other hand and becomes curious about the reason of her visit.

She asks her why she came to see her, whereafter Mind's mother tries to calm herself down and confesses she came to murder her father. The idea her mother proved Dennim wrong, despite planning to perform this unspeakable act, fills Mind with a fluttering sensation. A smile slowly appears on her face, but before she can get up to run over for a hug, her mother raises her hand to sign her to cease all movement. Though her problem has been taken care of, Mind's mother still appears displeased and she gives the two a disapproving look.

She says she never expected to find her daughter having intercourse with a cursed man at a crime scene conducted by themselves, and adds she thought she raised her better than that. Mind shamefully diverts her eyes from her, but Dennim looks like a wolf on edge with fingers itching to snap another neck. She continues that, as the daughter of a proud aristocrat family, she should be ashamed of herself. Mind shows understanding for her observation and admits her presentation looks off, but claims Dennim saved her from her father and she ran into a moment where she was still receiving consolation after the incident. Mind's mother scoffs and then approaches her to grab her hand. Mind asks her where they're going to, and her mother says they should leave now that they're vulnerable for attacks. Mind agrees and goes on to call over Dennim, but her mother swiftly tells her he can't come with them and orders him to stay put. Mind reminds her that he's the one who saved her, but she shows no concern for this fact and keeps dragging the young woman away from him.

Mind nervously switches her focus between Dennim, still standing in her door opening, and her mother, hastily dragging her through the corridor. Mind argues they can't just leave him behind, but her mother says it's unsafe to take him along and it's his duty to stay in case the law desires to find her father's murderer. Mind angrily points out that they owe him, as he came to her rescue and performed a crime her mother was about to commit herself, saving her from any legal repercussions. Mind's mother releases a short laugh and replies she shouldn't care so much about a mere servant, and continues her journey to the stairs uninterrupted. She then informs Mind to have already packed them some items and are ready to leave.

As her proud mother stays unwilling to listen, Mind feels urged to use the only language that's ever had an effect, and insists to "want" Dennim, but her mother immediately interrupts and accurately finishes her rehearsed sentence. She proclaims to know her "pet"-excuses and tells her they won't work on her, as she's not her father. Mind feels embarrassed for even trying, thus goes over to a more tame approach and says he's valuable company. Mind's mother takes it for the same spiel and scolds her for her childish act of presenting a grown man as if he were a cute puppy, and urges her to recognize there's no time to be moping over a floor scrubber, considering their situation.

Mind then yanks her arm out of her hand and stands still. Her mother looks back and shouts she's wasting precious time, but is then met with her daughter's love confession for her gothic servant.

She looks at her in utter shock, and then mutters to herself to have hoped it not to have been that when she found them together. Mind finds her response dubious and asks her what else it could've been, whereafter her mother admits to have thought Dennim was a bedtime toy; meant to help her cope with her father. She adds to have always assumed she used servants for this, as all males looked so smitten by her. Mind's mother then hesitantly confesses to have carried a disdain for her because of it, and found it unbearable to live in a family that inhabited these kind of improper traits.

Her harsh confession feels like a punch in the stomach, but Mind manages to silence her heartbreak and not create a scene over the misunderstanding. She asks her why she came to rescue her if she thought so lowly of her, whereafter Mind's mother slowly inhales, and then explains she is her only child and still loves her.

An emotional Mind wants to give her an overdue embrace, but her mother tells her they've talked enough and should keep moving before the staff finds her father dead and the revolt begins. Mind agrees, but then asks if Dennim is allowed to come along now. Her mother's softened face turns hard again and her answer stays unchanged. Mind is stunned by her intact stubbornness, even after having learned about her feelings for him, and demands a proper reason for her dislike for him.

Her mother explains that people like them aren't supposed to mingle with commoners, especially not with their own servants; with "creatures like Dennim" being on the bottom of the food chain. Mind shouts that she's being unfair and that he's shown to possess a great love for her. Mind's mother growls that it's no surprise he loves her, as he's a child cursed by demons and poverty, and she a beautiful woman surrounded by wealth. All men are glad to die for a fresh, young face and Mind is mentioned to be living proof of that, making Dennim far from special. She then urges her not to give herself to a boy of no worth, just because doesn't know what a decent man is like, and promises to introduce her to some acquaintances if her desire to be a wife is that strong.

