A/N: Hey all! I'm back:) Yeps. It's the hols over here (finally!) and so Ihave the time to update! Okay, this will be a short chapter but I promise to update soon, okay:) InfinityEstel: Hey you're back! I was just wondering where did you go? Anyway, yes, Rylan is quite hurt on the inside and that kinda explains his actions on the, erm, teddy bear. Yeah. LOL. But don't hate him, he's after all a little kid. Haha. rugby-chick: Thanks for your review! I hope you like this chapter as well. :) aj: Hey there! Erm yeah, but this chapter is shorter. So, sorry about that! Hmmm... About the 'age problem' you brought up... Well, yes, Rylan IS supposed to be around 5-6 yrs old, but I guess I did portray him wrongly. Maybe I overestimated a young child's ability. Okay, I will look back and try to improve on that and be more careful next time. Thanks for pointing that out! Hope you like this chapter all the same. :)
Disclaimer: As usual
Chapter 12
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I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
-Evanescence
-
He was back again. But this time it was by his wish. He wanted to come back here. He had to; he must.
"Daphne! Daphne, come out! I know you're here… you don't have to hide from me. I can feel it! Come out, please! I need your help!" He yelled as he wandered around the place, and kept turning rounds till he was dizzy.
"Daphne, please!" He cried. There was nothing more he wanted than for Daphne to hear his pleas and come forward to aid him. "Please…" his voice degenerated into a soft whisper.
Just then, a huge gust of wind stirred up and she appeared, though somewhat reluctantly.
"What? What do you want?" She demanded. She didn't mean for the words to come out that harshly, but she couldn't bear to be disappointed again. She could not lower her guard… not now.
"I- I'm sorry, but I… I needed to talk to you." Ian lowered his gaze sheepishly. "I… I don't know what I must do. I- I feel totally lost…" It was only then did he dare raise his eyes. "Please, Daphne, please tell me the solution to this… unknown problem. I know you know it."
Daphne's gaze softened almost immediately. This was the second time she had seen her love so fragile… just like a young child. He looked so weak, he was about to cry, even though he tried badly to hold back his tears. Her heart melted.
"Oh Ian…" He let her embrace him without putting up a fuss. He hated himself for showing her what was under his skin – his true inner self, the weakling. But now he couldn't care less. He'd rather let his inner child surface, whimpering away, than put on a brave front, which he couldn't accomplish right now. He wanted so badly to be in Daphne's arms again…
"I feel your pain, Ian, and I know exactly how it feels like. But just… just follow your heart. Listen to what it tells you to do. If you truly love Rebecca, then go for it, no one's stopping you – not me. I- I'll be supporting you, no matter what happens…"
This was the first time Daphne actually mentioned Rebecca's name out loud. Ian tore his arms away from her.
"No… I just feel that… somehow this is not right." He shook his head continuously, as though mumbling to himself. "My heart tells me that… I'm hurting someone in this way, and… it may be you," he stared at Daphne, as though trying to pass a message to her through his eyes: 'I know you're hurting inside', "or Rylan."
Daphne could no longer bear to look into his eyes. It was far too painful, that simple little action. She heaved a sigh, then forced herself to match his pleading gaze. "Ian, you do know that I have the power to take away your pain… don't you?"
He nodded, swallowing hard. "But…" he shook his head, "you can't make me forget you. You can't." He protested.
"No, I can't. But I can help you find peace." She told him calmly. "Peace."
"Then… please help me find the way out in this… maze, too." His tone was sad.
Daphne nodded. "May you find peace, and the way out to all your problems." She whispered.
Suddenly Ian felt so much better. He had a clearer mind to ponder now. "Thank you," he whispered back. "But… if I really marry Rebecca, will I ever see you again?"
"I'm not sure, but I will always be watching over you and Rylan, guiding him, and protecting the both of you." Daphne smiled sadly.
Relieved and satisfied, Ian turned to leave. As he walked, his shadow became smaller and smaller, then leaving nothing behind. But there was something that he did not know, that Daphne did not tell him.
This was his last time he could ever see Daphne again, whether or not he marries Rebecca, unless…
Unless he enters the other world too.
Ian opened his eyes. Instinct told him to.
Just then, he saw a flash of light that may have been an illusion, if his mind were not this clear. He sat up, startled. What was that he just saw? Could it be that his eyes were playing tricks on him? He doubted so. He trusted his keen sense of sight whole-heartedly. But then, what could it be? A flash of light… probably something that just reflected the moonlight, maybe.
He looked around the room. His gaze then fell upon his designer watch, which was lying on the bed just right beside him. That must be it… I must have forgotten to take it off before I slept. Perhaps I was just resting my arm against my forehead… and when I woke up, it slipped off my hand.
But something told him it was not so. He was, after all, right-handed. How could the watch end up on the left side of his bed, then?
Shrugging the thought away, it was only then did he realize that there was an acrid, distinctive odour that hung thickly in the air. He tensed, recognizing the smell. A whiff of the heavy smell wafted right under his nose, and immediately, he felt light-headed and all woozy.
Get a grip, he told himself sternly as he got out of bed, determined to find out what on earth was going on. But the moment he took a first step, he almost fell flat on his nose.
But it wasn't the gas that did its job, it was an object that was in his way. Squatting, he picked up the cylinder and held it under the moonlight while he examined it. Suddenly, he felt ill as his suspicions were confirmed.
It was a can of chloroform.
TBC...
