Irma's Tale
By Lost Prince
Disclaimer: I don't own W.I.T.C.H
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Continue Chapter 3 : Her Past ( part 2)
Around five months have passed since then, making Sarah at her seventh month of pregnancy. It was just like any other day for the Lair family: Tom was at work and should return after two days. Irma went to the hills for training, while Sarah stayed home, sleeping late, being pregnant and all.
Irma had just finished her morning training and was returning home, expecting to see her mother in the kitchen, preparing her trademark cake that Irma really loved.
Irma came running home, opened the door, "Mom. I'm ho-". Her breath caught mid sentence. Her heart beat slowed to a complete stop, her mind went blank and time stopped moving.
In front of her, at the base of the stairs, a pool of red blood and a trail ending at the near wall, where she saw her mother leaning against it. Every part of her along with her cloth had red paint on it.
From her spot at the entrance door, Irma was lost in a world of darkness. The only thing she can see is her mother's face in a hazy red background. The only sound she can hear is the heavy panting of her mother gasping for air.
Sarah's eye met her daughter's teary ones. Her lips moved ever so slowly in Irma's eye as her mother called for her. The sound that came out didn't belong to her mother. It was so weak.
"MOM", Irma broke in a mad dash to her mother. What she heard was her mother's voice. It held the same caring and loving tone in it. But it also held a tinge of plea, a tinge of desperation that she never heard from her. That tinge was multiplied in Irma a hundred fold.
Irma reached her mother's side, tears running freely down her cheeks. Sarah looked at her daughter. She then raised a red stained hand, grazed at Irma's cheek before it came to a rest on her shoulder, then she said in short gasps "Irma, honey...I need you to get help...get doctor Jade...tell him...I fell from the stairs...and had an abortion." Then she winced and clutched her abdomen.
"Bu-But" Irma stuttered, afraid of leaving her mother like this. Her mother tried to give her daughter a reassuring smile but didn't manage to pull it off. "Don't worry sweetie...I'm stronger than this...and so are you".
Irma nodded her head and ran to get the doctor. She ran as fast as her legs could and after awhile, she reached the door of the doctor's clinic and burst it open. Her eyes scanned the area, frantically searching for the kind doctor, but she didn't find him there. All she saw was patients sitting on chairs and a young lady attending to one of them with a bandage.
She rushed to the lady, "Please, where's doctor Jade? M-My mother, she's hurt. There, there's blood all over. She fell from the stairs and had an abortion. Please get the doctor, please." Tears that stopped during her run returned flowing.
The nurse regarded her. She knew who this girl was, everybody knew. This is the cursed girl, the demon of the prophecy who everyone loathed, but right now, she was frightened by her appearance. Blood smeared her face and covered her cloth. She was shaking and panting heavily, her eyes held a panicked look to them. The tears mixing with blood on her cheek made her all the more fearful in the nurse's eye.
She cowered away, bringing her hands in front of her, "St-Stay away, stay away from me. Doctor Jade isn't here. A wagon broke down on the road to Arkhanta and he went there to help".
Irma looked at her pleadingly "Please, you got to help me. You got to help my mom, please".
"GET OUT OF HERE YOU DEMON", shouted one of the patients, an old Mrs. Cole. She brought her cane and started swinging it in front of her. "Get out before you curse us all. GET OUT".
Irma pleaded again "But my mother, sh-". The old lady didn't give her time to finish. "We can't help her. Nobody can. She got cursed and if we help her, we'll get cursed too".
Then Mrs. Cole started to cry, tears came running down her face. "She was such a nice lady. Well mannered, kind and good hearted, I warned her about you, I told her you're a bad omen, and that you'd be the death of us all, but she didn't listen to me. And now she is paying for it." Then her face twisted into that of red anger and started to shake "It's your fault. It's all your fault. You're cursed. Where ever you go, death follows".
"But, but". Again Irma wasn't able to finish. She had to jump backwards to avoid being hit by the cane as Mrs. Cole shouted again "OUT. OUT YOU CURSED GIRL. OUT".
