Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, places, etc., are either product of the author's imagination used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.
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| ♤• A V Y •♤ |
"Light? Light, where are you?"
Without a second thought, I started to walk down the old, endless, grey path, scattered with leaves and long twigs. Every step I took the lead to a deafening crunch. The further I went into the forest, the more panic crept to my chest. Light footsteps went this way; I'm sure she saw Madame Evee, that's why he followed her.
Beneath, the tall trees were towering me, which were masked by shadows, almost like they were watching every step I took. The expanse of trees ahead of me were never ending. Or probably, that's just what I thought so. The canopies provided a slight glimpse into the overcast weather which turned the shades of greenery even darker. Unnecessary criss-crossed pathways with leaves creaking in my every steps, in broad daylight - it was a sight to behold and be scared. All was silent. No birds chirp, no howl of the wind. I started to smell a type of flower, and the smell was so strong that it actually prompted me to get a headache. Roses. A dead path of roses emerged through the forest floor. Madame Evee indeed walked here. Her dress was most likely the reason why a bunch of dead roses formed a pathway一 which I don't know where this particular path will lead me to.
The darkness of the forest was thickening. With no light in sight, I tried to get off any figure luring through the endless maze. Following the path, I ran the back of my hand across all the trees. They felt weird, like coral from under the sea, the moss cold and wet, the bark sharp and bumpy.
On a sudden note, it was like a light shower drenched the entire forest. The ground became dark and damp, the leaves were wet. The forest gave a raw and earthy smell. It seemed as if the drops of rain rinsed the forest and changed it into a more deadly one. Spots of blood were visible through the leaves; as I approach the darkest part of the forest, the blood splatters grew more and more. Darker than ever. Madame Evee's here. She's definitely here.
As I halt through my walk, highlighting my senses up, a dark ghostly shadow cast over me. I had released a muffled shout as a cold hand clamped on my mouth. My heart beat began to increase as the thought of me, getting caught upon by Madame Evee in this dark forest started dominating his mind.
But then, my mind proved me wrong. I was startled. It wasn't Madame Evee. It was the President, Light Blackwood.
"Light? Where have you一" His all-white hoodie slowly emitted a bright shine from the otherwise dim sky as he cut my words out.
"Shh. Keep your tone down, babe. Madame Evee had just walked past this area." He whispered while dragging me along a vast tree to hide. "Are you okay?" He asked, which surprised me.
"I should be the one asking you that kind of question, Light Blackwood. Not the other way around," I said as a matter of fact. Meanwhile, he just chuckled and quickly took the opportunity to give me a... bracelet.
"Wait, what is this for?" I asked, my eyebrows knitted. He stared at me thoroughly. His eyes were the color of a powerful storm coming in, holding both danger and beauty. Like a ring of silver, his grey orbs glowed, reflecting the dim light peeking through the forest.
"That's... my apology. On behalf of Madame Evee, and as BWH's President... I'm sorry for all the things you went through in this hell."
His innocent and hopeful eyes put together the broken pieces of my existence, full of turmoil, and gave me a reason to survive and face the adversities of life bravely.
Oddly enough, while he was apologizing, I saw something in his eyes that flickered my thumping heart. In the depths of his eyes, I am able to visualize everything. My hopes, dreams, desires, ambitions, goals, thoughts, secrets, ....and even my whole life, of which I want him to be a part forever. I stared at the bracelet he gave me. It was a chain bracelet, with an odd thing in it. Designed in its center was a blue dove, with white feathers, and wings. It was like a personalized bracelet, a thing which I can't afford to have.
"Freedom. Light. Peace. I want you to remember those three words, Avy. I wish you could find them outside of this dark realm一 which Madame didn't give us the chance to have." He inserted a white paper in my palm, and all I could do was to be weirded out by his actions. He said sorry. Now, he's acting like this. Why? What was all of this supposed to mean?
"Light, I can't understand一."
"Go back to Below Zero. Give that piece of code to Winter. That's how he can hack the games. After it, don't you ever think of coming back in here. Together with the survivors, stay far away from this school and never dare to go back." His voice was damn serious, deeply penetrating through my soul. Yet because of this, he had taken away the hopelessness that once hollowed out my heart. As if the feeling of being caged goes away at the speed of light.
I'm at a loss for words, but he reads my emotions like an open book. "I want you to run and escape this hell, Avy. That's an order from the President, and you can't do anything about it."
I sighed deeply and forced my eyes shut. An involuntary whimper escaped my lips. No. Light, please. I want us to run together. Like his character in the game, he once again dared to face Madame Evee with his own. He's not coming out with us. As much as I hate this side of him, my feet obeyed his order. We're running out of time.
"Be brave, babe." I read his lips said those words. And for once, bravery looked a lot like running away.
I sniffled quietly, tears threatening to spill from my eyes, "What if I lose you?" My mouth blabbered a question that had been inside in the dungeons of my heart ever since.
A solemn tear fell down his cheek. His body looked calm compared to how tangled my mind was. He started chewing on his lower lip, and his eyes glistened up when I caught it staring intently at me.
"Losing me... is better than losing you, Avy."
♤ • • • ♤
To be continued..