My Heart's a Battleground

Ren blinked her eyes as a few more tears began to fall. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand but could feel more tears take place. She wished she was dead right now. She felt alone and unloved. What did she do to make everything the way that it was now? She didn't understand it but at the same time she felt like she did understand.

Ren had no idea where she was walking but she didn't really care at this point. She wanted to disappear into the darkness forever and never return. No one wanted her anyway. She was no one now, a nobody.

She had ended up in a park and sat on a bench. Ren looked up to see the sun was slowly setting, making the shadows of everything much bigger. She wished they would engulf her already. Ren bit her lip as she cried harder. She couldn't take this pain much longer. She wished that she didn't have a heart to feel pain anymore.

"Hey, why so gloomy?" a voice piped up in front of her.

Ren looked up to see a man in a black coat with emerald eyes, reverse tear drop shaped tattoos under his eyes and slicked back, spiky red hair. She could feel her face warm up a little as she looked at him. She had to admit that he was handsome. There was something about him the Ren liked immediately.

"Who are you?" Ren asked as she wiped her eyes.

"Axel, got it memorized?" he asked as he tapped his index finger against his temple.

"Umm, yes," Ren as she blinked her eyes.

This was definitely straight forward and cocky. He made her want to giggle and smile. She then looked up at him to see he had his arms crossed, as if he was waiting. Ren was wondering why he was just standing there.

Axel then sighed and shook his head, "Do I get to know the name of the young lady?"

Ren then perked up and bit her lip while blushing, "Sorry... My name is Ren."

Axel only chuckled and shook his head again, "Talk about a space case."

Axel then looked back at her to see that she was on the verge of tears again. He went wide eyed and held up his hands, "Hey, hey! No need for tears! I'm just kidding ya!"

Ren sniffed and looked away. She was already upset as it is and now this guy was making fun of her. She shook her head, deciding to leave so she could finally be alone. Ren pushed her way past Axel, making the fiery man stare at her in disbelief. Axel then spoke up, "Hey, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"

Axel saw that she wouldn't stop to listen to him. Ren marched off farther from him, not even listening to Axel apologize to her. Ren then felt Axel grab her hand which made her stop and turn to him. Axel had a very displeased look on his face. She couldn't help but be frightened a little by his look.

Axel then softened up when he saw her face then sighed, "Look. I am sorry. I'm not very good when it comes to conversation."

Ren then turned to look at him, "It's all right... I'm just... a little on edge because..."

Axel cocked his head to the side, "Because?"

"Because... I've been hurt so badly... I just... I don't want to feel pain anymore..." Ren replied hanging her head a little.

Axel frowned a little then began to ruffle her long red hair. She looked up at him with her crystal blue eyes while pursing her bottom lip. Axel couldn't help but chuckle at her look but stopped when he saw she was about to cry again.

"Who hurt you so badly?" Axel asked looking into her eyes.

Ren sighed deeply to compose herself then looked up at him, "Someone who was very close to me and who I thought loved me... I just wish I didn't have a heart so I couldn't feel this pain anymore... I'd rather be alone in darkness."

Axel frowned and placed his hands on his hips, "Why would you want to be in the darkness? It's no fun there."

Axel then held his hand out to her, "I'll take you somewhere so you don't have endure those feelings anymore. Somewhere that you feel accepted. Where your heart won't be in agonizing pain."

Ren stared into his emerald eyes as he spoke. Was he telling her the truth? Ren lifted up her hand to place it in Axel's but hesitated. She bit her lip then looked up at his face again, "How can I trust you?"

"That's up to you. Question is... stay here and suffer alone? Or coming with me to somewhere you are appreciated?" Axel said, "Your choice."

Ren still felt unsure and frowned. Axel stepped closer and gazed into her crystalline eyes, "I'm your friend. I want to help."

Friend... Ren almost forgot what that word meant to her. She wanted to forget it but Axel gave her a special feeling. Ren looked back into Axel's deep eyes, "Forever?"

"Huh?" Axel asked.

"Friends forever?" Ren asked sternly, looking into his eyes, "Promise?"

Axel nodded, "Promise."

Ren hoped that she wasn't making the wrong decision but she didn't want to be here any longer. Ren then placed her hand into Axel's gloved hand. Axel smirked then turned his head and used his other hand to open a dark portal. Ren was apprehensive but her wish was coming true. Had Axel heard her plea for a new life?