CHAPTER WARNINGS: Non-graphic attempted rape scene.
Roxas looked up. A golden butterfly-shaped chandelier hung from the ceiling, thus casting the room in a warm glow. He saw a large golden bookshelf filled with books and small knick-knacks that reached from one end of the room to the other. Roxas slowly walked further into the room with Naminé approaching a large vintage table littered with papers. A black quill laid on a piece of paper.
Roxas anxiously touched a gold and white silk chair. "Go ahead, take a seat." Roxas instantly looked at Naminé, whose back was facing him. She glanced at him over her shoulder. "Unless you want to stand."
"Why did you bring me here?"
Naminé fully turned to face him. "You looked like you wanted to talk."
"What is this place, really?" Roxas asked nervously. "How could no one notice a place like this?"
"Oh, they notice," Naminé smiled. "It's just not who you expect."
Roxas saw Naminé glance at something beside him. When he followed her gaze, he visibly flinched. The young woman stood beside him. But Roxas noticed that her eyes no longer looked so hollow.
"It's only people like her who can see this place," Naminé continued indifferently.
Roxas looked at Naminé in the eyes, and he swallowed anxiously. "Then, who are you? Are you also…?"
Naminé slowly walked towards him. "Am I also what?"
Roxas finally looked away, his heart racing. "It's nothing."
"I'm like them," Naminé said. "But then again, I'm not." Roxas glanced at her and saw a flash of sadness in her eyes. "I'm just here." She turned to the young woman beside him. "Don't you have something you want to ask him?"
It took a moment before Roxas looked at the young woman and saw the uncertainty on her face. "You won't get your revenge," Roxas said to the young woman. "But–"
"Then what's the point?" the young woman spat. Roxas saw the whites of her eyes go red. "She ruined my life. After I died, she continued living as if nothing happened. As if she had nothing to do with the scars on my wrists."
"And what happens after?" Roxas asked sternly, unaware of Naminé's eyes on him.
"It's not fair," the young woman whispered. She glared at him. "I guess relying on you was too much to ask."
And the woman vanished.
"You're very idealistic," Naminé chuckled darkly. "It's only a matter of time before she finds that woman."
Roxas turned to Naminé. "You know where she is, don't you?"
Naminé raised a brow. "What? Do you want to stop a vengeful ghost?"
"No, I don't."
Naminé curiously stared at him for a moment; she noticed how he didn't avoid her eyes this time. "Whatever you say." She snapped her fingers, and Roxas instantly vanished. Naminé smiled slyly.
"I'm so glad you're making new friends," a middle-aged woman said through the phone.
The high school female smiled at her mother and said, "Yeah, they seem like good people." She glanced at the clock and noticed that her group of new friends were supposed to be here an hour ago for her birthday party.
There were still no new messages.
"Anyway, I'll be home tonight, so we can celebrate together after," the woman said.
The younger woman smiled and nodded. "Okay, see you soon, mom."
When she ended the video call with her mother, she immediately began calling her friends.
One ring… two rings… three rings…
No one was picking up.
When night came, she picked up her phone after seeing a message in the 'birthday group chat' and saw a new message: HIII. Sorry, we couldn't make it today. =(. Hope you had fun though!
She didn't bother to reply. Instead, she tossed her phone aside and stared at the food her mother tirelessly prepared in the morning. She wiped away a few tears and began eating all that she could before her mother came home.
That was the start.
The young woman clenched her fist, deeply regretting not saying anything when she had the chance.
The young woman felt the refreshing ocean water against her skin. As she rose to the surface, she saw her friends at the shore talking amongst themselves. Strange. They had agreed to all go swimming just a few moments ago.
She felt the water rise above her head; it didn't take her long to realize that the tide was coming in. As she began swimming frantically toward the shore, her head occasionally bobbed under the water. She slowly felt the strength of her legs give in. It didn't look like she was getting any closer to the shore.
