Chapter 63 - To Hide and Abide (1/2)
Edlyn's face paled as she heard Ariana's full story, from start to finish she didn't think that something like this was possible. That is was a fantasy plot that she would find in novels based on old folk myths and tales. She looked into Ariana's eyes and couldn't help but allow sweet teardrops fall from her eyes. ”No, Edlyn... I didn't mean to make you cry!” Ariana moaned as she struggled to break free from her blankets.
”There!” She said triumphantly and scooted closer towards her weeping friend. ”It's okay now. I can honestly say that I'm a lot happier now then in my old life.” Edlyn shot her a cold glare, shoved Ariana away and brought up her hands. ”How?! How can you say you are happier now? Your life is not your own! Your being used and you seem perfectly okay with that!” Ariana shrugged indifferently. ”I can't say I love my situation, and no, I would like to believe my life is my own but what can I do? I was pulled here and that's it.”
Edlyn gritted her teeth as her gaze became more sinister but the flow of tears did not stop. ”No I can't accept this at all! This isn't right!” Ariana raised her eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. ”Oh. So it would have been better if my soul crumbled along with my chard remains? Then what? I wouldn't be hear! I wouldn't be opposing the church and the Council! I'm trying to be a better person! A stronger person but you can't accept the real me?! Edlyn between life or death I will always choose life! So yes, I'm happier, I'm the happiest I've ever been and its thanks to the ones toying with my life.”
Edlyn dropped her gaze and bigger teardrops started to stain her nightgown. Ariana felt completely awful for her harsh words and wrapped an arm around Edlyn's trembling shoulders. ”I know it's not ideal... I mean I'm actually an old lady and not a real teenager so I can't say I'm the first friend you made that was your own age.” Edlyn raised her head, she grabbed Ariana's face with both hands and headbutted her hard. As Ariana eyes swirled with pain, she rubbed her forehead gingerly where a small goose egg was starting to form. ”I was only joking!” She said as she was started to focus.
Edlyn sat there pouting until Ariana was able to look at her properly. ”I can't accept that you died!” Edlyn signed causing Ariana's eyes to grow wide with shock, she had no idea how to respond. ”I can't believe that I feel no guilt or sadness for what your going through! I feel no pity that your original family lost you, I don't care that your original body is gone or that your different! I will protect you because you were brought here to be friends with me! I know I should feel bad that you went through something awful and wants coming next is worse! I should feel sad that your soul was dragged her but I don't and I don't care! Your my friend and I'm happy that fate brought you into my life! So you need to accept my selfish and greedy self just like I am accepting you right now!”
Ariana was speechless, she knew that her family felt the same way but they didn't nearly have the balls to voice it out like Edlyn. The corners of Ariana's lips started to twitch. ”Who said I couldn't the greedy or selfish you?! Look I see you as my family, no my sister from another mister and honestly I'm fine with it!” Ariana shouted as she pounced on Edlyn and knocked her back onto the bed.
”So you don't hate me?” Edlyn signed and Ariana laughed. ”Of course not! Honestly I admire your courage. I don't think I could ever be that honest with my feelings... I'm too much of a cry baby. I don't like getting hurt and I still think that one day I will wake up and find out all of this is a dream.” Edlyn pouted as she watched Ariana's eyes start to glaze over. She reached out and pinched her cheek. ”Ow! What was that for?!” Ariana grumbled. ”You were going into a bad place with your thoughts.”
Ariana rubbed her cheek with one hand and reached out to pinch Edlyn's cheek. ”See not that great is it.” She said bitterly as she released her grip. ”Well at least we both know we are not dreaming.” She signed before rubbing her own cheek. Ariana couldn't stop her warm feelings from overflowing. What she told Edlyn was the truth, she was truly happy with the life she had now.
Her last life was wasted by being a nervous introvert. Home, work and home again the same routine everyday, the same depressing looks and the same type of dull and lifeless day. This, what she had now was living and no matter what, she would never curse her new life. ”I'm happy and that's all that matters.” She said as she laid in bed with Edlyn. They stared at the ceiling silently as they contemplated what to do about the immediate problem.
”Do you think we can do it?” Ariana asked outloud. Edlyn sat up and started nodding her head. Ariana looked doubtful as she kept staring upwards. ”Two more people are going to be living in this room with us... I don't think we can hide my transformation and how am I going to hide it from the faculty and other students... I don't think I thought this through very well.”
After a moment Edlyn pulled Ariana into a sitting position and started to sign furiously. ”Gregory! That scum sucking, piece of trash Gregory, is the answer!” Ariana stared at Edlyn's hands then her face. She sat silently for a moment then burst into laughter. ”Nope! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Do you really think he would help me in any kind of way! I think he would rather sell me out then help me with this! Besides how could he? I mean it's a girl's thing, well kinda.... and I would think he would die of embarrassment first then to let everyone know that he had to take care of me because of that.”
Edlyn shook her head. ”There is no other way! Look he is now a member of the faculty, no one would question him if you are sick. What if it happens during a test, exam or school activity? You need to rely on Gregory.” Ariana brought her hands up, covered her face and groaned. ”Can't I just tell a female teacher... like Ms. Hadley?” She said behind her hands. Edlyn peeled Ariana's hands away and looked at her seriously.
”You win! You win... I don't know who I can trust and... I mean I have no idea who's on what side and least with Gregory he makes his stand clear.” Edlyn smiled and bounced back to bed. ”Will you go look for him with me tomorrow?” Ariana asked sheepishly and Edlyn responded with a firm head shake. Ariana moved to turn off her bed side lamp, within minutes of laying in absolute darkness they both fell asleep.
While unknowingly to them a pair of eyes were watching them from within the trees. A breath of relief left his mouth as he turned to leave the area. Suddenly he heard footsteps from down below. He pressed himself against the tree as his eyes shone brightly with guilt. He looked downwards feeling his sweat starting to collect around his nose and back. It was Ms. Hadley and Mr. Dabney walking side by side in the dark. Ms. Hadley was holding a flash light while Mr. Dabney held an index finger upwards, the tip of his finger was lit with a light green flame.
”Are you sure you saw someone come this way Pascal?” She questioned with a bored tone. ”Yes the little bugger ran this way. You know I would have chased him down but this is your area, I'm not stupid enough to cross into your territory without your permission. Too afraid of the after affects.” Ms. Hadley laughed. ”I can guarantee you, whatever idiot crossed my barrier will be feeling it tomorrow.”
Mr. Dabney looked up and motioned his hand like a gun. The green flame shot upwards, the man skillfully shifted his body to the outskirts of a branch, to hide away from the flame. ”Do you see anyone?” Ms. Hadley asked. ”Not yet give me a second.” Mr. Dabney answered and to the man's surprise the green flame gracefully moved through the air. Sweat started to roll down his back as his body froze and his eyes were entranced by the movement of the light.
The man cursed as the flame approached him. From within the flame was a giant blinking eyeball. The man could see his own reflection and he held his breath as he pleaded with his own eyes for the owner to not reveal him. ”Mr. Dabney?” He could hear Ms. Hadley say. The eyeball closed itself and turned back into a normal flame before racing back down to his master. ”Must have been my imagination.” Mr. Dabney replied. Ms. Hadley patted the man's back. ”Well it's not like the fellow will be able to escape his punishment. So we will catch him right away tomorrow.”
”We'll see...” Mr. Dabney replied as they both started walking back. The man waited a while longer before jumping down the branches towards the ground. He looked around and dashed off towards the direction of his room. Cursing his own stupidity along the way and wondering what would happen tomorrow.