Steph slowly opened her balcony windows and walked onto the stone terrace. The cool night's wind skimmed along her face as she closed her eyes. Her hair hung loose behind her in a large mass of waves and gentle curls. She moved to the railing and rested her hands on it. Her white, silk night gown billowed as she sighed into the darkness.
She put her head down and whispered hesitantly. "When I first came here…I wanted to die. I didn't know my purpose…why me? And as time goes on, I realize that I have a reason for being here…I can feel you here…Tessa…and now, more than ever, Im seeing life through your eyes…I…I don't know what you're trying to tell me, but I know its something important…"
She opened her eyes and stared at the moon. "But then there's Edge…Chris…" She trailed off. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do…"
The familiar feeling of dizziness over came here and she slowly slumped over to the floor.
She was tense. Something was wrong. Her bare feet traveled across the floor to discover whom was yelling. But she already knew.
Her pale hand opened the wooden door slightly. Chris and Edge stood, each holding a knife to each other's throats. The venom in their eyes was unmistakable. "One of us isn't leaving this room…" Chris said calmly, "Not walking anyways." He smirked. "Right behind you is a reinforced steel box. You'll be inside and dropped into the ocean before nightfall."
Edge laughed bitterly. "What a colorful imagination you have." And then like lightning, they both slashed their knives across each other's faces, blood dripping on their right cheeks.
She screamed, a frightened and bitter scream. They instantaneously dropped their weapons and looked at her. She took a step back. "This has to end…Im the crisis between you two. Im the problem…" She was shaking all over.
Before they could utter a word, she ran…ran to her room as they called after her. She double bolted her door.
Now she flashed to Edge. He was rocking her in his arms. "My blood…my life…" He whispered.
She flashed back into her room. She could hear them running up the stairs. She threw open the balcony doors, gasping for air. She could hear the banging…they would break it soon. She climbed on top of the edge of the balcony, and looked down. Waves crashed below her. Her white silk nightgown whipped at her legs…
She flashed back to Edge holding her. "Die tonight and then rise like the phoenix…" He uttered.
They now broke the door, the wood screaming with the pressure. Their footsteps were closer…she breathed in all she could…and she jumped…
Edge screamed and grabbed Steph around her waist, yanking her onto the balcony floor with him.
Steph gasped and sat up. What…? She looked at Edge and grabbed her arm in pain.
Edge's eyes were wide with shock. "What in Satan's name…" His voice shook. "What were you thinking?!" He suddenly grabbed her shoulders. "Answer me!" He yelled.
Steph flinched. "I…" She stopped. She felt Edge's nails digging into her skin. "You're hurting me…" She said quietly.
Edge quickly released his grip and asked her again, quietly. "What were you doing, Stephanie? I just about had a heart attack…"
Steph stood slowly and moved back into the room. "Do you ever get the feeling that someone is watching you?"
Edge walked behind her, closing the balcony doors. "Sometimes," He confessed softly.
Steph grabbed a match from her dresser and struck it across her nail and lit the candles around her bed. "…the feeling that someone is trying to," She paused, "Communicate with you…" She flicked her wrist, extinguishing the flame. "I feel it. Now, more than I ever have. And I know…I know its what Im supposed to do. Im supposed to help her…"
Edge furrowed his brow and moved closer to Steph. "Who is this her you speak of?"
Steph took her brush and began combing her hair. "Tessa." She said quietly.
Edge looked at her for a moment, confused. "Is that's what's been going on for the past few days now?"
Steph nodded. "…I get flashes…memories…and she wants me to help her be at peace."
Edge quickly knelt at Steph's side. "No, Stephanie. You don't understand. Tessa…she…" He trailed off. "She loved Chris and I very, very much. But she was also this…jealous little thing…" He paused. "Love, she doesn't want you to help her. If she lingers its because she wants to. Not because she's trapped between these two infinite parallel planes…"
Steph tilted her head, confused. "Im not quite sure I follow what you're saying…" Edge took her hand softly. "Stephanie, if Tessa is coming to you then I implore you to ignore her. Turn away and don't let her memories overtake you." "Why?" "She'll do anything, even now…to kill you," Edge looked straight into Stephanie's eyes. "She's rather see you dead than with Chris or I."
He looked towards the balcony. "What happened just now…" He hesitated, "It was the déjà vu in every sense of the word…" His voice cracked. "Because Tessa died the exact way…she killed herself, Steph."