Chapter 16: Darkness

Within the quiet lit halls. Where the floor reflects the light of the lamps along the walls.

Quick footsteps are heard ahead, only to find Alecia, moving through the passage. She hastfullly picks up her feet with each step. With her hand over her mouth, she turns into the rest-room.

Few gags and gasps, are heard  inside, followed by plunks of water.

After it ceases, she rests on her knees, with her hands leaning on the rim of the toilet while taking shallow breaths.

She flushes the toilet, and slowly stands herself up, turning around, she steps towards the mirror and stares into her own reflection.

Her eyes having dark rims around them, her skin, pale, her lips are now lighter. Her face softens, as her eyes start to glisten.

"What have I done to myself." She whispered, and closes her eyes with her head now lowered.

"Why did I need to do it." tears escape her closed eyes and run down her cheeks.

"Such regret I have for doing this to myself."

For a moment she cries silently, her hands clutched around the sink. She turns her gaze to the doorway as the sound of footsteps draw near. She wipes the tears of her face, not before seeing Lumina stop at the door way and dressed in her blue sleepwear. Alecia hides her face away.

"Excuse me for bothering you, miss." Lumina said, holding her own arm.

"Are you alright?"

"What are you doing here, Lumina?" She said with a sniff, only to look her way.

"The whole night I heard you coughing, I was concerned."

Alecia slowly turns to face her.

"You should be sleeping, what are you doing up at this hour?"

"Oh you know..." Lumina said, flickering her eyes in thought and looks up at her with a slight smile.

"Just waiting." She giggles with her hand over her mouth.

"For what?" Alecia said, frowning a bit.

"Well..." Lumina said, her eyes rolling, and averts her gaze.

"Patiently waiting for your death." She flicks her eyes at her with a smile.

Alecia widens her eyes, with the cold feeling slithering up her spine to her head

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me, Alecia." Lumina said, slowly steps forward, staring up at her with a grin on her face.

"Your sacrifice has only numbered your days." She starts giggling, until it soon turns to a laugh.

Alecia's grits her teeth with a frown.

"When those days are up... You will no longer be, you will cease. Only a memory in the minds of those who know you, will be left."

"What has gotten into you!!" Alecia grabs Lumina by her shoulders and pins her against the wall. Only for the girl to laugh more

"No matter what you'll do..." Lumina continues laughing.

"You won't stop it." She laughs uncontrollably with her eyes shut."

"SHUT UP!" Alecia screams out in tears.

Lumina's sadistic laugh stops, her eyes opens to show turquoise glowing pupils as her body starts to glow the same color.

"No..." and with that word, the lights flicker out, as the darkness gets brave. Alecia looks around at her surroundings in panic.

"What is this!" Alecia, steps back as her words echo into the thick void.

"You don't remember do you?" Lumina said, leaning forward with her hands behind her back while looking up at her. She looks around for a moment.

"This is a place where light never reaches. Maybe people go through their entire lives, and never see this. I don't even think anyone has been here besides you." She takes delicate steps around Alecia with her hands behind her back.

"You're not Lumina are you?" Alecia said turning around to face her.

"This is only but a dream." She said with her voice sounding calmer.

"Yeah, I suppose it would be a dream if you would perceive it as such." Fake-Lumina said, placing her hands on her hips.

"And no, I am not Lumina."

"Then I should wake up soon." Alecia said, looking up into the blackness.

"But don't you want to know what I meant?" Fake-Lumina said, stepping towards her, which urges Alecia to turn to her.

"About you not remembering this?"

"I suppose..." Alecia looks around once more, and takes a few steps and stops

"It does seem familiar."

"I told you." Fake-Lumina said, skipping around her and points at her.

"I wonder..." Alecia whispers, which doesn't fail to create an echo.

"You're wondering why you're seeing your niece, instead of your sister aren't you?" Fake-Lumina said, only for herself to be engulfed by black smoke and after a moment, Ruth sprouts from it, with the same clothing she had before.

"There..." she said, with her arms gestured out.

Alecia's face softens, she reaches her hand out, only for it to lower.

