Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews! Here's the next chapter
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Hidden By: Hell's Huntress
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The halls echoed with rushing footsteps. Servants quickly roamed around the entire area, only to have one of them step up to face the queen.
She flashed him a questioning look. Her gaze was demanding and alarmed at the same time. It nearly pulled back the words in his throat.
A small sigh escaped his lips. " Wala kaming nakita. Hindi namin siya mahanap. "
She continued staring at him for a long moment. A lost look took over her features, followed by rage, then questions all over again.
" What do you mean you can't find her? She has to be somewhere. "
He was about to reply again when another servant, older than him, stepped up. " We're sorry but we couldn't find her. She's not anywhere in this land. She probably escaped to some other place. "
" But where? How? How could you have not noticed her? "
" Well...........with her father's clothes gone then I'm assuming that she managed to slip her way into one of the ships that left not too long ago. There was a marriage ceremony. The couple went off to Europe, I think. "
" So you're saying Serena went with them? She's crazy but not completely out of her mind! "
" It's a possibility. With your persmission, we can search the area. We have enough sources to get an almost exact location of where she could be. "
She bit her bottom lip and stared off into space. Her daughter could be dead for all she knew. The world was too large and they could only end up wasting time. She could die easily. However, there was a chance that she was alive. She might as well risk it.
" Find her, " her voice was flat yet firm. " Do what you must. You have thirty days. "
He nodded before turning around to leave.
-------------
Silence fell upon them. Darien and Andrew flashed her a blank stare. No laughter escaped from them this time.
She grinned stupidly before allowing it to fade away. Her heart started to pound rapidly. Good god, what had she just said? "Logic" hit her, but it was too late. A small hiccup escaped her throat. Logic seemed to disappear almost as soon as it came. Her mind was somewhat straight for only a moment. She was completely drunk again.
Darien and Andrew stared at for another minute before starting to chuckle. Laughter soon followed.
" You're a girl?.....great imagination Samuel, " Andrew grinned.
Serena opened her mouth to say something when a voice cut her off. " Boys? Are you in there, " Monique called out. She stepped inside the shed and froze upon what she saw.
" No! Don't tell me you're all drunk now! "
They grinned at her like idiots. " All right, that's it! Off inside the house! Samuel, please don't let them influence you into drinking. They're just terrible. "
" Face it Monique, you want to drink too, " Andrew winked at her.
A look of shock and rage crossed her red face. " I do not want to drink! "
Darien chuckled. " Yes you do and you're just jealous because you know you can't. Girls can't drink. Only boys. "
Serena froze upon hearing this. Girls can't drink........only boys. She blinked once and looked around her. Her eyes went wide. She suddenly excused herself and stumbled inside the house. Coughing, she crawled up the stairs and collapsed in the hallway.
What has she done? Reality had just hit her, even though it was still hard to focus on it. Still drunk but a bit more reasonable, she shut her eyes and stumbled into the bathroom. She placed her weight on the door, shutting it closed.
Girls can't drink. Only boys.......
The statement ran through her mind like a plague. Girls can drink, but that didn't make her feel better. She couldn't prove that even though she just did. It's strange but true. For some unexplainable reason, she didn't like them even asking her for a drink. It only reminded her even more that she was a "boy" in their eyes.
Her body turned red with heat. Sweat trickled down her neck and back. Her face was hot again. Her stomach rumbled.
A small cough escaped her throat. Her hand shot up to her mouth. Something felt like it was pushing it's way up her throat. She was dizzy. Her head ached terribly. A wave of nausea swept her away.
She curled up into a ball, bringing her knees to her chest. She was hoping that would ease the sick feeling, but it didn't. It only made her feel worse.
She bit her bottom lip. Her throat felt sticky and almost clogged. She coughed once, twice, and that was it. She couldn't take it any longer.
The feeling pushed through her throat, bursting out through her mouth in an explosion of yellowish liquid with small bumps in it. She doubled over, now on her stomach. She weakly lifted her weight onto her elbows, allowing more air to come in.
