the Gatherer Spirits

Gatherer Spirits - Trinity (Pilot Chapter)

It had been a full 6 years since I last saw her here. I doubted she would want to see me again, after all that had transpired before...I became as I was, so I never expected it, but I was excited when she did.

It was a grim October night when she came to the gathering grounds, clad in dark robes to her feet, although maybe it was just the lack of light around her. The curls that surrounded her face bounced as she hopped up to a willow tree that must have been only a couple yards from my hiding place behind a pillar.

Her dainty feet stepped cautiously around a gray slab of stone, making her way in a full circle. She paused for a second, turned my way, and turned back again, only to look in the other as well. She sat down in front of the slab and held her head in her hands. She was quiet: not crying, but not totally fine either. Her gaze looked longingly at the slab as if it were a long-lost friend, yet they weren't filled with sadness, just yearning.

"Trinity, you of all people should know not to leave someone in this disgusting place alone." The girl laughed quietly as the tears started to fall, "I came all the way here because I thought maybe the one in one hundred percent chance you'd end up here would be enough to get you back to me. Sometimes, I don't bother to think before I move." She reached out to the slab of rock and traced along with the letters. As her finger landed on the last curve, she got up from her spot on the ground, turned on her heel, and started walking towards the exit.

With all my might, I tried to walk the other way, but something inside me pushed me back, running toward the gate she was fumbling and failing to unlock. I tapped her on the shoulder in hopes she'd notice me once more. She didn't seem to hear me, so I turned back again, heading to my building in remorse.

"Whew. It must be cold. I swear I just felt a tap on my shoulder. Not creepy at all." Olivia giggled nervously.

I noticed she looked sad. I didn't want her to feel sad-that'd make me sad, and as she'd once said, sorrow didn't really suit me.

"Olivia," I blurted, "I would've left the grounds to search for you if you could, but you know about gatherer spirit protocol, and it's not by any means flexible--"

"Who's talking to me?" Olivia asked, trembling with fear. I saw her hands clench around the blade in her pocket, ready to spring if she needed it to.

"No, no, I'm real. I promise I really am real. I just-became a gatherer spirit after I died. So now I work here, and I saw you came, so I..." I started.

"Came to spy on me? I don't know who you are, but-" Olivia interrupted.

"Have they forced you to marry dimwit Doug yet?" I asked quickly to prove it was me. Luckily, I had mastered the topic switch during my time alive.

"I don't know who-or more likely, what you are but - it's not fair to mess with human's minds like this," Olivia cried, "You don't get to simulate a friend's behavior and get away with it."

She grabbed the blade from her pocket and pointed it to the air in vain. It happened to come through my clear nose, and I almost forgot that I was immune to it now as I stumbled backward a couple of feet to save myself.

"Show yourself!" Olivia shouted wildly, flaunting the knife she was carrying.

"I'm showing myself as much as a trapped spirit can," I answered solemnly, "Hello, Olivia."

"How do you...know my name?" She asked, "As you can see, I don't play games."

"Well, I am...was, I mean, your best friend. I don't know about it anymore." I chuckled sadly.