Mid Afternoon, inside the home of Anna’s grandparents, all three girls were inside in the living room, catching up. During the events of Jack and Sarah’s mishaps, Veronica had been studying for her finals, and really going hardcore on them while Anna helped around the home of her grandparents, such as reorganizing furniture and maintenance. Sarah came by just an hour ago, and while it has been a delightful conversation for the three, there was one who spoke with aggression, but only in response and abruptly cutting Sarah off whenever she spoke. That was Veronica, she’s been behaving rather hostile towards her. Sarah’s aware, but doesn't want to instigate anything, she misses them and hasn’t had the chance to hangout with them since that night when the men in white attacked Veronica’s home and William rearranged time.
Anna’s laying on the couch, her head resting on Sarah’s thick thighs. Sarah was massaging her head, and watching the television.
“Why’s there so much military activity downtown?” Sarah said.
Anna pointed at the screen. “Yeah, I’ve been wondering about that too. Never got the chance to watch any news lately since I’ve been doing so much chores for the past month.”
“Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy myself also.” Sarah replied.
“Hmph…” Veronica grunted.
“Alright, besides what we’ve been talking about, let's not get off topic, how about you answer what I had just said, Sarah!”
Sarah crushed Anna’s nose closed, and lightly smacked her head. “Answer what? You mean what you were trying to have me do in favour of your wicked mind?”
Anna smiled. “Alright alright, what if you agree?” she said while grabbing Sarah’s hand off her nose.
Sarah grabbed her chin, and chopped Anna's head. “No, bad Anna, bad. Stop being so perverse. I’ve already allowed you to lay on my lap, that’s as far as you get, missy.”
Anna pouted, and rubbed Sarah’s leg. “Oh pueh! It was just a saying… didn’t have to assault me like that, goth girl.”
Veronica was on the singles chair, and she had her arms and legs crossed. She was watching the television and remained quiet. Sarah couldn’t contain herself and brought her attention to the grouchy rich bookworm.
“Hey, Veronica, you okay? You’ve been real quiet, what’s up?”
Anna too, brought her attention to Veronica. “Yeah, you’ve also been a little sassy, especially towards Sarah. What’s with you, huh?”
Veronica rolled her eyes, and mildly waved her fingers. “Oh nothing, it’s just… Well, I don’t know if I should say it. Don’t want to be a Debbie downer.”
Sarah grabbed Anna’s head, and ruffled her hair. “What’s wrong? It’s okay, we’re all besties here. No need to keep things dormant. It’s bad to do so for your mental health.”
Verónica brought her annoyed gaze to Sarah, and squinted her eyes. “That so?” she lightly tapped her chin, and pointed at Sarah. “So tell me this then, goth girl.”
“Why does everyone keep calling me that?” Sarah said, which made Anna giggle.
“You and Jack have been acting real friendly, and hanging out a lot as of lately, not to mention you’ve also seemed to grow closer. What’s with that? Like, what are you up to?”
Sarah scrunched her face. “Huh? What are you talking about?”
Anna can sense the annoyance in her friend's tiny voice, and gets up, putting her arms around her. “Alright alright, easy now, tiny Sarah.”
Veronica got up out of her chair, sticking her hip out while her arms stayed crossed.
“You know what I mean. Stop pretending to play dumb, I know you’re after Jack, S-a-r-a-h!”
Sarah didn’t like Veronica's sarcastic tone. Actually, it got her so annoyed that she got out of Anna’s embrace and approached the smart girl.
“What are you trying to imply? That I’m trying to steal him from you?”
Veronica swayed her body, and grew her eyes wide towards Sarah.
“What else am I trying to imply, Ms. Goth girl!”
Sarah dragged one of her hands across her mouth. “Veronica, don’t be stupid—”
“Stupid?!” she said, growing closer towards her.
Sarah also stuck her hip out, and placed her hand on it.
“Instead of acting insecure and jealous, how about you just think rationally without jumping to conclusions.”
“Oh you’re one to talk! Missy!”
“Veronica, could you stop. Think, actually take a moment to cool yourself and think! What would I accomplish in taking the guy you’ve had a crush on since we were children?”
Anna got up, and went up to the two. “She has a point, Veronica.”
Veronica glanced at Anna. “Hmph, in what way? It still doesn’t disclose the fact that they’ve been hanging out a lot and acting really friendly.”