Mind quickly learns that her mother has an unhealthy amount of respect for the rules of their class, even after their family has officially been broken, and shows no willingness to bend for her feelings. She worries that the blind, yet well-intended responses are all she's going to get and starts feeling the heat when the front door appears in sight. She begs her mother to reconsider and give Dennim her blessing, but her emotional, desperate pleading is ignored. When she's forced down the staircase, she starts to sob. Her mother promises her she'll get over it, as she's too young and sheltered to know what love is. But Mind feels far from comforted and starts to beg harder. She looks up, trying to see if Dennim is at least following her, but just sees darkness.

As her daughter's struggling makes it hard for Mind's mother to safely descend the stairs, she starts to yank her arm and sternly orders her to behave. But the hostility just adds to Mind's hysteria and she becomes overpowered by her fear of abandonment. She cries to want Dennim, but her frustrated mother still shows no care for it, and starts abusing the slippery, marble steps by making the sobbing girl trip over them in order to speed things up.

Then suddenly, a powerful hand grabs Mind's mother by the neck. The unchecked force squeezes out a loud gulp from her throat and Mind jumps in surprise. Her mother's breathing becomes painfully hindered and she slowly turns her gaze away from her startled daughter to face her attacker.

The lethal hand leads to a set of red eyes, threateningly looking at her through long locks of black hair, ominously covering all other facial features. She instantly recognizes the servant her daughter had been calling out for this entire time, and her reddening face shows disbelief for her employee's betrayal. She attempts to scream, but all sound is blocked by the fist around her neck, and she's left silently choking while keeping her unblinking eyes on the frightening figure.

Mind quickly steps in and demands Dennim to release her, but he doesn't listen. She continues to shout at him a few more times, but he appears entranced and determined to end her mother's life. She goes over to his side and tries to shake him loose, but his body is like a heavy boulder and refuses to budge. As precious seconds keep ticking away, she becomes more worried about the possible outcome of the circumstance and hopelessly tries to push her fingers inside Dennim's fist to spring it open, yet keeps failing to create any room to do so.

Mind voice becomes more desperate and she repeatedly asks the unresponsive Dennim to let go, but nothing changes, and her mother's skin starts getting an unhealthy colour.

Having exhausted all peaceful options, she tightly embraces his fixed torso and begs him not to become an willful murderer. She says her mother is not a bad person and doesn't deserve this suffering. Dennim watches his dying victim for a bit, almost as if to regret his next decision, but then finally lets go.

Mind's mother's weakened body collapses, but before she hits the bottom steps, Mind catches her in her arms. She releases a seemingly unending collection of saliva-ridden coughs, while her daughter pets her on the back caringly. Mind then offers a silent stare at Dennim, still towering over them and showing no concern for Mind's mother choking on her own spit. The woman tries to regain full consciousness and slowly moves her eyes up. She watches Dennim with detest and pants slowly and controlled in his presence, like she's challenging him for a second round.

Mind nervously witnesses the hostile eye contact and decides to interrupt their train of thought by suggesting Dennim to apologize to her mother. But he just scowls and tells the leering woman he'll kill her if she assaults her daughter again.

Her bloodshot eyes widen, but her crushed throat makes it impossible to respond, as is made clear by the returned coughing. Mind steps in saying she was cruel, but not uncaring, and he didn't have the right to try and take her life for it. Dennim turns his face away from them and says nothing. Mind sighs and then turns to her mother. She claims he's sorry, after which Dennim intercepts with a quick "no", and she explains to her he thought she was being harmed. Mind's mother looks unimpressed by the story, but Mind's defense also earns her a glare.

She clears her throat to the best of her abilities, and asks with a raspy voice if she feels safe around a man with anger issues and that kind of strength. Mind is caught off-guard by the question, but answers he never hurt her once. Her mother says to doubt she'll stay safe forever from a man who's hardly human and asks what she'll do when he turns against her. Dennim sneers in response to her cheap slander, but sees no need in defending himself and awaits Mind's response, but she says nothing. Then her mother's expression shows concerned desperation and she begs her to forget about him and think of her future.

