MAMORI AND I continued to watch underneath the table in silence while Apollo continued to revel in the malevolence of his taunts. His laughter continued to echo through the white room as he mocked Miss Alice and Augustus. The air thickened with tension, and Augustus struggled to maintain his composure. Miss Alice, on the other hand, remained silent. Apollo was still unaware of our presence, reveling in the perceived triumph over those he held captive.
Mamori's eyes met mine in the process, etched with worry and sadness. "What should we do?" she asked.
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing upon me. "We can't confront Apollo directly. We need a distraction. Once he's occupied, I think we can find a way to free Miss Alice and the others."
As we continued to hide beneath the table, Apollo's taunts pressed on. The harshness of his words hung in the air as Miss Alice happened to glance in our direction. Her eyes met mine briefly, and a silent understanding passed between us.
The seconds stretched into minutes as Apollo's tirade persisted. Mamori and I remained patient, our gazes fixed on the unfolding drama. The soft glow of my necklace offered a faint reassurance, and all the while our feet started shaking. However, it wasn't long before footsteps, probably from Apollo's henchmen, became audible, signaling a commotion. It's probably Billy, Aria, and Eli creating a distraction outside. It definitely played an important part in diverting Apollo's attention. The success of our plan hinged on their ability to draw him away from the immediate vicinity. Apollo, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the impending plan we had made. The laughter that had rung through the room now served as a prelude to the unfolding spectacle outside.
As I continued to tuck under the tablecloth slightly, Miss Alice glared in our direction once again. Her eyes communicated a silent plea for patience. But as Apollo continued to lash out with his mocks, a carefully choreographed performance aimed at luring Apollo away from his captives.
Mamori then looked at me. "Is this going to work?"
I nodded, the plan crystallizing in my mind. "It has to. We'll find our opportunity to free Miss Alice and the others."
The tension in the white room intensified as the orchestrated distraction outside reached its peak. Apollo stepped toward the commotion as this loud explosion began to cause a loud noise outside, his focus diverted by the theatrics beyond the confines of the white room. Seizing the moment after he stepped out, Mamori and I emerged from the table. The soft glow of my necklace guided us toward the cages where Miss Alice, Augustus, Sebastian, and the matrons were trapped. Miss Alice, though weakened by the emotional toll, met my gaze with a silent reassurance. As we approached the cages, Mamori and I studied the mechanisms that held the rest captive.
As Mamori and I worked to unlock the cages, the soft glow of my necklace pulsated with renewed energy. Miss Alice looked at me with her eyes reflecting a blend of gratitude and resilience. "I'm glad to see you both safe," she said.
Kneeling before Miss Alice's cage, I felt a gush of desperation as Mamori told me she would search for the keys to unlock the cages on the tables. The harsh reality of the situation struck me as I faced Miss Alice, locked within the fringes of her cage.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. Tears welled up, blurring my vision as I recalled the harsh judgments I had once cast upon Miss Alice. It was a moment of reckoning, a realization that I was wrong.
"I'm very sorry," I added. I want to change everything. I want to correct my mistakes. But the more I try to think about it, the more desperate I get. I don't want to lose another person in my life, not now, not ever.
Miss Alice, despite the worries etched across her face, smiled gently. She smiled tenderly, causing me to shed tears. "It doesn't matter if I'm hurt or locked in. All I care about is seeing you well and unhurt."
Augustus, on the other side, stood up from his feet as he spoke from nearby. "You're our only salvation, Prim."
"I'm so sorry," I managed to say once more, my voice breaking. "I judged you without understanding, and now you're all suffering because of me. Everyone."
Miss Alice's gaze softened, and she spoke with a sincerity that cut through the anguish. "I should apologize too. I should've told you the truth, but I was scared. Scared of what might happen if you found out."
Augustus, his voice a fragile thread in the tense atmosphere, smiled bittersweetly. "The moment we discover who you truly are, the last thing we want to happen is for CYGNUS to figure out your true identity."
I clutched the bars of Miss Alice's cage. "I promise, I'll find a way to save all of you."
Miss Alice's eyes held a mixture of gratitude and understanding. The weight of our unspoken connection lingered in the air.
Mamori then returned with worry etched on her face. She was panicking, in a way. "Someone's coming!"
I rushed to scram, my heart pounding with a sense of urgency. The soft glow of my necklace flickered anxiously as I sought any means to pry open the lock on Miss Alice's cage. Desperation fueled my every move, but the unforgiving lock resisted my every attempt.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, frustration clawing at my throat.
Miss Alice just offered a gentle smile. "It's okay. Do not mind us. Please, save yourself. Mamori!"
"But I won't leave you here."
Mamori, sensing the turmoil, inched closer. Together, we peered down the corridor, only to find Apollo descending back into the white room. Panic seized us as the realization set in—we had been caught red-handed. Apollo's laughter then echoed in a sarcastic symphony, his amusement evident in the twisted curl of his lips. "Well, well, attempting a daring rescue, are we?" His tone dripped with mockery.
I shot him a glare, a storm of anger brewing in my eyes. But Apollo, in his twisted amusement, perceived it as nothing more than a joke. Mamori, standing beside me, trembled with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.
"I didn't think you had it in you, Primrose," Apollo taunted, his amusement turning into a sinister delight. "But trying to defy fate won't end well for you."
The weight of our situation enveloped us like a thick fog. Our chances of escape appeared to be dwindling, and the icy truth of Apollo's evil plan hovered over us at all times.
"I won't let you harm them," I said, my voice steadier than my racing heart.
Apollo chuckled, the sound echoing through the dimly lit corridors. "Oh, my dear, you can't save them. Haven't you learned? Fate has already written their tragic tale."
Mamori's grip tightened on my arm as I continued to glare at Apollo. I could not watch helplessly while fate's harsh plan bound me. I made an aggressive choice and tried to go up against Apollo. However, it appeared as though we were too far apart, and his laughter had an unbearable rhythm.
"You're amusing," Apollo sneered, reveling in the unfolding drama. "But your attempts are futile. You can't rewrite destiny."
My determination was marred by the harsh taste of helplessness. Mamori stood by my side, fear and resolve reflected in her eyes. My necklace's gentle glow appeared to flicker, as though it were responding to the inside turmoil.
"Escape... now," Augustus urged once more, his voice cracking.
I hesitated, torn between the instinct to fight and the pragmatic reality that escaping might be our only chance. Mamori's grip on my arm tightened more, silently signaling the need for us to retreat. With a heavy heart, I took a step back, my gaze fixed on Miss Alice. "I promise, we'll find a way to save you."
Then I faced the man who took the life of my only parent.
"Giusseppi!" I shouted, my voice strong and defiant. "You may hide behind that name, but I know who you truly are!"
His laugh echoed through the room. It was cruel and cold, a clear reminder of the inferno that raged around me. I spun around, trying to pinpoint its origin, but it seemed to come from all sides, enveloping me. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, the fear and anticipation coiling in my stomach. The night had just begun, and I knew that Giusseppi—no, Apollo—was trying to write our tale's end.
My heart lurched in my chest as Apollo's voice drifted through the air, its tone silky yet laced with a chilling menace. He communicated with me telepathically. It was a voice that seemed to come from nowhere, a spectral whisper that enveloped me. I twisted around, my gaze darting across the white room frantically, but there was no one to be seen. The voice echoed again, weaving its way through the silence, mocking me with a cruel laugh.
"You can't protect them, Prim," it taunted, the syllables of my name curling around me like a frost-laden breeze. "You can't protect the children. You can't protect Miss Alice. You can't protect your friend. You can't protect yourself."
