Deadly Secret

Midnight

I updated two days in a row!! Yayy me

Quiet. Everything was finally quiet.

Esther had waited all day for the chaos and rumors and shouts to cease, and now, the entire center was blanketed in an overwhelming, comfortable silence.

She wished she could calm the stormy emotions battling inside her. It hurt so much. Her fingers trembled, still fastened around the pathfinder. They couldn't let go.

Her last conversation with Bramble... her heart ached remembering the anger written on his face. If she hadn't gone... if she'd listened... would he be alive?

He'd tried to warn her about the pathfinder. What had he said?

It wasn't luck, he needed to investigate, he had a theory, it couldn't wait. The least I can do is investigate for him, she thought. Maybe it would stop the guilt from eating me alive.

Esther let out a shuddering breath and drew her knees to her chest. A painful headache pounded through her skull, and it was almost in sync with her heartbeat.

One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. The agony danced around her mind in a waltz. One, two, three. One two, three...

Cold marble and pungent spices. Dark. Cold. Dead.

Slowly, Esther pressed her hands against the cool tiles and lifted herself onto her feet. She stood, head spinning, surrounded by glass vials. She fumbled around for the smelling salts, lifted them to her nose, and inhaled sharply.

Her head began to clear, and her eyes watered. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, a thread of golden hope still wound around her soul and kept it from crashing. She clung to the hope, the notion that things would get better.

Everything's going to be okay,  Esther told herself. She wasn't sure if it was true, but she needed to believe it. She needed something to raise her spirits, no matter how false it echoed in her heart. Everything IS going to be okay.

A moment passed as she steadied herself, and she stepped forward, one step at a time. Esther managed to flare a match and light a few candles. The darkness recoiled from the flickering flames, and she grasped the candles, burning wax dripping onto her fingers. Sitting in a corner, alone and abandoned, was Luna.

The alicorn seemed to smirk as Esther hugged her tightly, "I'm so glad you're safe. Oh, don't laugh at me, Luna, it's been a tough day. I know, I know, I should've brought you with me,"

She stuffed the alicorn among her possession of candles and the mysterious light leaper. After arranging her possessions, the girl glanced at the doorway, contemplating her next move.

"Hey," a sudden voice pierced the quiet, and Esther jumped.

She relaxed when she spotted the speaker, "Oh, hi, Beren. What are you doing here?"

"I need your pathfinder, Esther. I'll give it back when I'm done, I promise,"

"I trust you, but..."

"But you don't trust me," he chuckled, "It's fine, I understand,"

Esther forced a smile and waved, "I should get going,"

"Where?"

"I don't really know,"

Beren smirked, "I'll see you around. Take care of yourself," he faded into the darkness. 

After he disappeared, she shut her eyes and popped them open. When she didn't wake up, she pinched herself, "Not a dream, Luna. How strange. What was he doing here? I know he said he was here for the pathfinder, but why?"

The alicorn did not deign to answer.

The last fragment of their conversation still echoed in Esther's head.

I should get going.

Where?

I don't really know.

She could examine the body, she could scrutinize the pathfinder, but what were the chances of finding something everyone else missed?

The murder would be investigated thoroughly by others, so the mystery of the pathfinder was the one she needed to solve. The good luck that wasn't all luck.

Esther navigated her way through the healing center, waving the candles around and dodging random objects. Above all, she did her best to avoid crashing into any explosive vials. She weaved through the cots and stumbled into the dimly lit hallway.

The moon poured through small skylights, illuminating the corridors. Her heartbeat thudded loudly against her chest, and the night held its breath. She felt as if a monster would leap from the shadows and devour her. None came.

Esther advanced warily, scanning the walls for any sign of a map. She peered into a few classrooms, but the kitchen did not show itself.

After an eternity of fruitless wandering, a dull warm light attracted her attention. It slowly pulsed, and a faint crackling noise prompted her to investigate. Esther strode towards it, feet pounding on the tiles.

She raced around a corner, eventually crashing into a raging, blood red forcefield.