Snippet #2344015

The goddess Manera smirked as they went into uproar. Watching the poor kid James, she remained unaffected by his pleas. "You did not ask the terms of your contract when you made it. To make assumptions is silly." she said to them, a grin playing upon her fair face. "They have forgotten you. You, effectually, no longer exist. Don't be worried." she cooed, putting up the facade of beneficence once more. "They will not grieve. Of course if you do not accept I could make an exception." she lead him on as she saw the tears in his eyes. She walked towards him, going about halfway down the stairs as she beamed down at him. "I'll take it away, everything you wished for. I'll put you back to where you were. I'll put you back exactly one year. For one person only, I will make this exception." She looked around, waiting for a reply.
Yuan Ying'e stepped forward. "I will take it, goddess." she said softly. "I have no desire to become your pet for any price."
Manera looked surprised. No one had ever taken her offered out before. Nevertheless, she granted her wish. "It shall be done as you have requested." she responded, and slowly Yuan Ying'e faded from view. What Manera didn't say was this would count as another wish, to put everything back. And if Yuan Ying'e was unwilling to pay the price, well she would have to take someone else as payment, someone close, someone special to the chosen. And realistically she could put her back in whatever situation she wanted. She could make her worse off than she had been before or change her fate to something else. She could put her whereever she wanted. Of course, she would never tell her this. Often humans so blinded by their emotions rarely asked for the terms to her agreements. In the years that she had lived, Manera had never met a one that would beat her and she bet she never would.
Manera next turned to Tarani. There was always one. she thought. One who thought she was the only one. Manera spoke to her. "I apologize for any misunderstandings, but as I said before, to make assumptions is silly." Then the tall woman stood up and voiced her misunderstood joy. But then her hand went to her stomach. This was the moment Manera had been waiting for. The woman swooned, bawling and rocking back and forth. Manera's cold smile remained. "Good-bye, my pets. I will be watching over you." And she slowly faded from view, leaving them to their sufferings.

Gunter looked up at the goddess as she explained that they were forgotten, non-existent. At first, he was at least a little okay with this. But then he thought of Anna. The beloved Gesundheitsdienst who had taken care of him in the infirmary. A sweet, caring face smiling at him. Long, blonde braids under a cap and a splash of freckles on fair skin. Deep, brave grey eyes that threatened to envelope him. Now they were all gone. He would never see her again. He fought back tears. He wanted to scream at the goddess, but he choked on the lump in his throat. He stood up to attack her, run at her, and tear her limb from limb, but he knew it was impossible. Then she offered the out. He almost took it, but then he thought about what it meant. It meant he would be a Nazi again, back in the trenches of the Battle of Berlin, fighting the Russians and trying to protect his love, Anna, who had joined illegally, pretending to be a boy. He shuddered. He would never participate in that regime again. Yuan Ying'e took the out anyway. Then Tarani said something that he didn't quite hear, and Adelina swooned. She began to cry and rock back and forth. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he walked quickly over and gave her a hug. He felt powerless, like an animal caught in a trap. He glared at the goddess, rage blazing in his eyes as he held the grief-stricken Adelina. It was heart-breaking. Slowly the hateful apparition faded from view and Gunter looked back at Adelina, trying to determine what had destroyed her so.