2|| Whispers in the Wind

16|| shattered

Kalyani

The silence of the usually lively Fir Hills seemed off. 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 the girl. At least one more time. At least before she disappeared completely.

Kalyani stumbled through the branches on her flats. She wasn't used to wearing these kinds of shoes, and certainly the shorts weren't helping either with the cold. It was getting dark really early these days. It made sense too. At 7:30 PM, the sun was almost entirely down, and she had to meet Wilder at 8.

Kalyani spotted the familiar silvery sheen of the face of the lake. Moonlight now reflected over it. The sun seemed to set faster in the forest. Maybe it was just the twisted tree branches. Reassurance wasn't quite helping at the moment. Kalyani settled down as Jacob had shown her the other day. She lifted the nearest rock and sharply sent it into the water. She waited for the face to appear.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three.

At the five second mark, Kalyani was really worried. What if the girl really was overpowered? What if Roxanne showed up instead?

But then she was finally there.

"Hey. Sorry I was late. It's getting harder to fight her. This might be the last time before she escapes again," the girl whispered.

"Who? I mean, I know it's Rox-"

"Don't. Don't say her name. Please. What do you want to know?"

Kalyani knew what it was, but also needed a moment to think. "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. "You know her. At least, you will someday. She will know you too. Someday."

"What? I know her?"

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

"Please, tell me what R- the girl- wants. Why is she here? What is she looking for?" Kalyani was getting increasingly desperate. This girl could be gone soon. And she would never know.

"She wants revenge, Kalyani. You read it in that story. I know you did. Her nightmares were not human. They were spirits. Like me. And they hurt her real family. They hurt them. They changed them. And all she ever wanted was revenge. You know that Morgan got away.

"All she needs is revenge."

"But how?" The wind started to blow violently. Kalyani kicked off her shoes, leaning in closer. "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. For a matter, she was hoping you could help her, but she knows you wouldn't. That's why she's allowing me to stay out for so long."

"But who's alive? Who would she get revenge on in place of Morgan?" It was completely dark now.

The face in the water flickered, but just for an instant. "I wish I was free again. I could show you. But Kalyani, I know you're smart. You'll figure it out. I want you to figure it out. I want you to get rid of me."

"Me?" Kalyani asked. This was the first time the girl had referred to Roxanne as 'me'.

"Yes, me. I am Roxanne. This is just the past of me. I know no more than her, and no less. I'm the part of her she chose to left behind. That's why I want to help. I want myself to be true again. True to myself." The face melted into the lake.

And then Kalyani knew. Knew how wrong she'd been to trust the girl. Who cared that she was helping? She was helping Roxanne. She wanted herself to be that person. If Roxanne came back now, there would be no stopping her. As quickly as she could, Kalyani threw another rock into the lake and sat back, sighing.

"What did you do?"

Kalyani nearly jumped out of her skin. It was Aria. She'd been followed.

"Kalyani, you've been out for a while. It's already 8. I'm pretty sure Wilder isn't too happy," Aria said, but she looked really really worried.

"Naw, he's cool with it since he knows why she was here," proclaimed a different voice.

Kalyani jumped up, crossing her arms. "Wilder too? How many of you actually followed me here?"

Wilder's tone was light, but all signs of a smirk were gone. "Aria and I decided we were worried about you-"

"-we did but you decided to follow me, who was following Kalyani-"

"-and I, well, I guess I wanted to check in on you and stuff. What was that? We've been here from pretty much the start. Who's Sarah Wesner again? I forgot."

"Sarah Wesner is the last living relative of Roxanne Wesner. We need to find her," Kalyani decided. "I shouldn't have trusted the little girl. She's the same as Roxanne. She wants Roxanne to win- she was just using me."

"Kalyani," said Aria quietly.

Wilder half nodded and turned to take a walk.

"Kalyani," Aria repeated. "Why wouldn't you just tell me? Am I that hard to trust? Why wouldn't you trust me in the first place? I'm your sister. I would always choose you to support over my friends."

Staring at her feet, Kalyani replied, "I don't know. I didn't tell anyone willingly till I told Wilder."

"You told other people too? But not me?"

"Yes. I did. I told Jacob and Evelyn-"

"I get that, but was there anyone else?"

"No... okay, there was. Arlo made me tell-"

"Arlo? You trust a damn girl you just meet over your sister? Arlo probably has further intentions-"

"Of course she does! Of course she has further intentions! Do you think she wanted to be my friend because of me, or was it because of you?! She probably does sort of like me now, but it was you she wanted to be friends with Aria. And maybe even more than that. If you want to trust your twin, she needs to act trustworthy. You really haven't been much of a sister lately. Too interested in school, or how to break parent rules, or the pity parties," Kalyani shot out, knowing it was cruel.

Aria had actually staggered back. "Me? It was you who wants to exclude people in everything you do. It's all running around people's backs, pretending to be perfect. Everything has to be a secret. You buddy up to a spirit, it still has to be a secret. At least my actions have an excuse. You're just doing this for attention. Maybe for once, someone other than mom and dad would care for your existence. And it worked! I should try that sometimes, see how you feel."

"Keep talking, I'm not gonna listen. I had to meet Wilder ten minutes ago. See you later," Kalyani ignored the pit of guilt at the bottom of her stomach. It was churning like a potion in a cauldron.

Wilder was waiting at the outside edge of the forest, wearing a concerned look. "I see you're ready to go. Where to? I also heard yelling. Everything fine?"

Kalyani watched Aria storm out of the branches without a second glance at them.

"Fine, Wilder. Just fine."