Irma turned her face at the other people with pleading eyes, silently asking for their help, but all she got in return was cold hard stares. She then saw a man stand up, heading towards her, his face showing his intentions to hurt her. Irma didn't wait to see what he was going to do. She ran out of the clinic as the man shouted behind her with curses and threats.
She saw a couple nearby cleaning the entrance of their shop. She rushed to them, hoping maybe they would help her. But as soon as the couple saw her coming, they became visibly frightened. The husband stood in front of his wife protectively.
Irma stood in front of them and pleaded for their help, but all of her pleas fell on deaf ears as the man shoved her hard, knocking her off the ground, then he and his wife entered the store. Irma was rubbing her eyes from the dirt that entered them when she saw the man exit the store with a metal rod, advancing towards her. She quickly ran away before he could hit her.
She can hear the sound of windows and doors closing as she ran past a few houses. She heard a mother telling her child, "Don't look at her or you'll get cursed".
Her tears increased and her chest tightened. She felt a million things, she felt alone, outcast, scared, hurt, dirty, sad and pain, she felt a lot of pain. She willed her legs to go faster, to take her home, to where she felt safe, to where she knows she is loved and wanted.
She rushed into the house and was about to throw herself at her mother, but froze when she saw how her mother's condition has worsen.
Her mother's face has turned deathly pale with beads of sweat all over her forehead. Her breath had slow down to the point where Irma didn't think her mother was breathing anymore, if it weren't for the tiniest bit of movement in her chest.
Irma sat down beside her mother eyes closed, trying hard to fight her tears that were already running down. She had promised her mom to be strong, but right now, all that Irma wanted was to hug her mother tightly and never let go, but she was afraid to hurt her mother more by doing so. But when her mother warped an arm around her, pulling her lightly to an embrace, Irma couldn't stop the surge of emotions that filled her and threw herself onto her mother, crying and trembling, pulling hard on her mother's cloth.
Sarah stroked the head of her frightened daughter softly, "It's gonna be...alright...sweetheart...it's gonna be...alright".
Tough the words were meant to be comforting, it didn't make Irma feel any better, she cried even harder. "Irma...remember what...I told you...that day...about life...remember your...promise". Sarah asked her daughter weakly. Irma thought back to that day.
Flashback
It was after finishing her morning training. Her mother decided they should rest under the shade of a big tree. While they were sitting there, Sarah saw her daughter scratching her birthmark, trying to hide it with her cloth, "Irma, stop it. Listen to me".
"I don't want you to hate your birthmark, or your life. Just because some old crazy people say that you are a demon, or a cursed girl, that doesn't make it true". She then bend down and kissed her daughter's neck. "This is a part of you, of the whole you. Your father and I love you whole. Body, mind and soul. You are our shining sun, the bright light in our life".
She then stood up, a warm smile on her face. "Your birthmark doesn't decide your destiny, your actions does. If you always do what's right, keep hoping, keep smiling to life, life will grant you its hope, grants you its happiness, that's for sure." She then pointed to the tree they were standing in its shade. "What you plant is what you get, it's all in due time, it's as simple as that".
She then looked her daughter in eye, "Promise me Irma, that you'll never lose hope, no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at you, you'll always face it with a smile. Promise me." Irma nodded her head, "Okay Mom. I promise".
End of flash back
Irma nodded her head, tears falling on her mother's arm with her movement.
"Then let me...see it...your smile...one last time". Her mother said with a weak smile.
Irma said through her sobs, "Please Mom. Don't, don't leave me. Please".
Her mother shook her head, she then took one of Irma's hand and put it on her silver trinket on Irma's chest, then she brought her hand to Irma's cheek caressing it. "I'll...always be...with you...watching you...and Tom...from above...so please...before I go...show it to me".
One hand held the trinket, the other held on to her mother's, she closed her eyes, rubbing her face on her mother's hand, taking in her smell. She then opened her eyes and granted her mother's final wish. She gave her a smile, a sad smile, hot tears running down her cheek, spilling over their hands. Her mother looked at her, a small smile formed on her lips "Never...lose hope...Irma...I love...you". She then closed her eyes, her arm fell still beside her and she stopped breathing.
