Into Another World (The Lost Souls Trilogy)

-Empty Promises-

Alyona stood by the front doors, standing off to the side so she wouldn't get trampled by any of the other students leaving the building. But there was no sight of her sister anywhere. Confused, she squeezed her way inside, heading over the ESL classroom where she knew her sister would've been at some point that day.

"Proshu proshcheniya," she stepped inside the room, "Mr... uh... Japan, have you seen Aoi anywhere?" The country looked up at her. "It's just... she hasn't left school yet and the only place she'd be is here. I was just wondering, have you seen her today? Like, at all?"

Japan paused for a second. "No, gomen, I haven't seen her since this morning."

"I see... If you do see her again, let me know, poz-... please?"

"Hai."

Alyona stepped outside into the hallway and pulled out her phone. She hovered over the call button, debating about it for a second, before backing out and texted France, and her father, that Aoi and her were going to stay behind and get caught up for an hour or two. She wasn't sure if it was enough time to find her sister, but it had to be.

The rain from the morning started up again, quickly soaking her. Frustrated, she ran back inside the school and called her sister, the phone went to voicemail almost immediately, which either meant that her phone had died or Aoi was purposefully avoiding Alyona.

But she'd never do that.

Right?

"Alyona?" Riku and Romeo walked up to her, an umbrella in each of their hands. "What are you still doing here?" Romeo asked.

"Uh... getting a little bit more help in my classes, you know, to make up for the stuff I missed. I don't want to get behind, again." She smiled awkwardly at him.

"We can help if you want," Riku offered.

"Uh, no, nope, no uh- no help needed, uh, thanks I'll be fine."

"Oh, yeah, okay then... uh... I'll see you tomorrow I guess."

"Da, tomorrow." Alyona walked back into her side of the school, ignoring their stares, she frantically called Aoi again, just for the same result. The truth is, Alyona didn't want to worry anyone else. She had enough of it. As much as Aoi going missing scared her, she didn't want Canada to stress anymore. She wasn't worth it.

Alyona thought of the only place her sister would've gone. Hoping that maybe she had just ran off after all, avoiding her was better than anything else. She opened the back doors, heading out onto the fields and running to the edge of the forest. The run from the school to the trees itself alone left her breathless, she stopped, leaning against one to rest.

"Well, so much for getting caught up in your classes." Alyona spun around, reaching for where her gun would usually have been, if it weren't for school rules. Romeo stood there, umbrella in hand. "And last I checked you didn't have P.E. either."

Alyona sighed, and slid to the ground, ignoring the wet ground, and the rain. Romeo walked over and sat down next to her, covering both of them with the umbrella. "Aoi's missing," she said.

Romeo tensed up. "Wait what? What do you mean missing? Did you call someone?"

"No, I didn't call anyone, okay I don't need to worry papa any more than he already is with what already happened, I just have to make sure it doesn't happen again!" Alyona froze, realizing what she just said.

"What?" Romeo's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Just... forget I said anything." She stood up and began to walk away. Romeo followed after her and grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Romeo, please."

"Alyona, just talk to me, okay? Look I've been around for awhile I'm sure I can handle whatever you're about to say."

"I'm supposed to be dead!" She burst out, refusing to turn and looking back at him. "Almost 100 years ago I fell down a hole in a mountain and I should've stayed dead. And now I'm here, and I wish more than anything that I had." Alyona lifted up her shirt, revealing the scars that littered her midriff from the dozens of cuts inflicted on her. Not even Aoi knew they were there, after all it was impossible, but eventually her body just couldn't keep up with it. "I can't let this happen to Aoi again."

Romeo dropped the umbrella in shock. Before he could say anything Alyona ran into the woods.

Aoi heard the sounds of footsteps, but she couldn't bring herself to look at their source. She figured it was just Akuyaku again, he always seemed to know where she'd be. Or maybe it was a 2p, and she had accidentally found an unconventional portal again. Either way she didn't care. All she really wanted was-

"Aoi!" Alyona called out, seeing her sister lying on the ground. At the sound of her voice, Aoi looked over at her. Within seconds she was pulled into a hug, lifting her off of the ground. Hesitantly, Aoi returned the gesture, slowly wrapping her arms around her sister.

This was all she really wanted in life. Her family.