I was motivated by a wave of anger. The cosmos appeared to be holding its breath with an intolerable emptiness of silence. Apollo walked carefully, as if his every step matched the heartbeats in the quiet room. His appearance wavered as he went over a pillar, the illusion of his form dissolving to reveal his dendrologist disguise.
I flinched as I watched him, his body exuding a dark sense of dominance. He had bitter anger glinting in his eyes, and his features were engraved with sadistic enjoyment. I felt a wave of rage well up inside of me as our gazes locked. I cried out to him, my voice resonating through the darkness, with all the bravery I could manage.
"Spare them!" I yelled.
He simply chuckled, the sound grating against my nerves like a blade against stone. "Oh, girl," he drawled, his words snaking through the air. "I want so much more than that."
The tortured room's throbbing energy rang in my ears, clashing with the eerie silence that surrounded Apollo and me. My heart was beating wildly and erratically in my chest, mirroring the jumble of feelings that were tying themselves up inside of me.
"I mean." My voice came out as a ragged whisper. "Why are you doing this?"
Apollo's mouth twisted into a smile, and a cold laugh gushed out of it. His chuckle reverberated off the still walls, casting a disconcerting glee in the room. His eyes sparkled in the light, mirroring the ceiling's shimmering, flickering brightness.
Instead of answering, he turned the question back at me, his voice dripping with veiled intentions: "Do you even know who you are, Prim?"
His words lingered in the atmosphere like a ghostly echo, enveloping me like a layer of icy air. A cold shiver went down my spine. His question caused such a tornado of uncertainty inside of me that I was rendered speechless. I was staring at him with a thousand suns' worth of rage in my eyes. But once more, he let out a dreadful chuckle that echoed through the atmosphere, akin to a raven's caw. Every second, I could see Mamori growing more fearful. I stumbled ahead, my gut telling me to follow Miss Alice's instructions, but Apollo moved more quickly. His large frame created a malevolent barrier that prevented me from reaching my companions. There was a terrible delight in his voice: "Nuh-uh, you take one more step, and I'll end them."
The threat froze me in my tracks as he pointed at Miss Alice, Augustus, Sebastian, and the matrons. The helplessness twisted my stomach into knots. My fingers clenched, my nails biting into my palms, as I stared at him. The fury within me was a roaring flame, consuming me and turning my fear into a deadly resolve. Screw it. But little does he know. I continued to force my gaze away from him and looked at Miss Alice. Her crumpled form inside the cage was a sight that made my heart ache. Seeing her vulnerable, at the mercy of this monster, was a pain that cut deeper than any physical wound.
"Miss Alice," I called. She looked at me and smiled.
"Prim," she said, her smile somehow telling me otherwise.
Again, Apollo's laughter echoed around the pristine room, resonating in my ears and off the clean white walls. A cold chill ran down my spine at the sound of malice. Normally a warm hazel shade, his eyes were harsh and icy. There was not a trace of the man I thought I knew—the man I once knew. Not Giusseppi. Not the dendrologist.
"How cute!" he laughed.
His remarks annoyed me. His words were like knives, each syllable intended to pierce deeply. I held back the reply that was rising in my throat and stayed mute, fixing my intense gaze on him instead. My rage was a living, breathing beast that was trying to go out of control. And Apollo, on the other hand, began to move like a predator closing in on its prey, his strides slow and methodical. He stopped and stood in front of me, a menacing grin playing on his lips. "Are you willing to hear the truth?" he asked, his gaze piercing.
I could feel the heat of his stare, but I refused to acknowledge it. I refused to give him the satisfaction of my response. The silence stretched between us, taut like a bowstring. The only sound was the ragged breaths that escaped my lips, betraying the turmoil within me.
"Why are you doing this?" I finally asked, my voice bouncing off the walls.
His laughter filled the room again, a sound that twisted my insides. He turned on his heel, stalking away from me and towards Miss Alice. I watched, frozen, as he reached for her, his fingers closing around a handful of her hair as he stood outside her cage. His grip was cruel, a grotesque mockery of the gentle touch she had always shown me. Her pained gasp echoed around the room, and I was shocked.
"Why not talk to her?" Apollo said, his voice dripping with venom. "Ask her about the truth."
"Stop!" My tone resembled a thunderclap as I roared defiantly against the injustice I saw. But Apollo remained where he was, his sly smirk unwavering. My gaze met Miss Alice's, and her eyes mirrored the pain engraved on her face. The woman who had been my pillar of support and my light in the darkness was now a predator's defenseless prey. The scene was intolerable; it was a horrible turn of events that had already driven Apollo deep into my heart.
A bewildering variety of dark colors filled the room, and shadows danced on the borders of my eyesight. My breath came out in unsteady gasps as my heart pounded like a drum in my chest. On my tongue, I could taste the fear—bitter and metallic. With a mask of sadistic delight on his face, Apollo's hand was tangled in Miss Alice's hair, as I could see.
"No," I pleaded, my voice echoing in the cavernous room. "Apollo, let her go!"
Sadly, it felt like he was made of stone when I spoke to him. His cold, humanity-free gaze focused on mine. My following actions were driven by desperation. I attempted to charge ahead to close the gap between us, but something stood in my way. I sank to my knees, the hard, cold floor piercing through my clothes as the world whirled around me. The tears that were ripping themselves from me left my throat feeling sore.
"I'm sorry, Miss Alice," I choked out, the words sounding hollow in the vast room. "I'm so, so sorry."
Despite her pain, Miss Alice managed to smile at me. "It's okay, Prim," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Seeing you unhurt is what's important to me. I was worried about you within the past couple of days. I was looking for you, but I failed. Sorry if I kept things from you. Sorry if I hid a lot of things from you. Truth is, I'm scared of telling you the truth because I don't want you and anybody else to know who you really are."
I just sobbed right in front of her. My heart ached at the sight of a single tear tracing its way down her cheek. The sight of her, so strong yet so fragile, was more than I could bear.
Apollo's laughter echoed through the room once more, a harsh sound that cut through my sobs. "Cute," he sneered, his grip on Miss Alice's hair growing tighter. "But I hate dramatic things."
"Stop it!" I cried out, my voice resounding through the room. "Stop hurting her!"
Apollo released Miss Alice abruptly, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Fine," he said, his voice as cold as ice. "If she won't tell you the truth, I will."
I rushed at Miss Alice and cried. My world crumbled around me as I knelt on the cold floor, the bitter taste of terror still clinging to my tongue. All I could do was look at Apollo and Miss Alice. I was stuck in this terrifying world, and all I could do was pray for seemingly unattainable salvation.
With his terrifying silhouette scarcely discernible against the night sky, Apollo got to his feet. With every stride resonating in the deafening silence, he sauntered towards me. When he stopped behind me, his shadowy presence sent shivers down my spine. Then he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he began to speak, his voice a low whisper. I could hear the bitterness seeping through his words—the pain of a past that was haunting him.
"Long before you were welcomed in Miss Alice's academy," he began, his tone venomous, "there existed another refuge. It was a haven for the peculiar, the gifted ones. The headmaster there, a stubborn fool, thought he could hide them from the world, from us humans."
His words were like a puzzle, each piece slowly falling into place. I listened, my heart pounding in my chest, as he continued.
"Way before all of that, I had an older brother," he said, his voice barely audible. "He was... different. Not normal. He was one of them. My mother gave him a pendant, a necklace to control his powers. Over time, he used the necklace to contain his powers. But one fateful day, his powers took everything from us. And in the process, both our parents died."
The room was blanketed in an oppressive silence, broken only by the steady ticking of an ancient clock above the table. The shadows, cast by the flickering light of the lone chandelier, danced across the worn-out furniture and the face of Apollo, his features twisted into a mischievous grin. He looked at me, his eyes gleaming with a malicious spark that sent a shiver down my spine.
