Chapter Four: Mending the Sorrow
Students were busily heading to their classes.
Clive waits for Nina to come out of the classroom.
As the she came out, beside her is a woman.
She's around her near thirties, has brown, curly hair, and wear rimless glasses. Her apparel is much like what she's wearing.
"Who's your friend?" He asked.
"Klaus, this is Christina Rose, my best friend. Call her Chris." She replied, "We have a lot in common, so we call each other sisters."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Klaus." She added, reaching her hand out to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Chris." He replied, grabbing her hand and both start shaking.
Nina embraces Clive and gives him a snuggle. "I was really bored without you around."
"Hey, what about me?" She groaned, steaming coming out from her head.
"Oh sorry sis." She answered weakly. Then she had a sudden thought. "Didn't I told you that I haven't seen him for years?" She answered.
"Oh yeah."
–
The trio starts walking to their next class.
"So Nina. How did you meet her?" He asked sheepishly.
"It started two months after you were gone without a trace."
She was sitting alone in the park one afternoon, reading her book.
One of the kids walked to her and asked, "You want to play with us? You're awfully lonely."
"It's alright." She retorted without even looking at her.
She shrugged and returned back to the others and play.
An hour passed, most of the kids returned home. She was still by the bench, reading.
The sounds of the shoes clicked the stony path. A teen was busily making her way back home.
"Oh no, no no... I'll be in trouble if I didn't go home in time." She said out loud.
As she passes the bench where Nina was sitting, she heard a soft thud. She lowered her book and sees a little doll. Curious as it seems, she stands up and picks up the old doll. Then she looked at the teen walking out of the park then turned left.
Her little curiosity was growing. She then cautiously follows her.
"At first, I thought Nina was stalking me." She giggled, "Then after a few hollers from her, I managed to stop and then I see the doll on her hand."
"Then after that, we part ways and we never dared to look back until the very next day. It's like... we're destined to be friends."
"Or rather yet, becoming sisters."
The bell sounded and the students frantically headed outside.
Nina was the last one out.
Her eye sight seems a little foggy. She squints her eyes to see clear, but to her dismay, it isn't working.
"Oh this can't be happening. This can't be..." She moaned, holding her head, "Please, not now..."
She quickly makes her way home until she heard a few trash can lids being tossed out of the alleyway. She cocks her head and the curiosity starts to grow.
She slowly walked in the alley and she sees three girls surrounding a someone. As she closely looks the at the teen, it was her.
"Out with it Christina!" Said the girl in the middle, possibly the leader of the group, "What are you doing with MY boyfriend?"
"Nothing! Honest." She hissed, "He just came to me for help."
She slaps her face hard.
"LIES!" She bellowed, "Tell us the truth!"
"I am telling the truth!" She snapped, stomping her foot hard.
"I'm so scared..." She said sarcastically.
The other girls repeated her last line then laughed.
She could only do is just watch them.
Feeling bold, she approaches the girls and said, "If she said, she didn't do anything, then stop pestering her!"
They stopped and looked at her.
"Aren't you a cute little girl." Said one.
"I'm not cute!" She huffed.
"My... she's really feisty." Said another.
The leader approaches and crouches to her level. "Tell me," She said, "What's you're relationship with her?"
She felt her heart beating rapidly. She starts to sweat bullets then her body starts shaking.
"Well?"
She falls to her knees and then she starts crying.
"Why are you harassing my sister?" She cried.
All were shocked then they back away.
The teen's pupils shrink and looked at the girl. Si-sister...? She said in her thoughts.
"Stop it, stop it, stop it!" She bellowed. "She would never do such things!" She continues sobbing and wailing.
"Ugh, what a nuisance." Said the leader, standing up and approaches her group. "Come on, let's have these two have fun crying."
They laughed as they left the two alone.
She still looks at Nina. She wanted to get away from her, but her conscience wouldn't let her. To her defeat, she walks slowly and crouches down.
"Hey, hey. It's ok." She said endearingly, "They're gone now. You don't have to cry anymore."
She stopped her crying and looks up at her. "I'm sorry..." She answered replied weakly.
She blinked and cocks her head. "Sorry? What for?" She asked, "If it's about you calling me your sister by accident, it's fine."
Nina stands up and turns away.
"H-h-hey!" She exclaimed.
She stops and turns around.