She felt better almost instantly. What seemed to be a cool breeze rushed through her entire body as if she didn't even feel sick. However, it was not to last. The heat returned and she coughed out another puddle of vomit. Her stomach felt like twisting. She felt sick all over again.
Her mouth was dripping with the yellowish liquid. She coughed and choked a couple of times. Her hand shot up to her mouth which was moist with the puke. It seeped through her fingers and trailed down her arm, only to join the puddle on the floor.
Her nose cringed with the terrible smell. She shut her eyes tight. She looked as if she was soaked in water. Sweat matted her hair and dripped down her forhead. She looked like a soggy apple..........read with heat and dripping with sweat.
Sunlight was no more than an hour away, yet it seemed as if the night would be long.
------------------
A bird flew from tree to tree, chirping at the faint pinkish sky. The house echoed with footsteps rushing for an early breakfast. A glass clashed against another, causing the bird to fly off. A small flock of other birds flew away with it, chirping into the sun.
There was a light atompshere. It was fresh and carried the light scent of morning dew mixed with flowers and short grass. Even the water seemed to carry a very faint scent. It was a peaceful morning. However, that peace didn't take effect on those inside the house.
Darien groggily walked out of his room with red eyes and dry lips. Andrew was sitting by the breakfast table, his head placed in his hands. He weakly looked up and cringed at the sudden movement. His head ached with a sharp hammering sting. Darien noticed this and plopped himself like a doll on a chair beside him.
The aftermath of that night still hung above them.
The bathroom overflowed with the scent of vomit. When they entered there was a rag lying on the floor. It was soggy and yellow bits clung to it. It was an obvious sign of someone else who drank too much.
Andrew groaned. He couldn't bare it. He slowly stood up and walked back to his room. He was too sleepy to even speak. His head ached like hell. He wouldn't last another two minutes sitting down. He had to have his bed.
Darien watched him leave and kept staring at the very same spot Andrew stood at, even after he left. He blinked once and yawned softly. Fortunately, he wasn't as drunk as Andrew was. His moment of throwing up had passed. Now his stomach was rumbling and his body ached. He would live through the day.
Serena stopped at the bottom of the stairway. She blinked upon seeing him and slowly grabbed the seat Andrew just occupied. She laid her head within her arms. They served as a cushion, folded to support her head.
They stared at each other for a moment.
" I heard you, " they mumbled in unison.
A faint blush rose to Serena's cheeks but her face paled once again almost instantly. Darien chuckled only to end up choking. He wasn't ready for this.
" That drunk? "
" Too drunk, " he stated in a flat tone. " It was good though. "
She closed her eyes as a sign that she agreed. She couldn't bare to nod her head. Her head ached with every word that escaped her lips. She had to take a break between her sentences.
She took a deep breath and continued. " That girl...........at the stairs. Who is she? " It was all she could say for that moment.
" The protrait? "
She closed her eyes again.
" My mother. She's dead. "
Her mouth formed a silent "oh". Though her voice didn't escape, he could tell that she felt sorry for him. Her expression said it all.
He smiled weakly. " I was little. I'm used to it. "
" What happened, " she whispered. " If you want to talk - "
" I don't mind. " He shifted in his seat and shut his eyes for a long moment. It was as if he was storing enough energy to speak. He opened them again and leaned back against the chair.
" It was at night. She was sick for almost a year. " There was a pause. He looked thoughtful.
" We kept her alive. She was doing fine.....normal.....still happy like always. We were still worried. She told us not to be, especially Joselito. She'd call him that - "
" Joselito? " She instantly shut her mouth, an aplogetic look on her face. She didn't mean to interrupt.
There was an amused smirk on his face. " My father. It's his middle name. He worried the most, but she told him not to. " He stopped and let out a small cough. His face was turning red. He looked better than last night but certainly not completely healed. Yet he continued.
" My mother was cheerful. Just weak.......but that day came. Never thought it would..... "
----Flashback----
The atmosphere echoed with silence. The moon poured through the large windows, bathing everything it landed on. The crickets could be heard while the sky was a midnight shade of blue. Stars were everywhere. It was a beautiful night.....very peaceful. It seemed impossible for something terrible to happen at a night like that one.