Mind looks at Dennim, hoping he has anything useful to say about her mother's plea, but he radiates reluctant defeat. As she's still waiting for his opinion, he tells her that if she's indeed afraid of him, she should stay with her mother. Mind squeaks how he can say something like that, to which he argues she's waiting for him to defend himself, meaning she found truth in her mother's words. He adds it's possible her happiness may not include him, which is why he can't force himself into her life by making a promise that won't erase her worries to begin with. Mind's mother happily accepts his defeated demeanour and points out to Mind even he doesn't want her to have him.

She gets up and grabs Mind's hand, while still holding her sore throat. Her eyes then again meet Dennim's, and they hold contact for a while. He is informed she won't have him committed for his assault if he steps aside and never shows his face again.

Even though her mother accepts Dennim's response as a victory for her, Mind doesn't see it that way and is still conflicted about what to do. While her father's murder was not an unreasonable response, the near-death experience her mother just went through terrified her. The amount of time she needed to soothe Dennim was worrisome and she got acquainted to a side of him she never saw before. Mind wonders to herself why it started becoming so prominent, as he's been the smiling doormat of every single person in the house for months, but now showed no patience and almost killed two people.

The power in his seemingly average muscles was something she experienced before, but this "talent" became easily forgotten over time, despite his role as her bodyguard. There weren't that many instances where he had to fight people off of her and Dennim built up a reputation of being a jokester, opposed to a brawler. The first time she witnessed him physically attack someone was the encounter with her father in the bedroom, the second time the incident in the village, with that being the extend of his track record. His recent actions were unnerving, but she wonders if that isn't mainly caused by the lack of introduction to his capabilities.

Mind pulls her mother's hand and tells her she wishes for Dennim to speak more about the issue. Mind's mother argues that a criminal will always support his own innocence, but Mind ignores her skepticism and turns to Dennim. She presents him a single, oddly direct question; and wishes to know what sets him off.

Her mother immediately cuts in and responds in shock to her question. She asks her if she's thinking about taking away her own liberty in order to coexist with a time bomb, and says there's a better way of living her life. Mind requests she gives him a chance, to which her mother starts to argue it's his deceitful worship of her that makes her unwilling to accept the truth. She urges her she shouldn't give her life to someone she doesn't really know.

Dennim doesn't let the remark slide and growls till what extent she's ever been there for her. He finds their relationship lacklustre, while she's her mother. Mind's mother responds with a bitter frown, but Mind gently pets Dennim's chest to calm his tongue and prevent the situation from escalating again. She then looks at him and asks him to answer truthfully if he's got anger issues.

Dennim's scowl turns into a pleasant smile, and he answers that anyone is allowed to hit him with a stone plate, but problems start when they tickle her with a feather. Mind's mother jumps in saying it's not his place to decide how her daughter will interact with others. Mind doesn't understand the objection raised to what sounds like a sweet statement, but her mother explains people like him will only sabotage the relationships others wish to have, as they are selfish manipulators. Dennim bears his teeth and replies not to get in the way of anyone who shows more concern for Mind than her father and mother have; a comment that makes Mind's mother sick with fury.

Before more racket is made and the servants downstairs wake up, Mind suggests they should show empathy for each other and consider their standpoints, but her mother says that to be pointless, as *she* is the one who has to choose her traveling partner in the end. Mind looks up in surprise, and Dennim speaks for her asking when she decided to suddenly give her a choice.

Mind's mother explains to have just learned her daughter will just keep getting followed by a white shadow if there's no resolve, and the fact Dennim was willing to kill her over pulling her own child's arm makes her especially unwilling to live with such a shadow lurking over them. She admits that his capabilities petrify her and his previous actions only confirmed her assumption that he is of the Devil.

Dennim gives her a damning grin, whereafter Mind nudges him and silently tells him off, while her mother continues her religious speech. She says to worry about their connection, but still trusts Mind's ability to "send him back" over the authority's ability to catch and imprison him. Mind listens in awe to the sudden ramble in which Dennim is described to be a demon who latched himself onto a human in need, with the only way of getting rid of him is by having the host he worships, and the host that worships him, dismiss him.