He leaned back against me, the sound of his steps echoing ominously in the room. He savored the silence for a moment, his grin widening, revealing sharp, white teeth.
"You see," he continued, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper, "my life was anything but ordinary, living in the shadow of my brother's oddity. But after surviving the catastrophe that took my parents' lives, I dedicated my life to eradicating these gifted beings," he said, his voice filled with venom. "They do exist, Primrose. And guess what? My foolish brother was one of them."
His words left a bitter taste in my mouth. I sat there, frozen, my heart pounding against my chest.
Apollo's terrifying confession to his perverse ambition hung in the air. A reason for being that would forever alter the path of our lives, borne out of grief and bitterness.
"But why tell me all this?" I asked as I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his gaze. "What does that have to do with me?"
Apollo simply smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked, leaning in closer.
His lips curled into a mischievous smile. His eyes twinkled with a perverse delight that made my stomach churn. He reveled in the moment, relishing the revelation he was about to drop. He leaned in, his voice a soft, sinister whisper that filled the room.
"After I discovered the existence of the gifted," he began, his voice smooth as velvet and just as deceptive. "I formed an organization dedicated to studying and ultimately controlling these extraordinary oddities. Ordinary people," he continued, his tone musing, almost philosophical, "deserve the power. The gifted have no right to monopolize it." He shrugged, as if discussing the weather, not the systematic manipulation and abuse of innocent lives.
His casual indifference was the most horrifying part of it all. This man, this monster, had taken individuals with unique abilities and twisted them into his personal lab rats. The realization hit me with the force of a freight train.
Apollo paused, studying me with an unreadable expression. "I hid behind different facades, you know," he said, his voice layered with a sickening satisfaction. "The dendrologist they all admired, the doctor in the town of Perthlochry," he shifted into Dr. Welsh before returning to his true form as he continued, "and all the while, I was experimenting with the powers of the gifted we managed to capture."
I felt a cold dread settle in my bones. Apollo had been hiding in plain sight, cloaked in the guise of a harmless scientist, while wreaking havoc on the lives of the gifted. The bitterness of this deceit was a poison on my tongue.
"And as for my brother," he said, his words slicing through the tension in the room like a blade, "he had no clue that his dearest brother had already known about them—about the truth that they concealed away from society."
I could hardly breathe. The world seemed to spin, and I could only sit there and listen. This man had torn my world apart and was now gleefully playing with the remains.
However, I remained staring at him, my anger simmering like a blazing inferno in my eyes. All I could see now was Apollo, standing before me with an insufferable, mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with the delight of a secret unveiled. Rage surged within me, hot and bitter, and I could feel my fingers curling into fists at my sides.
"Prim," Apollo continued, his voice as smooth as the river stones I used to collect as a child. "You remember Giusseppi, don't you? The dendrologist who used to wander the woods with such an air of mystery?" He chuckled, the sound grating against my raw nerves. "When I acquired the powers of one of the gifted we captured, I thought it would be fun to play a little game."
His words struck me like physical blows. Giusseppi had been a stranger who I thought was an acquaintance, and to discover that he and Apollo were one and the same... It was like a betrayal of the worst kind. And Dr. Welsh.
"But let me tell you the best part of this story," Apollo continued, his grin widening.
"My dear brother had a daughter, a baby girl, with his wife. My dear sister-in-law. They had been hiding her in his orphanage, the one for gifted beings. That didn't sit well with me, so I paid them a little visit." A dark chuckle escaped his lips, and I felt my blood run cold. "I made sure to leave a present behind, a little bomb I made. My men also attacked their orphanage. It's unfortunate that my present destroyed their home, but sacrifices had to be made. And yet, it would be a misfortune if I didn't renovate the house that he built, huh? "
And slowly, things dawned on me.
"Before all that," Apollo went on, his voice taking on a soft, almost tender quality, "my brother gave his daughter his necklace. He was smart to put the last remnants of his energy to the pendant. The mother, wanting their daughter to lead a normal life, away from the men in black, gave her child to a normal orphanage. In Perthlochry. At first, it was hard to find their daughter. However, because of that one incident in the underground arena, we were quick to understand the identity of the lost daughter. It stinks that it took us long to figure out who she was."
Apollo's voice echoed in the cold, metallic room. "You never did know anything about your past, did you? Beyond the walls of that orphanage you grew up in?"
No, I said in my head. No.
He paused dramatically, his eyes twinkling with a cruel humor. The words, intended to provoke, were a direct hit. My heart pounded in my chest like a war drum, each beat screaming denial.
"Did you ever wonder about those dreams?" he continued, his voice eerily calm amid the storm he was brewing. "About that man you kept seeing?"
My breath hitched in my throat. How did he know about that?
His grin widened as he saw the shock register on my face. "Oh, I knew all about those dreams," he said, as if reading my mind. "And all about my brother's powers and what that pendant does."
I looked at my necklace as it remained dormant in my chest.
"You've been looking for them, haven't you? Your biological parents?" Apollo continued.
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. My vision blurred as the dam burst, tears streaming down my cheeks. The room echoed with my sob, a mournful sound that seemed to reverberate off the walls. I felt a raw, primal sense of betrayal. I could only stand there, silent, as my world crumbled around me. I looked at Miss Alice, her face pale and tear-streaked. Our eyes locked, and I saw my own pain reflected back at me. A silent confession, a shared sorrow. Her lips moved, a desperate whisper of "leave," but the words were lost in the storm that raged within me.
I sank to my knees, my mind spinning with the revelations, the lies, and the betrayals. My chest ached, and the weight of my past was heavy on my heart. The truth of my origins, the harsh reality of being alone—it was all too much to bear. However, Apollo just stood before me, a smirk playing on his lips as he soaked up my despair.
"Well, girl," he said, his voice echoing in the vacant square. "You've finally come to know everything about your past." His eyes gleamed with a malicious light.
"You have no one left. You are completely alone. You might as well give up."
His words hung in the air like a mournful dirge, pulling at my heartstrings. I could feel the hot, stinging tears carving their way down my cheek, but then something shifted within me.
As tears streamed down my face, the weight of realization pressed upon me like an oppressive force. In the midst of the chaos and despair, fragments of memories resurfaced—photographs uncovered within the walls of Miss Alice's home, the mysterious man from my dreams, and the haunting familiarity of Apollo's colossal mansion.
In a moment, the puzzle pieces clicked into place. The man from my dreams, the one who had spoken to me through the pulsating light of my necklace, was a presence embedded within the very fabric of my past. The photographs, now etched vividly in my mind, revealed a connection that transcended the bounds of ordinary comprehension. Apollo's mansion, with its sprawling corridors and hidden secrets, resonated with a sense of familiarity that transcended immediate recognition. It was not just a house; it was a nexus where destiny and fantasy intertwined.
Through the haze of my tears, I whispered to Mamori, "I understand now. This place, these dreams, the pulsating light—they're all connected. I mean, I've been here before. In my dreams, and now in this massive mansion. The man from my dreams, he's part of all this."
As the realization settled, the soft glow of my necklace pulsed with an ethereal light. The energy within me now became a light, guiding me through the labyrinth of truth and illusion.
Yet despite all those and the echoes of Apollo's taunts, I cried not only for the challenges that lay ahead but also for the profound understanding that destiny had woven a complex tapestry around me.
Mamori, sensing my vulnerability, held me close. Yet, as we stood on the precipice of uncertainty, a deafening explosion reverberated through the mansion. The ground shook beneath us, temporarily diverting Apollo's attention. In that momentary distraction, Mamori grabbed the opportunity, dragging me away from the clutches of despair.
