What Makes Me Different

Edward pushed open the front door. In the living room, his mother, Sarah, was bent over, tidying things up.

"Mom, I'm home."

He casually tossed his backpack onto a chair.

Sarah looked up with a gentle smile. "You're back, sweetheart. Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner. And call Lily downstairs while you're at it."

"Okay."

Edward answered and darted up the stairs in a few strides.

Lily's door was slightly ajar, and he pushed it open without hesitation.

Malkis was sitting blankly on the edge of the bed, looking bored out of her mind.

The sound at the door snapped her back to attention. She immediately sprang to her feet and respectfully lowered her head.

"Master, you're back."

Edward nodded expressionlessly and ordered her in a matter-of-fact tone, "Jisi, come downstairs for dinner."

The name "Jisi" made the corner of Malkis's mouth twitch violently.

Her expression stiffened for a moment. The demon's unwillingness churned within her, but her desire to survive ultimately suppressed it. She obediently followed Edward downstairs.

After dinner, Edward took his nominal "little sister" for a walk around the neighborhood to help digest the meal.

He suddenly stopped and asked as if it were nothing, "Jisi, can you get me a huge sum of money?"

Malkis froze for a moment before answering honestly, "Uh, I can control rich people, make them hallucinate, and have them obediently bring me their money."

Edward looked disgusted. "What a hassle, doing it one by one. Can't you just go to a bank vault and carry some out for me?"

Malkis's face immediately fell. Her voice dropped several octaves as she muttered pitifully, "I can't do that, Master."

"And you call yourself a demon?" Edward's disdain was practically overflowing. "Sigh. Looks like I'll have to rely on myself."

He curled his lip and glanced at Malkis again. "Forget it. I wasn't counting on you anyway."

Malkis looked even more aggrieved, her voice so low it was almost inaudible. "But demons can't do that either..."

"Hm?"

Edward raised an eyebrow. He had clearly heard her.

Malkis jolted and hurriedly changed the subject, her face full of flattery. "Master, are you tired from walking? Why don't you sit on me?"

As she spoke, she moved as though she were about to drop to all fours.

Edward waved his hands in rejection. "Get lost! I don't want people thinking I'm some kind of pervert!"

The two continued down the street, the dim streetlights stretching their shadows thin and long.

Suddenly, a fierce argument tore through the night's silence.

Edward frowned and followed the sound, discovering that it was coming from Carrie's house.

Carrie's tearful roar pierced the air. "Why are you always like this?! Can't you be like a normal mother for once?!"

Then came the shrill, crazed bellow of her mother, Margaret White. "You are sinful! You were born sinful! Everything you do is wrong! It is all sin!"

Edward and Malkis exchanged a look and silently stopped walking.

Two distorted shadows were cast against the house's window. One flailed wildly, while the other cowered helplessly.

The argument grew more intense, followed by a loud crash from inside, as though something had been smashed to pieces.

The corners of Malkis's mouth rose uncontrollably, excitement glittering in her eyes.

"This is going to be fun."

Edward said nothing and merely stared at the window.

The lights inside began flickering wildly, dimming and brightening like an old appliance with faulty wiring.

Carrie's scream became even more shrill. "I've had enough! I've had enough of you!"

Smack!

Another sharp crack rang out. A shard of glass shot from the window, slicing through the air before landing at their feet with a clink.

Malkis crouched down, pinched the shard between her fingertips, closed her eyes, and sniffed it.

"This aura, suppressed to the very limit... How exciting."

Edward knew Carrie's power was spiraling out of control at the edge of collapse.

Just then, with a loud bang, the front door was violently thrown open from within.

Carrie rushed out, her hair disheveled and her face streaked with tears of anger and despair.

She glanced at Edward and Malkis without stopping, then desperately bolted toward the other end of the street.

Her mother, Margaret, stood at the doorway like a madwoman, hysterically cursing at her retreating figure. "You can't escape! You devil! You'll go to Hell!"

Edward watched Carrie's retreating back before turning his gaze back to the crazed woman.

He tilted his head and asked Malkis softly, "How much stronger would you become if you absorbed the resentment in her?"

Malkis froze and instinctively asked, "Master, do you mean that girl or her mother?"

Edward frowned and snapped, "Who else is right in front of us?"

Malkis immediately understood. She nodded repeatedly, greed evident in her voice. "Yes, Master! And the gains will definitely be enormous!"

Edward gave a slight nod and issued his order. "Go. I'm leaving this to you."

"As you command, my Master."

Malkis answered respectfully.

The moment she finished speaking, Edward turned and chased after Carrie.

Behind him, the temperature of the surrounding air suddenly plummeted, bone-piercing cold emerging from nowhere.

The trees lining both sides of the street swayed without wind, their branches and leaves rustling violently like countless Evil Ghosts whispering.

Malkis's figure blurred where she stood, transforming into a black phantom that silently drifted toward the woman who was still cursing.

Edward searched quickly through the dim streets and finally found Carrie in front of an abandoned old warehouse.

She was curled up in a corner of the warehouse, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Her messy long hair covered her face, leaving only her shoulders visible as they shook with sobs.

Edward softened his footsteps and called out tentatively, "Carrie..."

Carrie's body jerked, like a startled fawn.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes full of wariness and terror. Tears pooled in her eye sockets, and wet tracks still marked her cheeks.

Edward slowly crouched in front of her, his voice exceedingly gentle. "Don't be afraid. It's me, Edward."

Carrie bit her lip, unable to suppress the sob in her voice. "She's always like this... Always saying I'm sinful, saying I'm a monster... I've really had enough..."

By the end, her emotions collapsed once more, and she buried her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

The warehouse was filled with the Decay smell of rust and dust. A few pale strands of moonlight shone through holes in the roof, casting mottled shadows across the floor and making the place feel even more desolate.

Edward reached out and gently patted her trembling shoulder.

"You're not a monster."

His voice was steady.

"You're just a little different from other people. Everyone has something unique about them. That has never been a mistake."

Carrie lifted her tear-filled eyes, holding a trace of confusion and a faint glimmer of hope.

"Really? You... are you different from other people too?"

A mysterious smile curved across Edward's lips. He lowered his voice and leaned closer.

"Of course. I stand out more." ⁄(⁄ ⁄ ⁄ω⁄ ⁄ ⁄)⁄