“Okay, and? But doesn’t mean that we’re engaging in anything that you’re clearly overthinking.”
“Then why have you guys, out of nowhere gotten so close, hmm?!”
Sarah rolled her eyes, and face palmed. “Veronica, I don’t like him… you know that. How many times have we discussed about me liking someone? If I had feelings for him or any guy, then I would’ve already confessed before he would have thought of doing it.”
Anna intervened, and wrapped her arm around Sarah’s shoulders.
“What Sarah’s saying is in fact correct, our dear smart jealous friend. I mean, take a look at her.”
Veronica tilted her head. “Wha-What do you mean by that?”
Anna rolled her arm, and put her hand out to Veronica.
“Veronica, Sarah here, is every fucking guys dream! She’s short, stunning, not to mention her gorgeous eyes! And do I even have to bring the fact that she’s… Goth?! But most of all—”
Anna shifted her arm down, and smacks Sarah’s butt, which makes her lightly squeal.
“She has a fucking nice big ass, she’s thick, my friend, very for her size. I mean, take a look at them thighs too!”
Anna spun Sarah around, and Sarah couldn’t retain her smile as Anna showed her off. Once she stopped, she reeled Sarah in, and held her as tight as she could, and Sarah squirmed around in her grasp.
“Sarah’s not only a fantasy, but if she really wanted to have Jack, she could’ve had him a long time ago, don’t cha think?”
Veronica pouted, and looked away. “Who-who says that I can’t compete with her looks!”
Anna laughed, and went up to Veronica and wrapped her arm around her shoulder this time.
“Oh Veronica! Look, you’re pretty and all, but compared to Sarah, sorry to say… you don’t stand a chance.”
“Wha-What do you mean?!”
“Okay, yes, you’re beautiful, Veronica. You got long legs, a nice figure, a big chest—”
“And it’s bigger than hers!” Veronica exclaimed, pointing at Sarah proudly.
Anna shrugged. “True, but you forget to know that our little Sarah ain’t flat chested either. What size are you, again, Sarah?”
Sarah sighed, but grinned. “Close to a C, but still around a B.”
“And just like that, despite she not being as busty like the two of us, it’s just the fact that she has just enough for a man's pleasure. You can’t compete against her, but do you ever see Sarah showing herself to the world? Whoring around, showing skin, talking, manipulating men towards her will! She could've done all of that, Veronica.”
Veronica frowned, “ye-yeah… I guess. But! It still doesn’t explain why they’ve hung out so much!”
Sarah took a breath. “That’s—complicated, and even if I were to tell you two, neither of you would understand.”
The two grew quiet. They could hear the worry and stress in her voice when she said that. To Anna, it also raised suspicion of what that meant, and Veronica still kept her’s. Sarah slowly walked backwards, and then sat back on the couch, grabbing her head. She rubbed her face, and sighed. Seeing their tiny friend sulk in an unknown sadness questioned what she really meant by that. Veronica has already concluded what she possibly means, but Anna thought otherwise. Sarah brought her eyes up to her friends and she had a frown on her face.
“Say, Anna, Veronica…” Sarah said, her tone softened and saddened.
The two approached her, and waited for what she had to say next. Sarah was hesitant to ask, and briefly looked away. When she brought her eyes back to them, they were shaking.
“If-If I were—for example, not ‘Normal!’ Would you-you guys still believe in what I would say, and be?”
Both girls were confused as to what she meant by that. The two looked at each other, raised their arms, their eyeballs bouncing around in confusion, they didn’t know how to respond to her question. Veronica wondered if this was what Sarah was trying to explain about her and Jack getting so close as of lately. Could it be that she’s also doing illegal activities with him? Or hiding more that she’s afraid to say, which raised a brow for Veronica. Anna couldn’t understand, but quickly came up with something that’ll lighten the mood and ease the storm between the two.
Anna sat back down next to Sarah, and patted her head. “Sarah, you’re already strange. You’re nowhere near normal.”
Sarah couldn’t help but express a subtle smile and giggle. “Gee, thanks Anna!” she said, sarcastically.
Then, Anna gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek, and hugged her.
“Regardless of what’s going on in that head of yours, and if Jack’s helping answering your own self identity. Whatever the case may be with you, I’ll always accept you for who and what you are.”