Her deliverance becomes more surreal the longer it goes on, and Mind feels saddened by her insulting assumptions that are of little relevance. Mind argues he is not some immortal Hell creature that deserves to be mistrusted because of the colour of his eyes, and says he was the sole reason she wanted to stay alive after having reached her limit multiple times. Her mother says that to make sense, as the Devil offers sweet stories and easy solutions. She adds that the best results come when one takes the hardest route, whereafter Mind's eyes become glassy and she asks her how much longer she was supposed to suffer until her best result would show itself.

Mind's mother realizes her statement and halts her speech. Mind continues that Dennim only showed up years after taking the hardest route, and asks her if it's possible he is the best result. Nothing made her happy before, as nothing stuck around or wanted to try, with Dennim being the only successful contender. Mind's mother says there are more people in the world than those she met in her isolated life, who are fairer than Dennim, but Mind won't respond to that statement. She then urges her daughter not to forget about the attack, while pointing at her throat, but Mind repeats that he thought she was in danger and says to understand from his earlier response that her safety is all he gets emotional about. After having been objectified for so long, and with so many people knowing her face in the country, she thinks having a cautious bodyguard is not a bad thing to have.

Mind's mother understands she's losing her and this time gently grabs her hand. She begs her one more time to go with her, but Mind just slowly exhales in the moment of suspense that follows after. She then expresses her worry that any relationship she'll build up with her unprogressive mother will stay this one-sided, but adds she doesn't doubt she wants best for her. Mind shows disappointment in her approach towards Dennim, as 4 different titles were flung at him in the short span of 15 minutes; starting with being a night toy, then an ugly servant, a violent abuser, and now a Biblical demon. Her words started losing weight the more she kept talking in her presumed moments of victory, and it became easier to think she said whatever necessary to make Mind turn against him.

Mind's mother admits not to want her child to date a servant or a mutant, but still stands behind everything she's said so far. Mind releases a pitiful smirk, but then her face turns static again. While her mother's bias concerning his looks and social status left her unimpressed, Dennim oddly enough managed to excuse his aggression and steered the discussion to a conclusion she didn't expect to reach this soon.

Her mother watches the two standing before her. Her face looks like it's going through a different array of emotions, but nobody comments on it, and all are stuck in their own thoughts.

She inspects her distrusted foe, the pale-skinned Dennim, and finds nothing about him that would make her want to give anyone's daughter to. His appearance and act are otherworldly and uninviting, and her sore throat keeps reminding her of what her position on him should be. His dentures are unlike any human or beast's, and his red eyes can give many looks, but none loving, caring, adoring, or warm. Not to her. Obviously not to most people. Her daughter claimed to feel comfortable around him; and she found the two together on a bed, confirming she feels charmed enough by his sinister face to want to kiss it. But she fears Mind sees something that's not there, and that keeping her devotion is all part of the demon's tricks. But this argument won her no respect from her daughter, unsurprisingly.

She then looks at Mind, carrying a lacklustre emotion after she's told off her own mother, not expecting much of a resolution to come out of the whole ordeal. She's always been a mousy girl and had an eternal, delicate vibe surrounding her; like there wasn't a real person inside the body and she only existed for outsiders to look at in awe. She was a living doll who offered a fake smile so now and then, like she was trained to do, but even Mind's mother knew her days were empty. Much like her own.

The thought such a fragile human was willing to join someone like Dennim made her quite defensive, and she's still assured it to be the wrong decision. Nevertheless, Mind's mother recognizes the fact Mind spoke more during her short defense of Dennim than in all the previous years of her life, and never before had she shouted out for someone in maniacal panic. That kind of passion was never found inside of her before. She's never loved someone, possibly because she never dared. While it doesn't change Mind's mother's opinion of Dennim, she wonders if Mind's delusional love for a possibly ill-intended demon might be the only happiness she'll ever experience, which is a thought that brings her sorrow by itself.

Even if staying with her would give the best possible outcome, she feels there's no use for Mind to lead a socially acceptable life if there's nothing that brings her joy. Mind's mother gets hit with the realisation that she won't be able to make her happy, as they've estranged from each other and she's an acquaintance, while Dennim is a friend.

She takes a step back and tells Mind she's going to scream in 10 seconds. Mind looks up in confusion, whereafter she tries to clarify her intentions by suggesting she and Dennim reach the horse carriage before the house gets alerted.

