⚜Guardian⚜

Chapter Twenty Nine

Lacey's eyes flashed open, and she realized with a start that she had fallen asleep. It was now pitch black outside, and that frightened her slightly. She slowly lowered herself down the branches, making her way down to the forest floor.

She headed back in the direction that she came, shaking her arms to relieve them of any cramps. She walked back into the house, humming a song as she walked.

"I don't think she's coming back." Ari huffed.

"For the last time, she wouldn't just leave me!" Asher screamed.

"I think you should move on already." Ari returned. Asher let out a frustrated scream. Lacey hurried into the living room, eyeing everyone quickly.

"What's going on?" She pushed.

"Thank God!" Asher huffed, running to take Lacey into his arms.

"What happened to you!?" He begged.

"I went for a walk! I left you a note on my desk!" Lacey huffed.

"Your walk lasted you eight hours!?" Asher screeched.

"I fell asleep! Jeez, you need to stop worrying so much!"

"I thought you were dead! We searched the perimeter a thousand times! You weren't there! And there was no note!"

"Yes there was! It was on my desk!"

"No. There. WASN'T!" Asher roared. Lacey turned helplessly, but both Aida and Jeffers looked skeptical. Ari was smiling indignantly. Lacey saw something sticking out of Ari's boot, and suddenly everything clicked into place. She moved quickly, yanking the paper out if her boot instantly.

"It's right here!" Lacey yelled. Aida gasped loudly. Lacey shoved the paper at Asher, fuming visibly.

"I hope you're happy." She huffed. Before any one of them could utter another word, she ran upstairs.

The next day, at breakfast, Lacey searched for Asher, but he wasn't there.

"Where's Asher?" Lacey asked Aida.

"He's meeting with the Archangels." Ari sneered. "He didn't tell you?" Lacey felt her eyes brim with tears. Last time he had gone to an archangels meeting, it had taken him 17 days to return. Lacey finished her breakfast and went back upstairs in silence, remorse filling her. Why had she yelled at him? He was only worried about her. Now it would be forever until she saw him again. She went to his room unthinkingly and crawled into his bed, reading his case reports from his brown book. It was the next closest thing to being with Asher.

60 Days after Asher left, Lacey was wallowing around in her misery. She ate her meals alone, not wanting to face Ari.

210 Days after Asher left, Lacey felt disgusting. She lounged around in Asher's bed, praying only for him to return home. She felt herself slipping slowly to sleep, her will power fading.

388 Days after Asher left, Lacey awoke to an oddly warm feeling. Had Mirna hired the heating? Whatever she had done, Lacey was extremely comfortable, and she never wanted to move. She opened her eyes, stretching her legs. Her backside encountered something hard and tangible- a person? She rolled over, a slow smile spreading on her face. Instead, no one was there.

She felt tears slowly slip down her face. She ran out onto the balcony, feeling the brisk wind attack her skin. She sunk to her knees, sobbing loudly. She curled herself into a ball, feeling herself break internally. What if he decided he wanted to stay in heaven? What if he met someone? She clutched her knees to her chest, feeling hollow.

"Asher," she sobbed. She heard laughing and giggling, and she looked down in surprise. Ari was leading Asher out into the forest. They were kissing and laughing and dancing. He was telling her he loved her, more than he had ever loved Lacey. The numbness took over and Lacey gave up. What was the point of living anymore if this was all that was left? She threw herself off the edge of the roof, feeling every bone in her body snap simultaneously as she hit the ground. Blood pooled around her soon to be corpse, and she smiled upwards. Release.

Finally.