Sarah placed her hand on Anna’s arm, and sighed. “It’s no wonder Jack has such a bond with you. You’re such a good counselor and comforter, unlike a snot nose brat that reeks of envy.”
Both girls laughed and Veronica at first wanted to say something, but joined in their laughter. Then, something came into the mind of Sarah that questions Veronica’s actions towards her and leaving a particular person out of it.
“Hey… that doesn’t exclude Anna, Veronica! Have you seen what they do when they’re around each other? Why be bitchy towards me, rich girl.”
Veronica bent over, and flipped Sarah’s forehead.
“Ow…”
Veronica grinned, and pointed at Anna without looking at her.
“That’s an easy answer, she’s gay, doofus, remember.”
Sarah massaged her forehead, and repaid Veronica with her own flick, which made her back away.
“Oh yeah, forgot about that.”
Both Veronica and Sarah giggled while Anna squinted her eyes at the two.
“So… me being gay means I have privileges that you wished you could do to Jack?” Anna said, raising a brow to see who would react first.
Veronica got in her face, and grabbed the collar of her flannel. “Listen here! You absolute stunning blonde beauty! I wish I were in your shoes so I could sit on his lap, and rub my face against his without getting steamed up and red!”
Sarah laughed, “oh dang, I had no idea you were that envious of Annabelle, Veronica. Not to mention creepy.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Anna grew a smug look, and resorted back at Veronica by swooning her off her legs. “You know, Jack carried me like this too! And he also did this…”
Anna bumped heads with Veronica, and pressed her nose against Veronica’s, turning her red and making her gasp continuously. Anna had an open mouth smile, and giggled.
“He also did this, bet you wished you were me, huh snotty girl?!”
Veronica covered her face, and shook her head. “Stop… stop stop, oh my god!”
Sarah placed her hand against her cheek, and watched her best friends act just the way she loved to see them: Goofy, happy, and out of line. Seeing that they’re normal and not involved in the mess that her and Jack have gotten themselves in made her almost shed a tear, but she restrained her emotions, and deeply sighed in silence. Upon her gaze coming back to the two, Anna came back and attacked her, lifting her up, out of the couch, and placing her on her right shoulder. She then smacked her butt again, and that made Sarah annoyed, and blush.
“Damn it! Anna! I’m starting to believe you have a crush on me now!” Sarah shouted.
Anna laughed and smacked her butt again. “Who wouldn’t! You absolutely tiny adorable goth girl you!”
Sarah smacked her fists against Anna’s back, and pouted. “Put me down, you fiend!”
“Never!” Anna began to march towards the front door. “Come on, Veronica, let's go get some food, I’m starving.”
Veronica giggled. “And you’re carrying the grouchy goth girl on your shoulder all the way?”
Anna tapped her chin, and gave Veronica a thumbs up. “Challenge accepted!”
Sarah crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes. “Whatever, at least I’ll be carried on some strong shoulders.”
“Oh haha… calling me manly I see, well, take this!”
Anna chomped on Sarah’s side, and that made her yelp. Veronica bursted out in laughter, and all three girls made their way out the front door of Anna’s grandparents house. Once they were out on the sidewalk, they made their way to the town that they loved traveling to where safety and prosperity shined. While on the way there, there was a strange instance where they saw a black tahoe mysteriously parking about twenty feet of them. At first they didn’t catch eye to it, only Sarah. The only reason why she was able to, was due to the fact she was still on Anna’s shoulder. In watching their backs, she was able to watch the mystery vehicle grow closer and closer until she slightly rose herself up from hanging on Anna’s shoulder. This made the suv drive away and never to be seen again.
After an hour of walking, they arrived and felt joyful. The thought of that suv stayed in Sarah’s head, but she kept it to herself for now. While being put back on her feet, Sarah was able to stretch her body and let out a nice big yawn. Veronica went for a glance to find which eatery they were going to. Anna also stretched, mainly her back after caring for the tiny goth girl all the way. Veronica had her hand hovered over her eyes as she scanned the area, Anna yawned and also did the same, Sarah looked over her shoulder to see if that vehicle was still around. Veronica then pointed at a sushi bar three blocks down, and started the march to their new target. Anna followed and Sarah did after a minute. With all three walking next to each other, Veronica wanted to try something, her envy still remained.
