I never even stopped to consider it, since it was what I remembered.  But something didn't seem right about what happened.  The memory of it felt...Unbelievable.  I've been going over it in my head, and I realized one simple fact: There was no way I could've avoided its gaze.  But it came to a head when the Doctor brought back one of my knives, which had been found, with my blood on it.  And then I remembered.  Which hurt.  Like my mind was forcibly piecing itself back together.

I met its gaze.  That was what convinced me those wounds were from the roots.  Its roots never touched me.  As soon as I looked into those eyes I felt my body being ripped to pieces on its own.  There was a presence in my mind- I felt like someone else, no, someTHING else was in my head with me.  Then the pain started.  It was almost blinding.  There wasn't anything else but pain and fear.  It felt like something was cutting my mind in half, this burning, sharp sensation.  Before I knew it I had raised my hand and slashed open my own arm.  The Tree told me to do it.  I couldn't say no.  The mere idea of defying it was unthinkable.

Maybe it was the sudden, physical pain of the knife, but for whatever reason, I felt myself regain some control.  That was when I forced myself to my feet, tore away my gaze, and dragged myself towards it, molotov in hand.  I managed to throw it, and the Tree burnt.  But I don't think for a second that this is the end of it.  The damage is done.

Is it too late for me?  Even now, I still have this intense pain in my head...I barely feel coherent enough to type this out.  Am I going to be like Zero, a prisoner of his own mind?  I finally understand what drove him to do what he did...I can't even remember what those eyes looked like.  And I'm glad I can't.

Everyone should probably steer clear of me.  I don't trust myself.