"I forgot to thank you for returning the doll to me and-"
"My name's Nina. Nina Serenity." She answered weakly with a smile on her face.
She blinked a few times then smiled back, finally getting the message. "Christina. Christina Rose." She replied without hesitation.
"Each day after school, we would always meet by the park to chat and do homework together." Nina added.
"It's just so much fun." Chris said.
Clive smiled. "So you don't me anymore huh?"
In response, Nina quickly hugs his arm and leans her head on his shoulder. "Don't say that. I still need you."
"I was kidding."
"I know."
They all laughed.
–
As Nina was in her class, Chris and Clive starts walking around the empty halls.
"She always wonders where you are throughout the fifteen years." She said, looking at the him whose eyes seem to move around nonstop.
"We just only met twice." He stated, looking at each other eye-to-eye, "How is that possible anyway?"
She shrugged, "Maybe it has to deal with that disease. I don't know."
"Your guess is as good as mine."
Both are by the school campus and they sat down on the steps. They looked up, watching the clouds as they leisurely float by. Both have nothing to talk until Clive spoke.
"I want to know." He said, looking at her.
She then looked at him with confusion across her face.
"You've been with her longer than me." He sighed, "Please... I want to know."
It took her a while to figure out what he's talking about. Then she frowned.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Anything, just to get all the questions out of my chest." He pleaded.
"But be warned," She retorted, "Any other questions that aren't answered, you have to ask Nina yourself."
He nodded.
"We've shared secrets here and then and we would always keep our mouths sealed. But there was one secret she never said to me."
"That would be her disease correct?"
"Correct."
There was a brief silence then she resumes her talking.
"I was heading to her home on a weekend afternoon to go to the movies with her."
Chris was knocking the door. Katrina, the maid, opens and sees Chris. "Good afternoon." She greeted warmly.
"Good afternoon." She replied, "Is Nina home? I was suppose to take her to the movies as she requested."
The maid's smile turned to a frown. "I'm dreadfully sorry." She answered, "She's a little crabby today."
"Oh... well... may I at stay for a while."
"Yes you may."
She lets her in.
She heads to the living room and sits down on the couch.
"Would you like anything?"
"No thank you."
"Alright. Please enjoy your stay as much as you like."
The maid left.
Chris browses around the living room. She sees a picture of a family of four: a mother, a father and two girls.
She then wonders about the youngest child. Then she sees the chauffeur passing by.
"Good afternoon." He said happily.
"Good afternoon."
He sees the uneasiness in her eyes.
"Do you have any questions miss?"
"Well... I actually do."
He walks in the living room and sits down beside her.
"See that picture with the heart frame, do you know the little girl by the left?"
His face turned melancholy.
"That is my lady's little sister." He lamented.
"What happened to her?" Her face frowning like the chauffeur's.
"Hit and run."
Her pupil's shrink and her heart starts racing.
"Lady's heart starts breaking to pieces. She was never the same."
"Never the same?"
"Suicide."
"Suicide?"
"Yes, suicide. She wishes to be with her no matter what."
"They awfully have a strong bond."
"Indeed they have. Now with her gone, all she wanted to do is to commit suicide... That is until she met the young master."
"How so?"
"After Kat and I regained her trust again, we leave her be... that is until we hear someone's horn sounding loudly."
"Go on."
"By the time we turned the corner, we see her saved by him, the young master or Klaus as she told us."
"Klaus?"
"Oh, she told you didn't she."
"Not really. Though she always thinks about him."
"She always does... and yet she didn't think of suicide since."
"That's great."
"Though... she will start to think it again eventually."
"Again...?"
"Though her thoughts for the young master keeps her strong, but the disease will make her stop thinking about the young master."
"Disease?"
The sound of Nina's scream echoes.
They see Katrina, walking fast.
"I'm coming my lady." She said quickly, making her way upstairs.
The two stand up and they followed her.
The door was slightly opened. Both peeked in. They see Katrina, embracing the girl.
"Shh, shh. It's okay." She whispered sweetly.
"Katrina...?" Said the chauffeur, "It's that again right?"
She only nodded.
Nina felt her body tensing and she buries her head to her chest as hard as possible.
"She must've felt you Chris." Said the maid.
"Me?"
She nodded. "She didn't tell you huh?"
"No ma'am..."
"It's fine." She answered with a sweet smile.
The chauffeur motions Chris to approach.
