To my Readers.

I've been meaning to write this for months, 2 months, 2 weeks, and six days, actually. But I didn't have the heart to. I could bear to say your name; I definitely couldn't bear to write it down. But it's about time I did you as much justice as I can. I can't fire a gun into a court room though I daydream about it sometimes. Because the man that did this to you deserves to taste his own medicine. And I've written for you, in the best manner I know how, but I've kept my writings to myself. So now, I'll write to you again, and this time, I'll let the public read them, review them, and honor you properly. So this is to you, pretty kitty, my Krista Kitty.

Dedicated in the utmost to my dear friend, rest in peace, Krista Babb.

Series of The Syx – Krista Babb, your role in my story

Standing in the woods, the trees so gray and tall leaning in towards me, I couldn't help but feel a little bit of gladness even if my surroundings were all but morbid and morose. For I was here to see a dear friend, a friend close enough to confide in, which is something remarkable. And soon, the moon highlighted her figure between the trees farthest from me, the mountains behind her in the distance seemed to part for her figure. She was absolutely dazzlingly, with hair that fell to about three inches below her shoulders that was so dark woodland brown it shimmered and was soft to the touch, and eyes that glinted with happiness year round, even when sadness stained her soul. She had a soul that was so gorgeous no one could touch its golden perfection; her heart was nothing but pure gold. A friend that'd never hurt a fly but would slit a throat the second she knew you were injured; her dazzling smile always lightened me. The sliver birches scattered around us did nothing to keep her from throwing her arms up and running towards me. A grin split my features, half hidden under my mask, and I met her half way, dropping my bags and running toward her to be tackled and for both of us to lose our balance and fall in a laughing embrace to the forest floor. We laughed and scrambled back to our feet and embraced once again, more gently this time. I was laughing the most I'd laughed since I'd set out for her camp. She was grinning, her smile was perfect.

"Sy!" She giggled, her voice so bright and bubbly it sent my spirits up again, "I've missed you!"

"I missed you too, Krista!" I laughed.

She clenched my hands in hers, standing in front of me now, inspecting my person.

"You're so thin, Sy, how long has it been since you've eaten?" She asked truly concerned, "Come on back to camp with me and we'll get you something real to eat, girl!"

I smiled and blushed gently down at my feet, "Thank you. I'd enjoy that very much."

She released my hands and I turned and retrieved the bags I'd thrown to the ground to greet my friend. I threw my bags back over my shoulders and rejoined her figure under the moonlight. She was dressed in blue jeans and a double layered shirt, a black spaghetti-strap t-shirt under a black cup-sleeved shirt with small hearts and stars on it, her feet were covered by dark brown boots with fur around the tops. She wasn't wearing her glasses and her eyes were lined darkly with black lines that trailed off the sides of her face to make intricate designs of swirls and vines.

I smiled when I noticed it, "Krista, when did you start doing that again?" I asked, tracing my finger under my unmasked eye.

She beamed at me, "I stopped when my mother got sick, but she's well again now, and I don't have so much to worry about. So I decided I'd let my art show where no one could ignore it." Then she wrinkled her nose, "Do you want me to help you carry something?"

"No," I said quickly, "Just lead the way."

And she smiled, not arguing because she knew I'd win, and led me to the camp where the other elves were. Her skin almost glittered in the moon light she was so fair, but beautifully so. Her round face was so overwhelmingly happy it almost brought tears to my eyes.

"I've truly missed you, Sy!" She giggled, "I can't believe you've been gone this long."

"I've missed you too, Krista. You don't know what it's like to have a friend like you. You couldn't possibly because so far I've met no one who is as dedicated and golden hearted as you." I replied, my honesty the most good I could do for her.

She grinned at me, "You're such a suck up! Kiss ass."

I laughed, "It's just the truth! I'm sorry I'm a kiss ass!"

Krista laughed, "I love you, girl!"

"I love you too, Krista." I laughed, as she threw her arms over my shoulders and rested her head against mine, her hands clasped to her elbows as we both trotted along.

I leaned my head against hers and laughed, "I really have missed you, Krista."

Wind tore the leaves away from the entrance to my make shift shelter and I was startled awake, sitting up I glanced around. Her name slipped off my tongue before I realized it was all a dream. Such a sweet dream, her life was. It slowly dribbled back into my mind that she was gone. I was traveling to her grave.

Mourner Syx, silly girl, trying to be happy. Remember to mourn.

I closed my eyes, my mask lying on its cloth beside my bed mat, and I let the tears drip down the scars on my face, my marks of mourning.

"I'm still mourning for you, Krista.

I just wish that this was all a nightmare and the wind would wake me to see your face again in more than just a photograph. I miss you, Krista." I whispered into the night air, in safer places I'd have screamed it at the sky, but I was still in danger.

"Just another loss," I could hear him saying, "Just another death on the road to Nowhere."

But you're not another loss, you're more. You're an angel.

Unfortunately I can't bear to write anymore for you, Krista, not here.

To my readers, thank you. Thank you for honoring her memory by reading this, even if it's hardly anything compared to her. I only wish I could do more. But this is what I have for you.

Sincerely,

Syx