Her vision became hazy once again, "I love you too Mom". She said quietly. She then took the hand under her cheek and placed it beside her mother. Then she brought her head on her mother's chest and started to cry.
About half an hour later, the doors burst open and Dr. Jade came rushing in with his bag. "I came as fast as I...". He couldn't finish his sentence. He dropped his bag and brought a hand over his face, a faint, "Oh my". Was the only thing he managed to say. He then walked slowly to Irma, who's crying has reduced to quite sobs, shaking ever so little every now and then. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
At first, Irma's eyes widen in fear, her breath caught in her chest. She didn't hear anybody enter and got frightened. But the hand on her shoulder wasn't threatening. It felt kind and warm.
Irma turned her face to see the owner of this hand and when she saw that it belonged to the old doctor, she relaxed visibly. Her eyes moved and locked with his. All she saw in them is sympathy and understanding. She threw herself at him crying a new.
Dr. Jade took Irma to his house to stay there till the return of her father. Then he and the gravedigger prepared Sarah's body for the funeral, after sending one of his friends to get the colonel, who came little after sunset.
When Tom came and hugged his daughter, there were no words spoken between them, there was no need, his tears and strong embrace were stronger than any spoken words. He held her in his arm until she fell asleep.
The number of people who came to the funeral in the next day was few, about twenty, including a few of her relatives and friends from Arkhanta, along with the small family and the doctor.
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After the funeral, Tom and Irma went to Arkhanta, so that Tom can ask for a change in his job, to be stationed in Heatherfield. When they entered the city, Irma didn't feel that much of a change; true the houses looks different, there are a lot of shops, a lot of wagons on the streets and all of those things that make it a wealthy center. But somehow, her reputation raced her here and the looks she got from the people here were more furious than those she got in Heatherfield.
At least in Heatherfield, people lower their gaze whenever her father was with her, they feared and respected him. But here, they didn't give her father the respect his position as a high ranking colonel demanded, even the low ranking soldiers looked at her with loath, some nobles even called them names and yelled at them to leave and get out. One look of her father and they all went mute.
They made their way to the headquarters of the knights, where General Lee, Tom's superior was. Tom then went into a heated argument with his superior that almost ended in a court-martial for Tom, if it weren't for the Duke's intervention, who ended the dispute with a solution that both parties agreed upon.
Tom would be stationed in Heatherfield, with a two weeks vacation to grieve his wife, but he won't work as a colonel but as a captain of the local guards there.
"This is the second time that Duke Hale defends that demon and her father." Thought Lee to himself bitterly when he was alone. "Tom saved him and his family once, so what? That demon should be executed not cared for."He was pacing his room in anger then he slowed down a bit "Then again, maybe now the Duke won't feel obligated to the man after this and with little persuasion, I would have him see the threat that demon poses, then I will avenge my uncle." He then went back to finish some paper work he had.
Tom, after thanking the Duke and bid him farewell, he went back to Heatherfield with Irma. But they couldn't return to their old house, it was too painful for the both of them, so they moved into a new smaller one.
Although the loss of Sarah left a gaping hole in their hearts, Tom felt a burden on his shoulders as big as his loss. Sarah wasn't just Irma's mother, she was also her teacher, her friend, her partner in crimes and schemes. He didn't think he could manage it alone, but still, he is all that Irma has right now and he will do his best to lessen the loss on her.
Little did he know that his daughter had similar thoughts to his. She knew how much he loved her mother. She saw him, late in the night, when he thinks that she is asleep, he would go out and train, then he would stop and gaze at the stars, sometimes she would see him tremble a little as if he was crying, but she couldn't be sure. Their loss was hard, but they had each other: a shoulder to lean and cry on, a reason to be strong and move forward.
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Time passed, six months to be precise, when something strange happened. In one of the rainy afternoons, where Tom and Irma were sitting in the living room, they heard a knock on their door.