As she comes by closer, Katrina pushes Nina away then directed her to Chris.
Nina comes running and hugged her legs. "I'm so sorry for not telling you." She sobbed, "Please forgive me sis."
Those three letters made her have goosebumps. She looks down.
"I'm not your sister." She protested.
Her cries grew louder.
She wanted to back away, but the grip caused her to fall on her butt.
Guilt started to rise within her body.
"Christina, you have to face the fact." Said Katrina.
She looked at her.
"I don't understand."
"This will sound shocking but... could you at least accept her as your little sister?"
She was quiet about it. Her becoming her sister? Oh god, that's kinda extreme.
Then she grabbed her and pulls her close to her chest to let her hear her heartbeat.
The sound of her heart soothes her and her body becomes at ease. She strokes her soft hair as she cuddles her chest.
"You have a nice heartbeat sis." She said, looking up at her.
She wanted to correct her, but then she saw her eyes.
"Sis what happened?" She asked, not realizing she said sis instead of Nina.
There are cracks at the side of her pupils.
"A part of my disease." She answered, "This is just stage one."
"Stage one?"
She only nod.
"Stage two is terrible isn't it?"
She nodded and continues snuggling her.
Chris looked at the maid and the chauffeur.
"Promise you keep this little secret for her safety." Said the chauffeur.
"She abhors the media." Added the maid.
"I promise." She answered, pantomiming "My lips are sealed."
Clive was letting the story to sink in.
"Nina is very mysterious." She said, "Does she inherit any of her parent's habits?"
He snaps out and then thinks about the question.
"Umm... probably, yeah."
–
Clive was wondering the student-filled halls alone, leaving the girls be.
Few students are looking at him.
The stares starts to intimidate him. Without Nina around, he feels that he's in the danger zone. His heart was racing. I just have to leave them... He groaned.
Everywhere he goes, the eyes monitored his every movement.
The image of the students shifted to people he despised: the police, the government and the former Prime Minister, Bill Hawks. He shut his eyes tight, hoping the illusion will fade away.
Then he bumps into someone. He opens his eyes and he sees...
"It's you again..." He said nonchalantly.
"Well, well... if it isn't the troublemaker." Said the officer, "You're not causing trouble are you?"
"No sir."
"Good. So where's your acquaintance?"
"Roaming the halls with her adopted sister."
"As long as you're not doing anything stupid. Take note you've got witnesses."
"I have common sense sir. No need to tell me twice."
He was about to walk away until the officer grabs his hand the shifts to his neck and slams him to the pillar.
"Don't you dare talk back to me like that!" He bellowed, tightening his grip.
He tries to struggle from his grasp. He couldn't scream nor could he fight back. Then he stops when he realizes that he's running out of breath.
The students watched as the officer lets the man lose his breath.
He let out a smirk. "It's a shame no one heard this little agreement." He said, "I'll have no problem in finishing you."
He felt the world spinning as blood rushed to his brain so little. He weakly looks down at the officer then his eyes looked at the students surrounding them.
"Smile for the camera." Chirped a voice as the flash appeared.
A young lady in pink starts walking to the men. "I'm sure the professor would love the picture I've taken." She giggled.
"F... F... Flora...?" Clive said weakly, his voice so sore.
The officer's eyes locked on to her.
"Don't you dare..."
"Just a little favor for the professor." She waves the camera like a fan, "Listen, I've know Gressenheller at the back of my hand. If you don't drop him, you'll be in serious trouble."
He lets go, letting him sit on the marble floor hard.
He approaches at her and looked at her right in the eye. "You've won this round..." He hissed, "Next time, I will manage."
"Don't you even dare touch him nor go near him!"
He pushes her out of his way and continues walking until he was out of sight.
The students are still giving the two an awkward stare.
She turned around and looked at the students, puffing her cheeks. "Don't just stand there," She huffed, "Go to class, you have one more period. Go on." Without further hesitation, the students resumed their usual business.
She looks around, making sure not a single student is wondering around.
"Oh good. Not a single one." She chirped.
Clive was still sitting, hugging his knees.
Then she heard him sobbing.
"Clive...?" She walks in front of him and crouches. "Clive, it's alright. He's gone don't worry."
She heard no signs of him stopping. That man was at his breaking point. The face, the beatings, the harassment, the past and himself... It's all coming back to him. The negative feelings are free and they are overflowing both his mind and heart. He was shut off from reality and is trapped in his own conscious and cowardly body.
