2|| Whispers in the Wind

16|| shattered

Kalyani

The silence made the typically dreary town seem even duller. It was wrong of Kalyani to be afraid of going out in the dark but she couldn't help it. She had to talk to little Roxanne before she disappeared completely. The spirit was afraid of something, said she couldn't last at the lake much longer. There was still time till her date, and she could risk it.

Kalyani stumbled through the branches in her sandals. She regretted wearing open-toed shoes and the shorts were doing nothing to protect her from the cold. It was funny, Aria hadn't spoken a word to her since they'd come home from Leo's place yesterday, so she couldn't ask her for any outfit suggestions either. It was getting really dark really early these days as winter approached. It was 7 PM, the sun was almost entirely down, and she had to meet Wilder at 8.

She spotted the familiar silvery sheen of the lake, moonlight creating an eerie glow. The sun seemed to set faster in the forest. Maybe the trees just blocked off the light. Her meager attempt at comfort wasn't working, that was for sure. Kalyani settled down by the lake the same way Jacob had shown her yesterday. She lifted the nearest rock and sent it flying into the water.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three.

At the five second mark, Kalyani was really worried. What if the girl was gone? No one knew she was here- what if Roxanne decided to face her herself?

Finally, the girl came to view.

"It's getting harder to fight her. This might be the last time before she escapes again," the girl said.

"How will she escape? What's giving her power over you? Rox-"

"Don't. Don't say her name. Names have power. What do you want to know?"

She took a deep breath. "I want to know about Sarah Wesner. You said she was alive. Who is she? Where is she?"

"You know. You know Kalyani." The spirit shook her head. "Somewhere inside, you know where she is. I can't tell you."

"What? I know her?"

"Shh, not so loud. Talk quieter. I need to be here for a bit longer."

"Please, tell me more about Ro- her. What caused her family's death? Why does she want Sarah?" Kalyani was getting increasingly desperate. This girl could be gone soon and she would never know.

"She wants revenge, Kalyani. Just like the story said. Her nightmares were not human, nor were they spirits. They'd never walked the earth."

Never walked the earth.

"They were inhumane. They made her hurt her family. I- she didn't mean it. She just wanted to scare them a little. All she needs is revenge. Revenge on those she thinks scorned her. Morgan got away, remember?"

"What? You just said she didn't mean it, why would she need revenge?" The wind started to blow violently. Kalyani hugged herself, leaning closer to the water. "And how do you get revenge on someone who's dead?"

"You don't. You get it on someone who is alive, Kalyani. Why do you think she came back? She isn't interested in you. You are her ticket to the other side. You're strong enough to connect her."