When she fought her way back to the surface, she saw her looking in her direction. Their eyes met, and the last thing she saw before she went under again was her friend's icy glare.
She didn't know when it happened. But before she lost consciousness, she felt someone's arms around her.
She couldn't feel the hot asphalt against her feet. The light was red, but she crossed it anyway.
"You don't seem surprised."
The young woman stared into her blue eyes. "I feel like I could die now if I want to."
"Is that your wish?"
"Does it matter?" the young woman muttered. "Death is going to get me, anyway."
"You're right," Naminé smiled, and the young woman felt a chill down her spine. "It's going to get everyone eventually, including the one you hate the most." The young woman remained silent, so Naminé continued. "I heard you. While you wished that she would disappear, you also wished you could forget all those terrible memories."
"Then which one of my wishes could you grant?"
"I take memories, not lives. Unfortunately, that's someone else's job."
"I never wished she was dead," the young woman muttered. "I just… want her to suffer a little."
Naminé briefly glanced at the door that was slightly ajar and met a man's shocked gaze. A small smile crept on her lips, and the man instantly ran off.
"So, what's it going to be?" Naminé asked, her gaze still on the open door.
She turned to the young woman. "What is your last wish?"
"It seems like all you can do is take away memories," the young woman mumbled.
Naminé took a step toward her, and the young woman took a step back; she could not meet her piercing gaze. Naminé raised her hand and snapped her fingers once; the sound echoed throughout the room.
The young woman blinked once, twice, and then saw herself lying in a hospital bed. In her arms was a lifeless newborn. Before she could scream, she was suddenly in a courtroom. From across the room, she saw a woman's murderous gaze. As a tall man dressed in a suit stood up and spoke, the scene changed again. This time, she was being pushed forward by two police officers on either side of her. She looked down and saw her hands in cuffs. She reached the police car; one officer rudely placed his hand on top of her head and was about to force her inside until…
She blinked, once, twice.
She was back.
The young woman was trembling.
"How do you feel?" Naminé asked indifferently.
"Were those–"
"Actual memories? Yes," Naminé interrupted. "How does it feel to experience all of that at once?" The young woman felt the tears in her eyes.
"I never want to experience that again," the young woman mumbled.
Naminé smiled. "So, what's it going to be? What sort of pain do you want to take away?"
The young woman couldn't look at her in the eyes. "Are you being sarcastic? You already know."
The young woman stopped and slowly turned to see a large truck coming her way. Her eyes travelled to the pedestrians on the crosswalk, most of them scrolling on their phones. Others stared ahead, unaware of the frightening scene in front of them.
"Get away from me," the young woman spat as she pushed the tall male away and made a beeline towards the door. However, the man grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.
"It's just one kiss." She felt his breath against her ear and smelled the intense alcohol. She struggled free and just got to the door before the male pinned her against it. "Why do you want to leave so quickly?"
She felt his hand slide up her skirt, and her eyes widened. "Leave me alone!" She screamed. But her plea fell on deaf ears as the loud music continued outside. Her hand fumbled for the door handle. She felt all the unwelcome advances from the male in front of her. Finally, she pushed down the door handle and stumbled out with tears streaming down her cheeks. She saw her friend in front of her, an anxious look on her friend's face.
The young woman closed her eyes, her head throbbing from a sudden headache. She suddenly saw flashes of scenes that seemingly came out of nowhere. A large pool of water. A table full of food. The young woman heard footsteps behind her, and she instantly ran toward the door, ignoring the curious stares. She didn't bother putting on her coat, even though it was winter.
The chilly breeze brushed against her hot skin. She hurriedly got into the car and drove off, ignoring her slightly blurry vision and the dark clouds that loomed ahead.
Snow fell from the sky.
She watched the truck run right through her.
And then she vanished.
The woman in front of Roxas watched the woman avoided his eyes. Her movements said it all.
"Why did you do it?" Roxas probed.