Apollo, noticing our escape, unleashed a mocking laughter that echoed through the corridors. "You think you can escape the inevitable? Fate has already sealed your destiny!"
But Mamori ignored it. As we both sprinted through the winding corridors, Apollo's taunts followed us like malevolent shadows. The mansion seemed to stretch infinitely, with each turn presenting a new challenge. The soft glow of my necklace flickered with every step, a reminder that the enigmatic connection persisted despite the chaos.
Then, after what felt like minutes, we reached the grand entrance, uncertainty gripping us. Mamori shook me as she wiped my tears off my face. "We can't let Apollo control our fate, Prim. Know we need to write our own tale."
I was still trying to understand what was happening. And then, another loud explosion occurred outside. Through the dimly lit corridors, Mamori and I pressed forward. The soft glow of my necklace seemed to intensify, resonating with the energy that pulsed within me. As we neared the exit, Apollo's laughter echoed from behind, a haunting symphony that fueled our determination to break free from his malevolent grip. But it wasn't long before Mamori and I stumbled outside the mansion.
Outside, the soft glow of my necklace guided us through the final stretch, a light that pointed toward the path. Mamori and I emerged from the oppressive confines of the mansion, the fresh air a welcome reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere within. And as we stood on the threshold, the soft glow of my necklace seemed to pulse with prolepsis. The tumultuous escape led Mamori and I to a vantage point where the oppressive corridors of Apollo's mansion gave way to an unexpected tableau. A massive fire roared in the distance, casting flickering shadows against the night sky. As the flames danced, I discerned the figures who were fighting off the men in black. Slowly, my eyes adjusted. Then, I realized they were my fellow orphans. However, there were a bunch of people with them that I didn't recognize.
Billy, with a ferocity that mirrored the blaze around him, unleashed a torrent of fire that incinerated the encroaching men in black. Aria, on the other side, entwined vines and commanded the wind and air with an ethereal grace that pushed the enemies away. Eli's inventions also joined the fray. Molly's woodland friends, animated embodiments of nature's fury, pounced on the enemies with an otherworldly fervor. Amidst the chaos, my gaze caught the familiar form of Raunn, the former underground champion whom I had once defeated in a fierce arena. He fought alongside other gifted beings, his massive frame a formidable shield against the encroaching threats. There was also a lady orchestrating a group of swallowtail butterflies that zoned in the direction of the enemies. I squinted my eyes and recognized her as the woman I was with inside the police officer's office back in Perthlochry.
A few other unrecognizable individuals were there, and I just couldn't help but become puzzled. This whirlwind of events overwhelmed me slowly.
Before I could fathom the surreal sight unfolding, the scene intensified as a group of police officers led by Leo emerged on the other end of the mansion. Bowlcut and Toothpick were there too. Their presence added a new dimension to the conflict—a collision of worlds that defied the boundaries between the gifted and the conventional. And as my eyes darted across the chaotic spectacle, a massive stone hurtled in my direction. Panic streamed in, but Raunn blocked it himself, shielding me from the imminent danger. He grinned, revealing a toothy smile, as he chuckled.
"You ain't gettin' hurt, Dawson. We've got a score to settle."
I looked at him questionably, inhaling deeply as I tried to rationalize everything that was happening. Raunn seemed to have noticed my confusion, so he smirked as he explained it to me.
"An officer called us and a few other people in Perthlochry, seeking our help. My men and I initially knew what we were about to deal with when the officer started explaining," he said. "And we've been trying to hold back against these men in black. They just see them as nothing more than profit-earning slaves. As a payback, we're here—fighting them to win our freedom back."
His words hung in the air, a tribute to the affinity created in the crucible of the underground arena. As Raunn rejoined the fight in the distance, the clash of elements, inventions, and brute force continued to paint a vivid tapestry of defiance against the encroaching darkness.
Amidst the chaos, Leo noticed me and beckoned to me, "Primmy, we've got this. You and your friend need to go somewhere safe."
I was still trying to overcome my emotions as Leo yelled. The melding of gifted beings and humans in a shared battle seemed inconceivable, yet it unfolded before my eyes like a fantastical narrative. Leo then raised his hand, and for the first time, he revealed his ability: a very bright light that blinded the enemies in front.
As the clash of powers and the crackling flames created an otherworldly symphony, Leo and I exchanged a brief glance. Mamori, standing beside me, uttered this as she held my hand tightly. "What should we do? "
"I don't know," I said, my eyes scanning the chaotic battlefield.
The scene played out like a surreal opera, with each gifted orphan contributing their unique powers to the din of resistance. Aria's control over the wind and the vines entwined around adversaries; Eli's inventions exploded; and Molly's woodland creatures surged forth in a synchronized assault. As the battle raged, I caught glimpses of familiar faces: Suzie helping the younger orphans, Lennox, and other survivors weaving illusions inside the men's heads that confounded them.
In the midst of the chaos, Leo beckoned Mamori and me to a safer spot.
"You two need to stay out of the line of fire. We've got this under control!"
Mamori nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and concern. As we retreated to a more secure position, the enormity of the situation sank in. The clash then continued, a dance of elements and abilities that defied the conventional boundaries of reality. The battlefield became a canvas where destinies converged—an interplay of powers and alliances that defied the ordinary. As Mamori and I observed from a safe distance, the pulse of my necklace echoed the beating heart of the ongoing conflict.
The police officers, gifted orphans, strangers, and even the people in the arena, like Raunn, fought side by side. In the midst of uncertainty, a profound realization dawned on me: the battle extended beyond individual gifts, transcending into a collective struggle for freedom, orchestrated by the very essence of their intertwined destinies.
However, a sudden malevolent laughter cut through the chaotic symphony, a chilling reminder of the adversary still looming behind. Turning, I faced Apollo, his disdainful gaze piercing through the turmoil. His words, laced with mockery, echoed through the night air.
"Enough of this!" he yelled, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. "You can't save your loved ones. Give up now if you don't want them to end up like your deceased father."
The mere mention of Elliot sent tremors through the foundation of my resolve. The haunting trauma resurfaced, tightening its grip on my heart. Apollo's next move heightened the tension—a gun-like device emerged from his suit. It was the gun Sergei had been inventing. Instinctively, I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable. The seconds stretched, a painful anticipation of what might come. Yet, nothing. Was it five seconds? Ten? Fifteen? Nothing. I was expecting to die. Really. I've already caused a lot of damage to the ones who tried to protect me. But still, just when I thought an intense pain would come, nothing happened.
When I dared to open my eyes, a silhouette obscured the light. Shoulder-length hair framed a familiar profile. She had intercepted the threat, shielding me from the malevolence that Apollo intended to unleash. Apollo, frozen in disbelief, stared at the person in front of me. A moment of silence enveloped the battlefield, broken only by the distant echoes of the ongoing clash.
The silhouette of the girl who had become a sister on this journey revealed a sacrifice that left my heart heavy. She then smiled, her smile now replaced by a solemn expression, gazing at me with tear-filled eyes. The reality of the situation crashed upon me. As she collapsed to the ground, the weight of her sacrifice bore down on my conscience.
"Mori!" I rushed to her side, the echoes of Apollo's laughter fading into the background. I removed the syringe that had plunged into her skin, causing webs of black veins to spread around her face. Her breathing was labored, and the severity of the wound was evident. My hands trembled as I sought to stem the affected area, a futile attempt to mend the consequences of the choices made on this chaotic night.
Tears welled in my eyes as I whispered, "Why? Why would you do this? Why?!"
Mamori managed a weak smile, her hand reaching up to touch my cheek. "Because you're my friend. Friends protect each other."