But something terrible was happening.
People roamed around in the hall. Whispers could be heard and a child would cry every now and then. Inside, the bed creaked with the weak movements she made. Her ebony locks were spread upon the pillow. She held on to his hand.
He quietly watched her chest rise up and down with her shallow breath. His heart was aching. It was heavy and afraid....afraid of the night. Afraid of even watching her breathe. There was always that knowledge, that denial, that shock, that question that kept haunting him, asking..........when would it stop? Her chest wouldn't rise forever with her weak intakes of air.
He cringed at that thought. He couldn't admit it. She was too young, too beautiful, and too good to die. It was impossible to imagine that a beautiful life like her would fade away. She was doing fine. She was a cheerful woman. So full of life. Her smiles were enough to turn night into day. How could a carefree young woman like her deserve death? She had too much to offer.....too many dreams. She couldn't die yet.
Yet he knew that she would soon.
His grip tightened around her hand. He shook with fear and anger. He didn't want her to die yet. It would cause too much pain. His father loved her too much.....everyone did. Death had no right to claim her! He would die instead if he had to. He wanted to turn back time. He wanted to change what was happening. He was angry at the heavens for allowing this.
However, his mind knew that it wasn't really anyone's fault. It was just too hard to picture her this way. He gritted his teeth together, trying to calm himself down. He wanted to close his eyes and wake up, knowing that the whole thing was just a nightmare.
How could this happen?! She was sick, yes. She was weak, that was true. However, she was still cheerful........always looking at the bright side. It seemed as if she would forever be weak but never die. She was filled with too much spirit to die. Yet she was already dying.
He felt her squeeze his hand.
He looked up at her. She was smiling at him. It was a weak smile, but it was the still the same smile that held the same joy just like before. It was still the same smile that could brighten up any room. There was just something about her smile that he couldn't put a finger on, and it made him smile as well.
Despite her sickness, he smiled back at her. It was a faint smile.....he couldn't help it. Her smiles were contagious. It was comforting to see her smile again. It made him feel safe. He saw all the times they had everytime she smiled all over again. It was as if his problems would go away.....but they didn't.
His smile faded.
She raised her hand and touched his cheek. "What's wrong? You look better when you smile."
He chuckled. That what she would always say whenever he was in a bad mood. No matter how mad or depressed he was, just hearing her say that made him smile. Sometimes it annoyed him because he couldn't bare one moment without having to smile around her.
" Show me some teeth honey. What's not to smile about? "
He shook his head. " Now......now's not something to smile about. You're leaving..... " the last word nearly came out as a choke.
She flashed him a sad look. " No I'm not. You know that. " Her voice was soft but raspy. It was very faint, but it still had that gentle tone.
" Enough about about me. What about you? Met anyone yet? "
" Anyone? " He raised his brows in confusion.
" You know what I mean........a girl. Any girls yet, " she grinned. There was a dimple on her cheek. A sparkle of mischief gleamed in her eyes. He could tell she was trying to lighten the mood.
" No......no girls yet. "
" Oh, so it's a yet, " she winked. Her eye didn't go down all the way but you could tell that she was trying to.
He laughed. " Yes, it's a yet. "
" Find a good one alright? "
He bowed his head down and nodded with a half smile on his face.
A small sigh escaped her lips. Her smile faded but there was still that gentle look on her face that carried an amusement. Her expression changed to worry. " Please find a good one. You need someone to take care of you later on. "
His head jerked up as he looked at her. She was serious. She was admitting that she would die. His heart started beating heavily. The sorrowful look on her face scared him. It wasn't like her.
" Oh look at me, telling you to find someone to take care of you. You're a man. Better yet, you take care of her. Be like your father, " she smiled. He knew that she couldn't look sad for long.
He nodded.
" You're so much like him......your face, your personality. I see him everytime I look at you. "
He stared at her. It was all he could do. How could he respon to a comment like that? It made him observe her too. Her dark locks which were one bouncing with a healthy shine were now dull and a bit frizzy. Her blue eyes which used to sparkle with life like the sky was now a dull crystal blue.....not much life in them. And her lips.....her pink lips which his father loved to kiss were now dry and crippled. Her skin was still smooth though. She was still beautiful.
