She stood up and looked around, still nothing, until she looked forward and stared. Tearing through the darkness was a small light, which grew till it revealed someone.
It was Aerianna, she was clad in a loose white dress, concealing her tiny form, she looked back at Melissa with a beatific smile.
“Aerianna!!”
Melissa walked forward, each step feeling as if it took a millennium, but she continued nonetheless, Aerianna continued to stare back as the sound of splashing echoed from beneath Melissa’s feet.
She finally reached her, lifting her hand up and reaching it to Aerianna slowly, but then the space increased.
But…
This time Melissa sprinted, the ground holding onto her feet like grass in a swamp. She fell but she got back up, and she reached Aerianna once again, but the distance simply multiplied.
She repeated this for what felt like hours till finally…
Melissa limped forward; she was tired, exhausted, but some things are more important.
She stood right behind Aerianna and finally clasped her hand.
“Finally… you really sent me on a wild goose chase huh?”
Melissa inhaled and exhaled, slightly bent over.
Aerianna’s eyes closed as her smile widened.
“Thank you for everything.”
As her skin cracked, and before Melissa knew what happened, she had turned to dust…
Aerianna…
“Melissa.”
She heard a voice, but it wasn’t Aerianna’s it was… Mac?
Her eyes shot opened once again, but this time it wasn’t utter darkness. It was actually rather bright; she rubbed her eyes and looked around, Mac was by her side, and she was in a hospital bed.
“Why am I here?”
“When the officers were questioning us, you kinda just started breathing heavy and… fell out.”
“Oh, I see…”
Melissa looked up, the quite buzz of the A/C traveling through her ears. As she looked over to the window, she was on the second story of the hospital.
“I had a dream.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I was in some place… and it was pure dark however, in the sliver of light was Aerianna... she was smiling at me, I was happy, but I couldn’t reach her and when I finally did… she disappeared.”
Mac frowned.
“I’m sorry, not just for that but because I’ve been useless in this whole matter.”
Melissa smiled.
“It’s alright at least you tried.”
Melissa looked at the food tray and there was a letter.
“What’s with the letter?”
Mac shrugged.
“When I woke up it was there, none of the nurses left it, and you didn’t have any visitors.”
Melissa reached out to it, slipping her fingers under it and bringing it to her.
She unwrapped the envelope and pulled out the letter it was from Mr. Oliver.
Melissa I hope you find this message well, I’m quite aware of your current condition, as I came to visit, however I’m aware now that I am far too late… that boy Jason, Jason Oaklham, he’s a rank 8 of the slasher pathway one which lets him be untraceable and call forth any weapon he touches, you can’t track him unless you have a rank 8 of the soul pathway or a really great 9 by your side, I’m not sure why he played the fool, however at your current level you’d be dissected, so I wouldn’t recommend you go after him quite yet.
Melissa shakes, staring at the paper with cold disbelief.
Now I’m sure you're wondering how come the book didn’t detect his pathway, well unfortunately I can’t tell you about the exact specifics until you're at least rank 4, I’m aware from his note you already know someone intervened… I recommend you go look into Alexander Henry and Isabella Dorthy’s past… maybe you’ll find some answers… luckily you should be able to do that much because of someone, can’t go into detail until you're at least rank 6.
~Benjamin Oliver
I wish you great health, so try to keep me updated.
~Benjamin Oliver
Melissa dropped the note on her lap; she shook and placed her hands on her head.
Mac grabbed one hand and squeezed it softly.
Melissa looked to him, “Let's go to Aerianna’s parents house after I get discharged.”
After a few minutes, the nurse would arrive and check over Melissa’s physical condition; she was perfectly healthy other than a slight bruise she’d acquired on her back after falling.
She left the hospital holding Mac’s hand, she squeezed tight... too tight.
“Melissa your gonna break my hand.”
She immediately “loosens up”.
“I’m so sorry.
Mac chuckles.
“It’s fine.”
The van was parked by the road, a little too big to park closer.
They walk over to it, Robin’s chirping peacefully as they do.
Melissa looks at Robin on the powerline.
One of my favorite birds…
They board the van, it bouncing as they do.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Everyone immediately looks at Melissa.
“Are you alright.”
Melissa nods.
“Yes of course…”
She looks down.
“Can we go to Aerianna’s parents house.”
Aisha smiles, rubbing her arm against the steering wheel.
“Of course.”
Melissa pulls out her phone and pins the location.
Aisha nods, and starts up the van, driving down the road.
Melissa walks to the back of the Van.
She sits on the bed and then turns around, throwing her legs up in a Criss cross fashion. She places her hands on her knees and lowers her head.
Melissa looks up into the upper bed. As she shifts slightly, the bed creaks as she does.
Footsteps clap behind her; she does not turn; she does however feel a weight press down on her shoulder, a large hand.
“Melissa.”
She turned around; it was Devan. He had his typical expression, uncaring yet aware.
He pulled himself onto the bed and sat down next to her, the bed creaking, and bouncing, as if slightly sunk.
“So…”
Melissa taps her finger on her leg.
“So...”
“Uhh.. damn I really didn’t think about what to say before I came over.”
“That’s like you.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
Devan smirks.
“I’m glad your sadness didn’t knock that cockiness outta you.”
“It never could.”
“So, after Aerianna’s parents house do you still wanna continue the trip?”
Melissa nods.
“Yes, I know she would’ve wanted me to continue, plus we’re a little too deep to back out now, we need to kill Jason.”
“Kill immediately hmm, not that I blame you just didn’t expect that outta you.”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
“I’m worried.”
“About?”
“You obviously Melissa, you know I'm a pretty stoic guy, I tend to keep my feelings to myself, but just this once...”
Melissa looks at him.
Devan takes a deep breath.
“Don’t lose yourself.”
Melissa nods.
Devan pats her head and gets up and leaves.
Just as he does, Julian and Miley call Simultaneously.
She accepts the calls and merges them.
“Melissa.”
Miley’s voice rang out.
“Little sis.” Said Julian.
“Hey guys, perfect timing. “
Melissa’s voice rang.
Miley breathed in.
“Why… do you sound so calm?”
“Yeah, we know what happened…”
“Well, I’ve already decided what I have to do.”
“That is?” Asked, Miley.
“I’m gonna kill Jason, and there’s no point in trying to stop me because I won’t.”
Julian sighs.
“Melissa this isn’t like you… your so kind.”
“Yeah, Melissa you’ve always been so caring and forging, while Jason doesn’t deserve forgiveness why should you be the one to dirty your hands and become the monster?”
Melissa expression darkens.
“You think I’m a monster.”
“No no I just mean that you know… when you kill it changes you and the way people see you forever.”
“Yeah Melissa, you see when you take life you live in fear that your life will be taken as well, you reap what you sow.”
“I’m aware… but I’m perfectly content with becoming the monster, just… don’t forget about me.”
Julian’s line stays silent before he speaks up.
“…. How could we ever forget about you.”
“Yeah, how could we?”
“Not about me, but about me.”
The lines stay silent, before they simultaneously say.
“Right.”
Just as Melissa leans back.
“Melissa we’re here.”
“See ya I love you two so much.”
Miley breathes.
“Love ya to.”
“I certainly love you as well little sis.”
The lines disconnect, as Melissa stands heading towards the door of the van, ready to search through the pile of books, to obtain info like a needle in a haystack.