July 27, 2009

I woke up sharply standing in the doorway again.

"You did it again," Maia said. "You were sleepwalking."

"I wonder where I went," I said, looking down at my clothes. I was drenched from the rain.

The doorbell rang. I went and answered it.

It was Satoshi Hiwatari!

"What were you doing at the museum?" he demanded angrily.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I think you've got the wrong house. I was sleeping all night."

"I followed you here!" he exclaimed.

"Hiwatari! What are you doing?" Daisuke came over.

"I saw her chanting some kind of spell," Satoshi said. "She was trying to awaken the Black Wings!"

"I would never do that!" I protested. "I know what they can do—I would never hurt the two of you like that!"

I placed a hand over my mouth.

Daisuke and Satoshi were staring at me.

"It doesn't matter! I haven't left my room!" I exclaimed.

"Then why are you soaked to the skin?" asked Satoshi.

"Hiwatari, you don't have any proof it was Miss Kuri," said Daisuke softly.

"That's only because the storm knocked out the security cameras," hissed Satoshi.

"Well, if you're done interrogating me, I'll be going inside," I replied angrily, and went back in my house, slamming the door behind me.

"Why were you so mean to her, Hiwatari?" Daisuke demanded.

"She was trying to awaken the Black Wings!" Satoshi exclaimed. "You know what that will do? Krad and Dark will return! Not to mention whatever magic she's using will probably kill her!"

"Then why didn't she tell us?" Daisuke asked.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Niwa, but…I don't think she's a friend to us."

"Hiwatari, you just met her!" replied Daisuke.

"And I saw her trying to awaken the Black Wings!" Satoshi retorted. "You're letting your feelings cloud your judgement. I'm going to the museum tonight to stop her."

"I'm coming with you," Daisuke said. "There's just no way it could have been Miss Kuri that you saw."

After my doctor's appointment I was headed to my car when I saw her. The lady with the cigarette was back.

"What did you do to me?" I demanded. "I know you sent me to the museum last night, and I know you're trying to make me awaken the Black Wings. Why would you do that to Daisuke and Satoshi?"

"This is your destiny," the woman said. "Ever since the moment you picked up the stone and wished that they would be part of your world, this was put in motion. Because you wished to meet Daisuke, Satoshi, Krad, and Dark, you now have to awaken the Black Wings."

"So this is my fault?" I asked, devastated. "Daisuke will hate me…I have to stop this!"

"You cannot," the woman said, taking a long drag from her cigarette. "You cannot fight your destiny."

"I don't have to do this! I'll tell Daisuke! He'll help me!" I exclaimed.

The woman only smiled.

I jumped in the car and drove back to my house.

When I got there I knocked on Daisuke's door.

"Miss Krista!" he said, answering. "I'm so sorry about earlier, I—"

"No," I stopped him. "Daisuke…Satoshi was right. I did go to the museum last night and attempt to awaken the Black Wings. But before you say anything, I want you to know that I was either asleep or in some kind of trance, and I…I'm so sorry, Daisuke!"

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Daisuke asked.

"Satoshi would've killed me," I replied. "Look, you have to make sure I don't awaken the Black Wings."

I looked down. "Here," I handed him the stone. "It's what I've been using. It's magic, so don't touch it, just the box."

He took it. "I won't let you use it. Satoshi said the magic would kill you."

I looked up, meeting his eyes with my tear-filled ones. "I know you must hate me. I'm so sorry."

"Don't cry!" Daisuke exclaimed. "This isn't your fault."

"No…it is," I said, wiping my eyes. "When I cast the first spell this became my destiny. Magic gained control."

"You can change destiny," Daisuke said. "Hiwatari changed his. You can change yours."

"Well…" I said. "When I'm asleep I can't stop myself. But I think you could wake me up."

"I'll do it," Daisuke said. "I'll wait with Hiwatari at the museum tonight. We can't let this happen, Miss Kuri."

"Daisuke…" I said softly. "Thank you."

I hugged him, then released him before he could respond. The rain continued to come down and the sky was darkening again as a second wave of the storm approached.

For a long time I stayed awake, unable to sleep because of the storm and my own fears of what I was capable of. Was giving the stone to Daisuke a bad idea? Would I just attack him in my sleep and take it back? How could a tiny dream, a little wish have gone so wrong?

"Maia," I hissed. "Maia, wake up!"

"Mmm…wha?" she asked. "Whaddya want?"

"I brought us here, what if I can send us home?" I said. "Tomorrow I'll try…I'll use magic one last time. I'll try to send us back. To put things right."

"Magic being used to fight magic," she said. "Isn't that like…two wrongs don't make a right?"

I sighed. "I don't know. What else can I do?"

There was no response. Maia was asleep. Soon I was as well.