" You're going to be a handsome man. Just be the best man that I know you can be, " she gently caressed his cheek. Her eyes were moist.
He couldn't help it. His own eyes were watery, but he didn't cry. " Why you? " His voice was shaking. It was as if he demanded it.
There was a look for sorrow on her face. He instantly wished he didn't say that. It made her feel bad.
" People come, people go, but you know I'll always be with you. I can't stay around forever. "
" But you have so many dreams, so many things you want to do! "
" I have all my dreams right here in front of me, " she smiled.
His heart skipped a beat. Why did her cheerful words make him feel worse instead?
" And your father.....my whole family. All of you are all the dreams I can ever have. Take care of them. "
He couldn't say anything more. You could just never completely kill the spirit she had.
There was a pause. She was silent.
He suddenly observed her. Her chest was still rising. She was just staring off into space. He was instantly relieved. Everytime she was silent he would always watch her breathe. That told him she was alive.
" Look at the sky, " she whispered, her eyes still glued out the window.
He reluctantly looked at it, obeying one of her last requests.
" It's beautiful. Peaceful........better than those typical stormy nights when people die, hmm? "
He smiled. She was right. He found himself hypnotized by it. It was beautiful. It made him feel safe. He was almost happy that of all the nights for something like this to happen, a good one was chosen.
" I like it. It's so full of life and spirit.......... "
Her voice faded.
He snapped out of his trance and looked at her. Her eyes were closed and there was a small smile on her lips.
Sleeping......
That was the first thing he thought of.
But then he looked at her chest. It wasn't rising up and down. He blinked and observed it even more. A minute had passed.........it wasn't moving.
His heart lept to his throat. That's when he noticed it. Her warm hand was slowly growing cold. The world seemed to shatter.
She was dead.
Two people entered the room and froze upon what they saw. They stared at each other for a long moment. He could only stare back with a lost look in his eyes.
The sound of agonizing screams echoed through the night.
----------------
He stared off into space. " Monique was terrified. I remained silent the whole time.............people thought I was ill because I barely spoke. " He coughed.
Serena's gaze softened. Her eyes were a bit moist. She didn't really know how to respond to something like that. Her voice remained silent but her expressions showed sympathy.
He looked at her and slowly shook his head. " Don't do that. It's done.......that was years ago. " The last word came out as a choke. He was having a hard time speaking once again. " Look, maybe I won't last the whole day, " he coughed. " I'm off to bed. "
It was all he could say. He weakly stood up and left, but he didn't go to his bedroom. Serena watched him leave. His hand shot up to his mouth as he quickly went inside the bathroom instead.
She smiled. He was still sick from last night.
She remained frozen in place. On second thought, she wasn't doing too well either. Suddenly realizing just how sick she would be all over again, she weakly stood up and headed back for her room.
A small groan escaped her lips as she climbed up each agonizing step. Her body felt normal again once she held a steady pace while travelling through the hallway. The portrait caught her gaze again.
She stopped for a moment and stared at it. Now his mother seemed to smile back at her even more. She suddenly felt sad. He was right. She looked too young to die.
A small sigh escaped her lips. There was comfort in her smile no matter how small. Despite the fact that it was simply a painting, she dodn't feel that terrible. It did make her long for her own mother though.
She knitted her brows together in frustration. Thinking of her mother made her think of the wedding again. Thoughts flashed back.......thoughts she didn't like. They made her head ache.
Groaning, she walked back to her room and slipped under the covers. She would be fine later once she was well rested. She closed her eyes.
Sleep came almost instantly.
Little did she know that they were coming back for her.
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Author's Notes: I was being nice. No more big cliff hangers this time! Wait till' the next chapters ;) I'll be making some nice lil cliff hangers! Hope this chapter wasn't emotional. I tried. O.o
Keep the reviews coming and thanks! :)
P.S. Pardon any errors
--------------------is too lazy to review her work twice x.x
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Hidden By: Hell's Huntress
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The halls echoed with rushing footsteps. Servants quickly roamed around the entire area, only to have one of them step up to face the queen.