She pulled her phone out, and dialed for Jack. “I wonder what Jack’s doing.”
Anna shrugged, “Beats me. Hopefully nothing illegal as usual.”
Sarah was glancing around, “he’s probably still asleep, best to leave the poor guy, Veronica.”
“Hmph…” Eventually, Jack did pick up, and he sounded exhausted. “Jack?”
“Eh…? Wh-who’s calling?”
“It’s me, Veronica, dummy!”
“O-oh… hey, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to say hi and—”
“Veronica… I’m exhausted, could we talk later, please?”
Veronica froze, and moaned in embarrassment. Sarah sighed and went to her frozen friend, grabbing her phone out of her hand.
“Jack, go back to sleep, she’s just being her dumb usual self.”
“Sarah? You’re with her? Whatcha guys up to?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you later, right now you sound like a dead frog. Get some rest, you grouch.”
Jack chuckled, “Alright… talk to you all, later.”
Sarah hung up, and placed Veronica’s phone back in her hand. Veronica snapped out of her frozen state, and stomped the ground. Sarah patted her jealous friend's head, and took the lead.
“Boy, Veronica… if you keep this up, you’ll surely lose him to her.” Anna said.
Veronica stuck her tongue out to Anna, “Whatever… I just didn’t know, okay?! Wait… how did she know! Hey, come back here you tiny devil!”
Sarah raised her hand, “come get me then, I ain’t running, bookworm.”
Veronica ran to Sarah, and Anna followed. Sarah crossed her arms, and proceeded to cross the street, and once she had reached the other side, going past a building, she heard someone creating sounds to that of being stressed? Lost? She had no clue, but she saw the culprit, that being a short woman, just inches taller than Sarah, who was glancing around, standing on some stairs. She had glasses, a nice casual suit, her skirt matching her clothing, and short brown hair.
Sarah paused before taking another step forward. “Uh, excuse me?” she asked, taking another step closer. “Are you okay?”
The woman brought her gaze to Sarah, and at first, she gasped, loudly. Her eyes quivered, and a glint appeared in them, but she soon regained composure, and cleared her throat, swallowing too.
“So-Sorry… and I’m alright, I just happened to be lost, that’s all.”
Sarah already grew suspicious of this woman. The look she gave Sarah a moment ago reeked of anger, and hatred. Not only that, she was giving off something not even Sarah could tell. But instead of jumping to conclusions, Sarah remained her usual self, and stayed on guard.
“Lost huh? What are you looking for?”
The woman jumped off the steps, and adjusted her glasses, standing in front of Sarah.
“I’m a tourist, so it’s only—”
“Yeah, clearly.”
She groaned beneath her breath, and twitched an eye from Sarah’s comment.
“Wow, you’re a smart one, ain't cha?”
“Look lady, whatever you’re looking for, I’m sure you can easily look for it on your phone.”
“Wh-Why you…” she muttered.
Veronica and Anna had just caught up, and took notice of the short woman standing in front of their friend. They saw her right fist, clenched, and she looked annoyed by Sarah. Anna came behind her friend, and placed her hand on her head.
“Alright alright, why are you looking at my adorable friend like that, stranger?” Anna said.
The woman sighed, and erased the annoyed expression on her face.
“Sorry, I was just asking for directions because I’m lost, but your rude friend here instead of helping a young gal like me, would rather act all smartashes and not be of help.”
Veronica intervened and analyzed the woman's outfit. She wondered why she was being examined by their taller friend.
“You have a very distinct taste I see. I like it!” Veronica said, pointing at the woman.
She grinned. “Hehe, why, thank you! Glad someone here is kind and digs my fashion sense.”
Sarah rolled her eyes, “of course, the two four eyes are getting along.”
Veronica covered Sarah’s mother, and it made her furrow her brows. Sarah mumbled and Veronica smiled. Anna lightly chuckled, but the woman kept her eyes locked onto Sarah.
“What’s your name, stranger?”
The woman nodded. “Mandy, is my name.”
“Oh! I love that name! Nice to meet you, Mandy! Ahem, my name is Veronica, and the blonde one is Anna, and my goth friend is Sarah.”
“Sarah, huh?” Mandy said, “I know someone who has a similar name to her.”
