Chapter 25: Leaving Bryan

"Sister!" A boy came running towards Mia. He was about five years of age and he had similar crimson red hair. His chubby cheeks were freckled, and his eyes were bright and intelligent.

Mia bent down and hugged the boy. "Bryan!"

"Sister, can you please play with me? I want to play hide and seek. Please." The boy pleaded with her.

It was as if something had melted within her. She would do anything for him, not say playing with him. She wanted to kiss him, hug him, tell him how much she had missed him and loved him.

"Of course, Bryan."

Gale held Mia's hand with his hands that had already turned into branches.

"Mia, you know that he's not the real Bryan."

His words were like keys to the floodgates that she had kept shut. The moment he said it, tears began to stream down her cheeks.

She did not want to acknowledge the truth but he had brought the truth to him.

"Gale, do you think there is just a small chance, any chance at all, that Bryan is also trapped in Somnium like me, and I should not leave so I can be with him."

Gale held her in his embrace. Though he smelt like wood, it was a pleasant sort of smell. She was trembling and sobbing.

"Mia, I think he is definitely in a much better place than here. He was such a sweet soul. You know that right."

She nodded in anguish. Her tears were overflowing.

"You need to leave, and you need to let this Bryan go."

"Do I really have to?" She was almost pleading him.

"Zachariah had designed this Somnium for you to trap your soul with him. He knew about Bryan. This is purely his deception. You know. You know this better than anyone."

Of course she knew. She was the one who buried her own baby brother. How could she not know?

She was literally shaking. Gale held her close. Even though he was stiff like wood, it still gave her comfort. He spoke no more, knowing that he had said more than enough.

The little boy had been running around, oblivious to the commotion.

"Sister, can we play hide and seek now?" He smiled cheekily.

"Bryan, come over," she gestured and then, she gave him one long kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Bryan but I have to go. I don't belong here. I am sorry."

The boy seemed to understand grief and started sobbing as well.

Mia's heart broke into a million pieces. She had mended the same parts a million times, but in the same places, they still broke into a million pieces.