She flashed him a questioning look. Her gaze was demanding and alarmed at the same time. It nearly pulled back the words in his throat.
A small sigh escaped his lips. " Wala kaming nakita. Hindi namin siya mahanap. "
She continued staring at him for a long moment. A lost look took over her features, followed by rage, then questions all over again.
" What do you mean you can't find her? She has to be somewhere. "
He was about to reply again when another servant, older than him, stepped up. " We're sorry but we couldn't find her. She's not anywhere in this land. She probably escaped to some other place. "
" But where? How? How could you have not noticed her? "
" Well...........with her father's clothes gone then I'm assuming that she managed to slip her way into one of the ships that left not too long ago. There was a marriage ceremony. The couple went off to Europe, I think. "
" So you're saying Serena went with them? She's crazy but not completely out of her mind! "
" It's a possibility. With your persmission, we can search the area. We have enough sources to get an almost exact location of where she could be. "
She bit her bottom lip and stared off into space. Her daughter could be dead for all she knew. The world was too large and they could only end up wasting time. She could die easily. However, there was a chance that she was alive. She might as well risk it.
" Find her, " her voice was flat yet firm. " Do what you must. You have thirty days. "
He nodded before turning around to leave.
-------------
Silence fell upon them. Darien and Andrew flashed her a blank stare. No laughter escaped from them this time.
She grinned stupidly before allowing it to fade away. Her heart started to pound rapidly. Good god, what had she just said? "Logic" hit her, but it was too late. A small hiccup escaped her throat. Logic seemed to disappear almost as soon as it came. Her mind was somewhat straight for only a moment. She was completely drunk again.
Darien and Andrew stared at for another minute before starting to chuckle. Laughter soon followed.
" You're a girl?.....great imagination Samuel, " Andrew grinned.
Serena opened her mouth to say something when a voice cut her off. " Boys? Are you in there, " Monique called out. She stepped inside the shed and froze upon what she saw.
" No! Don't tell me you're all drunk now! "
They grinned at her like idiots. " All right, that's it! Off inside the house! Samuel, please don't let them influence you into drinking. They're just terrible. "
" Face it Monique, you want to drink too, " Andrew winked at her.
A look of shock and rage crossed her red face. " I do not want to drink! "
Darien chuckled. " Yes you do and you're just jealous because you know you can't. Girls can't drink. Only boys. "
Serena froze upon hearing this. Girls can't drink........only boys. She blinked once and looked around her. Her eyes went wide. She suddenly excused herself and stumbled inside the house. Coughing, she crawled up the stairs and collapsed in the hallway.
What has she done? Reality had just hit her, even though it was still hard to focus on it. Still drunk but a bit more reasonable, she shut her eyes and stumbled into the bathroom. She placed her weight on the door, shutting it closed.
Girls can't drink. Only boys.......
The statement ran through her mind like a plague. Girls can drink, but that didn't make her feel better. She couldn't prove that even though she just did. It's strange but true. For some unexplainable reason, she didn't like them even asking her for a drink. It only reminded her even more that she was a "boy" in their eyes.
Her body turned red with heat. Sweat trickled down her neck and back. Her face was hot again. Her stomach rumbled.
A small cough escaped her throat. Her hand shot up to her mouth. Something felt like it was pushing it's way up her throat. She was dizzy. Her head ached terribly. A wave of nausea swept her away.
She curled up into a ball, bringing her knees to her chest. She was hoping that would ease the sick feeling, but it didn't. It only made her feel worse.
She bit her bottom lip. Her throat felt sticky and almost clogged. She coughed once, twice, and that was it. She couldn't take it any longer.
The feeling pushed through her throat, bursting out through her mouth in an explosion of yellowish liquid with small bumps in it. She doubled over, now on her stomach. She weakly lifted her weight onto her elbows, allowing more air to come in.
