“What do you call this place?” she asked, full of amusement as she plucked a piece of berry to eat.
“Ruins of the undead.”
The moment Bella heard her other half’s words, she came to a complete stop. The smile formed on her lips was slowly fading away. She gradually pushed herself to her feet, dropping the piece of berry she was holding in her fingers.
At the same time Bella turned to face her reflection, she took a few steps back as the mirror shattered into pieces of cloudberries, which scattered across the ground, and the young lady in her reflection split into butterflies, which fluttered up into the sky, spreading sparkles, before shattering once more.
The rest of the butterflies quickly took off for the sky as soon as an earthquake jolted the ground.
All the cloudberries withered one after another when a hundred gravestones rose from the depths of the earth, surrounded by wilting cloudberries.
There was one tombstone in particular that attracted Bella’s attention. A tombstone right in front of her that was larger than the rest and had a red bead etched on top of it. The tombstone is placed in the center of the graveyard and is slightly elevated. It was positioned in such a way that it appeared as though the other gravestones were kneeling down on that tombstone.
Bella took the time to read the inscription on the tombstone. “Born on August 28, 2011. Died on August 18, 2021.” Curiosity creased her brows as she wondered.
“She’s just ten years old. In ten days, she will celebrate her eleventh birthday. Too sad she hasn’t even gotten to celebrate her birthday yet,” Bella remarked in a gloomy tone.
She gently brushed away the fine dust accumulated around the name engraved on the tombstone with care.
“Bella Barbs,” she read. That was her given name and her family name. It was a surprise that they shared the same birthday. Her pupils dilated as her eyes enlarged.
The moment she landed her hand on the tombstone, she envisioned herself becoming the queen and ruler of all the undead. Bella’s jaw dropped open as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
When Bella’s mind and body were unable to handle any more of the tension, she gasped for oxygen and collapsed. Her entire body was quivering, and she eventually fell to the ground.
A few moments later, Bella winced. She was lying down on a pile of berries. The butterflies swarmed around her as she strained to keep her head from falling back to the ground. As Bella struggled with an intense headache that may be compared to the effects of a hangover, her hands tightened around her skull.
Eventually, Bella was able to adjust her eyes to the brilliance of the light and regained her composure after some time. It turned out that she had woken up and discovered herself in the exact location as she had been just before she passed out.
The place reverted to how it was before the ground quake.
“What? I—I wasn’t dreaming?” Bella muttered under her breath.
After she regained her composure and was feeling a little better, she attempted to survey the surrounding area in search of the young lady, who appeared to be a replica of her appearance.
“Where are you?” Bella groaned as she hoisted herself up to her feet. The pile of berries she was lying down on quickly withered and sank beneath the ground.
“I am here,” a voice echoed in response.
“Where?” Bella winced. She looked left and right as she searched for the source of the voice.
When a warm breeze blew up in the air, Bella’s hair and clothing moved with the movement of the wind. “Inside you.” The bead implanted inside Bella’s heart began to emit a dazzling glow that was crimson in hue. The words followed the statement, “I’ll be with you at all times.”
When the crimson light in Bella’s chest began to wane, her hair began to fall out in clumps gradually.
“I feel like I’ve been here for too long already, but it isn’t getting any darker yet,” Bella said, the moment she realized that the passage of time was taking an inordinate amount of time. She raised her chin and rested one of her palms on her brows. She squinted her eyes as she tried to stare up at the sun, which was emitting an orange glow in the sky.
“It’s been a while now since the sun is about to set. Haven’t I fainted for too long?” She scooped her dress and sat on the ground. “It should have hidden in the horizon by now.” Before her bottom touched the ground, a pile of berries grew beneath her and served as her cushion. Bella dusted her hands, brushed off the dirt, and raised her eyes to the heavens once more. She stared more profoundly in the sky. She then closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath in the soothing warmth of the gentle breeze that brushed against her skin.
“So, when am I going leave?” she inquired, realizing that she had been there for much too long already and that she needed to get back home. She rested her chin on her knees and softly squeezed the berries resting on her bottom.
“You’re not,” the voice answered, with a frigid undertone to its voice.
Her words caused Bella to elevate her chin over her knees, her brows pinched, and her lips pouted in response to her remarks. “W—what do you mean?” she exclaimed. As she waited for the voice to make another assertion, her expression was bemused and confused.
“As I already stated, we will not be leaving,” the voice replied with authority in her tone.
Bella couldn’t believe her ears when she heard what she had heard. She hoisted herself to her feet and wished that the voice was joking. The pile of berries seeped beneath the ground.
“You’re kidding me, right?” Bella remarked, a nervous giggle in her voice.
“No, I’m not. It would be best if you were strong,” the voice coldly replied.
“I am strong,” Bella argued.
Bella could hear a giggling sound in her other half’s voice. “But not that strong.” The tone of her voice highlighted her statements. “In order for the bead to completely dominate you, I need you to be stronger. Suppose I force my power right now, your body may not be able to withstand it, and the worst-case scenario is... oblivion.” Her voice sounded too serious for Bella to take the matter seriously.
Bella’s knees softened. When she thought back on her other half’s remarks, she was reminded of what was written on the tombstone and what she envisioned when she had touched it earlier. Bella’s eyes began to well up with tears during the course of the conversation. Her body trembled at the notion of not being able to see the people she loved and cared about for the rest of her life again.
“With you no longer around, I no longer exist. Keep in mind that I am you, and you are me. We now share the same soul, but when the time comes, only one of us will be able to take over this body.”
“B—But, I can’t stay here.” Bella dropped to her knees, her face contorted. “My mother is waiting for me. Aunt Anastasia is waiting for me too.” Sorrows and worries have filled Bella’s thoughts. She crumpled up and hugged her knees as she continued, “Mirabella and...” –Bella sobbed-- “and Mira...” She cradled her knees closer to her chest and tucked her face between her thighs. “I’m pretty sure they are all worried.”
The rustling caused the movement of leaves, and the gentle breeze of the air could be heard throughout the place. A swallowtail landed on Bella’s arm and fluttered away, leaving a trail of sparkles as it flew.
“Then let’s have a binding vow,” the voice agreed to a bargain.
Bella clearly heard her and quickly wiped away the snot in her nose.
An ethereal, chilly breeze swept through, caressing Bella’s tear-stained cheeks as she sobbed in the open air.
“A b—binding vow?” Bella inquired, her voice full of curiosity while taking the words spoken by her other half’s seriously since they were delivered in an overly serious tone.
“I have two conditions. One, when you reach the age of eighteen, the red bead will have complete authority over your body. Two, you’ll completely forget about this pact and everything that has happened here, including this place, the bead, and me.” The voice made everything crystal obvious for Bella, who appeared bewildered.
With no idea what to say, Bella was completely at a loss. “W—what?” was the only thing that could be heard coming out of her mouth. Her brows were furrowed in full bewilderment as she looked around. “But why do I have to forget this place and... you?” says Bella as she gazed around the surroundings and took a few steps back to stare up at a swallowtail that was fluttering above her head. When the sparkle it emitted landed on her nose, she sneezed a little more lightly.
“That’s my condition for you to leave this place.” The voice sounded solemn.
Bella was hesitant at first, but right now, all she wants is to return home to be with the ones she cherishes and cares about the most. “Okay. But on one condition...” Bella attempted to strike a pact with her other half, but she was unsuccessful. Her other half initially refused, but when Bella refused to back down, keeping her expression with the look that she somehow had the authority, her other half agreed to listen to what Bella wanted in exchange.
Both parties agreed with the terms of the agreement and sealed the pact.