The battlefield continued to rage around us, but in that moment, the world narrowed down to Mamori's fading presence.
As I cradled Mamori in my arms, her voice trembled with a whisper: "I'm sorry I hid a lot of things from you."
"No. No. This cannot be."
"Listen, Prim," Mamori said. "I'm sorry I hid a lot of things from you. I... I knew from the very beginning. But I was afraid... afraid that my plans would fail if I revealed the truth."
Her words echoed in my mind. I struggled to comprehend the stuff that's been thrown at me. What plans? What destiny was she talking about?
Confusion etched across my face as I cried in front of Mamori. "What do you mean?"
Mamori's fading smile held a bittersweet tenderness as she gazed at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. With a gentle touch, she stared into my eyes. "I knew about your father. I've known about Miss Alice, Leo, Augustus, and Lucy. I orchestrated everything. I insisted to Miss Alice one evening so I could travel to Perthlochry and locate where you are."
"What do you mean?"
Mamori smiled, a faint smile that slowly turned into a painful one. "I've connected with your father through my dreams, guiding me, urging me to find you, saving you, and ensuring your safety."
The revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning, electrifying every fiber of my being. Mamori's confession unraveled the threads of my past, illuminating the path to truths long buried in shadow.
"He told me in my dream about the photos. He told me to hand it to you, so I slid inside Miss Alice's forbidden room one evening and placed the box with all the photographs of the original orphanage, as well as the piece of paper your father had told me to leave as what he said in my dream one time," she said.
Tears then streamed down my cheeks as I grappled with the enormity of her revelation. Everything became overwhelming as Mamori's coughs punctuated the silence, a grim reminder of the fleeting nature of life. With each labored breath, she drew closer to the threshold of death.
In her final moments, Mamori pressed a piece of paper into my trembling hands, its surface blank yet pregnant with promise. "In the forbidden room, among the photographs, there's an empty piece of paper. It holds the information you need to find your father. Find the truth."
A serene smile graced Mamori's lips as she closed her eyes. I held on to the glimmer of hope she had given me in that brief time. And while the tears kept coming, I promised myself to preserve Mamori's message and to look for the information concealed in the gaps of her farewell present.
With Mamori's fading strength in my arms, the battlefield became a blur around me. And honestly, everything became muffled. As I stared into the tear-filled eyes of the girl who had given so much, the promise to save them all echoed in the silent vows that transcended the chaos surrounding us. My thoughts then strayed into the past, to the time when Mamori and I were young children—in Perthlochry orphanage. The moments unfolded like treasured pages from a narrative, etched with the companionship and laughter that shaped our friendship.
On that day, as I watched Mamori prepare to leave, a pang of sadness washed over me, mingling with the simmering anger bubbling beneath the surface. She was about to be adopted, whisked away by strangers who would become her new family. It wasn't fair. She was supposed to stay with us, with me.
But even as the resentment flared within me, I knew I shouldn't feel this way. Mamori deserved happiness and a chance at a better life beyond the confines of our orphanage. I should be happy for her, not consumed by jealousy and bitterness. Ignoring Mamori's gentle smile, I stared out the window, my gaze fixed on the world beyond. I couldn't bring myself to talk to her and bid her farewell with the warmth she deserved. My stubbornness held me captive, trapping me in a web of conflicting emotions.
Mamori's voice broke through the silence; her words were a gentle reminder of the inevitable. "I'll be leaving soon, Prim," she said, her tone tinged with both excitement and sadness. "Thank you for being my true friend."
Time seemed to slow as I watched Mamori descend the steps, her suitcase in hand. The cab below waited patiently, its engine humming softly in the background. There stood a lady in yellow as well as a man in a black tuxedo.
As Mamori climbed into the cab, I remained rooted in place, my eyes fixed on her retreating figure. A lump formed in my throat as she glanced up at me one last time. With a heavy heart, I raised my hand in a feeble wave but the cab had already pulled away. I felt a tinge of regret came over me. I should have said something, anything, to show her how much she meant to me.
But it was too late. All I could do was watch as Mamori disappeared from view. As the cab vanished around the corner, I whispered something, wishing her nothing but happiness and love in her new life.
At the same time, my vision blurred into reality as I knelt beside Mamori, who was already slowly losing her breath. Desperation clawed at my heart as I forced her to stay.
And for the second time, I'm losing her again. Only this time... Only this time...
"Remember our promise, Prim," Mamori whispered, breaking my thoughts.
"No. No," I whimpered. "No!"
Mamori smiled at me. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Why would you do that? Why?!"
Mamori looked at me bittersweetly. "Because you're all I have."
"What do you mean?"
Mamori smiled as she puts her weakened palm on my face. "When all of this is over, you still have a lot of reason to live. Me, on the other hand, I have nothing. When everything is done, I have nothing."
I noticed Apollo slowly approaching, but he was attacked by Leo. Everything then went silent and dim afterwards, and the only thing I saw was my friend in front of me.
"You are destined for something, Primrose," Mamori continued. "I thought of doing everything to keep you safe. And perhaps," she laughed, "I returned the favor when you saved me back when we were still orphans."
I cried. My chest felt heavy—so heavy, it felt as if there was a rope around my heart.
"Promise me you'll find your father, okay?" she said. "Promise me you'll take care of the orphans. Promise me you'll be with Miss Alice. And when you fulfilled all those, promise me you'll live a beautiful life. Promise me, okay?"
This can't be happening!
"You are our salvation," she said. "You are our hope."
"This is so unfair!" I cried.
"It's okay, Primrose. It's okay. At least I was thankful enough to be your friend," Mamori said ever so weakly.
"It was an honor to have met you."
And with that, her hand finally lets go.
Apollo's ominous presence loomed around as tears fell from my eyes, his mocking words a venomous echo. He taunted me, predicting the demise of everyone I held dear. I cried, helpless, against the impending tragedy. But I was weakened.
"You've lost everyone you love. Aren't you going to give up? Do you really want to feel more pain? "Apollo taunted.
I turned to see the cops, Raunn and his men, and the gifted ones fighting back against the men in black's unrelenting assault. They were losing gradually. Billy being apprehended, Leo being tased, Raunn being overpowered... everyone was slowly losing. Apollo reveled in the misery that permeated the air as he continued his merciless diatribe. All of a sudden, I was thinking of Elliot and Mamori—a montage of loss and approaching grief. In the midst of this despair, a soft voice, almost ethereal, whispered something.
"You are our salvation."
I didn't respond to Apollo's cruel taunts. Instead, I let his words wash over me, each one a jagged shard of pain that pierced deeper into my already wounded heart. As I cradled Mamori's body, I felt a sense of numbness enveloping me, shielding me from the full force of my emotions.
Apollo's laughter continued to echo in the air, mocking and relentless. "Look at you," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "All this fuss over a little doll. Pathetic."
His words hurt, but I wouldn't allow him to feel satisfied when I broke. Rather, I concentrated on the weight of Mamori in my arms, her warmth and company serving as a bittersweet consolation in the middle of my hopelessness.
"You really thought you could protect her?" Apollo continued, his tone laced with contempt as he inched closer. "How naive."
Even though Apollo's words were harsh, I realized there was some truth to them. I was powerless to bring Mamori back. But I also understood that I had to rise above Apollo's brutality. To pay my own tribute to Mamori's memory, I had to muster the courage to overcome it.
So I clung to her and whispered my last farewell, allowing the tears to fall freely. And I silently promised myself that I would not speak again till Apollo's laughter died away.
"Prepare to meet your tale's end," Apollo laughed, aiming the gun at me with a sinister laugh.