She felt better almost instantly. What seemed to be a cool breeze rushed through her entire body as if she didn't even feel sick. However, it was not to last. The heat returned and she coughed out another puddle of vomit. Her stomach felt like twisting. She felt sick all over again.
Her mouth was dripping with the yellowish liquid. She coughed and choked a couple of times. Her hand shot up to her mouth which was moist with the puke. It seeped through her fingers and trailed down her arm, only to join the puddle on the floor.
Her nose cringed with the terrible smell. She shut her eyes tight. She looked as if she was soaked in water. Sweat matted her hair and dripped down her forhead. She looked like a soggy apple..........read with heat and dripping with sweat.
Sunlight was no more than an hour away, yet it seemed as if the night would be long.
------------------
A bird flew from tree to tree, chirping at the faint pinkish sky. The house echoed with footsteps rushing for an early breakfast. A glass clashed against another, causing the bird to fly off. A small flock of other birds flew away with it, chirping into the sun.
There was a light atompshere. It was fresh and carried the light scent of morning dew mixed with flowers and short grass. Even the water seemed to carry a very faint scent. It was a peaceful morning. However, that peace didn't take effect on those inside the house.
Darien groggily walked out of his room with red eyes and dry lips. Andrew was sitting by the breakfast table, his head placed in his hands. He weakly looked up and cringed at the sudden movement. His head ached with a sharp hammering sting. Darien noticed this and plopped himself like a doll on a chair beside him.
The aftermath of that night still hung above them.
The bathroom overflowed with the scent of vomit. When they entered there was a rag lying on the floor. It was soggy and yellow bits clung to it. It was an obvious sign of someone else who drank too much.
Andrew groaned. He couldn't bare it. He slowly stood up and walked back to his room. He was too sleepy to even speak. His head ached like hell. He wouldn't last another two minutes sitting down. He had to have his bed.
Darien watched him leave and kept staring at the very same spot Andrew stood at, even after he left. He blinked once and yawned softly. Fortunately, he wasn't as drunk as Andrew was. His moment of throwing up had passed. Now his stomach was rumbling and his body ached. He would live through the day.
Serena stopped at the bottom of the stairway. She blinked upon seeing him and slowly grabbed the seat Andrew just occupied. She laid her head within her arms. They served as a cushion, folded to support her head.
They stared at each other for a moment.
" I heard you, " they mumbled in unison.
A faint blush rose to Serena's cheeks but her face paled once again almost instantly. Darien chuckled only to end up choking. He wasn't ready for this.
" That drunk? "
" Too drunk, " he stated in a flat tone. " It was good though. "
She closed her eyes as a sign that she agreed. She couldn't bare to nod her head. Her head ached with every word that escaped her lips. She had to take a break between her sentences.
She took a deep breath and continued. " That girl...........at the stairs. Who is she? " It was all she could say for that moment.
" The protrait? "
She closed her eyes again.
" My mother. She's dead. "
Her mouth formed a silent "oh". Though her voice didn't escape, he could tell that she felt sorry for him. Her expression said it all.
He smiled weakly. " I was little. I'm used to it. "
" What happened, " she whispered. " If you want to talk - "
" I don't mind. " He shifted in his seat and shut his eyes for a long moment. It was as if he was storing enough energy to speak. He opened them again and leaned back against the chair.
" It was at night. She was sick for almost a year. " There was a pause. He looked thoughtful.
" We kept her alive. She was doing fine.....normal.....still happy like always. We were still worried. She told us not to be, especially Joselito. She'd call him that - "
" Joselito? " She instantly shut her mouth, an aplogetic look on her face. She didn't mean to interrupt.
There was an amused smirk on his face. " My father. It's his middle name. He worried the most, but she told him not to. " He stopped and let out a small cough. His face was turning red. He looked better than last night but certainly not completely healed. Yet he continued.
" My mother was cheerful. Just weak.......but that day came. Never thought it would..... "
----Flashback----
The atmosphere echoed with silence. The moon poured through the large windows, bathing everything it landed on. The crickets could be heard while the sky was a midnight shade of blue. Stars were everywhere. It was a beautiful night.....very peaceful. It seemed impossible for something terrible to happen at a night like that one.
