EPISODE EIGHT

Nina looked at Lyla for a moment, and then back at the door, her mouth hanging open slightly. What have I…what have I done?

She looked back at Lyla, who was frowning deeply and looking worried. "Hey, was that her?" Eve asked, but neither girl answered.

"Oh my Goddess…I had no idea that she'd be here…I mean…I feel so…" Nina said, getting to her feet. "I have to go after her!"

Lyla had started to protest, but Nina was already halfway out the door, closing it behind her.

"So…was that her?" Eve asked again, but Lyla just shook her head a little, too shocked at what had just happened.

---

Dia awoke to her darkened room, alone. She wondered how long she had slept, but Gina and Alex talking downstairs soon broke through her thoughts. It was obvious they thought she was still asleep, because both sounded upset. Dia eased her body out of the bed, feeling shaky. She managed to stumble to the door that was opened a crack and leaned against the wall, listening.

"Doctor, do you know what they're saying? They're saying that the Harvest Goddess has been turned to stone, and that's the reason why Dia's sick," Gina said. She was talking very fast.

"Gina, that's ridiculous. There is no Harvest Goddess."

Dia attempted to piece all this information together, but felt too light-headed. There was a long silence before Gina spoke again, sounding horrified.

"Alex! How could you say that?" she cried, and Dia was surprised that Gina had used the doctor's first name.

She heard Alex give a short laugh. "It defies logic, Gina. Do you honestly believe those fairytales?"

Another pause, and then Gina spoke again. "You know what else they say? They say that because you don't believe in the Harvest Goddess, she can't help Dia," Gina spat. Dia couldn't believe her ears. Never had Gina sounded so upset. Was that really true? Was that the reason? Somehow, that didn't fit. Dia felt it was something else…and the Harvest Goddess had been turned to stone? When had that happened?

There was another silence, even longer than the last. Dia could imagine the look of shock on Alex's face. She tried to push away her dizziness to focus on the conversation.

But nothing else was said. She heard a muffled sound, like Alex had thrown the clipboard he usually carried down on the desk. A few moments later, someone started climbing the stairs, up towards Dia.

---

Katie gave Carl a questioning look, but he just pushed the door of the kitchen open, holding it for Katie.

Once they were inside, Carl leaned back against the counters, looking very uncomfortable.

"Carl, what is it?" Katie asked, feeling curious and confused. Why had he called her into the kitchen like this? Maybe it's because you made a mistake or something, she pointed out to herself. It's probably nothing.

Carl shifted his weight, sighing. "Katie…I think you should…" he started, but didn't seem sure of what to say.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Carl shook his head.

"No…I just think that…that you should know what people are saying."

Katie was even more confused. What was he talking about? Had Gwen started some stupid rumor?

"Okay…what are 'people' saying?"

Carl avoided looking at Katie as he spoke. "A few of them are a little…suspicious of you. I mean, they think that because you are…er, somewhat doubtful of the Harvest Goddess, they don't trust you. And with the Harvest Goddess statue, and Dia sick…well…people say crazy things."

"Like what? Are they saying I turned the Harvest Goddess to stone, or that I made that girl sick, or something silly like that?" Katie almost felt like laughing. What could people really be saying about her?

"Well, actually…yes. That's exactly what they're saying."

---

"Maria!" Nina called, breaking into a run as she searched for any sign of the girl. "Maria!"

Oh, why did she have to gossip so much? Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut? Why was Maria even there at the Moonlight Café, anyway?

"Maria! Wait!" She spotted Maria on the path ahead of her, and ran faster to catch up. "Wait a minute!"

Maria turned slowly to look at Nina as Nina slowed down to a walk, panting. "Maria…Maria…I need to talk…to talk to you," she managed to say, gasping for breath. She had ran farther than she thought.

"You want to talk to the librarian snob girl, huh?" Maria's words stung like a slap to the face. Nina winced a little, but Maria continued, her voice rising.

"I don't know why I even came to that stupid place. I even went to your mother just to find out where you were so I could go and apologize, and---and---" She broke off suddenly, and, although it was getting dark, Nina could see Maria was crying.

"Maria, I…I'm sorry," she said weakly. "I wasn't thinking that you'd…"

"Yeah, I'm sure you weren't," Maria said, trying to wipe her eyes as more tears spilled out. "I'm sure that you'd just love to gossip with Lyla and that woman all night long about me, a-and---" She stopped again as her voice started to crack. Nina felt so awful. She was getting a headache as she tried to think of what to say.

"I'm really sorry," she said, her voice seeming so small next to the muffled sound of Maria crying. "I…I…"

Maria had even gone to Nina's mother, just to find Nina. Just to apologize. When Nina should have apologized anyway.

---

Dia's breath caught in her throat at the sound of the footsteps. She looked at her bed. It was too far. She didn't have the strength to make it in time. But she had to try.

She pushed herself off the wall just as a loud banging sound was made as the door of the Sanatorium was thrown open. Whoever was coming up the stairs stopped.

"What's going on?" Dia heard Gina say. It was loud; she must've been the one on the stairs. She could hear the nurse starting back down the staircase as Dia heard a vaguely familiar voice speak in a low tone. Dia strained to hear.

"I found her like this," the person was saying, but everyone seemed to be talking at once now and she was unable to understand what anyone was saying. She sighed a little, taking another step towards her bed. All she wanted to do was lie down, dream or not.

---

"What? You're kidding, right?" Katie said, more confused than ever. "They think that I did that?"

Carl nodded solemnly. "Yes. I want you to be careful. The villagers are very upset right now, and I don't think it would be the best thing for you to go to the Horse Race. There's no telling what they'd do."

"You'd think…you'd think they'd hurt me?" Katie felt sick as Carl nodded again, this time seeming hesitant. This was no longer a joke. These people would do anything for their 'Harvest Goddess.' Would they even kill?

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