But just when it appeared that hope would die, my necklace started to shine brighter than ever. A powerful, uncontrollable energy rush swept through me. Everyone stopped in their footsteps when they saw the necklace's glow. I experienced a force that defied explanation at that precise moment—a power rush that went beyond what is often experienced. I had no idea that the energy that was flowing through me had manifested as a primal scream that burst out of my soul.
"Amazing. Aren't you going to give up?!" Apollo continued.
I looked at the soil and at Mamori, tears blurring my very vision. I looked up at Apollo as tears rolled down my cheeks. "You think you could hurt me?" I asked.
Apollo laughed.
"You think I would be hurt?" I stood up and felt the heavy weight and pressure sink deeper and deeper in my chest. "You couldn't hurt me even more. I've already lost everyone I love. Everyone!"
The battlefield went blurry; a scene of pandemonium was poised in midair. Over time, the brightness of the light increased, blurring the distinction between reality and fantasy. Apollo's sarcastic chuckles vanished into a spooky quiet as the unexpected force made its move. A strong sense of purpose overcame me amid the glaring brightness. Again, the quiet voice reverberated, echoing with the necklace's pulse.
"There's no more pain to feel," I said. "I already lost my father, and I already lost my best friend. You can't hurt me anymore. Not an ounce of pain."
This moment of cosmic illumination brought together the silent promises of the past, the whispered vows of friendship, and Mamori's sacrifice. The seemingly lost war took an unexpected turn, and I found myself standing at the heart of the battlefield that was slowly becoming less bright. The men in black fell back, and the gifted beings, invigorated with a burst of energy, found their balance again.
As the echoes of my inner scream faded, a resolute calm settled within me. The necklace pulsed lightly on my skin and has now faded. The battlefield, which had before been veiled in defeat, was now pulsating with a renewed spirit. The voice hung in the atmosphere, a last word of comfort that had cosmic weight. Bound by threads of fate that stretched beyond the tumult of the present, the interwoven destinies kept playing out.
With my resolve firm, I looked out over the conflict in light of my sudden revelation. Mamori's sacrifice served as a lighthouse that helped me navigate the storm of fate, and when the forces came together, the story of redemption played out in a beautiful dance between light and shadow.
For the first time, anxiousness etched itself into Apollo's face as he involuntarily stepped back, his overconfidence shattered by the unforeseen surge of power emanating from me. He held up the thing that had used to shoot Mamori, clutching it in a vain attempt to take back control. I made a resolute motion, and even though Apollo pulled the trigger, it did nothing. Instead, my necklace emanated a bright light that, in return, disintegrated the device, turning it into insignificant pieces that dispersed throughout the atmosphere. Apollo became more and more desperate, using his powers against me in a desperate attempt. But even his powerful powers were no match for the wave of energy rushing through my body. It faded into oblivion.
I remember bits and pieces of memories coming together in that vital moment. With fresh lucidity, the man from my visions appeared. "You are our salvation," he said, striking a chord that sparked the enormous power I now possessed.
Elliot.
Mamori.
Bryce.
Miss Alice.
Augustus.
Noelle.
Ophelia.
Eli.
Suzie.
Billy.
Aria.
Lennox.
Wallace.
Molly.
Andreus.
Sebastian.
Maggie and Martha.
...Home. Family.
I stretched my arm, a mere mortal vessel for the raw, throbbing energy that flowed through me like a tempest unleashed, every fiber of my existence tuned into a clear aim. Once a formidable man, Apollo now found himself locked in a hopeless conflict with an invisible foe, his defiant and frustrated cries resonating through the atmosphere.
The very ground beneath us shook and trembled, as though bucking under the weight of the cosmic collision unfolding in front of it. A heartbreaking reminder of the unearthly force currently in play, Apollo's sinewy muscles strained against the unseen shackles that held him. His howls of wrath mixed with the crackling energy that filled the environment. It seemed as though the order of existence had suddenly changed, bending and twisting to the whim of powers beyond my ability to comprehend. And as things went blurry, every step Apollo took in his battle against his phantom captor highlighted the enormous distance separating us from the world of humans and gifted beings. And in the middle of all of this disarray, I remained firm, my arm raised against the approaching darkness like a dissident torch. In that brief moment, I went from being a simple human to someone I couldn't imagine.
A resolution took hold of me as the energy crescendo reached its peak. With a quick yet powerful move that reverberated throughout the cosmos, I was able to thrust Apollo. He did, however, laugh mockingly.
"Impressive," he chuckled, his voice dripping with begrudging admiration. "You will be the end of your kind, Primrose."
Everything became blurry as he laughed evilly. "I will remain your nightmare no matter what. I will never die," he laughed.
The men in black did the same, their shapes slowly vanished into nothingness. Apollo's body broke down slowly in the process, but he didn't show any signs of pain. Rather, he laughed. The only sound disturbing the stillness on the battlefield was the rustling of the fallen enemies. The police officers, me, and the gifted beings and orphans stood in stunned silence, taking in the incredible demonstration of power that had just taken place.
I looked at the spot where Apollo had been standing, and I saw emptiness there in place of the panic. The battle, which had appeared certain to fail, suddenly brought a moment of unexpected triumph. The collision of fates, the echo of dreams, and the revelation of paternal links had come together at this strange moment.
The last of Apollo's wrath faded away, and a somber silence fell. Where there had once been chaos on the battlefield, there were now the remaining traces of mysterious energies. The necklace, now but a shadow of its former splendor and a silent reminder of the events that had changed my life, pulsed softly against my skin.
In the aftermath, the words of the man who appeared in my dreams lingered in my thoughts. And when I kneeled to Mamori and held her body in my arms, exhaustion slowly clung to every fiber of my being. My face washed with tears, a flood of sorrow equal to the weight of all the things I had lost this crazy evening. The gifted beings, the police officers, and the others slowly surrounded me in a protective circle, understanding the seriousness of the sacrifice Mamori had made. However, they moved away gradually when my necklace began to glow brightly. Its pulsating light was like a crescendo—a rise in intensity that seemed to coincide with my feelings.
Anger slowly consumed me, and with every bit of memory I recalled, my necklace pulsed with every light it could shine. The ground beneath us rumbled like an earthquake, and the rest were alarmed and frightened. Leo ran and approached me, but my pain engulfed me like a scarlet flame.
"You need to calm down!" Leo said. The others had this scared look on their faces as they stared at me.
However, the Matrons, Miss Alice, Augustus, and Sebastian, together with Bryce and Noelle appeared in the deepening shadows. Noelle and Bryce helped Augustus maintain his balance as he's still weakened. As they observed the aftermath of the war, their reactions reflected a range of grief, astonishment, and great loss. Even Lucy, with all her might, was powerless to undo the unchangeable as the air appeared to thicken with sorrow.
"Prim," Bryce said with a pang of pain in his voice as he walked towards me, kneeled, and wrapped his arm around me as he let me sob in his chest. Sebastian aided Augustus as Noelle also approached me. Mamori remained motionless at this moment, lost in brightness, her sacrifice woven into the weave of our common destinies.
The floor continued to quiver, mirroring the exact rhythm my necklace had created. My eyes also reflected the glow my necklace emanated. And I couldn't control this surge of energy that mirrored my anger. It was very destructive. Noelle stood beside me, and Bryce moved. This time, her expression was different. She wasn't agitated, furious, or hostile. This time, too, she appeared sorry as she kneeled before me and hugged me.
"It's okay, Prim," Noelle said, patting my back as my tears continued falling off my eyelids.
