9 Fanfiction based on my stitchpunk fan-character, Rai. Information as well as a visual reference to Rai are available at the story's website (link available in my profile)

The Tale of Rai
Prologue Part 1 – Memories Amongst a Nightmare

Running…as fast as I possibly could run…
People flooded the streets; most trying to flee, to escape their inevitable demise as the machines gave chase.
While everyone ran out of their path, I ran to them…I didn't care if I died at this point.
I just wanted to get out of there; I just wanted to be alone.

My mind was not functioning, I was in a panic. All I could think about was what I had done, the crime I had just committed.
I almost wish I was capable of producing tears…maybe the pain would flow from my body too…

Finally past the machines, I dove behind a brick wall. I clutched the sides of my head as I hyperventilated. I wanted to scream, but I had become numb…paralyzed. It wasn't fear of the machines, it wasn't the sounds of the people's screams…no…my mind was locked…locked on my memories…locked on the nightmare that will forever haunt me…

--

6 months ago…

I awoke to the sound of a woman crying. I didn't know who I was or where I was, but oddly I knew how to do basic functions, like walking and speaking…sort of like an instinct. I pushed myself up and walked over to her, placing my hand on her leg.

She was bigger than I was…much bigger, but I wasn't afraid of her…in fact, I was drawn to her.

"What's wrong, Vee?" I questioned softly. Somehow I felt that I should call her by that name.

She gasped and looked down at me as I gave her an assuring smile. Tears welled up in her eyes once more as she embraced me…but these weren't tears of sadness, they were tears of relief…

--

A few weeks past.

Vianna, as she soon told me was her name, had begun to refer to me as 'Rai'. We were close, like best friends. She always told me how she felt, how her day went, everything.

Her occupation was a lab assistant. She often mentioned a 'breakthrough invention' her employer was working on…she called it the B.R.A.I.N.

She would bring home some blueprints of it every now and then to study. She was training to become a scientist herself, but lacked the technical know-how to be as great as the scientist she worked for. He was a kind and generous man, according to Vianna, and let her learn from his schematics.

--

As weeks turned into months, our relation grew more meaningful…

She often brought home romantic literature from the library and we would read them together until the late hours of the night.

I was highly intrigued by the actions the characters displayed towards each other. It sort of gave me a…warm feeling.

One night after reading a novel, Vianna was extremely exhausted…I could tell. She told me she had a hard and eventful day at work; I knew she needed to rest.

I told her goodnight, not expecting what was going to happen next. She surprised me with an action I only read about in the books she brought home for us…

…she kissed me. It may not have been directly on my lips…but it was close enough to make me melt.

The way we were towards each other changed from the moment on…but it was a wonderful change…

--

A few more months past.

Vianna was again in tears, I haven't seen her like this in a while. She was in disbelief as the creation her employer invented wreaked havoc by unleashing menacing machines.

Many people had died and the numbers continued to escalate.

The scientist dropped ties with her, begging that she never let anyone know they knew each other…for her sake.

The Chancellor had announced that the scientist was to blame for all of this. According to Vianna, the Chancellor was at fault. Deep down she hated him for some reason. I vaguely recall hearing her mumble to herself. Something about his nephew…

--

Several days later…the present day…the machines unleashed bombs filled with deadly gas. It was only a matter of minutes before it reached our neighborhood.

A tear slid down Vianna's cheek as she watched people outside fall over in pain…slowly dying. I silently watched her walk away from the window and over to her bed, not sure what I could say to make her feel that everything would be alright…because I knew myself that it would not be so.

She grabbed a ribbon from the drawer of her nightstand. It had something written on it, but it was in a language I had never seen before. She kneeled down to me and wrapped it around my arm.

With a faint smile on her face she weakly said to me: "Remember…Rai?" Confused and concerned I looked up at her. Sadness was in her eyes…

She began coughing uncontrollably. I quickly moved closer to her, in a feeble attempt to help.

Blood eventually dripped from her mouth as she gasped for air.

My heart broke at the sight of her in pain. She was like this for several minutes and it was tearing away at me…that I could do nothing…

As I began to gently glide my fingers across her arm she clutched my hand in hers. "R-Rai…"

"Yes Vee?" I cupped my free hand over her fingers.

"I-I know…that it's a-a lot to ask of you…but…"

"What? I'll-I'll do anything…for you…" I gave her a warm smile as she weakly pushed herself up and began to walk over to her work area. She grabbed a small hand gun from her desk and placed it in front of me.

"End…the pain…please…" She stated as she laid herself on the floor, at my level

I shook my head in horror. "Vianna…I…I could never…"

"…please…" Her voice had gotten weaker. I glanced at the weapon and back at her in utter distraught.

"…don't worry…Rai…I'll always be with you…you…have part of me…"

Her words entranced me for a moment as she held the gun to her forehead and slowly led my hands around the trigger. I was frozen…

"I want it to be you…rather than…the machines…"

Her statement brought me to. I stared into her eyes, unsure what to say. My mind was racing, I didn't want to do it, I couldn't…I could never do that to her…

"Either way…I'm dying…Rai…"

I shook my head once more. "Vee…"

"…please…" She whispered one last time.

My breathing became faster as I watched her wince in pain. I tensed up; hesitantly pulling my fingers back…then…everything went black…

--

Next thing I knew I was running out of the house…to where I am now; curled against a wall with my memories flashing before my eyes as the world around me perishes in chaos…

I placed my trembling hands over my face as I whispered her name.

…I could never forgive myself…

"Tonight, you would still be mine
If I could turn back time
Angels crying endlessly
Because of me"

-Because of You by DJ BoBo