Chapter XXV

I sat by Ariel, staring into space, the blood settling in my stomach.

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

People from the cirque began to arrive, along with Mr. Tall and a group of little people. While Mr. Crepsley began to talk with him in a hushed tone, the little people carried the unconscious body of the wolf-man into the back of a van. Upon doing so, they came back for Valinty's body.

Once drawing close, an ominous growl emitted from deep in Ariel's throat.

"What do they want?" I asked.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

"I, er, well I suppose they plan on doing away with the body."

"You mean eat it?"

"Darren. I think-"

"I don't care what you think." I said, preventing Mr. Crepsley to finish. "Valinty deserves a proper burial. Besides, I doubt Ariel would allow them to come another two inches closer."

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

"Very well." Mr. Tall sighed, snapping his fingers. The Little People drew back, and they left with the others to return to the Cirque Du Freak.

Ariel, Mr. Crepsley, the body, and I remained. I stared into space for awhile, and then buried my face into my palms.

Mr. Crepsley began to dig into the soil with his bare hands, dirt rapidly flying out of the ground, at an inhuman speed. It brought back the memories of the time when I was buried..

One of the little people limped over, making its way toward Valinty.

"Back off." I mumbled, throwing some dirt his way. The little person just continued, then jumped into the shallow hole, and started digging with his grey hands.

I started questioningly at Lefty, which is what we named him. "He's.."

"You should rest," Mr. Crepsley advised, patting my shoulder. I got off my knees, than looked down at Ariel, who had already fallen asleep.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

I made my way toward the flowing bank by the grave, grabbed a rock and threw it in, then sat. This was all R.V's fault- If he hadn't.. I sighed, and threw another rock into the water.

I wonder where he is now, or what happened to him? If he had released the wolf-man, something bad probably happened to him.

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Ariel awoke lying on the ground, finding herself looking up at the infinite dark sky, with stars that looked like speckled white paint. Her heart felt overwhelmed with immense pain, but her body tingled with power. Her senses were acute, as she could see past what used to be a blur. She stood, and a cold wind blew, blowing her blonde hair across her face and leaving her skin feel bitter.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Mr. Crepsley looked up from the finished grave to see Ariel. She looked down at her wrist to see scars.

"Valinty.." She whispered, and remembered.

"Do they hurt you?" Ariel had asked.

"Well, this one time after Daddy drank, he threw his bottle and it came to me.. I put my hand up to protect my face.. It was an accident though.."

And now they share their pain as one.. Darren shares it, too.

"Ariel?"

"Yes?" Ariel looked back up at Mr. Crepsley, her memories slowly fading away.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

"May I show you something?"

She nodded, and followed him a ways back into the stretch of wood that outlined the junk yard.

"Remember what I told you, about your bloodline?" He asked, once reaching the middle, so they were surrounded by trees on all sides.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

"Yes, I remember you said a little bit, that day in the graveyard." Ariel replied. She examined the area, only noticing a large, white oak tree that seemed out of place from the rest of the trees. It was… unique. The branches seemed easy to climb.

"This tree is supposedly a place where one can communicate with the spirits of their ancestors," Mr. Crepsley explained. "Including yours.""See that cradle, in the tree branches?"

How to save a life
How to save a life

"Yes."

"It is said that if you were to fall asleep in the cradle, the spirits of you ancestors would visit you, and share their wisdom with you. It is a place of healing."

Ariel stared at the oak tree for a moment in silence, feeling a strange in her being.

Mr. Crepsley patted her on the shoulder. "I will leave you alone now, however we should be departing soon. I understand you will return me once you are finished here?"

She nodded, and once Mr. Crepsley had gone, she began to climb up the tree and into the cradle, then closed her eyes.

How to save a life..

To Be Continued..