A wail of sorrow resounded through the night as Mamori's parting became more real. My shoulders were laden with the weight of loss. We stood together in grief, having formerly been attached by an assurance of peace. I cried out in agony, and the scream echoed through the atmosphere. However, it gradually subsided rather than sending a shockwave of energy out of me. Noelle closed her eyes and began to settle down with my necklace.
"It's okay," Noelle repeated, using her empathetic abilities to calm my grieving heart.
With her embrace, my necklace slowly became dim, and my eyes no longer glowed. The battleground was elevated to a hallowed site of memory following Mamori's sacrifice. Amidst the murmurs of divine pressures, the echoes of our collective sorrow emphasized the impermanence of life and the unstoppable progression of destiny.
I peered down at Mamori's serene face through blurry tears, the opposite of the violence that had broken out all around us. The burden of responsibility fell on my shoulders at that very time. Mamori's sacrifice served as a spur for change and a reminder of the strength of relationships created in the face of hardship.
As I cradled Mamori in my arms, surrounded by everyone, the pain of loss mingled with a renewed determination. The throbbing energy of the necklace, together with Mamori's memory, would lead us through the unknown chapters ahead.
The night appeared to hold its breath in the hush that ensued, recognizing the significant change in our tale. Mamori turned into a light in the shadows and a representation of steadfast friendship that went beyond the grave. And then Miss Alice inched closer to me. And before I knew it, she hugged me tightly, letting me cry into her arms until I stopped. Lucy, on the other side, approached us as she attempted to do whatever she could to bring my friend back.
~*~
Three weeks later...
After the chaos, time passed, leaving permanent scars in the fabric of our lives. The once elusive existence of gifted beings, concealed in the shadows, was suddenly brought to light and acknowledgement. The curtain of secrecy that had covered our experiences for so long was shattered when we were shared with the public and were greeted with a mix of acceptance, curiosity, and uncertainty.
But that aside, Sebastian decided to look after Aria and little Molly. Together, they created an animal sanctuary in a remote area far from society, using their experiences to fuel their fervent support of animal rights. They came into being as representatives of those unable to speak for themselves. Additionally, in the border regions, Sergei took Eli in. Eli's creative abilities turned out to be quite useful, supporting Sergei's scientific endeavors. His remarkable discoveries brought him honors and acclaim, demonstrating his dedication to expanding the frontiers of knowledge.
Wallace now lives with the physician who replaced Dr. Welsh. Also, both of the matrons now work at the Perthlochry orphanage, taking care of both gifted and ordinary children. I thought they were just normal humans who swore to help Miss Alice and her home, but in the end, I found out that they, too, were gifted beings.
Also, have I mentioned that Billy found solace in a quieter profession as a lumberjack? Yup, he did. And Suzie? Well, she applied for a scholarship and emerged successful. I don't know if the both of them still dated, but if they did, they just proved that differences make some couples work together.
Lennox, whose gravitational prowess once defied the norm, found a new home with a normal couple, distancing herself from the echoes of Perthlochry. Andreus, a soul burdened by self-doubt, discovered acceptance in the embrace of an understanding couple who proved that being himself was not only valid but cherished. Augustus reunited with Leo and Lucy, finding refuge in a cabin nestled away from Perthlochry. Leo, notably, due to his act of courage, was promoted. He finally took his badge, as he finally used his original name in his profession: Cornelius.
Noelle chose to accompany Miss Alice on a continued journey, exploring the realms of possibility beyond the confines of Therslomau Isle. As for Bryce, the mysterious orphan whose path diverged from mine, his whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery. The threads of his destiny, like wisps of a tale left untold, lingered in the shadows.
In narrating these stories, I found solace in the collective triumphs and newfound paths forged by gifted beings. The chaos, a tempest that had swept through our lives, had given rise to a resilient sanctuary where each of us, in our unique ways, found acceptance, purpose, and belonging.
And so, the pages turned, carrying the remnants of chaos into a chapter marked by our tale—journeys now intricately interwoven with the tapestry of a world that had come to acknowledge, embrace, and celebrate the extraordinary within the ordinary.
All of a sudden, my thoughts were snapped out of their reverie when the television's drone permeated the quiet air of the small store, pulling me into a narrative that echoed fragments of my own tumultuous journey. The news anchor's voice narrated the tale of the "most powerful gifted," a title bestowed upon me in the aftermath of our rebellion against the headmaster of CYGNUS. The public discourse, a mix of awe and speculation, painted a portrait of a savior who emerged from the shadows, only to disappear after the chaos.
"...After the event, she disappeared, as if concealing herself from the public," the reporter's words hung in the air, an acknowledgment of the deliberate anonymity I had chosen. With a sense of purpose, I raised my hood, a cloak against the prying gaze of the outside world, and stepped into the bustling currents of normalcy.
The streets became a canvas of oblivious faces, their lives unfolding without the slightest inkling of the extraordinary presence in their midst. It was both liberating and isolating; the anonymity was a double-edged sword that allowed me to traverse the mundane undisturbed.
The run-down house drew me in like an old acquaintance telling secrets from long ago. Opening a can of cat food, Ophelia's excited meow filled the empty rooms with a sound that was all too familiar. As I set the offering down on the ground, a rite ingrained, and then she raced over to me, a black streak of fur.
Ophelia enjoyed the meal, finding a glimmer of happiness in the bleak surroundings. I could feel the weight of the past blending with the present as she was eating. The run-down house was a silent reminder of the sacrifices made and a picture of the complex web of interwoven lives, though.
I heaved a heavy chest afterwards, the weight of responsibility descending upon me like an unwanted guest. The return trip was unavoidable; it led to the location of Miss Alice's academy, which stood tall in the path of our common fate.
As I strolled around the streets with Ophelia tucked inside my arms, we blended into the town's orchestra of passing moments. We strolled under the forest canopy after leaving the small town. Every step is connected to the strands of my own story, which is a tapestry made of stubbornness and resolve. A faint tension then gripped me as I drew closer to the well-known facade. The academy, which had served as both a haven and a refuge for us, was now silent. The once-ornate gables, the turrets, the porch—most of it was now a pile of rubble. The courtyard, which had served as a training area before, was now motionless in the last light. The topiaries are now dead plants. Ophelia meowed softly, bringing me gently back to the present as I forgot I was still for a few seconds.
As I stepped across the threshold and into a room filled with memories, the weight of expectations and the load of the gifted descended upon me. I then walked up the stairs afterwards, the familiar door staring me in the face like a doorway to another world where the ordinary and extraordinary coexist.
The sacred corridors of the academy reverberated with the spectral creaks as soon as I entered. It seemed as though the walls themselves held the memories I wanted to forget. I mean, even though the academy burned, some parts of it still stood tall. The atmosphere was infused with a tacit acknowledgment. The academy housed our collective identity and was more than just a physical structure. And in return, I felt comfort and solitude in the center. The sun shone its dreamy rays on the ashes and memories that remained of our lovely Victorian house. A dull ache began to grow in my chest as I drew closer to the burned remnants, an unwanted companion on this trip through the memories of a shattered past.
The enormous oak tree towered above the ground, its limbs extending upward like a tower, watching the time pass. Under its shadow were the tombs with the names of my loved ones: Elliot Hayes and Mamori Tanakuchi. I then sat down on the cold earth with Ophelia purring in the stillness as I caressed the soil.
"Hey," I began, my voice trembling with the vulnerability of unspoken grief.
I stared at their graves as tears slowly escaped my lips. I haven't visited their graves for days. I just couldn't. But in a way, I wanted to have closure, so I decided to pay them a visit since I knew it would help me move on.
"I wish you both could see how much you both changed me," I said.
The wind, with a gentle caress against my tear-streaked face, carried my words away into the vast expanse. With each breath, I poured my longing into the air, a desperate plea for a response that the universe seemed reluctant to grant.