Since the death of Sarah, the fear of the curse has returned to square one, if not more, so it was very strange for somebody to knock on their door.
Tom went to answer, tailed by a curious Irma. They saw a hooded figure, that let the hood down once Tom opened the door, reveling a somewhat tan women. She moved her brown wet hair from her face and gave them a warm smile, "Hello, my name is Anna Bannister. I just moved in from 'Warm Lake' City and will be your new neighbor".
"Hello", Tom replayed wary as he took in her tattered brown cloak that covered an old blue dress she wore.
"I was wondering if you could lend me a hand." She pointed over her shoulder to her right. "You see, the wagon driver left my stuff at the head of the road saying that he won't move any closer. It seemed that he, as well as the rest of the town people here, are afraid of getting cursed or something just walking near you".
"Aren't you afraid?" Asked Irma tentatively from behind her father.
The older woman looked at her with a smile. "I don't believe you are a demon that's going to curse me. And even if you were, I'll take my chances. I can't afford to waste this opportunity. The houses near you are almost free".
She then turned her brown eyes at Tom, "So are you gonna help me out or what? They're quite heavy for me".
He turned his face and true to her words, there was a pile of boxes at the head of the road. He turned to the women in front of him with a smile, "Sure thing." Then he indicated for his daughter to follow, "Come on Irma, you'll help too".
They helped carry the stuff to their neighbor's door. As Irma moved the tenth box, she couldn't keep herself from asking "You really have a lot of stuff, don't you?"
Anna gave a small laugh "Most of them are books though".
Tom looked at Anna puzzled "Books?"
"Yes, books. I'm going to open a book shop here." She replayed with amusement in her voice.
He replied with a sigh "Not a lot of people come here. This place is no tourist attraction you know".
Anna gave him a wink "Not when I'm done with it".
Still, even though Anna was a hard worker and had a way with words and speeches, she didn't get the success she was aiming for. Instead, she started home schooling for a living, selling some books here and there.
Anna may have lost her dream with the shop, but it wasn't that bad. The Lair family has added her to their small ring, their cozy family, made her feel welcomed. They weren't like anything she thought them to be and she became attached to them more than they are to her. She began to see them as her family and wished to truly be a part of it, but she didn't want to intrude upon them, little did she know that Tom had similar wishes, he was just waiting for the right time.
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On one afternoon, he came to her door alone and said he wanted to talk to her about something and when she asked him about Irma, he answered that she is training in the hill and would be out for awhile. After some casual talking, he looked at her and told her about his wish to marry her. He told her that he loves her, that he wants her to be his wife.
At first, she couldn't say anything; she was unable to find her voice. All she could do was nodding her head as her tears found its way on her face, they were tears of joy and in that moment, there was nobody else in the world, only the two of them lost in the others loving gaze.
Then she remembered something, "What about Irma? Is she okay with this?" She asked pensively.
Tom looked her in the eye, "I didn't talk to her about this. I wanted to know your answer first. I know that she loves you and I also know that she needs a mother. A father alone isn't enough and I won't find a better woman than you." He answered her lovingly.
"But nobody wants a Stepmother and I know she still misses her mother. I don't want Irma to hate me. I don't want to ruin what you have." She replayed with a concerned voice as she moved away from him.
He turned her to face him, "Irma doesn't only like you, she loves you. You can see it in her face when she's around you. She misses her mother a lot, but she sees a part of her in you." He replayed warmly.
After he squeezed her hand affectionately, he added quietly: "She needs you, and so do I." Anna couldn't talk anymore and they hugged. After breaking up, Tom suggested that they wait in their house for Irma and tell her the news. Irma came in the house after a few moments. She greeted both adults happily. Her father told her that he had something to tell her after she takes a shower.
When Irma came back and took her seat in front of them, her father told her about their plans to the future.
As soon as his words clicked in Irma's head, she looked at them in shock, blood drained from her face. "You ca-can't marry A-Anna". She chocked out while she was shaking her head, tears forming in her eyes.
Her father expected that she may disagree but not like this. He reached out to her, "Honey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"I…I won't allow you…to marry Anna". She said through her sobs, head down.