Mind's eyes stay big and focused on her mother, while Dennim grabs her hand and drags her to the front door without hesitation. Outside they see the family's horse carriage parked and ready to go. Dennim leads his anxious mistress inside, whereafter he climbs up the vehicle to take the reigns. As he whips the two horses and orders them to go, a loud shriek is heard coming from inside. The horses speed off, and Mind watches the house wake up in the ever-increasing distance.

The death of her father, the escape, and the fact she'll never see her mother again all hit at once and she feels the water build up in her eyes to the drastic change she never imagined would happen. She dries them with the edge of her bathrobe and turns her view away from the fully lit house and the faraway voices.

Mind and Dennim travel for a few days, until he finds them a place he deems suitable to start their new lives at. After their uninterrupted journey, they finally speak with each other about the past events, though Dennim mainly kept his silence in order for Mind to digest it.

While Dennim is effortlessly cutting thick logs for their future home with what looks like a dull homemade knife, Mind is stretching her legs and appears content exploring the area, until she shares with him a concern she hasn't been able to shake off.

She asks Dennim if they should've taken her mother with them, but he argues she wouldn't have accepted the offer, as she hates him. Mind finds his answer plausible, but then asks if he would've accepted her. He answers to stand by his first promise; to take anyone along she wanted him to.

Mind walks over to her hard-working lumberjack and embraces him lovingly. She then mutters to worry about what the mansion looks like now and what the villagers might have done to her mother, but Dennim grins she probably fought everyone off by telling their daughters they're Satan. Mind replies to hope not, as it didn't work the first time. Dennim jokes to be glad she joined his cult and promises to burn some goats for her after he's done with the firewood. She smirks and asks if they shouldn't use to wood to build them a house first, but Dennim insists a goat carcass, and their love, will suffice. Mind responds skeptical, but then gives the awkward man a kiss on his head and goes to sit down on a patch of nearby grass.

She often feels like crying or screaming, but knows there's something about Dennim that makes her forget to be upset, and this has always been the case. She assumes it's his unorthodox humor, which she surprisingly enough was quick to appreciate and copy. Nobody jokes about the Devil, and Dennim possessed alot of undiscovered humor that most other people preferred he kept to himself. But his trend of downplaying serious subjects, while they can be insulting at times, always managed to make Mind forget about her sorrow. After being silent and serious for most of her life, she hoped to spew this nonsense with him till the end of time.

While she's sitting in the sunlight with her eternally loyal servant slicing tree stumps in half with a mere cleaver, she realizes even more that her mother was wrong. Dennim's intentions had always been doubted, even by her, but now there were no watching eyes on them, nobody who'd punish Dennim for merely existing, and nobody to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. It was just him and her, alone in a forest, with no indication that he was planning to harm her. He didn't owe it to her to build them a house and would've acted differently if he was who her father and mother claimed he was.

Mind was glad to have gone with him, despite her mother still being in her thoughts. But the discussion from a few days back taught her that she and her mother were nothing more than housemates. They both desired things from each other they simply couldn't give and they learned that fact only recently.

But letting the two of them run off was an important act of love towards her daughter, as it was made clear her mother despised Dennim and harboured these feelings for her for the longest time. But Mind couldn't fault her for her way of thinking; the woman was a product of her time and environment, Mind knew better than to stay offended over her words. She did something unusual and she would forever cherish her for it, that was the only thing that mattered.

Mind watches the sunbeams hit Dennim's back, and squints as his skin lights up. He's been proudly barechested ever since he started on his chore. For someone who's only ever heard how ugly he is, it looked like he felt pretty handsome, which was inspiring. When Mind's thoughts have come to an end, she lies down her body and falls asleep to the sound of wood hitting the sand.

The following years they spend in blissful solitude, and the peace in their lives allows for them to raise 3 white-skinned children, Mindy, Dennis and Denny. The past never managed to find them, though Mind's mother was eventually confirmed to have been killed in the raid and it took nearly 10 years for Mind's face to become forgotten by the country. This allowed for her to visit villages again and create a routine out of bringing back gifts to her family of mutants, as gratitude for their existence. Her body never experienced a single ache after having unofficially married Dennim, and their successful escape concludes the story.