But something terrible was happening.
People roamed around in the hall. Whispers could be heard and a child would cry every now and then. Inside, the bed creaked with the weak movements she made. Her ebony locks were spread upon the pillow. She held on to his hand.
He quietly watched her chest rise up and down with her shallow breath. His heart was aching. It was heavy and afraid....afraid of the night. Afraid of even watching her breathe. There was always that knowledge, that denial, that shock, that question that kept haunting him, asking..........when would it stop? Her chest wouldn't rise forever with her weak intakes of air.
He cringed at that thought. He couldn't admit it. She was too young, too beautiful, and too good to die. It was impossible to imagine that a beautiful life like her would fade away. She was doing fine. She was a cheerful woman. So full of life. Her smiles were enough to turn night into day. How could a carefree young woman like her deserve death? She had too much to offer.....too many dreams. She couldn't die yet.
Yet he knew that she would soon.
His grip tightened around her hand. He shook with fear and anger. He didn't want her to die yet. It would cause too much pain. His father loved her too much.....everyone did. Death had no right to claim her! He would die instead if he had to. He wanted to turn back time. He wanted to change what was happening. He was angry at the heavens for allowing this.
However, his mind knew that it wasn't really anyone's fault. It was just too hard to picture her this way. He gritted his teeth together, trying to calm himself down. He wanted to close his eyes and wake up, knowing that the whole thing was just a nightmare.
How could this happen?! She was sick, yes. She was weak, that was true. However, she was still cheerful........always looking at the bright side. It seemed as if she would forever be weak but never die. She was filled with too much spirit to die. Yet she was already dying.
He felt her squeeze his hand.
He looked up at her. She was smiling at him. It was a weak smile, but it was the still the same smile that held the same joy just like before. It was still the same smile that could brighten up any room. There was just something about her smile that he couldn't put a finger on, and it made him smile as well.
Despite her sickness, he smiled back at her. It was a faint smile.....he couldn't help it. Her smiles were contagious. It was comforting to see her smile again. It made him feel safe. He saw all the times they had everytime she smiled all over again. It was as if his problems would go away.....but they didn't.
His smile faded.
She raised her hand and touched his cheek. "What's wrong? You look better when you smile."
He chuckled. That what she would always say whenever he was in a bad mood. No matter how mad or depressed he was, just hearing her say that made him smile. Sometimes it annoyed him because he couldn't bare one moment without having to smile around her.
" Show me some teeth honey. What's not to smile about? "
He shook his head. " Now......now's not something to smile about. You're leaving..... " the last word nearly came out as a choke.
She flashed him a sad look. " No I'm not. You know that. " Her voice was soft but raspy. It was very faint, but it still had that gentle tone.
" Enough about about me. What about you? Met anyone yet? "
" Anyone? " He raised his brows in confusion.
" You know what I mean........a girl. Any girls yet, " she grinned. There was a dimple on her cheek. A sparkle of mischief gleamed in her eyes. He could tell she was trying to lighten the mood.
" No......no girls yet. "
" Oh, so it's a yet, " she winked. Her eye didn't go down all the way but you could tell that she was trying to.
He laughed. " Yes, it's a yet. "
" Find a good one alright? "
He bowed his head down and nodded with a half smile on his face.
A small sigh escaped her lips. Her smile faded but there was still that gentle look on her face that carried an amusement. Her expression changed to worry. " Please find a good one. You need someone to take care of you later on. "
His head jerked up as he looked at her. She was serious. She was admitting that she would die. His heart started beating heavily. The sorrowful look on her face scared him. It wasn't like her.
" Oh look at me, telling you to find someone to take care of you. You're a man. Better yet, you take care of her. Be like your father, " she smiled. He knew that she couldn't look sad for long.
He nodded.
" You're so much like him......your face, your personality. I see him everytime I look at you. "
He stared at her. It was all he could do. How could he respon to a comment like that? It made him observe her too. Her dark locks which were one bouncing with a healthy shine were now dull and a bit frizzy. Her blue eyes which used to sparkle with life like the sky was now a dull crystal blue.....not much life in them. And her lips.....her pink lips which his father loved to kiss were now dry and crippled. Her skin was still smooth though. She was still beautiful.