Just then, her tone had changed. It sounded ominous, subtle yet filled with ill intent. Veronica didn’t catch it over her excitement, but the other two did, and it made Anna step forward, standing closer to her two friends.
“Really? That’s fascinating.” Veronica said, collapsing her hands in excitement.
Sarah remained quiet, trying to figure out what this off putting sensation Mandy was giving out.
It feels like Mana, but at the same time, it’s different. Just what is she? And what’s her deal? Sarah thought.
Mandy’s attention didn’t deteriorate from Sarah, and it sent shivers down Sarah’s spine.
Sarah balled a fist, and that made Mandy look away, turning her attention to Veronica. Watching her do that made it seem as if she were detecting Sarah’s next movements.
Veronica grabbed Mandy’s hand, and got close to her face. “Where are you from?! With the way you dress, and kinda speak, you’re from a different country, ain’t cha?”
Seeing Veronica’s excitement over a stranger gave Anna a strange vibe, and wondered if her friend was doing this on purpose to get under Sarah’s skin despite Mandy’s odd behaviour.
“Me? Well you guessed correctly. But I’m more of a neighbor. Actually, I’m Canadian.”
“Oooo, and I assume you know French?”
“French, German, Norwegian, English, and Spanish.”
“Wow! You’re very bilingual too! So rad.”
Sarah went in between them, and Veronica wondered why she had pushed her away. Mandy’s face went still, and the two had a stare down.
Mandy slowly balled a fist, and squinted her eyes.
Abyzou… it has to be. There’s no denying it—
“Mandy, I apologise.” Sarah said, which made her moan in confusion.
Mandy relaxed her nerves, and tilted her head.
“For what?”
Sarah put her hand out, “for being rude. I have a bad habit of acting this way towards someone I suspect to be off putting, but nonetheless, I should’ve still expressed common courtesy despite who you are. Judging a book by its cover is what most people would not like to be presumed by.”
Mandy hesitated, but shook Sarah’s hand, but abruptly, which made the goth girl raise her suspicion towards her more.
“Apology accepted. Anyways, I think I’m being a bother to you all. You three must be heading somewhere and I think I’ve more than likely killed your time.”
Veronica reeled Sarah back, and shook her head. “No no! We were actually going on our way to eat. I know we just met, but you interest me. Would you like to come with us for lunch?”
Mandy giggled. “That sounds lovely, but I have to be on my way to my original destination. And… Sa-Sarah, is it? You were right, I should’ve used my phone.”
Sarah kept a brow slightly raised, and nodded. She silently walked past Mandy, and Anna followed with her. Veronica scratched the back of her head, and let out a breath.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Nice meeting you, Mandy. Gotta keep up with those two before I lose sight of them.”
As Veronica waved, and power walked past her, Mandy grabbed Veronica’s arm to which she turned back, confused.
“Sorry, but, I was wondering, since we were getting along, do you think we can keep in contact?”
Veronica smiled, “yeah, sure! Here, give me your phone.”
Mandy did, and Veronica quickly exchanged contacts with her, sending a text. When she handed Mandy back her phone, Mandy had an odd smile on her face, one that reeked ominously and with malicious intent. Even Veronica caught on to that twisted smile of hers.
“Uh, you alright, Mandy?”
Mandy blinked and the smile subtle down to a normal grin. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll text you later, and maybe we can hang out sometimes, maybe tomorrow?”
“Uh, sure? I just gotta see if there isn’t anything in the way of my schedule. Alright, see ya!”
Veronica walked off, and Mandy watched as she went to get caught up to her friends. Sarah can’t let go of this odd feeling coming off of Mandy. She had to take one last pause, and look back one final time. Once she did, Mandy stood there, watching with a glare that was both bloodthirsty and hateful. Sarah finally balled a fist, and ground her teeth in response to Mandy’s strange behaviour.
Just who the hell is this chick? I don’t like this, not one bit. She has to be supernatural, there’s no denying it. Sarah thought.
“Sarah…” Anna said.
Sarah turned to her friend, and grabbed her arm. “Yeah, give me a second.”
When Sarah’s gaze went back to where Mandy was standing, she was gone. This made Sarah grunt beneath her breath. Anna was also on board with her friend’s reaction towards this stranger.
“Something’s off about that girl.”
Sarah glanced at Anna, “glad I’m not the only one who felt the same.”
