What You Didn't Want to Know

Before entering Boot Hill again, Virginia retracted her wings and replaced her cloak. Then, the two of them went inside, to tell about how they killed the Demon. Everyone could see that they appeared to be Drifters, and not just kids. But they had a hard time believing. That was, until a few brave people went to Gob's Hideout, and found no Demon. They called the two of them heroes, and decided to feast in honor of their bravery. All of the best cooks in town were called, and the party was going to be in full swing. Jet and Virginia felt quite strange, they hadn't been expecting this. But Virginia hadn't eaten a real meal since the Yggdrasil disaster, only the nutrients in the fluid preserved her and she ate only beef jerky and the stale rations of the scientists afterwards, and Jet had only eaten the rations found in the lab. This was welcomed.

"You know," said a blond woman, Virginia's Aunt Shalte, "You remind me of my dear niece, Virginia. Or, rather, what she would have looked like had she not died as a child. Five years it's been since the girl vanished without a trace, following her father to work. He never came home again, and neither did she. And she wasn't the type to just run out and desert her family. Her poor mother couldn't take the heartache, and passed away only a few months later, four days shy of what would have been Ginny's eighth birthday. It was such a tragedy, everyone mourned the loss of one so young. Even those who didn't like her too much." It was a reference to all of the kids who had teased Virginia while she was growing up, as she was different.

Those words stung Virginia at the heart. If she had said who she was before, they would have most likely believed her. But now, it would appear as if she was taunting the pain of the people for losing her all those years ago. And her mother was gone too, it was the worst thing she could ever have been told. On that day, she hadn't meant to hurt her mother too, all she wanted was to find her father and make sure he came home again. So much horrid news to be told, and she wasn't even thirteen years yet. Tears formed in her eyes, but she could not cry. The news of her mother's death, and that her father might not have been the one to save them, was getting to her. But if Werner was dead, then who could have rescued them?

Jet's arm around her made her feel better. It was as if he sensed what was going on, and wanted to comfort his young friend. She smiled at him, happy to know he cared. But that wouldn't stop the pain she felt, only lessen it by telling her she wasn't alone. The only thing she could do was to visit the place where Ekatrina Maxwell lay buried, in the Boot Hill Cemetery. She would go after dinner was finished, so she was not attracting attention to herself for leaving the feats. Few kids would do that to visit a person who they hadn't known in life. So she picked up some chicken, and began to eat like she hadn't eaten in, well years.

* * *

"Mother, I've come to see you," whispered Virginia. In her hand was a Tiny Flower, brought at the local store. That flower had been Ekatrina's favorite in life, there was always a bouquet on the windowsill or counter. But the strangest thing was that there was another laying there. She shook it off, maybe her uncle or aunt had placed it there for her. They did love her like she was a blood relative, even though Tesla was her father's brother and Shalte was Tesla's wife. Virginia also saw what appeared to be a small inscription that spoke of her. It said, "Here rests Ekatrina Maxwell. With her went the soul of her dead daughter, a life cut tragically short when she left town with her father. May Virginia's memory never fade from our hearts."

A tear came to her eye, and splashed on the grave. Jet walked up to her, knowing she wanted to be alone. But suddenly, the air around them began to distort. Above the grave was a woman, with blond hair and green eyes. She wore a red robe, with a golden border on the neck and arms, and a golden sash. Her hand reached out to touch Virginia's. The girl grabbed it, as if her mother had somehow came back to life. She knew it wasn't true, this was only her spirit. But it didn't change the fact that her mother was here.

Ekatrina looked at the girl, joy in her eyes. "My daughter, thank you for coming. When you never came home, I thought I'd lost you forever. But then, I was unable to find you in the Realm of the Dead, and I asked Ge Ramtos where you were. He told me you lived, in a state between the worlds. Your soul wasn't ready for the long journey, but neither were you alive. Then, he said that you would eventually return to me."

"I did come home mother," she called out, "Come back with my friend. Oh, mother, Yggdrasil was destroyed when the generator exploded. Shrapnel hit me, fire was at my back, I couldn't see anymore. It was then that I dreamed, dreamed of the past and my memories. Suddenly, the Planet Guardian came to me when I almost awoke, telling me about taking care of Jet here. Then, I found myself on the floor of the Leyline Observatory. I came home when Jet awoke, he was regenerating too, but I don't know what to do now. No one will believe me when I tell them who I really am. So where in the world can I go to belong?"

"My daughter, my dearest daughter. You are never in a place you don't belong. As long as you have Jet by your side, you always belong somewhere. Because you two belong together, as partners in your travels. I want you to stick together, and protect each other from the dangers in the world," Ekatrina requested. She gave her daughter a smile, and faded away. Virginia went down on the ground, and cried.

* * *

The next day, Virginia was feeling much better. She would have to, she and Jet were leaving Boot Hill immediately, and heading back into the Wasteland for more adventures. They had no idea where to go, perhaps Jolly Roger? There was where many Drifters seemed to gather, for the reasons of hunting treasure.

Jet told her, "If we have no place to stay, we're going to need some money to eat. So, I guess if that place has some of the best information, as you seem to think, it would be our best bet. Let's go there, and find some large treasure. If we play our cards right, we will be able to eat like that for a long time."

So they left town, and took to the wing once more. Virginia was a little distressed, she hadn't thought her mother wouldn't be there when she returned home. But at least she got to see her one last time, to talk to the woman who loved her more than anything. Now if only her father survived, then at least there would be one person who she could rely on to take care of them. If the three of them were able to meet, and work together, she and Jet wouldn't ever have to worry about taking on such dangerous jobs like chasing a Shadow Demon. It paid well, they wouldn't go hungry for awhile, but it was also exhausting when they used their powers. Hopefully, that would be the last time they'd have to combine their energy to fight.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

What a sad chapter, poor Virginia. She doesn't deserve all that. But it is supposed to be a story with some tragedy in it. And an excuse as to why she is with Jet outside of town. I will be writing the sequel. It will take place in game, and follow the story from the POV of the two friends, as they try to hide their dark secrets from Clive and Gallows.