"But why? She is a nice lady. You love her and she loves you back. Don't you want us to be happy?"
She snapped her head up, tears falling freely; she exploded at him, "I don't love her, I HATE HER AND I HATE YOU." She then stormed out of the house, leaving her father on the ground, arms outstretched, and his face showing the pain his daughter's word caused.
Anna was devastated by Irma's outburst and was about to leave. But when she saw Tom, eyes closed, his right over his forehead pulling on his hair, she changed her destination.
She sat beside him and pulled his hand from his head. His eyes turned to hers, "Anna…you know that Irma didn't mean it. She didn't mean anything she said."
"I know. She would never hate you."
"Neither would she hate you. She loves you. I'm sure of it. She's just being scared". He replied heatedly.
She gave him a weak smile. "Let's not rush things now, okay? The first thing we need to do is to find Irma and calm her down." And with that, they went after the girl.
She was nowhere in sight, but it seemed that Tom knew where his daughter went, "Come on, she is in the graveyard." He urged Anna.
Once they entered it, the sound of Irma's sobs reached them. They slowed down and stopped behind a tombstone, thinking of the words their going to say when they heard Irma talking between her sobs.
"Why…don't they understand…why they want to…hurt me like this…isn't it enough that I'm cursed…that I killed my mother…and now they…" She was on her knees in front of her mother's grave trembling. She lowered her head and clutched the trinket. "It still hurts Mom…it still hurts…and I…I can't bear it happening again". She broke down crying.
Tom rushed and held his daughter tight followed by a tearful Anna.
"Oh Irma". Tom said as he rocked his daughter back and forth, "Didn't we talk about this before? You didn't kill your mother, it was an accident".
"But if it weren't for me…the people would've helped her…saved her…because I'm a cursed demon, nobody helped her…it's because of me that she died…I killed her, I…" She broke down in tears again.
"Shhh. There, there now." He started to stroke her head "Irma, honey. You are my sunshine and my blessed light from heaven. You are not a demon and you are not cursed, I don't want to hear anymore of this." He kept his embrace till she calmed down a little.
Irma then turned her face to the tearful Anna behind them "I'm sorry. I don't hate you Anna, but I'm scared of losing you, of cursing you." She said the last part in a low voice and Tom was about to replay but Anna beat him, "Throwing me out of your life is the only curse you can do to me." She then warped her arms around the father and daughter, "I can't imagine my life without both you in it." They all hugged in silent save for the few sobs now and then.
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Two weeks later, Tom and Anna got married and life began to return joyful in the Lair house. But like all good things, it never last long. After a month, Prince Phobos had led a coup and seized the throne. In response, a huge army from Arkhanta went to take control of the situation.
Five days have passed and no news came from that said army. People started to feel worried and Heatherfield was on alert status, being the nearest area to Kandrakar and the way to Arkhanta, made it a likely target.
At dawn, a few watch guards saw the return of their army, raising the flags of victory. They rang the bell to announce the news. The town people gathered in the central area to welcome the heroes. Tom was helping for the celebration when the war horn sounded. People got filled with confusion and panic.
Tom took his commanding role, "Everyone, stop whatever you are doing and head for the shelter immediately." He then turned to the soldiers near him and issued the orders. The soldiers followed the protocol and started to organize the people. Tom then ordered one of the soldiers to go to the defense post and bring status report.
As the man was about to leave, they saw a cloud of dust from the same direction, which turned out to be the second in command on his horse, moving towards them real fast.
People formed a circle around the black haired man, their eyes following his every move and they strained their ears trying to know what's going on.
The man dismounted his horse, "Captain Lair, Sir. It's a sneak attack." He then took a deep breath and continued, "At first we thought it was our army that was approaching, but Major Antony saw that the army's formation and movement was strange and noticed that most of their troops are zombies and skeletons. He brought it to our attention and sounded the alarm."
"Henry, are you telling me that our army lost? All four generals?" Tom said in shock, visibly frightened by the mere thought. Henry shook his head, "The knights have sided with Phobos, Sir. General Raythor is leading the biggest army of demons towards us".