"Who are you?" the woman snapped. He saw the fear in her eyes. "What's your relationship with her?"
After a moment, Roxas asked, "Do you believe in ghosts?"
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
"There's always someone watching," Roxas whispered. "The things we do." The women took a step back. "I guess you can say what goes around comes around."
Suddenly, the woman dropped to her knees as if the guilt was too much to carry. "I didn't know she would get into an accident that day. I really didn't." Her voice wavered, and Roxas saw genuine guilt in her eyes. She looked at him. "If I knew, I… I would have stopped her."
"Why did you bully her? You made her suffer so much."
The woman sniffled. "You wouldn't understand."
"I've got time."
She glared at him. "Then answer me first. Who are you? I've never seen you before."
"He's the person who can save you or destroy you." Startled, the woman turned around. Roxas saw Naminé approaching her in a dark red blouse with wide sleeves and a black skirt was slightly above the knees. Her black stiletto heels clicked against the pavement. Naminé's hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing her gold hoop earrings. Naminé stopped in front of the woman. "So, I suggest you answer questions."
"What are you talking about?" As the woman tried to stand, her eyes widened. Roxas watched as some unknown force held her down. "What–What are you doing?"
Naminé smiled at her. "Did you know?" She bent down and gripped the woman's face. "A vengeful ghost will do so much worse."
"I can tell you regret it," Roxas said. Naminé released the woman's face and stood up.
The woman slowly turned to look at Roxas. "I felt like I was in control." Roxas and Naminé glanced at each other. "She was powerless against me, just like how I was against my sister." The woman wiped away tears as she continued. "Believe me. I didn't want her to die." She looked at Naminé and Roxas; the fear was clear in her eyes. "Is she going to come for me?"
"You caused her a lot of pain. But it doesn't have to continue like this," Roxas said seriously. "Apologize to her. Sincerely."
Naminé stared at him incredulously. "That's your brilliant plan? Just a simple apology?"
Roxas ignored her and got to his knees and looked in the woman's eyes. "She was crying the day that she died. She told me that there had to be a reason because people try to protect themselves." Naminé watched him closely. "But sometimes this causes them to make poor decisions, but it doesn't mean they are a bad person…" The woman blinked back tears. "... But they can never take back their mistakes. No one can. You hurt an innocent person. I'm sure you understand her suffering more than anyone else." Roxas placed a hand on her back. "You should end your pain too."
As the woman buried her face in her hands, Roxas and Naminé saw the young woman standing a few feet behind her weeping friend. Her eyes looked lifeless as she watched her friend cry uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry…" the young woman heard her mutter through her cries. "I'm sorry, Ella… I'm sorry."
Roxas saw the young woman's eyes lit up. But it went as quick as it came.
Ella turned to face Roxas and Naminé. Roxas noticed that Ella's hair had regained some colour; it was a hint of blonde.
"I guess I should thank you," Ella said.
"Did you forgive her?" Naminé asked.
Ella shook her head. "No, and I probably never will. But I somehow feel refreshed."
Roxas looked past her into a seemingly endless path. Surrounding it was thick fog with purple and pink hues. "I guess this is your next chapter," he said.
Ella looked over her shoulder. "I suppose so." She turned to Roxas and took a step toward him. She placed a hand on his cheek, and Roxas's eyes widened. "Thanks."
Naminé took a step towards her. "I will tell everyone else you said goodbye."
Ella chuckled. She turned around, took a small breath, and began walking into the fog. Roxas and Naminé watched as her figure became a silhouette and then nothing.
"Did you know that it would work?" Naminé asked without looking at him.
"No," Roxas replied. "I took a chance." Naminé smiled and turned around.
"Wait." Naminé didn't turn back, but she stopped. "Where does this path lead?"
"A place where one can never return from, living or dead."
"Then will you walk this path one day?"
Naminé contemplated for a moment but said nothing. Instead, she just kept walking.