" You're going to be a handsome man. Just be the best man that I know you can be, " she gently caressed his cheek. Her eyes were moist.
He couldn't help it. His own eyes were watery, but he didn't cry. " Why you? " His voice was shaking. It was as if he demanded it.
There was a look for sorrow on her face. He instantly wished he didn't say that. It made her feel bad.
" People come, people go, but you know I'll always be with you. I can't stay around forever. "
" But you have so many dreams, so many things you want to do! "
" I have all my dreams right here in front of me, " she smiled.
His heart skipped a beat. Why did her cheerful words make him feel worse instead?
" And your father.....my whole family. All of you are all the dreams I can ever have. Take care of them. "
He couldn't say anything more. You could just never completely kill the spirit she had.
There was a pause. She was silent.
He suddenly observed her. Her chest was still rising. She was just staring off into space. He was instantly relieved. Everytime she was silent he would always watch her breathe. That told him she was alive.
" Look at the sky, " she whispered, her eyes still glued out the window.
He reluctantly looked at it, obeying one of her last requests.
" It's beautiful. Peaceful........better than those typical stormy nights when people die, hmm? "
He smiled. She was right. He found himself hypnotized by it. It was beautiful. It made him feel safe. He was almost happy that of all the nights for something like this to happen, a good one was chosen.
" I like it. It's so full of life and spirit.......... "
Her voice faded.
He snapped out of his trance and looked at her. Her eyes were closed and there was a small smile on her lips.
Sleeping......
That was the first thing he thought of.
But then he looked at her chest. It wasn't rising up and down. He blinked and observed it even more. A minute had passed.........it wasn't moving.
His heart lept to his throat. That's when he noticed it. Her warm hand was slowly growing cold. The world seemed to shatter.
She was dead.
Two people entered the room and froze upon what they saw. They stared at each other for a long moment. He could only stare back with a lost look in his eyes.
The sound of agonizing screams echoed through the night.
----------------
He stared off into space. " Monique was terrified. I remained silent the whole time.............people thought I was ill because I barely spoke. " He coughed.
Serena's gaze softened. Her eyes were a bit moist. She didn't really know how to respond to something like that. Her voice remained silent but her expressions showed sympathy.
He looked at her and slowly shook his head. " Don't do that. It's done.......that was years ago. " The last word came out as a choke. He was having a hard time speaking once again. " Look, maybe I won't last the whole day, " he coughed. " I'm off to bed. "
It was all he could say. He weakly stood up and left, but he didn't go to his bedroom. Serena watched him leave. His hand shot up to his mouth as he quickly went inside the bathroom instead.
She smiled. He was still sick from last night.
She remained frozen in place. On second thought, she wasn't doing too well either. Suddenly realizing just how sick she would be all over again, she weakly stood up and headed back for her room.
A small groan escaped her lips as she climbed up each agonizing step. Her body felt normal again once she held a steady pace while travelling through the hallway. The portrait caught her gaze again.
She stopped for a moment and stared at it. Now his mother seemed to smile back at her even more. She suddenly felt sad. He was right. She looked too young to die.
A small sigh escaped her lips. There was comfort in her smile no matter how small. Despite the fact that it was simply a painting, she dodn't feel that terrible. It did make her long for her own mother though.
She knitted her brows together in frustration. Thinking of her mother made her think of the wedding again. Thoughts flashed back.......thoughts she didn't like. They made her head ache.
Groaning, she walked back to her room and slipped under the covers. She would be fine later once she was well rested. She closed her eyes.
Sleep came almost instantly.
Little did she know that they were coming back for her.
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Author's Notes: I was being nice. No more big cliff hangers this time! Wait till' the next chapters ;) I'll be making some nice lil cliff hangers! Hope this chapter wasn't emotional. I tried. O.o
Keep the reviews coming and thanks! :)
P.S. Pardon any errors
--------------------is too lazy to review her work twice x.x