“Especially with how she responded to you. It almost seems as if she were anticipating your arrival, Sarah. Like, if she knew someone just like you.”
“What do you mean by that? Could you phrase that better?”
Anna too looked to where Mandy once stood. “I don’t know how to put it, but do you ever get the feeling of Deja vu? Like, someone you used to hate, and tried to avoid but never could? That’s what she was giving off.”
“I see what you’re saying, and it kinda makes sense. Overall, whatever she’s up to, I’ll be sure to keep my eyes on her if she and Veronica think what I think they did.”
When the two turned around, Veronica suddenly wrapped her arms around her two friends, and she noticed their distraught faces. To her, they looked jealous, so she used this to her advantage.
“Oh, what’s with the serious faces?! Don’t tell me you two are jealous of my new friend?!”
Anna chopped Veronica’s forehead without looking at her. “No, but that doesn’t mean I can be concerned about my own friends' safety.”
“Uh, okay I agree she’s a little off, but we’ll see how things turn out. I mean, didn’t we also have the same opinion on Sarah here when we were kids, Anna?”
“You’re right, but compared to Sarah’s situation, this isn’t school, nor a classroom, this is the outside world, and it’s filled with crazed individuels.”
Sarah grabbed her chin. “Veronica…”
Veronica glanced at Sarah, “Yes little goth girl?”
Sarah winked at her, and gave her the finger. “You’re a naive idiot.”
Veronica gasped, and pouted. “Why you!”
Anna laughed and the three went back on course. When they walked two blocks down, coming out of the edge of a building was that strange vehicle, the black Tahoe. Sarah gasped, and stopped the other two.
“Woah…” Anna said.
“What’s with the sudden stop, Sarah?” Veronica asked.
Sarah kept her eyes on the SUV, and watched as it drove away.
“That same Tahoe showed up… what’s going on with this day?” she muttered.
“Hello? Earth to Sarah?” Veronica said, waving her hand in front of her face.
Sarah grabbed it, and bit her hand, making Veronica yelp.
“Sorry, I thought I saw something cool, but it was nothing.”
“But did you have to nibble on my precious skin? Are you that hungry?!”
Sarah nodded, “yeah, let's go before I actually start eating you alive.”
The three continued forward, and above in the sky, floating was Mandy who was watching them. Her clothes lightly fluttering as well as her hair, she watched as that black SUV drove in a hurry out the town. The sunlight glared off her glasses as she mustered her anger.
“Tch… there’s more parties after her than I thought.”
Mandy reached into her coat pocket for her phone. She dialed and Linnea had answered.
“I found the daughter, Linnea.”
Linnea was at a local coffee shop, drinking a nice cup of dark roast coffee. The news of her friend already locating Abyzou's daughter brought a smile to her face.
“Let me see…” she said.
Mandy put her hand out, and a glass screen appeared, letting Linnea see through it with her own glass screen on the table.
“Nobody can sense or see you, right?”
Mandy grinned. “With what you taught me, no one besides Archard and his goons can. But I think she already has a suspicion of me. That’s my fault, I couldn't help contain my anger.”
“Hehe…”
Linnea watched Sarah as she conversed with her friends, and seeing the exact replica of what took her brothers life and more made her blood boil.
“Wait… that’s her fully grown? It can’t be. I can—”
“Sense Abyzou in her?” Mandy said, furrowing her brows. “It’s hard to believe, but despite the appearance, from my last memory of her, they’re nothing alike in terms of personality.”
“But they look exactly identical…”
Mandy moaned. “I know, and it’s preposterous.”
Linnea collapsed her hands, “then why can we sense that wicked Witch inside of her twin daughter?”
“I wish I had an answer for you, Linnea, but all we can do is watch, observe, and hopefully reach a conclusion.”
Linnea can’t help but see the monster that ruined her life, enjoy herself, get along with her friends, and gave her nightmares for the next decade or two. She can recall the last confrontation she had with Abyzou before she purged the world into chaos and its near end. The two were talking, casually in a library. Linnea was getting to know more of the woman known as Samantha at the time, and when Linnea brought up the discussion of her brother and where she was from, Abyzou paused. Then, silence came into the area, leaving her to wonder, why? At the time, Linnea knew who she was, and the rumor’s about her being despicable, vile, and horrible, but when she was befriending her, she didn’t think she was too bad despite her scare tactics. After silence had engulfed the room, she broke it with saying—
“I killed your brother, and destroyed your hometown.” In a gentle, soothing tone.