If the people were scared before; they were now terrified. They ran, pushed and stepped on each other, all trying to get inside the shelter at the same time. Some soldiers tried to organize them but got hit in return.
Tom seemed much older than he is. His eyes were closed in deep thinking trying to find a solution, but to no avail. He looked calm on the outside but his second saw through him "Sir?" He asked. Tom gave a heavy sigh and voiced his thought to the man. "If it is as you say, then we don't stand a chance in head on attack. Our best bet would be to hold them at the gates, taking advantage of the high ground till the backup arrive from Arkhanta. But we can't risk the lives of the town people in the shelter here. If the enemy breaks through, or if the reinforcements come late, this village will be burned to the ground and I don't know any other safe place to hide them in".
Henry thought for a moment, "There are nearby mountains to the west. Maybe there is some cave they can hide in or something. We can ask a shepherd, he should know that area the best".
Tom nodded his head in approval. "Okay then, it settled. Inform the soldiers of the new plan and let them organize the people out of the shelter. Also make Dr. Jade in charge of the evacuation procedure, he is a wise man that they all respect and obey."
Henry saluted and was about to leave when Tom stopped him. "There is a favor I would like to ask of you Henry." The lieutenant raised an eyebrow "Sir?
"I want you to be the one to go Arkhanta and bring the reinforcements and inform the Duke of the situation. I want you to do that and take my daughter with you".
Something flashed in the Henry's eye, but it vanished just as fast as it appeared. He snapped in attention position and said with a stony expression on his face "With all due respect Sir, I cannot follow that order. It goes against my belief to help a demon."
Tom shook his head. "This is not an order Lieutenant. I am asking you as a friend, a fellow father. Please take my daughter to safety." He then put a hand on the man's shoulder "She's everything to me, the only daughter I have, and you are the only one who can do it, the only one I can trust".
Henry looked at his superior for a moment, then he closed his eyes. "I will go and organize the evacuation. After that I will report to you at the gate and ride directly to the Duke's office asking for backup. I won't be looking back so I wouldn't know if somebody tailed me." Tom's face broke into a smile of relief. "That's all I ask of you Henry." And with that, both men went their separate ways.
In a moment, Tom reached his house. His family was sitting in the living room waiting and as soon as they saw him enter, they rushed to him and hugged. His wife then asked. "What's going on dear?"
"No time to explain, it's not safe in the village anymore. You have to leave and join the villagers in the evacuation." He replied.
Anna gave him a puzzled look "They wouldn't allow Irma to join them and even if they did, I wouldn't let her go. It's not safe for her to be trapped with scared and angry people like that".
Tom shook his head, "You will go to the caves Anna. Irma will join Henry and get back-up from Arkhanta."
"Henry hates Irma. Did you see the looks he gives her whenever he sees her? Tom, he'll hurt her." She argued.
"Henry is a man of honor. He won't hurt Irma." Tom said firmly.
Anna embraced the small girl protectively,"I won't leave my daughter in danger."
Tom hanged his head low and gave a sigh, then said in tired tone, "Anna, if you knew how to ride, I would've let you go with them. The enemy is at the gate and we don't have time for this. Please Anna, it's already hard as it is. Don't make it any harder".
Irma was switching her gaze between her parents as they argued, her eyes showing her fear. But when Anna warped her arms around her and called her 'My daughter', tears welled up in those eyes. She tried to hold them in, but her defenses went down when her father said his last sentence.
He wanted her to bring backup, to get help. There was a plea and desperation in his voice, just like her mother before she died. The memory was still fresh in her mind, her chest tightened. She turned to her father and shouted "No. I won't go there. I can help you. I can fight with you. I've been training every day. Dad, I can protect myself. I don't wanna go there. I don't wanna leave you." Then she added in a whisper as her tears poured freely, "I don't wanna lose you too".