"I see that you're sad." Fake-Ruth said, lowering her hands to her side.

Alecia stares at her for a moment, she averts her gaze, at the blackness.

"Why can't you forgive me?" she said, and takes a shuddering breathe.

"You know why." Fake Ruth said, with a calm look on her face, and steps towards her.

"You told Aven to deceive me. I was convinced you were dead for three whole months."

"I already told you!" Alecia said within frustrating tone.

"I couldn't find the courage to come to you."

"You should have stayed away then." Fake-Ruth said, averting her eyes.

"It would have been better if you kept me thinking you were dead."

"I..." Alecia pauses and flickers her eyes in thought.

"You're right."

"Of course I am." Fake-Ruth places her hand on her shoulder, and stares at her with those turquoise glowing eyes of hers.

Alecia, gently holds her sister's hand with her eyes closed.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" She said, opening her eyes.

"You must think of something, little sister." Fake-Ruth said, her eyes glows brighter for a moment, she side steps around her, and moves her head closer.

"You'll find a way, I'm sure of it." She whispered in her ear, slowly she moves back from her.

Alecia looks down at the floor for a moment, while her eyes flicker in thought.

"Just tell me." she said, turning around, only to widen her eyes, as she sees a woman with black hair, with a blue shine to it. She's dressed in a long sleeve black top and pants, with a skirt over it.

"No..." Alecia said, widening her eyes.

"Eva."

"Yes, you're definitely right." Eva said, walking towards her, which urges her to step back.

"You're surprised aren't you." Eva stops walking, and smiles slightly.

"Unexpected things happen here after all."

"I forgot about you." Alecia said, with a frownful look.

"Well, it seems you haven't," Eva said crossing her arms.

"I need to wake up." Alecia said, stepping back and jogs through the void, only to see Eva standing ahead.

"Do you think this place has an end?" Eva said, as she watched Alecia pass her.

"Stay away!" Alecia shouted out and runs faster, only to see Eva ahead, with her glowing turquoise eyes staring at her.

"I will always be here, Alecia." Eva said with a grin as she watches her turn away from her, and continues running.

"Always." Eva said, appearing right in front of her, only for her to faze through her in a black fog, which causes Alecia to stumble to the ground.

Alecia pulls herself up, and rests on her hands and knees.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up." She constantly mimics to herself while having her eyes closed.

Eva chuckles for a moment, she leans forward with her hands joined together between her thighs, and stares down at Alecia with a curious gaze.

"I wonder about this, as well." She said. Her eyes flicker in thought.

"When will I wake up, can I wake up. But then I had another thought." She looks down at her. Her eye-pupils glow brighter for a moment.

"What if I stay here forever?"

"Just shut up!" Alecia snaps and stands herself up.

"Fine..." Eva said, with a calm tone in her voice.

Just then, muffled voices are heard throughout the void.

"What is that?" Alecia said, looking up, and looks around herself.

"I am with you on this one. I can't tell what it is." Eva said, looking into the void. She turns to face her.

"Just like you, I'd love to get out of here."

"You're not real." Alecia said, looking at her with a frown.

"Are you sure about that?" Eva said, with a growing smile.

The distant voices sound clearer, with a male voice and a female voice from time to time.

"That's Aven and Ruth's voice." Alecia said, looking away from Eva.

"It does sound like them doesn't it." Eva said, staring ahead as well.

"Sounds like you're going to be out of here soon Alecia." Eva steps forward and stands beside her.

The dark void starts to slowly fill up with blue flames, which causes Alecia to shade her eyes from the bright flames.

She turns her gaze to Eva for a moment until she looks back at her.

"Looks like I'll be going now." Alecia said with a calm tone in her voice.

"Farewell Alecia." Eva said, as the flames circle around Alecia's legs.

"We'll speak again." The flames flows around Alecia's body, as it slowly moves towards her head as she stares at Eva.

"I'll be looking forward to it." she smirks, and watches as Alecia disappears with the blue flames, leaving her behind in the dark void.

Eva looks up into the void for a moment.

"Oh... How I am looking forward to it, Alecia." She chuckles and closes her eyes, only to deform into fog and fade away.