15 An End (1/2)
Mr. Johnson slowly picks up his face from the ground. His nose is broken and bloodied, his face is even more bruised than it was before. When he sees what she's holding he starts trembling in fear. ”Wh-where did you find those. It's not possible. You shouldn't have them. I had them with me…”
”I don't-”
Something starts to happen, the vial in her hand starts vibrating and feels warm but she doesn't dare drop it. The Shadow Beast, Bradley, also starts whimpering and scratching the ground just like before. Behind her she feels the air become colder and denser. Sophia slowly turns around to see the painting levitating from the ground. Perhaps because she's seen so much already and is so very tired that she doesn't scream. All she can do is stare in horror and awe as a dark mist comes out from the frame and is shaped like a hand. The eyes that were the only thing on the painting are now blinking.
In the movies it's always a creepy, distorted figure coming out of something but this figure is anything but that. They step out of the frame with elegance and eagerness, still creepy but not as much. The figure looks like shadow with form and they stand there, taking in their surroundings. Their eyes are the only thing that have a sense of normalcy and they look directly at Sophia. She doesn't say anything, she can't find anything to say. The figure tilts their head in confusion but she doesn't try to come close to her. Then the shadowy figure notices the man on the floor who's a beast and the trembling beast who's actually a man. They walk, or float?, slowly and gracefully to Bradley. They don't say anything but instead they pet his head and soothe him!
The figure opens their mouth a few times but no words come out. They try again and the voice sounds gravelly but soft, ”What… have you… done to me? To… us?”
”Aurora? Is that really you?”
Aurora? Could this be Mrs. Johnson? Sophia low-key suspected that it was a self portrait painting of her, so she was bound to it after all. Also, strange how she didn't know their first names not that Sophia really cares to learn Mr. Johnson's first name.
She's not looking at him but she still says, ”How… could you do this?”
”I…”
”I didn't want to come back. I couldn't leave here… but I wasn't going to come back to you.”
”Then why are you back now?”
This time she does turn to face him, her eyes are filled with tears, ”Silence… and pain… is all I am. Silence is all I had. Trapped in my own pain. But then I heard it… the voices of the people I cherish the most. And then a red light. A bloodied light. I have a form now only to tell you what needs to be told. I'm leaving you for good this time. Don't you dare try to bring me back. Let me go.”
”I can't… please…”
”You won't have me in life or death. I was never yours, I was always a person and even now, I am still a person who owns herself.”
”No! I won't let you… slip through my grasp again.” He tries to get up and reach for her but then a burst of magical energy hits him and he falls back down! They both look to find Ms. Ipruk leaning against the wall.
Sophia forgets about everything and goes towards her, ”You're awake! I'm so happy! Oh my gods…”
”Yes. I'm okay now dear. Thank you for keeping me safe.”
”Ha… you say your trying to save my son but you keep hitting me. You realize this is his body right?”
”Don't misunderstand. That spell was targeted it for you, Mr. Johnson.”
Madame Johnson walks cautiously to his side, ”Set things right… give our son his life back… please let go.”
He stares at her and then sighs deeply, ”You won't leave with me?”
”No.”
A long pause before he speaks up again, ”Did you ever, love me?”
She hesitates but answers with, ”I did.”
”Do you love me now?”
”No.”
”Do you… hate me?”
”I… don't hate you… I don't think much of you anymore. In the silence I only thought of those I loved. But I will never forgive you for hurting everyone else… and for hurting yourself.”
”I know this means nothing but… I'm sorry for everything.”
”I know you're sorry but that won't change anything.”
”You're right, as always,” he gives her one last bitter smile, closes his eyes and turns his head away from her, ”Goodbye Aurora. I hope that we never see each other again.”
The heaviness in the air lightens up.
He's finally gone.
But the Shadow Beast is still there…
Ms. Ipruk, with help from Sophia, examines Bradley's body.
”Good news his body is stable but the bad news is that his soul hasn't returned. Something else must be holding him back.”
”Let go of them… the eyes… ”
Sophia still has them in her vial. ”How? How do we-?”
”Of course it makes sense! He used one of the eyes to bring back his son. If we destroy them now then he might go back but I have no idea how the curse might react.”
Her eyes are warm and determined, ”It's okay. Things will be okay.”
”I see. Then, Sophie dear hand them over. I'll take care of it.”
”No… I'll do it. It's my curse to break…”