With a smile she’ll never forget, and afterwards, a bunch of her own clan attacked her, coming out of the corners of the library which resulted in destruction. She watched in horror as they were slaughtered by something they couldn’t see with their own eyes, neither could she. In the aftermath, Abyzou stood in the fire, and played with it, fire bending, dancing amongst the flames. She laughed innocently as she threw the fire around, and distinguished it with a soothing blow. Linnea was burried in rubble as she saw Abyzou make her way to her, and stood above her like an Angel of death. She asked why she did it, and Abyzou responded with…
“My anger got the best of me, and I took it out on the town to ease my stress, but only one man stood up to me: that being your brother, Oskar.”
She got down to her knees, picked Linnea’s head off the ground, and patted her head as her life was draining.
“He called me a Witch that uses fire—is the worst of them all… so I showed him that I can do more than just bend fire.”
Linnea’s eyes overflowed, and she saw her soft smile grow more.
“I rose the earth, shook the mountains, and buried the town in a blanket of white. I left him last, and froze his feet in the earth as I shook the heavens, striking him down with light.”
Abyzou leaned close to Linnea’s ear while she softly whimpered.
“If I had known you two were related, then maybe I would’ve let him live… but it’s too late for that now, is it?”
Linnea finally had the courage to speak, and coughed out blood.
“Why… why—are you… like this?”
Abyzou gently grabbed Linnea’s face, and bumped heads with her, letting her look into her crimson eyes.
“Because I envy women like you… Linnea.”
Linnea almost broke out a tear as she watched Sarah do the same with her blonde friend.
“Linnea, you alright?” Mandy asked.
Linnea wiped her right eye, “yeah… what’s her name?”
Mandy straightened her face, and twitched the edge of her lip.
“Sarah… is her name.”
Linnea giggled, but it wasn’t genuine, “I see…”
“You alright? Does seeing her remind you of too much pain?”
Linnea frowned, “I don’t know, but at least we’re getting closer to that devil than I’d expected. To think you’d come across her so fast.”
“Right? Even I was surprised by it. I befriended one of her friends and have her contacts. So for now, we’ll see just how close we can get to her and hopefully be at her doorstep these next few days.”
Linnea tapped the table, “let's not forget about that monster Archard.”
Mandy expressed a twisted grin, “who says he’ll find out? We’ll have Abyzou all to ourselves, Linnea.”
Linnea smiled, “oh Mandy, twisted as always. I’ll talk to you later, for now, just do your best to retain yourself.”
“Understood, bye.”
“Bye…” Linnea hung up, and let out a huge breath of relief. “I can’t believe it. We’re already progressing this fast without even trying? Goodness.”
She lay back, took another sip of coffee, and observed the people around her live their everyday lives. She grinned, and couldn’t help and imagine what it’d be like if her brother was still around. The thought alone almost made her shed more tears, so to ease the sadness, she decided to drown out her emotions with more caffeine. She got up with her cup, walked over to the dispensaries and while wiping one of her eyes, she accidentally bumped into someone.
“I’m sorry…” she said.
The stranger didn’t even notice, he looked drowsy and hazed.
“Man… if she hadn’t called me then I would’ve still been asleep. Eh, whatever, I like coming here anyways.”
Linnea can sense something from the stranger: It was darkness personified. She turned to the tall individual and tapped his arm to get his attention.
“Hey, stranger, could you be more generous and acknowledge my apology?”
The young man looked around, and wondered who said that. When he did turn to his left, there he saw an average heighted woman in a red trench coat, long blonde hair, glistening blue eyes, and pale skin. At first he wondered who it was, but when she spoke again, his memories were struck with rapid fire. He gasped, and backed away in disbelief.
“Why are you looking at me like that? What, never spoken to a foreigner before? Judging me? I’m not saying nothing to offend you, but I could with that scar on your face.”
It was Jack, and he knew exactly who this person was. He remembered the attitude, her demeanor, and more notably, her accent. He slowly shook his head as his eyes grew wide.
“Li-Linnea?”
Linnea’s eyes also exploded, having her raise a brow in the process.
“How-How do you know my name? Stranger?”