Tom knelt down and hugged her tightly, "It's going to be alright sunshine. It's going to be alright. I'm scared of losing you too, but we don't have any better choice." He then held her at arm length "Tell you what? Let's make a deal. You go to Arkhanta and I'll come back as fast as I could, hopefully I'll be the one to tuck you in bed tonight." "Promise?" He smiled. "I promise".
A second horn sounded. Tom turned to Anna. "It's time to go. They're leaving now." Anna hugged her husband, "You better keep your promise and come back." "When did I ever go back on my word?"
She then hugged her stepdaughter. "I'll be at your side before you notice it sweetie. Stay safe, okay?" Then she went and joined the fleeting villagers.
Tom and Irma rode to the gate and saw Henry waiting. He saluted, "The evacuation has just began, they should reach a safe cave in 30 minutes. As for the soldiers, they brought all the arrows and weapons from the stores and are awaiting further orders, Sir." Tom nodded his head in approval, then he turned to his daughter and hugged her "Don't do any traps or troubles there okay? You just do as they tell you to do and everything will be fine." He then turned to man in front of him, "Henry. You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you." The man just saluted, "I'll be heading out now, Sir".
He rode off to Arkhanta followed by Irma. The ride was uneventful and they went straight to the Duke and informed him of the situation. Since the coup five days ago, the Duke has gathered a big army from all over the country. Ninjas, mages, rangers and knights have once again joined forces to fight the demons. Around fifteen thousands have gathered and more are to come in the next week. However, the Duke issued the order to mobilize the gathered forces and stop the demons progress.
Irma watched the army leave from the window in one of the barracks room she's been put in. As much as she wanted to go with them, she promised her parents to stay here in safety, even if she did feel somewhat lonely in this guarded room, like some kind of a prisoner. She busied herself by some magic training to pass time till she got tired and fell asleep.
She woke up to the sound of commotion in the barracks. From the light that is coming through the window, it was late noon. She got out and saw the army retune through the gates along with the evacuated people from Heatherfield. Nobody was visibly harmed or injured, but their walking was off balance. It was as if they were barely able to stand, let alone walk. Their eyes looked hunted and a heavy atmosphere accompanied them.
She wanted to go and ask them about her father but feared their reaction, feared the answer. She then spotted Anna among them and rushed to her. Anna hugged her tightly. "What's going on? Where's Dad?" Drops of tears fell on Irma's head, "I'm sorry Irma. I'm sorry".
Irma pushed away, "No, your laying. He promised. He said he'll come if I went. He promised me." Anna embraced her again, "It's going to be alright Irma. It's going to be alright." Then they both broke down in tears.
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"Oh that part always brings tears to my eyes." Said the old librarian lady startling the reading teens.
They turned around and she looked at them sheepishly. "I didn't mean to say it load, sorry if I scared you. I was just passing by, putting some books in their places when I overheard you." She then waved a wrinkled hand, "Do continue, I bothered you long enough. I still have to return these books." And with that, she left humming in a low tune.
Ahmed was the first to speak "Well that was weird".
Alex was about to reply when Jenny sniffed. He turned to her "Umm, Jenny. Your makeup is kinda of ruined".
Jenny stood up and headed to the bathroom. In midway, she came back, took her bag, "I'll be gone for a second. Wait for me."
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A.N : My thanks to all of the readers, especially who left me a review : XV-Dragon and DeathSound. You really made my day brighter.
Another thanks to my friend, Nadeer, for helping with the plot (and keeping up with me till 1 a.m on some occasions. Thanks man, don't know what I'll do without you).
Lastly, I would like to thank 'Girl of Light Writer' for betareading and improving this chapter.
This was one hard sad chapter to write, too much emotions with rapid switch between apexes and bases (it has to meet the genere 'Angst' right? the adventure part will come in later, I promise) . I do hope I got the images right.
And don't forget about the faithful readers of the story, Alex Ahmed and Jenny, they would make an apperance every now and then. I have them for a reason, you just have to wait and see.
The next part will take awhile to come, around a month or so, (hey dont blame me. Jenny takes a lot to finish her makeup :P
Oh and leave a review please. Thanks.