"Elliot, do you remember how you used to prepare PB&J?" I spoke to the wind as if it were going to carry my words to him. "Mamori, as much as I want to deny it, it sucks how I missed your annoying smile. I really miss you both."
Ophelia, sensing the somber tone, pressed against me, offering silent solace. I continued, my words an offering to the invisible, ethereal audience.
"I miss the days when I could still feel your presence," I said, the weight of memory carving a poignant ache. My gaze remained fixed on the inscriptions, an anchor to a reality I yearned to escape.
"I want to see your smiles again, Mamori," I whispered. "And I want to hear your voice again, Dad."
My feelings were swept away by the wind, who listened to me with empathy. In a ceremony formed of love and grief, I talked to the memories and the spirits that lingered in this place.
"You were more than an adoptive father," I said as I stared at Elliot's name, "you were my father. And Mamori," I looked at her grave, "you were the sister of my heart, a friend I will never forget."
Seated there, I watched as the sun continued to set. The gravestones turned into shadows against the gathering night, a somber reminder of how quickly time passes.
"I want to see you again." I choked on the words. "To share in our battles' victories. Unfortunately, fate had other ideas, and now here I am, left with the memories I could only remember. It sucks, really. But I guess I'll keep moving forward for the both of you and for myself. But hey, how I wish you're both here."
I sobbed with a sorrowful yet determined heart. As I proceeded on my way, I took with me the memories of Elliot's laughter and Mamori's smiles, two spirits who would always be connected to me.
I took comfort in the company of gravestones that marked the resting places of people who greatly improved and eased my life beneath the oak tree's canopy, while shadows engulfed the remaining leaves overhead. However, a surprising figure stirred alongside me in the calm. My gaze turned to the right, where he stood, glowing in the light. His dark hazelnut eyes caught me, a comforting familiarity. A charming face with tousled hair conveyed worry and empathy at the same time.
"Hey," he said, approaching.
"Hey," I said.
"How are you?" Bryce asked, reaching out to me. Ophelia, sensing his presence, meowed softly.
I stood there frozen in place, sorrow crushing me. Bryce was lonely and anxious, and he wanted to connect. But the warmth he offered was rejected by my heart, which was cloaked in the shadows of bereavement.
"Bryce," I whispered, my voice a fragile echo.
Confusion etched his features as he tried to comprehend my plea. "What's wrong?"
I sighed. Even though I really wanted to be with him, I wanted him to move away from me and forget about me. I knew I had to make things right, even if it meant putting my own happiness at risk, for the weight of my mistakes weighed heavily on my heart.
"I think it's best if we go our separate ways," I said softly, avoiding his gaze.
"What?" Bryce asked.
"I can't keep dragging you down with me. You deserve better."
"What are you talking about?" Bryce asked, reaching out to touch my hand.
I pulled away gently, shaking my head. "I've made too many mistakes, Bryce. I need to make things right."
"Prim, I—"
"You don't understand," I interrupted, rising from my place of contemplation. "I can't bear to see those I love taken away from me. First, Elliot. Then, Mamori. I can't go through it again. I can't afford to also lose you in front of my eyes."
Bryce, grappling with the weight of my revelation, shook his head. "Prim, you can't shut everyone out."
A moment of uneasy stillness fell between us, while the sky continued to stare at us. I begged him to let go of the slender threads that connected us and to forget. But Bryce, persistent and hurt, fought.
"I won't let that happen to me," he said, his eyes unwavering. "I want to be here with you, to share in your burdens and joys. Please."
A sigh escaped my lips, a lament for the walls I had built around my heart. "It would bring me peace to see you happy with someone else. I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me."
His hazelnut eyes reflected the struggle within his soul. "Please, I won't leave you, and I don't want to leave."
But I resisted the care he offered. "I need you to let go. Find happiness beyond the shadows that cling to me."
He once again reached out, but I avoided him. There, under the sky's protective glare, our hearts were at a juncture where they could become one or become divided.
"I can't lose you too, Prim," Bryce said. "I've also lost the people that I love. My parents. I have no one. And after finding you, I can't believe it to be that abrupt."
I heaved a heavy sigh. I stood with Bryce on the precipice of a heart-wrenching decision. The heaviness in the air mirrored the burden within my chest, a pain that threatened to drown me.
"Bryce," I whispered, my voice a fragile thread of emotion, "I can't bear to see you hurt because of me. I've lost too much, and I can't bear to lose you too."
"You won't lose me. We can face whatever comes together."
The struggle within me echoed in the silent wind, torn between the love I felt and the fear of inflicting more pain. But deep down, a desperate desire to protect him prevailed. I don't want to do this, but I had no other choice.
"I'd rather let you go than watch you suffer once again," I said.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he reached out, pulling me into an embrace. In that moment, our hearts spoke a language of acceptance and the painful necessity of parting. It took us a few seconds to hug before he lets go.
"If that's what you want," he began, "then do it. But I promise you I will never forget you."
With a heavy sigh, I conceded. "Then you leave me no other choice."
"If you want me to forget, erase every memory I have of you."
Tears filled my eyes at the thought of losing the love we shared and the memories we created. However, I unwillingly nodded for his benefit and security.
"Prim," Bryce murmured, cupping my face in his hands. "I won't forget you, no matter what."
"I won't forget you, as well," I said, knots tightening on my chest, constricting my ability to breathe easily.
"I love you," he said. My tears fell, and I inched closer to him.
"I love you too."
Our final moments together unfolded beneath the sky's watchful eye. Embraced in a bittersweet hug, we clung to each other, aware that this would be our farewell.
"I'm going to miss you," I whispered, tasting the saltiness of my own tears.
The warmth of our shared affection stared in the air as our lips met for the last time. It was a kiss filled with love, longing, and the inevitability of separation. As our lips parted, the glow from my necklace intensified, signaling the onset of a choice that would alter the fabric of our shared reality.
Bryce, with a tearful gaze, bid his farewell. "Until we meet again."
With a nod, I echoed his words, my heart aching with a love that transcended the boundaries of time and space. And then, enveloped in a radiant light, we stood together, suspended in a moment that defied the constraints of the world around us. But before it consumed everything, I hugged him tighter. I could feel his arms wrap around me tightly. And then I sobbed even more.
"If I could hug you and not let go, I would," I said. "If I could hold your hands and never let go, I would. I promise you, Bryce. I would."
"Hey," he said as he also cried silently. "Please don't cry. It's okay."
He cupped my face with his palms and wiped my tears using his fingers as he smiled. It's not a happy smile; it's the opposite.
"If I could keep you with me, I would," I added. "If I could be there for you until my last breath, I would. But I can't, Bryce. I can't. And I'm sorry," I said.
"It's okay, Prim. It's okay. Everything will be fine."
Everything will be fine.
The luminous glow swallowed us whole, erasing the remnants of our shared existence in his mind. And as the light dissipated, I found myself alone, the echoes of Bryce's farewell lingering in the recesses of my memory.
In the quiet aftermath, beneath the sun's tender gaze, I carried the weight of a choice made out of love—a choice that left me standing on the precipice of an uncertain future, haunted by the echoes of a love that defied the boundaries of space and time.
Sometimes, love isn't enough for you to stay. Sometimes, love means letting go. Sometimes, love, with its profound beauty, sometimes intertwines with pain, revealing the intricate nature of human emotions. The vulnerability inherent in loving deeply can invite heartache, but acknowledging this doesn't diminish the significance of love's impact. Embracing the coexistence of love and pain is a testament to the richness and depth of the human experience.
Goodbye, Bryce. I love you. Until we meet again.
— fin —