She starts shaking him. "Clive, get a grip on yourself!" She shouted, seeing if her voice could break the barrier.
Nothing.
Scared, she gets up and starts running to Layton's office to inform him.
–
Clive was running in the darkness, trying to escape.
"Leave me alone!" He shouted.
Everywhere he goes, they would always come back to haunt him.
Feeling weak, he falls to his knees and holds his head.
His tears were falling, slamming the dark floor.
"Don't make me turn back!" He pleaded, "Please I beg of you!"
The click of footsteps are approaching.
The clicking stops and he could see shoes, same like his, but only much darker.
He looked up and he sees a dark image of himself. An evil smile across his face. "You're really hurt." He said calmly, "Does the darkness in your heart still haunt you...? Hmm?"
His eyes narrowed. "You're responsible for all of this!" He hissed, "Make them stop! Now!"
His dark-self just laughed.
"Me? You're the one who let us free."
"No I didn't!" He stands up and he looks at his dark self eye-to-eye.
The darkness starts to circle around him.
"Clive, think about it. I am just a mere conscience. How could I possibly do that? Only someone so foolish and weak would open us."
His body starts to shiver and he hugs himself.
The darkness smiled. "That's a good boy. Finally facing the facts."
He comes closer to his face and sees fear in his eyes. He touches his face, letting the scars and bruises reveal throughout his body. His clothes changed to what beggars wear in the streets. His body was really skinny, nothing but skin and bones.
"This is the REAL you."
He looks at himself. The tears have stopped. He opened and closed his fists, he looked at his tattered clothes, he touches the bruises.
"The real... me..."
"Yes Clive."
"So this is what will happen to me in the end."
"Very much so."
Then both heard thumping. A sound of a strong heartbeat.
"Who's that...?"
"Klaus..." Said a voice, "Klaus please come back to me."
His dark side smiled. "Well, looks like the light has arrive to save you." He said, "If you dare try to unlock your emotions again, think twice before you do it."
With that, his evil self and the darkness fade away.
He was still in his frail state.
Then a figure materializes before his very eyes.
It was Nina. There were no bandages wrapped around her face and her eyes are fixed.
She stops in front of him and looks at his face.
"Oh Klaus... you look awful." She said.
He just blinked.
She reaches out her hand and she touches his face. The warmth of her touch was pleasant. Then his physical appearance reverted back to what he was, a healthy and strong man.
He looks into her eyes.
"Now this is your true self. Just how I pictured you." She opens her arms and embraces him. "Oh Klaus, you've grown so much for the last fifteen years."
"So are you." He said, "But... how did...?"
"Sis and I are in the professor's office. I always go to his office during the last period." She answered, "Flora comes in and she explains what happened. Oh Klaus, I shouldn't let you out of my sight."
"I was so foolish to leave you. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be."
He gave her the awkward look. "Why not?"
"You'll always be forgiven, no matter what."
She cuddles him endearingly and made a few meows and purrs happily.
He started to blush, so did her.
He returns hugs and snuggles. Then he leans to her ear and whispers, "I was glad, that we met."
"So do I." She retorted softly.
"By the way..."
"Yeah?"
"You have a lovely heartbeat."
"Well, so is yours."
–
Nina was cradling his weak head. "Klaus..." She sighed.
Chris, Flora and Layton suddenly sees his hand moving. Each had a smile across their face.
Clive made a few moans and he weakly opens his eyes. He can hear someone's heartbeat strong and loud. He looks up and there was his lost friend.
"Oh Klaus, you're alright." She exclaimed.
"Yeah... I am..."
She helps him get up. He stretches and rubs his sore head.
"Are you alright?" Chris asked, "You had us worried."
"Best to the office to let him lie on the couch." The professor suggested.
Nina walks under Clive's arm and lets it rest around her shoulder.
As the five were walking, Clive then spoke up.
"Professor...?"
Layton turns his head and looks.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering..."
"We'll discuss it later. Tomorrow alright."
"Alright."
Man he's good.
The group head to his office then relaxed and have fun until the school hours ended.
All bid their farewells and headed to their home.
Finally, a long chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Oh man, I'm feeling tense.
I was close to tears. So sad ;A;
I can't wait to do the next chapter. I'm so excited x3