Flashback 16

By SchammieLynn

Perhaps it was because I was naïve or believed in karma that I presumed that after Anna's death, things would get better. I had faith that things were bound to improve. With Terrence gone and Anna's death, things couldn't get much worse. Oswin went back to being gone all the time, and Aly, though much changed from Anna's death, continued to tutor me. With my dramatic appearance change, I went into public less and less.

Although the war seemed to be at a cease-fire, there was still no words from Terrance. I couldn't help but worry, but I didn't tell anyone. I had sort of thrown all of my problems on the back burner so that Aly and Oswin could focus on whatever they wanted to focus on.

Zelina had pretty much left us alone. I didn't hear anything from her, or about her. I was definitely wary that she was going to strike again, but she couldn't hurt Aly or Oswin and I felt pretty good about my chances.

"Aly, look!" I exclaimed, shooting a perfectly shaped, enlarged snowflake from my fingertips. I let it hover there for a while, proud at my own work, while Aly looked on.

"Impressive. Has Oswin been teaching you?"
"Nah. He hasn't got the time. I've been working on my own. As long as my emotions are in control, I seem to have everything taken care of. Maybe." I faltered as the snowflake fell to the ground.

She chuckled, "Well it looks good. I'm sure you'll have everything perfectly mastered by the end of the day."

"If only. I feel like an ice bomb. Bound to blow up and shoot snow in forty different directions."
I pointed up at the celling and a tiny little flurry came rushing from my fingertip, "See?"

"Well that wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Like I said, as long as my emotions are under control."

Aly shrugged, "Well, whatever your magic is, I think it's quite pretty."

"Thanks," I pushed back some of my light hair and kept trying to hold the snowflake longer.

Aly looked a bit concerned as a little frost showed up on the arm of the chair, "But just in case, how about you go off to the side so that it doesn't freeze all the furniture?"

"Good plan," I smiled and transitioned myself to the side of the room and sat down on the floor.

"I'll make lunch. You just keep practicing that. And then we'll go over algebra when we get done eating."
"Yuck."
"What? Aren't you hungry?"
"Starving. But definitely not for algebra."
"Oh hush. I'll make it interesting."
"I'd like to see you try."
She laughed as she walked into the kitchen. It was lovely seeing her in such good spirits again, and being able to talk and joke around with her always cheered me up as well.

I was making a snowflake, then dispersing it out, then making flurries and clouds and cute little ice sculptures, thinking maybe for once that my power was becoming creation rather than destruction. As I shot a few more ice particles from my hands, I began to hear faint noises. Too entranced in my sculpture, I didn't even pay attention and continued to hunch comfortably over whatever I was making.

It happened quickly.

"ELSA!" Aly screamed and I turned my head. Zelena was there with a dagger poised and ready and I couldn't even think.

That's when Aly hopped in front of me and the dagger drove forward.

"NOOO!" I screamed and ice surged from my hands and froze Zelena and the room and everything was pure white and almost blue… except for Aly and I.

I yanked Aly away from Zelena and we wound up slumped against the wall as I iced Zelena one more time for good measure.

"Essie," she breathed.

I looked back at her, thinking she was just out of breath, but the dagger had been plunged into her. I had been too late. Too preoccupied.

"No, no, no, no, Aly." I hugged her tight as she began to droop over in pain. "Come on you're going to be fine… You're going to be… God, if I had been…"

"Shh…" she wheezed and grabbed my hand. "My sweet Essie… I wouldn't have traded you for a dozen of my own children. I'm so, so proud of you… So proud… Tell Oswin I love him. And I love you."

"Don't go…" I cried, tears beginning to come steadily. "Please don't."
"My ring," she gasped. "Take it. Please. Keep it safe."

"You're going to be alright, just you wait… Oswin's gunna…"
"I love you."
She went limp and my hand was no longer grasped by hers.

I curled over her and let out a painful wail. I couldn't stop crying, ice was shooting out haphazardly everywhere.

Then I heard the ice crack and this time I wasn't going to ignore anything.

I got to my feet, gently laying Aly's body down on the ice.

"ZELENA! You broke the pact. That means your death."

Her green skin shimmered through the ice as suddenly it shattered into a million pieces. With a flick of my wrist, I whipped more ice at her and she grunted in pain.

"You killed Aly." I growled. "YOU KILLED ALY!"

I kept shooting sharp ice at her and fear crept into her eyes as I had her backing towards the wall. "YOU'RE A MONSTER! DIE!"

Soon her shoulders thudded into the wall and I held a fist ready to poise and I was ready to send the last blast when she vanished into a thick smoke.

I drew in a shaky breath, feeling all confidence leave. I looked over at Aly's lifeless body and dropped to the ground, sobbing.

When you're alone, the silence is all you see.